A boring ride today from Broome direction Port Hedland via the Warlu Way or Great Northern HGW, no other roads accessible with "Coco II"... but we read 19000 km on the dashboard ,see map below...Temperatures rise till 43 degrees and around 14h00 enough is enough , so we get off the road and drive to Wallow Downs on a gravel road...Wallow Downs lays at the 80 miles beach...compare it with twice Belgium's Coastline without wave breakers or so what...just sand, dunes ,heaps of shells and Ocean as far you can see left and right and you've got it all for yourself...wonderfull !!!! We walk for 2 hours , Dorine collects shells, we men plunge in the Ocean, nice... This evening we'll have another walk on the beach as the place is known for turtles and it is the end of the hatching season, so maybe we get to spot some baby turtles having their run for life at the sea...
The day started with a 16 km walk along Cable Beach to Gantheaume Point ...lucky for us we had the Indian Ocean on our side to cool down from time to time... After lunch we split up...Martin,Dorine and Luc want to visit a pearl farm...I've seen enough pearl farms in French Polynesia...so I get into town, do some shopping...but beside the Old Town and Chinatown , Broome is as good as dead. Another stop at Roebuck Bay and the Broome Jetty with a lovely coffee at the Wharf Cafe...hurry back to Cable Beach for sunset and camels on the beach...where we get all together again.
This morning Martin and Luc played a early morning set of tennis....I enjoyed an hour more in bed. Today the road leads us to Derby, located on King Sound and it has the highest tides in Australia with peak differential between low and high tide up to 11,8 m. We see along the road a bushfire,not sure if the fire started by accident or not....quite scary. Arriving in Derby we get a message from Luc and Dorine, after having a coffee at a parking they drove back to Fitzroy Crossing instead of driving to Derby...it took them a while to see their mistake and than they had to go all the way back to Fitzroy,because they would run out of diesel...no more beers for Luc!!! Meanwhile me and Martin had a ride around Derby, and besides the Baob Prison Tree and the Derby Jetty, nothing else to see or do...it is a dead town...so we call Luc and Martin to meet each other this evening in Broome. We have Lunch at a Roadhouse and in the late afternoon we arrive at Cable Beach in Broome, it is nice to see the Ocean again after days and days of desert...we look for a caravan park and have a ride to the Gantheaume Point. Around 17h30 the two lost one's are back in town and we meet them at the caravan park, just in time for a lovely sunset at Cable Beach... Night fall's over Broome and we play our daily game of cards outside with a nice cool breeze...
Happy Easter to everyone...we had eggs for brekkie and a chocolate basket, surprise from Dorine and Martin!!! A easy day today, 290 km at Fitzroy Crossing...so we're not in a hurry and around 9h00 we start the engines and get back on the Savannah Way with a first stop just out of Halls Creek , the China Wall... Back on the road I notice that nature is changing all the time, savannah to rocks, rocks to sandy desert and back to rocks... Fitzroy Crossing used to be famous outback town for its bars and pubs but not anymore...Crossing Inn built in 1897 as a trade store and shanty inn for long distance travelers is the only evidence left and today it's a normal bar and caravan park... We have lunch at Geiki Gorge, a spectacular waterway with soaring weathered cliffs... While Luc, Dorine and Martin are walking at the Geiki Gorge , I drive good old " Coco II" to a lovely caravan park "Fitzroy Lodges" and I enjoy a afternoon at the pool, taking a nap...just what I needed... When they return from their walk Martin challenges me for a game of tennis ...followed by another swim and dinner...yummie Tomorrow we are heading further to the West direction Broome...
It's hard to say farewell at Lake Argyle , but that's what traveling is all about...exploring, find and see new things... one better than the other but all with it's own beauty ...Lake Argyle is one never to forget!!! Back on the Savannah Way we drive for about 400 km through some magnificent scenery's before arriving in Halls Creek, next campground is 300 km away, so we have to camp here for the night...a lot of aboriginal settlements along the road and when we stopped at a fuel station they arrive in old 4x4 and carry up to 15 people in one car...and all are walking barefoot ... There are alcohol restrictions in this area, beer can have maximum 2,7%, because there are a lot of alcohol abuse problems with the Aborigines...They lost their proud , but being drunk all day will not make it better...it is sad to see
While having breakfast the campground is filling up...a lot of people decided to spend their Eastern holidays at Lake Argyle, one of Western Australia's most spectacular attractions, and one of it's biggest!!! With a surface over 1000 km2 an a shoreline stretching 900 km , Lake Argyle is Australia's largest freshwater Lake and home to an estimated 30000 freshwater crocodiles, fish and wildlife...Between 1969 and 1971 they build a dam to create the Lake as it is today and very important as an irrigation basin for agriculture nearby... As we have plenty of time we walk first down at the Lake and all the way up to the Ord Gorges, back down to the Dam and back to camp , we've been walking for 3 hours so that deserves a swim to cool off, temperatures above 40 degrees...but it is getting dryer and dryer . At 2h15 we board on the Kimberley Durack that'll take us for a sunset cruise on the Lake...Somewhere where the Lake is 17 m deep those who are brave enough to swim between the crocodiles are invited for a dive in the Lake...all of us dive and enjoy a lovely swim...another thing done on the bucket list...lol... on board we have Captain Jess the youngest captain ever, but he's doing a great job...well done Jess!!! Just before sunset another swim, but rather a special one, never done it before ....apero in the Lake with a nice glass of wine...life could be worser!!! While sailing back to the camping we get to see and I speak for myself one of the most beautiful sunset ever.... Our stay at Lake Argyle sure is worth a Big Five place and I can recommend it to everyone .
Fuel up motorhome and bikes and off we are on Victoria HWY also called the Savannah Way... after 100 km it's clear why, the wet green landscapes are changing to savannah landscapes with big Baobab trees, trees that survive in this dry climate by dropping their leaves ...Coffee stop at Victoria River where Martin and I drive with the bikes to the old crossing point of Victoria River, we actually are parked in the River...Lunch at Timber Creek and a visit at the lookout ...Dreaming away while driving through the marvelous Pinkerton Range and getting closer and closer to the Western Australian border, farewell Northern Territory....Once crossed the border we take a left to Lake Argyle, a manmade Lake and gateway to Kimberley. The little road that leads us at Lake Argyle through the Carr Boyd Ranges is breathtaking...this is nature at it's best... Arrived at the campsite we book for 2 nights and a sunset cruise on the Lake tomorrow...a cold beer and an a plunge in the infinity pool with the nicest view upon the Lake, I can tell it's nearly like swimming in the Lake, they have done a great job here. No connexion here, back to the middle ages ...lol...
Roadtrain
Parked in Victoria River
Victoria River Gorges
Welcome at Timber Creek
Welcome to Western Australia, farewell Northern Territory
Batchelor-Litchfield National Park-Katherine 412 km
Today we're going to visit the National Park Litchfield with it's many Falls, Rockhole plunge pools and Termite Mouths.... Entering the Park, first stop at Florence Falls, a nice walk to the Falls and a great swim !!!Next Falls are the Tolmer Falls and the Rockhole plunge pool, a big walk at the Wangi Falls where I save a young Italian girl dying of thirst...I gave her some water and she could walk on...over a walk of 1hour you easily need to drink 1 liter of water in this heat... Back on the road we have a last stop at the Butterfly farm in Batchelor where we met a young French couple , they just arrived and the boy was busy painting a rainbow dragon on a wall...you could tell he's done this before....always amazing to hear people's story's why they ended up here in Australia. A refreshing lemon juice and we get back on Stuart HGW to Pine Creek and Katherine where we stop for the night... 20h00 , Luc and Martin didn't show up yet , we got a message they already had dinner , so we're expecting them soon....
Latest update... as text messages between our phones didn't come through Luc and Martin stayed waiting for us in the pub at Pine Creek, finally they arrived around 21h00 ... all together again...no worries
Termite Mouth
Termite Mouth as old as I am 50 years...wow...
Plunge pool Florence Falls...cool...
Rockhole Plunge pool
Tolmer Falls
Wangi Falls
Wangi Falls
Young French painter at work Butterfly Farm Batchelor
Needed to drop off "Coco II" at the Branch in Darwin, where we received a 4x4 , "JessieII" for the day...handy to visit Darwin. Darwin, capital of the Northern Territory is a vibrant modern city that has been rebuilt after cyclone Tracy destroyed the complete city on Christmas Eve in 1974, it is also a very important tourist destination from where the National Parks Kakadu and Litchfield are easy to reach. Interesting fact is that during World War II Japanese bombers dropped more bombs on Darwin than they did on Pearl Harbour , evidences can still be seen today... Stoke Hill Wharf is the place where the big cruise ships come and in the evening all restaurants and bars are filled with people enjoying a great view upon the Timor Sea , another interesting place to hang around are the Mindel Beach markets, for food, crafts and entertainment... Cooling off after a stinking hot day...Darwin Waterfront is the place to be with a large big waves swimming pool and a little beach...just what we needed... Around 16h00 we get a call from the Branch that"Coco II' is all fixed and ready to go...gives us just the time to pick it up and to leave Darwin, the most Northern point of our journey , behind us driving to the Litchfield National Park... At Batchelor ...what a name... the road train stops for the night... Thanks Beth for the wonderful service at your Branch, you did a terrific job...good on you!!!!!
Darwin
Darwin Waterfront
Cooling off
Jessie II
Sitting at the most Northern Point of my Australia road trip 2015
Waking up with a blue sky and already hot hot hot... but this is better then rain, as I heard in Belgium this weekend they had heaps of it. Riding out of Pine Creek my eye fall's on a new project...see photo below...isn't it lovely, I can see a lot of potential... Entering the National Park Kakadu we notice a lot of lookouts are closed because of the passage from our buddy "cyclone Nathan" ...somehow he keeps tracking us...lo's of flooded roads and a big risk and danger for crocodiles!!!! We visit the Bukbukluc lookout with a view over the swamps, a steap walk at the Mirrai lookout where while enjoying the sights a young man all sweaty come's up with a load of camera stuff, he works for SBS and is making a documentary about Kakadu on crocodiles and the Kakadu Plum, the fruit with the highest amount of vitamine C, but somehow a American company took a patent on that plum , so everyone that wants to sell it as a product has to pass that company and pay, so it doesn't get out of Australia...strange world...we say goodbye to the chap and walk down again in a bloody heat sun... Next stop at Nourlangie Rock and Nurwalandja also very important places for the Aborigines and back on the road to Jabiru, heart of Kakadu... After a coffee break high time to drive to Darwin, where we find a holiday park at Howard Springs , 28 km left to Darwin. Tomorrow "Coco II" needs to enter the workshop in Darwin...oillamp lighted up , airco needs to be checked and some small other things. From this occasion we will profit to visit Darwin, our most North destination in Australia... Last picture shows a map of Australia with our progress so far , 16400 km .
What do you think about my new little project, isn't it wonderful...
Well what to tell about our night out at Daly Waters Pub... food was great!!!!! but we were almost alone in the pub, so no live band or ambiance ...so we played a game of cards...life can be though in the Northern Outback... Back on Stuart HGW up North we have a coffee break at the Pink Panther Larriman Pub, as they say for themselves...one of the top 10 bush pubs in Australia...well perhaps the beers are better, but coffee was poor and pink is the theme color... Next stop for refueling and some shopping at Katherine, situated on the Katherine River and the 4th largest settlement in the Northern Territory, it has some gold mining industry and is also a tourism gateway to the Nitmiluk National Park, particularly Katherine Gorge and its many ancient rock paintings. During the wet season the region is known for heavy flooding... As we arrived at the Katherine Gorge , I spoke with a local, because the river was muddy and he said 3 days ago our friend cyclone Nathan passed by and they had heaps of rain and the water level had raised with 4 m , so swimming was prohibited because crocodiles had been seen in the area...we took an 1 hour walk to the highest lookout point Jawoyn with a nice view over the River and the Gorge... Next visit to the Edith Falls...same story, upper basin closed for swimming ,crocodile danger... We end our road in Pine Creek, the gateway at the Kakadu National Park...something for tomorrow...
This caravan park Barlow Creek was as far now the worst one we had and it was so dirty that I cancelled my shower this morning...so remind this about Barlow Creek...great special pub, but do not stay over for the night.... Back on the track on Stuart HGW for another 650 km up North direction Darwin...as further we go North outside temperatures raise again and it doesn't take long to reach temperatures above 35 degrees again... Desert landscapes start to get greener and greener and more bushes make their appearance again as we get closer to Daly Waters with it's historic Pub, our campspot for the night and yes ...clean showers!!!!!!! Saturday night = pub night, so we have a great meal and a few drinks ....
Today is a real road day, we would like to get at Daly Waters with it's historical pub on Saturday evening, so 1475 km to drive in 2 days...no time to waste , so right after breaking up camp we hit the road again on Stuart HGW, also known as the Explorer Way... Well , as there is no alternative sealed road we have to drive it again ...After 826 km , tired and hungry there is no other choice as to stop at Barlow Creek Roadhouse , as night starts to fall... till now , the cheapest night ( 7,5 AUD) all together ...but as soon we get to seethe toilets and showers we do understand why...it is disgusting!!!!!!! but on the other hand an amazing pub where the owner , as soon we tell him we're from Belgium, he pull's out a box filled with Belgian item's left by Belgian tourists...so I left a business card to fill up his box...lol... Time to hit the sack as tomorrow we have another long road day...
Kulgera Roadhouse - Coober Pedy- Cadney Roadhouse 580 km
Well, as we didn't make it to Cooktown, because of cyclone "Nathan" we have some days left, so we decided to drive back to Southern Australia to visit Coober Pedy , an old Opal mining town, also known as The Opal town of Australia and probably in the world... It only take's 20 km to cross the South Australian Border and off we are for +/_ 450 km to Coober Pedy driving most of the time through desert... Approaching Coober Pedy you can't miss it, they are digging for Opal everywhere... Opal was first found in 1915, since then it has been the major supplier of gem quality Opal. Today Coober Pedy relies as much on tourism as the Opal Mining Industry and with a population of 3500 and over 45 different nationality's it has become a cosmopolitan town and perhaps one of the most unique places in Australia... Most of the people still live in a dug out, a house digged out the sandstone rocks where it is summer/winter 23 degrees, nice and cool in summer and nice and comfy in winter, as 46 degrees can be called a normal summer day, I can't understand why people choose to live there and I must say, you can't compare it no longer with what it was in the early twentiers, the dug out today is nice and comfortable place to live... After a visit at the Opal Mine, very interesting to see how men tried everything and lived and worked in hard times to find Opal to provide them a better life, only a few succeeded....but still a lot are working for that same dream... Back on the track we drive back up North to stop for the night at Cadney Roadhouse.
At 06h35 we are present to watch the sunrise at Ayers Rock and The Olga's....it wasn't perfect but worth to see as it was a bit cloudy... After brekkie we take a drive around the Rock an a walk, to end with a very interesting visit at the ULURU-Kata Tjuta Culturel Centre , all about Aborigine arts and habits. Ayers Rock known by the Aborigines as Uluru and The Olga's as Kata Tjuta are very important to them...Anangu are the traditional owners of Uluru and Kata Tjuta and the surrounding land...For thousands of years Anangu people have cared for this land and to the this has always been a special place, it isn't just a rock, it is a living place... Lot's of tourist took away a piece of the Rock to remember their trip , but Anangu people have asked through the years to respect the Rock and no longer take away pieces of it and even asked people that did so in the past to bring them back to the Rock, which a lot off people did and still do , even from overseas...they are called 'the sorrow stones' We have to keep on moving and it's time to take a last look at the Rock before we get back on Lasseter HGW to Erldunda where we have to find back our toaster that Luc accidentally threw away in the garbage bin...guess what, we were lucky as we found it back ...We take a right down South direction Coober Pedy, an old historic Opal Mine with a overnight stop at the last and first Roadhouse pub in the Northern Territory , Kulgera Roadhouse...Goodnight blokes and shiela's .....
9h30 we have to say goodbye to our homie "Coco" and welcome our new , baptized "Coco II'...it takes some time to change all our things and while Luc, Martin and Dorine are taking care of this , I drive into town to buy a new laptop ...after some really good advice I decide to make the switch to Apple and I get out the shop with a MacBook Air...now comes the hardest part for a computer dummy as me...installing it and get it to work...but these are worries for this evening, first we have to drive to Yulara ,sitting at the feet of Ayers Rock or Uluru. We get back on Stuart HGW with a first stop at the Cannonball Memorial for the competitors that lost their live during the Cannonball Race... Driving between the Seymour Range and Charlotte Range brings us to Erldunda for a fuel stop and out of nowhere some Aborigines try to sell us some paintings for a few dollars and beer...they are not allowed to buy alcohol and this is the way they try to get hand on alcohol...but they are not at all aggressive , rather friendly... In Erldunda we get on the Lasseter HGW that leads us to Yulara and the Red Center of Australia, red sanded desert as far you can see... Arrived at Yulara, there is only one big camping so no choice here and we hurry to see the sunset on Ayers Rock and The Olga's...not perfect as clouds came in late afternoon but tomorrow morning they forecast clear sky for the sunrise... Time to struggle with MacBook...it works after some time but if someone can tell me how to resize pictures in iphoto i would be welcome as I can't find it...help...if you can please email me kris.meeze@gmail.com
A lot to do today, the 2 girls need big maintenance, oil change and tyre change , a real luxury day for them we've booked at Desert Edge Motorcycles...
Next job on the list is our precious "Coco",she needs to be look after aswell,so we bring her to the Kea Branch in Alice and get a 4x4 for the day..."Jessie"...let's try her out on the dirt roads, but first I've got to drop off my laptop to see if it can be fixed...Getting off the sealed roads on to a little gravel road that takes us to an old settlement Undoolya, followed by a fun drive to Ross River through the stunning Macdonnell Ranges, they say millions of yesrs ago they were as high as the Himalaya...well I can tell, they shrunked quite a bit, some stops and stroll's at Emily and Jessie(yes indeed...lol...)Gap , Corroboree Rock and Trephins Gorge...awesome!!!!
We have lunch at the Ross River bar,where the owner told us that 2 years ago they had a big bushfire that caused a lot of dammage , but she still had the good spirit and all busy to rebuild things again...the Australian way I guess...
Back at the Branch to pick up "Coco", bad news, they can't repair the problem...no spare parts...so we have to say goodbye to "Coco" tomorrow...so long, you've been good to us and a pleasure to travel...snif
Time to pick up the ladies , all cleaned up and ready to rock and roll...
Some more bad news, hard disk fron my laptop crashed, probably loss if all my data and pictures😢😢
We've got to pack this evening ...
I hope "Coco" keeps on running and the rear tyres of both bikes are going to make it to Alice Springs...
Leaving Tennant Creek, Northern Territory's fifth largest town, the hub of the Barkly Tableland,elevsted plaind of black soil with golden Mitchell grass, roughly the same size as New Zealand and it has also some of the world largest cattle stations...on the Stuart Highway.
First stop at "the Devils Marbles" a collection of huge,round,red colored boulders...the Aborigines know them as "Karlukarlu" and for them it is still a spiritually and at the same time a scared site...
Back on Stuart HGW next fuel stop at Wycliffe Well, the Ufo center if Australia, owned by a Dutch mam, Mr Vanderzand.
Along our road we get to see more and more Aborigines hanging out in the streets.
We buy some homemade mango icecream...yummie...and sweet mango wine at a local mangofarm and in Aileron we meet " the Anmatjere man" or "the big man walking" a huge statue of an Aboriginal man with his spear on the top of a mountain and below his wife,daughter and their pet the lizard...Aboriginal Art.
We now arrive in Alice Springs, popularly known as "Alice", the heart of Central Australia with stunning gorges, boundless deserts, landscapes and remote Aboriginal communities.
We hurry to Anzac hill to witness the sunset ovet "Alice" ...great!!!!!
Dorine and Martin are popping out for dinner an me and Luc are cooking Spaghetti Bolognese...
Night fall's over " Alice"
A lot to do today...we're awaiting a phone call from the motorhome branch at Alice Springs if it's ok we drive on to them with some spare cool liquid in case....10h30 we get the go signal and off we are to Tennant Creek.
Meanwhile since yesterday my laptop doesn't work anymore...so sorry for this but I can't upload no more pictures ....
The main street between Mount Isa
and Camoowealis with it's 188km officialy the longest main street in the world!!!
We leave Queensland behind us and are entering the North territory on the Barkly Highway , also known as the Overlander's way...nothing else but desert desert and desert for more than 550km till we arrive at the Three Ways Roadhouse,fuel up and left on to the Stuart Highway to Tennant Creek, our stop for the night...
Tomorrow further down South to Alice Springs.
A refreshing swim in the pool cool's us down after another hot hot day...
Progress Map 19000 km
Sandfire Roadhouse
80 miles Beach
At the Beach
Who is who
1000 shells
Wallow Downs Caravanpark
Gantheaume Point
Three boy's on a row
It feel's good
Ready to take off
and down in the Indian Ocean
Looking for Belgium!!!!
Broome Jetty
Camels on Cable Beach
Camels and ????? on Cable Beach
Bushfire along the Savannah Way
The Baob Prison Tree Derby
Look who say's hello
Derby Wharf Jetty
Lunch at the Roadhouse
Cable Beach Broome
Gantheaume Point Broome
Sunset Cable Beach Broome
China Wall Halls Creek
Dirt roads
Look who I met in the bush
Nature at its best
Aborigines swimming in Fitzroy River
Fitzroy River
Geikie Gorges
Relaxing after a hot day
Warmun fuel stop
A new hat at the hat tree
Baobab tree
Ord River
Lake Argyle Dam
Lake Argyle
Our boat Kimberley Durack
Captain Jess
Crew
Apero 
Sunset
Roadtrain
Parked in Victoria River
Victoria River Gorges
Welcome at Timber Creek
Welcome to Western Australia, farewell Northern Territory
Infinity pool
Lake Argyle
Ord River
Termite Mouth
Termite Mouth as old as I am 50 years...wow...
Plunge pool Florence Falls...cool...
Rockhole Plunge pool
Tolmer Falls
Wangi Falls
Wangi Falls
Young French painter at work Butterfly Farm Batchelor
Darwin
Darwin Waterfront
Cooling off
Jessie II
Sitting at the most Northern Point of my Australia road trip 2015
My guardian angel
Stoke Hill Wharf
What do you think about my new little project, isn't it wonderful...
Gateway to Kakadu National Park
Nurwalandja
Nourlangie Rock
Martin challenging the crocodiles
Progress Map 16400 km
Well what to tell about our night out at Daly Waters Pub... food was great!!!!! but we were almost alone in the pub, so no live band or ambiance ...so we played a game of cards...life can be though in the Northern Outback...
This caravan park Barlow Creek was as far now the worst one we had and it was so dirty that I cancelled my shower this morning...so remind this about Barlow Creek...great special pub, but do not stay over for the night....
Today is a real road day, we would like to get at Daly Waters with it's historical pub on Saturday evening, so 1475 km to drive in 2 days...no time to waste , so right after breaking up camp we hit the road again on Stuart HGW, also known as the Explorer Way...
Well, as we didn't make it to Cooktown, because of cyclone "Nathan" we have some days left, so we decided to drive back to Southern Australia to visit Coober Pedy , an old Opal mining town, also known as The Opal town of Australia and probably in the world...
At 06h35 we are present to watch the sunrise at Ayers Rock and The Olga's....it wasn't perfect but worth to see as it was a bit cloudy...
9h30 we have to say goodbye to our homie "Coco" and welcome our new , baptized "Coco II'...it takes some time to change all our things and while Luc, Martin and Dorine are taking care of this , I drive into town to buy a new laptop ...after some really good advice I decide to make the switch to Apple and I get out the shop with a MacBook Air...now comes the hardest part for a computer dummy as me...installing it and get it to work...but these are worries for this evening, first we have to drive to Yulara ,sitting at the feet of Ayers Rock or Uluru.
A lot to do today, the 2 girls need big maintenance, oil change and tyre change , a real luxury day for them we've booked at Desert Edge Motorcycles...
I hope "Coco" keeps on running and the rear tyres of both bikes are going to make it to Alice Springs...
