Our second Wallaby - Hobart to Darwin, Perth, Adelaide, Jindabyne and Narabeen NSW

I left Hobart on the 18th May to have the Navara undergo a service and other work in preparation for the big trip this year. Later that week Dallas joined me in Shearwater.

I had a few projects to complete which were extremely difficult to do given the rain and weather. On Sunday the 24th we boarded TT Lines ferry, Spirit 1, for the night sail to Melbourne. One of the smoothest voyages we have ever experienced when we disembarked at 6.45am. We were allocated deck 3 which had us disembarking on the same wharf as the semi trailers that did not have a prime mover.

Berthing at St Kilda

Not a good wharf to arrive on as we could not pick up our gas bottles in the normal spot and were instructed to park on St Kilda Esplanade and then walk back to get the gas bottles. Quite a difficult task when towing a caravan. Not an ideal way to start our 2nd Wallaby but it was not too long before we were on the road to Adelaide.

The Spirit 1 at berth. I had to walk back from
here to pick up the gas bottles.

We drove straight through to Adelaide via Ballarat and Bordertown arriving in Blackwood at approximately 5.00pm. Backed the van down the drive without too many dramas and then unloaded what was required in Emily and Genni's home.

The week was very enjoyable looking after grandchildren, painting with them and visiting their schools, plus finishing off the projects to get on the road to Darwin. Some of the projects included a steel jerry can rack on the roof of the Navara, a water filtering system to cope with some of Central Australia's water and getting a metal spinner in Adelaide to make a tray for our firepot as most Parks will no longer allow you to have the pot elevated with out an ash tray.

We met and had lunch at the Seacliff Esplanade Hotel with my brothers Andy and Paul and their wives Judy and Sherry. In early days Andy, Paul and I with our other brother Mark and sister Maree often went to the Seacliff as it was a place our Dad enjoyed from time to time.

Andy, Pete and Paul.

Sherry, Dallas and Judy

It was great to catch up again but today it was time to move on. We plan to travel north to the Flinders Ranges and Wilpena Pound and camp for a few days. We will then embark on the Oodnadatta Track, this track follows the old Gahn rail route. We will only take the Oodnadata track to Maree and then out to Coober Pedy. From there following the Stuart Highway to Darwin taking in all of the great stop overs along the way.

Draw back number one, arriving at Wilmington, late today the caretaker advised us that the Oddnadata track was closed today due to heavy rains recently. We will probably sit it out for a few days in Hawker and Wilpena Pound to ensure the track is safe to drive through. More later.

Getting to Wilmington today we drove from Adelaide to Gawler, then up through the Clare Valley, out to Gladstone passing through Tarlee, an old childhood holiday spot with my cousins the Sullivans. Then on to Laura, Yacka, another childhood holiday spot and Melrose where the beautiful Mount Remarkable is just before arriving at Wilmington. More to follow.

Driving into Mount Remarkable.

CJ Dennis, Sentimental Bloke, Laura SA.