Drama

We got so close to Broome and then we slowed down. And then we discovered – roadblock! Crowds were already there at the Roebuck Plains Roadhouse. Considering you only see a car or truck every 15 minutes or so at most, this was a worry. We found out some people had already been there for three and a half hours. And the crowds kept coming. Bushfire, as it turned out. The bit of smoke we'd seen on the horizon was not so far away and threatening to jump the road. There was plenty of fuel about, with all the dry grass. We finally got away three hours after stopping. But not before enjoying the carnival atmosphere – everyone was so friendly, all sorts talking together; birds, kites mainly, circled magnificently overhead as they flew up out of the smoke; three helicopters came and went, landing on the road – one rumour was that one chopper airlifted out some people in order to meet a tour deadline. But I think that one's a tall story!
We eventually got to Broome for a late tea. Thank goodness we'd decided to go not that night but the next to see the Staircase to the Moon.

Smoke!

Roadblock!!



Roadtrain

Grey nomads, hippy style?



Grey nomads, doing it in luxury?

Bikers

Carnival atmosphere

Sunset

Rolling again

After the event

Truckin'

Yes, the tour vehicle is a Mercedes truck, plus trailer, not a bus at all. A pretty glam truck, the “passenger pod” is really comfortable, surviving the 1,000km Tanami Track. The road was mostly unmade although we were pretty lucky because in several stretches the graders had been through. There were still plenty of corrugations though to shake you up, with a real bone-cruncher every so often. Just warming up for getting into the Bungle Bungles we were warned. As it turned out, that was pretty much rock-n-roll but not too many crunches.

The brilliant driver (Brendan) and the great cook and everything else (Les) are both extra good value. They'll see us through 5,800km as well as anyone could. Les is one of those frantically busy types (and he does have heaps to do each day) who remains calm at all times. Brendan is the loveliest of gentle men, would do anything for you, not at all someone you'd pick as a truckie.



Setting off across the Tanami