The end and the beginning...
Today was the day that Jen flew out, marking the end of a trip that had been a few months in the planning, so it was a little sad in a few ways. But it also marked the start of my trip home, which meant getting the supplies together for 2 weeks of desert travel with probably bugger all resupply opportunities and few fuel stops at community servos along the route.
So as with all desert travel, we start with the preparations. Especially as I'll be doing this bit solo... I'll be keeping the daily blog going, but it will not be updated daily as there is no mobile or wifi for much of the trip. Instead, I'll be keeping in touch with Jen (for safety reasons) through route tracking and checking in on the Spot Tracker, and occasional calls on the satellite phone, both of which have been re-checked in the last couple of days.
So once Jen had gone, I wandered around doing the normal stuff of large shopping trip, but getting mostly cans or soft packed goods as fridge space is limited. It also meant checking the expiry dates on the fresh meat products and reaching to the back of the shelves to get the longest lead time stuff. Worryingly for me (although something I'd usually enjoy) most items are meant for consumption in the next few days. Eek! Although there were a few vacuum packed items that will be kept for later. Then it's the usual gas and fuel refills before hitting the internet for the last minute track checks. Since the roadhouse and community store managers all said the tracks had been used, it's a good sign the trip will be possible, but their comment that conditions vary between rough and bloody rough, or that the last time they saw a grader was probably when Len Beadell passed through may mean my decision to pack food for a fortnight to do an 1800km trip could be useful...
Then to my digs for tonight. The Billi. It's a luxury tent, with no bar or dining facilities on site although there are cooking options in the tent, or a barbecue outside. Sod that! I have to eat my own cooking for the next fortnight. Tonight someone else can do the cooking! And with that, I'm off to the pub. A final Mango beer at Matsos seems in order...
Today was the day that Jen flew out, marking the end of a trip that had been a few months in the planning, so it was a little sad in a few ways. But it also marked the start of my trip home, which meant getting the supplies together for 2 weeks of desert travel with probably bugger all resupply opportunities and few fuel stops at community servos along the route.
So as with all desert travel, we start with the preparations. Especially as I'll be doing this bit solo... I'll be keeping the daily blog going, but it will not be updated daily as there is no mobile or wifi for much of the trip. Instead, I'll be keeping in touch with Jen (for safety reasons) through route tracking and checking in on the Spot Tracker, and occasional calls on the satellite phone, both of which have been re-checked in the last couple of days.
So once Jen had gone, I wandered around doing the normal stuff of large shopping trip, but getting mostly cans or soft packed goods as fridge space is limited. It also meant checking the expiry dates on the fresh meat products and reaching to the back of the shelves to get the longest lead time stuff. Worryingly for me (although something I'd usually enjoy) most items are meant for consumption in the next few days. Eek! Although there were a few vacuum packed items that will be kept for later. Then it's the usual gas and fuel refills before hitting the internet for the last minute track checks. Since the roadhouse and community store managers all said the tracks had been used, it's a good sign the trip will be possible, but their comment that conditions vary between rough and bloody rough, or that the last time they saw a grader was probably when Len Beadell passed through may mean my decision to pack food for a fortnight to do an 1800km trip could be useful...
Then to my digs for tonight. The Billi. It's a luxury tent, with no bar or dining facilities on site although there are cooking options in the tent, or a barbecue outside. Sod that! I have to eat my own cooking for the next fortnight. Tonight someone else can do the cooking! And with that, I'm off to the pub. A final Mango beer at Matsos seems in order...
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| My posh tent |
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| A little bit better than swag on a stretcher bed... |
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| Nice garden setting |
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