As I’ve mentioned elsewhere, the track from the Stuart Highway to Nhulunbuy is around 600kms of gravel, corrugations, sand, mud, creeks and a little bit of bitumen. Its hard to gauge how difficult the drive will be but we planned to take two or three days and camp on the way. As it was, the track wasn’t too bad other than a couple of hundred kilometres around the community of Bulman. Early evening on day one, we camped on a gravel pit off the track but were pestered by flies. We had to have a cold dinner inside the van. As is often the case, we watched a stunning sunset before going to bed and reading. We always sleep so well with complete silence outside and it’s lovely to be awakened by the birds singing.

I really love the track particularly when we see buffalo and wild donkeys. I’m still hoping to see dingoes again. We have only seen one this trip but on another road (cant remember where!)

We arrived in Nhulunbuy late afternoon of day two and made our way to the Gove Boat Club to camp. It’s a lovely campsite attached to the boat club with amazing views over the sea. Being next to the club is a bit of a trap as it has great meals and inexpensive drinks! We will stay here until the end of the month when we are house sitting for December and January. I advised the local high school, that I am available for relief teaching again and they offered me work for the rest of the school year. That will certainly help our finances.

The reason we have returned to Nhulunbuy (apart from the fact that we like it), is to spend more time with family. Kyran and Vanessa have had another baby boy called Joey born early November so we are enjoying time with him and Tommy.