1 November - Tennant Creek

As the sun rose on October 27th, we continued our ride south on the Stuart Highway across the Outback, this being a 103 km ride from Katherine to Mataranka, the first of five riding days to our next rest day in Tennant Creek.

At the beginning, we still had trees on both sides of the road along with admonition not to set them on fire.

As we went on, the trees in general became smaller and fewer. When we saw one of these signs, it meant that there was no hope of seeing any shade at all until the rest area.

Termite mounds have been everywhere from Darwin onwards. Many of them along the highway get imaginatively clothed.

At lunch time we were beside this field that looks as if termite mounds are a cash crop...?

Arriving in Mataranka, we found a termite mound in the middle of town that is actually a tourist attraction...

...along with an explanation of all the good things that termites do, assuming I suppose that they aren't residing in the wood structure of your home.

A pleasant surprise about 2 km up the road from the campsite was the 'Bitter Springs' with clear warm, but refreshing, water and no crocodiles that we saw.

 

The next day was 169 km to Daly Waters which until the 1960s was an important stopping point for international air traffic to Australia. It was a long day and most of us made it to the Daly Waters Pub which apparently is one of Australia's top ten.

Another long day the next day with a morning cold drink stop at a caravan park where they made a practice of feeding the local lorikeets.

Rainbow Lorikeets

 

Rainbow Lorikeet

Apart from that, the third riding day was just plain long and hot hot hot. With 20 km to go, temperature on the computer 47 degrees, sun directly above, we picked up a horrible headwind. We made it another 10 km and somebody came by telling us we were crazy and offering a ride to camp.

We took it.

The next day was shorter and overnight at was at Renner Springs.

This place added to the bird photo collection...

Red-tailed Black Cockatoo

Blue-faced Honeyeater

Brown Honeyeater



Zebra finch

White-breasted Wood Swallow

Leaving Renner Springs was Lubra's Lookout...

...and a closer look at the riders on the road.

...and as can be seen here, lots of areas of fewer trees.

Rest day was in Tennant Creek... a town of 3500 originally a telegraph relay site, later (1930s to 1980s) gold mining. But off season, we found it eerily quiet. This viewpoint shows the old minehead at Battery Hill. The town is behind it and the airport behind that.

Some more birds - a pink parrot on a power line...

Galah

Kites out near Lake Mary Ann recreation area...

Black Kite

...and in this photo, one kite, the one with the spread wings, is landing behind the other...

Black Kite

Black Kite

...and, surprise out here in the outback, we saw pelicans in Lake Mary Ann (which is manmade behind a dam).

Australian Pelican

Tomorrow, November 2nd, begins four days to Alice Springs, a bit over 500 km, where we take the next rest day. Until then...