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Australia 11 KATHERINE TILL TENNANT CREEK

KATHERINE TILL TENNANT CREEK

Kathrine+50 – Mataranka – Mataranka+35 95
Mataranka+35 – Larrimah – Alexander Frrest cairn 80
Alexander cairn – Daly Waters – Dunmarra 100
Dunmarra – Newcastle Waters – Elliot 103
Elliot – Benner Spring 95
Benner Spring – Banka Banka 60
Banka banka – Stuart Memorial 30
Stuart Memorial – Three Ways – Tennant Creek 75
Tennant creek – picnic area 90King River – Mataranka+35 95 km
It is the same forest and the same gentle hills, nearly flat. Today I don’t have head wind, but it will be the only one day till Teenant creek.
Mataranka have a supermarket, and internet, and plenty room to camp before and after. There is also a rodeo ground at the end on left. People there are nice. On right 3 km away there is a hot water spring, 30 dC, it is too hot I miss it. I continue 35 km more till the free campsite, with watertanks, where I camp. A caravan driver gives me 2 beers, and café. I see goulds and other birds,it is a good place.
Mataranka+35 – Larrmah – Alexander Forrest cairn 80
it is the Same open forest and the same gentle hilly road, with headwind. Well I slow at 15 km/h and I have always to make effort, but yet I go ahead.
Larrimah is just a few houses, 2 caravan park, and an old ralway station. It is possible to camp in Pink Panter pub, 7$, along the hwy, or in front there is an abandoned caravan park, or behind, near the museum, following the WW2 trail.
I decide to continue, as if I stop there I will have later a night in the bush. So I go 40 km further, till Alexander Forrest cairn on right, which is a memorial site of the telegraph. It is just a small place to camp near the cairn, but it is OK. And caravan drivers make a short stop, so I can ask for water.
Alexander – Daly Waters – Dunmarra 100
Till Daly Waters it is the same gentle hilly road through the open forest with head wind. Old Dayly Waters is 3 km ahead on the right, so I didn’t make the detour, it is too windy. I continue 3 km ahead on the hwy, and I meet the roadhouse, where I take a shower and buy milk. They have too some beans cans. It is lunch time, so I eat some muesli, and some people jokes with me.
Then the forest changes and becomes acacias open forest. I continue till Dunmarra roadhouse, and I camp just in front in the bush,it is a good shady place.
Dunmarra – Newcastle Water – Elliot
It is the same gentle hilly road through the acacia forest during 60 km, till Newcastle. Then comes 15 km of a dry swamp with little eucalyptus and acacias, 3 m high. That is Newcastle creek. Then comes Newcastle village, 3 km on right, where I didn’t go, and after the cross there is a picnic area,which is very in the wind. I was thinking to camp there, but it is very incomfortable, only sun and wind. So I continue till Elliot, where just at the entrance I turn right in the show ground, which is burnt, but OK to camp.
Elliot is a little town with all services, and 2 roadhouses with store. Food is very bad in United roadhouse.
Elliot – Benner Spring 95
It is the same gentle hilly road, and I have strong wind in the morning, less in the afternoon. There are the same shrubs land, with sometime beautiful colours. I see a salt lake on right, about at midway. Benner Spring is a road house, where I camp for 10$.
Benner Spring – Banka Banka 60
It is the same gentle hilly road through the shrubs land, sometime just grass with scattered trees. It is very windy and hot today. I see a few little red cliffs. I stop in Banka Banka farm and caravan park, nice place, 10$.
Banka Banka – Stuart Memorial 30
It is the same gentle hilly road but with some crests. I Have still head wind. Well I learned it is commun fom Darwin till Alice Spring, wind is coming South East. I stop early, I need to rest and to maintain the bicycle. I have a good talk with a French tourist in afternoon, and with Aussie travellers too.
Stuart Memorial – 3 Ways – Tennant Creek 75
It is the same hilly road through the shrubs land. I have Light wind today. Sometime there are forest with trees 3 – 5 m high. 3 Ways is a noisy and expensive roadhouse. There is a short climbing 4 km before Tennant Creek, and at the top the turn to Ann lake recreation reserve, 2 km on left. I should go there to camp. And then I could next day take a day rest, and go down in the afternoon downtown for all, and sleep there. But I was anxious about food and internet, so I continue till downtown. Well Tennant creek has all services in the main road, a big store, and a lot of black people drunk, wandering in the streets. So I decide to go to an official campsite, Pekoe road, 16 $. Just after is the show ground, where it seems possible to camp, pitching the tent at 6 pm.

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