West2East Challenge Day 8: Gemtree to Tobermorey – 425km

Last night at Gemtree was an absolute blast – the best evening with the gang and our new friends! Kate and her team provide us with a breakfast of epic proportions – the best bacon and egg sandwich so far, and we’ve had a few! It’s another glorious morning and it finally dawns on Simon that he’s without his Kangaroo hide leather hat, and Kangaroo Joe has it! Cue the dramatic music! Who wouldn’t want to go on a treasure hunt at 8am I ask you! And lo and behold, Holly Day and Andy Venture were in on the hat-napping action and you’ll be pleased to read that the hat was found safe and sound and returned to its rightful owner, once he’d found it!

I’m quite sad to leave here today, I’d love to stay and explore the area, there’s so much to do – fossicking for gems, the nature trail, cycling tours and of course the evening entertainment like karaoke and more Paddy Melon Boules! But they’re adventures for another time, I will definitely be back one day!

So a fond farewell was said to Kate, Aaron and the others and with our little gem souvenirs in hand, we set off for Tobermorey – not the wise Womble but the destination Simon has been most looking forward to because of its name! Only 424km today but we really are in the middle of nowhere right now and the road conditions are somewhat tricky! We think about 9 hours driving today, give or take a photoshoot or two!

Speaking of which, we stopped for several shoots today and it’s dawning on me that we’re probably passing less than 20 other cars every day and we haven’t had mobile phone reception since Alice Springs – what a joy! Today’s in car entertainment is a game of cards, which really is as ridiculous as it sounds, given what the roads are like, but ‘Eye Spy’ and ‘Who Am I’ are beginning to wear a little thin right now! Still, passing from one side of the road to the other is making the card game interesting to say the least! It’s very difficult to keep consistency on these roads. They may be straight but the surfaces change so frequently that you’re always on the lookout for a better surface whilst watching out for cows, camels, emus or horses wanting and willing to walk out in front of you. Still no kangaroos though! These creatures are as mythical as a unicorn I think!

Today’s lunch is set up at Jervois Station on the MacDonnell Ranges on the Plenty Highway. Surprisingly fuel, a public phone, refreshments and toilets are available here. We’re told by the lady who owns the place that their water supply is bore water which is accessed and supplied from underground via aquifers and is the source of most of the water here. The total land for this farm is 1m hectares – unbelievable! Everything here is supersize! Looking at the map I can’t imagine what it’s like trying to maintain land of this magnitude!

There’s a couple of things here which make this place the most quirky we’ve visited so far; the sign on the wall made me laugh, it reads: 

“Due to rising costs and stupid questions:

Answers are now $2

Answers with thought $4

Correct answers $5

Dumb looks are still free!!”

And interestingly on a shelf just above the drinks are 7 jars containing dead local wild animals including 2 scorpions, some sort of mouse and spider to name a few. Interesting! Once we’d paid for the fuel (right next to the collection of original fuel pumps) we set up for lunch in the shade, and are we ever grateful for the fridges in the back of the Toyotas! Sandwiches and chips with dip are on the menu today, and it’s a free-for-all! A nice cold drink is very welcome too.

We have noticed our first damage though, and it’s not to either of the caravans! On our last photoshoot a car passed us on the road and must have kicked up a stone which has actually cracked the windscreen! Not just a chip, there’s a crack along it about a quarter of the way across from the driver’s side! Mayday anyone? Not out here! We’ll just have to keep an eye on it! I’m in the other vehicle though and it’s my turn to drive.

The desert is never ending – and I’m not complaining! It’s absolutely stunning and as harsh as it looks, I really do love it here. It’s so completely different to anywhere I’ve ever been or am ever likely to go again so I’m soaking up every minute. So much so that we go flying past the turning for Tobermorey as we were gawping at the sunset! Wondrous as usual! No sweat though, we ‘chucked a u-ie’ and headed into Tobermorey Roadhouse which is a lovely quaint site with hanging baskets at the entrance.

There’s only one other camper here tonight so it’s extremely peaceful (and still no mobile reception!) My turn to cook this evening and burgers with onions and sausages are on the menu, dish delish! Our game of choice this evening is Texas Hold’em which is quite interesting given that we’re all pretty tired from 10 hours of driving but Simon and Lance turn out to be the big players, only to be outplayed by cameraman Steve!

Our destination will be Boulia tomorrow, not too far to go at 260km and rumour has it there’s tarmac and mobile reception – excitement is almost at fever pitch!

Have a look at the beautiful Tobermorey site here:

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That’s all for now folks!