Day 20: Tennant Creek - Barkly Homestead

Where do I start...

Oh Henry!

We visited the cultural centre in Tennant Creek before we headed east to Barkly Homestead.

Henry felt a little sluggish and we put it down to having a few days of cold and now it was heating up again.

There was a moment of worry a few hours into our journey when we both noticed a distinct burning smell. It took a while but it finally dawned on us that we were running along side a bush fire. I just thought it had gone a bit hazy.

Half an hour later Oly shouted for me to stop and pull over as there was smoke filling the inside of the van behind us. We turned off the engine and had a look, couldn't see anything obviously wrong so we thought Henry needed a rest.

He wouldn't start up again.

Oly suggested one of us cycle the remaining 30km to the Homestead and get help. I just replied with "Urban Myth". I could see it now, he cycles off, it goes dark, he still hasn't returned. Hours later there is a banging on the roof of Henry, 10 police cars rock up and get me out of the car saying "don't look back", I look back and there is some psycho with Oly's head banging it on the roof. It was too hot to cycle and there was enough traffic on this road. We would be fine. Its a good job I haven't seen the movie Wolf Creek yet.

It was two hours and 30 cars/road trains later before anyone stopped for us. Luckily for us Todd and his father Alex pulled over to see if we needed any help and towed us to Barkly Homestead.

We spent the rest of the afternoon in the bar talking with them. Todd is a tour guide based in Alice Springs and his father lives just outside of Sydney. Alex had flown up to Alice to join Todd for the long drive home for Christmas. Todd has recently adopted a beautiful 10 weeks old puppy called Knuckles who was so cute, he fitted perfectly into a small round washing up tub. We had a great time and they certainly kept our mind off Henry. We were very sad to see them go.

We are hoping tomorrow Henry will be well rested and raring to go...

Em

Miles: 200km
Time: 5 hours
Location: Click Me!
Temp: 39c
Music:
Audio book - Artemis Fowl - The Arctic Incident, Eoin Colfer