Cadet Reporter: Michael Gavin
The destination target for our travels today from Tibooburra was the outback opal mining town of White Cliffs, some 250 klm away, so a leisurely start. Tony wandered around the town taking approx. 10 minutes to take in the sites. Hills of large boulders surrounded the park and town. The drive in theatre accommodated a very small number of cars. Tony was very impressed with the vehicle bull bars and setup of a couple of roo shooters in town at the time.
Off to White Cliffs where we again were on dirt and travelled through diverse landscapes ranging from large treeless grassy plains, sandy tracts, stony and rocky plains. Dry river and creek crossings had deep red sandy beds.
We saw wild goat herds on a number of occasions, as well as wild horses, and for Dot & Michael’s first time swerving to miss snakes on the road. Tony’s eagle eye again picked up a potential problem from wild horses at full gallop converging towards the road we were travelling on………I don’t know how he picks them up as these initial images were blobs of dust to us some 500 – 1000 metres off at 10 o’clock in the distance. we thought once we saw the dust cloud they may have been cars or motor bikes, but Tony insisted they were animals. He was right, they were brumbies………they stopped well clear of the road.
We arrived in White Cliffs and visited the Underground Motel to book in. Unfortunately all booked out [school holidays for NSW & Qld] and no other underground accommodation in town. So a quick lunch was decided and we would set off for Broken Hill.
This did not happen immediately as Michael noticed an issue with Prado’s front suspension – well down on the driver’s front side. A local had a quick look and indicated a collapsed suspension arm, therefore need for a tow-tray truck…….so RACV contacted and truck despatched from Broken Hill – 300 klm away.
We went for lunch to the local outlet. We all ordered – Tony & Jen received theirs and after some 30 mins Michael went to ask where Dot & his lunch was, only to be told it had been cooked and handed out . After convincing them that we had not received the burgers, they indicated they would cook new ones for us. 25 minutes later we enquire where burgers were, only to be told they had been cooked and given to “us”. Another disputed discussion re non receipt and finally we receive them some 15 minutes later.
Tony & Jen stayed for awhile trying to organize accommodation in Broken Hill – very difficult. Finally they went off to Broken Hill and we waited for the truck……a walk around town visiting an opal store and reading in the car, whilst waiting for the tow truck. Finally it arrives around 4.30pm and after loading we head off for Broken Hill arriving at 8.30pm EST.
We have “Total Care” package for roadside service and this meant that the RACV organised accommodation for us…….in this case the NRMA tow truck operator has it all covered – towing, owns the accommodation as well as the hire car.
Home delivery pizza for late tea and off to bed in a daze, after another day in a town truck cabin – Longreach on Saturday and now White Cliffs to Broken Hill on Tuesday……
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