The day started well before dawn when the local dingoes decided to have a bit of a chat. It wasn’t clear how close they were, as their howls seemed to echo off the nearby escarpment. We packed up camp fairly quickly and were soon back on our easterly journey towards Gregory National Park and the community of Timber Creek. Cruising along on the Victoria Highway was also a change from recent dusty, and sometimes rough, gravel tracks.
While minding our own business, cruising along and with no sign of another vehicle, the rear window of the Prado exploded into lots and lots of little pieces of tinted glass. Whereas previously the rear vision outlook was through a dusty rear window, now a clear, unimpeded view of the Tvan was present. The next leg of our journey to Timber Creek was interrupted by the sound of fine pieces of safety glass falling out into the back of the Prado every time we hit a slight bump in the road.
We asked at Timber Creek it they had anything we could use to patch up the hole where the glass used to be and returned with a number of different sized cardboard boxes. Fortunately Chris had packed a couple of rolls of duct tape and a temporary repair was eventually in place.
Timber Creek is located on the banks of the Victoria River, a large, fast flowing and murky river that is apparently home to numerous estuarine crocodiles and popular – seemly very popular -with the fishing fraternity. This would have to be barra heaven in this part to the Northern Territory. Interestingly, the town has two service stations, side by side – neither had their prices advertised. When we investigated, we found that the first servo was selling diesel for $2.05 per litre while the adjoining station was selling it for $1.96! Strangely, people were queuing for fuel at the more expensive outlet while we drove straight into the cheaper pumps and filled up.
Our plan was to drive east until we came to the Buchanan Hwy, a well maintained gravel road that skirts the eastern boundary of Gregory National Park and includes a recommended camping area immediately over the Victoria River crossing (about 2.5 hours drive from Timber Creek). We were soon upon the turnoff, where Chris stopped to lower the tyre pressure on the Prado. On inspecting the patch job on the rear window, it was obvious it was not going to be sufficient to deal with the next 300kms of dusty gravel road. If we had continued we would be sneezing mud within a short time!
A quick adjustment of the itinerary had us return to the Victoria Highway and continue in a north-easterly direction to the nearest large town in these parts, Katherine. The journey took us along the banks of the Victoria River for some time before eventually rising up the escarpment and onto familiar savannah country. It also became apparent that we were moving into more lush country, with more head of cattle obvious in the properties we passed through.
The run into Katherine was not planned, but we have checked on the Internet and there are a number of places that may be able to help replace the rear window of the Prado – hopefully permanently. If not, we should have access to materials that will allow for a more substantial patch-up job; with some lengthy stretches of the dusty Savannah Way still ahead of us as we make our way towards Lorella Springs and Lawn Hill National Park.
Three things we are grateful for today: 1) we weren’t on dusty roads when the window exploded; 2) it didn’t rain after the patch job was put in place; 3) Chris packed duct tape.