Between asphalt and barbed wire

Day: 217 Stage three / total expedition days 608

Sunrise:
05:24

Sunset:
18:52

As the crow flies:
19,2

Daily kilometers:
35

Total kilometers:
6267 km

Temperature - Day (maximum):
38.5° degrees, sun approx. 59°

Temperature - Night:
20.9° degrees

Latitude:
22°03'22.0"

Longitude:
147°07'42.0"

Laurell Hills Camp – 12/19/2002

After another 12 kilometers, we reach the Gregory Developmental Road, which leads us directly to Clermont. It is a well-maintained asphalt road on which cars, trucks and road trains thunder past at regular intervals. Thank goodness there is a cleared strip of earth just 20 meters from the main road where we can walk along with our caravan. In this way, the large road trains are not quite so frightening for our animals. Jasper and Edgar in particular are still very anxious and jump to the side every time a loud road train whizzes past. Since the two of them have hardly made the acquaintance of motorized vehicles since leaving the west coast, i.e. for over 4000 kilometers, they now believe that they are literally being eaten by each of the trucks. Their fear is uncontrollable and Tanja and I are very worried that they will simply run into the road in their panic and then get run over. So far we have managed to get ourselves and our animals across the entire continent without any major injuries. Of course, we don’t want to take any more risks on the last 600 kilometers.

Directly to our right is a border fence of a station that keeps the cattle away from the dangerous asphalt strip. Constricted by barbed wire and the road, we suddenly left the freedom and solitude of the outback behind us. Many of the drivers wave to us in a friendly and well-meaning manner. Some of them stop to talk to us. Although we are no longer used to having constant contact with people, we are very happy about this situation because it makes us realize how close we have come to our goal. We are slowly realizing what we have achieved in recent years. Feelings of happiness and surges of energy now flow through my body from time to time. We are extremely motivated and move forward at a speed of 5.7 kilometers per hour.

Around midday we meet the station owners of Laurel Hill “The water dam on the right-hand side of the road is completely dry. If you like, you are welcome to water your animals on the other side. The dam there still holds enough water,” says the friendly man, to which we gratefully accept his offer.

After almost seven hours, we reach the dam described above. We have covered 35 kilometers today and set up camp tired. Rufus, who rides incessantly due to the constant danger of the poisoned dingo bait, is also exhausted and quickly hides under a saddle. His eyes have been watering for days. They are inflamed and swollen. “I think the sun’s bright rays are the cause of this inflammation. I’ll give him some eye drops,’ I say thoughtfully. “What kind of eye drops?” Tanja wants to know. “Well, ours. We have tear fluid with us that helps with minor irritations. It’s also good for our Rufus,’ I say and take the drops out of the toiletry bag. “Come here Rufus,” I order him, whereupon his body crawls backwards out from under the saddle. “That will do you good, my friend,” I say, holding one of his eyes open with my fingers and letting a drop slide into it. When his other eye is also served, he immediately disappears under the saddle again. “I’m sure he’ll be better tomorrow,” I say confidently and light the dry wood under the thermet to boil water for dinner.