Chris Posted August 29, 2018 Report Share Posted August 29, 2018 We have arrived at Gem Tree NT this morning, after crossing the Plenty Track from Boulia. We enjoyed great weather, and mostly good conditions. There was a rough patch which slowed us down. Here is the summary of the road condition. There is 216 kms between Boulia to Tobermory. Mostly flat and relatively barren country. The first stretch of about 60 kms was bitumen, with small sections of good gravel. We let down the tyres about 50 kms from Tobermory. Last 15 kms before NT border is mostly bitumised with short stretches of gravel in between . About 40 kms from Tobermory was roadworks being done, for about 20 kms or so. From Tobermory to 380 kms from SH was very rough, with corrugations and swales of bulldust. This was slow going and generally we sat on 50 kms an hour for almost all that stretch. At the 380 from the Stuart Highway point there was a good graded section. The bitumen started about 80 kms from the Stuart Highway and then continued all the way to Gem Tree.. About 60 kms West Of Tobermory we came across a Kimberly Karavan on its side and skewed across the road. A single axle van, and driven at a bit of speed (it was going pretty fast when it overtook us and the driver later told us he was now aware he was going too fast), it had hit a bump, pivoted in the air and collapsed on its side. As he had a swivelling hitch, the towing vehicle was stable and unaffected. The driver was remarkably adept and seemed unaffected by the accident. Together with a couple of others who arrived on the scene shortly after us, the driver unhitched it, winched the van back upright with a huge ‘crunch’ and then rehitched it. It was drivable, which is a testament to the van’s strength I guess. He said he would return to Tobermory and then assess his options. I took a number of photos of the van in case he needed it for insurance purposes. One of the photos shows big rocks all embedded into the side of the van wall! Apart from that little incident our trip was unremarkable; oh, we did get a flat tyre which Val will repair in Alice. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted September 11, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2018 Here is the trip report for the crossing of the Plenty. I am almost ready to post the report for the Great Central Road! Stage 3 August 2018 Plenty Highway.pdf 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wandering Slaters Posted September 11, 2018 Report Share Posted September 11, 2018 Another great report Chris - thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyH Posted September 11, 2018 Report Share Posted September 11, 2018 Another great report Chris.......no mention of cream buns! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted September 11, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2018 1 hour ago, TonyH said: Another great report Chris.......no mention of cream buns! Very funny...but Alice Springs had cream buns. I had some there, does that count? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wandering Slaters Posted September 12, 2018 Report Share Posted September 12, 2018 Yeah, scarce as hens teeth those cream buns Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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