When Doc and I travel we like to steer clear of main highways as much as possible. Back roads are always prettier, less crowded, and you get to see much more of the country side.
If we get lost – well, it’s all an adventure isn’t it.
So on our journey along the Murray River, we decided we’d take the roads that run closest to the river, rather than take the highway between river towns.
It all worked out well until we were travelling from Renmark to Wentworth, and the junction of the Murray and the Darling Rivers.
I gave Doc the choice. Out along the highway to Mildura and then back in to Wentworth, or along the back road. An unsealed road via Cooltong, past a few stations, and down around Lake Victoria. We’d been on the main highway for about 10k, and that was enough for both of us, so, of course, he choose the unsealed road.
We turned off at Cooltong towards Wentworth. “Unsealed road” the sign said “Conditions vary. Drive to the conditions. 80km maximum speed.”
No biggie. The triton has done many a dirt road.
60km or so along the road we came to a sign.
Wentworth ↑85km
Wentworth via Rufus River → 144km
The Rufus River Road was the one that took us down around Lake Victoria, and back close to the Murray River. No contest. We turned right.
Then there was another sign
Dry road only
Closed when wet
Again. No worries. It had been over 30 degrees all day, and beautiful clear blue skies. The black clouds off to our left didn’t worry us. They were high in the sky, there didn’t appear to be any rain falling out of them, and we should be off the road by the time they got to us anyway.
And there were willy-willies over that way so it was obviously dry.
Famous last words.
“What will happen if it rains” I asked
“This will turn to mud.” Said Doc “It’s red dust. It will turn to thick, sticky, mud.”
We were fine for about 30km. Then a few light raindrops hit the windscreen.
We both carefully avoided looking at each other. Doc refused to put the wipers on – if you don’t acknowledge it, it isn’t happening.
We bravely (or stupidly) drove on. There wasn’t much point turning back, the other road was dirt as well.
Finally, we reached Lake Victoria. Where there was nowhere to stay the night.
“I want to have a look over the lake” I said “There’s a lookout up there. I know we’re racing the weather so I’ll be quick.”
Just before I got out of the car I heard a bang. “Was that thunder?” I opened the car door. There was another bang. “Hmm. Yes it was. And there’s lightning.”
Still, I had to run off a few quick shots.
Then I had to stop 50m down the road at the outlet from the lake to take another few quick shots. While the rain was getting heavier and heavier. If a drop hit me in the eye I think it would have taken my eye out.
As we were driving away from Lake Victoria there was another sign.
Dry road only
Closed when wet
“It’s not closed yet” said Doc “We’ll keep going. The worst that could happen is we sleep in the car tonight”
Life’s just one big adventure with us!
A few kilometres down the road I turned to Doc “I felt the car slide then.”
“Naah.” he said “You don’t need to worry until we lose the bum”*
We counted down the kilometres to Wentworth, while the car slid a few times. There were puddles and shiny, clay mud on the road, and big puddles alongside the road where the water couldn’t soak into the clay.
But we never quite lost the bum.
Finally, we made it to the end, and an asphalt road into Wentworth and the junction of the Murray and Darling Rivers. A spectacular sight with all the lightning flashes over the town!
So now we’ve booked into a cabin in a caravan park on the Darling River because it’s too wet to camp. Doc has discovered monuments to grey fergies** so he’s happy as a pig in mud.
Which is where we nearly were!
*Translation for non-Australians – Until the back of the car starts to slide and we can’t control it through steering, we’ll be ok
**A grey Fergie is a type of tractor from the 1940s & 50s that did everything and never broke down. It became so ubiquitous in country Australia that there is now a “Grey Fergie Rally”.
