Something we missed on the way in, though we suspect we miss more than we see, was tillite.

Glacial morraine.

Its still not a nice drive due to the heavy corrugations.

We pass an unfortunate couple who have broken the chassis of their caravan.

Both tanks filled, to take us all the way to Alice Springs.

Today it is a road. Albeit one with a reputation for rough corrugations.

The grader we met after about 20 km explained why it seemed so smooth.

No help required.

In total, one kangaroo, three cars, one road train, three cows, and lots of corrugations.

Our speed is comfortable around 60 km/hr.

It looked very uncomfortable, feeling every corrugation.

In 1978 we bought some of the toughest steak we've ever encountered.

An interesting conversation in which the station owner / manager (?) attempted to convince us that we could drive all the way to Alice Springs on the track across the desert. He was sure we'd be able to find petrol at a couple of stations along the way.

We decided not to. Our car was a 2 speed automatic Holden. We carried 25 litres of water, no spare petrol, only one spare tyre, and the engine was a bit iffy. Add to lack of preparation, our experience of desert travel was a bit limited.

Fast forward 40 years and the Tanami Road seems just such an obvious short cut for us.

In 1978 I had to glue several photograph prints together on a piece of plywood to have a panorama. A razor blade to taper the edges.

Fast forward 40 years and the camera does it for me.

The floor is 20 m below the surrounding plain. It used to be 120 m lower but has filled with sand over the years.

About 50,000 tonnes of meteorite impacted about 300,000 years ago.

The campsite is about 400 m from the crater. A fellow camper with a noisy generator gave us an excuse to camp in the day use area so we had an early start.

This is a forest of small mounds.

We attempt to buy a camping permit for Lake Gregory at the community store. As the sign at the turnoff from the Great Northern Highway suggested.

The storekeeper was adamant the permit was only for Stretch Lagoon. If we wanted to camp at Lake Gregory we must ask at Balgo. Contrary to the sign at the road end.

Some of our maps show "permit required" for some roads. Others don't.

We decide to carry on along the Tanami Road.

Pity really, as Lake Gregory looked interesting.

We have internet, presumably from Balgo, 35 km to our south.

There's a stiff wind blowing that raises dust.

Y is for Yuendumu.

Obviously easier on our side of the road so we pull off the road.

Driver stopped for a chat.

When moving all the wheels were bouncing. It looked very uncomfortable.

There was a second one behind. We passed on the far side of the road.

Very much closed.

We are about 10 km from Newmont Mining's The Granites treatment plant. Associated with the Dead Bullock Soak Mine, about 40 km west.

So good 4G internet.

The gold mine is one of Australia's largest.

We watched road trains on the road from mine to plant.

Dust for miles.

It isn't as bad as it looks. We are comfortable around 60 -  70 km/hr with a few short stretches between 50 and 60. With some also at 80.

Mostly spinifex with occasional shrubs.

And widely spaced gum trees.

The termites get to watch.

And a distinct lack of ground cover.

Presumably from grazing.

We couldn't decide if the road train was moving. Just as we got close it created a nice cloud of dust but we managed to pass.

We've been following it for about 300 km.

Next mystery, of course, is what the water is for.

Edit:- its actually a natural gas pipeline. 440km from the Amadeus gas pipeline where it crosses the Tanami Road to The Granites and out to the mine. Add to natural gas powered electricity generators. Its planned to be 200mm underground.

         Of course one now wonders what all the bores are for. They are not gas.

We have reached the bitumen. All the way to Alice Springs this time.

So we pump up the tyres.

A few hills. A relief after 800 km of the almost flat plain of the Tanami Desert with just occasional ridges. Not even dunes, the plain simply undulates a bit.

We are approaching the north side of the West McDonnell Ranges.

Papunya 105 km. Kintore 375 km. Less than a day's drive.

We re-fuelled at Kintore in April. We've nearly completed one half of a figure of eight.

On single lane road its easiest to pull off the road

Not far south is Alice Springs.

The speedo cable broke before Purnululu. A new one is on its way. In the meantime I'd been using the hand held gps to record distances. Add that the left hand fuel gauge stopped working and calculating fuel became interesting. We reached Alice Springs from Halls Creek, more than 1100 km, with more than 100 km fuel remaining. We had head winds for part of the Tanami, some 4wd, and low tyre pressures, all of which increase fuel consumption.

Not in this pic but jumpups begin to appear.

I bought some dielectric paste in Alice. Managed make a good connection at the fuel changeover valve and remade connection at the left hand fuel tank sender. By coincidence the right hand tank sender needed resoldering. A few other odd fixes.

Also purchased some heater hose (we plugged the heater connections on replacement engine) as its now cold in the mornings. Tomorrow's task.