Well folks, the Cairns to Darwin Intrepid’eans made it through nearly 4000 km including 1460 km of often rough, dusty, stony but mostly corrugated roads to Darwin.

Elapsed time was 65 days.

STRAGGLINGSTU at the end in Darwin

Outstanding contributor to the ride was Brian. Brian not only got up early to make the porridge and cooked the evening meals as well ,  hauled up to 16 litres of water for himself but also for cooking for the camp (the rest of us carried 9-12 litres depending on how dry the stage looked, and oversaw with Christine the  buying of food at remote shops to provision the camp. But best of all he carried a lightweight nylon hammer to bang in tent pegs!

Thanks to the other Intrpideans,  Brian, Bruce, Christine and for part of it, Chris O’B,  for not leaving Straggling Stu behind when he collapsed completely unable to go on, either for lack of fitness, lack of food or because he had overheated in the 34+C/high humidity conditions.  Your patience was one of the great things of the trip.

More news about covering the last few hundred kilometres will be posted in coming days.  Let’s hint that it involves more dust and corrugations, crossing crocodile -infested creeks, crazed drivers and even more pasta and tuna dinners.

More later, good night folks.