Still behind bars in Halls Creek

Don’t forget to click the title The One About.... to see all the stories I have put up. Also any updates I may have made. They don’t get emailed again so you have to go looking for them.

I did my best but Ruth held out till Sunday before she tested positive. I think a few days after her first symptoms and in fact the worst of it for her all ready over. The hospital apparently very busy as there is a Rodeo on. She spent 5 hours to see the doctor and be dispensed anti virals. Still wait there or here what’s the difference. Still that locks us in till next Sunday 31 July. Breaking out on Monday. Being at the hospital there is no chance of us sneaking out early. We might break out but we need gates unlocked to get the car out.

The second Covid baking orange cake

I think technically I am out of isolation and it has been suggested that I could leave Ruth here but not sure that that would be a good idea.

We sent John and Robyn off on their journey back to Sydney Tuesday. They were heading south east on the Tanami track. Probably camping two nights to get to Alice Springs. Google will not let you go that way but want’s you to go via Katherine 4,488km It just does not think there is a road worth taking to Tamami. There is 503 km. Then 3,383km on to Sydney. Long miles for the rather ageing Landcruiser. Better not say anything about the age or state of the crew.

John, Robyn and Ruth hanging out in our back yard.

Leaves us feeling even stranger in our splendid isolation looking out over a few of the towns streets.

Our exercise compound

Boredom drove me to wash the ute. Things have to be pretty grim to drive me to this. Positive news on the shockies. They did not arrive as promised on Tuesday but neither apparently has the truck they are supposed to be on. There is hope yet.

The Hospital entrance.

Hard to tell this story without painting Halls Creek in a poor light. Shortly after breakfast this morning there was a “commotion” outside much revving of vehicles, some shouting a bit of spinning of wheels and things settled down as vehicles moved off. It was not over though as we became aware of the sound of distant sirens. From our vantage we could see that there were more police vehicles moving than other traffic and it became clear that a pursuit was in progress. It came past us with two rather ageing Troopies making a rather ponderous progress up our street and round the corner past the Hospital - two police cars in pursuit. To call it “high speed” would have been a stretch. They disappeared across then highway and must have hit some back streets as all we could see was a cloud of dust. There are only a few streets in Halls Creek and not far to go so were were able to follow the progress around the block again. One of the vehicles made off to the east the other evidently intercepted in the dust. Meantime a fair crowd gathered. One of those little glimpses which we will probably always wonder about.

Freedom?

We are not sure what this will do to our plans. We never had a schedule but whatever it was has had the better part of two weeks knocked out of it. We have abandoned getting to Broome and doing the “Gibb”. We will have to be happy doing it vicariously by following our mates Andree and Andrew who are posting lots of stuff on their way. We hope to catch up with them possibly Kununurra 2nd Aug. Think we will still target quick visit to Darwin but then heading home without too much delay.