An outback trip across ythe Simpson Desert via the Madison Line – June 2024.
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An introduction
Following our Antarctic adventure in 2023, there was a planned trip Outback across the Simpson Desert, however Mother Nature had other ideas – with heavy rains in Northern Australia causing floods across the desert.
So to 2024, where the plans have been resurrected, which suits me perfectly as I couldn’t juggle the trip in 2023. In short we have 6 vehicles and 10 of us venturing North in June 2024.
The crew
- Trip leader – Steve in his Troopy with Stef as passenger
- Brian and Ann in a Nissan Patrol (Ann is Steve’s sister and Brian her son) first outback trip
- Mary and Phil in their new Toyota Fortuner
- Mary and Col in their Toyota 200 series
- Kate in her Pajero
- Me in my Pajero Sport.
- Nic and Sue’s Euro River Cruise and bits on the side. Autumn 2026. Day 22 – Plan C. Amsterdam 1.>>>please if you comment, leave your name as mostly I can’t identify who is making comment.<<< First full day in Amsterdam. First challenge – finding somewhere for breaky, we were too stingy to pay €27 per head at hotel, might be a big mistake!A lot not open till 9 or 10 which is too late… Read more: Nic and Sue’s Euro River Cruise and bits on the side. Autumn 2026. Day 22 – Plan C. Amsterdam 1.
- Nic and Sue’s Euro River Cruise and l bits on the side. Autumn 2026. Day 21 – Plan C. London to Amsterdam.***please if you comment, leave your name as mostly I can’t identify who is making ***comment. Breaky as usual, and then last packing before using Jump app to hail a black cab to take us and our luggage to St Pancras International Rail Station. We were a little early and weren’t able to check in… Read more: Nic and Sue’s Euro River Cruise and l bits on the side. Autumn 2026. Day 21 – Plan C. London to Amsterdam.
- Nic and Sue’s Euro River Cruise and l bits on the side. Autumn 2026. Day 20 – Plan C. London.@@@please if you comment, leave your name as mostly I can’t identify who is making comment.@@@ Another not so early start. Out to the bus stop to walk around Little Venice. It was a nice canal side walk with lots of canal boats moored as homes, cafes and businesses. We met up with Paddington and… Read more: Nic and Sue’s Euro River Cruise and l bits on the side. Autumn 2026. Day 20 – Plan C. London.
- Nic and Sue’s Euro River Cruise and l bits on the side. Autumn 2026. Day 19 – Plan C. London.¥¥¥please if you comment, leave your name as mostly I can’t identify who is making comment.¥¥¥ A lovely long sleep last night. We had dinner at a nearby Greek place and home early. I was trying to blog and watch Ted Lasso and fell asleep. Sue had to wake me to turn off the show.… Read more: Nic and Sue’s Euro River Cruise and l bits on the side. Autumn 2026. Day 19 – Plan C. London.
- Nic and Sue’s Euro River Cruise and l bits on the side. Autumn 2026. Day 18 – Plan C. London.•••please if you comment, leave your name as mostly I can’t identify who is making comment.••• Lucky to get a couple of tickets for a Ted Lasso tour. So after breaky we were off to Richmond. First a bus to train station , our first London train adventure. We’d be totally stuffed without Google Maps… Read more: Nic and Sue’s Euro River Cruise and l bits on the side. Autumn 2026. Day 18 – Plan C. London.
- Nic and Sue’s Euro River Cruise and l bits on the side. Autumn 2026. Day 17 – Plan C. London.~~~please if you comment, leave your name as mostly I can’t identify who is making comment.~~~ A busy one today. Out this morning to visit the King! Well a walking tour “The Changing of the Horse Guard and Buckingham Palace”We grabbed a ‘Jump’ Black Cab with Bradley to the meeting point at Green Park, near… Read more: Nic and Sue’s Euro River Cruise and l bits on the side. Autumn 2026. Day 17 – Plan C. London.
- Nic and Sue’s Euro River Cruise and l bits on the side. Autumn 2026. Day 16 – Plan C. Oxford to London.###please if you comment, leave your name as mostly I can’t identify who is making comment.### Up and about for breaky at 7:30 then bus into the city for Hop on Hop Off bus tour. We just snagged the right bus with a bit of quick walking to get in and find the first bus… Read more: Nic and Sue’s Euro River Cruise and l bits on the side. Autumn 2026. Day 16 – Plan C. Oxford to London.
- Nic and Sue’s Euro River Cruise and l bits on the side. Autumn 2026. Day 15 – Plan C. Windermere to Oxford.^^^please if you comment, leave your name as mostly I can’t identify who is making comment.^^^ We had a pretty boring day on the road today.I did get up early and walk up to Orrest Head lookout, a couple of miles from the BnB. Hoped to catch some wildlife. It was a lovely morning walk,… Read more: Nic and Sue’s Euro River Cruise and l bits on the side. Autumn 2026. Day 15 – Plan C. Windermere to Oxford.
- Nic and Sue’s Euro River Cruise and l bits on the side. Autumn 2026. Day 14 – Plan C. Dumfries to Windermere via Keswick.####please if you comment, leave your name as mostly I can’t identify who is making comment.#### Breaky in my first real Bed and Breakfast. It was a nice change to have breakfast served at the table. A yummy porridge and bacon and eggs AND a real good strong pot of tea. The rain returned today… Read more: Nic and Sue’s Euro River Cruise and l bits on the side. Autumn 2026. Day 14 – Plan C. Dumfries to Windermere via Keswick.
- Nic and Sue’s Euro River Cruise and l bits on the side. Autumn 2026. Day 13 – Plan C. Skye to Dumfries.•••please if you comment, leave your name as mostly I can’t identify who is making comment.••• Plan is to get off Skye today and start driving South with no firm plan just heading towards the Lakes District. The car survived the night parked across road, managed to squeeze in beside and behind the bus before… Read more: Nic and Sue’s Euro River Cruise and l bits on the side. Autumn 2026. Day 13 – Plan C. Skye to Dumfries.
- Nic and Sue’s Euro River Cruise and l bits on the side. Autumn 2026. Day 12 – Plan C. Skye~~~please if you comment, leave your name as mostly I can’t identify who is making comment.~~~ Up at ‘em a little bit earlier today as we want to squeeze in a few things on Skye.Downstairs for a little bit breaky in the dining room, we managed to time it between 2 tour groups so it… Read more: Nic and Sue’s Euro River Cruise and l bits on the side. Autumn 2026. Day 12 – Plan C. Skye
- Nic and Sue’s Euro River Cruise and l bits on the side. Autumn 2026. Day 11 – Plan C. Ft William to Skye>>>please if you comment, leave your name as mostly I can’t identify who is making comment.<<< Our first accommodation without breaky included last night. We were happy to get out for a change (and there wasn’t a lot of accomm on offer when we were booking) Breaky at The Old Deli in High street. I… Read more: Nic and Sue’s Euro River Cruise and l bits on the side. Autumn 2026. Day 11 – Plan C. Ft William to Skye
- Nic and Sue’s Euro River Cruise and l bits on the side. Autumn 2026. Day 10 – Plan C Edinburgh – Ft William.¥¥¥please if you comment, leave your name as mostly I can’t identify who is making comment.¥¥¥ Well everything worked out ok this am. We watched the end of the Grand Final and went for breakfast. Packed, checked out, left out bags and then walked to get our car – a Volkswagon Polo. Back to hotel… Read more: Nic and Sue’s Euro River Cruise and l bits on the side. Autumn 2026. Day 10 – Plan C Edinburgh – Ft William.
- Nic and Sue’s Euro River Cruise and some bits on the side. Autumn 2026. Day 9 – Plan C Edinburgh – Day 3.~~~please if you comment, leave your name as mostly I can’t identify who is making comment.~~~ A bit of a sleep in, despite a restless night, woke up after 7! Today we headed off to arrange a hire car for the next stage of Plan C – it was busy with pick ups, but the… Read more: Nic and Sue’s Euro River Cruise and some bits on the side. Autumn 2026. Day 9 – Plan C Edinburgh – Day 3.
- Nic and Sue’s Euro River Cruise and some bits on the side. Autumn 2026. Day 8 – Plan C Edinburgh – Day 2.^^^^please if you comment, leave your name as mostly I can’t identify who is making comment.^^^^ A solid sleep overnight. Breaky is another good spread. Can get my staple muesli, fruit, yoghurt and nuts. Plus a tasty berry compote. Then there’s all the bits to try. Met a lovely father and daughter at breaky. He… Read more: Nic and Sue’s Euro River Cruise and some bits on the side. Autumn 2026. Day 8 – Plan C Edinburgh – Day 2.
- Nic and Sue’s Euro River Cruise and some bits on the side. Autumn 2026. Day 7 – Budapest to Edinburgh.++++please if you comment, leave your name as mostly I can’t identify who is making comment.++++ Last day in Budapest today, would have been the day we embarked on our Cruise ship, but that can now wait till 2027. The taxis/ubers and bolts here are all yellow. Bolt seems a little cheaper than Uber. This… Read more: Nic and Sue’s Euro River Cruise and some bits on the side. Autumn 2026. Day 7 – Budapest to Edinburgh.
- Nic and Sue’s Euro River Cruise and some bits on the side. Autumn 2026. Day 6- Budapest.###please if you comment, leave your name as mostly I can’t identify who is making comment.### A magnificent sleep for me last night. Sue got some good hours too. Our day started with a small breaky before The Great Market Tour with Andrew. Just Sue and I – bonus, small group turns to private tour.Andrew… Read more: Nic and Sue’s Euro River Cruise and some bits on the side. Autumn 2026. Day 6- Budapest.
- Nic and Sue’s Euro River Cruise and some bits on the side. Autumn 2026. Day 5 Budapest.^*^*^please if you comment, leave your name as mostly I can’t identify who is making comment.^*^*^ Sleeping with views over the River Danube – not a bad way to travel! Breaky was a vast spread – as is customary for these big multi national brand hotels. A very nice pot of earl grey tea and… Read more: Nic and Sue’s Euro River Cruise and some bits on the side. Autumn 2026. Day 5 Budapest.
- Nic and Sue’s Euro River Cruise and some bits on the side. Autumn 2026. Day 4- Prague to Budapest via Vienna.¥¥¥¥ please if you comment, leave your name as mostly I can’t identify who is making comment. ¥¥¥¥ Both awake before alarms, better sleep for me last night, not for Sue. Off to breaky right on 7, as we have Uber Airport booked for 8 to take us to the airport. Made a sneaky roll… Read more: Nic and Sue’s Euro River Cruise and some bits on the side. Autumn 2026. Day 4- Prague to Budapest via Vienna.
- Nic and Sue’s Euro River Cruise and some bits on the side. Autumn 2026. Day 3- Prague.***please if you comment, leave your name as mostly I can’t identify who is making comment.*** Second full day in Prague – awoke early and tried to finalise some blog. Slow start with breaky and then Tram back to Lesser Town side. We arrived early to hunt for the well hidden entrance to Vrtba gardens.… Read more: Nic and Sue’s Euro River Cruise and some bits on the side. Autumn 2026. Day 3- Prague.
- Nic and Sue’s Euro River Cruise and some bits on the side. Autumn 2026. Day 2- Prague.####please if you comment, leave your name as mostly I can’t identify who is making comment.#### Our hotel – Unitas has quite a compelling history dating back to the 18th century. The Church of St Bartholomew was commissioned to be built by the Jesuits, and included a monastery, library and 2 large gardens. It was… Read more: Nic and Sue’s Euro River Cruise and some bits on the side. Autumn 2026. Day 2- Prague.
- Nic and Sue’s Euro River Cruise and some bits on the side. Autumn 2026. Day 1/2.Please if you comment, leave your name as mostly I can’t identify who is making comment. First stop – family delivered us to the station at Moe. Thanks Bron, Mike & Steve. Train running late and announcement made that the trains to Southern Cross are delayed due to trespassers on the tracks. Strangely, the Traralgon… Read more: Nic and Sue’s Euro River Cruise and some bits on the side. Autumn 2026. Day 1/2.
- Nic and Sue’s Euro River Cruise and some bits on the side. Autumn 2026. Prelude.During a chat in January this year Sue asked if I’d be interested in doing a European River Cruise with her. I was in like Flynn, we went to a ‘Scenic’ information session in Pakenham a couple of days later, got the lowdown and special deals, then popped into the local Helloworld travel agent here… Read more: Nic and Sue’s Euro River Cruise and some bits on the side. Autumn 2026. Prelude.
- Day twenty four. Bendleby Ranges Campground back to Vic. Mildura. 25.7.26please if you comment, leave your name as mostly I can’t identify who is making comment Back towards home today, sadly, stopped to do some shopping at the Bendleby shop. Even more sadly, I got a message from home, my house had been broken into and robbed. The neighbours on both sides did a great… Read more: Day twenty four. Bendleby Ranges Campground back to Vic. Mildura. 25.7.26
- Day twenty three. Bendleby Ranges Campground. 24.7.26please if you comment, leave your name as mostly I can’t identify who is making comment Took pics of the vans by fire and moonlight last night. Too late for the blog so here they are today. Phew. OMG… it was cold last night!!! No doubt we were well into the minuses. There were icy… Read more: Day twenty three. Bendleby Ranges Campground. 24.7.26
- Day twenty two. Nuttbush Retreat to Bendleby Ranges Campground. 23.7.26please if you comment, leave your name as mostly I can’t identify who is making comment Another relaxed start to the day. Warm and toasty overnight with the heater working nicely on the thermostat. Had a walk around the station/ CP buildings. Lots of history! The station has been in the family since 1895. Top… Read more: Day twenty two. Nuttbush Retreat to Bendleby Ranges Campground. 23.7.26
- Day twenty one. Ceduna to Nuttbush Retreat. 22.7.26please if you comment, leave your name as mostly I can’t identify who is making comment Slow start. Cool morning. Goodbye to Ron and Julie, Ken and Marion then finish pack up, top up TVan water, head in to town for shopping, fuel, Coffee and for me returned to the caravan park to pick up… Read more: Day twenty one. Ceduna to Nuttbush Retreat. 22.7.26
- Day twenty. Fowlers Bay to Ceduna 21.7.26please if you comment, leave your name as mostly I can’t identify who is making comment Pack up day to leave Fowlers Bay today after another three nighter which was lovely. Such a quiet fishing Village and a nice place to chill. We had a short 80km run to Ceduna today but we made a… Read more: Day twenty. Fowlers Bay to Ceduna 21.7.26
- Day nineteen. Fowlers Bay. 20.7.26please if you comment, leave your name as mostly I can’t identify who is making comment Up early today as Meg, Mary and I are doing the Whale watching tour with EP Cruises at 9:30. We need to check whether we can stay an extra night OR pack up before 9:30. Cameras charged and binocs… Read more: Day nineteen. Fowlers Bay. 20.7.26
- Day eighteen. Fowlers Bay. 19.7.26please if you comment, leave your name as mostly I can’t identify who is making comment Today we farewelled Col and Mary who have a commitment back home to get to. Meg was keen to do the whale watching tour and Mary and I were happy to go again. Stef phoned and not running today… Read more: Day eighteen. Fowlers Bay. 19.7.26
- Day sixteen. Ooldea Rd camp to Dog Fence Beach Campground. 17.7.26please if you comment, leave your name as mostly I can’t identify who is making comment We had an our very own flower garden at this camp with Sturt Desert Pea at our front door. Lovely. Heading south east today towards the coast /Great Australian Bight. We drove across the Nullarbor plain which is very… Read more: Day sixteen. Ooldea Rd camp to Dog Fence Beach Campground. 17.7.26
- Day seventeen. Dog Fence Beach Campground to Fowlers Bay. 18.7.26please if you comment, leave your name as mostly I can’t identify who is making comment Rinse and repeat to start the day. It was a bit breezy during the night with that Westerly wind not abating all night. A little bit of flapping of canvas and buffeting of van, but not enough to disturb… Read more: Day seventeen. Dog Fence Beach Campground to Fowlers Bay. 18.7.26
- Day fifteen. Goog’s Track to Ooldea Rd Camp. 16.7.26please if you comment, leave your name as mostly I can’t identify who is making comment Cooler night last night, I awoke for a loo stop. Went back to bed and read for a little bit.Out of bed about 7:30 to start the morning routine. We held a conference to discuss the plan for today… Read more: Day fifteen. Goog’s Track to Ooldea Rd Camp. 16.7.26
- Day fourteen. Goog’s Track 15.7.26please if you comment, leave your name as mostly I can’t identify who is making comment Pack up day today😵💫. After 3 nights here we have a few more things to put away. Awnings etc. Last night was the first night at this camp location we’ve actually had dew settling on the canvas, so a… Read more: Day fourteen. Goog’s Track 15.7.26
- Day thirteen. Goog’s Track 14.7.26please if you comment, leave your name as mostly I can’t identify who is making comment Well, today is a first! We opted to stay for another day (assuming it’s not raining and yuk.) I arose about 7.10, having successfully resisting the need to wee at 4:30am. Started the fire with no paper and then… Read more: Day thirteen. Goog’s Track 14.7.26
- Day twelve. Goog’s Track 13.7.26please if you comment, leave your name as mostly I can’t identify who is making comment Today was a stay at camp day. No packing up. No pulling out. I got up and lit the fire. Col helped out. We each phaffed with various jobs around camp. Phil helped me decant almost 40 litres from… Read more: Day twelve. Goog’s Track 13.7.26
- Day eleven. Goog’s Track 12.7.26****please if you comment, leave your name as mostly I can’t identify who is making comment**** Another day, uneventful pack up, and off onto the track about 10:15-ish. A lovely dawdle along the track until one of the sand dunes provided some challenge. I was caught halfway up waiting for Stef and Meg who got… Read more: Day eleven. Goog’s Track 12.7.26
- Day ten. Goog’s Track 11.7.26****please if you comment, leave your name as mostly I can’t identify who is making comment**** Bit of a power issue overnight, I woke to no power in the TVan and no power to the auxiliary battery in the car so I couldn’t get any water for the Billy to make a cup of tea.… Read more: Day ten. Goog’s Track 11.7.26
- Day nine. Ceduna to 55kms out on Goog’s Track 10.7.26****please if you comment, leave your name as mostly I can’t identify who is making comment**** Out of the park about 10:15 off to look at Pinky lookout that Mary and Col found yesterday. We saw salt ready for export at the wharf and silos. There were dolphins, a seal and cormorants. Then I went… Read more: Day nine. Ceduna to 55kms out on Goog’s Track 10.7.26
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