1960s Big Lap - Escaping Darwin

16,618 miles in an unbreakable 1962 EK Holden towing a 15' Viscount Van with Mum, Dad and three little ones on board. The trip was hampered by cyclones, extreme heat (no aircon in those days!) major floods and plenty of bull dust.

The word went around that the waters were receding at Newcastle Creek and we could get through, but on arrival there, with about 60 other cars, we found it still running at 3 feet and everyone remaining stationery.

Three days of camping with the flies by day and mosquitoes by night was enough; Fortunately, our van was fully screened and many people visited us for a respite.

On the third day a 'works' grader and trailer came to the rescue and started ferrying the cars out over the mile-long causeway. Our turn came the following day and after manhandling the caravan on to the trailer and taking it across the swollen causeway our family could hardly wait for the car to go over with everyone on board. We picked up the van and headed for Mt Isa.