A Few More Miles | Tennant Creek - Darwin NT

Sunday-Tuesday: 19-21 July

Up the Stuart Highway, Grateful for the Journey
Leaving Tennant Creek behind, we set our course northward up the Stuart Highway toward Katherine, hearts still warm from the fellowship we’d shared. Between the regular fuel stops, there wasn’t a great deal to break up the drive – other than watching the termite mounds grow taller and taller the further north we travelled, and passing more and more quiet reminders of the attempted Japanese invasion during the Second World War. History has a gentle way of following you along these roads, and it was humbling to reflect on the sacrifices made on this very ground.

A Divine Appointment in Larrimah
Eventually we pulled in at Larrimah, a small but deeply significant stop where Darwin-bound troops once climbed down from their trucks to be loaded onto railway wagons for the rest of their journey north. A quarter of a million service personnel passed through on their way to Darwin during the war, and between the War Museum and Larrimah’s scattered wartime memorabilia – not to mention its wonderfully iconic hotel, there was so much history to take in.

We took the opportunity to bring Essie out for a photo and video shoot, and it wasn’t long before we found ourselves in warm conversation with three workmen enjoying a liquid lunch at the hotel. What began as a friendly chat blossomed into something more. We took old Robbie, young Robbie, and Foxy for a tour around town in Essie, and as you’ll discover in our Darwin report, this sweet little detour turned out to be a true Divine appointment. They, along with several other kind souls we met that day, gladly welcomed a copy of the Overlander into their hands.

We also had the joy of crossing paths with a remarkable young man cycling from Perth to Darwin, though that description barely does his story justice. He’d actually set out from his home country of Portugal, pedalling the entire way across Europe, Asia, and China before ever reaching Australian soil, and he wasn’t finished yet – after Australia, he was planning to cycle straight across the United States. What a beautiful picture of endurance, and it left us reflecting on the perseverance we’re each called to as we travel our own journeys.

Katherine’s Centenary and a First Glimpse of the Wild
We drove into Katherine on Sunday night with grateful hearts, only to discover we’d just missed the town’s big centenary celebration. A hundred years of history, from 1926 to 2026, marked the week before. We spent some time exploring the area and were treated to our very first glimpse of wild crocodiles, a moment of pure wonder at God’s remarkable creation. We also enjoyed rich, warm fellowship with the dear folk at the Katherine SDA Church, which, as it turns out, is something of a home away from home for SDA Grey Nomads passing through on their travels. A lovely reminder of the family we carry with us wherever we go.

Preparing for the Show, With Anticipation
On Tuesday, we drove straight through to Darwin, hearts full of anticipation as we began preparing for the Royal Show. The afternoon was spent sorting and packing boxes of material and getting a good look at the venue. Every box, every detail, a small step of faith toward what we trusted God had in store.