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Sump Oil Gravy By jon July 3rd, 2008 at 9:20 pm

Roadhouse schnitzel with sump oil gravy for dinner yesterday.  Territory style. Everything deep fried in batter. Even the batter has batter. Salad - deep fried. Well, almost. Dinner tonight - in Tennant Creek - was thai beef sald. Thai because it tied me up for about ten minutes chewing each mouthful before i could swallow.

Cruise control sorted - a wire had been nipped, probably when the alarm was installed. An hour of dismantling the dashboard, a “Eureka” moment, a small bit of tape, $88 to the auto-electrician and off we went.

The Stuart Highway is like a giant conveyor belt. Grey nomads towing caravans one after another as far as the eye can see. Having a ball,  they are, except the couple arguing in the stopover about whose turn it was to be packing the food away. Why should domestic bliss change just ‘cos you are on the road?

 

This entry was posted on Thursday, July 3rd, 2008 at 9:20 pm and is filed under Australia. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

35 comments to “Sump Oil Gravy”

  1. By jim July 3rd, 2008 at 9:30 pm

    Hi Guys,
    Jon one would think with all the time you spent in the studio Gabriel Gate that you would be cooking for yourself and jack.

  2. By Doug M July 3rd, 2008 at 10:13 pm

    You will miss the deep-fried food when it isn’t available.
    if you have the time, see the jumping crocs on the Adelaide River but you must see the war cemetery at the town of Adelaide River.
    I hope the rest of your trip has as little difficulty.

  3. By Mary MacInnes July 3rd, 2008 at 10:28 pm

    Thank you for the e-mail, did not expect a comment on my personal e-mail, as I am just an ex- grey nomad who travelled the long paddock. My memory of Port Augusta is of nights spent listening to the clack clack of the railway carriages. Happy travelling from MM

  4. By Spindle Imp July 3rd, 2008 at 10:46 pm

    I’m so enjoying your journey…and you haven’t even left the country yet!!!!!!

    Armchair travel, nothing else quite like it.
    *giggle*

  5. By mr nice July 3rd, 2008 at 11:25 pm

    sump oil gravy 4 dinner.. ah wait till u hit tim tim.

    this dinner will seem like a full banquet .

    Only joking!
    just

  6. By Ray Davis July 4th, 2008 at 12:25 am

    G’Day Jon,Just a tip…I have never ever had a crook hamburger on the track.
    Baked Beans on toast are good tucker or a can of spag ,takes no time at all to whip them up.Full of protein no fat.
    Cheers
    Ray

  7. By Mrgaret Cheale July 4th, 2008 at 8:12 am

    Your dietary critique spot on! We also “grey Nomads”. Our evening entertainmaent when not “Free Camping” (that is a whole sub set of grey nomads of which we are committed members) is watching the “after the day pull in and settle”. Hilarious. Some have NEVER sorted out signs or signals for direction for reversing, parking. Watch the number of women who knock on the back of the van(!) when she feels the driver should stop reversing. Or the number who do not know to depress the CB button if they have got that high tech in their travels…. Certainly if ever staying near a group of caravaners, it is worth a good belly laugh, especially if you guys have a good and sorted driver/navigator, assistant/leader role at any given stage.
    Am SO enjoying your blog. Sympathies for the first day - sure to happen again, just not expected so soon!
    Margaret

  8. By Jen July 4th, 2008 at 8:46 am

    I think that you are very lucky that Red is away Jon, he would have really enjoyed haveing a go at you about the things that have gone wrong so far, Hope you continue to enjoy touring the “top end”
    Cheers

  9. By Brian Hall July 4th, 2008 at 10:22 am

    The Grey Nomads are an interesting phenomenon. I am not one yet but plan to be in the near future.

    These people swarm across Australia every winter and effectively keep the economies of the outback towns afloat. We hear from them every Sunday morning on Macca’s show, but the cost of fuel will undoubtedly reduce their wanderings.

    The increasing cost of fuel will therefore have an even larger effect on the outback than simply the cost of their goods.

    Make the most of it while it is still there boys. Remember to stop and smell the flowers.

  10. By Terry July 4th, 2008 at 11:18 am

    You should note that if grey nomads are not eating at a roadhouse food is probably ordinary and therefore not edible. The joys of travelling are with you already and your trip has just begun. Interesting to read of the fod in the next few months. Enjoy

  11. By Viv July 4th, 2008 at 12:37 pm

    Hi Jon & Jack,

    That was cheap - My husband and I did a trip to Alice & the Rock a few years ago and coming out of Coober Pedy we became “airborne” with the van on the back. When we got to the next town I jumped out the passenger side and found that the caravan door had burst open. Thank goodness for the white twine/string that I packed and that we didn’t need! Hubby was able to tie the door up and we continued on to Alice. They wanted us to wait for three days (it was Friday & they couldn’t possibly fit us in) and it would be a minimum cost of $80-$100 for a couple of rivets - Hubby wasn’t happy - he should have packed the pop-riveter! Needless to say we fixed the door properly when we returned. Can’t remember what “Mr Fix-It” did to overcome the problem. Still that was our only real dilema, the trip was memorable and the caravan is still going well!

    Enjoy your trip as much as I am enjoying following your journey.

    Thanks & best wishes.

    Viv.

    I

  12. By Andy July 4th, 2008 at 1:02 pm

    Hey Jon is’nt what your doing chapter 6 of the book of domestic bliss 101, :) every good marriage needs space. Boy, the Faine’s don’t do anything by half eh?. Keep rollin lads the country is with you, Andy & Jenny

  13. By Wendy July 4th, 2008 at 2:01 pm

    Jon, Having travelled across the Eyre Hwy to visit family in Esperance WA multiple times I laughed heartily at your description of “batter on the batter” and “deep fried salad”. It’s one of the pitfalls of travelling almost anywhere in this country! I look forward to following your journey with you. Happy days!

  14. By Roger July 4th, 2008 at 6:24 pm

    Sump oil gravy, enjoy while you can, you will no doubt have to put up with stranger things to eat before the end of your trip. Miss you on the radio but look forward to equally entertaining content on this adventure.

  15. By Anne July 4th, 2008 at 7:05 pm

    You’re nearly in Darwin and can start salivating at the thought of some truly glorious food to eat from now on. ‘D’ is for Darwin and Delicious, though I don’t know about Dili, of course. Ditto, ‘delicious’ for Malaysia, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia, but I’m ‘d’ for dubious about Mongolia. Perhaps past travellers through that land can fill you in. I’ve never understood why road food is so appalling in Australia. One rule of thumb I learnt: never eat crustaceans unless you can hear seagulls!

  16. By Vicki July 4th, 2008 at 7:46 pm

    Ahh Grey Nomad bliss (So THAT’s where they all disappeared to!) Vicki (Melb)

  17. By Joe July 4th, 2008 at 8:17 pm

    Hi Prado, Jon, and Jack (easier to call you PJ’s me thinks),
    Good luck with the trip. You mentioned a cabin yesterday, surely there is room in the truck for a tent? My biggest 4wd adventure was a trip around Tasmania with only a malamute for company. I always had to do the dishes, but I never had to lock the doors!
    Joe

  18. By Kelly July 4th, 2008 at 8:22 pm

    I guess there is nothing like home cooking… The fast food is better in Asia, if you know where to go. ONE BIG HINT: “Alway’s eat with the Local’s”…

  19. By natalie lynch July 4th, 2008 at 11:49 pm

    Glad To Read you are both off to a good start. My husband and I bicycled accross Canada in 1987, never thought I would finish. As soon as we did I felt I could have ridden on forever. How do you intend to return? driving back? or flying?
    will miss Jon on 774….Natalie Lynch, Hong Kong.

  20. By Wolfgang July 5th, 2008 at 12:45 am

    G’day Jon and Jack,
    Enjoying the blog, and looking forward to asia.
    One item that puzzles me, on the home-page pic, the third camel from the right looks remarkably like Red Symonds. C’mon, fess up, was that deliberate?
    Cheers Wolfie

  21. By Terri July 5th, 2008 at 12:32 pm

    Hi Jon and Jack,
    Pity about the food, at least maybe in Asia it will be better. Just remember when you reach London, the food there can be bloody awful!!
    Cheers!

  22. By Max July 5th, 2008 at 3:24 pm

    Jon

    From my trip down the Stuart Highway in last year’s World Solar Challenge there is one Territory delicacy you shouldn’t miss and you can even get it from lowly roadhouses - well some - the barra burger. I had one at the Kulgera roudhouses on the southbound trip because I was told it may be the last opportunity before leaving NT. Sure beats roadhouse pies. As for Tennant Creek, the place to go to really see the true TC is the TC Memorial Club. We went on the pizza n pasta night and the joint was rockin. Enjoy, Max

  23. By Tim July 5th, 2008 at 5:46 pm

    I know what you mean about Tennant Creek food. Imodium became my friend last year after eating something dodgy there.

    The food in Darwin will make up for it.

  24. By Robskee July 5th, 2008 at 6:59 pm

    Best thing to counteract deep-fried roadhouse cuisine is a skinny-soy-chai-latte. You should be able to get one of those anywhere ;-)

  25. By Liz July 5th, 2008 at 8:20 pm

    Loving the updates so far. My collegue and I had belly laughs on night duty reading Jans entry when she had “control of the blog”. Having travelled around Oz years ago, I still remember the “quality” of road food. It is much healthier to cook your own. Best of luck on your journey hopefully no more troubles for a while. Will be following your travels with much interest, Treasure your time together.
    Regards
    Liz

  26. By Kathleen Hutton July 5th, 2008 at 8:54 pm

    Hi Jon and Jack, I’ve just been reading about your exciting adventure in the magazine Royal Auto so thought I’d take a look on your website to see where you are now. Sump oil gravy sounds good to me - nice and thick - just how I like it. Wish I had the guts to do something like you two are doing! Your son will never forget this trip Jon and I’m sure you won’t either. Travel safely.

    Kathleen Hutton

  27. By Kathy at kallista July 5th, 2008 at 9:27 pm

    Oh the joys of travelling. Donned weight in Spain dinning on custard donuts and paella and became a skinny thing in India on steet stall dahl. Enjoy !! Sump oil

    ah i married my man for his abilty to back a van !! for just the day when we would join the grey brigade.

    This tip is going to be fun !!!

  28. By David July 6th, 2008 at 9:19 am

    Just remember truckies carry this country and we eat in those road houses dont knock them.
    But enjoy the fun times.David

  29. By Ernie Bird July 6th, 2008 at 11:51 am

    We are enjoying you reports so far and will follow you all the way, three more sleeps and we are also on our way north. Take care and travel safely.

    Pat n Ernie

  30. By tony July 6th, 2008 at 6:04 pm

    gday

    my family and i (wife 2 children 12 and 14) drove across the nullabor over chrissy 07/08 (a trip to the milkbar compared to yours), camping in a 4people tent (obviously chinese as we struggled to dit in- they should rate them according to aussies), and cooking on a burner that screwed onto a 3kg gasbottle. We carried an esky, stocking up on food where there were supermarkets, ceduna, norseman etc. and not once bought meals at the roadhouses, having been privy to prior experiences of the food some of them “serve”. We lived like kings (and queens) on a shoestring and have the best time ever. I often think of all the diverse, interesting and gregarious people we met every night as we pitched our tent, cooked our tea and supped afterward, that we sould not have had we stayed in of the cabins provided. It was a highlight. I am sure both of you will NEVER have any regrets and jon, your wit and diplomacy will undoubtably be put to good use. Tony

  31. By Maree July 7th, 2008 at 2:34 pm

    Dear Jon

    Great to be able to read of your progress. Can just imagine the interviews you will collect on your way. How is Jack liking the trip so far. I suppose it will be easier to work out after you are out of Australia. I hope your communications will carry through.

    Maree

  32. By Andiis July 8th, 2008 at 8:48 pm

    So glad you both had the opportunity to check out some of the N.T. before heading north then northerer. Great idea this techno stuff , hope we can keep hearing from you as you head into ( cue Richard. Stubbs. echo effect ) THE UNKNOWN.!!..Mmmwwwahha ha. S’later.

  33. By Phillip July 9th, 2008 at 7:02 pm

    Interesting.
    Our experience of Stuart Highway(we travelled it twice predating the nomad convoy by about three weeks) was people driving not used to high speed at high speed and misc. Landcrusers and Patrols piloted by somewhat intoxicated navs. We found Tennant Creek a hard place and were glad to have only spent one night there. Did get some descent eats in Katherine.
    Go John of offspring…

  34. By Davyd Lewis July 11th, 2008 at 6:35 pm

    Dear Jon

    You won’t remember me but I was a law student at Monash at the same time as you. (You once kindly replaced a defective cassette tape of the “Graduate” when you were working in the Monash record store). I have been a partner at a major law firm starting with “M” in Melbourne for 20 years but have now seen the light and am in the process of converting to a gray nomad. I am totally in awe of your trip and it has inspired me to do something (I don’t know what yet). In relation to sump oil sauce, surely this brings back memories of the hamburger with sump oil sauce at the Notting Hill hotel, which (complete with chickens in the yard) was the only thing with any character in the otherwise characterless (but good) Monash University of the 1970’s. I am following your progress with total jealousy.

    Davyd Lewis

  35. By Harry July 20th, 2008 at 7:16 pm

    Jon and Jack,

    Travel safely guys and enjoy the journey. What a fantastic idea and what experiences you will have! I very much look forward to logging on and following you on your way.

    My very best wishes

    Harry (Melbourne)

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