Day 9. Early breakfast and then onto the dreaded track of 65 km to Mt Dare Homestead. So rocky and muddy it felt like the car would fall apart. The new Cooper light truck tyres and heavy duty suspension on the Prado performed admirably. Great pies at Mt Dare and then crossed into the Northern Territory before reaching the indigenous settlement of Finke, then crossing the dry sandy river bed of the Finke, Australia's mightiest inland river. The old rail bridge was washed away in 1930 and never replaced, bringing an end to the Old Ghan line to Alice. Then we drove on the actual Old Ghan rail line for over 250 km towards Alice, stopping for a lovely camp between brilliant red sandhills of the outer Simpson Desert. Found that driving to a 60 km speed reduced the rattling effect on the vehicle of the old sleeper corrugations under the red sand, but had to react quickly to avoid the many old rail spikes. The sunset at our camp and old desert oaks amongst the red sand just brilliant. Pork chops and red wine cooked on the fire, a fantastic day.