OzSTOC
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: StinkyPete on May 03, 2017, 07:03:54 PM
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Mrs SP and I are heading off on Monday, exploring the Red Centre and the Kimberley in the 4WD. This is a much anticipated two month, adventure and we'll be camping all the way. During our absence I don't expect to have much of a presence on the forum, which some may see as a blessing. :grin
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Enjoy the trip guys. I'll have the riff raff patrol at the border to turn you in the right direction. :grin :grin
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Best wishes for a safe journery Pet, enjoy :beer
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:think1 Bugga - Who we gunna stir for the next two months :think1 :grin
Enjoy your relaxation Pete - Oh hang on your taking the wife - Cann that :whistle :grin
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Best wishes for a safe journery Pet, enjoy :beer
Aint you sweet ;-*
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Pics or it never happened....
Travel safe peeps ;-*
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Have a great trip and safe travels Pete :hatwave
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I hope you both enjoy the trip. You will have ST withdrawal symptoms by the time you get back. If you go anywhere near Mataranka hot springs take a couple of pool noodles with you.
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Who is gunna be loving Fish while your are gone? :phone
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I hippie you and Chris have a great break and safe trip. Enjoy!
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Have safe trip Pete.
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I hippie you and Chris have a great break and safe trip. Enjoy!
Yep, they're Flower Children of the '60s. ;-*
Some funny typos going on here Pete, or are they all taking the Mick? >:() :grin
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Hey Pete and Chris have a fantastic time !!!! that's what we are planing and thanks for your wishes on our trip
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Just a quick reminder bring your winter woolies it's getting thorougly cold up here.
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Have a great trip Pete & Chris. Enjoy you need it :like
You will have to log on to get Kev's joke of the day ;-* :grin
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Have fun guys, I'm sure you'll have an awesome time :hatwave
Don't forget to take lots of pics and do up an "Adventure Report" for us all to enjoy :thumbsup
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Have a great trip Pete. You must have heard we were heading to the Barossa!!
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Best wishes for a safe and enjoyable trip Pete and Chris. :hatwave ++
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I hippie you and Chris have a great break and safe trip. Enjoy!
Yep, they're Flower Children of the '60s. ;-*
Some funny typos going on here Pete, or are they all taking the Mick? >:() :grin
Darned auto-terroist strikes again.
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We are heading off this morning, and thanks for the good wishes. :hatwave
Stories and photos will be posted upon our return in a couple of months.
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Have a great trip . . What's the transport of choice? Towing or tenting?
Not going to Broome . . Worth a look, you'll be so close . .
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Have a great trip . . What's the transport of choice? Towing or tenting?
Not going to Broome . . Worth a look, you'll be so close . .
We are just taking 4WD ute, travelling light, with the camping gear in the back and no trailer.
I've been to Broome and feel it's overrated, so our time is being put into other areas.
Final packing is underway, and organizing of the two women, as Chris's sister is coming wiht us.......... :fp
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Safe & enjoyable travels :thumbsup
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Final packing is underway, and organizing of the two women, as Chris's sister is coming wiht us.......... :fp
Sincere sympathies... :||||
:rofl
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as Chris's sister is coming wiht us.......... :fp
I hoped you packed those motorcycle ear plugs :whistle :grin
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You and 2 sisters in a car for HOW LONG :eek :eek
I thought you were going on a relaxing holiday ?? That will be more like consecutive episodes of Home & Away !! COMMERCIAL FREE :fp :fp
Enjoy everyone :KissBlow
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I thought you were going on a relaxing holiday ?? That will be more like consecutive episodes of Home & Away !! COMMERCIAL FREE :fp :fp
:crackup :rofl
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Back home again. :grin
I'll post a brief report and some photos in the next few days.
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:thumb Welcome home mate.
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Back home again. :grin
I'll post a brief report and some photos in the next few days.
:clap - How is the hearing? :nahnah Or did the ear plugs work? :grin
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welcome back to sunny south Aus. Right about now I image you are missing the warmth of the north.
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Welcome back :popcorn
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Welcome back Pete & Chris, enjoying a comfy bed again?
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Welcome back Pete & Chris, enjoying a comfy bed again?
:thumb After seven weeks sleeping in a tent and on the ground, a bed is supreme luxury. We were a bit over the bull dust as well, which got into everything and everywhere.
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Welcome back Pete.
Right about now I image you are missing the warmth of the north.
Can't complain about our weather of late - cool to warm days and cold to freezing nights.
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:thumb After seven weeks sleeping in a tent and on the ground, a bed is supreme luxury. We were a bit over the bull dust as well, which got into everything and everywhere.
...could have been worse...ya could have been on an adventure bike where it really would have got into every crock-n-cranny ;-*
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Good to see you are back safe and sound. Where did you find the bulldust?
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Good to see you are back safe and sound. Where did you find the bulldust?
Along the entire length of the Gibb River Road. :rofl
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You need a cruza.
If the dust was your issue, we were over the corrugationtiontions
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You need a cruza.
We came across one towing a caravan on the Ernest Giles Road. Both headlights had fallen out and he'd blown two shock. I'll stick to the solid and reliable Colorado thanks.
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Oh well. Happens I guess. Tyre pressures may be an issue there,or speed.
Interestingly we noticed a higher number of cruisers or similar up north compared to other parts of the country.
We all make our choices dont we. :like
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The only major issues we saw or heard about while we were up there was a pajero that shredded a tyre and a jeep than cracked a brake pipe.(maybe the metal was too thin.)
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Quote from: StinkyPete on June 28, 2017, 05:54:36 PM (http://ozstoc.com/index.php?topic=11942.msg1222113#msg1222113)<blockquote>
Quote from: ppopeye on June 28, 2017, 05:53:31 PM (http://ozstoc.com/index.php?topic=11942.msg1222112#msg1222112)<blockquote>Good to see you are back safe and sound. Where did you find the bulldust?
</blockquote>
Along the entire length of the Gibb River Road. :rofl
Do you think it was a busy period. I dont really know how to rate a trip like that for traffic. It was busy in spots when we went. Multiple vehicles coming the other way did make for interesting driving. How would you rate it?
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Hey Poppeye - Have you noticed you are chatting with yourself? :rofl Or is that normal :eek :grin
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Good to ssee u got bak OK SP.
Apparenly the Gibb River Road is good fun on a bike provided it's one of them adventure bikes.
paul
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We left home on the 8th May and hit the Gibb River Road at the Derby end at about the 1st June, which is quite early in the season. Some roads such as Windjana Gorge/Tunnel Creek, Silent Grove, and Charnely River Station had only opened days before. In general, the Gibb River Road was in reasonable condition, and although lightly corrugated, we could easily drive at 80 km/h. With the tyres at 25 psi and 30 psi the ride was easy and comfortable. The road to Kulumbaru and Mitchell Falls was another matter altogether, being VERY rough and deeply corrugated. Traffic on the Gibb was generally quite light, but major campsites were all pretty busy. Despite the very wet wet season, all river crossings were a doddle, with the deepest being no more than 300mm. As we got closer to the eastern end of the road, traffic certainly picked up, and on the run south on the Stuart Highway, the stream of Grey Nomads heading north was constant.
We did meet a few doing the trip on bikes, including 30 loonies riding postie bikes across the Gibb, raising money for research into childhood neuroblastoma. They has raised almost $250,000 and we added to their tally as our Imogen had that disease, and Imogen's grandmother Marlene was travelling with us.
I'm sorting some photos for a brief "Drive' Report.
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Quote from: Sicman on June 29, 2017, 10:13:35 PM (http://ozstoc.com/index.php?topic=11942.msg1222173#msg1222173)<blockquote>Hey Poppeye - Have you noticed you are chatting with yourself? :rofl Or is that normal :eek :grin
>Absolutely normal. Cause no one listens to me anyway.
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Thats ok then :grin
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Our Kimberley Adventure
Chris, her sister Marlene and I have recently returned from a seven week exploration of the red centre and the Kimberley, including the famous Gibb River Road. This is a beautiful part of this great country. Our rig was a Holder Colorado 4WD twin cab ute with few mods other than a mild lift, and Old Man Emu shocks. We were not towing a trailer. I have some home made storage in the back of the ute, and a Boab 42 litre water tank. We travelled light, slept for seven weeks on air beds in tents, and used the tailgate as out kitchen. In case of poor weather I had a canopy that could be erected over the back of the car, but it wasn't used as the weather was fine for the entire trip.
Route
Our route took us north on the Stuart Highway with side trips to the Lambert Centre of Australia, the Merinie Loop past Henbury to Kings Canyon, Hermansberg, the West Mac Ranges to Alice
Springs. Once we were north of Tennant Creek we were able to explore the hot springs around Mataranka, as well as Katherine Gorge and the beautiful Edith Falls.
We then took the highway to the Kununurra Region, Pernalulu, Halls Creek region, shot down the Tanamai to Wolf Creek (didn't see Mick), Fitzroy Crossing and on to Derby where we restocked for the journey back across the Gibb River Road including the road (and I use the term loosely) to the iconic Mitchell Falls.
See the map for a snapshot of the whole route.
Highlights
Highlights are difficult to pick, but there are some favourites that will stick in my memory.
Floating down the hot Bitter Springs out of Mataranka, and staying at the nearby camp site called Little Roper Stock Camp.
Walking through Tunnel Creek which flows for around 750m through a cave right through the base of the Napier Range.
Bell Gorge was one of the most beautiful gorges we visited, as was Glen Helen in the West Mac Ranges. After several visits, Glen Helen is very special for me for a number of reasons.
Having an old aboriginal man who was sitting on his own, wave me over for a chat at Tunnel Creek. I was suspicious of his motives, but while I sat with him, he asked about our holiday and where we were from. When I asked if this was his father's and his ancestors land, and he replied, “Yes, and it's your land too..” and with a sweep of his arm said “It belong to all of us.” I was moved almost to tears by his grace and simple hospitality.
Surviving the 180km spirit and car smashing corrugations out to Mitchell Falls, knowing that we would be driving back over it again on the way out. The reward was standing at the very top of the iconic Mitchell Falls with the water cascading over the top right at my feet.
Watching the sunset from the banks of the Pentecost River, with the Cockburn Range lit up by the setting sun.
Wrap Up
I'd do it again in a heartbeat. The ute performed well, with the most expensive fuel being $2.05 per litre at a couple of locations on the Gibb River Road. We had no flat tyres, but were carrying two spares, puncture repair, inner tubes, and tyre change equipment just in case. The only casualties were my rear number plate light, most likely broken by a rock, and the rear window latches on my poorly designed Flexiglass Canopy which broke even before we got to Alice Springs. However, with some bungee cord, filament tape and some cunning, we managed to keep the window well secured. I'm pretty happy with the car's performance, and it's booked in for a well deserved service and checkup.
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Here's a few more photos.....
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.... and the last few. ++
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Great write-up and photos, Pete. Thanks for sharing.
So why had the roo got such red eyes? We all regard them as evil when it comes to vehicular interactions, but apart from that (and a tendency of big bucks to rip your guts out) they're pretty benign, I thought.
Just shows a basic rig can supply all you need.
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Great report Pete :clap How is your hearing going? :whistle :grin
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Great report Pete :clap How is your hearing going? :whistle :grin
The sisters had a lot to say. :fp so it's lucky that I already had some deafness in my left ear, and I managed OK. :grin
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"We then took the highway to the Kununurra Region, Pernalulu, Halls Creek region, shot down the Tanamai to Wolf Creek (didn't see Mick), Fitzroy Crossing and on to Derby where we restocked for the journey back across the Gibb River Road including the road (and I use the term loosely) to the iconic Mitchell Falls."
Well of course you didn't see Mick. We wouldn't be reading this if you had. :crackup
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Thanks Pete for the great write up and photos :like...
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shot down the Tanamai to Wolf Creek (didn't see Mick),
Well of course you didnt, he is a bit like Chuck Norris, you dont see him unless he wants you to. I bet he saw you but.
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Thanks for sharing the trip and the photos with us mate, it sounds like an awesome trip was had by all :thumbsup
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Great trip report Pete. Good photos and a couple of great ones. Glad you all had a great trip. It is amazing country up there.
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Thanks Pete, Chris & Marlene......enjoyed the trip report.
Who would have ever thought you would see a Prado as a Bull Catcher :eek :eek
cheers