Chris

Russ and Sue. Where will you take the van for its shakedown trip? Our new Top Ender is due late February and we think we may go down to Girraween National Park, near Stanthorpe. Then, all going well, we will head back down to our new home in the Adelaide Hills. A major change for us, after living almost my whole life in the NT. Chris

I so remember the day we picked up our baby too (four years ago now). It was fraught with excitement and apprehensin. It looked so Biiiig!! But all was well. Our first night we spent up at Munna Point caravan park at Noosa (Dave Gall suggested there) and it was a great little spot. A year or so later we were back in the region to have our annexe made and while we waited for it to be ready we spent the time at Cotton Tree. A wonderful site. Chris

Good luck with finding what you are after Fran and Reg! I understand Adelaide is a good place to see second hand Kedrons (well, we are hoping it is a good place to sell our 18 foot internal sized van). Chris

But when does he want it? Our (18 foot internal) ATV will be for sale after Christmas... Chris

Hi fellow KOGGERS. I am attaching a copy of our last trip - there are some photos in it so I have converted the document to a PDF to save on downloading size. Keep_River_NP_Trip_Report.pdf

[Thanks Kimbo for the advice. I will probably forget it again in future... Here is a shot of our van at Weddin Mountains NP. Chris

Hi Shane and Elle. I just thought I would mention that there is awonderful national park camp site that was free when we stayed there a year or so ago, and only a day's travel from Dubbo; Weddin Mountains NP. We just loved it there. I would insert a photo here but I have forgotten how to and have lost Webby's instructions. Chris

Darryl, was the trip worth doing from an "interesting trip" perspective? Would you do it again? Chris

Well, we are always up for a chat with you guys! So you're on!! I think our respective plans for next year are remarkably similar, and we will probably end up travelling part of the way together at least. Anyway, I hope so. After we pick up the new van in late Feb we plan to head up the coast to Cairns, staying in at places like the national parks west of the Bruce Hwy north of Townsville, and the Atherton Tablelnad. About March/April head across the Savannah Way back to Darwin about June. Stay in Darwin for a month or two (family!) and then across to WA. Etc etc. Chris PS Have I said before that I can't wait for the new van!?

We love that part of WA - arrived intending to spend about a month there and spent closer to 5 months. As Jody says, Cape Le Grande is beautiful. We put the van into one of those lovely spots right near the beach (just opposite the site hosts' camp). We LOVED Canebrake which is a bush camp in a national parks managed reserve or park right on the Margaret River, out of Cowaramup. See if you can find reference to it; if you have trouble just shoot me an email and I will try to find the directions. You pay about $10 a night fr a drop toilet and no ther facilities, but each camp site has an individually camp recessed into the bush, with a table and fireplace. Another spot we liked was the Big 4 just north of Cowaramup (Taunton Farm). And we liked Augusta; we stayed at a park just a bit out of town - a council run park. Can't remember it's name but it is named after the beach its on from memory. I could keep going... Oh yes, Hoffman Mill (near Harvey) has wonderful bush camping, and if you can find anywhere as lovely as Nanga Mill, I will eat my hat. Try to visit Shannon National Park too - near Pemberton. Chris

Hmmm, collusion? I think it will take me at least a month to decide which one/s. I have a few to pick from. Not all of them are good, of course. I have seen a few by the Blackers which are prize winners. And if we can pull Kimbo away from his autographing activities and get him into writing a trip report or two, we should be made! Chris

Ooooh, now let me see....which one will I use? Chris

I have just read this month's Caravan and Motorhome magazine, with its wonderful article on travels with Kimbo and Ned, and Mick and Vickie Barson. Not only a great trip report, and superb photos, but also an account of how good offroad travel can be when accompanied with good friends. Mick and Vickie have a BT and Kimbo and Ned a Kedron Top Ender (as we all know!). It is good to see acknowledgement by a fellow traveller that it doesn't matter what the rig is, its the journey and the company which is important. I loved the photos, and can't wait to get to some of the spots featured in the article; we have a trip through there planned for mid 2009. I am so jealous of that trip! Chris

Hi Lynda and Len. We do seem to be having bad luck with catching up! We were out bush when your message was left on our mobile phone - and you were gone by the time we got back. Right now we are out at Peppimenarti, on the Port Keats Road (about 3 hours west from Adelaide River). The van looks so forlorn in the back yard, especially with its fridge out. That's down at Katherine being fixed. Have you been out at King Ash Bay before? I am wondering what it is like...so many folk head out there. I am not a keen fisherperson, so a spot has to be physically appealing for me to go there. Webby, yes I think he actually WAS enjoying writing it, once he got started. So we have really done him a favour by asking him to do it. Chris

Update: Peter is preparing his trip report! I can verify this - he was hard at it day before yesterday, and I witnessed the sore fingers, the calloused elbows (resting on the table), the furrowed brow, and the holier-than-thou expression on his face at the prospect of having it done. I am sure he feels we have pressured him to get it done...he was muttering feebly under his breath about "people putting one under pressure to get dratted trip reports done...don't they know I am having fun out here, not writing trip reports!". Or something along those lines. Margaret was ferrying cooling drinks to the slave labouring away. Anyway, it looks a goodie and will be worth the wait. Photos and everything. Chris

Within seconds of catching up with Peter and Margaret, I asked "How's the Trip Report coming on?". He said "You have been speaking to Suzie Q!!". We had a chat last night over a few glasses of something wet, and caught up - briefly- on their trip so far. What a coincidence that we are staying at the same place. I will see them again this afternoon, and remind them again of the trip report. On your behalf... Chris

I am at present in Katherine (Top End of NT) doing some work (sigh...) and on my way to morning appointments today I had a call on my mobile from Peter and Margaret Flynn to say they were on their way through Katherine. Well that was sad (that I had missed them) - but wait there's more. Guess where they are staying in Darwin? At the same park Val is staying at tonight - he's in town for a 'leadership meeting' - and he's staying there in a cabin. I will be there also later this week. As we speak Val is over chatting to them, the lucky sod. I will see them on Wednesday or Thursday night. What a coincidence, hey? Chris

David and Jane, are you on your way to Darwin or from Darwin? I am in Katherine tomorrow, Monday and Tuesday (working) and then Darwin Wednesday and Thursday (more work...!). Right now, although we are enjoying life out in the remote bush, I do so envy you both camped out, in the lovely cool Dry season weather and a full moon as well. I really hope you are having a wonderful time. Chris (who is also not using the Webasto).

Yes, Jacky Jacky, I had seen that too (as had Kimbo!). It has excited a bit of comment over on the BT site... It would be good to know what's behind the story. Chris

Thanks Kimbo, David and Rick and Lea. I have now been told that the Eberspacher (Dometic) needs an annual servicing, but the Webasto doesn't. Have you been told to have the unit regularly serviced? I am starting to think there is nothing much between them...but am curious as to why (as Kimbo notes) another offroad manufacturer has moved from Webasto to Dometic, and why Kedron similarly now only uses Dometic. There must be a good reason. Cheers chris

Hi fellow travellers. I have noticed with some interest on another forum a discussion about the merits of the major two suppliers of diesel heaters; Eberspacher (often referred to as Dometic) and the Webasto. We have an interest in the topic in the context of our new impending baby's delivery in Feb 2009. At present we have the Webasto, and are very happy with it. But we are aware that Kedron have moved over to supplying the Dometic unit by preference. I can't recall their reasons but they would be soundly based (as they usually are with the Galls!). Does anyone here have any comments about the relative merits of one system over the other? Cost is a very minor factor for me - I would prefer efficiency any day. One of the issues raised on the other forum is that of priming the unit (eg after allowing the tank to run out of fuel). Apparently, the Webasto can be easily primed by the owner where the Dometic requires a service technician with specialised computer technology - at a cost. And this help may not be too handy if you are camped out bush. Chris

Just keep going north Kimbo - the weather is reeeeeally nice up here (in t shirt and shorts again today). Chris (who went swimming at a waterfall today!)

Thanks Kimbo. There is a wealth of information there. But I wonder if it could be put in the forum's secret campsite spot? I have only had a brief look at the files, and wonder if these locations are all van friendly? MadDog is to be congratulated for all his hard work - thanks for this invaluable information. Chris

This will be wonderfully helpful; but I can't see it in the secret campsites section. Where is it located Darryl? Chris

You're right Webby. We have eagle eyes...I saw a reference by Wal and Sharon on another vanning forum, and noted that they had a Kedron. We have been talking offline. Their van looks wonderful, and they are justifiably proud of it. It will be good to meet you both at a Kedron gathering some time soon! Chris