Chris

Russ and Sue, are you still at Arkaroola? Or are you some other exciting place? What is the weather like?

We have been through some extremely rough places over the years with the present van as well as our first Kedron, an ATV. We have never taken the WDH bars off i guess if going down some steep and rough track we might consider it but so far have not seen the need to do so. Val says as we don't have ours too tight, it would require really bad articulation for him to remove them. Over the years I have asked other offroaders if they take them off in any conditions, and have always been told that they are left on. Chris

Thanks for keeping the forum informed Rick. It sounds like a great trip. Chris

Ah yes I forgot ElQ is a national Park. I agree that it is very commercialised and busy. And like you we have the front loader machine, and bless it on a regular basis. On this trip we had intended taking the Gary Junction Rd back to Alice Springs, but I have a cracked rib or two and the trip is out of the question. I was looking forward to it, as a few people have said it is a fascinating and scenic trip. Next time..... Enjoy the GRR. Chris

Colin, the Gibb River is certainly a great trip and one you will enjoy. A couple of my observations: When staying at Windjana Gorge campground, stay in the generator area, it is quieter than the so called "quiet, no generators" camp section. The generators allowed section usually has less folk in it and is much morepeaceful. This has been the comment made on various forums, as well as our own experience. While there we nipped over to see Tunnel Creek, came back to collect the van and continued on. If going into El Questro, try to arrange it to get there early in the day and ask for one of the riverside camp sites. They are peaceful and secluded. I think they still offer them to campers. On arrival in Kununurra get to the laundry verrrry early if you need to do your washing and if your van has no machine. The queues are horrendous. We were there with our first van and sans machine. It helped me make the decision to have a machine built in to the current van. In Kununurra try to visit the Hoochery for an interesting experience. Travel safely. Chris

Jayson, you could do no better than looking at the earlier sections of this thread, and the invaluable research material which Colin Tolley put together. It certainly is comprehensive information and helped our separate group when we did the trip. Also see the camp sites detailed in the Camps Australia publication. There are numerous other spots you can just pull into for the night. Note that fuel is easily obtained at the Roadhouses and several of them also allowed us to fill our van tanks with water. Chris

Great photos Andrew and Sally. They will be a very real remind to you of a special trip. Chris

Hi Russ and Sue, and Peter and Margaret. Russ and Sue, I am sorry we now have no reason to visit Birdsville if you are not there! Have fun up at Arkaroola, which is beautiful scenery. Try to visit Mt Chambers Gorge while there. Peter and Margaret, I could have sworn you were still with Sue and Ann up north of WA...... How was the Nullabor crossing? We are at Keela Rocks and Dam, a lovely free camp East of Southern Cross for a night or two. It is just lovely here, with flushing toilet, a tap and a dump point. h and internet reception. Chris and Val

We will probably stay here for a few days then head down to Niagara Dam and then Kalgoorlie next week. After that is a bit of a mystery. Chris

Together with two other vans, we have just arrived in Leonora after completing the Great Central Road from Ayers Rock. The trip has been a dream, with good roads, good weather and good company. Each of our overnight stops has been quite special, with quiet and peaceful spots under a blazing span of stars. We enjoyed campfires, yarns and experiences and travelled each day smoothly without incident. I will be putting together my usual trip report with accompanying photos sometime soon. In the meantime, if anyone sees us at our present spot of Malcolm Dam, near Leonora, say hello. (There are several Kedrons here.....) Chris and Val

We are now in Alice Springs after a great trip up. Yes, the rain caused us to stay put at Coward Springs for a few days waiting for the road to dry out. I am on the iPad at present but will put up some photos a bit later; tomorrow hopefully. We caught up with the Flynns and Webby and Ann here in Alice, but they have now headed out somewhere remote again for a bit. And then they will be travelling on the Great Central Way with the convoy of Kedrons.

We previously had a problem with as fridge hinge in our first Kedron and Val sorted that out by taking it to an engineering firm who were able to do stainless steel welding. That fixed it so comprehensively that I am confident it will not break again. Ever. We have now arrived in Alice and caught up with Webby, Jacky Jacky and the Flynns. The weather is sunny and cool but rain is due today the BOM says. I reckon it will be OK for mid June, though. Well, I am hoping.... Chris

We are now at Leigh Creek and heading North along the Oodnadatta Track to Alice Springs (via Dalhousie Springs). Our plans are to take the Pedirka Track into Dalhousie, as we have done in the past. it is rough (even our maps say it is rough!) but we have taken the Kedron on it before. So we know what to expect. For the last week we have been camped at a couple of lovely spots in the Flinders and are now well and truly relaxed. We saw another Kedron this morning, heading south, near Parachilna. I wonder who that was...? Maybe at Farina tonight. Maybe somewhere else - it is all a bit loose. . Taking photos of course! If anyone sees us on the Track North, say hello. We always stop to talk to another Kedron so you would find it hard to escape anyway!! Chris and Val

Vicki and Ian, I am so glad everything went well for you with your pickup. The Galls and factory staff sure make it a pleasure, don't they? And welcome to the forum. Make sure you visit often and tell us your current adventures! Chris

Those of you who are going on the trip across the Great Central Way will be getting quite excited now, as time gets closer. Val and I will not be with the group but are travelling separately at a different time. This arrangement suits our timeframes better. I know the group will have a fantastic time and we will hopefully catch up with some of you either before or after the Crossing Major, as we will all be camping in or around Alice Springs in the weeks before. I am particularly looking forward to travelling through this remote area as the GCW contains the World's longest geocaching trail, and I am keen to nab as many of them as possible. Travel safely everyone! Chris

Thanks everyone for the wonderfully detailed reponses. I had tried the right click and save as function but it didn't work. I will follow the alternative instructions and am confident it will be fine. Chris

Thanks for posting the link John. Coincidentally I have just downloaded it from that site too. I am trying to work out how it can be saved for offline viewing. The link encourages users to donate to the RFDS, which is a very good approach. Chris

I am so glad you made it in good time. You certainly wasted no time getting there! Disappointing to hear about that screw loose - I know the feeling. Chris

I am pretty confident this is OK Lesley. Once, at the vey efficient Quarantine post at Kununurra, we had to peel our potatoes and carrots before they were allowed through. We also peeled and stewed our apples. Other stuff we had to hand over. We learnt..... But at Laverton it will be self checking, and as long as there is no peel or soil on the items you are pretty safe I think. But check to be sure. Chris

It is all useful I formation and good to be reminded of what is what. Another issue to remember is that quarantine laws apply when entering WA for fruit, veges and honey. I understand from a brief Internet search that there is a bin at the NT/WA border to place your verges and fruit in. Anything bought in WA and to be kept needs to have the supermarket docket for possible Inspection. Chris

When we have lived and worked in Aboriginal communities a couple of years ago, those locations allowed alcohol to be carried and consumed if you have a permit. The non-Aboriginal residents made sure they had multiple copies of the permit with them (as in one in each car owned or used) and it was something which was seriously viewed by the non-Aboriginal residents. It would be safe to say that the restriction was not adhered to by other local residents who seemed to flout the law with impunity. Other communities we have lived in which have been completely "Dry" we found it was rigorously enforced and adhered to be everyone. It is a strange thing but when you are not allowed to drink alcohol you miss it...and on trips to Darwin or Alice Springs we would head straight to the hotel bar! Normally we are not huge drinkers... At Finke (Apatula) when we worked there for a short time about 5 years ago and were travelling fulltime with the van, before entering the community we dropped off our alcohol (spirits and beer) with a friendly police station who looked after it for us until our departure. It is a minefield of different rules and regulations across the NT and WA, but generally you are OK as long as you are only transitting the area and do not consume the stuff in public. But breach it and it is generally automatic and permanent confiscation of all vehicles (van and car). Chris

We too are part of the caravanserai coming over from the East. In our case we will be joining them at Yulara and then driving across to Leonora with the group. After Leonora we will probably head South to Kalgoorlie and on down to Esperance. We want to be home in SA in early August. I would probably be willing to do a relatively short trip around Geraldton if there was anything suitable for a few day trip? Chris

It is looking good Colin. Very neatly presented and easy to read. And of course the time is getting closer now. I have organised our permits (which was easily done on the internet) and checked our booking at Ayres Rock campground (it was there!). We will be joining the group at ARCG on 10 June (probably camping the night before back at a free camp just 50 or 60 kms West of Curtin Springs (CAW6 site 71, as we will be coming in from the West Macdonnells via the Mereenie Loop. Chris

I have just been talking to my daughter who spent a few years in that part of WA and her advice was that any sane person would move right on past Laverton. She said they have a raft of social problems there... So it could be best to consider an alternative to staying there for too long. Chris