Chris
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Posts posted by Chris
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King and Deb
We are off to the Flinders tomorrow (Brachina Gorge most likely) and then up the Oodnadata Track to Alice. We think we will be back in the Barossa (an hour north of Adelaide) about the end of September. I really hope we do run into you both! We will look out for you. Otherwise, get in touch when you get to Adelaide and we will try to arrange a catch up. We have to eb around home mid October for the installation of a new kitchen...
Chris
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I don't believe it! You will arrive in Adelaide while we are away!! We are leaving for the Flinders and then the Oodnadatta Track on Wednesday next week. We are headed for Alice Springs and want to spend some time around the west Macdonnells before heading back home again about 6 weeks later.
What direction are guys coming down to Adelaide? Straight down the Stuart Hwy? If you have time, stop off at Mambray Creek NP campground about 50 kms south of Port Augusta. A lovely camp site. About $12 a night for hot showers and flushing toilets and a beautiful campground.
How long will you be around Adelaide after you get back from Newcastle?
Chris
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Thanks to everyone for your advice on this topic.
We will follow Reg and Fran's advice and put a rubber plug in the intake pipe to stop dist and pebbles getting in there.
As some of you will know, we are about to heit the track going up to the Flinders and then the Oodnadatta Track nect week.
Chris
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Hello forumites.
We are off to Alice Springs next week, via the Flinders first and then on the Oodnadatta Track.
The last time we travelled on that road was three years ago and my memory of it isn't all that good. Has anyone been on the Track recently and know what condition it is in?
Any special spots you have stayed and loved? Last time we did stay at Coward Springs and loved it there. Also stayed at Algebuckina Bridge. Someone says the northern side of the river is the place to stay - any advice?
We want to call in to the Painted Desert either going up from Adelaide, or on the way back. Any comments?
Chris
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I was about to ask how we could order some new anodes, did a search and found this useful information, previously supplied by CVTripper. Very helpful, thanks. Also thanks to Rosco for his extra detail.
This info may well be useful for others.
Chris
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Gilly, and Laurie and Helen,
I am glad the information was helpful.
Chris
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Great to see you back from the wilds! I hope you took lots of photos. What was your favourite part of the Gibb?
Chris
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Gilly, ah now you have introduced the different topic of a diesel heater. They are wonderful! You should have one if you intend travelling in cold weather or feel the cold.
A capacity to heat the van quickly and efficiently means you can stay camped in freezing weather and extend your bush camping. There have been times before we had the heater, we have had to leave a camp spot because it was so cold, and move to a caravan park with power to run the aircon on heat cycle. No longer, as the Dometic heats really quickly and draws very little power.
Chris
PS Laurie and Helen, thanks for the heads up re the mag article.
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Hi everyone.
I have just discovered that the latest edition of Caravan and Motorhome has a review on our reasonably new Top Ender. Glen Gall thoughtfully sent me an advance copy as a pdf document, which I am attaching.
Mrs Gall senior provided the props, which included the nice red wine we are drinking outside the van. I am still grateful to her....the wine was a nice one. As is the review.
I wonder if Kimbo wants a signed copy of the magazine..? Just as well he is on the Gibb at present. This rivals his Top Ender being in a magazine article! :biggrin:
Chris
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Ah, is there?! Really? We have the magazine delivered but haven't seen it yet.
Chris
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Laurie and Helen,
yes, I realised after looking at the specs that it was smaller. Val thinks (he's the one with the technical way of looking at things) that the lack of a case would be a drawback. Perhaps that's why it's a bit noisier?
Anyway, along with CVtripper, we rarely need to use one - it was rare situations where we needed the aircon (Keep River NP in October; Mt Isa bushcamp in December) and the Honda just would not cope. We tried everything - including putting it up on a block to get it away from the hot ground etc.
Most people probably don't travel in the heat like we did and so it's not an issue.
Incidentally, we bought the Yamaha 2400 from someone in Adelaide, who advertised on another caravan forum...he had bought it in Darwin but never used it!
Chris
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I want a full trip report when you get back Kimbo. With photos.
Chris
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Laurie and Helen,
from memory, the 2.8 Yamaha doesn't have a standard casing and looks much bigger than the 2.4...although it's lighter.
Pete and Tracey,
the Honda will not run the aircon if the outside temperature is in the mid 40's. The aircon just draws too much; after about 15 minutes the generator conks out. We think they have a sensitive sensor which turns them off. Under normal heating conditions our Honda was running fine - but when it got above 45 degrees outside, nothing we did could persuade the Honda to run after the initial 15 minutes. The Honda manual will confirm that this will be so. We had our unit tested drawing a full load and it worked just fine. But put it in high temperature environments and no go. Others report the same thing. So the Yamaha it is.
Chris
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I am wondering when we might see a trip report from Webby and Jacky Jacky? I reckon it would be a good report, having covered some interesting territory.
Looking forward to a good read. :biggrin:
Chris
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Like Russ and Sue, we have the four panels and four batteries, as well as a 2.4 Yamaha. As stated, there is well documented evidence of the Honda being inadequate to run an aircon in very hot weather (when it is most needed). We asked Kedron to omit the slide so we could fit the Yamaha into the generator hatch.
We gave the Honda away, we were so disappointed in it (just left it in the old van when we sold it).
We love national park camping, and most often you are not allowed to run a generator, so the extra battery and solar capacity is a god send. We have an 1800 watt Xantrex inverter to run the washing machine and microwave, if we ever need them. (In short bursts only!).
Solar power is addictive - you always want more. I want more!!
Chris
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So Kimbo, have you found some firewood for the Oz Pig? :laugh:
If you can get hold of the Ron and Viv Moon book on the GRR it is a great help! One of the spots we really liked was Bell Gorge - I think we stayed three nights there. The Moons say the best direction to travel the GRR is from East to West (as you are doing) as the scenery is slightly more spectacular that way. We found it lovely either way
I am attaching my trip report on when we did the trip. Hope it helps.
CV and Deb and King, how wonderful that you will be up here enjoying the beautiful weather. Will you all stay at the same park and have evening get togethers?
Chris
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On a spur of the moment thing we have flown up to Darwin for a few days. Our son is back in the country for the weekend (arrnging for the sale of their Darwin house) and we wanted to catch up with him. So here we are, Palms Resort (Big 4) caravan park, in one of the cabins.
We have seen one Kedron here, and spoken to them briefly, but wondered if there was anyone alse around?
The weather is absolutely gorgeous. We are now among the folk who parade around self-consciously in shorts and t shirts, and with white legs and arms.
How I envy all the caravaners out there, living the life of ease, kicked back under their awnings. In a month or two we plan to drive up from Adelaide via the Oodnadatta Track and spend about two months back up here.
It does feel strange being back in Darwin but no longer calling it home....
Chris
PS does anyone know where Kimbo is now?
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Pete and Tracey,
Girraween is one of my very favourite spots (provided Birds Australia isn't camped there, with all their little tents erected around the vans (in contravention of the "no Tents" signs) or extra large groups of scouts or Girl Guides, or school groups... Just joking, we really don't mind the kids camping there!
And the chocolate shop on the road in! Oh my. Wish I had been there with you.
Chris
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Jackie and Tom,
we had a Lemair which we carried in the back of the LC for three or four years as we travelled around Oz. It was a wonderful unit and we had absolutely no problems with it. When we ordered the new van we had a Dometic front loader machine installed and are wrapt in it too.
There is no doubt that having your own machine is a real bonus; no queuing at the laundry, having the machine close to hand to hang out the washing, and you know exactly what was put in it at the last wash!
(Some folk in laundries wash all sorts of things in machines...).
I got tired of constantly bringing in or packing away the Lemair, and the attendant plumbing it in etc. Also, some parks don't allow you to use your own machines these days - if its inside the van they don't know about it!
We have the Lemair for sale if you would like it...? :laugh:
Chris
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We went to Karijini a couple of years ago, with the old van (an ATV). We went up the inland route from Perth, heading in from Newman. After spending time at both Dales Camp and the other camp (forget its name) we headed to Millstream Chichester NP through the back road (gravel) passing Python Pool etc. It was a truly magic trip with marvellous views. We popped out on the coast to the north of Karratha.
I will attach a trip report I did on it at the time.
Chris
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We have just had a lovely couple of days with Rick and Lea staying with us at our new home in the Barossa. They put the van just over the fence in the backyard, with a lead running into our shed.
I wish they could have stayed longer (and the time I had with them was limited by the fact I had to work some of the time) but we did enjoy having another Kedronner visit.
Last night we enjoyed a couple of bottles of something local (it is the Barossa, after all!) and agreed that vanning is a wonderful past-time.
Today they were off again and how I do envy them. But we plan to meet up with them in a week's time in the Flinders. This will be our first trip with the van since we brought it home. I am looking forard to it!
Chris
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I am a regular to that forum but didn't know there was a competition! I would definitely have voted for Webby's photo, as I know the spot. And I have some similarly good shots of the spot.
Chris
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I am sorry you had this experience. It can be very upsetting to encounter hostility and this certainly sounds as though it was an unsettling experience.
As we know many Kedron (and BT owners for that matter) I can vouch that they are generally courteous and kind people. As someone said, there is always an exception.
Chris
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Hi fellow Koggers.
Posted in the Trip Report section is a trip report detailing the second stage of our trip home to Adelaide with the new Top Ender. As some of you know, and will have astutely observed, there was a Stage 1 report on the trip and that ws posted a month or so back. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this offering too. It contains Flynnie's special camp site which we loved and enjoyed with fellow Koggers Rael and Sue.
You do see Kedrons everywhere these days...
Chris
Trip Report
in Public Forum
Posted
Hi all.
I have prepared a trip report on the Oodnadatta Track (as a part of a larger report which will be written after I get home in a week or so).
Chris
Here it is
Trip_August_2009_Oodnadatta_Track.pdf