Tolley

Ian & sue, Thank you for your good wishes for the group. We have had a couple of good days in Winton including a good night at the North Gregory pub, and today a great drive together from Winton to Boulia. The Boulia Cp is good and we had two birthday celebrations, cake, candles and champers at happy hour tonight. It is a great group of people, largely strangers until a couple of days ago, and we are having fun. Tomorrow, Min Min Lights show and then off to free camp by the Georgina River. Kind regards and many thanks, Colin

Thanks. Den and Col I passed on your suggestion at our briefing yesterday. Regards Colin

Hello Well the day arrived. We are all here except the Nuts in Winton. Great group of people all getting to know one another. Hoping Eric and Lesley can join us soon. The Winton Pelican caravan park looks like the Kedron sales yard at Kedron on Gympie Road. Jan would be proud of us. I think this will be a great trip. Regards Colin

Hello, We have first hand information from John & Ann who have just completed the GCR from west to east. The elements of the report are that the road from Yulara to the WA border is scrappy but doable easily from slow to medium speed. From the border to the west are varied from excellent with patches of both light and heavy corrugations. John traversed the road at speeds from 60 to 90 kph. That is all good news and dispels some of my 4.00 am fears that the roads were impassable!!! Must be an age thing! Thanks John and Ann. I hope we meet in the Alice area. Regards Colin

Hello All, Lesley, that is bad luck. Hope you get a fix ASAP and that we meet in Winton. I am in Hugenden about to leave for Julia Creek. Gayleen and I are making client visits to all the regional councils who we do business with. We will go as far west as Cloncurry before back tracking to Winton ETA Thursday. Passed Zolle yesterday as they headed east. Parked next to an ATV2 here in Hughenden CP. it is all sealed up with blinds drawn up and windows closed. It has occupants as I have heard some noise and saw a sliver of light but no one has emerged from it, to my knowledge, since 3.00 PM yesterday! I am not on normal email as we are, in our business, installing new IT systems including migrating everything to Cloud 365. It is a big job. In the meantime I can be contacted on coltol@me.com I note that all roads are now open with cautions re corrugations, washouts west of Yulara. It is COLD out here as well. The weather is just beautiful. Regards Colin

Zolle We are now at Bivouac junction holiday park, which I highly recommend, just west of Charters Towers. Camps 7 #272 Qld. Monday night we will be in Richmond. Colin

Hi John, We will be in CT tonight, Sunday, and head west on Monday after calling in on a client in Ct on Monday morning. I monitor Channel 40 so if you see a Top Ender and white 100 series....... Haven't decided on Monday's destination . Regard Colin

Good news Mayzee, It is strange how these things crop up at the last minute despite your best efforts to prepare, check, prepare and check again. Mine this time was the rear view camera, now replaced, and the very morning of our departure for the big lap in 2011, all power was lost to accessories in the Landcruizer. Looking forward to our meeting in Winton. Regards Colin

Lea and Rick, where is "up here"? Colin

Good Morning Everyone, Well, it has arrived. The last day before departure on our Outback Way journey. We head south towards Charters Towers tomorrow morning. Many will be pleased that my being on the road will greatly reduce my capacity to produce emails and attachments Recent rains south and west of the Alice and the subsequent road closures has thrown some uncertainty into the mix. But that is caravanning and outback travel. It all adds to the attractiveness of what we do. In a week from now the Phase 1 participants will be gathered in Winton. I am really looking forward to meeting everyone. I wish everyone, and especially our Outback Way group, happy and safe travels. Regards Colin

And, Tony, that photo was taken after she had shaved them!!! Gotta go...here she comes.....WHACK!! Colin

Hello, Further to the sunrise and sunset PDF I attached previously, you will note that there is two entries for Warakuna (Giles). Yesterday I spoke to the lady at the RH and confirmed that Central time is used there. On leaving Giles headed west it reverts to WA time. So, the entry in red is the go. This matter is important if one is looking to refuel etc. On the rain, they had little with about 40 mm at Warburton. On road conditions she said from Ayres Rock to them, rough, then to the west, OK. Regards Colin

Save space, go barefoot!

Hello, This attachment has been sent by email direct to participants. However, some find it easier to access it on this site. Regards Colin

Yes, I know, I should take up a constructive hobby. But anyway, here is the first five verses. We must, as a group, finish it before Leonora. Get to work!! THE VAN FROM PINE RIVER with apologies to A.B. "Banjo" Paterson There was movement amongst the Kedrons, for the word had passed around That the trip across the continent was underway, And had joined together in Winton - it was worth the thousand miles, So all the cracks had gathered to the fray. All the tried and noted vanners from places near and far Had mustered at the caravan park overnight, For the Kedrons love the outback where the wild bush horses are, And the owners snuff the challenge with delight. There was Flynnie, who made his pile when Kingston Town won the cup, The old man with his hair as white as snow; But few could follow behind him when his blood was fairly up -- He would go wherever the Kedron and 'Cruiser could go. And Tolley from the North came down to lend a hand, No better organiser ever held the reins; For never could a corrugated road throw him while the sockies would stand, He learnt to drive while serving on the plains. And one was there, a Top Ender a large and rugged beast, It was something like a camper oversized, With a touch of pure luxury - three parts thoroughbred at least - And such as are by outback caravaner’s prized. It looked hard and tough and wiry - just the sort that won't say die - There was beauty in its quick impatient tread; And it bore the badge of greatness in our bright and fiery eye, And the proud and lofty carriage of our head. But there was one so slight and weedy, one would doubt its power to stay, And the old man said, "That van will never make it For a long and tiring trip – it had better stop away, Those deserts are far too tough for such as it." So the ATV driver stood sad and wistful - only Mayzee stood his friend - "I think we ought to let it come," he said; "I warrant it'll be with us when it’s wanted at the end, For both his van and he are Aussie bred. "It hails from Pine River, up by Brendale side, Where the hills are twice as steep and twice as rough, Where a Kedron wheels strike firelight from the flint stones every mile, The van that holds its own is good enough. And the Kedron’s in the outback make their name, Where the river runs those giant hills between; I have seen so many caravans since I first commenced to roam, But nowhere yet such caravans have I seen."

Thanks Russ, It was a typo. I have deleted that post including the attachment. So, here we go again. The attachment shows the mainland school term dates. I find it useful during the winter caravan season up north. Regards Colin PS. Russ there was not an issue with my batteries. Somehow the setting on F1 of the battery monitor in the van had been changed from 360 where it should be to 45!! That is why it was flashing all sorts of dire warnings at me. All good now.

Lea, Rick, John and Ann, On behalf of the group I thank you for your good wishes to us you a safe and enjoyable journey. Much appreciated. Regards Colin

Tony, that will be a special time for all of you. Moët is now 13 and showing signs of dog dementia! Still lovely though. Cherie is as cheeky as ever. The only pup to get the better of her was Mardi!! Regards Colin

Tony, it would be just great if you were apart of it. How is the Grand Kids situation? Regards Colin

Hello Everyone, This message only applies to the participants in Phase 1, Winton to Alice. To get the trip started early on Saturday 1 June we will need to get together the day before for a briefing (not too long) and then a getting to know you drink and maybe food at the North Gregory pub or wherever the group would prefer. According to my records everyone is staying at the Pelican CP except Evo and TheNuts who are both staying at the Long Waterhole just outside town. I propose the following; Time Activity Comment 1545 hrs Gather at the Pelican CP at my van. Bring a chair 1600 hrs Briefing starts. Distribution of folders and Kedron promotion items. View short video of first part of trip. Establish routine for the following day. 1645 hrs Briefing ends. 1700 hrs Meet in pub for introductory drinks. Meeting at my van has advantages over doing the briefing in the pub. It makes the distribution of folders and promo stuff easier and allows me to use our TV, externally mounted, to show the first part of the trip video. If this arrangement is unsuitable for anyone please advise me ASAP. Regards Colin

Hello travellers, Been watching the rain in north and central WA and southern NT. Might make for a interesting trip, depending on how much falls. We are two and a Half weeks before heading down the Plenty Hwy and anything can happen in that time. Those who are out there might keep us posted as Laurie has done. Getting closer.....got new tyres, new shockers, wheels aligned, bearings nipped up battles sorted......looking good. Regards Colin PS. My attempts to lure you into being poets was a bomber, wasn't it?

Thanks Laurie, Yes, I have been watching them as best one can using TV, weather channel and BOM website. There has been some rain on the Great Central Road in WA. It is just on a month before we hit that road. Rain can be a good thing for the road surface providing it is not excessive and there is not too much traffic on the wet surfaces before they dry. The other benefit is it brings out the windflowers and keeps the dust down. We have been having a late and small wet season here in Cairns. By the 10 May we had exceeded the may average. We wil be talking to the road houses etc to try and get up to the minute reports. Travel safely and thanks. Regards Colin

Hello, Happy Mother's Day to all the Mums out there. Unfortunately my Mum is no longer here but I give her lots of thoughts today. As it is Mother's Day, try this for the fourth Verse. But there was one so slight and weedy, one would doubt her power to stay, And the old man said, "That lass will never do For a long a tiring trip - lady, you'd better stop away, Those deserts are far too tough for such as you." So she waited sad and wistful - only Mayzee stood her friend - "I think we ought to let her come," he said; "I warrant she'll be with us when she's wanted at the end, For both her van and she are Aussie bred. Regards Colin

Thank you Jacky Jacky (Ann).....and here is a go at the third verse! And one was there, a Top Ender a large and rugged beast, It was something like a camper oversized, With a touch of pure luxury - three parts thoroughbred at least - And such as are by outback caravaners prized. It looked hard and tough and wiry - just the sort that won't say die - There was beauty in its quick impatient tread; And it bore the badge of greatness in our bright and fiery eye, And the proud and lofty carriage of our head. Fourth verse from someone please... Colin

THE VAN FROM PINE RIVER with apologies to A.B. "Banjo" Paterson There was movement amongst the Kedrons, for the word had passed around That the trip across the continent was underway, And had joined together in Winton - it was worth the thousand miles, So all the cracks had gathered to the fray. All the tried and noted vanners from places near and far Had mustered at the caravan park overnight, For the Kedrons love the outback where the wild bush horses are, And the owners snuff the challenge with delight. Anyone like to have a go at the second verse? Too much time on my hands, I think! Colin