Tolley

Hello Laurie & Helen, That is a comprehensive and very useful report. The news of graders headed east is encouraging! Given the situation with the cattle industry across northern Australia I anticipate we will experience lots of cattle truck road trains not only on the entire Outback Way but also, subsequently for us, across the Kimberly and NT. Thanks again Laurie and Helen. Good luck to you both in your travels and in your time at three ways. Regards Colin

Hello Outback Wayers, I have sent this information individually to all of our group but I am aware that some find it easier to get the information from this site. For the convenience of those in our group I have put together for each of you a KOG Outback Way Folder which contains the information listed in the attachment to this email. So, if you have lost, left behind, haven’t got a printer etc., the stuff I have been sending you……don’t worry. I'll give you your folder when we meet. The only thing I do not have is a copy of your permits to cross the desert from Yulara to the WA border and from there to Leonora. Don’t forget to have those documents in your possession. Regards to you all Colin

Hello KOGers, For those interested I have posted a revised participants list and Edition 5 of the Outback Way itinerary in the Gatherings Forum. Regards Colin

Laurie, well said. Like everything else it comes down to how you use and manage it. Having a grey water holding tank solves nothing unless it is managed well and discharged responsibily. Regards , Colin

Hi Fred and Zolle, Whoever that was at the Perth Show representing Caravanning Qld was talking out of his fundamental.....well, you know waht I mean. YES, Lakefield is easily accessable by caravan. Yes, Cape York is a wonderful caravan journey. I have had my TE and two poodles in Lakefield NP and the same van has been to Punsand Bay right beside the very tip of Cape York. My 20ft TE has been up the Cape twice, 2010 and 2012. For your interest I have attached a trip report on our trip a couple of years ago. The two pdf's should dispel any doubts. The pictueres say it all. BTW, my strong advice to you is to travel up the Cape in June. It is the best month for a good number of reasons. Regards Colin

Hello Fred, Yes I have taken my 20 ft TE into Fruitbat Falls. The track is single lane but posed no problems at all. If you encounter opposing traffic they will get out of your way, somewhere, as it is highly unlikely to be someone towing a van. As I recall there is NOT a sign saying it is not suitable for vans. So, go for it. Once in there you will find plenty of parking and driving through to head back out is not an issue. It would be a shame not to visit both Fruitbat and Twin Falls once you are that far up the Cape. Fruitbat Falls is for day use only and is a beautiful place for lunch and a swim. Twin Falls has overnight camping. Fred, as a caveat, it is a couple of years since I was there but I cannot imagine it would have changed much. Hope this helps. A trip up the Cape is a wonderful experience. Regards Colin

Hello Everyone, We have discovered that Parapituri Waterhole on Wirrilyerna Station west of Boulia is no longer open to campers. So, we have had to modify our itinerary and, hence, Edition 5 is attached FYI. Today, Friday, means it is only 50 days to go before Phase 1 sets out from Winton. Regards Colin

Hello Again, It is not a record in any case as in Dec 2012 Pete &Tracey started a thread on Battery Charging and it has has over 10,000 hits. That does not surprise me as life in a van centres around what the batteries are doing. Incidentally, there is some good stuff in that thread and I have noted it being referred to on the Caravaners Forum. Regards Colin

Hello Tony and John, 52 and a wakie! Who's counting? Thank you for your thoughtful words but I don't think congratulations are due to me as it was never my intention to set a hits record. Congratulations are due to all our KOG members who have shown a great interest in this trip. As a consequence of your comments I have looked back at my initial post. I had been wanting to make this trip for some time and thought, if I post my intentions I might get someone to join me. Might be a bit of fun as Gayleen and I have never travelled in company in our van. Well, we have thirteen vans some of which will only do one of the two parts of the trip. Just fantastic ! I cannot believe the interest that has been generated as reflected in the number of hits on this thread. If I had not moved a heap of administration and discussion emails off this site and onto a group email list, I reckon the total hits might well be in excess of 10k by now. All we need now is some great weather, smooth roads and good luck (and a fair bit more organization) to make it a great trip which the participants and our fellow Koggers enjoy. Tony, Cherie & Moët send return licks to Mardi. Regards Colin PS. Don't tell them but I have a couple of little surprises for the participants

Hello Cathy and Jacky Jacky, The containers suggested are great. A couple of years ago we invested in a cryovav (spelling?) machine. In the weeks before a trip we cryovav prepared meals and freeze them. We also take the machine with us in the van. Besides longevity of the food the big advantages is space saving in freezers and the fact that the cryovac'd packs cannot break or spill. Also, the Fresh & Crisp re sealable storage bags we saw suggested elsewhere on this site are just great! We used them for the first time during our Easter trip. Got them in Coles. Regards Colin

Hello, I have really enjoyed reading this thread except I don't understand all these electrical / electronic things Sadly, my maker forgot to add that part of the brains kit that understands this stuff. I am jealous of you all. I understand "on" and "off" on switches and "positive" and "negative".....that is it! Regards Colin

Hello Cathy and Greg, My apologies for not responding sooner. We have been out west at O'Briens Creek near Mt Surprise (Gulf Development Road) for six days over Easter. The NBN has not reached there yet!! Webby and Sue have both given excellent advice borne from their extensive experience. We, too have had the odd learning experience (aka disaster) in the fridge with food items and I can relate to Webby's story about Ann's beer in a car fridge. I find the two 9kg cylinders of gas are more than adequate. One bottle last a long time. Refills and swap and go system (which I use) are relatively common. My advice is to not even contemplate a third cylinder. Have you ever noticed how gas cylinders only ever run empty when you are using them? I have found that the door and drawer latches in the van (we have those shown in the attached photo)can come loose as a consequence of the black locking not unscrewing. I now use silicon to bind the latch body, black locking nut and the door together. I just run a line of silicaon down the body across the back thingo and onto the timber door. BTW, the photo shows one of the latches that was not secured as described and came loose with the rusult that the crockery drawer ended up on the floor. Hope this helps. Regards Colin

G'day Webby, Ms Gaget, you will have to be quick to be the first in the queue! What a great isea! Actually, being a satellite phone it occured to me that I could buy one from the US and set up an account with one of their providers. I searched for a seller without luck. Perhaps the are so new that they have not yet got them out with distributors. If they work well they will be a great asset. Colin

Hello Cathy and Greg, Looks like Tibby, Moet and Cherie are the pup tag team. We will have to divide up their duties. Moet, the white one, is the #1 boundary rider and is an expert rat catcher with the patience of Jobe. She was a great door bell but, being 13 years old, is a deep sleeper and may miss the odd intruder these days. Cherie, the black one, normally has the role of chief crocodile killer and expert cattle dog but has re-trained for this trip as a camel and big red kangaroo herder. Being five years old she is in her prime as a door bell and night time movement detector. So, what are Tibby's skills? Regards Colin

Russ and Sue, That is great. You mentioned some time ago that you had an interest in that gig. Congratulations on getting the job. Regards Colin

Rick & Lea, You are responsible for me splurting my coffee all over the white dog when I read your post. There is nothing like a good laugh to start the day! Colin

Hello Deb, We purchased them online at: />http://www.petzympatico.com.au/Pawz-Dog-Boots-Waterproof-Reusable-Disposable-p/b-06w-paw.htm Or have a look on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w49XybpaY2o They are from the US, of course. Have a look at the video on the site I have given you. Our two took a couple of minutes to feel comfortable and then they were off, especially Cherie, the little toy poodle. She was tearing up and down the street showing off to everyone! We, too, encountered bindies our west and spent forever getting them out. These work a treat! Rehards Colin

Hello, On Sunday next, 17 March, there will only be 75 days to go (74 and a wakie) before we depart from Winton on the start of our journey. Preparations, much a part of the fun, are being completed. Even our two companions, Moet and Cherie, are getting prepared. The photo shows them trying out their latex anti-bindie-prickle boots. Cherie, the black one, thinks she is "it and a bit" with these boots on! Regards Colin

Hello, The different experiences of diferent people is interesting isn't it? For some reson my new TE, three and a half years ago, came with a Waeco. It was a dud. Our shakedown trip was Brissy - Windorah - Adels Grove Lawn Hill - Normanton- Kurumba - and home in Cairns. The Waeco did not work for the whole trip! KEDRON tried to help as best they could via the phone. Their recommended service agent in Cairns couldn't fix it. At a convenient time I took the van back to Kedron and in a flash they ripped out the Waeco and installed a Vitrofrigo. It has not missed a beat in three years and I live in the tropics! It might be belt and braces stuff but in my Landcruiser I have two 40L portable fridges. One is an Engel and the other is a Waeco. Both work like a treat! Maybe none of my fridges, except the first one, were built on a Friday or Monday. Colin

Ooops! I meant to add the attchment to my last post. Or, here is the web link: />http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/objtwr/imported_assets/content/pw/q/quarantinewa_traveller_guide.pdf And here is another useful website: />http://www.quarantinedomestic.gov.au/destination-northern-territory.html Regards Colin

Hello, The quarantine issue is important. On our way around Oz a couple of years ago, Gayleen and I were caught out big time crossing from VIC into SA. We did a did a big fresh food shop in Mildura and an hour or so later handed it all over to the SA quarantine people! We were better prepared when we crossed into WA. One way of overcoming the problem is to have frozen veggies and to have frozen cooked meals. Regards Colin

John, I don't know what you are apologising for.....no apologies needed.....we are all mucking our way through this......I learn something new every day. Regards Colin

Hello Everyone, If you are intending to travel the Outback Way in WA the following website is worthy of your time. />http://www.ngaanyatjarraku.wa.gov.au You will find some great photo's and have your appetite whetted for the beautiful artwork. There is a photo of a really classy art gallery that would be worth a visit. Also, you will find road reports and so on. One document I found is the Council by-laws which covers the alcohol carriage and consumption in detail. I have attached that document for your use. From the website it looks like beautiful country. Regards Colin

Thanks John, I was preparing to answer Zolle's question including an extract from the permit that is issued. Yesterday I spoke to the two Roadhouses and the CEO's office. They make it clear that carriage of grog is OK but consumption is not. One RH lady said that some "open and drink it in their cars" and she added that when they get caught "the penalties are big and serves them right". Being in WA and the NT and some parts of Qld you just have to put up with some rules that are irksome. On a trip up Cape York we were totally grog free, not even carrying some, as we were visiting ATSI communities. When we got to Weipa we restocked. Soon after arriving back in the CP the police arrived and questioned us on our intended purpose for our purchases. They were quickly satisfied with our explanation but it makes you feel bad having the police in you van! Regards Colin

Hello Everyone, Back on 8 Feb 13 I published a comment in this thread that contained an attachment called Handy Trip Information. It contained advice that is was illegal to carry unleaded petrol fuel into aboriginal lands and to do so atttracted serious penalties. John,(John and Ann) sent me a PM the other day questioning the source of my information as he could not find reference to the illegalities etc. It was a good question and I searched for my source without luck. So, I emailed the GM of the Outback Way who in turn put the quetion to the Mayor and CEO of the Shire of Ngaanyatjarraku. To his knowledger it is not an offence but there are some common sense rules. They are described in the attached flyer. I have amended the Trip Info flyer and the amended copy, Edition 3, is attached. My apologies if my earlier advice caused anyone any inconvienience. Regards Colin