Tolley

Hello, It seems that the link to the report from my drop box has expired, whatever that means. I am trying to renew it. Regards Colin

JK, Thanks for the info. Maybe I should cancel our end of trip dinner at the Prairie Hotel in Parachilna and let Rick demonstrate his skills!! And Pete, thanks for that. We are having our get together diner at the Family Hotel on the night of the 20th. Good food and good company is just great. Regards Colin

Today is the day we do a Willie Nelson...... Off to Tibooburra. Just waiting for Gayleen to get back from an early morning dentist appointment having a root canal! Tough bird! Colin

Hello Koggers, For all those headed up the Cape, or for that matter just around Cairns, BE WARNED!!!!! It is freezing here. Last night it was only 11 degrees. I have had to put shoes on! The weather is now just beautiful. The wet has gone along with the humidity. I always advocate an early June departure from Cairns. That will prove to be good advice again this year. I have not had any road reports but with this weather the crews will be out there. Call the Cook Shire for good info. Travel safely and look after our beautiful Cape York. Regards Colin

Rick and Lea, Almost 12 months ago Rick wrote on the Outback Way thread "According to Lea a group of Keddies is a Koggle!! :rolleyes" Well Rick and Lea are about to be one of the Koggle of Keddies gathered in Tibooburra on 20 May. I am really looking forward to getting on the road on Thursday. Regards Colin

Thanks Col and Den, And how are you? Great info as usual. We leave here next Wednesday and can't wait. Where are you headed? Kindest regards. Colin

Chris and Lynn, My apologies as I have not sent you thr trip report as offered. The fact is, I think I have lost it. Six months ago I had an external hard drive "collapse" and I lost a lot of things including photos and trip reports. Incidentally, that is why I now store everything in the "cloud" in my Dropbox. Regards Colin

Hello Chris and Lynn, Webby has given you some good leads. In Wyndham there is a great Fish and Chip café on the left as you head north in town. You can't miss it. Very clean and modern. Great fresh barra!! We completed the GRR last year and also two years before. Dump points? No. Can't recall any. The road houses, station stays etc all have toilets and we saved the serious stuff for them!! Otherwise you need to go bush some good distance from the road and dig a big hole. There's plenty of good camp spots but one of my favourites is on top of a hill at a lookout about 5 km EAST of March Fly Glenn (Camps 7, WA 553). Also, just up the road towards Drysdale River Station you will cross the Gibb River. There is a good camp spot on the NW side. Also good camping on the SE side. See pics attached. The road will probably be a bit of everything. Watch out for Britz 4WD being driven like missiles!! Have a look at these two pics. />https://www.dropbox.com/s/538cr9843z4szz7/2013-07-13%2011.30.25.jpg />https://www.dropbox.com/s/gtk7kzguqjqkrhf/2013-07-10%2018.35.55.jpg Regards Colin BTW, I am happy to send you a link to my trip reports on our trip along the GRR if you would like it.

Hello, One of the good things about the Corner Country Trip is that we end up in the Flinders Ranges, Parachilna Prairie Hotel for our end of trip dinner. Then it's just down the road to this wonderful area: />https://www.dropbox.com/s/jtu3bugctst1h16/Cellars%20market.docx Colin

Hello, For the convenience of ease of access I the following link will give you the whole report. It is in pdf format. />https://www.dropbox.com/s/x9d3kl7xnbsw73l/Trip%20Report%20-Outback%20Way%202013.pdf?n=119933804 Regards Colin

Hello Koggers, I have had difficulties uploading my trip report from The Outback Way Trip. However, with the help of Chris (Web Guru)we have put the reports in the Trip and Gathering part of the Members Section. Its in two parts. If you are interested, have a look. And, thank you Chris for your help. Regards Colin

Wow! Thanks Eric and Lesley for a prompt and informative reply. Its on our itinerary!! Regards Colin

Hello Koggers, To get to Tibooburra for the start of our trip we are considering using the Dowling Track from Thargomindah to Hungerford. Along this Track is a camp spot (QLD 724 Camps 7) called Kilcowera Station. Is anyone familiar with the Track and or Kilcowera Station? I have spoken to the lady at Kilcowera and she sounded really nice and welcoming. She said the Track was OK and the Council was doing some work on it. They had rain in that area about three weeks ago but nothing since but she said they had plenty of feed and the country is looking good. Any info from those who know would be appreciated. Regards Colin

That would spoil. your day! A couple of weeks ago we were headed north on the Gregory Development Road approaching the Cape River crossing about 100 km south of Charters Towers when we heard a call from a road train driver that there was a bad caravan crash. When we got there others were already attending to the crash and thankfully all were still alive and walking around. I offered help but those already there were Ok. The new looking Nissan Patrol was on its side and looked to me a write off. The van was in a million pieces so much so I could not identify the brand let alone the model. I felt so sorry for the owners. Judging by the big skid marks on the road I reckon they lost control and then over corrected. They left the road at a place where there were no substantial trees, thankfully. It's the first caravan accident we have come across close to the time of the events. Makes you slow down and reflect. Colin

Steve, that gave me a good laugh this morning. I will relay that vital info to Gayleen and she will be first there by the post! Regards Colin

Hello, Did a ring around today ensuring all is good for our trip. Spoke to people in Tibooburra, Cameron Corner, Birdsville, Farina Station, Oodnadata, coward Springs etc. some have had rain while others have not but, as of today, all roads are open. The big news for me is that the underground bakery at Farina will be operating when we are there. Bit of a fan of a dogs eye and dead horse so I was excited by that! Regards Colin

Hello Chris, I have pdf'd it but it remains a large file mainly because of the photos, I think. It would not upload as a PDF. I would love to publish it here. Chris, send me your email address to colin@precruitment.com.au and I will send you a link to the report in my outbox. Maybe you can get it to upload. Regards Colin

Thanks Steve and Kez. It will be fun, an adventure and all in great company. We escaped to Charters Towers during TC Ita. There is something just relaxing about being out in the Keddie! Regard Colin

Hi jk, My trip report was not published on this site. I did it in MS Publisher and, with all the photo's in the report it would not upload. However, I would be delighted to send you a copy by email. If you are happy to send me your email address please send it to colin@precruitment.com.au You will enjoy the Outback Way. It was good fun and there is some beautiful country out there. Regards Colin

Hello Koggers and Corner Country Participants, I have been very silent on this topic recently as my life has been in turmoil. Sold my home, rented another, purchased another, moved house,, Tropical Cyclones business issues, took the van to Brendale for a service (4000 km approx). Sheesh! At long last the turmoil is about settled. Not long before we all meet in Tibooburra and am I looking forward tom that? Gayleen and I will depart Cairns about 7 May as we want to call in on a number of local government clients before arriving in Tibooburra. Got a bit to do between now and them in finalising details but it will get done. Regards Colin

Peter, Margaret and JK, thanks for your kind thoughts. Did the 500 km in heavy rain from Cairns to Charters Towers yesterday. The heavy rain was between Cairns and Townsville. Sitting here all snug in Charters and we have Sellingup (aka Kerry and Mal) parked nearby. It was good to meet them. Bit of rain here but compared to what is belting down back home, this is nothing! Having seen, again, the buying frenzies in supermarkets and gas stations I reckon cyclones are good for business. King regards Colin

Hello Daryl, I am an advocate of an early June departure from Cairns up to the tip. Tonight, as I sit here we are getting ready to hitch Keddy and head to Charters Towers to get away from severe Tropical Cyclone Ita! Wherever it goes it will drop heaps of water in our region. However it is still seven or eight weeks to the beginning of June and this country recovers very quickly. So, if I were you I would still plan on an early June departure from Cairns. My hope is that the TC will head inland as a rain depression and give some water to our deserving farmers and inland communities. It is looking pretty shitty out there right now, The good news is that I sold my house, settlement last Monday, and the house we have purchased does not settle until the 17th! How lucky is that? Regards Colin

Steve and Kez, Webby has said it all. Great part of our beautiful country. Regards Colin

Nev, I still have my 6 tonne McHitch as the new auto coupler was not available. It does not matter as I have found the current hitch to be great. I renewed a lot of the hitch that was showing wear and recently I replaced the tow bar on the LC. All good. Sitting in Charters Towers right now where it is belting down with rain! Regards Colin

Hello All, Just picked up the van following the factory service. Very pleased with the service and the work completed. It is a great idea AJF I gather it is proving to be popular. To and the team did a great job for which I am thankful. Colin