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Help! Who is travelling the Nullarbor SA to WA on Jan 24th and 25th 2011?

Colleen4884 said
10:57 AM Jan 9, 2011

Howdy

My name is Colleen a 36yr old female and im currently in Nyah Victoria.. I have been travelling and House Sitting for the past 1 yr and 3 months in different parts of Australia.. I am planning my next big adventure to Bunbury,WA as have a confirmed house sit on January 27th 2011.. My family are pretty worried about me doing this trip on my own with my little dog Ricki but i feel i will be ok.. I was just wondering is there anyone who is planning to drive the Nullarbor on the dates of Jan 24th and 25th and wont mind letting me follow them it will put everyone even me at a little bit more of ease.. Or if anyone has any tips they can give me much will be appreciated..

Thanks

Colleen :)

__________________

jonathan said
01:06 PM Jan 9, 2011

Hi Colleen ..

I'm also travelling that direction, but spending 8 weeks to do it .. I hope you are able to find someone to accompany you on your trip ..

Not sure where I'll be , but will keep an eye out for you .. and Mums & Dads just wanna know where their kids are .. thats ok .. I've just turned 60 and Mum still insistes I call 'home' at least once a week ..

Good luck & happy travels ..

Jon

(currently at Wilmington, SA)

Colleen4884 said
01:28 PM Jan 9, 2011

Thanks Jonathan

I am driving my trusty nissan pulsar sedan with my dog and im going to take at least 6- 7 days to go from Vic to Wa.. I understand families being worried and i will be making sure every night i ring and let them know im ok..

Thanks for replying to my post and all the best on your travels :)

Happywanderer said
01:55 PM Jan 9, 2011

I was going to suggest Jonathon as knew he is heading in that direction sometime but he beat me to it. Just hang in there, others will come on with adviCe that might help you. There is a big family on here who are all most helpful.

Colleen4884 said
02:09 PM Jan 9, 2011

Thank you :)

Im very thankful that im having replies already as only joined and posted the question today.. I was advised about the Grey Nomads and so far im grateful for the advice..

_wombat_ said
02:51 PM Jan 9, 2011

Hi Colleen4884,

and

to the grey nomads.

Having travelled the Nullabor a few times here are some tips and they are all free.

Get a copy of Camps 5 very hard to get now as ver 6 is due out at the end of Feb.

Stay at freebies only if somebody is already in them and make yourself known to them, stop for a chat.

Have a sign put on your car or van saying Colleen & Bill that way people will think you are travelling with somebody else.

When you get to Norseman call into the tourist office and ask for you free certificate saying you have crossed the Nullabor.

Watch out for the Nulabor Nimph, supposed to be a naked lady running across the road, I have been across a few times and must have missed her.

Fuel is cheap at Ceduna then Mundroo then Mundrabilla then Norseman, ask in tourist office @ Norsman for cheapest fuel.

Try to keep your speed @ 70-75kph along the Nullabor and you will conserve fuel.

Colleen4884 said
10:28 PM Jan 9, 2011

Thanks Wombat :)

Its always handy to get tips and especially the fuel and i didnt know about the certificate i can get for crossing the Nullarbor.. That lady on the Nullarbor sounds very interesting and normally i am good at getting pics like that ha ha..

_wombat_ said
09:16 AM Jan 10, 2011

If you get a pic of her Please let me have a copy, just want to prove she is true. smile

Pam said
10:16 AM Jan 10, 2011

Hi Colleen, Be careful of the wildlife early and late in the day. We saw huge eagles having breakfast on the nights road kill and they don't move very fast off the road when they have full bellies.

JRH said
11:21 AM Jan 10, 2011

Just in case you miss her Coleen here is a pic. taken at Balledonia Roadhouse.

Attached Files:

UNNAMED_FILE9280.jpeg

Gerty Dancer said
01:37 PM Jan 10, 2011

She might run a bit slower these days, that poster is 30 years old! HA! Shes one of us! LOL

Colleen4884 said
01:39 PM Jan 10, 2011

Wombat not a problem if i do get a pic i will have to post it up on here if i can..
Thanks Pam..
Thanks JRH very interesting..

I so appreciate everyones tips :)

Colleen4884 said
01:40 PM Jan 10, 2011

LOL Gerty Dancer.. I never knew about the Nymph and its very interesting i love that sort of stuff.. It would be awesome if i got a pic of her..

blaze said
04:39 PM Jan 10, 2011

Hi I will be leaving Melbourne on the 30th for the trip across to Perth, first time towing the van though. Last trip across I only seen 3 wallabies, 2 rabbits and 1 roo from nurioopta in the barrossa and perth, that was in june of 2009, rained the whole way. Most of that trip was at night. It is safer to travel between 2hrs after sunrise and off the road by 2 hrs before it goes down though. I am a mechanic and if it would put your mind at ease I can PM my mobile number to you even though I will be a couple of days behind you. Fuel stop airnt a problem as they are only about 250km apart but I always carry a 10l container of water (just a super marketone) and a 10 litre jerry can of fuel for those just in case times Have a good safe trip cheers blaze

_wombat_ said
04:45 PM Jan 10, 2011

If you do have any problems along the way look out for a vechicle with a very large HF radio ariel, tell the driver you have problems and he/she will be able to contact the VKS 737 network to try to get you some help.

Here is a pic of my rig, you can see the ariel at the back of the 4x4 on the passenger's side.

_wombat_ said
04:49 PM Jan 10, 2011

here's a better shot of the ariel

Colleen4884 said
05:33 PM Jan 10, 2011

Thanks Wombat smile You have been a great help..

Blaze thanks and that would be nice about your number as would make me feel abit more at ease, just in case something does happen..

blaze said
05:49 PM Jan 10, 2011

Colleen4884 wrote:

Thanks Wombat You have been a great help..
Blaze thanks and that would be nice about your number as would make me feel abit more at ease, just in case something does happen..

PM sent
cheers
blaze

Colleen4884 said
08:44 PM Jan 10, 2011

Blaze thanks again so much..
Hope you have a awesome and safe trip..

_wombat_ said
02:24 PM Jan 13, 2011

Hi Colleen4884,

good to have phone no's but there are spots along the Nulla where there is no reception, we have a Telstra next G and get a good sig in some places, we will be heading east soon, and I intend to make a list of places we stay and if we did or did not get a ph signal.

Don't foget to look out for the Royal Flying Doctor air strips as you drive along, you can't miss them, there is a big yellow sign with an aircraft on it, I think there are 3 of them.

and also the sign saying treeless plain.

there is another sign saying 146klm no bends, I usually take a piece of string and tie the steering wheel to the door handle and have a sleep along this stretch of road smile

jonathan said
03:44 PM Jan 13, 2011

Hi Colleen ..

Wombat is quite right .. Many vehicles carry HF Communications and I'm sure all would be supportive if you needed their assistance .. Like Wombat, I too have that facility with me.

.. and I must keep an eye open for Blaze too ..

cheers

Jon

_wombat_ said
04:33 PM Jan 13, 2011

Hi Jon,

it is part of the licence to operate the radio, you must help fellow traveller's who need help, are you also heading west at the same time as Colleen & Blaze?

jonathan wrote:

Hi Colleen ..

Wombat is quite right .. Many vehicles carry HF Communications and I'm sure all would be supportive if you needed their assistance .. Like Wombat, I too have that facility with me.

.. and I must keep an eye open for Blaze too ..

cheers

Jon

jonathan said
05:30 PM Jan 13, 2011

.. already on my way .. but will be spending up to 10 weeks to get there .. so might see 'em as they fly past .. hehe

Jon

(vk2-vke-vh2)

_wombat_ said
07:59 PM Jan 13, 2011

Hi Jon,

Your rig looks like it would go faster than that.

jonathan wrote:

.. already on my way .. but will be spending up to 10 weeks to get there .. so might see 'em as they fly past .. hehe

Jon

(vk2-vke-vh2)

Colleen4884 said
12:59 AM Jan 14, 2011

Thanks everyone for your tips, advice etc.. Very much appreciated.. Maybe i might see some of you along the way.. Im in a blue nissan pulsar sedan , which has been a wonderful car even to travel around in, so if you see me stop and say howdy as always good to meet new people and chat about travelling etc..

I do have Telstra next g mobile and also a friend is letting me take there hand held UHF so hopefully if needed it will come in handy.. Im going to stock up on fuel and water too..

I hope everyone have safe and exciting travels smile

jonathan said
08:52 AM Jan 14, 2011

Hi folks ..

.. for those interested, I hope to depart Port Augusta on Monday 17th January and travelling the coast road via Port Lincoln then through to Ceduna.
If you are not travelling this route then its quite likely our paths may not cross. This is quite dependant on where we might be on any given day. I am not travelling to any schedule at all .. but Colleen and Blaze, you're both welcome to contact me privately for my phone number.

<<<<< see avatar My rig is quite visible on the road displaying the HF Radio Club logos on the back of both vehicle and trailer.

.. My good friends John & Anne (Jandas) know this route well, as we travelled this way together just 11 months ago .. Bet you two wish you were here .. eh !

Happy Travels !

Jon (currently at Wilmington Bush Camp, SA)

_wombat_ said
08:59 AM Jan 14, 2011

Hi Collen, did you manage to get a copy of camps5? Camps5 tells you where there are free sites with water tanks but I would make sure you boil the water before use. If Blaze or jonathan have UHF you colud make a time of day and channel to all switch on to see if you are in range with them, but remember UHF is only line of sight so you will need to be within a couple of klm to hear each other, but you maybe lucky and make a connection. You cou;d also use channel 5 UHF to try and contact anybody if you do need help, also channel 40 is the truckies channel so you could always talk to them. The whale watching area will be closed, it's only open from Aug to Oct each year. Fuel maybe cheap at Eucla, go into Eucla and have a look at the old telegraph station, you can drive down to it, just follow the signs or ask somebody there if you cannot find it, but it is well signposted. Try NOT to get fuel at Boader Village usually expensive. Only 10 more sleeps to go Emjoy your trip

Colleen4884 said
05:05 PM Jan 14, 2011

Thanks Jonathan and Wombat you both have been very helpful with your tips and advice.. A friend of mine actually is lending me there UHF so maybe can speak to some of you along the way.. Thanks for letting me know the channels as was going to ask what ones were the best..

Happy Travels biggrin

Colleen4884 said
05:07 PM Jan 14, 2011

Wombat no i didnt get the camps book unfortunatley.. Im sure it wont be too hard to get accomadation as have been searching the internet etc..

_wombat_ said
05:32 PM Jan 14, 2011

Forgot to say channel 18 is the norm for caravans, I am sure you will have a great trip, so much to see

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