Hi Folks, I'm at Blinman in the Flinders Rasnges and I've been out of range for the last few days and probably won't be in range again for at least a week.

See ya then

just back from blinman on the broken hill road there are some fantastic camp spots, head north/ north east out of blinman on the arkaroola road and turn right at the first intersection probably 5 kms down the track there are dry creeks everywhere, great camp spots I forget the name of the town that is the next stop on towards arkaroola just after the "t" junction, be sure and say g'day to the camel man for me, great fellow, give him a beer for me when you get to arkaroola say howdy to another camel man and his girlfreind, he has a story to impart I can tell you, ask him if he still has the old toyotas, if he remembers Dave, the dragon and the good ole boys, see if the girfreind has washed her hair yet, dont say nothing though. she'll bight your head off!! tough nut that one, you're in for a great trip

I'll dig my GPS out as I've got long's an lat's of some off the side of the highway camp sites,as many others have also, I usualy drive 1500 klm a day so when I have a secret spot to hole up for some zeds I go for it.

If anyone has some favorite bolt holes I would love to share, If i'm goin south from Tully I'm startin to look for a snooze around Miles or sooner, then around Moree, not many places around there that has shade and is off the track.

By the time I've hit the Hay plains I've got the nods and that's like watching paint dry and it's as dry as a lime workers boot.

And aint there some ripper dust storms accross there, I was following a mate one day in a good blow, he had a load of baged cement on a flat top, anyway we were down to 50mph and a bag worked off the frount and droped down and took out the air line, and the trailer brakes came on and all of a sudden here is the bloody back end of a tri axel in my face, so swerved to the left to miss him, lucky nothing else was on the road.

Why punish yourself that way Road Ranger? All those k's in a day. How do you see the country slipping by? Unless you're in a hurry. What's the rush? You miss a lot of country, but lucky you missed the back end of a triple. Even the little old Hay Plain has it's points of interest. Or you could count the wedge tails. Don't be so hard on yourself. Enjoy the ride. Stay upright. Cheers Granny.

G'Day Granny.

I only do my 1500 k when I need to get there for a reason, As a pro driver you see it all too often, and there is not many points of interest any more.

I always try to take a new route to find something different to see, and that's great if you have company to share it with, but that's never happened in my case. 

We used to run Melb Perth non stop, and before C.B. radio, now that gets the nods goin.

A bloke was, and possibly still is stupid. 

I get it Road Ranger. Just like the gear box I suppose. You are right about the mundane of the same road. I find some of scenery changes with the seasons, and this year some of the bush must look, or will look absolutely fabulous. I try to change my directions, but sometimes there is only one way, especially if towing a van. Travelling alone is not the preferred option, because it would be great to share where I am. However, it's better than attempting to share it with the wrong companion, who does not share my enthusiasm to explore and enjoy as much of this country as I can. At least travelling your way you don't have to worry about trailers, all those wheels and breakdowns, not to mention pain in the a......s caravanners. Stay upright, and safe and happy travels. Cheers Granny

Thanks for the cheers Granny,
I guess I've been solo too long, as some of my adventure's would have been so much better with company, I took an old Willies Jeep and it's trailer accross the Simpson dessert west to east, that was fantastic.
Done it just at the right time of year and the things I seen out there will last me the rest of my life.
I have never found anyone man or woman that wanted to do the trips I wanted to do, so done them on my own.
I put an add in Horse Deals magazine to see if someone wanted to do the Bourke and Wills route on horses no takers.
I'm not doing that one on my own, although I heard a woman done it not long ago.
Good stuff!

She must have had suicidal tendencies. It's hard country. I've travelled from Innamincka to Birdsville via Cordillo Downs, and back to Innamincka via Birdsville Track to Walkers Crossing. Hitchhiking. Had a look at the Simpson from the top of Big Red, and if you have the right gear there is no reason why it can't be done. I've had the honour of going out into the Great Sandy Desert from Sandfire Roadhouse. It's part of Anna Plains Station lease where I worked for more than a year. Now there's some country no one goes to. All you have to do is ask the station folk, get them to let you in, as all the highway fronting gates are locked to protect the bores, pumps and cattle. Much of it hasn't even been explored fully, which the Bilbys are really happy about. Can't say the same for the donkeys and the camels. I just love adventurous trips. Not just the Gibb River Road, but off the beaten track. Nothing is impossible if you have the right vehicle, equipment and spares, and know a lot about 4WDing. Common sense and detailed preparation mean survival and a lot of fun adventures. What a beautiful country we share. Cheers Granny

G'Day Granny.
Sounds like we both like the same remote country, I like to fly over the country I want to travel, it makes a big difference and more enjoyable to see it from two aspects. and you know how far you need to go to make it to a specific location.

GPS and charts make it safe and cost effective in the long run, I used to just up and go, and sometimes found myself in all kinds of strife, and there are a lot of bones in that back country and only a fool takes it for granted, but I don't need to tell you that as it sounds like you have seen some hard country too.

As I have only been on this site a short time I've found it's been great swapping storys, and great to chat to people who are or have done and like to do the same things.
 I am surprised members don't have an annual get together as we do in the flying fraternity, it dosen't take long to fly across the country so you can have it in the same place, so mayby have it in alternating states.

Could even charter a DC3 and fly over the Simpson, maybe land at White Cliffs and have a shindig at the pub, mine host is great bloke, he let me use his hanger while I stayed at the pub and even loned me a ute to see the place.

There are so many things to do and see we need to live to around 500.
Cheers Granny.

granny we have done much the same trips and you are dead right most station folk are more than happy to have you camp a few nights, "down by the bore mate, she's a good spot under the shade" and be more than happy to let you know of that great spot down by the escarpment a lot of great country out there to be seen, but just a quick word to our young players PLEASE DO NOT TRY THESE TRIPS UNLESS YOU ARE (1) experienced in desert country and arid zones (2) know your vehicle inside and out and how to repair ANY breakage (3) carry a great swag of spares and know how to use them as well as the tools needed to carry out these repairs (4) carry enough supplies for at least a week for every two days that you are going to be away from civilisation (5) lodge a detailed travel itinerary with the local authorities or station supervisor (6) 10 ltrs minimum per person per day with at least 50% in reserve, stored in at least two seperate containers, never rely on one container for all your water more containers the better (7) if in difficulty NEVER LEAVE YOUR VEHICLE (8) take a saint john desert country first aid kit and know what everything is for and how to use it (8) a reliable next "g" or even a sat phone as well as uhf or even hf, flares as well as an epirb overkill some would say, well I have travelled in these places many times and had things go wrong so my experience is telling me that all these things and more are necesary and not overated, I take a lot more do not ever take the desert country for granted or leave anything to chance, it will kill you in an instant for a minor mistake, there is nothing romantic about being bogged in a sand dune and dying of thirst, be prepared, you must be fully self sufficient, it happened just under 12 months ago in the kimberleys (man scrawled "help" in the sand) just as he was dying I know a lot of you people out there are looking at these posts and threads and thinking "gee, I might pack up the commodore and do that on the long weekend with our camper trailer" well you could try but the next we will see of you is in the obituary, dont do it ill prepared

Yes Dave and R/Ranger. Overkill is preferable to the alternative. If it rains you can get very, very bogged. It it's hot and you break down it can be fatal. I have flown over much of the channel country on the 2 day mail run out of Pt. Augusta to Leigh Creek, to stations, mining camps, ending day one at Boulia. Day 2 heads down the Birdsville Track, more stations back to Pt. Aug. It covers a huge amount of NE SA, NW NSW and far western Qld. Also flying from Broome to Adelaide direct gives a great perspective of the country below. The dunes, the bushfire scars, rocky ranges, water holes and soaks. It's a great way to survey the land below, and all it succeeded in doing was make my feet itch under the seat in front of me. I look down and get that "I want to go there" feeling. What a wonderful thing this travel is. It makes you feel like you're the only one out there, and despite the nice graded road (sometimes) I still relate to the explorers and how hard they did it, without the knowledge and equipment we now have. Aren't we lucky? Happy travels. Granny

Oh Road Ranger, I like your idea of the Grey Nomad Gathering. It would be good to meet some of you all, and do the usual note comparing on our exploits. You plan it, I'll try to be there. (How's that for a cop out?). Granny

Hey Granny!

Just sent you a P.M.

How about a heap of us plan it?

We could do a "come and get it trophy" like we do in the R.A.A. (Recreational Aviation Austalia) there is a trophy, someone has planted somwhere or taken it to their club house or private air strip, and.....If ya want it, come an get it.
It's only an excuse to go flying (not that you need one) but any excuse is better than none, it's the same as going on a cruise.

A lot of fun, and you get to go and see places and meet some fellow Nomads.

I would like to do the Simpson crossing again and it's comming up to the right time of the year to do it, a good little run is from east of Alice to just south of Bedourie, do it easy in a week and some great camps.

It would be good to do a trip with some company for a change.
Or you may have an idea for a remote rally.

I hear the govenment will give a grant to clubs to purchase land or other, so why can't we be an official club, apply for a grant and buy land and sell shares in other sites around the country so Grey Nomad members can own a share in various property's around the country, then we all have free camping on our own turf.
Or just buy a caravan park, so bugger the expense, feed the cat another canary.
But hey it's only an idea, no doubt there will be knockers, but if enough members were fair dinkum it could happen, coulden't it?
Jim.

-- Edited by Road Ranger at 05:59, 2009-03-10

Sounds like a great Idea to me Jim. Have any of you checked out the Casino Motor-home Village yet? I think it's a bit more structured than what Jim was thinking of though. Cheers, xina.

What an organiser you are Jim. The principle of a gathering or Nomad union (most of us haven't met, so it can't be a reunion) is bonza, but it has to be in a location we can all get to. Many of us don't have off-road vans, and some don't even have 4WD vehicles, so the location has to be reachable. Set a time which is best to be on the road, but not too cold. Some aren't equipped for free camping without power. And all that jazz.
Tanunda in the Barossa Valley has a great park, and they cater for groups. The Hot Rod Club of SA meet there and have a great time. They were there when I they had a rally. All that vintage, veteran and hotted up shiny horsepower .........
But I digress. Pick a state we all agree on, so as many Nomads as possible can get there. Some of us might have to fly in for the occasion. So there would be other accommodation to consider for the fly-ins.
So, let's keep talking and planning. Let's not go down the Les Hiddons track who bought land where Vietnam Vets could camp on exclusively.
Oh by the way, the park I'm parked in is for sale. $13m was the last figure I hear mentioned.
It's on 2 titles, and one title is a large vacant block on the main road into Cairns, with side-street access. The rest is the actual park. It's been here since 1973, and needs a spuce up but it is usable in the mean time. (No I'm not on commission, but if anyone has a couple of spare bucks...)
So let's keep chatting about the gathering. Keep the ideas coming.  Who knows, it could be Marla or Oodnadatta.
Cheers Granny

-- Edited by Cruising Granny at 22:45, 2009-03-10

Hey all,
I checked out the Casino park that Xina told me about, looks good, it's even got an air strip, only a few hours to Mildura and plenty of air strips for fuel on track, had a look on Googel Earth, they camp right on the air strip, and shifted the paino keys up the strip, so I e-mailed them for more info.
 
And Granny, why not have a meet in alterating states, or all states at the same or different times, that way it just needs some planning and posted on the site, so you can make a choice as to what one you want to go to. 
Then down load pic's and reports on the site of how the meet went, swap ideas, look at rigs, BBQ's
Maybe get council approaval to set up at local air strip, and some company could orginise a charter and could fly in, the locals like people comming to there town and spending money, so accomadation for the charter group could be set up.

Jim

-- Edited by Road Ranger at 09:29, 2009-03-11

Hi, I like this idea. Could be a lot of fun, if it doesn't get out of hand and too big and complicated. How about Mildura? Central area and at the cross road between east and west. The Buronga Caravan park is on the river, has lots of space out the back for those who don't need power and obliging managers. Between seasons would be a good time, not too hot or cold. More remote is the park in Silverton, not many powered sites but lots of room.
All food for thought, cheers Helen

Now you're starting to sound like the CMCA mob. They have one big Rally a year, and the Chapters have one once a month. Cheers, xina.