Are you wondering if its worth the trip thru the centre?

pricey43 · Guru

RE: Are you wondering if its worth the trip thru the centre?

jimricho · Guru

I noticed on a trip to western Vic last year that Vic is ahead of the other states with its system of road numbers and found it very useful. NSW does have highways and some major roads numbered but they are not nearly as widespread or clearly displayed. Good to see that Victoria is starting to number the exits too, it makes it so much easier to give or follow directions. The numbers need to be published on road maps to be really useful.

SE freeway In Qld also has numbered exits.

Some US states (maybe most) number their exits starting at the stateline (yankspeak for state border) and by the distance in miles from the stateline. If more than one exit within a mile they just add a letter (A B C etc) suffix.

-- Edited by jimricho on Tuesday 14th of June 2011 06:09:29 PM

jimricho · Guru

Apart from everything else I think the colours of the Centre are awesome. No wonder artists go there for inspiration.

Here's Mount Sonder, the subject of one Albert Namatjira's best known works, also Rainbow Valley

-- Edited by jimricho on Tuesday 14th of June 2011 06:08:44 PM

jandas fun · Guru

Alright alright. I'm gunna go!! Those photo's have convinced me. Planning for next year.

Johnw

Beth54 · Guru

pricey43 wrote:
"Freeway exits are numbered as are all major roads making navigating easier. We could learn quite a bit from the Yanks in this regard."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jim, I have noticed that the exits on the major roads in Melbourne are now being numbered!!!!!

Same with the M1 up here. I knew it so well as the Pacific Highway, that I still go by the names, not the numbers. But I can see it'd be very helpful to any newcomers or travellers.

Ma · Guru

jandas fun wrote:
Alright alright. I'm gunna go!! Those photo's have convinced me. Planning for next year.

Johnw
Any idea where you might be headed John. We are going up the middle then over the west coast in April, along with a few others tagging along

jandas fun · Guru

Ma wrote:
jandas fun wrote:
Any idea where you might be headed John. We are going up the middle then over the west coast in April, along with a few others tagging along

HI Ma planning on the same trip we were going to do this year before m.i.l broke her hip. (passed away 3 weeks ago - 98) Probably here to Port Augusta- up the middle to Darwin-home via Mnt Isa and places in between. Leaving about end of March depending on weather etc. Might get to see you along the way.

John

Happywanderer · The Master

Maybe she's reading while hubby's driving pricey. Ya gotta look out the window!!

Vic · Guru

Like the ad on TV said years ago (Daryl Sommers) "If you never, never go, you'll never, never know" !

Best to try to see as many tourist locations as you can over the years, work, time or expense permitting. You only need to see them once to know if you want to do it again etc. If you don't you will always regret it later. Bit by bit, when you can is my advice to anyone comtemplating different places etc. Great photo's Den and Col, I did it years ago (twice) and was it worth it....YES !

jonathan · Guru

Hi JohnW ..

I was intending to head up the centre about March too .. but I am flexible as nothing is set in concrete yet ..

I'd be happy to accompany or tag along around that time .. but with the intention of spending time in Darwin if I can arrange that end of the trip .. I'm still not sure about heading west again after Darwin .. either way, thats still a long way off ..

I will still drop in to see you and Anne when I do get down there later in the year anyway.

cheers

Jon

Vic · Guru

jimricho wrote:
Apart from everything else I think the colours of the Centre are awesome. No wonder artists go there for inspiration.
Here's Mount Sonder, the subject of one Albert Namatjira's best known works, also Rainbow Valley

Must have missed this post Jim, what magnificent posts, the Rainbow Valley one should be in the "Red" competition it is so good. Where is that by the way?

jimricho · Guru

Thanks Vic for the "Red" comp thought....

Rainbow Valley is south of Alice, east of the Stuart Highway. The turn-off is near Stuarts Well. The access road is unsealed but 2WD ok. It's not that far from Alice so caravanners can easily do a day trip without a van hooked up

Mount Sonder is near Glen Helen Gorge in the West Macdonnells. Best to overnight at Gen Helen, there's a small caravan park attached to a resort there. I just walked up to a nearby hill from the resort to get the picture. It's an early morning shot, the best time to capture the colour. Alice to Glen Helen is sealed all the way

You'd better get that new campervan of yours finished and head out there! Maiden Voyage perhaps!

the photos were taken a few years ago on a 4mp camera. Who'd use a 4mp camera these days!

-- Edited by jimricho on Friday 17th of June 2011 07:39:49 PM

Vic · Guru

Thanks Jim,

Have been to Glen Helen Gorge many years ago, but haven't been to Rainbow Valley or Finke River, you can see where Albert Namitjira got his inspiration from, his paintings are so true to the real colours, he was a genius where painting was concerned.

Campervan getting there, a few more things to do yet, my reversing sensors are playing up now so have to have that attended to (us old farts that can't back/see properly need them, lol, plus a few other things. Not sure where my next trip will be. We did central SA,NSW,Qld and the NT last year, been around the block a number of times over the years, might just concentrate on WA for awhile, maybe SA again (love the place).

Lots of places I haven't seen, don't know if I ever will, but who knows what the future may bring.

wendyv · Guru

Firefly wrote:
We've been across the Barkly heaps too but I do love it. We will stop for more breaks if we go this time around.
I love the outback, don't go near the East Coast much, too commercialised for me, but thats just my opinion of course.

The first time I encountered the Barkly tableland was coming south from Cape Crawford to Barkly RH - the Tablelands Highway. Had never seen anything like it. I reckon we could see the curvature of the earth. It was surreal.

Have travelled the Barkly Highway several times since then. The most recent was in the tail end of a cyclone that had come inland as a tropical low. We had been remote and not known about this. It got windier and began to rain, and soon the rain was a horizontal sheet. The road was running water. We took a chance and pulled off into a free camp area, hoping we'd be able to get out again. Spent the night in a howling gale, not game to put the poptop up. Yes. the Barkly can be very interesting.

Cruising Granny · Guru

A long way from the coast, but those monsoonal lows have a life of their own and travel vast distances as wet, windy things.
This country gives us contrasts every 200kms or so. Nature is a beautiful artist.
The colours of the Flinders Ranges are also unique to that area. No matter what direction you approach from, the formation and colouring is indicative of the region.
Wendy you're right about the flat of the Barkley Tablelands and surrounds. The horizon is a long way away.
I never get sick of doing the miles.

glassies · Guru

sorry to hear that esmerelda your friend passing away , so glad i changed the pic for you too, beth im bloody hopeless
at puncutation mostly because i cant be bothered.

i did come first in english and spelling and composition at high school (when i went ) but i am mostly just too
lazy these days to be bothered with it, i fly along typing because i can type realy fast and so it just rolls off
the tongue so to speak or should i say the fingers.

tis ok no offence taken.

wendyv · Guru

Cruising Granny wrote:
I never get sick of doing the miles.

CG, know exactly what you mean. I do envy the freedom that you now have to do the miles. Reading about it is definitely second best.