Be aware it will cost!!

Wild Dingo · Member

Be aware it will cost!!

Happywanderer · The Master

Some great tips and warnings there wild dingo. Thank you.
Whoever told you to get such a small solar panel needs a bop on the head. I have a small square one that sits on the dash but it is connected to a mobile light I sometimes use at night. Never for charging up anything. You would need at least 80 watt or even up to 120 watt to get all the power you need.

Loki · Senior Member

Saw your van today - pity I didn't see your posting first! I'll be at the Market in Alice tomorrow, then off north, stopping by E Macs first. Driving HiAce poptop, Loki on the bck in red letters.

Cheers,

Anton

03_troopy · Guru

Wild Dingo wrote:
As a solo new "grey nomad" and having first crossed the nullandbore the other month and am now sitting in Alice just thought Id give you a few warnings
I thought fuel costs were high at $2.00 at Nannutarra... and Broome was bad at $1.70... but lessons have been learnt
Fuel at Caguna on the Nulllandbore is 2.00 PLUS
Do not expect to get stores at Ceduna on Anzac Day... the town is shut except a few small shops cafe and roadhouse
Do expect to pay 2.30 for fuel up the Stuart Hwy and out to Ayres Rock
Speaking of Ayres Rock a little known factoid... it will cost you $25 per adult over 15 to enter the park for 3 days...
And there is no camping for 5klms from her
For the smokers among us... there are NO cigarettes at Curtain springs nor at Stuarts Well...
No deisel at Stuarts Well either!!!
It does pay to carry extra fuel along the major highways!!
oh and Alice Springs after a week in the never never is a madhouse!!! just sayin ;o)~
Reminder... if your gonna set up a solar system DO IT BEFORE YOU LEAVE!!! and go big rather than small... I was pursuaded to go small as in a tiny little briefcase job that sits on the dash and is supposed to be enough to be able to charge the computer and mobile along with the camera... nope dead as a do do within the first charge up! Lesson learnt! BIG is bedderah!
Positives? Great spectacular scenery plenty of off road parking along the way and the Stuart highway from Pt Augusta to Alice is a great road!!! smooth as silk.. the people at the roadhouses are great people!!! friendly sociable and at Stuarts Well Jim even has a singing dingo for your amusement!
Keep your eye open for the "chookman" funniest camper setup ever!!! and actually does have 3 chooks!

Enjoy!!

-- Edited by Wild Dingo on Friday 25th of May 2012 07:45:16 AM

Sounds like you went to Bojangles Pub. The taps in the men's room are crazy. One works backwards, another operates the faucet on the next basin etc etc. Pretty funny, but confusing when ya p*ssed. They have a great mixed grill there too; Roo, Camel, Emu and Croc, on one plate.

Kaid · Guru

Had the mixed grill at Bo's.Loved it all except the Emu snags. Tooooo strong

Wild Dingo · Member

Havent been into Bos yet or any other pub for mmmm about 3 years now as I dont drink the smell of beer makes the stomach retch... but I WILL be brave and give it a whirl just cause I love camel and croc... mmmm yep will brave it!! ;)

Wild Dingo · Member

oh and seems I must have lost the Todd markets... I was in the mall from about 10 till 2 but saw no markets... will try again!! apparently theyre worth going to have a gander at! ;o)
The two cafes close to gether at the not hotel end are bloody brilliant!!! little Asian girl is awesome in the first and the Irish bloke makes a wicked coffee at the second... just sayin! oh and the music is brilliant all up 4 stars! ;o)

Kaid · Guru

markets in the Todd Mall are on Sundays

Wild Dingo · Member

hahahahahha well there you go!! As usual Im a day early... its either a day early or a day late with me!!! Soooo tomorrow eh? right done easy as Im there! ;o)

malfromcessnock · Veteran Member

Wild Dingo - "For the smokers among us... there are NO cigarettes at Curtain springs nor at Stuarts Well... "

IMHO That's outrageous. Are they trying to turn good people away?

Wild Dingo · Member

Well mate Ive no idea why they dont... simply put many people still smoke in this world as much as non smokers wish otherwise... Although in Stuarts Well's case talking to Jim the owner hes trying to sell to retire so having had a "buyer" interested but with conditions he allowed things to run out such as diesel... the smokes thing? Actually I dont think they had any period as theyre non smokers so I guess they just stopped stocking them along with anything else that they had and allowed things to run out not replacing them as they did... apparently the "buyer" wanted it bare of anything... once he ran the diesel out ant near dried the ulp up they pulled the plug on the buy so hes now stuck... nice bloke by the way and a good little oasis

Curtain Springs was a whole other story... which I wont regale anyone with sufficed to say I wasnt alone in my "dissatisfaction" with it... although a pretty place and a free camp ground (unless you wanted power then it was $25 for the night) showers were $3.50 on the honor system meals were pretty good but pricey (to be expected) but cheeper than the resort at Ayres Rock... mmm what else? Be prepared to try to get some foreign barely speaking english backpacker serving you!!! And be awoken by the sounds of those 4 wheel motorbike things at sparrow fart as the station boys go to work through the camp ground... otherwise I kinda liked it to rest up for a couple of days

-- Edited by Wild Dingo on Tuesday 29th of May 2012 06:02:38 PM

pricey43 · Guru

The mall markets used to be every second week. In the alternate week there was a market had started up outside Heavytree tavern.

Wild Dingo · Member

Cool thanks Robyn or Ted!!! the markets were last weekend so another week and a half till theyre on again... havent heard anything about the heavytree tavern one but will investigate! Cheers