Hi Folks,
Just thought that I'd best report in and say I made it back in one piece. My windscreen made it back with a few big cracks - thanks to a cowboy truckie that decided to swerve off the highway and then his wide trailer swung out and then back at me - together with a hand-full of rocks. I just had it replaced at Windscreens O'Brien for $658. I thought others on here said it was well over $1k for them?
Anyhow - back to the trip! I arrived at Bourke to meet WayneD and his B-i-L, WayneM. There had been heavy rainfalls in the area and we learned that there was only 3 ways in and out of Bourke - all black-top. That put an end to the idea of Cameron's Corner and Strzelecki Track and Birdsville Track! So we decided to head South and West - to go under and behind the rainfall. So, Monday 15/11 saw us off to Cobar - then to Broken Hill and then camping at Silverton. Tuesday 16/11 we headed over to Yunta and then North to Arkaroola and camped there overnight. Wednesday 17/11 we went over the Flinders Ranges and to Copley, Marree and then onto the Oodnadatta Track. We stopped at Coward Springs overnight and then saw South and North Lake Eyre. South was dry and North had water - but you had to walk a long way out to see it - at the risk of sinking down to your ankles through the salt crust into the black silt. No matter - it comes out in the wash!
After stopping at William Creek and meeting the pub owner without a personality, we stopped at Oodnadatta. Leaving there we finished the Oodnadatta Track, then up to Yalara - set up camp and went to see sunset at Uluru. Then early start for sunrise at Uluru - and walking through Kata Tjuta. Next we went past Kings Canyon to Alice Springs, Kakadu (Cooinda), Florence Falls at Litchfield NP, then to Darwin.
Two days later saw WayneM and I heading back. This time we were heading into yet another big rain front. It stormed the first night on the way home - at Three Ways in NT. Then it pretty much rained all the way through Qld - and we were lucky to make it from Longreach to Winton - the floodways were all flooded. There was also one river crossing which was about 100m or so wide and almost 400mm deep. A couple of stranded Falcons tail-gated me across to safety.
The final tally (according to the optimistic trip computer) was 11,688km at an average of 85.6km/h and 10.3L/100km. 108,000km service was performed before I left, and next one is now due!
I had a ball and saw lots... and will do it again with family - next year. It was sad to see WayneD leave Australia - but it is just for a few years.
Cheers,
Rob
Yes - photos to come.
3rd Dec 2010 5:02 am
bashir
Member Since: 04 Jan 2005
Location: Huon Valley, Tasmania
Posts: 154
sounds like you had a ball ...
one question though, doesn't your comprehensive insurance cover windscreen / glass replacement ?2009 Discovery 4 3.0 TDV6 HSE
one question though, doesn't your comprehensive insurance cover windscreen / glass replacement ?
Nope... found out the hard way. It is coming out of the lease package instead. Oh well... pre-tax dollars means it is cheaper than if I'd paid cash.
3rd Dec 2010 6:21 am
Vo Rogue
Member Since: 16 Jan 2006
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 123
Great Story of a trip.
VR
3rd Dec 2010 7:56 am
Bushwanderer
Member Since: 27 Nov 2007
Location: Northern Rivers, NSW, Australia
Posts: 2050
Hi Rob,
Great to here that you got back s&s.
Also glad that I didn't have to come and rescue you.
When's the next pub lunch?
Best Wishes,
PeterThe Bearded Dragon
3rd Dec 2010 10:58 pm
caverD3
Member Since: 02 Jul 2006
Location: Oberon, NSW
Posts: 6922
Hi Rob,
Great to here that you got back s&s.
Disapointed that I didn't have to come and rescue you.
When's the next pub lunch?
Cheers
Andrew“There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely gamesâ€
Ernest Hemmingway
D4 3.0 Active Diff, Adaptive Lights, High Beam Assist, Surround Cameras, Privacy Glass.
D3 2.7:Adaptive Headlights,Electronic Rear Diff,ARB Bar,Blaupunkt Speakers,JVC Powered Subwoofer,Removable Snorkel,Mitch Hitch,Pioneer After Market Head Unit,Steering Wheel Control Adaptor,Remote Adjustable Supension Rod System, Taxside Dual Battery System.
3rd Dec 2010 11:47 pm
WayneD
Member Since: 11 Sep 2007
Location: Sydney Darwin ,Singapore, USA, UK and now country NSW
Posts: 531
At last Im back online and just back from the pool.
Rob, you forgot to mention the dented rim and my blown tyre plus camping under the full moon with too many reds and too much Slim Dustry . Was a great trip and the vehicles performed faultlessly.
Singapore is no where as humid as Darwin and Katherine were, but I guess our time will come.Take the road less traveled. Dual battery system.ORS drawers,LR cargo Barrier.ARB Bull bar,side protection bars,Mickey Thompson ATR's 17" rims, Rear wheel carrier, radiator guard TPMS Mitchell Bros Tow Hitch LR RAI Steel Rims , GME UHF, Off Road GPS, Llams (yet to be fitted)
4th Dec 2010 8:32 am
Bushwanderer
Member Since: 27 Nov 2007
Location: Northern Rivers, NSW, Australia
Posts: 2050
Hi Wayne,
You don't seem to have lost any of your Ozzie accent.
Re tyre/wheel issues:Jonesy is probably saving those for the pub lunch.
Re humidity: I can remember the first time that I flew into Singapore. We exited the plane onto the tarmac. As I got to the door, it was like walking into a humid wall.
Best Wishes,
Peter
PS: Did someone mention a pub lunch?The Bearded Dragon
4th Dec 2010 8:16 pm
WayneD
Member Since: 11 Sep 2007
Location: Sydney Darwin ,Singapore, USA, UK and now country NSW
Posts: 531
I did learn one important lesson Pete
I have 17 inch rims on the Disco but nobody in Darwin could supply an A/T or Muddie and the quickest they could get me one was 1-2 weeks. As I had 2 spares it was not an issue but something to bare in mind if you are heading bush.
I have ordered 5 Kumo A/Ts and they will take a month to get to Darwin at which time I should be back there having Christmas with my daughter.
Beers by the pool last night with son and his girlfriend. They left for home this morning so now will have to drink by myself or join one of the wives club and sip chardy Take the road less traveled. Dual battery system.ORS drawers,LR cargo Barrier.ARB Bull bar,side protection bars,Mickey Thompson ATR's 17" rims, Rear wheel carrier, radiator guard TPMS Mitchell Bros Tow Hitch LR RAI Steel Rims , GME UHF, Off Road GPS, Llams (yet to be fitted)
I did learn one important lesson Pete
I have 17 inch rims on the Disco but nobody in Darwin could supply an A/T or Muddie and the quickest they could get me one was 1-2 weeks. As I had 2 spares it was not an issue but something to bare in mind if you are heading bush.
Good call! Another option is to order them from Tire Rack in USA - at a cheaper price than any local tyre shop can quote... and it would arrive in under a week!
Being the mad season, time is pretty tight for me in the next 2 weeks. The week before Christmas is free.
I am catching up on work at the moment - only received 2000+ new emails while I was away.
Anyone want to nominate a day for the lunch?
6th Dec 2010 11:05 am
WayneD
Member Since: 11 Sep 2007
Location: Sydney Darwin ,Singapore, USA, UK and now country NSW
Posts: 531
Uploaded some photos of the Sydney to Darwin trip.Take the road less traveled. Dual battery system.ORS drawers,LR cargo Barrier.ARB Bull bar,side protection bars,Mickey Thompson ATR's 17" rims, Rear wheel carrier, radiator guard TPMS Mitchell Bros Tow Hitch LR RAI Steel Rims , GME UHF, Off Road GPS, Llams (yet to be fitted)
8th Dec 2010 11:21 am
caverD3
Member Since: 02 Jul 2006
Location: Oberon, NSW
Posts: 6922
Rob-a-dub-dub two men in a tub.
“There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely gamesâ€
Ernest Hemmingway
D4 3.0 Active Diff, Adaptive Lights, High Beam Assist, Surround Cameras, Privacy Glass.
D3 2.7:Adaptive Headlights,Electronic Rear Diff,ARB Bar,Blaupunkt Speakers,JVC Powered Subwoofer,Removable Snorkel,Mitch Hitch,Pioneer After Market Head Unit,Steering Wheel Control Adaptor,Remote Adjustable Supension Rod System, Taxside Dual Battery System.
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. Was a great trip and the vehicles performed faultlessly.
