Perth trip, in 4WD, via Plenty & Gunbarrel hwys, Sep-09						File=	PerthReport.htm
Introduction
We did a similar trip in May/Jun-07, but
missed the wildflowers and the most western
point in the mainland. Had to correct this, so
that we have been to ALL the extremities of
the Australian mainland :- North:- Cape York,
South:- Wilsons Prom., East:- Byron Bay,
West :- Steep Point, Shark Bay WA.
Also, the Gunbarrel hwy was probably the
last hard 4WD track we had not traversed.
Having survived the financial meltdown, and
hoping the worst was over, we set off about
the end of August 09, in our 2003 Pathy 4WD.
Trip Planning.		We use our standard trip planner, which has been developed and improved
over many years. This, together with Google maps, allows us to plan and forecast trip itineraries and
costs, with amazing accuracy. Will include this, near the end, if we can fit this into website format.
Loading the 4WD.		You never stop learning how to improve your 4WD loading, after every trip.
		This time we adopted the following principles :-
a) Roof Cage		Put everything up there that you hope you will NOT have to use, including :-
		Second spare wheel, tyre repair kit, spare petrol tanks, snatch strap, axe,
		shovel, 12 v air compressor, fording tarp, and suchlike.
b) Rear flat section		Fridge, 40lt. Engel (rec'd), 4 hard food/cooking boxes, 20 lt., water, Esky,
(behind rear seats)		Epirb, torch, and suchlike. It was important for the fridge, esky, epirb and
		torch be readily accessible. Load secured by ratchet straps for rough roads.
c) Rear seats/floor		Mostly soft bags, for tents, personal gear, bedding, and suchlike. Tools must
		be easy to get at. Pillows, sleeping bags, towels etc. were packed in voids.
		A  GME MT 400 Epirb provided comfort in the event of a breakdown/accident.
We got it pretty right this time, after at least 10 to 15 previous trips ? I must mention that it is very
hard to LIFT the spare wheel, to and from the roof cage. It's very heavy, without step-ladders.
When we had to change 2 shredded tyres, everything needed was findable and accessible.
Load then tied down by ratchet straps.					Roof cage used for emergency gear only.
From home, we headed west along familiar roads towards the NT border, West of Boulia. Made camp
on the banks of Coopers Creek, near Windorah. Great campsite, free as well. Had to wear fly masks
while setting up camp, until sunset, when all the flies and insects disappeared ? Not having camped
out for some time, we bumbled around 1st time. Usually takes us 30 minutes, from stopping car, till
everything is ready, including sleeping, cooking and all other arrangements. Took longer this time.
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Coopers ck, still plenty of water.			1st campsite, bit rusty. Fly hats.			Trial Solar power, for Windorah.
Passing the Birdsville turnoff.			Typical western outback roads.			Emus seen in large numbers.
From Boulia, we headed for Alice Springs via the Plenty hwy. This road was flooded last time, so we
were looking forward to the "short cut" to Alice. Lucky we carried two(2) spares, as we shredded 2
tyres on this section. I guess we were due, as previously, we have had no problems with tyres.
At Alice Springs, we decided to get 4 new off road tyres, as the Gunbarrel hwy was expected to be
worse than the Plenty hwy, and more remote ?
LHS rear tyre gone. Hard to feel			No traffic problems, change			What can you say ? No point
problem until tyre is shredded ?			wheels in middle of road !			carrying spare inner tubes ?
Plenty hwy, NT border.			Next, front LHS gone. Good thing			Got to Alice OK, then got 4 new
			we carried 2 spare wheels !			off-road tyres all round.
Silly problem I discovered during the above. I had replaced the original scissor jack with a hydraulic
bottle jack, which could also be used as a bead breaker. This new jack fitted under the car, with air in
all 4 wheels, but needed much frigging around to fit under car to operate, with 1 flat tyre !! # # #
page 3	Had to buy another scissor jack at Alice, which had lower height for future flats!
Spent a comfortable night in a motel in Alice. Had the usual problems of re-stocking grog in Alice,
having to supply photo ID and more? I think this is to deter bootleggers supplying booze to abos ?
Headed to Yulara next day, via Erldunda. We avoided the Mereenie loop as we had done this before,
to make up for lost time in fixing tyre problems. We had gotten permits to transit aboriginal lands prior
to leaving home, on the internet, these were time critical. The campsite at Yulara was an absolute
delight, plenty of grass, shade, tables and chairs and a variety of visiting animals…rabbits, birds,
dingoes and suchlike. Then, Yollie wanted to see the sun rise on Ayers Rock, now called Uluru.
Campsite at Yulara, top value.			Visiting wabbit.			Uluru at sunrise, quite awesome.
The OLGAS, not far from Uluru.			Road west to WA from Yulara.			Numerous camels, locals now ?
Lassiters cave sign			Petrol security at Warburton ??			New Gunbarrel hwy section.
Camels everywhere, I've heard			Signpost on Gunbarrel hwy,			Typical Gunbarrel track. We met
we are selling camels back to			Wiluna…Warburton junction.			one party of two 4WD's during
the arabs, for racing and food !!			My old BMW motorbike club of			1000 km on this track. You need
			NSW did this in the early 70's.			to be self sufficient.
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After reaching Wiluna, the end of the Gunbarrel hwy, the tracks improved somewhat ? We now
headed for the INDIAN OCEAN at Carnarvon, via Meekathara, along the Gascoyne river.
Len Beadel lookout.			Fuelling station, no facilities.			Rare outlook from a height !
Finger into Indian Ocean. Other			Yollies 1st view of Indian ocean			Good hotel at Denham, WA,
ceremonies were also done ?			on this trip. Got her feet wet.			handy to Monkey Mia.
Dolphins at Monkey Mia.			Flying over Shark Bay, great.			The black dots are sharks, 100's
Most westerly point in Oz.				Kings Park, Perth			Perth
From Carnarvon, we headed for Denham and Monkey Mia to view the dolphins. Cleaned up at a nice
resort hotel at Denham, and flew over Shark Bay in a light plane. Saw 100's of sharks in the bay,
hence the name, and viewed the most Westerly point on the Australian mainland…Steep Cape.
Then headed south towards Perth. Missed the Pinnacles this time, and booked into a hotel in the
centre of Perth. I then called up an old mate from 45 years ago, when we were both in the RAAF.
He asked me where I was, and it turned out I was directly across the road, from where he worked.
Five minutes later, he was in our room on the 7th floor, and we had a surprise re-union. Talk about
co-incidences ?? Had a lovely foursome dinner that evening, catching up on old memories.
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Plenty of wildflowers, Kings Park			Panzer commander, Pärjel.			Yollie, not to be outdone !
Remains of Dutch ship in museum				Bondy's Aust. 2		Sub in Freemantle museum.
View out of Perth hotel window.			Albany coast, fantastic. The cops			Numerous scenes like this
			got some photos of us, near here.			near Albany, south coast of WA
Approaching Albany, the cops had a fixed camera hidden in some bushes beside the road. This was a
definite revenue machine, no warnings and some 20 metres from 80 kph sign…Jesus wept. Points
are looking bad, and shot was from head on, probably identifying me as driver, with my silly cap !
Had the photo been from the rear, driver hidden by luggage, Yollie might have copped the rap !!
Esperance, another beautiful town.				Nullarbor cliffs.		Approaching Coober Pedy.
After Albany, Esperance, Norseman, we crossed the Nullarbor Plain. There are numerous side tracks
off the hwy to view the ocean and cliffs. The roadhouses are specials, and there is a golf course
which crosses the length of the Nullarbor plain. We saw some clowns playing golf on this.
From Ceduna, we cut north to Coober Pedy via some rough tracks. Coober Pedy was an incredible
sight, almost a moonscape. Had to ward off some midnight drunks trying to break into our room !!
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Town marker !!			Coober Pedy underground mine.			Rabbit fence, 9,600 km long !!
Leaving Coober Pedy, we headed east to William Ck., to get a view of lake Eyre, with water in it.
This was most spectacular from a small plane, piloted by a gung ho redneck "lady" !! The hotel at
William Creek was very interesting but noisy, (generator) so we went on to Marree.
Lake Eyre north, still with water.				Flinders ranges.			Flinders ranges.
					From lake Eyre, we headed south via the
					Flinders ranges, to Peterborough and then
					Broken Hill. Yollie looked at some of the
					art galleries at Broken Hill, while I attended
					to some car issues. Thank god we had a
					second Sat. Nav., which guided me back to
					the art gallery, to pick up Yollie. The 1st Sat.
					Nav. Had given up the ghost on the rough
					tracks, but I had brought a new Sat. Nav.
					for my Beach Buggy, to test on this trip !
Darling river, at Wilcannia.
Originally, we had planned to go home via Lightning Ridge, but figured we had seen enough of Opal
mines or pits. Also, the smell of home was beginning become noticeable.
Conclusions.		As always, you learn a lot from each trip. We had more than our usual share
of "minor" problems, eg :- 2 shredded tyres, Sat. Nav. failure, cracked windscreen, unwanted police
photos, broken exhaust pipes. Previous trips have been so trouble free, we reckon that’s fair enough,
considering the nature and distances we have travelled in our 4WD in Australia.
I suppose the best lesson learnt is to carry out thorough pre-planning and packing at home, such that
stuff you need often or in emergencies, can be quickly found and got at. Its no good when you want
a cool drink or snack, not being able to get at the fridge or Esky with ease. More important, if you
have to change wheels, make sure all your tools and gear are easily got at. A good lie down tarp or
carpet can make life less miserable, when changing wheels. Also, it pays to ensure that your loads
are securely tied down, with bungy chords, ratchet straps and/or rope. Don't trust roof cage fixings
in plastic knobs;  we use hose clips as secondary fixings, as nuts can vibrate loose or even break.
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