Pat Callinan's 4x4 Adventures filming blog 13- Canning Stock Route Wrap

CANNING STOCK ROUTE WRAPUP

It's the ultra-marathon of the Aussie 4WD movement, the mighty Canning Stock Route. The trip that will have you doubting your own ability even before you start, and will make you question your motives throughout. 1744 km might not sound like much, but this ain't no Hume Highway. On some days, we drove from sunrise to sunset, to accomplish, wait for it, 115km. It's slow, it's rocky, it's sandy, it's lumpy and it's spectacular. I thought I knew what Australia looked like before this, having traversed every other major 4WD track in Oz. Parts of the Canning though are so unique, sometimes you feel like you're travelling through Africa, and other times through Mexico. But folks, this is the real Australia; the bits that never land in the brochures because few journo's are silly enough to subject themselves to 20 days of corrugations, only to emerge with one story. But the Canning has many stories. History, murder, survival, strange animals and even stranger characters. For your 4WD, it's hell. It''ll shake it to bits, or the spinifex can spark up underneath and burn it to bits. The Patrol munched up the Canning with delight, being one of the few vehicles these days that is actually built for this kind of hardcore 4WD torture and punishment. The crew vehicles (Pathfinder and D40 Navara King Cab) did a fine job as well, but they were no match for their big brother's suspension, which has more up and down travel than a Movie World roller coaster.
The kids battled through 43 degree temps and loved it all, except the horrid-tasting bore water. Quick Tip - carry cordial to make it drinkable! They loved the camels, the Thorny Devils, and the Gould's Sand Monitor. Mum didn't love the washing pile at the end though. Of course, we strictly adhere to the 'Dirt is Good' philosophy!
The Canning Stock Route is a battle from start to finish, but the prize is self-satisfaction and 4000 campfire stories....like the time Bill (8) emerged after a perilously rocky trek to the centre of Wolfe Creek Metoerite Crater and said: "That's no place for little girls..." We concur Bill, we concur.
Keep the shiny side up!
Pat Callinan

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