Canning Stock Route Trip Companions

Submitted: Saturday, Apr 30, 2016 at 21:51
ThreadID: 132283 Views:3312 Replies:4 FollowUps:12
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Hello,

We have been planning a 4 week trip from Perth, around the outside and back down the Canning Stock Route for July and we need to find travel companions for the sections which require multiple car groups. Any other travellers out there who might be thinking of going then?
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Reply By: Member - Cuppa - Saturday, Apr 30, 2016 at 23:55

Saturday, Apr 30, 2016 at 23:55
Thats gonna be a very rushed trip I reckon.
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Follow Up By: Ron N - Sunday, May 01, 2016 at 11:27

Sunday, May 01, 2016 at 11:27
You're not wrong there, Cuppa! I trust the OP's know it's over 2000kms down the CSR (Halls Ck to Wiluna) - and an average overall speed is around 40kmh!

That's 50 hours driving time alone, just on the track. 5 x 10 hr days. In that, you have to allow for camp setup and packing away, cooking & eating, relaxing, looking at interesting things.

The last group that I know that did the CSR, left from the W.A. Wheatbelt, and took 3 weeks to go to Halls Ck and back!

Cheers, Ron.
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Follow Up By: Member - Sheridan L - Sunday, May 01, 2016 at 18:26

Sunday, May 01, 2016 at 18:26
Hi Cuppa & Ron N

Thanks for the feedback. - We are having to work with the pesky old job limitations here! Yes done quite a lot of research - very happy to receive further advice as well.

What time would you recommend to plan?
Thanks
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Follow Up By: Ron N - Sunday, May 01, 2016 at 19:55

Sunday, May 01, 2016 at 19:55
Sheridan, if job limitations are putting a crimp in the time available, you can always truck your Prado, to say Adelaide, fly to Adelaide, pick up the Prado, and drive from there.
You will get a good rate on trucking the Prado between Sydney and Adelaide, and airfares are cheap.

Australia is a huge place, and nothing reinforces that more than driving almost constantly all day, and covering 1000 kms or more - and you still have 10,000kms to cover!

It's not much of a "holiday" to be under more pressure than you are at work!

July and August are good months for the CSR. The Northern section is looking dry this season, due to poor rainfall over this "wet" season - but the centre and lower sections have received more rain, and are probably starting to look fantastic with fresh growth.

Never forget about the spinifex problem, and clean it out on a constant basis. Seen and known of too many people who have lost their vehicle to a spinifex fire.

Once the stuff catches fire, it is a curse to quench due to the bituminous resin that spinifex produces, that just keeps bursting back into flame.

Cheers, Ron.
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Follow Up By: Member - Cuppa - Sunday, May 01, 2016 at 19:58

Sunday, May 01, 2016 at 19:58
Hi Sheridan, that is a difficult question to answer as we are all different, & it really depends upon what it is that YOU want to get out of YOUR trip.

If you want an endurance test which will enable you to say you conquered it, your 4 weeks will be do-able if you are very well prepared physically, mentally & mechanically, but it most certainly wouldn't be for me. My advice however would be to take as long as you can & savour the country you are passing through. Lots of stops to 'smell the roses'!

If it were *my* trip & I was prepared to bypass iconic highlights like Karijini & the Bungles, & just driving to one end of the CSR in order to maximise my time ON the CSR I'd take the inland route north & probably drive no more than 4 to 6 hours a day with stops along the way to stretch the legs, have lunch, & check out anything of interest. I'm interested in seeing more than white lines. A leisurely pack up each morning & start looking for somewhere to camp by around 3pm each arvo.

Once on the CSR, I'd want to look at a *minimum* of 3 weeks from end to end, preferably more. I haven't travelled the Canning yet, but when I do I want to feel & connect with the country, not just pass through it.

I'm very cognisant of making an aim of a trek like the CSR to be damage free, & their is a high corelation between rushed travel & damage.

Don't underestimate the cumulative impact of daily travel, it is very different to doing one or two days high mileage. I learned my lesson years ago on a motorcycle trip of around 15,000 in 7 weeks. We did it, & have some good memories, but there was little energy left over to enjoy what we had dreamed of seeing. I recall standing at a place I had dreamed of visiting (Emily Gorge in the East Macs) wondering what the point was!

I appreciate that many folk have limited holiday times to fit their adventures into, & if time cannot be extended then I reckon it's better to enjoy a shorter route than to 'survive' an extended one, saving the bucket list items until time can be made or found.

It is common for folk to return home saying they wish they had had more time, but you never hear folk saying they were away for too long. If most of what you see is seen through the windscreen I reckon you might just as well view it on a screen in your living room.
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Reply By: Gaynor - Sunday, May 01, 2016 at 05:48

Sunday, May 01, 2016 at 05:48
Which sections require multiple car groups?
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Follow Up By: Member - Sheridan L - Sunday, May 01, 2016 at 18:29

Sunday, May 01, 2016 at 18:29
I was advised of this by a 4wd Trainer at the Sydney camping show a couple of weekends ago. We did have a companion but they had to drop out.

I haven't had a chance to check out more info yet. I got the impression that it's to do with the multiple permits you need to go through different sections of the CSR.

Happy to hear if anyone else has tips.

Cheers
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Follow Up By: Member-George (WA) - Sunday, May 01, 2016 at 22:23

Sunday, May 01, 2016 at 22:23
Hi Gaynor, good to see you are staying in touch. How are you doing back home ?
You are right, you don't need multiple car groups along the CSR. You just need to be properly prepared and you would know about that better than anyone else. Cheers
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Follow Up By: Gaynor - Monday, May 02, 2016 at 00:16

Monday, May 02, 2016 at 00:16
Hello George!

Good to hear from you. 'Civilisation' in Africa is a struggle. The book writing was going well, but went off course recently. Hope to get back into it after this walk.

Head out on Wednesday for a 256km hike through the Karoo, semi arid desert, on Wednesday, with 59 other walkers! It is a supported dirt track walk that will take 10 days to complete.

The biggest challenge for this dingo will be walking with other people. I will try adapt! Send you an email after it is done.
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Reply By: Sigmund - Sunday, May 01, 2016 at 05:52

Sunday, May 01, 2016 at 05:52
There's a CSR Facebook group - might be a good place to post as well.
AnswerID: 599385

Follow Up By: Member - Sheridan L - Sunday, May 01, 2016 at 18:30

Sunday, May 01, 2016 at 18:30
Thanks Sigmund!!!!!

I have found it and requested to join it :)
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Reply By: Bob Y. - Qld - Sunday, May 01, 2016 at 07:57

Sunday, May 01, 2016 at 07:57
We're thinking a late July, north-south trip, at this stage, though haven't done too much planning.

Where's the multi vehicle sections? Not thinking of Old Gunbarrel route are you?

Bob

Seen it all, Done it all.
Can't remember most of it.

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Follow Up By: Member - Sheridan L - Sunday, May 01, 2016 at 18:51

Sunday, May 01, 2016 at 18:51
Hi Bob

We are aiming for north south too, I'm currently thinking to take leave from 11/07/16 to the 05/08/16, my partner could do 05/07/16 to 09/08/16, so a few days before and after me - meaning he could clock up a few KMs and maybe I meet him somewhere.

Not sure of a route but N/S was the plan.

I am in Sydney with a Prado 120, part of the All Wheel Drive Club of Sydney. He is in Perth with a SWB Ford Maverick that we've been getting trip ready since last July - this is the car we would be taking.

Had a trip buddy but they confirmed they can't come. Even if the info I was told about multiple cars required for certain permits was not correct, I'd still like us to convoy for safety.

Cheers

Sheridan
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Follow Up By: Motherhen - Monday, May 02, 2016 at 00:06

Monday, May 02, 2016 at 00:06
There will be not shortage of traffic on the CSR Sheridan. You may get to know others you meet at the campsites and look out for each other. I do endorse the thoughts of others that you have not allowed enough time for a trip like this.

Motherhen

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Follow Up By: Bob Y. - Qld - Monday, May 02, 2016 at 08:00

Monday, May 02, 2016 at 08:00
You'll probably be a bit early for us Sheridan, as we have a commitment in Darwin early July, then need to return home and prep for the CSR.

Like MH said, you'll meet plenty of others on the trip.........just depends how many you want to travel with. :-)

Have a good trip,
Bob

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Can't remember most of it.

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Follow Up By: Member - John and Val - Monday, May 02, 2016 at 14:19

Monday, May 02, 2016 at 14:19
Given your time constraints, have you considered doing one half of the CSR, entering or exiting via Talawanna Track/well 24?

As others have pointed out there is a cumulative effect of driving day after day, especially if there are corrugations. It wears you down physically and mentally. And on a tight time schedule there is very little margin for error if something does go wrong.

Cheers,

Val.
J and V
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