Big Trip - Perth - Flinders -Alice - Cape York - Perth

Bob. Many thanks. We always seem to be just poking along and getting diverted from the original plan by " interesting things". Seems like these a good roads and shouldn't trouble us too much provided its dry. Corrugations we can deal with, within reason. On some of the more remote areas it's not really feasible to turn around and go back if the road is a shocker. So we ask locals and those we meet about road conditions. I would like to publish a book on " road conditions". A very subjective subject based on previous experiences so it seems. John

Neglected to add some comment on camp sites, John, across Plenty and down Oodnadatta Track.

After leaving Oodnadatta at midday, I camped at Beresford siding that night. The building is in good order(still has a roof!) though I didn't camp in it, and there is a dam down in the creek with good water, if you needed to top up. Had stopped at Algebuckna and Strangways Telegraph Station, as well as one only "sherbet" at William Creek. Plenty of spots at Algebuckna, as long as rain wasn't threatening. In fact there's heaps of camps, depending on weather, shade and open ground, all not far off the road.

When we went over the Plenty, we camped at Bendgeacca Ck, just down from the junction of Plenty and Mt Isa bitumen. Plenty(no pun intended, smirk!) of room there along the creek, both sides of the road. Further along, you can camp at the Georgina River, Tobermorey and Gem Tree. In 2011, there was heaps of grass right up to the highway, so nowhere really that was suitable, and safe(from fire risk). We ended up camping at Gem Tree the 2nd night, and enjoyed it. Was cold, even for August, so if you did stop there, shower early as the others will have you doing an iceberg.

Since the drought there's sure to be clear areas now, or utilise any gravel pits that are along there.

Bob

Hi Bob. Many thanks. Have flagged the locations on the map and added them to the list of potentials. Can get really cold well inland in winter. That dry bone chilling cold with not a lot to stop the breeze. Am always looking for a camp site out of the breeze. John

Hi Val. Thank you for your response. Was not sure if the Oodnadatta track was formed. Looks like a real road on the maps but sometimes not the case. We are very respectful of the outback so being prepared is the key. We are reasonably adventurous as one can be when towing but we aren't really interested in major challenges. Will see how we go in a month or so. John

Hi Wendy's. After looking at the maps again, after your query, also need to include Wilpena, Blinman etc in the original time frame. We generally get side tracked into creek beds looking at rocks or if there is water and birds the day is lost to observation and photos. Much appreciate your response. John

Hi Peter. Many thanks for your reply. Your comments on being "in between" when it rains are most useful. Having spent years in western NSW as a hydrologist, in old land rovers on black soil roads, I fully understand the sticky road issues. It was adventurous and part of the job then. Now being closer to 70 than 30, and towing 2t with an auto Prado I have little interest in such experiences. John

Hi Wendys. Many thanks for the suggestions. Will have a better look at what we do in the Flinders over the next week or two. Our plans are always flexible. Interesting places is such a subjective description. However if there is water, birds, rocks and not a lot of people - you'll probably find us there. John

Dear Richard

Thanks for the invitation ... But no thanks.

The sensor unit is not calibrated, home made and local interference from the vehicle and its contents will probably ensure the data is non repeatable.

The majority of Australia (excluding major populated areas) has been flown using airborne geophysics where alpha, beta and gamma have been measured in a highly controlled environment. So I very much doubt the data your organisation intends to gather will have any real value to society as a whole.

Having been involved in the collection, interpretation and sale of scientific data to government and business for the last 30 years, nothing worries me more than " crowd sourced" data. I am not against it in principle. It is just that the data is usually noisy, non repeatable, has no published methodology or any quality control.

Sorry to appear so negative.

John

John, thanks for the reply, have a great trip.

Richard

Hi Baz. Appreciate your response. Our plan is to include Lawn Hill, Burketown and Karumba before heading to Cape York. As always weather is the key when travelling in the north.

I remember spending 2 wet seasons in the Kimberley in the 60's. The first one was a very "dry wets season" and I wondered what all the fuss was about in preparing to travel by road. The second season was a wet one. We got caught out near Old Ord River station, on Duncan Hwy (not a hwy then that's for sure) and it took 10 days to get back to Kunnunnurra. About 5 days waiting for the Negri to go down.

We will most likely hit the Gulf area around mid May. Hopefully the wet will be well and truly over. If not then Plan B. Whatever that maybe at the time.

Cheers John