A touchy topic indeed....
Submitted: Friday, Feb 04, 2005 at 08:21
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Lone Wolf
... and make sure you READ THE WHOLE POST.... before slagging me or others off.
Whilst reading 4wd Monthly, and it's "free" magazine bundled with it... Gold Label Edition... Australia by 4wd, the major trek guide, I was reading about the Gunbarrel.
Warburton....... "Vehicle Preparations before retiring..." Remove fuel filler caps from vehicles and plug filler necks with rags....
Is it really THAT BAD?
I know there are sniffing problems and the like, but are tourists really at risk?
I am going up there in May, in a Diesel vehicle, with a large group.
I am not after opinions on what is right or wrong, just after the REAL facts on safety of people & possessions. Don't want judgments passed or aired, just things to watch out for.
Wolfie
Reply By: Mike Harding - Friday, Feb 04, 2005 at 08:34
Friday, Feb 04, 2005 at 08:34
I haven't done the Gunbarrel but I have done a lot of the Top End and have found (both from my own and the experience of others) that Aborigines in remote/semi remote areas vary a lot, some are lovely, warm, smiling people - others can be _very_ aggressive. Advice I was given, and I would commend it to others, was if you are flagged down by some Aborigines, lock the doors, stop, wind the drivers window down an inch and find out what the problem is. If they want a lift tell them no but say you will pass a message on to the next town/
homestead about their situation. DO NOT open the doors/let them into the car.
Putting a rag in the petrol tank opening would be stupid and a perfect way to create a Molotov Cocktail. Many modern cars require the petrol tank be sealed, I believe?
Mike Harding
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Follow Up By: Member - Davoe (WA) - Friday, Feb 04, 2005 at 09:36
Friday, Feb 04, 2005 at 09:36
I got flagged down by a couple stuck off the road coz they had a flat and no jack handle - had them going in no time most appreciative. This is not to say you shouldnt have regard for your/others safety
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Reply By: Squizzy - Friday, Feb 04, 2005 at 16:56
Friday, Feb 04, 2005 at 16:56
Wolfie,
We camped at
Warburton June last year, and had no trouble.
There is a reasonable
campsite (grassed) and hot showers and laundry available at the roadhouse which is manned by whites.
The camping ground is in a compound with a
gate that is closed late afternoon.
Although this is the case, we didn't look like having any trouble.
Diesel won't be a problem, but no petrol, as is the case in most remote communities.
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Follow Up By: Squizzy - Friday, Feb 04, 2005 at 17:00
Friday, Feb 04, 2005 at 17:00
Sorry, I didn't finish my story,
we only camped there because we had been on the Anne Beadell and Connie Sue Hwys for 8 days and we were getting sick of bush showers.
But we were glad we did. After that we did the abndoned section of the GB back to Giles.
Have a good trip Wolfie.
Geoff.
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Reply By: greydemon - Friday, Feb 04, 2005 at 17:00
Friday, Feb 04, 2005 at 17:00
My family and I did the Gunbarrel a few years back and didn't have any problems. We only stopped for fuel in Warburton, there is camping at the roadhouse but it is not the best and I don't know why you would want to stay there. get your fuel from the steel caged bowsers and move on to Giles. Camping at Giles was fine and you can visit the
weather station and see bits of skylab and one of Len's old graders. Pick up firewood before you get there.
On the way back we also just quickly passed through and camped in the bush well off the road - no problems.
On the way out, 30km out of Warburton, we came across an aboriginal guy walking towards us down the road. We had been warned that we might get stopped and asked for petrol - theoretically for a car that has run out but in fact for sniffing. We could see the car and another guy about a kilometre ahead. We stopped and asked what the problem was ...
'Gota pump?'
'What sort of pump?'
'Air pump, for tyres'
'Yep'
So the guy hopped on the roo bar (Pajero full of family - 3 kids) and we drove slowly to his car. I got out and walked around the car looking for the flat tyre. The nearside front was a rim with a couple of bits of wire and about a square inch of rubber.
'Have you got a spare?'
'No mate'
'What are you gonna pump up?'
'Aaaw, yeah ...........got any petrol?'
We ended up giving the two of them a lift back to Warburton on the roof rack then made a late dash to Giles. They were in no way threatening at any time but did lose us an hour or so, a small price to pay for the story!
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