9 weeks 13000km

yeah I want to see em too....just love looking at others scratch's

I'll see if there are any scratches left after I have taken the GQ through the car wash today.

Damages

1 dead Rotronics battery isolator
1 dead temperature sender
1 dead oil sender
Main rear engine oil seal leaking again!
4 Mudflaps torn off
Rear radius bushes on front suspension stuffed and knocking loudly
Both rear brake backing plates loose(tied on with Ockey straps)
Broken front side light
Bent right side Thrust bearing still growling
Flywjeel still warped
Rear brake caliper seal weep
1 Dead water pump(replaced that and alternator belt at Margaret River)
2 Broken tail light lenses
Stuffed UHF radio(wiring shook loose on corrugations)

Motor is running sweetly and we used no oil. Service is now overdue.
No other ailments

ARB suspension performed very well under very trying conditions
Cooper STT's severely scuffed on sidewalls. One tyre has separated sidewall inside(now had sidewall bubble) Had no punctures and minimal tread wear. Ran all the right tyres pressures though.

On the whole the GQ ran brilliantly and never missed a beat. Could do with an auto and a turbo though :o)

bloody hell , You told us you were going on a trip....not a demolition derby
cheaper to trade it in than fix it?

"On the whole the GQ ran brilliantly and never missed a beat."
Told you so

"Could do with an auto and a turbo though :o)"
Told you so

:P

he just doesnt listen does he

Probably that rocketchit he drinks..

Moses? for a moment I though you had taken up religion, Bro....hahahahaha Yep will have the photos handy ....about 1000 of them. Love to Heather and the family. Catch up in Birdsville.

I think Moses is pre-Chriatianity for the middle-eastern name but legend has it he pated the ocean for followers to cross. The ute was Christened Moses by Kir, the better half of Crazie for clearing the puddles for those following in the High Country.

Love to Judith and keep a bit of the Wit Lit for the National. I am sure Ruth would enjoy some too.

Uncle Des.....Gidday

Yep should be home by then. Will let you know and will have the donuts ready!!!

G'day Mate

We will probably miss each other as we will only be in Birdsville by 7th July. Hope you have a good trip through the outback.

Hi Jeff

Yes it was a blast. Still there is much more to see in WA and we will be coming your way again in 2007. Gotta see as much of it afore I fall off the perch :o)

Hello John

Watch out for those water pics. You know Toyotas dont like their wheel bearings in water...hahahahaha

Coming up to Birdsville?

Take care.

G'day bushfix

Filled the truck up with books, wines, cheeses and art, not to mention rocks and other memorabilia

G'day Lux

Still have some of Aus to explore. Tasmania in 2006 and then another big deserts trip in 2007 taking in the Anne Beadell, Eagle, Hunt, Callawa and some other tracks.

Although WA National Parks is very much User Pay orientated I am very impressed with their approach to the diversification of their tourism needs. I bought a Month long Parks Entry Pass and paid when camping in National Parks. Their facilities are very good. You will enjoy Cape le Grande and the other parks in the south west

Never a dull moment here, Richard

Hello Ruth

Good to hear from you. We should be in Birdsvill by the 7th July. Not sure which way we are coming yet as we have the dog with us now. Was thinking of sneaking down the Rig Road if Warburton Crossing is open.

Good idea - after all, she's a 'hearing' dog isn't she! And, now they have 'comfort' dogs also. That shouldn't be a problem.

Hahahahahahaha..........I like your style Wolfie.

I looked for your name in the visitors book at Neale Junction but couldnt find it..........

Jeddah is very happy that her mum is home but today she is fretting at all the stuff packed up to go to the laundry. Very worried we may take off without her again

Was good to sleep in a proper bed again last night.

Plenty of ice around in the mornings though.

Didn't lose any weight on the trip. Good food and good wines all the way. Bugga!

Hey Baz

Managed to find a fancy White Port at Maragaret River and you and I only will be sampling the contents. Looking forward to catching up

Oooh yeah!!!

Hey Baz, can't find your post about the spit - but, I think it's a good idea to have a camp over cook off - that way EVERYONE can cook. Haha - and you don't have to stand there turning the handle. Haha. Weather's nice - cold as in the am and pm.

G'day Paul

No I managed to steer clear of panel damage. It seems though, after I took the truck to the car wash today, that I will be able to repair the mudflaps and flares.

Say Hi to Helen and Kirrily

Mr Nissan likes us to lose them too I have found............ Trying to get them more securely fixed now.

I purchased 7 mudflaps thru the trader on EO for $50 total. So still have lots of spares lol.

Hi Brew

Yep I will be spending some time on repairs for the next two weeks. Truck is still running well though. Go the Nissans!!! Bloke at Wreckers Yard here in Alice said he had 4 GQ gearboxes which can't sell as there is no demand for them. Lots of demand for Toyota parts though!!!

Ta Mate

Hi Captain

We teetered on the edge of Toolinna Cove thinking that those who abseil down there to fish must be mad!! No we didnt do any fishing. Maybe next time. It was quite a rugged run from Israelite Bay to Point Culver through some very dense scrub and an extremely soft beach. Kept the old veins pumping hard on the adrenalin lol

Good trip!!! I got some recent info that calm had ripped down the ropes and ladders that go to the bottom of Toolina can you confirm or deny this? I also heard recently they had cut off access at the Eastern end of Poion creek that leads around all the Bays to Bellingers beach that I gave you in the trip notes Did you go that way?

Davoe

Thanks for your notes. They came in very handy. I am about to post a trek detail on the forum.

The ropes are still there though the ladders are now in the camping area. The Flying Fox windlass is still there with cable attached.

I did not see a Track Closed sign to the entrance to Bellingers Beach. We camped at Jorndee and it was belting down rain so we did not go to Bellingers

Sorry I missed you in Kal. We had a good time with Coops and even went for a drive with the Eastern Goldfields 4x4 Club.

Hi Bob

I intend to put this trip up in a series of treks to my website...hopefully before the end of this year. Will let you know when it happens.

Hi Richard

Having travelled some of these tracks in the past I can tell you that the Gunbarrel from Carnegie Stn to the East, has the Mother of all Corrugations on it. The top half of the Gary Highway is in good condition with some washouts. The southern end of the Connie Sue is very stony and you are travelling at 20/30kmh. Further up it becomes very corrugated and if you do not work up a speed of 70/80kmh it is pure hell. Trouble is that you just get to the required speed when there is a sharp bend, a stony ridge or a washout to contend with. I am glad to have travelled the Connie Sue and to witness the scenic Great Victoria Desert but once is enough for me. Then again, I said that of the Canning and did part of it again this trip.

You will be giving your trailer a hard time on the tracks. Dropping tyre pressures down to 8psi on the trailer and maybe 20psi on the truck may help minimise any damage which could occur.

As an example of the corrugations I had to re tighten the wheelnuts every 100km on the GQ. My UHF and HF aerials kept on unwinding.

Richard,

We travelled the Anne Beadell, Connie Sue and Old Gunbarrell (abandoned section) last June towing the CT, we had no troubles. Our trailer is a H/D offroader though.

Hi Willem,

Glad to see you made it back safely. We had a trouble free trip after seeing you at Tom Price, and also arrived home last week aftet 9 weeks on the wallaby.

Geoff.

G'day Geoff

Glad to hear that you made it back safely to the gulf. Will try and catch up with you next time we come to town

Willem,

Give me a call on 0402119072 before coming to town to make sure we are home, and I'll put the coffee pot on.

Geoff.