gunbarrel
Submitted: Monday, May 22, 2006 at 15:26
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toro
Best time to visit
Between May - September
what about traveling the gunbarrel in mid-february?
thank you
Reply By: Footloose - Monday, May 22, 2006 at 16:00
Monday, May 22, 2006 at 16:00
No thanks :))
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173990
Follow Up By: toro - Monday, May 22, 2006 at 16:11
Monday, May 22, 2006 at 16:11
you funny little bird
sorry my bad english. I'm from switzerland. visiting from may to sept. is recomended by exploreoz
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Follow Up By: Footloose - Monday, May 22, 2006 at 16:23
Monday, May 22, 2006 at 16:23
My strange reply is explained by the appropriate posts which can be summed up in simple English.
It's too hot !
:))))))))
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Follow Up By: toro - Monday, May 22, 2006 at 16:27
Monday, May 22, 2006 at 16:27
fair enough, mate
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Follow Up By: Footloose - Monday, May 22, 2006 at 16:37
Monday, May 22, 2006 at 16:37
Mate, I've travelled a few parts of Oz in the summer and not enjoyed it one bit. Too hot and sometimes too wet. Heat exhaustion, excessive fluid intake needs(!) etc etc Even small jobs can be difficult at that time.
The Gunbarrel is often enough of a handful at the best of times without the heat , flies and possible rains in February, a time when we can experience some extreme heat.
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Reply By: djpatrol - Monday, May 22, 2006 at 16:09
Monday, May 22, 2006 at 16:09
Hope ya got air/cond
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Reply By: ro-dah-o (WA) - Monday, May 22, 2006 at 16:09
Monday, May 22, 2006 at 16:09
not having been there myself, my reply may have no merit, but being a sand groper, I would imagine the heat at that time of the year would be horendous (40+), and thats still cyclone season, so if a large cell was to move that far in you would need to think about extending the duration of your trip by a week or 3.
I would guess, from past experience and the knowledge found within the 'brain bank' of this
forum and site, if it was recommended that it only be travelled on may 31st at 3pm, then that would be the only time to travel.
AnswerID:
173992
Reply By: Lech - Monday, May 22, 2006 at 19:31
Monday, May 22, 2006 at 19:31
Hi toro,
I am from Central Europe and have been downunder several times. Because of the nature of my job I could take holiday only in December and January. I travelled many of outback routes including Gunbarrel and
Simpson Desert at that time. Maybe you will find some of my hints usefull.
1. As a tourist you will probably have a hired 4 wd car (dont think about 2 wd). Before you set out have it checked for example by NRMA. A couple of dollars are worth to spent. Think about buying another spare wheel at a car wrecker´s. You sell it back on finishing your trip. Definitely read some of thousands advices concerning trip planning, preparation and car recoveries. They were written by experienced guys who know the topic better then we do.
If you travell alone(= one car) like me, hire a satelite phone as other means of communication like UHF will probably not be available to you.
What I am going to write is not a commercial: Your life depends 80% on your car.
2. Simple truth: If you don´t have a fly net, the trip may turn into your worst nightmare.
3. What you can expect:
In (Australian) Summer it can be really hot. I experienced +55 Centigrade (in shade) in January 2003 crossing
Simpson Desert. This is one of reasons why Aussies do not go often to these areas and main reason why I go there.
Travelling Gunbarrel I didn´t meet a soul from Willuna to Yullara except
Carnegie,
Warburton and Giles. If you like to be alone for a couple of days, Gunbarrel is the right place.
Dont forget about permits. It is a nuisance but you need it.
On telling Aussies where you want to go, prepare to be considered a stupid tourist. Be broadminded. On the contrary to towns where you see a policeman only when you are fined for speeding, in Outback you can ask a policeman about many things, like road conditions, etc. They are very helpful.
Cheers
Lech
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Follow Up By: toro - Monday, May 22, 2006 at 19:44
Monday, May 22, 2006 at 19:44
hi lech
thank you for your answer.
I've got some more questions - do you send me an email with yourr adress?
nick_nack@bluewin.ch
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Follow Up By: Willem - Monday, May 22, 2006 at 19:55
Monday, May 22, 2006 at 19:55
Lech and Toro
Yes I agree with what Lech says.
We Aussies would think you are crazy. We want to sit in the shade or be by the sea in our summer.
It may be OK to drive these remote areas in the heat of summer but you are increasing the risk of a mechanical or physical failure/breakdown and a subsequent rescue which may turn out to be costly.
But no one is stopping you from doing what you want to do. So go out there and have fun and go PREPARED! Always carry enough water, fuel and spare for the vehicle and a fly net!!!...lol
Cheers
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Follow Up By: V8Diesel - Monday, May 22, 2006 at 20:40
Monday, May 22, 2006 at 20:40
The fly net is good advice!
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Follow Up By: MikeyS - Tuesday, May 23, 2006 at 13:46
Tuesday, May 23, 2006 at 13:46
The main reason Aussies would think you are crazy, stupid, foolish or whatever, is because you might not be taking the good advice of those who have the experience to know better. It's not because you are a tourist. Cheers
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Reply By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Monday, May 22, 2006 at 19:55
Monday, May 22, 2006 at 19:55
Not trying to scare you, but in Australia, we have tourists (and sometimes locals) die every year out in the desert heat. Its a very real problem.
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Reply By: V8Diesel - Monday, May 22, 2006 at 20:46
Monday, May 22, 2006 at 20:46
I worked swinging a pick and shovel on gridlines one summer at Horseshoe Lights, a December working on the roads between Hedland and
Marble Bar and some time in March as a drillers offsider at Telfer.
Believe me mate, it is sh*thouse.
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Reply By: Toytruck - Monday, May 22, 2006 at 20:51
Monday, May 22, 2006 at 20:51
I used to live at Uluru and during my stay was lucky enough to be 2OIC of the Ayers Rock Emergency Services Unit. During this time I was lucky enough to have traveled most of these roads sometimes for pleasure and other times searching for lost persons that were not prepared.
It can be very very hot and I would not advise the experienced to do it let alone the not so experienced. A station owner once said to me " a 10 minute trip to check a fence can be life threatening", and this is coming from a person that grew up there. 10 minutes exposed to that heat in the wrong circumstances could spell the end. Anybody remember the girl from Europe that passed away at Lake
Eyre some years back. She was a triathlete and was very very prepared however all the food and water in the world did not save her.
Be very careful.
Toytruck
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Follow Up By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Monday, May 22, 2006 at 22:06
Monday, May 22, 2006 at 22:06
Yep, ther crazy thing about them was the vehicle was driven out of its "bog" by simply letting some air out of the
tyres.
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