Canning Stock Route

QS

We did the CSR last year and enjoyed the trip. I suggest you go through the trek notes and then come back with specific questions.

Peter

QS,

I have been 3 times in the past 3 years and will be going again this year , but have a read here first.

CSR

Wayne

Thanks Wayne and Peter for your response. I have already printed off the trek notes and studied them carefully along with other publications. I would value your views on the following please:

- weather dependant of course, would you consider March/April a bit early and May/June a little better?
- Looking at photographs of the track it appears to be a good sand based, well travelled route. Is this typical of the entire track?
- Would you expect much traffic from March to June?
- Is the artesian water at "clean" wells tainted in taste although drinkable and how much H2O would you carry for two people?
- I drive a Nissan Patrol 3Lt diesel with 120 lts in the tanks. Do you carry extra fuel in additional tanks or do you prefer Jerrys and how much do you carry? I notice that you, Peter have long range tanks. Where are they placed and are they commercially available?
- What are the camping arrangements? Are you restricted to some areas and banned from others or is it open camping along the track?

Thanks again

Regards

Quentin

Thanks again for your reply Wayne & Peter. We are and have been planning on a departure from Perth in June 09 but trek notes suggest an earlier departure. Thought it was a bit too soon.

More questions please??

- Is there any possibility that the fuel dropped in drums can be tampered with or do they have a seal on the drums to indicate they have not been compromised?

- Is the fuel available at Kunawarritji clean? (just recently picked up a load of fuel in Menzies that was foul and that was at a commercial fuel outlet/ roadhouse).

- Who do I talk to about good quality after market fuel tanks?

- I notice that you both have roof racks. I have always tried to shy away from carrying anything up top because this increases the centre of gravity. I am not fixed on this view and would appreciate your input. What do you put up there?

- I am reticent to travel in convoy. I appreciate the safety factor but I have found that in most instances others are not as prudent in preparation and our safety becomes compromised because of this.

- I am fortunate to have my amateur radio licence (HAM) and am a member of the VKS net and so carry a Ham radio and UHF and wouldn't be without my EPIRB. Don't carry a SAT Phone because I don't need to and I don't trust them.

We would be very pleased to meet you both on the track or in Perth on your way through. If you need any assistance this end, just ask.

Regards

Quentin

QS,

I travelled the CSR last year from south to north commencing early August. The weather was magnificent, cool nights, warm days, no rain, and light cross winds. By the time we reached Halls Creek it was getting quite hot, so I wouldn't commence the journey any later. Keep an eye on the weather in the interior of WA before you go and be prepared to put the trek off for a year if they have had a lot of rain just before you go. The track will be impassable in many sections if that is the case, and you will not be appreciated if you deeply scour the track. We travelled with five other vehicles and this was good for the company, but any more and parking at some camp-sites could become a problem. The track varied from smooth sand, rocky outcrops, to bad corrugations, especially around Well 33. My Landcruiser experienced no problems, but one of our party in a brand new Patrol had to abandon the CSR when his vehicle had all four shock absorbers fail. As he did not carry replacements, he had to limp back to Well 33 (from Well 37) and exit via Marble Bar. In Nissan's defence, the shockies were all replaced under warranty, as they were a bad batch.
The secret to a trouble free trip is to take it easy - and carry all recommended spares just in case. Water at the following wells was excellent - Well 2, 5, 6, 12, 15, 26, 33, 46, and 49. Georgia Bore was also excellent. In all cases, boil the water before drinking. These conditions are subject to change so ensure you have enough. I carried 95lt but next time will take a little less.
We all bypassed the fuel dump at Well 23 and refuelled at the Kunawarritji community ($2.80lt). We all had diesel vehicles and there was no problem with the fuel. We enquired re availability before we left Perth, and were assured that there was plenty of fuel at the Community as they had just put in a much larger tank. Ensure you get a permit and it will indicate where you can, and cannot go on the CSR, as some places are now out of bounds. Camping at Durba Spring will be a highlight for you, it is one of the best in Australia.
Finally, make sure your UHF is always tuned to Ch 40 whilst on the CSR, as any other channel makes travel over the dunes downright dangerous. We met a tag-along tour (based in Victoria), coming the other way and they were on CH14. Luckily no-one was killed. The waving flag alerted us to their presence. The operator said he did not want his travellers to have to listen to a lot of un-necessary chatter. Unbelievable!

Thanks again Wayne.
We have a Nissan Patrol 3Lt GU series three, 2002 and still going good.

I've looked at several roof racks and as per normal, what you see ain't necessarily what you get. The roof of my Patrol is rated at 120kg and so the majority of the steel racks only allow a carrying capacity of 60kg as the racks weigh around 60kg. My spare, using the lightest air that I can find weighs 38.2kg leaving me, say 20kg or 1 jerry of diesel. Not flash for an outlay of $1500 (TJM). I will look at a lighter alloy rack and perhaps get a couple more jerry's.

Also looked at after market aux fuel tanks and still looking. Obviously the way to go. A bit frightened by the fill up price though. Interesting over here that petrol prices increased just before Easter to $1.50 per Lt and diesel to $1.61 per Lt and now Easter has gone petrol is now $1.40ish per Lt but diesel remains at $1.60ish per Lt. This seems to be prevalent over here.

Anyway thanks again and I wouldn't mind talking to you again in the future if you don't mind.

Have you crossed tracks with Jeremy Perks of Global Gypsy's at all. He is a local Western Australian luminary in tag along, similar to yourself.

Catch you again

Regards

Quentin

This is to Wayne G of WA. (I feel as though I may need to change my name to Wayne before I look at the CSR)!!

Thanks mate for your answer and valuable advice. I had a similar problem with oncoming traffic on the Holland Track last year but the other bloke was a very big Winnebago would you believe! It's not rocket science is it.

My wife and I are looking at leaving Bateman around May and make our way up to the top and then come back down via the Gibb River Rd. No time limit but we reckon that two months should be about right.

Did you do the trip privately or did you join a tour? If you did this privately I would be very keen to hear how you prepared for the trip and what equipment you carried if you don't mind.

Look forward to hearing from you again

Regards

Quentin

Quentin
We did the CSR privately. Approx. 12 mths were taken to ensure all our vehicles (and stores) were ready for the trip. I calculated the fuel requirement for my Landcruiser, for the 1000km from Wiluna to Kunawarritji, to be 200lt. Worst case scenario, 20lt/100km. Actually worked out to be 17lt/100km. Anyway, I took an extra 120lt in four 25lt and one 20lt fuel containers. A bit of an overkill, but I ended up having to help out a fellow traveller who didn't do his sums right. All fuel was carried low down in the vehicle, not on the roof rack, which was reserved for our Oztent, camping gear, spare tyre, gas bottle, tool box, etc. A good quality roof rack will have no problem with that lot. I also carried a (borrowed) 35lt water pipe, which we didn't require. My main water supply was a 55lt bladder carried just behind and below the front seats. All excess seating should be removed. You will need the inside space for food, clothes, fridges, etc. More to follow.
Wayne G

Quentin.
Continuing. This website contains a wealth of info for you to study. Also get hold of a copy of "Canning Stock Route, A Travellers Guide", 3rd Edition, by Ronele & Eric Gard. This book proved to be invaluable in preparing for the CSR. Make sure you carry all recommended spares. I carried mine in an old cricket bag which was just the right size. Weight can be a big problem, so discard anything that could be considered to "come in handy". My spare tyre (on the roof rack), was actually a complete spare wheel, in addition to the normal one (under the Tojo). We had no tyre problems though, because we took it easy. You sound as though you will too, as you have allocated a sensible amount of time to do the trip.The corrugations are very bad in sections and shock absorbers take lots of punishment. Well 35 has quite a few dead ones on display. If you can, fit a long range fuel tank and this should lessen the amount of extra fuel you may have to carry.
Wayne G Busselton