Tuesday, Feb 16, 2010 at 20:20
Good evening, Life is a risky business. Of course there are risks but in reality there are plenty of risks in
Sydney ranging from traffic, to muggings to hoons and the totally unexpected.
Some years ago you may have had a perception that just stepping off the plane in New
York would see you instantly mugged. The important things are to be circumspect and take care.... which you are obviously are going to do otherwise you would not have bothered writing.
Personally, I would think a bull bar useful and perhaps you might pick one up at a wrecker at a reasonable price. Having travelled many thousands of
miles of outback roads I take some pleasure in noting that I have only ever hit one kangaroo and left hopeful that he was stunned as the animal was still breathing and had no apparent injuries. I have always proceeded on the basis that the moment I see a kangaroo I slow down. They are very unpredictable, especially at dusk, and having run across the road in front of you may change their mind and turn back at the last moment. Or the first kangaroo may suddenly be followed by a second or third.
The bull bar is a nice thing to have in cattle country as big animals can also change their mind at the last moment or a rather large calf may decide to join Mum just as you think are safely past. But again slowing down will help you avoid some of these fickle creatures. An emu at speed can also cause a surprising amount of damage not to mention the bad feeling of killing one of our native creatures. And slowing down will also help you avoid a sudden reflex action by swerving to miss something that has run in front of you. With a trailer, you do not want to be taking sudden swerving, evasive action.
And at risk of offering far more advice than you may have wanted, do not be complacent about grids across roads instead of gates. Many of them are very
well made and smooth but hit one at speed and you can take off with fatal results.
A final suggestion, look to make
camp before it is dark. There is something vaguely depressing about trying to find a likely spot to
camp when you can't see if you are on ants nests or whatever.
Oh yes, do try and make some side trips. The bitumen from Port August to
Darwin offers such a smooth road and seems to cut the country in half. Getting off onto dirt roads does give you the feeling of being in the country.
With that... have a wonderful trip.
AnswerID:
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