Campergirl's Off to The Australian Safari - And I need some advice please

Submitted: Monday, Aug 30, 2010 at 12:36

ThreadID: 81046 Views:5111 Replies:5 FollowUps:11

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Road Conditions

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Member - Campergirl (NSW)

Image Could Not Be FoundHi Everyone,

Well my next adventure is competing in the Australian Safari in WA for the first time! Can you believe that!

Anyway - I'm asking for advice and knowledge of the areas we will be travelling through. Now it's a "blind rally" which means we don't know which roads/tracks we'll be going on until the day before we leave but we do know where we will be ending up every night.

So any advice on the road conditions, lay of the land, anything specific to the area that could be of help - Will be of help - believe me! I've learnt from you guys that research is your best policy before you leave.

OK - Route is

Southern Cross to Leonora
Leonora for another night
Leonora to Coolgardie
Coogardie to Norseman
Norseman for another night
Norseman to Esperance
Esperance another night and the finish

Now I know the last 2 days will be in sand dunes but the others - not sure.

I'm sooooo excited and nervous and the same time! 3 week adventure!!!

Look forward to your replies and advice. Take care :-)

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Reply By: roberttbruce - Monday, Aug 30, 2010 at 13:57

Monday, Aug 30, 2010 at 13:57

i can;t help with the road-conditions...

but i can wish you the best luck with your new venture - you go grllllllll

AnswerID: 428922

Follow Up By: Member - Campergirl (NSW) - Monday, Aug 30, 2010 at 14:33

Monday, Aug 30, 2010 at 14:33

Thanks Robert - I'll give my best!

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Reply By: Joe Grace Doomadgee - Monday, Aug 30, 2010 at 17:38

Monday, Aug 30, 2010 at 17:38

Can you take a SAT phone, have someone you know on standby and the second you get your destination given to you call them and they "post" and do some quick research and you will have ALL the info you will ever need and can keep you up to date as you travel .....
Otherwise asking for info on a road that even you dont know which one is kinda gunna get you a vast amount of info on every possibility or most probally no info at all, and conditions do change day to day as you would know ....
But hey good luck and have fun, cool lookin car .........

AnswerID: 428954

Follow Up By: Member - Campergirl (NSW) - Monday, Aug 30, 2010 at 18:34

Monday, Aug 30, 2010 at 18:34

Hi Joe

Thanks for your reply. I will have a Sat Phone but can only use it in an emergency/major problem.

I'm not after specific road conditions, more a heads up on the land itself and road surface types. Sand, gibber, ball bearing surface etc. Just so I can get an idea on each area and if anyone has any experience on tracks in these areas.

As far as the actual road conditions will be - well that will be seen on the day of arrival! Fingers crossed no rain, or mud sliding it will be!

I've never been to any of these areas before (except the main highway to Perth via Norseman) so I'm trying to gain any info at all.

Thanks again for replying. Take care :-)

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Reply By: Member - Duncan W (WA) - Monday, Aug 30, 2010 at 19:54

Monday, Aug 30, 2010 at 19:54

Camper Girl will see you at the Safari I'm one of the volunteer marshal for the safari. Mainly doing the stage starts (5 days of starts and a road closure in the Norsman/Esperance leg), so will see you then.

Good luck with the safari, you'll enjoy the challenge.

Tip know how to read pace notes (Tulips), and your GPS.

Dunc
Make sure you give back more than you take

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AnswerID: 428963

Follow Up By: Member - Campergirl (NSW) - Monday, Aug 30, 2010 at 20:32

Monday, Aug 30, 2010 at 20:32

Thanks Duncan - look forward to meeting you.

And thank you so much for Voluteering. Without amazing people like you - these events would never happen. You're incredible people for giving your time.

See you there :-)

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Reply By: Kanga1 - Monday, Aug 30, 2010 at 19:59

Monday, Aug 30, 2010 at 19:59

Hi Campergirl, the first meeting for race Officials/helpers was last Sunday, we met a couple of EO members there Duncan and Gerry who are also with event. We had a briefing on some parts of the course and were told about Mulga stakes being a problem for tyres, some rocky/breakaway country, sand sections, possibly some bog holes if it rained recently. Pretty generalised info really and nothing too specific. We have travelled fairly extensively through those areas already and had an idea what to expect. You might encounter Stock and other animals, including Camels, so keep your wits about you. We are really looking forward to the event ourselves and I have a sneaking suspicion you will have a great time. We will catch you at a Bivouac and see you go by on stages. Good luck, and enjoy yourself. Regards, Kanga.

AnswerID: 428964

Follow Up By: Member - Campergirl (NSW) - Monday, Aug 30, 2010 at 20:39

Monday, Aug 30, 2010 at 20:39

Wicked Kanga! Exactly what I was after.

Mulga stakes - did they mention in which areas? It's the tyre killers and things like that I'm trying to find - that is - specific areas known for killing tyres/ sinking vehicles / extremely slow going etc.

Having any knowledge is going to be so much of a help. Thanks so much Kanga.

See you soon!!! Ooooh - butterflies in the tummy!

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Follow Up By: Kanga1 - Monday, Aug 30, 2010 at 21:05

Monday, Aug 30, 2010 at 21:05

Hi Campergirl, from Southern Cross untill after Norseman is most likely where you may come across the nasty Mulga stakes, 9 times out of ten if you are on an existing track you should be OK, but going off a track, different storey. rocky breakaways are random all through the Goldfields part of the Safari. We will be travelling in our Troop carrier but without the Tvan, ( haven't bought another one yet). Will wave when you pass, try not to make too much dust, LOL. See you down the track. Kanga.

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Follow Up By: Member - Campergirl (NSW) - Monday, Aug 30, 2010 at 21:40

Monday, Aug 30, 2010 at 21:40

Again Kanga Thanks. Will take all of that on board.

Apologies in advance for the dust. Sorry! ;-)

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Follow Up By: roberttbruce - Tuesday, Aug 31, 2010 at 14:26

Tuesday, Aug 31, 2010 at 14:26

so that is what those darn thigs are called - mulga-stakes...

bloomin' rotten things they are... pulled of the road for a day behind some trees.... WHAMMO - woke up to three flat tyres...

but wait, it gets worse...

after bunging them...

on the way out - three more flats!!!....LOL....

I had another time when it had been raining for less than three minutes...
Pulled of the road for a wet-day behind some trees.... WHAMMO - sank into mud two-feet deep, just managed to get out...

but wait, it gets worse...

it had stopped raining by this time, there was no water around and it took a day to clean the mud off with various sticks, brach's and trees...that mud can really pack in...

suffice to say, i dont pull of to the side of the road anymore...
have a great rally

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Follow Up By: get outmore - Tuesday, Aug 31, 2010 at 15:48

Tuesday, Aug 31, 2010 at 15:48

actaully most of that trip wont go through mulga country except the very northern part

approximatly as a line north of menzies is where the mulga becomes more prevelent otherwise it should be mostly goldfields eucalyptus woodlands

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Follow Up By: Member - Campergirl (NSW) - Wednesday, Sep 01, 2010 at 10:49

Wednesday, Sep 01, 2010 at 10:49

Thanks Guys - I'm still giggling about Robert's comments.

Really appreciate all the advice - it's all so helpful.

I'll let you know how it all goes - it's going to be such an adventure!

Take care :-)

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Reply By: CraigFox - Tuesday, Aug 31, 2010 at 14:33

Tuesday, Aug 31, 2010 at 14:33

Good luck for the Safari Campergirl. My rally co-driver (Naomi Tillett) is competing again this year with Kerry Turley in his new rocket.
Just wondering if you have leased your car, and if so who from. One of those events that is on the list of things to do, now that the WRX rally car has been sold!

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Follow Up By: Member - Campergirl (NSW) - Wednesday, Sep 01, 2010 at 10:54

Wednesday, Sep 01, 2010 at 10:54

Hi Craig

Naomi is a lovely lady and has done this event before - so she's ahead of me.
If you PM me, I'll let you know more details re the Competition Vehicle.

Get that list out and start crossing off! Look at me - put your mind and heart to it (and some hard work) and anything is possible!

Hope I see you at an event soon!!!

Take care :-)

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