Whats your worst/ best experience travelling around oz?

Hi Jacent,

Back when I was a wee lad I had an XC falcon ute. I was travelling around seeing the sights. I was in west Qld between Normanton and Karumba (and in those days it wasn't a very good road at all.

I had 2 spares on-board when I got a puncture, but unfortunately in the haste to get going, my mate loaded 2 XY spares with a smaller centre hub. We spent the best part of 2 days filling the centre out on both rims so we could get going. It was hot dusty and flys were so big and thick they were deciding whether to eat us there or take us away.

God damn it was fun times though.

Cheers Wilko

Way back when we were young and inexperienced at travelling, we took a trip from Armidale NSW up to the Whitsundays. We had an Austin 1800 and an old lean-to canvas tent. The road between Rocky and Mackay was narrow single lane bitumen and seemed to go through pretty lonely country that was full of prickly pear. In the previous couple of years there had been a couple of murders along that road of people sleeping in their cars so we were a bit apprehensive about driving that stretch. I think some people would try to make up a convoy to have some support.

At some point along that road we came up behind an old "jalopy" travelling quite slowly. When we tried to overtake, which happened a few times, he would pull right in to the middle of the road so we could not get past. Had us a bit worried for a while, but eventually did get around him and lived to tell the tale.

BTW that holiday was great - we slept in the car for a few nights in what was then just bush overlooking Shute Harbour. Couldn't do that now.

Cheers,

Val

Cheers,

Val

G'day jacent,

one of best/worst was last September, just of the Gibb River Road.

We'd crossed the Pentecost River and turned left, heading for the Old Karunjie Road.
About a km from the river we were heading up a washout when the Cruiser wouldn't steer properly. Mrs got out to have a look and said we weren't going anywhere. I said I'll back down because we were sitting on a 30 degree angle and was told "NO". We were staying where we were.

Turns out the studs that hold the steering arm to the front hub were snapped off.
Anyhow, we chocked it, organised shade, had a cuppa. Then we jacked it up, got everything in about the right place, pinched a stud from the other side, wrapped it in tie wire, tightened it up with a tie down strap and checked it every 10 minutes or so.

This little set up got us to Wyndham, and a bottle shop.

It was great to have good mates that are bush mechanics and love a challenge. We had fantastic views along that drive to fill in the time because we had to take it easy.

I'm really glad it didn't break half way across the Pentecost River, that would have been a totally different story.

My first big trip with hubby while we were dating and on major time and financial restrictions...
Travelled by motorbike from NSW central coast to Uluru in 1988 with 2 other couples. Decided to part company and go it alone at Erldunda. The next day, the bike wouldn't start and our friends had already gone. Murphy's Law, eh?!
Took hours to get one of the many motorists at the servo to help us with jumper leads-a bit intimidated by "bikies" even though we were on an unassuming Kawasaki!
Limped to Uluru. On day 2, the bike wouldn't start. 2 blokes helped us get going and we limped it down to Coober Pedy.
Yep, bike wouldn't start the next day either. The only bike mechanic was in Adelaide for a week. No good. We don't have a week. Rooms were hard to find in town (they were filming Mad Max 2) but we finally found one for the weekend. Booked out on the Sunday morning and had to stay clean (in Coober Pedy?!) until our bus left at midnight.
While we were killing time, we saw one of the 2 guys who'd helped us at Erldunda. They'd left later that day and swerved to miss a roo...their car rolled and the other guy was killed. The one who survived was wearing a neck brace curtesy of the RFDS and Coober Pedy hospital.
Got the bike up onto a truck Sunday afternoon- the bike was half on a wooden pallet (the bike was too long for any other strategy we came up with!),with hubby sitting on the bike and holding onto the forklift as they were lifted onto the truck! Waved the bike off to Adelaide where we'd hopefully work out where to find it again and organise for repairs...!
Left Coober Pedy at midnight and apparently a big opal robbery took place a few hours later with all roads being closed temporarily while police did searches of vehicles...
Miraculously found suburb and shop where bike went and hubby did part of the repairs to cut costs.
And after all that, we still managed to meander through some of Victoria and eastern Riverina on our way home in time to go back to work!

We'd love to re-do the trip one day in an uneventful manner...!

I was hitching the CSR for a second year in a row. At Well 36 I was very comfortable with clean water and camped there for a few days waiting for traffic and the possibility of a lift to Well 37. The flies and ants started to get to me on about the 4th day however. It had rained through the night and was overcast the next day as well. I knew I could not stray from water for longer than two days and that Well 37 water was not the best I had seen the year before. But with cloud cover, the chance of further rain and the knowledge that I could probably make do with whatever water I found in an emergency, I set out. My pack weight was 40kg, 8 litres being water.

Carrying that much weight almost crippled me. I staggered along for a whole day, camped overnight, caught a bit of rain to top up my water and staggered along into the next day. The distance between the wells was only 20km, but in one day I had only covered 10kms. My feet were in agony, my inner resources under pressure, one foot in front of the other. Then I heard an unfamiliar sound. That of a machine. A vehicle. I call them the Parrot People. Two friends attending a conference in Alice Springs, decided to make a little detour home onto the CSR for the specific purpose of looking for the Princess Parrots which live in only a few areas around Australia. I think they said from Well 34 to Well 39, Kings Canyon and a couple of other small areas. I was so relieved as I cast my over the inside of the vehicle. It was not overloaded to the ceiling as other CSR vehicles. There was space enough for me. Not. My hopes were dashed when the lovely couple said there was no space to give me a lift to Well 37, 5kms down the track. I saw plenty of space!!! I would hang off the sides even if I had to. But as a hitch hiker I have a value system. Do not impose myself. This is their journey too. If people offer me water or a lift I may accept, but I will not make my situation their problem. They were both keen bushwalkers themselves and when the lady offered to take my heavy pack and leave it at the next well, I fell over myself accepting the offer. It was a risk being separated from my kit, but I removed my emergency supplies and equipment and gratefully loaded the majority of my kit into their 4x4. And topped up with their offer of water.

The walking was much faster now and very pleasant. Such a relief to only be carrying 10kg, I was enjoying my surroundings again. Between Well36 and 37 is a particularly beautiful section of the CSR with lovely desert pines and lots of bird life, camels and dingoes. At the Well 37 I was relieved to see my red backpack and delighted to find a surprise. An orange and apple wrapped in paper and somehow kept cool. What a treat. I then looked into the well. The water was a horrible grey gruel of moving things and nasty! It tried not to let the shock get to me. I could boil it and treat it with water purifying tablets and in an emergency, I would drink it, but now I had to decide if I was in an emergency. I went and found a nice place to camp under the trees and then assessed my situation. The next well with water was an impossible walk. If I stayed where I was for longer than 24 hours waiting for a lift, my water reserves would be depleted. If a lift did not come, one that had space or even just spare water, I would be be forced to drink the bad looking water. I would survive but I preferred an alternative. Well 36 had good, clean water. I was wishing I was back at my old home. My strength was very low and I doubted my ability to to carry my heavy backback all the way. I accepted that I might have to ditch my kit close to Well36 and travel the last bit lighter, to get water.

I decided to carbo load with food over lunch, evening meal and breakfast, building my strength for the ordeal ahead. It was incredible to feel the power returning to my body as I put in fuel. After breakfast I prepared to start the trek. What a lovely surprise then, to meet the Parrot People again on their way back!!! The road ahead had not look good and they had decided not to go to Well 39 and rather turn back early. I was delighted. They shared a meal with me again, topped up my water and again offered to carry my backpack to Well36. This time I could not give them most of my pack as I would need it for an overnight camp, but I did give them my months supply of food less what I needed for two days. 10kgs off my weight helped a lot.

I arrived the next day at Well 36 with a massive blister on a big toe, but very happy to see my old home, the food store hanging from a tree...... and clean water. Of course, after this epic 4 day adventure, lots of traffic suddenly all arrived at once at Well 36!

This was one of my toughest stints on the CSR. It was also one I remember with fondness for the sense of achievement and the incredible feeling of being looked out for when I am in the middle of nowhere. I am allowed to struggle and grow and experience all that I want to experience, but .... that little bit of help, just enough, not too much, is always provided when needed most ... and I am grateful.

1981, travelling I the NT in a Holden station wagon. We were in a fairly new relationship - he working in the NT and me working in Sydney. I had flown out to meet him for this trip for 2 weeks after being apart for about 6 months. We were still being polite to each other....

On our way to Palm Valley, on a rough road, I noticed a rather foul odour. Politely I refrained from mentioning it. But then again, again! He was farting! As the afternoon went on I became more than a little incensed. By the time we stopped to camp I was rather annoyed.

So while we were making camp, I firmly suggested he take the shovel and find a good spot......

Well -long story short - he thought I was doing the farting. The disagreement was only resolved when we opened the esky - and found a very ripe cheese which had "blossomed " in the heat. The esky lid had been lifting momentarily as we went over bumps, releasing a small "taste" of what it had to offer.

My goodness it did smell good -once the context was clear.

We have loved that cheese ever since. Esrom.

funny that about the maggots.
i just paid and got the new kitchen installed at home, mums place.
and she thaws out the meat on the bench..not best idea from hygiene ive been told.
soo she put said meat in one of the cupboards.... forgets its their..
anyway this fowl smell was in the kitchen, horendous!! and thought thats the sinks plumbing.. only when i realy went looking, their was said meat, under the bench on a plate, with HUNDREDS of maggots on it...
brand new kitchen, well i rang her up, and she came home to clean it, because i aint!!

i can handle dead cows full of maggots, and drag chain them down to the graveyard, but the stupidity of that in the kitchen wins hands down.
thats why you should always thaw it in the fridge... or buy fresh.
few contents of the said cupboard got thrown.. soo not all lost.
psst.. it kind of needed a clean out. ha haa

I was coming from Kowanyama (then still called Mitchell River Mission) to Cairns in a ten year old Series 2 Landrover. The Developmental Road was still being built and didn't go much past Wrotham Park. Suddenly there was a banging and clanging from underneath and we ground to a halt. All the nuts and bolts holding the propellor shaft to the diff had let go at once, and the shaft was somewhat bent.
I had been giving a couple of aboriginal guys a lift to Chillagoe. They walked back and in bulldust like talcum powder found three nuts and three bolts which was enough to get us to Cairns at a greatly reduced speed. Although "speed" and "Series 2 Landrover" are not words generally found in close proximity.