Anne Beadell and CSR Trip

Stacks of positives temala.

The experience will give you a new view of Australia.
The memories of the views will be popping into your head everyday when you get home. The night skies will live with you forever.
The challenges and how you overcome them (or succumb to them) will help you in your everyday life.

You will be planning the next trip, or selling your 4x4.


If you don't do it you will regret it for a long time, especially when your friends get back and start telling stories about things that happened.

Make sure you are prepared as you can be before you go and you will have a great time.

The distances are huge but the trip will be covering some of the most unique parts of the Earth.

Hoo roo,
Steve

Sounds like a great trip. Your route will be a test of vehicles, equipment and the people in them. Time spent on preparation is never wasted. This site is a fantastic resource for drawing on information, experience and advice. So much of what you glean from exploring the many articles, posts and blogs may help to put your mind at ease and never, never be afraid to ask. There is never such a thing as a stupid question.

Here's my first bit of advice for you on what will be a fantastic trip.

Trip Planning - Companions


Cheers Mick

truth is temala, most (if not all) of us have had those thoughts the first time setting off on a trip to somewhere new. The fact that you're asking those questions is a good sign.

Reality is there's no single answer. Best you can do is research, listen to others, and prepare as well as you can. If you make sure you've done good preventative maintenance on the vehicle, take it easy, apply common sense and you'll be fine.

As to the positives, too many to mention. Spectacular country, satisfaction from completing the challenge, being out with your freinds, and best of all, those nights by the campfire in the middle of nowhere under a million stars.

Hi Temala,
I travelled both these tracks heading to the Kimberley from Vic in 2008. I was travelling solo and apart from the loneliness had a ball. No doubt your aware of what amazing country it is with a rich history.
I would suggest reading all you can of the history of the CSR and Anne Beadell Hwy before you head off and take as much of it in as possible on your trip.Some times this can be difficult in a group trying to keep to an itinery, pace etc. Such books as Eric and Ronele Gard's ,Canning Stock Route, The Beckoning West and Len Beadells book relating to the construction of the ABH. Another good read, I believe is Shepherds guide to the Great Victoria Desert (although I haven't read this I will soon as I can get hold of a copy.
Have a great trip.
Cheers Tony

G'day Temala, sounds like a great trip your going on,great country through there.
Just take your time and don't try to stick to a strict timetable to get to the next spot.
A few cold ones around the campfire while cooking up a feed, ya cant beat it.
Where in east gippsland ya from? (i'm originaly from bairnsdale,family still there)

Have a great trip and enjoy the planning/preperation

cheers, Sparra

G,Day Temale
Been reading all the post's relating to your trip, and being a Gippslander and noting your teaching history and address, I'm wondering if I might know you.---Does Terry L fit your true name?.....(hope I'm not being too nosey)
PS..Just finished the CSR, and about to do the AB
Regards...Sapper D

I am doing the CSR this year, the third such "big trip" in a row...before this we have done a Simpson Desert Crossing (2011) and Cape York (inlcluding the Old Telegraph Track) in 2012.

I was nearly peeing myself with worry the first such big trip, but we planned, talked, planned, researched, planned, talked some more and then double checked our planning.

Bottom line is "fail to plan....means.....plan to fail"

Seriously a trip of this nature is just about planning....what do you have to do, what do you have to take, how can I best prepare...once of the great things is today we have forums like this, read and learn.....BUT remember everyone will have different views.

I spent a fair bit and set up my Fourby for extreme offroad travel, and it has worked a treat HOWEVER I was with other members on the two trips who took stock standard 4WD's along, and with a little help they made it.

But JUST DO IT....life is too short to miss out!!

I use Bilsteins, but will be taking a front and rear spare (originals) as insurance.....will get me out of the poo if worst comes to worse.

Hi Temala,

Have to agree with most of the above posts.

Have done the northern half of the Canning in our old standard petrol Troopy but we did break a rear (leaf) spring. The corrugations are fierce and they will test both you and your vehicle, - but particularly so if you try to stick to a predetermined schedule.

If you are well prepared and THEN can be flexible about the amount of time that you take it will be more enjoyable. Personally I would be a bit wary about going with folk that I didn't know, so you will have to have some serious pre-trip discussions about expectations, attitudes, roles and responsibilities on the track. Try to build in some regular group feedback mechanism too that you can use even before things get tough.

The hardest part about the Canning is that it is long with not many opportunities to pull out if things go pear shaped. Three weeks out there is a long time if there is any friction or even discontent in the group, and once disaffection sets in things can go downhill pretty quickly. For us it did go pear shaped - the only one of our trips where that has happened - and we still regret what happened.

Take careful note of Mick Os blog, and the responses.

Cheers,

Val.

Val