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Post by JBJ on Mar 31, 2008 18:51:27 GMT 10
Hi All,
Boots & I have decided that we are going to travel out into the sticks next Winter, instead of going to Wintersun.
We've been going there since about 91, after spending 89 & 90 up in Mackay for the Queens birthday weekend period.
The organisers are making major changes to Wintersun, most of which I believe will downgrade the event, but maybe I'm wrong about that.
However, we wont be there next year.
We're also a bit over travelling south to events as often as we do, so we reckon a good drive around Queensland is what we want to do, especially as Reddo has canned the trip to Alice Springs.
We're going to do this trip, whether on our own, or with other V.V.ers.
Initial thoughts are to leave end of May, probably from around Tweed Heads. Travel out to Goondiwindi, then Roma, Charleville, Blackall, Longreach, back to Emerald,Mackay, maybe north to Townsville, then back down the coast to home.
Probably would spend 3 weeks on the road, which is what we spent going to Mount Gambier & back.
I've seen most of the South-East of Australia's Highways many times, & I havent seen the area I'm considering much, & at least for more than 30 years.
As I get better organised over the next few weeks, I'll work out & post some better details, & sort out roads, caravan parks, tourist crap, etc, & lets see if any others are interested in making the trip.
It will be a long trip, & you'll see parts of Australia similar to the rest, but also a different style of country to the southern regions.
Jailbarjuice
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Post by Roehm3108 on Mar 31, 2008 20:56:09 GMT 10
That would be a great trip JBJ - my only comment would that the you might need to give it more time - that's quite a distance. If you go to Longreach, you really should include Winton and Kynuna (that way you get both versions of the Waltzing Matilda" story ;D ;D Avoid thinking about using the Developmental road heading north from Hughenden to Lynd Crossing. I went there in 2000 in my vintage Franklin egg van and filled the van with bulldust. It's a gibber road. Ray
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neilncheryl
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Post by neilncheryl on Mar 31, 2008 21:07:03 GMT 10
Hi JBJ Did a similar trip several years ago & love to do it again There is a few clean free camping spots along the way as well Count us in Neil & Cheryl
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2008 9:50:27 GMT 10
Hi Dennis
What you are proposing seems to be a better plan than what i had planned for the trip to Uluru That trip would have involved spending long days driving to get to get there with very little of interest along the way.. I am sure Hillbilly and sportsman 1 will testify to this .
Outback QLD is still a big place with a lot of distance between towns, but if the trip has a interesting destination at the end of each day or 2s drive then we have a day or 2 to check out the interesting points in that area .i think you have a recipe for a great tour/ Holiday.
I travelled part of your proposed route back in the early 80s. Goondwindi, Miles, Roma, Theodore, Nanago , Dingo, Dysart, German Creek and then on over to Mackay on my way to Cairns. Really interesting old towns ( well perhaps not german creek) with a lot of history. Great old pubs full of local characters.
Longreach , Charleville , Winton , Emerald would be great. If i was to sign up for this trip i would travel up the New England and intercept the "The wild West Wanderers" at Goondiwindi. That way i would have the coast road from Mackay back down to Newcastle on the way home to complete the loop.
I will keep an eye on this post and make a decision once you have ironed out the particulars and start chasing numbers for van park bookings.etc. By that stage i will know how i am going financially and workwise. Its not an easy job co-ordinating something as big as this. i am sure you will do a great job of it. If for whatever reason you decide not to go ahead with it . I think most people will understand that as well.
Keep the dream alive mate . Let me know if i can help with anything.
Are purple commy wagons or late model falcons with dubious cooling systems allowed to come along ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Reddo
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Post by scootman on Apr 1, 2008 10:06:28 GMT 10
If you head off that way then head up semi north let me know when and where you are going to be and myself and PH will meet you there. Cheers Scoot
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Post by Geoff & Jude on Apr 1, 2008 10:21:32 GMT 10
Are purple commy wagons or late model falcons with dubious cooling systems allowed to come along ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D Reddo what do you mean "dubious cooling systems"? i've done over 200 k's since i got the ute back yesterday and it hasn't boiled yet. geoff
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2008 10:26:56 GMT 10
Hiya Geoff 200k's whoooaaa Thats pretty good old mate... but have you taken "The silver Cattledog" off the back of the tilt tray and tried it under its own steam.... oooops .. bad pun ;D ;D ;D Sorry Geoff i shouldnt be so cruel to someone who has just had major surgery on his bank account. Sorry Dennis . I will give this post a few days and then clean it off your thread. Reddo
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bigkel
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If you never never go, you never never know.
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Post by bigkel on Apr 1, 2008 11:49:54 GMT 10
hi all . if you guys make it to townsville or there-abouts i am sure some of us from cairns could make down for a get together, we went to cooktown over easter & will put some photo's on the site as soon we can got around to it. kel.
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Post by Daggsey on Apr 1, 2008 19:00:38 GMT 10
Hi JBJ, Depending on where we are in the country at the time, Carrots and I would love to tag along on this trip.
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Post by brucenan on Apr 1, 2008 21:40:27 GMT 10
Charters Towers has a small time swap meet and car show each Queens birthday weekend. Some of us have been going from Cairns for many years with our cars but not with vans. A few of us are taking our vans this year. Maybe a NQ meet in 2009?
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Post by JBJ on May 9, 2008 21:04:06 GMT 10
Hi All,
Well Boots & I have discussed what we think we can manage in a 14 day tour, with reasonably short travelling days, & some 1 & 2 day stop overs.
She's working on a program, & chasing up info.
At this stage it looks like a start near brisbane, travel inland to Longreach, back to the coast at Rockhampton, then down the coast, & home.
Thinking maybe we could incorporate a southern Qld get together on the end of the return leg, possibly at Bribie or somewhere near Brisbane.
This would cater for those of us that dont have the time/inclination/ability to make a 2 week trip.
Anything further than that outlined is going to be too much for us & most people to consider in one hit. we found the travelling distances on the meander to the mount to really suit the way most of participants liked to travel each day, with time for a bit of site seeing available each day. We're not into sprinting long distances each day.
We'll keep you posted as it evolves, but with Boots organising it WILL HAPPEN, not like if slack ass me tries to do it between work commitments.
Jailbarjuice
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2008 19:51:00 GMT 10
Hi Dennis and Sue. I'm still keen. A 2 week tour is enough with a SEQ get together to wash the dust down at the end of it. 2 days back home to Newy. Sounds good to me...work permitting. Reddo
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Post by JBJ on May 29, 2008 18:34:13 GMT 10
Hi All
Well boots has spent a bit of time on her computer, & came up with the following as a concept.
She hasnt approached any van parks as yet, but will give this idea a couple of weeks on the forum to get feedback before progressing to the next stage of getting definite commitments.
We are aiming at a fortnight on the road. All of the times & distances are coutesy of travelmate, & we find we take a bit longer than they allow.
* Start is at Alstonville to allow Southerners to catch up. It could be camping at our place, or if the numbers are too big, maybe camp at Ballina & have a start off barby somewhere. Leave Alstonville/Ballina Friday 29/5/09, to travel to Neurum Creek & be part of next years SE Qld get together. 275 km & 4.5 hrs .Stay Neurum Creek 2 nights.
* Leave Neurum Creek Sunday 31/5/09 for Dalby. 225 km & 3.5 hrs. Stay 1 night
* Leave Dalby Monday 1/6/09 for Roma. 270km & 3 hrs. Stay 1 night.
* Leave Roma Tuesday 2/6/09 for Charleville. 268 km & 3 hrs. Stay 1 night.
* Leave Charleville Wednesday 3/6/09 for Blackall. 303 km & 4 hrs. Stay 1 night.
* Leave Blackall Thursday 4/6/09 for Longreach. 215 km & 3 hrs. Stay 2 nights in Longreach, & hopefully beat the long weekend rush .
* Leave Longreach Saturday 6/6/09 for Emerald. 417 km & 4.5 hrs. Stay 1 night.
* Leave Emerald Sunday 7/6/09 for Rockhampton. 275 km & 3.5 hrs. Stay 2 nights ( Subject to availability of caravan sites on long weekend)
* Leave Rockhampton Tuesday 9/6/09 for Bundaberg. 320 km & 4 hrs. Stay 1 night
* Leave Bundaberg Wednesday 10/6/09 for Bribie Island.340 km & 5 hrs. Stay 1 night or longer as its the end of the organised part of the tour.
* All up just over 3100km from Alstonville to back home.
All of the above is naturally subject to availability of caravan park sites, preferably without booking fees.
We need an indication of those likely to roll up. It would help if we had indicative numbers around the end of June, so Boots can start approaching the caravan parks, etc.
It is also subject to change, depending on the response we get from the parks.
But its a start. Lets see what happens. Boots & I are (hopefully) going to do the trip, & it would be great to have fellow travellers. We enjoyed the Meander to the Mount, & Reddos 2 tours, probably as much as anything else we have done travelling. Its the sitting around in a group at the end of the day that makes it worthwile, as well as seeing parts of Australia we've never visited.
Boots (& Jailbarjuice)
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2008 19:44:24 GMT 10
Hi Boots. I am still part of it at this stage. Might start a pink pig piggy bank to help save for the trip. I Might do a bit of homework on LPG availability along the proposed route too. I enjoy a bit of travel and love australia.... all of it. Outback anywhere in Oz is the last bastian of real Australia. The coastal strip is overun with Foriegn tourists and immigrants who have virtually no appreciation of our heritage. Would much rather sit in the scrub enjoying a cuppa or a beer and listen to the magies late in the day or the currawongs early in the morning than sit in a $2000 a week apartment in the middle of "tourist central" and stare at the wall. Or listen to uncomprehendable jabber while you line up for an hour at maccas for breakfast. Give me the bush anyday. Get the wheels rollin girl. Reddo
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neilncheryl
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Make God laugh, tell Him your plans.
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Post by neilncheryl on May 29, 2008 20:10:52 GMT 10
Hi Boots Cheryl & I are also planning on joining in - probably starting from Neurum Creek. Some great parks in those towns & Blackall gets booked out early at that time of year.
Reddo, I think you will be right to Roma but past that not sure. There are BP Roadhouses at Augethella & Blackall but don't remember seeing LPG there.
Looking forward to it Neil
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Post by Geoff & Jude on May 29, 2008 21:05:05 GMT 10
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Post by Deleted on May 30, 2008 7:23:18 GMT 10
Hi neilncheryl Thanks for the info. G&J thanks for reviving that lpg linkfor me. The HR ute is dedicated gas. It has an old Empco gas system on it at the mo. It is a bit of a dinosaur system. Am thinking of getting it rehashed and also going to dual fuel. Fuel tank and line is still under the car. just need to fit a fuel pump and reinstate the filler neck. Then let the autogas fitter do the plumbing and wiring under the bonnet. That way i would have lot greater range and not be panicking about where the next available gas will be. Just hoping i can get away from work at that time of year. There is a lot of upheaval here at the moment people coming and going. so not sure about annual leave prospects at this stage. But definitely keen on what looks like being another great rolling roadshow of vintage vans and good times Not only that.. i jump at any opportunity to get out and see OZ . Reddo
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Post by JBJ on May 30, 2008 7:54:29 GMT 10
hi Reddo,
I think dual fuel is the best way to go if you can. we've got our Dodge on dual, & it makes for a more relaxed trip having the capacity to go further between servos, or to be able to run on petrol only if gas is scarce.
The Dodge runs cooler & better on gas than petrol, but as I don't bother with consumption rates I have no idea which is the cheaper to run on. I had the Dodge on gas only ( petrol pump was cactus) for a couple of years, & came close to running out of gas a couple of times, even on the highway.
Boots will chase up the fuel & gas availability on maps as things get a little closer
jailbarjuice
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Post by Roehm3108 on May 30, 2008 18:44:51 GMT 10
Hi Dennis and Sue
The itinerary sounds great and much more manageable. Count me in, as I'm sure I will be due for a break by then ;D
Just saw some friends this morning (yep, got a couple of them too!) who have just come back from a trip north. The spent about 4 weeks in the Sapphire Caravan Park, which is near Emerald. It is just drop dead gorgeous. Only open April to Sept, other time spent maintaining it. They took pics of the whole setup, with camp area, carports for the cars, dining room class tables and chairs in the camp kitchen, landscaping etc etc. Can get you some pics if you like - seems a great place for way out there, so keep that in mind, rather than Emerald (which really isn't that great as a town goes) and might give a better feel of the fossicking out that way. My friend even took a pic of a Franklin owned by a little old lady (used Sundays only) that Franklin1 would dearly love. Sadly it doesn't qualify as vintage - that's why I am even talking about it ;D Ray
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Post by JBJ on May 30, 2008 20:20:38 GMT 10
Hi Ray,
Thats the sort of input we need. We will definitely contact them soon.
Anyone else with positive feedback on parks in the areas we are looking at let us know so we can check them out.
This looks like being a good event, we've already got 6 starters.
Boots & Jailbarjuice.
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Post by Daggsey on Jun 23, 2008 17:55:52 GMT 10
Howdy Jailbar & Boots, We're currently at Inverell and trying to decide which way we should go into sunny Queensland (home of cheap fuel we've been told .........I knew we should have let Kim Beazley be Prime Minister, fuel might have been 10c a litre cheaper in WA ;D ;D......sorry, politics ). I looked at your itinerary and initially thought, that sounds fantastic, especially travelling with likeminded people and expressed an interest in joining in (dependent on our location at the time). However, the thought of 400kms per day at 75kms per hour isn't exciting me. I realise you had to shorten the time frame to accommodate those who may only be able to get 2 weeks off. Unfortunately, "Lady Madonna" and Effacy is not the quickest rig on the block because of the weight factor of travelling for an extended period of time. Because of the various queries about fuel stops and caravan parks on this thread, I am now tempted to suggest that Carrots and I undertake a pre-run now (at the pace to which we are accustomed ;D ;D) and give you feedback as we go. It's not that I am a woos or anything, but we had a big day today and travelled 60kms from Warialda to Inverell ;D ;D. Daggsey
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Post by JBJ on Jun 23, 2008 19:42:32 GMT 10
Hi daggsey & Carrots,
Sounds like a great idea for you to do that.
We're flying blind on this one. We know when the travel exceeds about 300 Km in a day , its getting a bit long. But time is a real consideration on all runs.
Your input, as well as that from anyone, will help fine tune the event.
One of the bottom lines on this trip could be the fuel costs. I try not to think about it. But both of my towcars get a maximum of 5 km per litre, & if fuel goes up to around $2.30 (say) per litre this time next year, that adds only around $400 to my fuel costs ( 3100Km divided by 5 = 620 litres x $0.60 = $372 increase on present cost ( of $1.70 per litre here now) of $1050.
Still reasonable if you say it fast.
What the hell, you only get one go at life, & seeing Australia. I'm not greatly interested in seeing the rest of the world. Theres too much here still that I havent seen.
Let us know if you want us to give you some of the details Boots has collected so far
Jailbarjuice
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Post by Daggsey on Jun 23, 2008 20:51:03 GMT 10
Thanks Jailbar for that response, I felt like we were letting you down after first giving a tentative commitment (contradiction in terms ) to going on the run, but we are more than happy to do the pre-run if that is of assistance. Would be more than happy to look at what Boots has colated so far, so feel free to PM me with details. Cheers Daggsey Pioneering western Qld ;D ;D
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Post by Daggsey on Jul 9, 2008 19:47:24 GMT 10
Hi jbj,
Have got some info for you re caravan parks, auto gas outlets to and including Charleville.
I will update you when the forum is re-opened.
Daggsey
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Post by JBJ on Dec 2, 2008 19:08:44 GMT 10
Hi All,
Well Boots & I have put this one into the "TOO HARD FOR NOW" basket.
We got very conflicting reports about roads , traffic, you name it, & decided that we need to do the trip ourselves first before we commit to organising a group.
Guess Wintersun will happen next year for me again instead.
It could be worse.
JBJ
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