Back to the Track 2005

[Keith Webb]

If you put too much vodka in the opposite might happen - kill a man but start an engine!

Originally posted by Keith Webb
If you put too much vodka in the opposite might happen - kill a man but start an engine!

Start something anyways

[Graeme Stephens]

Euan certainly likes to cater for his young family !
- (poor Blitz).

[Graeme Stephens]

This is more of a discriptive picture, than a pictoral effort, the scene is one hell of a relieved driver with hands on hips, next to his going truck, just after sundown. Made it - To here.

[Graeme Stephens]

G7s - OIC , to 2IC
" It might be time to move these guys on ".
( Shaun from Sth Aust.) his set up, on the Pony Club veranda.

[Graeme Stephens]

Bob Kenny (SA) jeep owner on right, to Alan Carpenter (VIC).
" How milky white should the engine oil be " ?

[Graeme Stephens]

Yes a very interesting week in camp, a bit like a quick Big Brother series. Here's one episode:
I told you how the New Sth. Welsh (NSW) had taken over the BarBQue ( sign of male dominance ), and the hall's TV ( the media ). While the Victorians ( Vic ) were happy with the hall (real estate ) and the kitchen ( food production / control ).
On wednesday night - according to the Vics, the TV was too loud, the NSW didn't agree. Okay, Win. thought she would show the NSW what loud was with her Hall alarm system.
Enough! the NSW decided to turn off the TV; - problem was Win. lost control of the alarm reset.
This was at 10:30 at night, and it didn't take long for the other two states to get involved - QLD & Sth AUST.
I must explain that Tasmania and Northern Territory never count as States unless they are to be blamed for something.
The Queenslanders & Sth Aussies had had enough. Now this bit is interesting - Shaun, from the SA-ans picked up a pair of side cutters, he was going to cut every wire he could see, to stop the noise. This action is explained by Sth. Australia being in the lowest socia/economic group.
While Barry from the QLD-ers picked up a roll of gaffa tape, QLD is strong on the environment and friendliness, Barry calmly stopped Shaun and put tape over the detectors - blinded the system - and all went quiet.
G7s OIC PhD - Camp Discrete

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

This action is explained by Sth. Australia being in the lowest socia/economic group.

Typical Sandgroper. We South Aussies just go to the heart of the problem. Bugger the political correctness, cut the wires.

Bob

[Graeme Stephens]

Here we are, Sunday morn. D+1, Camp Discrete departure.
After coming from Vic. to tow the trailer into Perth, Mum & Dad have obtained Aboriginal Passports ( to cross the Centre ), and are now offically in the Trackers 2005 as a support vehicle

[Graeme Stephens]

Sunday 7th Aug. D+1. The Gun Tractor leaving the Pony Club grounds, Euan is not planning on racing to catch the convoy, he was actually off, to see King's Park in Perth, first !
Yes the weather is fine, spring is near.
" Camp Discrete ", closes it's gates on a very exciting and interesting week.
And the OIC, goes home to take up his normal position as 5IC

[Graeme Stephens]

Euan leaving

[Graeme Stephens]

Dod Davies from WA GMC "Camp Discrete"

[Keith Webb]

Euan caught up with the group at Geraldton after a 500Km or so trip and reports fuel consumption has almost halved.

Apparently the cab 12 is having overheating problems and is being worked on as I write.

Tonight the group will be making a bush camp. Not sure when the next opportunity for mobile phone contact will present itself, so if anyone else can provide some details, please do so.

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Hi all

Hot off the press from our adventurers. On of the travellers is a Frenchman named Henri de Wally who participated in both the 1995 and 2000 treks. I believe Henri is in his 70s. Another current trekker is a voluptuous mid 20s Dutch girl named Julia, one for you Hanno, and Henri has taken a real shine to her, maybe even a case of puppy love. In fact a lot of the guys are going ga ga over her. Because of her Henri is to become the subject of a Kangaroo Court for something he did.

Earlier whilst in town he bought a bottle of Scotch and a cask of wine to repay some favours. To secure the Scotch he hid the bottle in his toilet bag. The following morning, to make himself presentable for Julia, he decided to have a shave. Unfortunately he mistakenly went into the women’s toilet to do this and whilst there discovered the bottle of Scotch. He was subsequently sprung by some ladies who saw this older man in their toilet, shaving, with a bottle of Scotch standing alongside. Of course Henri being the gentleman that he is was highly embarrassed, but I would suggest not as embarrassed as he will be when they roast him at the mock court.

Bob

[Richard Farrant]

Originally posted by Bob Moseley

Because of her Henri is to become the subject of a Kangaroo Court for something he did.

Bob,

I well remember those Kangaroo courts on the 95 trip, they were presided over by the guys from the Transport Corps. I quite thought my mate, who I was driving with, was going to be on one, when he was spotted in an enebriated state and urinating from the top of the starters tower at Adelaide River racecourse! How he got away with it I do not know. I am sure Henri will be deeply embarassed by it

Richard

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Hi all
I'm not telling you where it is, look at a map.

I think they have been too long in the bush. Heard from my mate Hugh today and he relayed a couple of annecdotes.

These guys are showering in a car trailer that has a half canopy at the front. They are using a double donkey shower. Hugh was showering with another traveller, Allan, and he couldn'tt find his clean jocks, underpants to those who don't know. It transpired that Allan had inavertently picked up Hugh's and put them on. However this was rectified when Allan removed the jocks and Hugh put them on. That would be a CSI challenge.

In the mean time Allan had been brushing his teeth for several days with a toothpaste that didn't taste nice and didn't foam. In a conversation with his wife she asked him what he was using for toothpaste as she hadn't packed any for him. He indignently replied, the one in the toilet bag. Wife then pointed out that it wasn't toothpaste he was using but an ointment for a rash on his posterior.

Oh Dear!! Two more subject that will be brought up in the Kangaroo Court.

Bob

[Keith Webb]

The group has reached mobile phone range again and there are of course some stories.

Firstly, Mark Sierant's Toydodge was seriously damaged when a Fargo was being towed backwards through a service station, damaging the side of his vehicle, including ripping the tarp.

Now to the Gun Tractor. It seems the engine mounts fabricated by a previous owner weren't up to the job on a section of the Gunbarrel Highway leading to Warburon.

In fact the engine became quite dislodged, rolled sideways and forwards, hitting the radiator, but not holing it.

New rear mounts were fabricated using the tyre bead cut up from old grader tyres, and there is also a length of 3/8" chain restraining the engine so it won't hit the radiator again.

There was also a certain amount of Mulga wood involved, but we'll wait for the pictures to show just how it was employed.

Shades of Tom Kruse

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Heard from my spy as well. They are at Ayres Rock so about 500m to go.

Ford Blitzs turned back, only Chev Blitz still going.

There was a sighting of a nude spinifex fairy who was sprung by a group of local indigenous people. Apparently the groin covering didn't work and the new nickname is potato b...s. Photos to come.

The roads are terrible with massive corrugations that are destroying the vehicles. 1200x20 tyres with coil springs is the only running gear that should be used out there.

Jeeps are travelling OK apart from one Jeep trailer roll over, but righted and kept going.

Actually Keefy Kurt Johannsen utilised mulga wood as well, although he carved out a new clutch and would use the branches to brace sub-frames and axle shafts. If you haven't read his book "A Son Of The Red Centre" you should. This guy was another great outback pioneer.

Bob

[Tony Smith]

Sounds like an episode of the ABC series the Bush Mechanics. While this series was partly a comedy (sort of a Blackfella's Russell Coight), it shows some amazing ways to get a vehicle running again on the barest of materials (note that I did NOT say SPARE PARTS!); fencing wire, wood, grass, soap.....

[Phil Waterman]

Originally posted by Tony Smith
Sounds like an episode of the ABC series the Bush Mechanics. While this series was partly a comedy (sort of a Blackfella's Russell Coight), it shows some amazing ways to get a vehicle running again on the barest of materials (note that I did NOT say SPARE PARTS!); fencing wire, wood, grass, soap.....

Followed the link looks interesting would this be something that might go on PBS (Public Broadcasting System) here in the States? They love Red Green after all.

Sounds like a great trip hope when all is said and done you can assemble all the pictures and video into a CD to share with rest of us.

[Wayne Henderson]

Bloody Brilliant!

The best sight of the trip was driving over a hill at Cobra Station and seeing before me a row of 40 odd Army trucks, complete with dust trails, disappearing into the distance.

I left the group at Meekatharra, they went east, I headed south back to home and jobs.

Bad fuel caused some problems but overall the Chev preformed well.
Short wheel base trucks and wet clay make for interesting driving, Lumpy went bush twice in 10kms, something like "Couldn't drive a greasy stick up a dogs ars..." award coming my way soon.

Bloody Brilliant!

[Keith Webb]

Congratulations on making it home...

Can't wait to see the photographs.

[Graeme Stephens]

50 vehicles went into the Australian Desert.
The Gunbarrel Highway wasn't conquered easily.
The No.12 Cab failed.
And of the others - not all survived.
R.I.P. '42 Fargo ??
Waiting on a trip report, from those brave but reckless souls.

G7s stayed in Perth, to barrack for the Eagles

[Keith Webb]

Euan is still in South Australia visiting Kangaroo Island at the moment.

Last week some pics arrived here:



A section of the Gun Barrel Highway




Crossing the Gascoyne River




The Heather Hwy

[Tony Smith]

Why do the rear doors have the canvas curtains in place (Heather Hwy pic)? Are the kids watching a Russel Coight or Bush Tucker Man DVD when they could take in some of the best Aussie scenery?

[Keith Webb]

The McDonalds are now home and here's a page of their trip.

[Euan McDonald]

What a trip,what an adventure. Well after being on the road for 2 months to the day we finally arrived home on Wednesday night.
I still can't believe we did it & if some one said they were going around Australia in a 60 year old truck I would say their mad. It's a big country with so much to see, we covered some 17,500km & consumed some 6,300 litres of fuel.
From Alice Springs we said good bye to the group of trackers & headed south to Marla where we turned off down the Oodnadatta track to Oodnadatta, the painted desert, Mt barry & into Coober Pedy, a large opeal mining town. After a look around at all the ex millitary trucks we continued south to Port Augusta, the Clare valley & Barossa Valley wine area.
We arived in Adelaide on Katrina's birthday, so as a special treat I took her to the S.A Millatary museum were Hugh Davies had arranged a photo shoot with their FGT no8 a Marmond GT & our CGT with 25pounder & limber, what a sight driving around the streets with 3 GT's & gun.
From Adelaide it was onto Victor Harbour, Cape Jervis then by ferry to Kangaroo Island for 3 days. After Kangaroo island we came down through the Coorong National park to Victoria & home via Warrnambool.It's now back to work to pay for the trip & plan for the next one in 2010 out of Queensland.

[Mark Sierant]

PS Euan you forgot to mention the rebuild before 2010.:dh: