Day 5

We departed Giles weather station after a visit to Len Beadell, grader and the weather station, we said our goodbyes to Hank and the Peguot club and continued to head east.

the scenery on the leg to the WA NT boarder was amazing with Gills Pinnacle and the ranges on both sides of the road provide plenty off photo ops 

                                

We also stopped by one off Lens blasé trees with the replica plaque for the Sandy Blight Junction road. A lot of the original plaques are on display with the grader.

                                

after the compulsory stop at the border we pushed east on a deteriorating road past Docker RIver to Lassieters cave, we had no luck finding his reef of gold!! Would have been nice.....

                                

We made it the Olgas in the mid afternoon and had a walk through the gorge area before heading back west to camp just outside the national park for the night, we had a great view from the campsite of the sun set at the Olgas whilst having dinner and wine.

                                 

  

  

Day 4

After a very cold night at Empress Spring we continued our journey east towards the rock, the 60 klm back to the Great Central road was a bit easier to drive as we could stay in the tracks we had made the previous day but still took a hour to do.

Once on the Great Central we were surprised to hit bitumen 5 klm from Tjukayira road house were we stopped for their famous hamburger. Well worth the stop and fuel,was at $2.30 per litre for Opal.

The next stop was for a quick rest break at Warburton. With the wreck car count now on150+ we pushed on making Giles weather station for the night. Passing by the Rawlinson ranges and the Gunbarrell Hwy intersection. On arrival we met a fellow FJ cruiser club a Cairns based member  Hank and the Peugeot club he was travelling with. They have just come from the rock and are heading to Bussleton and invited us to share their campfire.

However  it had been a big traveling day, over 560klms completed and after having our first chance for a hot shower since Perth our group all had a early night after doing some minor 12v light repairs to Austins hired camprite and all wanting to get up for a tour of the weather station in the morning. 

                                   

Day 3

We departed Giles breakaway after a fantastic sunrise and headed to Empress springs.

The Great Central road was quite busy with serval cars heading west, however we only saw two towing campers.

We did a slight detour into Cosmo Newbury and it was interesting to drive through but the Dome cafe I had promised the others was there could not be found so we continued East with the wrecked car count rising to 78 by the time we hit the Empress Springs turn off. 

                                            

Along the road we spotted wallaby's, camels and a dingo that was looking in very bad condition. He was quite timid but allowed us to get close enough for a quick photo before darting off into the desert again.

                                                

The 60klm road into Empress spring proved to be very corrugated and sandy in a lot of places. the track is narrow and provides little option to avoid the ruts and bumps, deteriorating over the last 30 klms to where we were down to 20kph in places and 4h to drag the Jayco through the sand. We managed to arrive at the Spring mid afternoon. 

 Austin and I climbed down the ladder 25 feet to the bottom, I graciously allowed Austin to go first then once he was down asked him to check for any live snakes and things that have been known to fall into the hole before descending myself. Lots of animal bones at the bottom but no water. I expect if we had cleared some sand away we would have found some if desperate, like David Carnegie was when they were shown this spring by an aboriginal male they captured on their expedition. The extract from the book someone had kindly left with the visitors book was an informative read into their trials in this area.

The views across the desert from the top of the ridges were  beautiful and there was a lot of evidence of camels and other wild animals frequenting this area.

Great campfire during the night with everyone telling tales of their  proposed trips and journeys to be undertaken.  I even saw my first shooting star for the trip. Nothing can beat a clear desert night sky and a glass of red or two around the fire.

                                   

   

After a very cold morning we continue.

Day 2

We departed Lake Ballard after watching the sun come up over the now very wet lake, it was amazing to see how much water filled the lake overnight. But the sun was trying to break through the clouds as we  headed for Menzies. At the end of the dirt road into town we came across this sign.......

                                     

Hmmm - they could have mentioned that at the Coolgardie end if the road, but if they did we would have missed out camping at such a great spot.

After a short stop at Menzies to check out the old mining machinery on display we pushed onto Niagara Dam.   

  

 

Another popular looking camp spot with heaps of areas to stay.

We then passes through the Living Ghost town of Kookynie and had a quick check of the ruins and the pub before heading north via Malcolm to Laverton. a fuel fill at a surprising cheap $1.819 cents per litre for 98 octane fuel and onto the Great Central Road were we played a game of counting wrecked cars until our  overnight camp at Giles Breakaway. 

if you ever do this trip this is a must stop location if only for a break.

                                                                    

A beautiful clear night watching stars around the campfire was had and we awoke to a glorious sun rise over the breakaway

       

Day 1

27 July 2013

After an early start to,finish packing while ducking the rain, we departed home and headed to Lakes roadhouse to meet up with the rest of our travel party. 

                                    

The rain had set in for the day and it appeared to schedule it's timing,to bucket down to coincide with our  stops at Merridin and Bodidin for a rest break. Not to scared of a little water and thinking how well the rain had washed the dirt from the camper after the recent Nanga trip we pressed on to  meet up with Austin's  mate Brad and his friend in their Patrol ute. After A fuel top up, chance to air down the tyres and feed  we ventured into dirt.  The next 190 odd klms to lake Ballard proved to be a slippery muddy journey, with the Jayco at one stage trying to pass the car.            

                                    

A quick stop for a $3.30 coke and a photo a the famous Orabanda pub and we continued heading into the rain. We arrived at Lake Ballard around 5 pm after covering a huge 760klms. The kids  were great all day and the rain held off in time to set up camp on the shore of the lake.

                                      

OH WELL ....... EVERYTHING STARTED OFF CLEAN !!!!!!!!!

We walked a short way into the lake to view Gormley's Statues but it was a very sticky experience I I would not recommend anyone to attempt to drive on the lake at all.

                                                                       

After some light overnight rain we awoke to find the lake with water in it -- well a little bit anyway....... felt sorry for Brad and his mates in their swags

                   

Today's aim is Giles Breakaway

     

2 Sleeps to go

Rigs all packed up except for the fridge items.

Grease, wheel nuts and all underneath checked. 

We are ready to roll.

Still have plenty of room left over --- me thinks maybe I forgotten something????

Is 2 cases of red wine going to be enough that is the question?

Looks like Dan is ready as well

The Travel Plan

Day 1 Depart Lakes Road House to Lake Ballard
Day 2 Lake Ballard to Giles Breakaway via Menzies, Nigarra Dam, Windarra Mine site to say hi to Lonely Cruiser and Laverton
Day 3 Giles Breakaway to Bredans Bluff via Empress Springs
Day 4 Bredans Bluff to Giles Weather station
Day 5 Giles to Mulga Camp area between Docker River and the Olgas
Day 6 Mulga Camp to Ayers Rock via the Olgas
Day 7 Ayers Rock, Sunset  Dinner
Day 8 Ayers Rock
Day 9 Ayers Rock to Kings Canyon
Day 10 Kings Canyon
Day 11 Kings Canyon to Palm Valley via Hermansberg
Day 12 Palm Valley to Alice Springs
Day 13 Alice Springs, Visit Transport Hall of fame -- Farewell Dinner for Dan and family
Day 14 Alice Spings
Day 15 Alice Srings to Chambers Piller via the Old Ghan road
Day 16 Chambers Piller to Cooper Pedy via Finke
Day 17 Cooper Pedy
Day 18 Cooper Pedy to Mt Eve
Day 19 Mt Eve to Somewhere on the Nullabour past Ceduna
Day 20 Nullabour to Balidonia area 
Day 21 Balidonia to Cape Arid via Balidonia track
Day 22 Thomas River Cape Arid National Park
Day 23 Cape Arid to hope town Free Camp
Day 24 Head home Stop for a farewell lunch with Austin and Family

Almost a week to go

Getting really excited now a bit over a week before we hit the road on our adventure. Had some reports that the showers of the last few days have made the roads a bit of a mess but with 3 capable vehicles and enough recovery gear between us to raise the titanic we are up for the challenge                             

                             

                                                                    

 photo of Austins Tonka Tuff and Bully relaxing on the sand at White Hills south of Perth and Calimero chillin in the hills but as you can tell they are well set up vehicles and very capable of coping with what we are about to throw at them over the coming days on our trip.

Gave Gaye a bit of a shopping list to do until I fly in on Wednesday for the final items, then it's will be time to pack the car and the Jayco Dove and re check those final few items whilst loading up.

                                         

links and photos

The link below to to the FJ Club Forum we belong to, great site for info on FJ Cruisers and 4 wheel driving in general,.
www.fjcc.com.au

This is where most the photos of  the trip will be posted, although I will pick a few each day to post in the days events

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=1073741829&id=650816664

16 Days to go

Ayers Rock - Uluru

Chambers Pillar

Empress Springs

With 16 Days to go I cant wait until we take off on our 20+ day trip across the centre from Perth, down to Cooper Pedy and back across the paddock home. All the sites I have always dreamed of seeing will be included in this trip, The Olgas, Ayers Rock, Chambers Piller, Cooper Pedy among them
Car is all serviced and the Jayco ready to roll.

Austin and Dan with thier Familys are as eager as Gaye and myself to get underway we are all counting the days until we meet up just outside the Perth CBD and take off. The plan is to leave the Black top at Coolgardie and head to Lake Ballard on the first day

We have our permits for the Great Central road all sorted and have carbon offset the trip

Will add more info in the next few days, but anyway I hope you will enjoy following our adventure, Iam sure we will keep you entertained and have some great photos of the journey to share