Spent 3 days in Bungles, and both Lorraine and I agreed photos just do not do them justice.
Lorraine loved her look around Halls Creek, where she spent 3 yrs working before we met all those yrs ago.
Because of damage to the shock absorbers on the van as result of Gibb River Road, thought we had better not attempt the Tanami as a way south. So exited via the Duncan, Buntine and then the Buchanan onto the Stuart Highway, heading south.
First night stopped found we had no 12voit power in van, multi meter told me batteries were only 4volts, so assumed The Gibb had killed them.
Got them tested in Alice Springs, and yes they were completely dead by then, but when I tried to hook up new ones I got a shower of sparks, would appear there is a direct short in the main battery leads into the switch board and fuse panel inside the van. As we were heading to the manufactures in Melbourne with the shock absorbers, we will just add that to the list.
While at Alice spent 2 days scrubbing the red dust off the van, had to go over it 3 times in places, Lorraine gave the inside a good spring clean, well it is spring time after all.
A few kms south of the border the Chevy motor in the Cruiser started to sound like a chaff cutter or sewing machine. Limped into Marla, rang RACQ, and they loaded us all onto a transporter to Port Augusta. Garage has pulled motor out and diagnosed a broken valve spring, and will look to see if there is other damage.
Briche called to see us here the other day, and as an electrical wiz kid, looked at our battery problems, We ran new wires into the van and have power into most of it. Would appear there is other damage as well.
So if any Grey Nomads are passing through PA, please drop in for scones or picklets, as we could be here for some time. Its amazing the number of other people that have broken down also, some have shipped their vehicles back to Brisbane to be repaired.
Dougwe said
03:12 PM Sep 23, 2013
Good to see ya both back in here Brandt and Lorraine. Not good to hear about your tug causing problems again. The tug must have got a sniff of Victorian air mate, seems to be where she plays up most. The tug that is.
I must admit I did know about your CV problems though as I do follow your gallivanting around through your Blog but can't leave a comment for some reason.
Now, about these scones and picklets, second thought, no comment.
Apart from your problems with the tug and van I hope you are both well.
_wombat_ said
04:11 PM Sep 23, 2013
you ain't having much luck are you?
As you did not come down to Perth does that mean I can let the room you asked me to dig for you? I spent 4 days digging that new room now I'll have to see the real estate people about getting new residents, that also means I can put the rent up.
kiwi rainbow said
04:19 PM Sep 23, 2013
No no no! Don't rent our room to someone else. We plan to visit your area next year (after a short visit to NZ)
jules47 said
04:25 PM Sep 23, 2013
Wow - what chinaman did you guys kiss????? Port Augusta is not a bad place to stop -more there than at Marla - we stayed out at the Shorline CP.
You missed some good spots on the way down though - Lake Hart is lovely - and Coober Pedy is well worth a look.
Hope you get it all fixed - take care.
_wombat_ said
04:51 PM Sep 23, 2013
kiwi rainbow wrote:
No no no! Don't rent our room to someone else. We plan to visit your area next year (after a short visit to NZ)
Can I sublet until you get here? lol
Do I have to wait until next year to fix your Sig?
kiwi rainbow said
05:09 PM Sep 23, 2013
Ok, as long as they don't trash it
Kiwi-as said
05:22 PM Sep 23, 2013
Wombat mate, by next year the apartment will need updating!!!!! I have very expensive tastes, and décor must keep up with the latest fashions. I will send my agent to inspect before arrival.
Kiwi-as said
05:44 PM Sep 23, 2013
Jules, when we come back next yr will come up via Oodnadatta Track, and do that part of Aus than. Shoreline is where we are. Have a strong northerly wind today, sand coming in windows. Seem to have one nice day and then 2 or 3 windy ones. And the flies!!!, was virtually none in Alice, stopped at the border camp and whammo , bloody flies every, they try and get up your nose, in your ears, squashed a few in there. They are just as bad here in PA. We bought fly nets for our hats the other day.
jules47 said
08:45 PM Sep 23, 2013
Flies!!!!! We went everywhere with the fly nets, as well as our fly swats - even ate under them! We had the same weather wise - one or two good ones, then blow a gale! Shoreline isn't bad, and you can walk to the IGA on the main road.
Love the Oodnadatta Track - it is one of the gentler tracks, some water crossings, and some sand - likely to see camels. And Coward Springs is a great place to stop, soak in the mound spring - lovely! Heaps of great places to camp along the way! But the pub at William Creek is an experience!
_wombat_ said
09:05 PM Sep 23, 2013
In regards to the hole, maybe I'll just dig another one closer to the time you get over here.
You mention the sand coming in the windows, have you tried closing the windows?
kiwi rainbow said
09:33 PM Sep 23, 2013
Yes, wombat. Then it gets too hot!
justcruisin01 said
12:35 AM Sep 25, 2013
Thanks for the phone calls.
nu one said
04:41 AM Sep 25, 2013
Hi there its been a long time since I checked up on all my friends ...and to find out your travels have been an adventure to say the least
also that you are marooned at PA and im in Moonta a half days drive.
Although Ive not been troubled as you have ...went to Darwin and did most things on the way up and then went to Mt Isa and stayed at West Liechhardt Station
and helped out there (they are having a hard time in their second year of drought) then back to Moonta as of last wednesday.
Keep in touch and i wish you both fair sailing.. Michael
neilnruth said
04:59 AM Sep 25, 2013
I hope nu one's tag line has meaning for you both - every day in every way it gets better.
Take care and enjoy the rest while you can before you get busy going home.
Plendo said
05:42 AM Sep 25, 2013
Hi Brandt and Lorraine, it is good to hear that you are back to the populated bit of the island, but it sounds as if your rig has not survived as well as you have.
When do you plan to get down to central Victoria, as we would love to catch up, give me a chance to pick your brains about what we should add, delete or change on our van. The build is getting closer, and we will need to finalise the design soon.
Kiwi-as said
09:26 AM Sep 25, 2013
I took an hour long video of our trip through the Gibb and have ordered a lead to be able to play back through the Tv in the van. I have used it at home, but it went in through the hard drive, and the caravan tv did not have the same input sockets.
-- Edited by Kiwi-as on Wednesday 25th of September 2013 09:28:02 AM
_wombat_ said
04:10 PM Sep 25, 2013
Kiwi-as wrote:
Wombat, Lorraine has a You Tube acc. but has trouble getting into it. When we go home end of Nov. our son has a lot of work to do for us.
thanks for the emails, just going to have a look now.
had a look, here is a couple of grabs from Lorraine's iPad video
-- Edited by _wombat_ on Wednesday 25th of September 2013 04:35:19 PM
I took an hour long video of our trip through the Gibb and have ordered a lead to be able to play back through the Tv in the van. I have used it at home, but it went in through the hard drive, and the caravan tv did not have the same input sockets.
-- Edited by Kiwi-as on Wednesday 25th of September 2013 09:28:02 AM
are you going to post it on utube?
Kiwi-as said
07:48 PM Sep 25, 2013
Wombat, if you, or anybody else, are interested - we have a blog site with a selection of our better photos. the address is: www.bregmencatchup.blogspot.com
_wombat_ said
08:09 PM Sep 25, 2013
Kiwi-as wrote:
Wombat, if you, or anybody else, are interested - we have a blog site with a selection of our better photos. the address is: www.bregmencatchup.blogspot.com
I have been following that blog but no video of the GRR.
Kiwi-as said
08:57 PM Sep 25, 2013
Wombat, Lorraine has a You Tube acc. but has trouble getting into it. When we go home end of Nov. our son has a lot of work to do for us.
beiffe said
04:52 PM Sep 26, 2013
Hope you soon get back on the road.
I am here at Port Pirie waiting for some parts from Japan for my bus so know what you are going through.
My problems are not serious just things I want done whilst near people I know who can do the repairs.
My family is based here and a couple still talk to me so doing the dad bit as well as spending time with a few mates as I am still mobile whilst waiting.
Regards
Brian
Plendo said
03:09 AM Sep 27, 2013
Sorry but I could not resist it.
You didn't by any chance get a bro with a catamaran to work on your tug?
Just the kiwi version is not very fast, and not very good at finishing.
Beaten by the boat with the Aussie crew.
Kiwi-as said
03:51 AM Sep 27, 2013
Hey Dave, I thought you was a mate of mine. Still they say you find out who your mate are when the chips are down.
That boat was an Aussie boat with all your country men on it. Even the skipper was one of yours. We better watch out, Cindy might close our thread down.
Hydeeeho said
12:21 AM Sep 28, 2013
Howdy Michael
Long Time see or hear hope you are well and enjoying life as we certainly, Kay and I (Dave), Jessie and Indy our two little dogs are off again in mid Jan for another big lap and hope our paths will cross once again, we should be in Greens Lakes in Feb 2014 hope you can be there sometime,
Spent 3 days in Bungles, and both Lorraine and I agreed photos just do not do them justice.
Lorraine loved her look around Halls Creek, where she spent 3 yrs working before we met all those yrs ago.
Because of damage to the shock absorbers on the van as result of Gibb River Road, thought we had better not attempt the Tanami as a way south. So exited via the Duncan, Buntine and then the Buchanan onto the Stuart Highway, heading south.
First night stopped found we had no 12voit power in van, multi meter told me batteries were only 4volts, so assumed The Gibb had killed them.
Got them tested in Alice Springs, and yes they were completely dead by then, but when I tried to hook up new ones I got a shower of sparks, would appear there is a direct short in the main battery leads into the switch board and fuse panel inside the van. As we were heading to the manufactures in Melbourne with the shock absorbers, we will just add that to the list.
While at Alice spent 2 days scrubbing the red dust off the van, had to go over it 3 times in places, Lorraine gave the inside a good spring clean, well it is spring time after all.
A few kms south of the border the Chevy motor in the Cruiser started to sound like a chaff cutter or sewing machine. Limped into Marla, rang RACQ, and they loaded us all onto a transporter to Port Augusta. Garage has pulled motor out and diagnosed a broken valve spring, and will look to see if there is other damage.
Briche called to see us here the other day, and as an electrical wiz kid, looked at our battery problems, We ran new wires into the van and have power into most of it. Would appear there is other damage as well.
So if any Grey Nomads are passing through PA, please drop in for scones or picklets, as we could be here for some time. Its amazing the number of other people that have broken down also, some have shipped their vehicles back to Brisbane to be repaired.
Good to see ya both back in here Brandt and Lorraine. Not good to hear about your tug causing problems again. The tug must have got a sniff of Victorian air mate, seems to be where she plays up most. The tug that is.
I must admit I did know about your CV problems though as I do follow your gallivanting around through your Blog but can't leave a comment for some reason.
Now, about these scones and picklets, second thought, no comment.
Apart from your problems with the tug and van I hope you are both well.
you ain't having much luck are you?
As you did not come down to Perth does that mean I can let the room you asked me to dig for you? I spent 4 days digging that new room now I'll have to see the real estate people about getting new residents, that also means I can put the rent up.
No no no! Don't rent our room to someone else. We plan to visit your area next year (after a short visit to NZ)
You missed some good spots on the way down though - Lake Hart is lovely - and Coober Pedy is well worth a look.
Hope you get it all fixed - take care.
Can I sublet until you get here? lol
Do I have to wait until next year to fix your Sig?
Ok, as long as they don't trash it
Love the Oodnadatta Track - it is one of the gentler tracks, some water crossings, and some sand - likely to see camels. And Coward Springs is a great place to stop, soak in the mound spring - lovely! Heaps of great places to camp along the way! But the pub at William Creek is an experience!
In regards to the hole, maybe I'll just dig another one closer to the time you get over here.
You mention the sand coming in the windows, have you tried closing the windows?
Thanks for the phone calls.
Hi there its been a long time since I checked up on all my friends ...and to find out your travels have been an adventure to say the least
also that you are marooned at PA and im in Moonta a half days drive.
Although Ive not been troubled as you have ...went to Darwin and did most things on the way up and then went to Mt Isa and stayed at West Liechhardt Station
and helped out there (they are having a hard time in their second year of drought) then back to Moonta as of last wednesday.
Keep in touch and i wish you both fair sailing.. Michael
Take care and enjoy the rest while you can before you get busy going home.
Hi Brandt and Lorraine, it is good to hear that you are back to the populated bit of the island, but it sounds as if your rig has not survived as well as you have.
When do you plan to get down to central Victoria, as we would love to catch up, give me a chance to pick your brains about what we should add, delete or change on our van. The build is getting closer, and we will need to finalise the design soon.
I took an hour long video of our trip through the Gibb and have ordered a lead to be able to play back through the Tv in the van. I have used it at home, but it went in through the hard drive, and the caravan tv did not have the same input sockets.
-- Edited by Kiwi-as on Wednesday 25th of September 2013 09:28:02 AM
thanks for the emails, just going to have a look now.
had a look, here is a couple of grabs from Lorraine's iPad video
-- Edited by _wombat_ on Wednesday 25th of September 2013 04:35:19 PM
are you going to post it on utube?
I have been following that blog but no video of the GRR.
I am here at Port Pirie waiting for some parts from Japan for my bus so know what you are going through.
My problems are not serious just things I want done whilst near people I know who can do the repairs.
My family is based here and a couple still talk to me so doing the dad bit as well as spending time with a few mates as I am still mobile whilst waiting.
Regards
Brian
Sorry but I could not resist it.
You didn't by any chance get a bro with a catamaran to work on your tug?
Just the kiwi version is not very fast, and not very good at finishing.
Beaten by the boat with the Aussie crew.
Hey Dave, I thought you was a mate of mine. Still they say you find out who your mate are when the chips are down.
That boat was an Aussie boat with all your country men on it. Even the skipper was one of yours. We better watch out, Cindy might close our thread down
.
Howdy Michael
Long Time see or hear hope you are well and enjoying life as we certainly, Kay and I (Dave), Jessie and Indy our two little dogs are off again in mid Jan for another big lap and hope our paths will cross once again, we should be in Greens Lakes in Feb 2014 hope you can be there sometime,
The warm Italian coat is beaut