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 | Home > Photos, Videos & Media > My bigger driving adventure. |
 
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| razmabaz Member Since: 20 Feb 2011 Location: Cambridgeshire Posts: 246   
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Ad if we don't hear back from you we'll know you never took enough stuff! Have a good trip!
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16th Jul 2012 3:41 pm |
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| Vesko Member Since: 18 Jan 2012 Location: Sydney Posts: 184  
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Yes, you are right, I took too much stuff - the food alone was enough for a month... But, you can never have enough useless things in the outback of Australia |
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17th Jul 2012 9:51 am |
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| Vesko Member Since: 18 Jan 2012 Location: Sydney Posts: 184
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I start early - wake up at four, brush teeth, shave, coffee in the flask, ice in the ice box with all the frozen meets and cold drinks and away I go. Somehow I trust Garmin (and the new Topo Australia and New Zealand maps I installed) and follow its instructions. It gives me quicker way to get out of Sydney and I progress well with breakfast at Bathurst�s McDonalds and pleasant drive to Wellington (in NSW), but then something happens and Garmin tells me to drive South/West and I follow without thinking. I hope it will be the quickest way. The distance of 1400km to Broken Hill seems longer than what I expect, but this morning I feel adventurous and don�t mind driving a little longer. Just give me the open road. Yes, I get the open road - I drive through Parkes, Forbes, West Wyalong, Hay and Balranald.
Soon I fall in one of these conditions, which allows me to drive to the end of the world, without thinking, and without fatigue, like a zombie. I am simply focused on the road. I stop only for diesel and a few quick toilet breaks, forgetting about lunch. Soon I feel my head starting to hurt. Perhaps it is from lack of food. The next stop for fuel I buy some chocolate bars and a packet of salty chips. With 2 cans of coke the headache goes away (for now). This morning I started without a plan, thinking to stop for the night wherever I get, but just after Mildura and Wentworth, I realise that on this last stretch of 260 km there is no other town or a village. Now I must get to Broken Hill. It�s a beautiful sunset, mind you - I stop for a photo and the night comes. It�s only 6pm, but the darkness makes me anxious. I panic a little and start to drive quicker. Up to 130k/h and like in a slow motion dream, I see a large heavy kangaroo getting up on the left and starting it�s gracious jumps across the road. It�s too late, I can�t stop - I can only swerve to the left, brushing the kangaroo�s tail. The Landie behaves admirably, staying on the road and stabilizing like there was no danger. I cannot say the same for myself. I am shaking, hands sweating, hearth pumping and with a new pain behind my eyes. After 1200km I can understand the truckies, how hard their job must be, and now I have a new respect for them. But still there are 200km to go and I have to slow down, driving in the middle of the road, peeling my eyes open for the brown/grey shapes of dreaming kangaroos that might decide to jump in front of me. I see a few clever foxes, just looking at me when I pass, but no more kangaroos. There is also a massive bloody moon, which follows me on the right.
Can�t believe I am finally at Broken Hill after 16 hours of continuous driving. But there is no celebration, even though I feel enormously relieved - Broken Hill is deserted. I drive around and get in the first motel I see to ask for a room. Single for $115, the receptionist says. It seems expensive for this type of motel, but I don�t argue, warm bed and warm shower is what I need. I get the key for room 14 and drive around to find a petrol station to fill the tank for early start tomorrow. At the petrol station there is another car with three aboriginal youths sitting stiff, while the fourth one is filling a 20l can. They are all hooded, dark and look dangerous. I stop in front of the diesel pump feeling very unsecure. I don�t want them to smell my fear - before getting out of the car, I put on my jacket with the hood on and try to look tough. The youths probably don�t see me and soon are gone, but the station�s attendant is very suspicious even though I pay cash. He follows me out, to make sure I get only one small bag of ice from the fridge (what I paid for) and keeps looking at me unsmiling, while I crash the ice in the box and then drive away. Maybe I look strange (after driving 1400 km), because the bartender at a pub I enter to buy couple of beers also looks at me with suspicion. Two small beers for $12 are expensive, but again I don�t argue. On the way back to the motel I find a Japanese restaurant and buy some miso soup and beef teppanyaki. A full meal with steamed rice is only $12. And it is delicious� My body falls asleep like a plank, but my mind continues to speed 130 km/h into the space. Admin note: this post has had its images recovered from a money grabbing photo hosting site and reinstated  Last edited by Vesko on 17th Jul 2012 10:32 am. Edited 4 times in total |
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17th Jul 2012 10:01 am |
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| garioch43 Member Since: 24 Feb 2012 Location: Aberdeen Posts: 158 
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The car looks remarkably clean having been on such a long journey.
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17th Jul 2012 10:15 am |
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| landy19840 Member Since: 13 Mar 2011 Location: Non Posts: 1817  
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Oh my those pictures are special!! Would love to do a road trip like that |
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17th Jul 2012 10:24 am |
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| npinks Member Since: 28 Jun 2007 Location: Ls25 Posts: 20092
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a contender for the summer photo "sun set/rise" comp
Admin note: this post has had its images recovered from a money grabbing photo hosting site and reinstated
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17th Jul 2012 10:38 am |
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| landy19840 Member Since: 13 Mar 2011 Location: Non Posts: 1817
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That's a winner for the summer sunset! No chance of the sun showing its face here |
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17th Jul 2012 10:44 am |
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| npinks Member Since: 28 Jun 2007 Location: Ls25 Posts: 20092
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17th Jul 2012 10:46 am |
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| mikehzz Member Since: 04 Sep 2009 Location: Springwood Posts: 749 
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Hey Vesko, I would throw that GPS out if it has taken you through Hay to get to Broken Hill from Sydney. You travelled about 300km too far going that way. From Wellington you go through Dubbo (classic name |
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17th Jul 2012 9:31 pm |
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| mikehzz Member Since: 04 Sep 2009 Location: Springwood Posts: 749
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Oh and one other thing, try not to drive at sunrise, sunset or night time. If you do, find a big truck to sit behind so they bump the kangaroos out of the way. The roos will make a mess of your nice car. They are nuts and you can't see them until it's too late. |
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17th Jul 2012 9:42 pm |
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| Bugblatter Member Since: 08 Mar 2012 Location: Ilkley, West Yorkshire Posts: 417
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Great pics (and story)! 2013 RR Evoque Pure Tech
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17th Jul 2012 9:43 pm |
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| Vesko Member Since: 18 Jan 2012 Location: Sydney Posts: 184
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Garioch43, the car looks remarkably clean in the shots from the first day, but wait to see how it will look after the mud bath in a few days� time |
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18th Jul 2012 10:42 am |
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| mikehzz Member Since: 04 Sep 2009 Location: Springwood Posts: 749
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I've never had a problem in Broken Hill. It is normally quite a nice town. Wilcannia looks like The Bronx with boarded up buildings and graffiti. Doesn't look healthy at all. It is probably the poorest town money wise out there and it is around 200kms from any other town.
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18th Jul 2012 1:46 pm |
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| Vesko Member Since: 18 Jan 2012 Location: Sydney Posts: 184
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Day 2 Broken Hill to Rawnsley Park Station
I enjoy my time in Broken Hill, but the open road is calling me again. With only 500 km to go, I am very relaxed. After yesterday�s 1400km, 500 seem a piece of cake. And the weather is brilliant. I set off to Peterborough and my soul is singing� until I pay closer attention to the controls. Suddenly the fuel gouge shows less than half empty, and the car computer confirms - range only 180km. But I filled it up last night, remember the dangerous aboriginal youths. Where has the diesel gone!? I am puzzled and stop to check the fuel tank underneath. There is no leak. I keep driving and consider the only explanation would be that during the night someone has drained 40l from my tank - the fuel cap is so easy to pull open� Not to worry, I tell myself, I will fill it up again with the next diesel pump opportunity. For now I drive and try to enjoy the unfamiliar surroundings. Soon I have to slow down to 70k, because there is a massive mining lorry, loaded on an equally massive truck. It takes the whole road and we are sentenced to shuffle behind it for the next 200km. For a while this situation takes my mind away from the fuel mystery, but soon I become reckless and wander why the others in front of me don�t try to overtake the lorry? I wait for a wider part on the road and gingerly speed ahead with my tyres rumbling on the gravel. The guy riding the truck makes a bit of space and I am through and off again. The others continue to shuffle behind the lorry.
I reach Yunta, which has a nice petrol station with good price for the diesel (it�s nice in my opinion, because I see a beautiful girl, sitting in the caf� and watching me through the window with interest). I start to fill the tank and forget about the beautiful girl, because the pump stops only after some 10l. I am so surprised, that I hardly see her getting out, walking close to me and going to her car, (still checking me out with interest). So, no one has drained my tank during the night, my cheeks are burning with embarrassment that I imagined such a possibility. And the beautiful girl is gone� But now I have more serious problem - the car computer doesn�t recognise that the tank is full, it insists I have only 300km range, it will stop the car if I reach it. I switch off the engine; I shake the car; start the engine again, but to no avail, the fuel indicator continues to show less than half full. I panic a little - what would happen around Lake Eyre if my extra 20l in the jerry are not enough. Peterborough has phone reception and I call Land Rover in Sydney. They make me wait, while I hear them discussing the problem. Finally they call back to inform me that my Landie is from a batch of imports with known computer problem, and I should take the car back as soon as possible for a software update� I am speechless, thinking this is the end of my Lake Eyre adventure, but at this very moment a miracle happens - the slim hand of the fuel indicator simply jumps back to FULL. My Lake Eyre adventure is not finished after all. I am so relieved!
Soon I get to Hawker. Because of the fruit fly quarantine in South Australia, I didn�t pack any fruit or vegetables, thinking I�ll buy some in Hawker. Yes, there is a shopping centre in town, and yes, I find a general store, but everything is so expensive. Tomatoes for $9.95! I buy a few and avoid the eyes of the lady shop keeper, who is embarrassed by my uttering that these must be the most expensive tomatoes in my life. Then it�s easy, I drive a little more towards the beautiful mountains and find a large sign that says Rawnsley Park Station. Two nights for unpowered site in the caravan park is only $28. I choose a levelled place and set up my camp. Tonight I roast some pork chops, chicken wings and a couple of Italian sausages. I make a salad of fresh (expensive) tomatoes, cucumber and parsley dressed with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. In addition I fry a handfull of potato chips and heat a can of beans on the warm BBQ. All of this while sipping a few small glasses of very strong liquor to counter the chilly night (-5�C). Everything tastes surprisingly good and the sky is full of stars. The alcohol hits me and I see the moon bright and shiny, but for me it�s time for bed. I have the tent pulled up, but I choose the car, wandering how would I feel. In the car I feel wonderful and fall asleep warm and comfortable and happy that I am in the beautiful Flinders Ranges. Well, just before I fall asleep, I have a fleeting thought about the beautiful girl from the caf� at Yunta today, wandering which bed is she warming tonight. Very brief. 
Tomorrow I will explore the Flinders Ranges. Admin note: this post has had its images recovered from a money grabbing photo hosting site and reinstated Last edited by Vesko on 19th Jul 2012 1:56 pm. Edited 1 time in total |
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19th Jul 2012 12:39 pm |
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