Date: June 26th 2009

Westprint Friday Five June 26, 2009 

Included this week are:

·        Canning Stock Route

·        Bourke Development Road

·        Video Super Specials 

Please note: Westprint will be closed for stocktake Monday 29^th June.

 

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Unless otherwise noted all special prices listed in the

Friday Five are valid for seven days.

Friday Five (& a few more) 26.06.09

Books are allocated on a first-come first serve basis. To reserve your copy of any of the following books please email info@westprint.com.au with the title you are interested in. All emails will be answered during the following week, either with details of how to pay, or a ‘sorry, the item has already sold’ email. Where possible, postage on multiple items will be recalculated to offer you the best price.

Stocktake Specials. Videos. Super Special price $20.00 each including post. Prices apply only to stock on hand.  

1. Mount Gambier and District. Recapture life as it was in Mount Gambier, Millicent, Naracoorte, Robe, Casterton and Portland. The historic footage in this compilation dates from a time when film was silent through to the 1980s. Highlights include Mt Gambier and crater lakes 1927, Portland’s centenary celebrations 1934, and Casterton Theatre newsreel 1936. Normally $35.95 plus post, four copies $20.00 each.

2. Namatjira the Painter. Rex Battarbee met Namatjira when he was 30 years old and taught him to paint. Namatjira is now one of Australia's best known Aboriginal artists. Normally $29.95, two copies $20 each. 

3. Across the Cape. Mike & Margie Leyland take us on a journey from Cardwell in far north Queensland to Karumba, winding their way across the bottom of Cape York. Visit the lava tubes and limestone caves, go barramundi fishing in hidden gorges, and much more. Narrated in the familiar Leyland style, this adventure includes many camping and travel tips. Across the Cape follows a meandering route from Cardwell to Karumba via lava tubes, caves, natural hot springs and Aboriginal art sites. Normally $36.95, six copies $20 each. 

4. Kakadu and Beyond. Kakadu NP through Arnhem Land to Coburg Peninsula. A Leyland Video. Normally $36.95, four copies $20 each. 

5. Lure of the Red Centre. Mike and Margie Leyland explore the MacDonnell Ranges, Ayers Rock, Kings Canyon, Rainbow Valley and Chambers Pillar. What you can see and do on a three week holiday. Normally $39.95, two copies $20 each. 

6. Fishing & Fourwheeling. This video follows a group of adventurous campers around Cape York looking for fishing spots and 4WD'ing the old telegraph track, Gunshot Creek and Elliot Falls. Normally $34.95, two copies $20 each. 

7. Over the Top. Lifestyle Video. Exploring Victoria's High Country including Mt Stirling, Craig's Hut, Bryce's Gorge, Billy Goat Bluff, and Wonnangatta. Approx 80 Min. Normally $34.95, one copy $20. 

8. Heritage Farming in Australia. Building dams, sowing crops, battling droughts and floods, building haystacks, harvesting, hay-cutting, shearing and droving from the 1930s. Heritage Farming in Australia, 60 minutes. Normally $40.00, one copy $20. 

9. Hellfire Pass. Survivors of the Burma-Thailand railway return to honour their mates on Anzac Day 1986. 100,000 men died during construction. Normally $39.95, one copy $20.00. 

10. (the) Last Great Cattle Drive. To celebrate the Australian bicentenary, Pic Willetts takes 1200 cattle from Newcastle Waters to Longreach. An authentic look at cattle droving. Normally $39.95, one copy $20. 

11. Cape York Adventure. Another in the video collection from Mike & Margie Leyland. Features include the Daintree, Lakefield NP, Mossman Gorge, along the Telegraph Line Track and up to Thursday Island. Normally $37.95, four copies $20 each.

12. Cape York - The Great Adventure. From Lifestyle Video as distinct from Mike Leyland's video of the same name. Running time 115 minutes. The adventure, history & beauty of this inaccessible region of Far North Qld. from Split Rock, Coen, Weipa, the Old Telegraph Track, Jardine River, to Cooktown. Normally $32.95, one copy $20. 

13. Destination, North Queensland. Lifestyle Video. Features highlights of the QLD Gulf Country including Lawn Hill, Palmer River Goldfields, Chillagoe, Riversleigh, Normanton and the Daintree. Approx 60 Min. Normally $32.95, one copy $20.

Postage Rates. These items will usually not be found on our website. Orders will be supplied on a ‘first come, first serve’ basis. Westprint normal postage rates are now $8.50 for one book, $11.00 for two books, $13.00 for 3 or more books. Free post applies to orders of more than $150.00. Postage rates apply to Australia only. Airmail postage rates apply to overseas orders. 

Disclaimer.

Please note that the opinions and articles included in the Friday Five are not necessarily those of the Westprint mob. Nor do we endorse products (other than our own) listed in contributed articles.

Friday Forum

Jo’s forum comments in green.  

Trip Notes – Burke Development Road.

·        Just recently we traversed the Burke Development Road from Karumba to Mareeba. At the Mareeba end large amounts of reconstruction is being undertaken by the Councils of the area sometimes reducing access to one lane with Stop/ Go lights. Overall the rest of the road was OK although at times washaways extended to around half of the road width but allowed deviated travel in those places. At odd sections rough, corrugated & sandy patches between Dunbar & Highbury were common but didn't stop progress provided careful attention was observed. All in all the drive was extremely pleasant & should be attempted by any outback tourist looking for a different place to go. A spectacular site to spend time on the way is by visiting the Chillagoe Mungana Limestone Caves. Another is at Gamboola; turn up the Drumduff Road about 1km to Hughes Crossing on the Mitchell River. Tom Prior's Vintage Ford Museum/ BP Depot at Chillagoe was well worth a visit also. Robert & Helen. Grafton NSW  

Trip Notes – CSR and Rudall River 

·        We have done the trip several times over the years and have resupplied fuel at cotton creek aboriginal community. It’s diesel only and last time I checked $3.00 per litre CASH.

If you make it to Wiluna for a Sunday BBQ, make sure you’re early, the last couple of time we have been there on a Sunday it’s been packed and a fantastic night. At this time of the year there will always be lots of travellers in for the evening. Wiluna to well6 is a good days run either way, straight up the stock route or in via Granite peak. This is the best water on the stock route; you can pull it straight from the well to drink. We usually carry empty water containers and fill them there. (I carry 20 litres and 80 are filled at the well). There is lots to see around the well and a lot of places to go walking and looking. Be sure to climb Ingebong hill and marvel at the unique rock formations. On the far side of Ingebong is some native art, there is a vehicle track off the stock route and car park, if you don’t want to walk that far.

It will take most travellers a couple of days to reach Durba, but this is the next real camping spot. Stay a few days and walk around the base of the cliffs, there is a lot of artworks scattered around.

Some of the 4wd fraternity have just rebuilt the Durba dunny, so no need for the old long drop. The campsite here is grassed and very protected.

North of Durba, you will need to cross Savoury Creek, don’t be tempted early, follow the track and do the crossing where the creek is narrower. We have driven straight across every time, but I have heard many horror stories of people bogged for days because they tried to cross where there was no water.

From here to Georgia bore you encounter some good dunes, a couple of them are doubles and a couple more have false crests, a couple of our party got caught last time and I had to snatch them over the last bit of a few of the bigger ones.

Pick your campsites early through these as good spots are a little harder to find and you find yourself running out of shelter, particularly if there has been a fire recently. Also you will likely need to carry some firewood if you need to use camp ovens as larger timber is a little scarce in some areas.

Re fill your water at Georgia bore.

We used Cotton creek for fuel the last time and they were very good. They also showed us the back way into Rudall, this cuts off the corrugated section of the Talawana Track, is likely not faster, just a lot shorter and more fun.

Rudall is very rocky and good campsites are hard to find. If you do follow the track from Cotton Creek, turn left once you get to the river and head toward the main part of the park, there are places to camp just out of the river on the flats.

Do make the drive out to the hanging rock, it’s worth it, I have some fantastic photos taken from the top, there is a cairn there for those willing to climb. Friends of ours spent a night there and photographed it during sunset and sunrise, also magic photo’s but they reckon it’s the coldest night they have ever spent in the bush as its out in the open. You should also visit the Desert Queens Baths; it’s a bit of a walk to get to all of the waterholes but worth it. Take something that floats and be prepared to swim the waterholes as there is no other way, unless they are dry and that is not very likely. There is no drinking water in Rudall, but you should find ample washing water in the many waterholes.

Newman visitor centre have maps with all of the waterholes and tracks on, they may be able to send one to you.

 On our last trip into Rudall, we left via the north road; if you follow it all the way it will join the Telfer mining centre road and return you to Marble bar. If you can make it to Wiluna by July 5th, we will see you there as we are off in a similar direction for our annual desert fix.  

Brett and Robyn

·        Start here http://www.canningstockroutecentenary.com/for-travellers/Canning%20Stock%20Route%20well%20condition%20summary-1.pdf 

Also look on the ExploreOz website for pics. Gard's Canning Stock Route book is also back in print. This is a traveller’s must have. My advice would be to visit every well (the track goes right past most); cast your mind back 100 years and contemplate the effort. Ken. Midland. WA  

·        We have done the CSR twice 2003 & 2008, it's a great trip to do and we will probably do it again. For us the plan was to visit every well, and we achieved this in 2008. I can understand people not being driven to see all wells, it's a personal thing.

Be sure to visit Durba Springs though, and a spur runout to the Calvert Ranges is also a great thing to do if you like Aboriginal Art. Godfrey's Tank is worth the walk, Canning's Cairn is worth the climb, Ingebong Hill is also worth climbing up to the top. Other than that it's all pretty special to us, we love it all from on end to the other, it's a magic place our outback. David  

·        We travelled from well 9 to well 23 in the year 2000 so my notes go back a fair while. How ever, I would not attempt to get to well 20 ever again. The well is 10 km off the CSR (20 km return) and we (both cars, one trying to pull out the other) got so badly stuck at one wet and boggy place, it took us well over 3 hours to dig ourselves free (getting our hands badly scratched by clumps of Spinifex grass which we used to fill into the wheel tracks for extra traction!). What scared us most in this situation was an enormously high pile of soot beside the track, telling the story of somebody bogged there obviously for days... All that was left of Well 20 was an old rusty trough and winch with a caved-in well-shaft, which now, another nearly 10 years on, will hardly be worth the long side-trip and risk of bogging. But of course it is all part of the adventure. Vroni  

Information wanted – Simpson Desert Tours 

·        We are going to Alice Springs early September. Do you know of any companies that offer short trips to the Simpson Desert area from Alice Springs? Not Tagalong as we will not have a car. Monica

Information wanted – Simpson Desert Trailers 

·        We will be visiting Birdsville Races in early September, then plan to travel across the Simpson Dessert. We are after information about where we can safety store / leave our off road camper trailer while we travel across the Simpson and back. Do you know of anywhere in which we can leave our trailer? Sandra

Lake Eyre - Halligan Bay Track

·        Week ending June 19th. Halligan Bay road is rough for approx first ten kilometres with corrugations. From Grossmeuller memorial to the National Park boundary be wary of bulldust holes.

There are bypass tracks around the roughest sections, take it easy and it is not a problem. Bulldust holes & washouts are marked with red flags. Water has receded but is still visible with the waters edge approx 200 metres from Halligan Bay shore, depending on wind direction. There is some evidence of 4WD vehicles driving off the made road and making their own tracks within the National Park & also on to the Lake surface. Expect big fines if you are caught by National Parks officers as both are offences.

A scenic flight over the Lake is still the best way to view it. Flights are available from William Creek, Coober Pedy, Marree, Arkaroola, Wilpena Pound Resort & Rawnsley Park Station to name a few.

There was some rain around the June long weekend. Not enough to cause any problems, has flattened out some of the corrugations on the Oodnadatta Track & kept the dust down for a couple of days.

Please, when travelling on dirt roads in the outback show other travellers a bit of dirt road courtesy by slowing down and giving as much room as possible when passing vehicles in the opposite direction. One of the joys of travelling in the outback is not a broken windscreen. Graeme. Aussie Heritage Tours.

Urea/Uric Acid

Further to our story about Landells, camels, rum and uric acid… 

·        Reading your latest Friday Five - I just had a flash back to my German army days (1979) – we were told to pee into our new boots to ‘break them in and avoid blisters’. I never tried. Walter 

Friday Funnies

 

·        Vegetarian - ancient word for poor hunting skills

·        Panicking when her toddler swallowed a tiny magnet; my sister Betty, rushed him to the emergency room. "He'll be fine," the doctor promised her. "The magnet should pass through his system in a day or two."

"How will I be sure?" she pressed.

"Well," the doctor suggested, "you could stick him on the refrigerator. When he falls off, you'll know."

 

True Story (but funny anyway)

·        In the early 1900s when you couldn't count on a public toilet facility, an English woman was planning a trip to India. She was registered to stay in a small guest house owned by the local schoolmaster. She was concerned as to whether the guest house contained a WC. In England, a bathroom is commonly called a WC which stands for "Water Closet". She wrote to the schoolmaster inquiring of the facilities about the WC.
The school master, not fluent in English, asked the local priest if he knew the meaning of WC. Together they pondered possible meanings of the letters and concluded that the lady wanted to know if there was a "Wayside Chapel" near the house . . . a bathroom never entered their minds. So the schoolmaster wrote the following reply:
Dear Madam,
I take great pleasure in informing you that the WC is located 9 miles from the house. It is located in the middle of a grove of pine trees, surrounded by lovely grounds. It is capable of holding 220 people and is open on Sundays and Thursdays. As there are many people expected in the summer months, I suggest you arrive early. There is, however, plenty of standing room. This is an unfortunate situation especially if you are in the habit of going regularly. It may be of some interest to you that my daughter was married in the WC as it was there that she met her husband. It was a wonderful event.... There were 10 people in every seat. It was wonderful to see the expressions on their faces. We can take photos as well. My wife, sadly, has been ill and unable to go recently. It has been almost a year since she went last, which pains her greatly. You will be pleased to know that many people bring their lunch and make a day of it. Others prefer to wait till the last minute and arrive just in time. I would recommend Your Ladyship plan to go on a Thursday as there is an organ accompaniment. The acoustics are excellent and even the most delicate sounds can be heard everywhere. The newest addition is a bell which rings every time a person enters. We are holding a bazaar to provide plush seats for all since many feel it is long needed. I look forward to escorting you there myself and seating you in a place where you can be seen by all. We hope you will like the WC entirely. We look forward to your arrival.

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Cheers for now,

Jo

 

 

 

 

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