Date: July 23rd 2010

Westprint Friday Five July 23, 2010  

Included this week:

·    Sat phone hire

·    Desert Parks Bulletin

·    Tanami Road

 

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Friday Five 23.07.2010

 

1. My Dear Emma  Edited by Robert Tyler IV. This book follows Tyler and his son as they travel from England to Australia in the 1890s, elucidating everything about everyday life from washing to eating - mining to shopping. A delightfully contemporaneous account of life on the goldfields. $29.95 plus post. Add to Cart

2. Offbeat Australia   David Astle. Your guide to the weird and wonderful places that most tourists miss. Explore the odd places that make Australia truly offbeat. Find out where you can sleep with lions, join a riverboat postman on his rounds, or rent a cave for the night. Mixing travel with trivia and history with mystery, this book is the ideal glove-box companion. S/cover 420 pages $24.95 plus post. Add to Cart 

3. Wildhorse Creek Kerry McGinnis. From the bestselling author of Pieces of Blue and The Waddi Tree comes a spellbinding novel about loyalty, friendship and first love. Young Billy Martin runs from home, burying his past in the quest for a future. He finds it in Queensland 's spectacular Gulf Country, on the sprawling cattle runs.The Gulf breeds tough men, and Billy is quickly drawn to the excitement and adventure of working with the fiery cattleman and ex-con, Blake Reilly, and his daughter, Jo. Billy finds mateship, danger and romance in the Gulf, but he also finds an untamed land with a history of violence. In the brooding heat and unpredictable storms, the future he had sought unfolds - in ways as turbulent and unexpected as the country itself - and Billy discovers a place where he can at last belong. 32.95 Add to Cart

More treasures from the combined Westprint collection.  

4. Great Victoria Desert . Mark Shephard. Second hand, hard cover with dust jacket. Good condition. A comprehensive guide with detailed maps and striking photos. One copy only $100 including post in Australia .

5.  Die bibel Oder die ganze heilige schrift des alten und neuen testaments, verdeutscht von d. martin Luther. Bible containing old and new testaments. Second Hand, good condition. No dust jacket German text in Gothic style print. 1889. Binding all intact and in good condition. Cover has some wear and has brown paper stuck on part of the front (I think this could probably be easily removed with a damp cloth, but I haven’t tried). Stamp inside front cover reads G. Siemsen. Apia . Samoa . $90.00 including post in Australia . 

Still available from last week. Reach for the Sky and Head-hunters of the Coral Sea .  

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.  

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.

 

Friday Forum

Jo’s comments are in green.  

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 any products (other than our own), or tours listed in contributed articles.  

What’s happening in the bush? Wanted: trip notes to share in the Friday Five. Please email to info@westprint.com.au  

Reversing Cameras

We have received a new shipment of the Hema Navigators and have heaps on hand. Hema have also recently released their compatible Reversing Camera.  

• Until the end of July we are offering all past HN 5 Navigator buyers (from Westprint) and any new purchasers a 10% discount on the Reversing Camera option. Normally retailing at $149.00 this makes the camera just $134.00 till 31st July 2010 . Buy Reversing Camera. (The discount is allowed for in this link). The Navigator remains at $990.00 in its basic configuration.

Other great package deals for the Navigator include:

1. Add all the Westprint digital maps for just $59.95 (25 maps) A saving of around $200 over buying all our digital maps individually
2. Add the Spatial Vision map set of Victoria for an extra $210.00 This includes a new SD card (16Gb) town maps @ 1:20,000 scale, regional maps @ 1:50,000 scale and a mosaic map of Victoria @ 1:100,000 scale.

Tanami Road  

·    We received a call this week from the Halls Creek Shire letting us know that the Tanami Road has been very wet this year. They are concerned about people using the road when it is wet and making conditions worse. Being such a long road, when they close each end there are still a number of vehicles along the track. They would urge that if you are travelling and creating wheel tracks on the road of any more than 40mm (about 2 inches) that you find an area of high ground and simply stop for a while. Most often the road dries within 24 hours.  

Book Wanted  

·    Do you know if the book “Plants of Western New South Wales” is still in print? It was published by the Soil Conservation Service of NSW. The authors were G.M. Cunningham, W.E. Mulham, P.L. Milthorpe and J.H. Leigh. The ISBN number is ISBN 0 7240 2003 9.

A friend of mine has a copy and it is an excellent text for outback plants. George  

As far as I know, this book is out of print. Does anyone have a copy they want to sell?  

Information Wanted – Western Australian Roads

·    We will be travelling from Meekatharra as directly as feasible to Kalgoorlie  and thence the Nullarbor, in early Sept, on way from Broome to relocate in Sydney .

Our Nissan Patrol and TVan will be too heavily laden to travel on any but good and shortish dirt roads - need to stay on the hard stuff as much as feasible.

Can anyone advise us please re the Wiluna North Rd (that follows the pipe line down to Wiluna) where we can pick up the Goldfields Road . And/or Meekatharra to Sandstone - and also Sandstone to Menzies sections- or is there a better route? Our fuel range is 1500 km plus. Collyn

Information Wanted – Lake Eyre South

·    I am looking at heading up to Marree shortly and I was just curious to know if the water has reached Lake Eyre South enough to be seen from the bottom end. If not, where is the best place to see water in the Lake as it has always been dry on my travels through the area? Graham

From Last Week - Hiring Satellite Phones

Thank you to everyone who sent emails. We had an overwhelming number of responses to this query. A summary is below.  

This is from the Friday Five 17^th August 2007

·    I used a company called “Satellite Hire” out of Darwin who charged me $18/day and $1/day for a spare battery.

The phone came in sturdy plastic case via TNT with return satchel already filled in, all I had to do this morning ring TNT for a pick-up – it could not be easier and beats pushing the BMW 300km down the Birdsville track.

The company was great to deal with – the ‘tyranny of distance’ dealing with a Darwin company non-existent – the phone arrives 2 days prior to departure without charge. Walter

 

·    Most TJM stores or ARB Nundah can arrange a hire sat phone for you or look on www.landwide.com.au

 

·    We have a couple of Iridium satphones available for hire from Gippsland or Melbourne SE suburbs. The user would require their own Telstra SIM card. Ron & Andrea Camier. MOUNTAIN-TOP EXPERIENCE www.mountaintopexperience.com

·    The company is Satpac Pty Ltd; address PO Box 255 Runaway Bay Qld 4216. Ph is (07) 5500 5501; fax (07) 5500 5529.

http://www.rentasatphone.com.au/Pricing/Rental-plans/Australia

http://www.brisbanesatellitephonehire.com.au/

http://www.realtimeplatform.com/  

·    Re Sat phone hire. All these mobs hire out sat phones, but their rates and minimum hire period vary quite a bit. Pays to shop around. Aus2Way in Melbourne were the cheapest over a short duration (less than a week). Just confirm they have sent it a few days before you go. Ian  

http://www.satellitehire.com.au/pricing.htm

http://www.epirbhire.com.au/sat.htm   

http://www.satcomhire.com.au/

http://www.satellitephonehire.com.au/satphone.html

http://www.rentasatphone.com.au/

http://www.ascs.com.au/10%20rental.html

http://ascs.blue-onion.com.au/pricing.php

http://www.epirbhire.com.au/prices.htm

http://www.aus2way.com.au/  

In reply to the lady wanting info on satphones, why? I had two of them and both were useless! Lucille

 

DESERT PARKS BULLETIN

National Parks and Wildlife South Australia. Outback Region. No. 364 22nd July 2010  

Check road and weather bulletins and local conditions before travelling into the Outback Region. Speed limits of 40km per hour apply within all Parks. For up to date public road information outside of National Parks, please call the Transport SA Road Condition Hotline on 1300 361 033 or visit the Transport SA web site on http://www.transport.sa.gov.au/quicklinks/northern_roads/northern.asp.  

Be aware that entry to Desert Parks requires a day/overnight permit or a Desert Parks Pass that must be displayed on the vehicle windscreen.

 

   LAKE EYRE NATIONAL PARK

Water is entering Lake Eyre from the Warburton Groove to the north but is slowing down.  Water from Cooper Creek has entered Lake Eyre. The best way to see water in Lake Eyre is still from the air.  Local charters are available at William Creek and Marree.  

Halligan Bay Track – Open to 4WD with caution. This track is a declared Public Access Route. It is a bush track, not a road. Planning and grading will occur on this track in the near future. Drive with caution as the landscape is fragile and the track will deteriorate due to the unusually high number of vehicles using it.  Be aware of bulldust and pot holes, corrugations, and washouts.  Please drive to track conditions. Driving on the Lake surface is an offence and dangerous. 4WD only along this track.  Trailers and caravans are not recommended.  

Level Post Bay Track – Open to 4WD with caution.  No camping at Level Post Bay – camping at Muloorina campground.  

INNAMINCKA REGIONAL RESERVE  

Recent rains have caused all roads leading to Innamincka and around the Regional Reserve to close. Roads may be open again by early next week.  

Coongie Track, Walkers Crossing Track, 15 Mile Track and Access to Cooper Creek, Cullyamurra Track, Bore Track – All Closed due to rain.  

Bore Track - Contact Bollards Lagoon (61 8 8091 3873) prior to crossing private land.

 

    WITJIRA NATIONAL PARK and the SIMPSON DESERT RESERVES  

Witjira National Park – Open 4WD with caution. Access to Witjira from Oodnadatta is closed due to recent rains.  Please note Pedirka Public Access Route closed until further notice. Access to Dalhousie via Bloods Creek. Grading will take place in the near future. Please use caution when approaching machinery or areas that have not been graded as some washouts may look small but are quite deep.  Drive with caution and to road/track conditions as roads/tracks are over a fragile landscape and deteriorate rapidly.  Visitors should purchase permits or Desert Parks Passes before travelling to Witjira.   

Spring Creek Delta is permanently closed, so use the by-pass road east of Dalhousie Springs.  

The Dalhousie airstrip is currently closed to public use until further notice.  

Simpson Desert – Open to 4WD.   

Flooding of the Eyre and Warburton Creeks has altered through access to Birdsville and Clifton Hills. QAA Line to Birdsville is open sign-posted detours at Eyre Creek and Big Red.  The Warburton Crossing to Clifton Hills is closed.  Due to sand drifts and green growth from recent rains, some of the tracks are hard to locate, such as the WAA and south of the Knolls.  Use a GPS and travel in convoy.  Due to sand drift, some dunes may require 2 – 3 attempts to get over. Some salt lakes have water in them so please drive around these to reduce the risk of becoming bogged.  Carry extra fuel reserves as up to 50% more fuel may be used currently than a normal desert crossing. The use of trailers in the Simpson Desert is strongly discouraged.  Visitors are advised to carry a HF radio or sat phone and limit the total load of their vehicles. However, do take extra reserves of fuel, food and water. Check local conditions before travelling in the area. Satellite phones are available to hire for Simpson Desert trips from Mt Dare Hotel and the Wirrari Tourism Centre in Birdsville.  

Warburton Crossing – Closed until further notice. Water from the Birdsville/Bedourie area will keep the Warburton Crossing closed for an unknown time.  

Gary Junction Road  

·    Talawana track, Gary Highway , Gary Junction Road, Sandy Blight Track

We travelled the above roads between July 5th and July 11th this year. Rain began falling as we departed Newman. The Talawana track west of the Canning was in good condition although very corrugated between Georgia Bore and Cotton creek. The Talawana Track east of the Canning was in good condition. the Gary Highway from Windy Corner to Gary Junction was in good condition with water lying in places. The Gary Junction Road was very difficult travelling on the Western Australia side. Deep water completely covered the road in many places requiring detours to the sides through very soft surfaces. There was frequent deep mud. Little evidence of any other vehicles apart from a group of two which we caught up with at Jupiter Well.  Although roads quickly dry out, I suspect that the surface of this road will be poor, chopped up and relatively slow going for some time.  This road is normally a very good road on which good speeds can be maintained. The Sandy Blight Track was in good condition although some deep water patches at the Kintore end. Diesel at Kiwirrkurra was $2.80 per litre. John and Beth  

·    Just another comment, regarding Gary Junction Road :

I guess it would be a good idea to call the Police in Alice Springs , concerning road conditions, they should know: (08) 8951 8888. I would also call Kunawarritji and Kiwirrkurra communities for road conditions: Kunawarritji: 08 91769040

Kiwirrkurra: Sorry, phone number not at hand at the moment.

Also ask for current road conditions in the forum at www.exploroz.com, there should be some people in this forum who have travelled the Gary Junction Road lately.

As said before, this road is a good dirt road. However, one shall not speed, as there may be some little surprises like washouts, dust holes etc. I remember some sharp and sudden bends /curves in the track. This is extremely remote country, and there have been reported deaths from this road (some time ago two Aboriginal people died from dehydration after their vehicle had broken down). Therefore make sure to carry plenty of water. In my eyes, long range communication by sat phone or HF radio should also be secured.

Cheers from bl..dy hot and boring Dortmund/Germany (36°C, but quite high air moisture, my office feels like a sauna), Juergen  

A Correction

I am surprised that no-one has corrected the nomenclature of the Gunbarrel from last week. Unfortunately some maps are also incorrect.

The OLD GUNBARREL is the section between the Stuart Highway and  a point 28 km East of Giles on the Gunbarrel, passing through Mulga Park and Kalka. It is now known as the Giles-Mulga Park road, and it is almost impossible to get a permit for it.

The section of the Gunbarrel 17 km west of Giles heading west to Jackie Junction is called the ABANDONNED SECTION of the Gunbarrel. I hope this doesn’t cause more confusion.

Don  

 

News from the West  

Whale carcass sighted outside reef near Pilgramunna in Ningaloo Marine Park

The Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) wishes to advise that a whale carcass has been reported outside the reef in the Ningaloo Marine Park in the vicinity of the Pilgramunna campsite. Several large sharks have also been sighted near the carcass therefore swimmers and snorkelers are advised not to enter the water near this location until further notice.

Operators are asked to be aware of the increased likelihood of shark presence and activity all along the coastline in the area surrounding Pilgramunna.

For further information please contact the DEC Exmouth District Office on (08) 9947 8000.  

Friday Funnies  

I called the local newspaper's classified section to complain about an ad I'd placed.

It was obvious the person who took my information had never spent any time on a farm.

"I said 'ewes,'" I argued.

"Pardon?" replied the operator.

"Ewes. It makes a difference to some people."

The ad that was placed read: "Sheep for sale - USED."  

THE OLDER CROWD
A distraught senior citizen phoned her doctor's office. 'Is it true,' she wanted to know, 'that the medication you prescribed has to be taken for the rest of my life?' 'Yes, I'm afraid so,' the doctor told her.

There was a moment of silence before the lady replied, 'I 'm wondering then, just how serious is my condition because this prescription is marked 'No Repeats'.'  

An older gentleman was on the operating table awaiting surgery and he insisted that his son, a renowned surgeon, perform the operation. As he was about to get the anaesthesia, he asked to speak to his son. 'Yes, Dad, what is it?

'Don't be nervous, son; do your best and just remember, if it doesn't go well, if something happens to me, your mother is going to come and live with you and your wife....'

 

Eventually you will reach a point when you stop lying about your age and start bragging about it.

The older we get, the fewer things seem worth waiting in line for.

Some people try to turn back their odometers. Not me! I want people to know why I look this way. I've travelled a long way and some of the roads weren't paved!  

When you are dissatisfied and would like to go back to youth, think of Algebra.

You know you are getting old when everything either dries up or leaks.

First you forget names, then you forget faces. Then you forget to pull up your zipper. It's worse when you forget to pull it down.

Long ago when men cursed and beat the ground with sticks, it was called witchcraft... Today, it's called golf.  

'Lord, keep your arm around my shoulder, and your hand over my mouth!

 

To all of our Faithful Friday Five readers.

Please be aware that there are numerous reasons why your email address may be deleted from our system. One of the main difficulties is that many spam companies also use the program we use for publishing and this means the Friday Five may be rejected as spam. If you do not regularly continue to get the Friday Five please check with Graeme at info@westprint.com.au Remember to include a phone number or other alternative contact.

New email addresses are constantly and automatically being added to our list. If you do not wish to be part of our Friday Five group then please unsubscribe from the link at the bottom of this newsletter. This takes effect immediately. Westprint apologises for any inconvenience. 

Cheers for now,

Jo

 

 

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