mrbishi
Adventurer
DAY 1
With the Challenger packed the previous night we started the day at 5am brimming with anticipation after a restless sleep. I never seem to be able to sleep very well before a big trip - I'm like a kid before Christmas.
We made our way in light traffic to the meeting point at Bindoon Bakery. Arriving about 30min early we found Jayden & Chrissie and Cooko & family already there. They must have been as excited and ready to go as us!
The rest of the group rolled in on time and after a quick chat, coffee and breakfast sausage rolls we were finally on the road.
We made good time through the rolling hills past New Norcia. The new Boss adjustable shocks in the Challenger were working like a treat on the 9 setting. Fully loaded she ate up the bends and bumps on the less than perfect Great Northern highway with ease.
The monastery at New Norcia
Finally the scenery started to change into more open farming country. We pulled into Wubin for a quick refuel and stretch of the legs. It was here that I found out that I was the only petrol vehicle with the group at this stage - everyone else had to line up for the diesel bowser
Back on the road again after overtaking a couple of road trains (worked really well being on the radio letting those in the back know when it was clear) we hit "The Outback". The roads became smooth, long and flat with views as far as the eye could see. The vegetation became sparser and the ground a mix of wild flowers and red dirt.
Welcome to the Outback
The familiar signs from when I did my trip to Broome
After a good stretch of driving we pulled into Paynes Find Roadhouse. This was the last chance to fuel up and gather any last minute supplies before we headed out into station country for the next 3 days.
Getting supplies at Paynes Find
Paynes Find is approximately 430km north east of Perth and was a former gold mining town. These days all that remains is a few run down buildings and a roadhouse.
Welcome to the Outback and red dust
From Paynes Find we headed about another km up the highway and turned off onto the unsealed Paynes-Sandstone road. It was at this point it truly felt like the adventure had begun. With everyone aired down and spread out in convoy due to the thick red dust, we did approximately 40km before turning off into a little side track onto Pindabunna Station.
Some of the vehicles on the trip
With the Challenger packed the previous night we started the day at 5am brimming with anticipation after a restless sleep. I never seem to be able to sleep very well before a big trip - I'm like a kid before Christmas.
We made our way in light traffic to the meeting point at Bindoon Bakery. Arriving about 30min early we found Jayden & Chrissie and Cooko & family already there. They must have been as excited and ready to go as us!
The rest of the group rolled in on time and after a quick chat, coffee and breakfast sausage rolls we were finally on the road.
We made good time through the rolling hills past New Norcia. The new Boss adjustable shocks in the Challenger were working like a treat on the 9 setting. Fully loaded she ate up the bends and bumps on the less than perfect Great Northern highway with ease.
The monastery at New Norcia
Finally the scenery started to change into more open farming country. We pulled into Wubin for a quick refuel and stretch of the legs. It was here that I found out that I was the only petrol vehicle with the group at this stage - everyone else had to line up for the diesel bowser
Back on the road again after overtaking a couple of road trains (worked really well being on the radio letting those in the back know when it was clear) we hit "The Outback". The roads became smooth, long and flat with views as far as the eye could see. The vegetation became sparser and the ground a mix of wild flowers and red dirt.
Welcome to the Outback
The familiar signs from when I did my trip to Broome
After a good stretch of driving we pulled into Paynes Find Roadhouse. This was the last chance to fuel up and gather any last minute supplies before we headed out into station country for the next 3 days.
Getting supplies at Paynes Find
Paynes Find is approximately 430km north east of Perth and was a former gold mining town. These days all that remains is a few run down buildings and a roadhouse.
Welcome to the Outback and red dust
From Paynes Find we headed about another km up the highway and turned off onto the unsealed Paynes-Sandstone road. It was at this point it truly felt like the adventure had begun. With everyone aired down and spread out in convoy due to the thick red dust, we did approximately 40km before turning off into a little side track onto Pindabunna Station.
Some of the vehicles on the trip
