14th Sept- King Ash Bay - 0615hrs start the final pack – annexe etc –
It's Sunday, cooked Breakfast and cheerio’s
with departure around 1015hrs.

These blokes camped in the cabins and packing when we departed and over took us and hour earlier. One boat trailer – OVER LOADED, even assuming the 8 fuel drums are MT, they have a major problem. Tire or axle let go or Vs Vs, a station hand was on site not much we could do. Did not want to embarrass them any more with photo's.

2nd Rest Area on the Barkley - The Windmill is still SCREECHING!

336k's = Gravel pit opposite truckie rest area and 500mtr north of Microwave tower. Much quieter camp and off the

Barkley 200mtrs or so.

440k's - steady drive 6.3 hours, with stiff head winds, camp and treasures - a bike cargo rack, a few minor scratches and new mounting bracket required, all easy to fix, another SHED project!

Quiet camp at the Camooweal Billabong, just west of town

Camped right below this guy's nesting hole

Guess it saves one star picket

Not quite boxed in at this rest area east of Cloncurry

18th Sept. 5 days on the road and 1,930ks take a couple of days off. Planning to arrive Melbourne Saturday 27th

Great camp spot on the east side of Coopers Creek,
easy access to the creek.

Fishing line soon in the creek - soaking a bait

A small yellow belly, back in the creek to grow bigger

Check out all the other camp site - we got the best with the easy access to the creek and very quiet

Now that's worth_____

______filleting x 2 that size and Kow Tom or Tom Yam Plar

Semi loaded with hay crossing the Coopers

How these guy's don't knock themselves
out entering that small hole at full speed??

Kyabra Creek in southwest Queensland starts at an elevation of 143m and ends at an elevation of 120m merging with the Cooper Creek.The Kyabra Creek drops around 23.2m over its 155km length.

Had better days. Also this lot - just as well we did not plan on going via Charleville __-

Truck hauling fertiliser explodes in outback Queensland, injuring 8

Updated 7 Sep 2014, 7:04amSun 7 Sep 2014, 7:04am

Wreckage of an accident where a truck exploded south of Charleville.

PHOTO: The explosion was felt in nearby towns, with the scene likened to a "bomb blast". (Supplied: Qld Police Service)

A police spokesman said the blast was so powerful the truck "disintegrated", destroying two firefighting vehicles along with it and causing "catastrophic" damage to the Mitchell Highway.

Authorities said it could be more than a week before they reopen the road. Two road bridges were destroyed and a major section of the highway was missing.

The tanker, carrying more than 50 tonnes of the chemical, rolled on the highway about 30 kilometres south of Charleville just before 10:00pm (AEST) on Friday.

Inquisitive calf checking out our drying red claw traps, camped at Lake Houdraman - 6k's North of Quilpe.

Some of the massive sugar gums around the lake.

60k's south of Quilpe is_______

"The pub without a town". Cobb and Co. once serviced this town with it's regular coach schedule. All that remains today from those early pioneering days in the Toompine Hotel (circa 1893), is a population of two.

The Toompine pub

Short drive today - 236k's to Eulo and camp on the ______

Flood heights - some serious water in 2010,
hence the ____________

Technology at work

Not sure if this is a flood relic or a locals sense of humor

Diprotodon, meaning "two forward teeth", is the largest known marsupial ever to have lived. Along with many other members of a group of unusual species collectively called the "Australian megafauna", it existed from approximately 1.6 million years ago until extinction some 46,000 years ago.

Diprotodon species fossils have been found in sites across mainland Australia, including complete skulls and skeletons, as well as hair and foot impressions. Female skeletons have been found with babies located where the mother's pouch would have been. The largest specimens were hippopotamus-sized: about 3 metres (10 ft) from nose to tail, standing 2 metres (6.6 ft) tall at the shoulder and weighing about 2,800 kilograms (6,200 lb). They inhabited open forest, woodlands, and grasslands, possibly staying close to water, and eating leaves, shrubs, and some grasses.

The closest surviving relatives of Diprotodon are the wombats and the koala.

Correctly labeled

Magic honey when ever you a passing thru - the creamed honey is the best - $10 for 1kg bucket at the Post Office - see below

The post office now an art local products store, further down the main drag is another interesting shop selling hand made leather products

Cunnumulla all quite as we arrived early – refuelled, laundry mat not open, on to Bourke – info ctr, water tanks 1 and drinking topped up. Traffic fairly light, the track a bit bouncy in places, finally some quartering tail wind.

We are now on the Kidman Way - Route B87 - 644km

The Kidman Way is an important highway in New South Wales (NSW),Australia, which is designated as B87. It is named after Sir Sidney Kidman, Australian cattle king and philanthropist who owned a large number of cattle stations along the path, many still owned by his descendants. It is an important beef route linking the area to Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney. It is fully sealed and provides motorists glimpses of the outback without resorting to four-wheel drive.

The Kidman Way runs almost 800 km through outback New South Wales. The Kidman Way officially starts just outside Jerilderie, which is 35 km north of Finley on the Newell Highway. From Jerilderie, The Kidman Way heads north through the lush Riverina area towards Griffith, passing through the small towns of Coleambally and Darlington Point, where there are some picnic areas beside the Murrumbidgee River. Griffith is a large regional centre, in the heart of the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area (MIA), surrounded by vineyards (seventy per cent of NSW’s wine is produced in this area), orchards and ricefields.

From Griffith, The Kidman Way heads north 366 km through the vast, open western plains to Cobar. This is where the outback begins, with plenty of kangaroos and emus and giant tumbleweeds roll across the roads. The first 100 or so kilometres from the MIA are still fairly green passing through towns such as Goolgowi and Merriwagga. Hillston is the next town along The Kidman Way.

Bourke - Lunch at Mick’s Grubby Cafe – Hamburger with the LOT is an understatement for $7.5 – menu stated $9.5 anyway who’s to complain. Burger consisted of - Beef patty, tomato, cheese, bacon, lettuce, fried egg, grilled pineapple, beetroot, grilled onion, BBQ sauce and the BUN!

Take away from Grubby’s - White Chocolate and Raspberry Cheese cake for tea – Yum, Yum – yeah! The hamburger and Sue’s fish n chips got the better of us.

Entering fruit fly country - thus peeled and stewed our fruit

Lachlan River – magic spot with dead European Carp

on the bank x 5, and jumping in the river.

As inviting as is looks we are not into CARP!

We are ahead of schedule and with heavy rain forecast - we camped here for 2 nights.

Plus our Troopy was due for an oil change just over 6k on the clock, oil purchased at Cobar Cobar a neat tidy town, IGA, Autopro and a Subway.

Local rancher moving a heard of cattle, took 3 tries
to get them across the bridge

Hillston local

Off at day light no rain during the night, light rain into Hillston, onto Griffith more rain. Bouncy road, left rear tire deflating slowly – rim!! This is # 3. More on this latter!

Found Bridgestone and Laundry Mat all on Bannan St, main drag, plus dump point at Willow Park. Tubed the tire as suspected the rim has failed # 3. Vinnies book - The Shark Bite Back (Greg Norman) for a $1, and a great RM Williams leather belt for $4.

Finley– neat and tidy towns. BP on Sturt Hwy at Darlington Point great and the cheapest fuel seen so far down the track @ $1.519/ltr.

Cruised thru Sheppardton - a BIG town, and traffic lights. Seymour checked out Aldi neat store and products we do not know.

How can they sell WA Strawberries for $0.99/250gm

South side of the bridge to Apex Beach, muddy and pot holes getting into our magic camp spot, Apex Beach crowded – thus we have a camp to ourselves with the blue wrens, magpies and Kookaburra’s laughing in the distance.

No tea required after milo and banana bread for afternoon tea @ 1330hrs.

Our camp

Apex Beach

Out for a quick bike ride, hell of a track after the beach and a camp site full of litter, tent poles burnt, tent fabric sort of covering the trash, frying pan with sticker on the bottom still, bent handle and a ding in the base, but the Teflon in good nick – no room on the bike for the tent fabric and pan. Bog hole’s thru the track – a quick wash down in the puddle alongside the van will suffice for now.

The mighty River Murray

Visit Yea another neat town with more tailgaters on the Goulburn Hwy then onto Melba Hwy – to Toolangi Resv.

Magic camped in the tall timber

Rather chilly in the AM

'A WHEELY GOOD SUIT CASE' Motor Home, with a VAWT,

alas the lady did not venture out of her van to have a chat about the VAWT.

This is the developers UK web site with the 70 VAWT etc.
forgenrenewables.com/buy-products/wind-turbines/vertical-axis/forgen-ventus-70-vertical-axis-wind-turbine-(solarwind-hybrid)/

Checkout the Australian distributor Solar Zone - supplier of the FORGEN - VAWT These guy's have a 500 and the 1000 model being the closest to the 70.

0610hrs on the road – hot air balloons x 4 @ Yarra Glen. Onto East Link = FANTASTIC!! 106k’s 1hr 47min and only $5.93 avoiding 45 traffic lights. As it's Saturday light traffic at this early hour and the GPS kept us on track. Arriving and John & Helen's place in Mornington EARLY!

Parked up in the drive way and then coffee all round

All done and tinnie off loaded by 1100hrs = on schedule with 3,790ks now behind us.

The last of the 'CLUTCH PEDAL'. We are going 'AUTOMATIC' hence our travel to Melbourne (SHOW) with Marks Adapters installing this -

Toyota LandCruiser 76, 78 & 79 Series 1VD 4.5L V8 Turbo Diesel to 6 Speed Automatic Transmission conversion

This conversion suits all 2007 to current models including utes, wagons, dual cabs & troopys

The 6 speed 6L90 transmission we have selected for this conversion is used in many heavy duty GM applications such as vans, trucks and pickups. These are rated to a maximum engine power of 223kw (300hp) and maximum engine torque of 705nm (550lb-ft). They are rated up to a GVM of 6,803 kg and a GCM of 9,525 kg which is more than any 70 series will ever need.

Our 6 speed automatic conversion is a bolt in setup, the transmission bolts to the original cross member using the factory mounting rubber. The transfer case remains in the factory location so your factory tail shafts are reused without modification. The factory low range lever bolts to the side of the new transmission with our interface bracket.

Once on the road you will experience a slick smooth shifting auto that will totally transform your Land Cruiser. You will take off with no effort even when loaded to the GCM due to the low 4.030 first gear. Cruising down the highway at 100km/h with the engine sitting at 1800rpm ... just a little better than the factory 2350rpm - imagine the fuel saving!

The 6L90 automatic transmission has 4 selectable shift modes:

D or D6 - standard automatic shift (all 6 gears)
D4 - standard automatic shift with gears 1 to 4 (gears 5 & 6 locked out)
Tow haul mode - holds gears longer, increased shift pressures and engine braking
Tiptronic or full manual shift with lock up torque converter

http://www.marks4wd.com/mfk20200.html

John & Helen's house very spacious and some good ideas, with picture windows - note no soft furnishings required with Giamar - Roller Tilt Shutters.

GIAMAR - Roller-Tilt-Shutters

John & Helen took us to for a drive around the local area,

and historic sites.

The walking did us some good after 10 day's on the road.

John & Helen's place - our Troopy conversion still getting some software issue's sorted out.

Our vehicle is only the 5th one done to date.

Ah! our rim/s issue, this is in fact the 4th rim pin hole / crack issue, two we still on our spare wheel carries to get replaced when we toured via Perth in 2015 or 16. With the fellow at Bridgestone Griffith suggesting I call King Wheels as the rims have life time warranty.

I called 1600 hrs on Friday, and explained the issue's. King made some calls with a call back within 30 minutes and advised 3 rim's would be delivered to The Tyre Place - Tyabb Road, Mornington, just around the corner from John & Helen's. They were delivered on Tuesday morning when we dropped by to let Andrew know we were in the area and waiting for our vehicle to be returned - Fantastic response and service by King Wheels along with Andrew at The Tire Place whom charged King for the tire fittings etc.

Have still to contact King Wheels to find
out why the rim's are failing??

Our vehicle has been returned and loading with John's assistance. A test drive and fine tune with Leigh from Marks Adapters on Friday morning 10th Oct.

Loaded and good to go, with some mod's to our GPS mountings __

John has an amazing work shop, with this angled air drill for difficult places

Leigh fine tuning our Auto

A leather boot cover for the transmission cover as apposed to the molded console as the pax seat needs to slide forward.

Aluminium radiator and auto trans cooler.

Auto trans and EGT port and probe

Test drive and fine tune completed, it's time to hit the road, what a dream to drive with the van on!

Fond farewells and see ya! KAB in 2015.
Our escape from Melbourne - Mid morning on a Friday - M3 East Link, traffic was light and moving along, to the edge of Melbourne. Then it all got confusing and information over load - follow the GPS, and signage. We were sure glad to see the M79 Calder Hwy sign, alas it took us onto the M2 City Link Toll Road
- $15.63 thank you.
All in all a good run and no drama, we were so happy we kept truckin' to_____

308k's up the road to Skinners Flats - we were the only one's there, with some good walking trails _____

Avoiding the bee hives!

Back in the bush with sunsets!!

Off 0630hrs still sort of dark. Cruise thru to Mildura all good getting the hang of driving the auto.

Hogs Breath Cafe for lunch, < $50 for steaks and drinks – magic meal. Office works – Laser mono printer for $45 + $15 for USB cable good to go!!

Refueled at BP the cheapest in town, and on the road for another hour or so. 6 hours & 4 minutes = 447k’s that's long enough and camped at Rest Area #140 Yamba East just out side of Renmark and the fruit fly inspection check point.

We can tell we are back in South Australia FLIES!!

Off very early thru the quarantine check point – potatoes and garlic, onions, carrots all okay – thus the 2 bags of Garlic I found in the bushes at Yamba East all good.

Chook stirred us up and sent thru a photo and called later – a 22# snapper hooked on a #6 whiting hook, took 10++ minutes to land.

Now that's a 'FISH'

All good thru the hills letting the auto do it’s thing, what a breeze to drive. Refuelled at Port Augusta .14 cent cheaper than PLN.

Fitzgerald Bay magic view coming down the hill – impressive.

Soon camped up and off for a bike ride after our 499k drive, yep! the horse has bolted we are heading for HOME!

The Shingle Beach ridge

Wind howling all night and rain at times. Off 0550hrs – up the hill no drama, good steady crawl 2^nd and mostly 3^rd. Thru Whyalla before the city woke up.

Then it was into the gusty and stiff to strong head winds with scattered showers. Dropping back on all the hills as the EGT 500++, sucked the fuel all the way with 22.6 LPHK for the 298k’s to Lincoln.

Sticky buns and coffee at Tumby – hot coffee and bun all very reasonably priced.

At the Tumby Bay Bakery the women who serve all this deliciousness, make you feel special – their warmth, humour and attention to your requirements equal the food as a very satisfying human experience.

As their web site states - Very pleasant staff,

Oh! the bun's was buttered!!

We are soon booking into our Chiro - Andy to get us adjusted and moving correctly.

Dropped over to give Chook a hand with his paving project

2 squid landed - good eating size.

'Descale Magic' from Woollies. Time to descale the kettle - just did the coffee machine and not to waste the liquid I used the drain off for the kettle - works a treat_________

Wow! no chemicals, and Non-Toxic

After using this product for the very first time you too will

believe "IT'S MAGIC". (their quote)

Tea at Anthony and Tammy's - who's Mr Serious.

Beauty! Chooks got a helper!

Back in the SHED for a week and off again, up the Far West Coast - FISHING - see Blog, Oct - Nov 14 Far West Coast

Whislt away up the coast fishing - Bill had repaired our damaged swing gate / fence - great job Bill.

Road side treasure - our neighbour had placed it in her rubbish collection area - now I have a use in mind for this______

Check out the cost of garlic and ginger

Our 'Beema' golf buggy. Look closely for the name.

As we are now LOCAL'S we felt the need to support the locals to help preserve the Brinkworth Reserve

Brinkworth-reserve-here-are-our-facts/

A good turn out, here's hoping it all helps. We will be using the reserve in future.

Me and Margaret Tilsner - local historian

It's SUNDAY! - Traditional roast with teeth breaking crackle

It's a tad warm and breezy.

Checking out the fine print on the vegemite, now purchasing

OzEmite

After 13 years of development it is with great pleasure that we offer our OzEmite yeast spread. OzEmite has been modelled on a true Aussie taste. It is gluten free and is packed full of vitamins. Best of all OzEmite is Australian Made, and most importantly Australian Owned.

Unlike Vegemite, OzEmite is not made from spent brewers yeast that has been through a brewery eight times. We have used purpose-grown yeast based on corn ensuring the quality and taste of OzEmite is supreme.

Repacking bearings, done every 10 - 15k, these extended to 17k with our trip extension via Melbourne

These bearings have now done 70,000 k's and all in good nick.

Cooking up some of our Mullaway enjoyed by

Brothers, wives and relies.

Things you find when putting rubbish I had picked up into bins at Puckridge Park on one of our morning walks. This plug on top of the rubbish, multi-meter checked and all good.

Now have 8 of these wire rack shelves, also in the bins at the park.

One, Two Three - GONE!

Removed the fruit trees and a gum on our block - ready for the rain water tank and later the HOUSE!

Whoa! that was quick - we are in Adelaide - tail wind 20 minutes and checking out the new Subway in the forecourt at Adelaide's new airport extensions

The detail is fantastic

More fun stuff, into the festive season already

The only way to fly in these sleepers, a couple of movies and a snooze and we are landing

With parallel runways another also landing

Pure fluke this photo, the heaven's opened as we got to our hotel room after tea. Stuck my head thru the curtains, put the camera on fireworks mode - click!