During Aug. 2002 I lead a Canning Stock Route Tag Along Expedition. The participants were from Australia, the UK, the Neterlands and from Switzerland. While they all have now gone back to their 'previous life' I'm preparing for my 2004 East-West Crossing, another 4x4 Tag Along Trip.
The Canning Stock Route is the longest Stock Route in the world and crosses three deserts. It was surveyed in 1906 and 51 wells were sunk along the 1700 km long track for watering of the stock.
We started from Alice Springs, went via Ayers Rock and the Gunbarrel Hwy. to Wiluna and then after the Canning Stock Route, Ruddall River Nat. Pk, and the Bungle Bungle returned to Alice Springs via the Tanami Track.
It was an eventful trip (most are ), great teamspirit developed along the way and it was thoroughly enjoyed by all participants and for our overseas paticipants it was a bit of an eye opener and a 'culture shock' as far as outback distances are concerned. The red line shows the Canning Stock Route.
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Unfortunately 2 of the vehicles were not able to complete the trip.
The first one ( on petrol ) because of serious electrical problems, resulting in the engine not running on all cylinders, backfiring and using an astronomical amount of fuel.
This would have made it impossible to reach our fueldump at well 23. ( That gives you an idea of how remote this area is. We had to have fuel for our vehicles deposited 1/2 way along our route )
Eef decided to leave us at Carnegie to try and get it fixed at Meekathara and then maybe catch up with us again at Halls Creek or in the Bungle Bungle, coming there along the coast road.
A big disappointment for him and his travel partner Jo.
The problem with the other vehicle didn't become apparent until we started to tackle some of the more difficult sand dunes, where we discovered that there was no frontwheel drive!
Oh, it worked ok as long as there was no heavy load on the diff, which made it difficult to identify the problem.
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On the steeper and longer sand dunes it was a different story. ( We crossed over 900 sand dunes )
We finished up snatching, winching and pushing and got as far as Well 23 with not too much time lost. After we then detoured to the Rudall River Nat. Park it was decided that Rudolf would continue on his own to Newman to get the problem rectified.
A big disapointment for him and Erica but this was the only sensible thing to do. In Newman it was discovered that a shaft had come adrift but was holding on until the load became too great. Of course they too had to change their travel plans.
Because of all the water that had been north of well 35 for the past two years there were many detours and the track was quite different to what I remember from previous years.
A number of the wells are still inaccessible and the approches were very boggy.
( Stay tuned, will be continued under Wiluna )
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Lasetters Cave, Mt. Beadell, Durba Springs, Rudall River Nat. Park, Breaden Hills, Purnululu Nat. Park, Wolfe Creek Crater.
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Halls Creek Hotel,
Halls Creek Caravan Park
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Published on Thursday January 2th, 2003
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Mon, Dec 22 2003 - 09:17 AM
 by cootha
| Jolly marvellous report - thanks. Same report I got from my parents when they "did the Canning" earlier this year (2003). |
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7 votes
