Weekend away into the NSW High country

Well just got back from a weekend up in the NSW hihg country, specifically the top of the Kosciuszko National park.

We started of on lazy 10am on Saturday morning, Stu and the boys only with Katie busy finishing off assignments.  Joined by some friends from work we headed up to Picadilly Circus and then down to Brindabella, aiming to get to get to our camp for the evening being Bluewater Holes.

Feeling a little game we thought that we would tackle some powerline track that we had tackled in Charlie along. (Stu was thinking good test for what we might come across up the cape in terms of ups and downs).  Charlie cruised over without much of a problem, Ernie however was hung up with the 2m draw bar.

<ernie pics coming>

After much digging (and groaning) to increase clearance, not even the rear locker would give us enough traction to pull him through.  Ended up bending the front mud flap so first injury of the day.  Not to serious but something to think about ...

Got to camp and setup, didn't worry about the awning, only a single night didn't seem worth it even though its not a lot of fuss.  Did a quick trip to Talaganda Dam for a look see.  Not much to see wnad the wind was blowing so just a short stay.  Surprised to see quiet a few lads out for the weekend, would have to have beer in the veins to think it is warm enough to stay there though !!

Noticed also on this trip the number of Brumbies.  In all my trips previously people had raved about how many Brumbies they had seen, my count before this trip was a big fat zero.  Well I can say that the count took a sharp turn up with a quite a number of them both close and far away.

Brumbies close and far ... foals are very cute.

Back at camp, had a nice fire that evening.

Went to sleep around 10pm ... after dark the iThings came out and once batteries were flat it was bed time!  Although thinking it would be chilly with cloudless skies, to say it was chilly this morning was an understatement!  Frozen water pipes in the camper meant only one cuppa in the morning ... lesson for next time!

Decent frost on the mug in the morning, a morning camp fire was a must.

Had cooked breakfast.  Something quite cathartic about the smell of bacon and eggs at dawn witht he fog still being burnt off.  After our feed, thought that a walk would warm us up while things defrosted.  there are a few in the area that the ranger put us onto.  Caving is certainly something Griffy was keen on.  Visited Coleman Caves as well which were quite a bit bigger (60metres long) but we only explored as far as hte torches and Andi's confidence would allow.

Headed back to Canberra via Snowy Mountain Highway (left around 10:40), Adaminaby and then cut through on the Boboyan road.  It has just been graded so was a like a highway in bits.  Still have the maniacs doing 80 - 100 along there coming round blind corners and you just hope that soft roader coming straight for you can still steer!

All good though, home around 2:30.  Total distance about 350 kms traveled.  Avg fuel was about 15.5ltrs/hundred over the weekend ....  Great weekend had by all, even Mum at home ...

I Have a date

Just got notice that the winch and suspension have an install date scheduled for 29th October ... Just a little excited. :) Have a trip planned into the Brindies on the 26th so hanging for a cancellation to get them fitted for that ....

Charlie is getting new legs and a hand

Well finally made the decision on suspension (i.e legs) and winch (hand) for Charlie. Went with Ol Man Emu standard setup and the Smittybilt X2O 10k winch. Links and details to both products are below.  Hopefully it won't be long till we get the call that the parts are in. Will put up before and after pictures when they fitted.

Dad is just a little excited ..... for Charlie of course ...

Smittybilt winch : http://www.smittybilt.com/product/index/152.htm 
Old man Emu details 

Components in this kit include:

• Coil Springs (Front) (3027 x 1 pair)
• Coil Springs (Rear) (2910 x 1 pair)
• Nitrocharger Sport Strut (90008 x 2)
• Nitrocharger Sport Shock (Rear) (60076 x 2)
• Estimated Lift:
• Front: 20MM
• Rear: 35MM

First trip in Ernie

Well the first trip in Ernie was a bit of a family affair with two additional family members joining us and sleeping in the annex.  Staying down in Kiama Easts Beach caravan park, chilling out next to the beach.  It was a good way to start the experience with all the comforts that a powered site offers.  Even took down a little fan heater to ward off the chill in the evenings but really it wasn't needed.

This is a view before we left.  Every storage spot was taken up as we were carring a few extra kgs of gear with the extra family members.  Really impressed with the storage capacity.

 On the way to Kiama via the Hume Highway.  Charlie looking fully stocked and tail heavy.  Still averaged 12 - 13l/100km on the way down.  A uneventful drive down the Illarwarra highway and then to Kiama via the Jamberoo pass.

We woke to this view in the morning, not bad I think

Kids spots in the main tent section

From the front

A fully stocked kitchen

So overall a very easy start to the journeys we will be having in Ernie.  Came home via the Nerriga road which still has 10km of dirt and glad to report that all seals worked perfectly, even if Ernie did get a little grotty on the way.  

Things to figure out still:

• Water pipe and a more permanent location given we have to connect it each time.
• Just figure out where we want to keep certain things.  There are so many storage options we spent a lot of the time looking for things
• Need to look into getting an inverter so that we can use the 200AmH of batteries we had.  Only used the fridge and lighting for the weekend, using approximately 10% of the juice although we did have 240v running most of the time for powering phone charges etc.
• A secondary set of pad lock keys somewhere else.  Slight delay on departure due to Griff locking them inside the trailer during pack-up...

Ernie joins the family

Well after a little to'ing and fro'ing Ernie has joined the Ross family on the 18th of this month.  We picked him up from the salubrious back streets of Queanbeyan on a chilly Sunday morning at 7:30 !!!.  The truck driver Peter was really great and chatty given the hour.

Ernie being unloaded

We hit a few snags with the OzHitch connection on Charlie requiring a rather larger socket which meant we had to wait for Peter's mate over the road to open up so that we could "share" his spanner set ... of course it wasn't the size of normal trailer bolts ... came in at 1 5/16th of an inch ... so off to Supercheap or the like to see if I can find one so that we can move it around.....

But nonetheless we got Ernie home, Charlie did pretty well and the trailer breaks worked perfectly once adjusted.

Ernie in the driveway

So now its off the enjoy the fun filled process of inspection (yes crazy laws in ACT for all vehicles new or used) and registration.  Just love the process....

Seeking tag-alongs for 2014

Morning ...Only 327 days till we head off on our Cape York adventure ... anyone else looking to do the same and want to join a family with two boys (8 & 6 by then) for the long hall with camper trailer in tow? 

We aren't the type of people that are out to break vehicles but looking for a little adventure none the less. Looking to do some sections of the Tele track without doing to much damage to Charlie or family relations on the way. 

Happy to meet up somewhere along the way if that works ...

Send an email to skbc "at" netspeed.com.au

Cheers Stu

9 sleeps till Ernie

We are only 8 sleeps away from picking up Ernie the Extenda Camper from Trackabout.  Yes we have finally chosen our sleeping chariot after much debate, research and robust discussion.  Picking up from Sydney after his journey from Brisbane on the back of a truck.

A link to what Ernie looks like : http://trackabout.com.au/listing/safari-sv-extenda/.  We will of course be putting up lots more pictures of him in action over the coming weeks and months.  First big trip is to Queensland around Christmas time ....

Catch ya ...