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 Weekly Mailbag
On Muddy Ground
Welcome to another fun-filled edition of the ‘Weekly Mailbag’ which, due to the Easter holidays, could actually be called the ‘Fortnightly Mailbag’ this time around. I know some of you have been suffering withdrawal symptoms but, fear not all of you Mailbag addicts, we will making up for lost time in this unbelievably entertaining column.
 First cab off the rank - which was actually one of the last cabs off the rank in terms of story order - is the feedback on the nerve-jangling tale of the Dutch couple who nearly came to grief at a Northern Territory river crossing. The overwhelming consensus is that it really pays to be prepared for anything when you are out in the Outback ... particularly when there is a chance of wet weather. Dodge emailed through a white-knuckle account of a post-rain drive near Alice Springs a year or two back that makes you realise how quickly conditions can change.
“We were staying at Trephina Gorge campground in the east MacDonnell Ranges when the rain just came out of nowhere,” he recalls. “The ground was rock hard and the water just didn’t drain away … a family in a tent near us were in all sorts of strife.”
But it wasn’t just the immediate flood danger that caused the problems.
“A day or so after the rain had stopped, we began to get itchy feet and wanted to have a look around,” Dodge writes. “We weren’t game to tow the van anywhere but thought a little side trip in the ’Cruiser to the old gold-mining town of Arltunga would be just the ticket. Well, the dirt road was actually more like a skating rink than anything else and I honestly don’t know how we made it. We were just sliding all over the road and I knew we just had to keep moving or we would never have got going again ... it was a complete nightmare and these days I never stop staring up at the skies to see what is happening … whatever the weather forecasters are saying. I really feel for the Dutch couple because I know how easy it is to get caught out.”
Plenty of kudos though to the overseas visitors for having the nous to carry an emergency beacon with them.
“I am never going anywhere in the Outback again until I persuade hubby to invest,” writes Kay. “That’s absolutely done it for me … if you’ve got a chance of getting into trouble you should at least give yourself a chance of getting out of it again.”
Too right, Kay.
Oh, and talking about getting into trouble. Our recent story about the croc killed by rangers after it had scared campers at Shady Camp in the NT got you hopping mad. Bill was typical
“Why pick on one croc out of dozens in the area?” he writes. “Is tourism now more important than the crocs that have been there for tens of thousands of years?”
Hmmmmm! The answer should be obvious, shouldn’t it?
 Anyway, on to safer yet no less interesting matters. Our story about the success of the 43rd annual Warwick Easter Rock Swap brought quite a few fossicking fanatics out from under their …. ummmm …. rocks.
We asked you to identify your favourite fossicking spot and Bob was happy to name Ewingar State Forest as still the best place to get smoky quartz.
“It is the only place in New South Wales where old heritage listed forestry huts are allowed to be used by fossickers on an honour system- ie honour the gesture that Forestry have made and take care of the camp site,” he writes. “The camp site itself is brilliant. The elevation is 2000 ft (coolish) in the middle of some lovely rainforest. Radio and TV and mobile reception is excellent but make sure your car can made the final steep grade, especially if towing a camper.”
Apparently the place has a water tank and also has two toilets but you should bring a portable shower.
Bob says that the site was nearly closed off a year or so ago because of vandalism and appeals for all visitors to respect the site.
“The ground rules should be observed or it will be ruined for all,” he rightly points out. “Take only what you need and leave some for future generations.”
 Okay, that just about wraps it up … but first an appeal for help from overseas. Benny-Not-A-Plan from Denmark is planning an ‘across the country’ tour in 2012 or 2013 from the east to Perth where his wife's sister lives.
“As non-Australians we would appreciate some good advice and hints on what to do,” he writes. “For example, how long time will we need to do the northern route, all 5000 miles? And the southern route, all 2500 miles?”
We actually get many requests for basic advice from overseas visitors to www.thegreynomads.com.au website so we hope to put up a ‘Basics for International Visitors’ page in the not-too-distant future. Any suggestions as to what to include would be most welcome. And, in the meantime we would be happy to pass on any of your tips to Benny-Not-A-Plan. Incidentally, our Danish wannabe grey nomad is no beginner to the grand tour lark.
“We did a Norway tour last summer, from the south to the most northern part, The North Cape, and back,” he writes. “That’s a 3500 mile tour but we had too little time.”
We know the feeling, Benny, we know the feeling. A lifetime is just not long enough, is it?
See you all next week and Benny … if you’re reading … how about a few tips on travelling in Scandinavia. We can all dream, can’t we?
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