Packing...The Big Squeeze



Look at all that stuff!



Well its that time, the big pack must begin.  I know that for a lot of people the thought of packing up a family of four for a five month camping trip around Australia in a camper trailer is a nightmare.  But I'm actually looking forward to it!  Yes I'm a bit weird I know.  Especially when you look at the picture of what needs to be squeezed into the car and camper.

Solar Panel Saga

It all started with a really good idea. Lets reduce our impact on the environment by using Solar Panels on our trip around Australia. Not only would we save money we would also reduce our green house emissions. Well that was the plan anyway....

LAKE EYRE MAY FILL TO THE VERY TOP but can we get there?

Hi everyone,
Only 10 days to go. One of our first destinations is the Lake Eyre region which is experiencing a gigantic flood event. Australia's largest salt lake which on average usually has a large flood of 4m every 10 yrs is flooding for the 3rd year in a row! The 2011 flood will surpass both 2009 and 2010 due to enormous rainfall in the channel country and local rain west of the lake. Cyclone Yasi helped by dumping over 8 inches to the west of the lake, sending feeder rivers into record breaking floods.  This combined with the floods from the Channel country may see Lake Eyre fill to the top, something that hasn't happened for 37 years!

Rain rain go away! We are certainly departing after a phenomenal wet season, which unfortunately hasn't completely finished yet. As our departure date draws closer we've been  monitoring the outback QLD and SA road closure and weather sites.....The Birdsville Track has finally opened, and parts of the Oodnadatta Track are opening too.
Have a look at the link below to see the road conditions in the area.

Green = Open to all traffic
Yellow = Open to 4wd only
Red = Closed
Blue = Warning

http://www.transport.sa.gov.au/quicklinks/northern_roads/northern.asp

The question is will they stay open?  The town of Roma has undergone evacuation again today and more rain has fallen in the Birdsville area with flood warnings for the Diamantina and Cooper Rivers! Mmmmmm lets see what happens in the next 7 days....We might be up for a major re-route of the first stage of our Big Trip!