A drive around the block

RUNNERBUN said:
OK, here in Australia when we say we're going for a drive around the block we are not referring to your normal block in the residential suburbs. What I'm referring to is the big block. "Yes, the big block called Australia" Starting at Mackay on the North-East coast of Queensland we will travell south and then west across the Nullabor Plains to the west coast of West Australia to attend the 2014 National Meet which will be held at Busselton in west Australia.
Following the Meet we will continue in a clock-wise direction thru the Northern Territory and back to our home town of Mackay. I estimate we will cover a distance of approx. 15,000 km (9,300 Miles). This will be the second time to West Australia for my 28 Pheaton. The previous trip was a distance of 13,500 km.
Just a little info on the car, it is an early 28 Pheaton running a stock Model B motor (C on the Head) with a counter balanced crankshaft, B carb, B distributor converted to electronic ignition, 3.54 ratio Crown & Pinion and a Mitchell Sinchro transmission.
Joining me will be my wife, my brother and his wife also driving an early 28 stock Pheaton, and dare I mention another companion who will be driving a 1935 Chevrolet pick-up coming along for the drive. All three cars will be towing camper trailers. We plan to drive on average 200 miles per day with every 4th day off as a rest day.
I estimate that we will be on the road for approx. two months. I will endeavour to post updates as we get around.
We leave Wednesday Aug 27th.
Now that I have told the world what I'm doing I hope and pray that we get all the way around.
Wish us luck!
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Awesome! please if you would be so kind to share a few photos. Many thanks
 
Oh thank god you posted pictures of your travel trailers ...I was thinking of the those great big box truck things :D Have fun!!
 
wow.
This is your rainy season?
No desert bags for water?
Fun doesn't do it justice, certainly you will get the long distance award at the meet. Your gas bill would put this out of reach for me here in the states.
 
Brentwood Bob said:
wow.
This is your rainy season?
No desert bags for water?
Fun doesn't do it justice, certainly you will get the long distance award at the meet. Your gas bill would put this out of reach for me here in the states.
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I bet we pay more for gas here than you do, Brentwood Bob!! :mad: At best, we are paying around A$1.45/litre and in the outback where much of the driving will be done, it will be more like A$1.85/litre.

This translates to US$5.11 - 6.52/gallon. :eek:

What are you paying?
 
Just came over the Nullabor, 4 weeks ago. Fuel prices as high as $2.09 AUD a litre,
Then near $1.90 AUD around Bourke, Willcania etc.

Enjoy the trip.
 
Hello all. Glad to report we have had two days of perfect travelling. We have now covered a distance of 717 km / 445 miles since leaving home. Day one was 419km/ 260miles and day two 298km/185 miles. Both vehicles are travelling well and the only issue we have had is the Chev fuel gauge being inaccurate, and is running out of fuel when it reads as though it should have a couple of Gals left in the tank.
Only two vehicles travelling at this stage, the third vehicle will join us at the end of the third day.
Regarding fuel costs, our budget for fuel is in the vicinity of $3500/$4000 for the whole trip, and I suspect it will average out at just under $2.00 per litre. Yes, its quite frightening but the memories will be worth it.
Picture show, 1 About to leave home, 2 First Camp out at the Township of Dululu, 3 The Dawson river at the town of Theodore. Flood indicator showing the flood marker (red) of the devastating flood of 2011 which resulted in the evacuation of the whole town. The flood indicator shows a peek flood of 14.7 metres. Picture 4 shows the open highway where every Model a should be.
Tonight we are camped at the township of Wondoan and we will have a short day tomorrow of 210km / 130 miles and stop at the Town of Goondiwindi where we will meet up with my Brother and enjoy our first rest day.
Thank you, one and all for company on this journey.
 

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We enjoyed another trouble free run on our third day. We have arrived at Goondiwindi which is our first mile stone. We have now travelled just over 1000km. The third car has now joined the convoy. Today is a rest day for us. We will spend sometime just checking over the cars and add a bit of grease here and there and then do a bit of sightseeing and just relaxing. Tomorrow when we leave Goondiwindi we will reach our second mile stone, the crossing of our first State border into New South Wales. Goondiwindi is situated on the banks of the McIntyre River which is the State border between Queensland & NSW.
attached pictures are: 1, Cars in front of the railworkers cottage where we had our 2nd nights camp at the Historic Village at Wandoan, 2, Model A beside an Australian native Wattle tree, These trees bloom in the winter months and turn from a rather plain looking tree into this brilliant yellow colour . 3, Close up of the Wattle flower. 4, An rare and unusual Blacksmith built boat make from solid steel riveted together sitting on a purpose built trailer which would have been by pulled by either horse or bullock teams in the early pioneering days. 5, The never ending Fuel stops. We don't go past to many fuel stations. 6, Our camp at Goondiwindi showing the three cars.
 

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THANKS much for sharing, even though I'm just dying to go camping now...anywhere ! Just love your three setups..cars and trailers !
What kind of supplies do you each carry, i.e.- repair parts , food ?
We are all envious, but you probably know that,eh :)
 
You look to have lens covers on the headlights to avoid stones. The trailer/tents really are the solution. Your trip will be epic. I will follow your progress. Do you have aprons for the cowl for refueling? At the least you probably don't have to worry about alcohol diluted gas down there. just straight gasoline. Do you run a conventional waterpump, Bob
 
Parts we carry include spare water pump, Carby, Generator, Distributor and and a multitude of consumables such as cotter pins, Gaskets, gasket cement, oil, Grease gun, water and between us a reasonable tool kit.

As far as food goes we carry enough for four days and then replenish on our rest days which is every four days. The trailers are set up with gas cookers and my wife prepares a hot meal each night.
 
Brentwood Bob said:
You look to have lens covers on the headlights to avoid stones. The trailer/tents really are the solution. Your trip will be epic. I will follow your progress. Do you have aprons for the cowl for refueling? At the least you probably don't have to worry about alcohol diluted gas down there. just straight gasoline. Do you run a conventional waterpump, Bob
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Gas supplies hear we have a choice of alcohol blends or straight unleaded. Of course we run the unleaded. We just take care when refuelling to avoid spillage.
I'm running a B Motor and the original 3 whole water pump.
Runner
 
Gott'a remember to ck in every day....subscribed and checked off for instant emails but nadd'a. :confused:

See 'ya tomorrow...;)

Bob
:cool:
 
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