21July2008

Quote 25 - Robert Frost

Posted by Mick under: Quotes.

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.”

Robert Frost An American Poet. (An excerpt from “The Road Not Taken”)

8July2008

The worlds biggest rock

Posted by Mick under: Western Australia.

You may be thinking that I’m talking about Uluru (or Ayers Rock as its also known), but as I learned today, the biggest rock in the world is located in Western Australia, is about twice the size of Uluru and is called Mount Augustus (wikipedia).

Mount Augustus, or Burringurrah as it is known by the local Wadjari Aboriginal people, is about 850 kilometres from Perth and midway between the Great Northern and North West Coastal highways. One of the most spectacular solitary peaks in the world, it rises 717 metres above a stony, red sandplain of arid shrubland—dominated by wattles, cassias and eremophilas—and is clearly visible from the air for more than 160 kilometres.

The rock itself, which culminates in a small peak on a plateau, is about eight kilometres long and covers an area of 4,795 hectares. At about twice the size of Uluru (Ayers Rock) it is the biggest ‘rock’ in the world.

Mount Augustus has now been added to the official ExpeditionOz list of places to explore :)

7July2008

Quote 24 - Henry David Thoreau

Posted by Mick under: Quotes.

“We should come home from adventures, and perils, and discoveries every day with new experience and character.”

Henry David Thoreau - An American author, naturalist, transcendentalist, tax resister, development critic, sage writer and philosopher from the 1800’s.

30June2008

Quote 23 - Rabindranath Tagore

Posted by Mick under: Quotes.

“There are two kinds of adventurers: those who go truly hoping to find adventure and those who go secretly hoping they won’t.”

Rabindranath Tagore - A Bengali poet, Brahmo religionist, visual artist, playwright, novelist, and composer who was also Asia’s first Nobel laureate when he won the 1913 Nobel Prize in Literature.

23June2008

Quote 22 - Steve McQueen

Posted by Mick under: Quotes.

“I’d rather wake up in the middle of nowhere than in any city on earth.”
Steve McQueen - An American movie actor

18June2008

New Land Rover G4 Challenge site

Posted by Mick under: Land Rover.

A new website for the Land Rover G4 Challenge went up recently and it looks like it will be pretty well stocked with content over the coming months including the video based “Challenge Guide”.

From the email i received:

CHALLENGE OFFERS EXCITING NEW ONLINE EXPERIENCE
The Land Rover G4 Challenge website has launched a range of unique new features offering a fascinating insight for those keen to learn more about adventure.

New videos, photo galleries and latest updates are now online along with the first in a series of unique innovative multimedia guides.

These “Challenge Guides” offer an insight into individual aspects of adventure – from kayaking to campsite cuisine – through the stories of former competitors’ and the opinions of experts in video, images and text.

16June2008

Quote 21 - Amelia Earhart

Posted by Mick under: Quotes.

“Adventure is worthwhile in itself.”
Amelia Earhart - An American aviation pioneer

9June2008

Quote 20 - Unknown

Posted by Mick under: Quotes.

“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away.”
Unknown

5June2008

Alternate Bush Tucker Man intro

Posted by Mick under: People; Video.

Just found this video over at YouTube…

Brilliant :)

In all seriousness though, Les Hiddens (wikipedia entry) is an absolute legend.

3June2008

The August Expedition is possibly moving

Posted by Mick under: 4WD; Expeditions.

The “as yet to be decided” August 2008 Expedition is possibly moving into late September so hopefully the weather will still be nice around then.

Last thing i need is a really early wet season…though we do need the water :(

2June2008

Quote 19 - Izaak Walton

Posted by Mick under: Quotes.

“Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter.”
Izaak Walton - A British author from the 1600’s.

29May2008

Mt Terrible Hut

Posted by Mick under: Misc.

The mob over at Australian Land Rover Owners Forum have set up a trip to the Mt Terrible Hut to do some restoration and maintenance work.

Great work people…unfortunately i have other things on that weekend but can’t wait to see the results :)

26May2008

Quote 18 - Charles Dickens

Posted by Mick under: Quotes.

“When the wind is blowing and the sleet or rain is driving against the dark windows, I love to sit by the fire, thinking of what I have read in books of voyage and travel.”
Charles Dickens - A British author from the 1800’s.

19May2008

Quote 17 - Rimbaud

Posted by Mick under: Quotes.

“What am I doing here?”
Rimbaud - A French poet

15May2008

August 2008 Expedition Planning

Posted by Mick under: 4WD; Expeditions.

OK…it looks like i’ve got some time available in August to fit in a two week expedition :)

The options i’m currently looking at:

Across mainland Australia from East to West
After driving from Melbourne into northern NSW, this one would start at Australia’s most eastern-point which is “Cape Byron” in New South Wales (28°37′58″S, 153°38′20″E - map) and would go through the middle of our great country to the most western-point at “Steep Point” in Western Australia (26°09′05″S 113°09′18″E - map). The return trip would be down to Perth, across the Nullabor and back to Melbourne.

In a straight line its nearly 4,000km or 2,479 miles one way.

Across mainland Australia from South to North
Starting at the Australia’s most southern-point at “South Point” in Victoria (39°08′20″S, 146°22′26″E - map)..or as close as i can get to it and then heading to out most northern-point at “Cape York” in Queensland (10°41′0″S, 142°32′0″E - map).

In a straight line its nearly 3,200km or 1,981 miles one way.

Here are some interesting links on Australian Extremities - Geoscience Australia and “Extreme points of Australia” at wikipedia.

The Burke & Wills Expedition Route
Starting at the monument at “Royal Park” (map) in Melbourne and following the track to “Karumba” (map) which is just a little north of where they actually finished and on the southern coast of the Gulf of Carpentaria itself.

In a straight line its nearly 2,300km or 1,427 miles one way.

Hmmm…all of them have sections that will require a permit of one type or another so its off to do a few more weeks of research before a decision is made :)