30 replies to this topic

[jsor26]

Incredible adventure! Good Luck!

[mina08]

What an adventure, make sure you take lots of water :)

[Spider]

Wow,,,,, many thanks for all the very kind comments guys, most sincerely appreciated.

 

As the time for our push-off draws nearer, the flip-flops in my guts only get bigger!

 

Our push-off isn't until very late April - 5 weeks today in fact. One of the Mokes is still little more than a body shell ATM, but should be on the road in a couple of weeks, then I can complete a few small jobs on my own.

 

Ironically, they have had some HUGE rains over the outback since January and many of the roads and tracks have been cut off, but most (that we need!) are now open, except one River crossing which has really got my attention. Might also have to take an inflatable raft,,,,,,

 

 

 

Good luck

Are you using foam filters for such a long off road trip or you keep OEM? Just my curiosity

 

The dust in much of the outback is finer than talc, it will even get through the water-proof seals of a Go-pro Camera Underwater Case (yes, this happened to me!). The standard air filters are simply not within a bull's roar of coping with it. Years ago in conjunction with Uni-filter, they made various prototype filters for me to try and we did get there after a while, but I found them just too high in maintenance for my liking.

 

Since then, I've just gone back to the tried and tested Donaldson Cyclopac. I think the only thing that would be better is possibly an Oil bath Filter, but they are so messy and very high in maintenance as well as a problem to deal with environmentally (especially in these remote areas). Dust sealling of the engine is something that we have all paid a LOT of attention to, right down to the Dipstick, Fuel Bowl Breather, Fuel Tank Air Inlets and Crankcase Breathing. Here's a snap shot of the business end of one of the last Mokes I built;-

 

 

 

Best of luck! I take it that we will see no updates (unless you have satellite internet) until you have completed your adventure.

 

Once under way, there are a few places where we can get a connection, the Birdsville pub will likely be where the world will learn of our success - or failure!

 

Can't wait to read the book, watch the film, read the posts. There is nothing like a good 'road' trip.

Good luck and enjoy.

 

Cheers - Me too!

[ChopperHarris]

Moke,if you need a very Mini experienced Irishman living in France with an Aussie girlfriend, pick me/us up on the way. I have organised a beer cooler and a dog/girlfriend sitter...your choice ;o)

[John Gervais]

Woohoo!  Look forward to hearing more about this adventure!  Good luck and have a safe trip!

[Spider]

Sorry to say Chaps, all bets are off on this one - at least for the time being. After driving for 5 solid days to reach the Desert, the very day before we were to 'step' in to it, the heavens opened, right across most of Aust and much of the outback is now underwater, with roads and tracks everywhere closed, including the Desert, which I know sounds odd and yes, it really is, but every few years, this does happen.

 

We will be back to give it another go, just regrouping and seeing who can do what and when ATM.

 

Many thanks to all your wonderful guys for the interest and well wishes, cheers chaps

[mister bridger]

You must be gutted!

[xrocketengineer]

Sorry to hear that your adventure was cut short.

[Spider]

You must be gutted!

 

Not the first time this has happened to me at least and the company of the other guys has been superb to say the very least, so surprisingly no. While I've personally worked 3 years towards this (with very little else on the radar) truth be told, I would have liked another month.

 

One of the other guys, who decided to continue only as far as the edge of the desert before turning back also need another 6 or so months too to really get his act together.

 

So, not off altogether, just parked on the shelf for the next bit.

 

Stay tuned guys

[Ethel]

Could've been worse, you could have set off.

 

TypicalOzzie, whinging about the weather 

[Mini Manannán]

Bloody desert downpours!  I've been following it on the Moke forum.

 

Seriously disappointed for you Chris, ho hum, that's the way the cookie crumbles sometimes eh?   Though as Ethel says, you could have been hundreds of miles away in the middle, that wouldn't be good.

[ChopperHarris]

MERDE! so sorry to read this. How about a holiday in France this summer to cheer you up?

[Spider]

MERDE! so sorry to read this. How about a holiday in France this summer to cheer you up?

 

Cheers mate, however, this now may end up presenting an opportunity

 

As they say, every cloud has a silver lining,,,,,,

[Spider]

After going from Plan A, to Plan B, then Plan C, we did briefly look back again at Plan A, before we finally settled on a modified Plan C!  We ended up at Alice Spring, Ayres Rock, then to Adelaide to catch up with some mates.

 

After around 6500 km Trouble free Moking, including about 800 km of that off sealed roads, getting in to the Simpson Desert (but not crossing!), we are back home.

 

The rains that fell on the region in most areas were the biggest falls they had in 24 years!

 

Back to consulting 'the gods' as to when we maybe able to look at this again.

 

Cheers for the well wishes and interest guys, however, stay tuned (just don't fall asleep waiting though).

[nicklouse]

Saw you drinking "Beers" the other day.

Will keep a weather eye out for the restart.