As we moved down the Canning Stock Route (CSR) in 2007, we started getting warning messages on the bush telegraph about a snake in Well 46.
As we moved down the Canning Stock Route (CSR) in 2007, we started getting warning messages on the bush telegraph about a snake in Well 46.
At the top end of the Canning Stock Route, near Well 50 is a small but interesting gorge on an unnamed water course (Gulvida Creek?), but what is probably a remote branch of the Sturt Creek.
To access the gorge you need to drive about 4 km south west from Well 50 along a fairly obvious track to the top of the creek, scramble down and walk along the dry winding creek bed for about 1 km.
The Gulvida Soak marked on the maps is presumably an ephemeral water hole/billabong in the creek bed, not the gorge and cave we went to, which is further on.
Looking back at the “car park” on the top of the creek.
It’s a good idea to keep a mental picture of where your car is when setting out on a walk in a remote area, to orient your self for the return. Or take a GPS with you. And if you’re in groups, hand-held CB radios are valuable.
A 1 km walk along a dry creek bed along leads to small gorge off to the left (south) of the creek which contains a hidden and well protected water hole. On the walls of the gorge are aboriginal carvings which demonstrate the importance of this water supply to the aboriginal people.
The gorge is just around the corner on the left…
… behind the bush.
The gorge is quite easy to find, since its opening will be advertised by clouds of noisy zebra finches as they fly in and out of the cave and rest in the surrounding bushes.
Depending on the seasons, there may also be small soaks in the creek bed, presumably dug out by kangaroos, which will also buzz with zebra finches.
But the most interesting part of the gorge is the gallery of aboriginal carvings on the gorge wall.
Then it’s a pleasant walk back to the car. It’s hot and we took plenty of water, but we are not wearing fly-hats so there can’t have been too many pesky creatures about either.
And finally, here is a video of Gulvida Gorge taken by Michael Olsen in 2009, when there was plenty of water in the creek, unlike our visit in 2007 when it was bone dry.
Gulvida Soak near Well 50 – Canning Stock Route from Michael Olsen on Vimeo.
Michael has posted several other interesting videos here. Thank you Michael, I would thank you personally but I don’t have your contact details. If you read this please leave a message by clicking the mail icon below.
The picturesque road from Marble Bar to Corunna Downs |
The Corunna Downs airbase from Ironstone Hill |
The main runway at Corunna Downs |
Strange relics of the airbase |
Bomb spinners |
Ammo clips by the gazillion |
Bomb clamps |
And when you’re all foraged out, the surrounding scenery of rolling green hills and creek lines is quite spectacular. It’s worth camping there for a night to become immersed in the feeling for what wartime in the outback must have been like. It was so hot in summer that showers were banned from 9 am to 9 pm because the water was scolding hot and they were plagued by biting march flies.
Wartime relics now covered by spinifex |
Imagining the wartime pilots about to take off |
It occurred to me that we had never provided the specifications for our Oka motorhome on our blog, so here they are:
Our 4WD motorhome was built on a 1994 14 seat XT model Oka bus body, formerly used as a tour bus in Western Australia. It had spent most of its time touring the Kimberly area and had clocked up half a million kms. Fortunately many of the major mechanical components had been replaced or repaired during its working life so we could focus most of our time building the motorhome aspects. The only major mechanical work we had to do was on the springs and suspension.
During 2004 we removed the seats, built a raised roof and fitted it out with all the domestic facilities for 2 people, with the aim of obtaining full self-sufficiency for remote travel for up to 2 weeks at a time.
Construction Progress Photos
For detailed photos of the construction process for the raised roof and internal fit-out visit our photo site here, and select the topic of interest from the sub-album list on the right.
The roof being raised for fitting…
…and lowered on to the Oka.
Just the support beams to remove…
…and the roof fitting is complete. Now for the internal fit out.
Building a motorhome is much like building a house, except smaller and sturdier. There are plumbing, electrical, gas and water supplies to install; sleeping, cooking, showering, toileting, lighting, security and entertainment facilities to provide; storage is needed for food, utensils, tools, spares, clothes, personal effects and outdoor furniture. The design also had to take account of the weather, provision of ventilation, heating, cooling and solar protection and all under severe vehicle shock and vibration conditions plus weight, legal and road safety constraints. It’s actually a very challenging but interesting task.
Overall we are pretty happy with how things turned out and the whole package has proved quite useable after 150,000 km and 30 on-road months of travel experiences. |
Our Oka on the Sandy Blight Junction Road
The key features of our Oka are summarised below.
Domestic Arrangements
Sleeping, showering, cooking and dining facilities for 2 people.
David, Tim and Brenda (Oka friends from Ocean Shores) and Janet. It was a freezing night at Ormiston Gorge so we ate dinner inside.
Shower walls are made of lightweight Aquatile sheeting. Pantry baskets fit between shower and fridge on the same frame.
Water and Gas Supplies
Water heater fitted under the kitchen unit during construction.
The cockpit of our Oka, at dawn, overlooking Roebuck Bay in Broome.
Navigation and Communications
The Moving Map display shows our position in the Great Victorian Desert.
Electrics and Lighting
[200 w of solar panels (typically 160 w or 11-12 amps charge current is the maximum available) enables larger capacity house batteries to be used and maybe a larger inverter for a bread maker or similar. We also have a 120 amp alternator and a smart alternator regulator, plus a water heater that heats from the engine water so we really don’t need much more than this. Running the engine for 15 mins every couple of days heats the water and tops up all three batteries. In between times, up to 12 amps from our solar panels will keep the essential electrics going (eg computers, lights, pumps, fans, HF radio)].
5 x 20 watt solar panels across the front. Another 5 x 20 watt panels are fitted along the roof.
Furniture and Fittings
Slide out bed unit during construction.
Library (with a bespoke door painting by Janet) fitted behind the passenger seat next to the entry door.
Small evaporative air conditioner fitted above the cab.
Structural and Mechanical Modifications
Dual airbag controls and dual needle gauges mounted either side of the steering column.
Driving Modifications
[I had a near disaster once when I accidentally started the engine in reverse gear while standing outside the drivers door. It started well, but fortunately I had just fixed the handbrake, which stalled the engine before it moved too far, otherwise the Oka would have gone though the garage wall and disappeared down a steep hill.]
Safety, Maintenance and Recovery:
Weight in touring trim:
Engine Number:
VIN Number:
Oka VIN Number Explanation
Future Modifications:
Wiper and washer for rear window. |
3rd wiper arm for passenger side windscreen.
“Handbrake Left-On” reminder. (Yes, it’s been done a couple of times and I need an audible alarm. The lamp on the dashboard doesn’t work anyway).
Reclining lounge chairs (I wish).
If you’d like to contact us or would like more information on our motorhome please email us at dandjribbans at gmail dot com and leave a message.
It occurred to me that we had never provided the specifications for our Oka motorhome on our blog, so here they are:
Our Oka on the Sandy Blight Junction Road |
Shower walls are made of lightweight Aquatile sheeting. Pantry baskets fit between shower and fridge on the same frame. |
Water and Gas Supplies
Navigation and Communications
The cockpit of our Oka, at dawn, overlooking Roebuck Bay in Broome. |
The Moving Map display shows our position in the Great Victorian Desert. |
[200 w of solar panels (typically 160 w or 11-12 amps charge current is the maximum available) enables larger capacity house batteries to be used and maybe a larger inverter for a bread maker or similar. We also have a 120 amp alternator and a smart alternator regulator, plus a water heater that heats from the engine water so we really don’t need much more than this. Running the engine for 15 mins every couple of days heats the water and tops up all three batteries. In between times, up to 12 amps from our solar panels will keep the essential electrics going (eg computers, lights, pumps, fans, HF radio)].
Furniture and Fittings
Library (with a bespoke door painting by Janet) fitted behind the passenger seat next to the entry door. |
Structural and Mechanical Modifications
Dual airbag controls and dual needle gauges mounted either side of the steering column |
Driving Modifications
[I had a near disaster once when I accidentally started the engine in reverse gear while standing outside the drivers door. It started well, but fortunately I had just fixed the handbrake, which stalled the engine before it moved too far, otherwise the Oka would have gone though the garage wall and disappeared down a steep hill.]
Safety, Maintenance and Recovery:
Weight in touring trim:
VIN Number:
Oka VIN Number Explanation |
Future Modifications:
If you’d like to contact us or would like more information on our motorhome please email us at dandjribbans at gmail dot com and leave a message.