Hello folks. I’ve just completed a solo crossing and I need some help.
I notice the hard covered visitor logbook at Volkes
Hill Corner (IIRC) was almost full. It would be great if a future traveller could bring along a new one to keep this piece of future history going. The border log book had a note asking once full, could it be returned to the WA state library (Battye). As Volkes
Hill is in SA, maybe they might like to take care of that? Whoever takes responsibility, it needs to be preserved. When full, If anyone heading West can get it to
Perth, I can get it to the Battye Library. They should liaise with the SA library on custodianship.
Secondly, I need help from a fellow geocacher in the maintenance of a find. If any can help me here, shoot me an email.
Lastly, I just wanted to make a possibly controversial comment on radio coms. It appears there is no designated radio channel documented for this route. I was almost involved in a head on that radio coms would have averted. I knew of the opposing vehicle 2 days before hand, and the day that we would pass. I was solo, and constantly reporting my position and heading on Ch40. They were on Ch16. I had used scan a few times throughout the day, but at the time we met, it was late afternoon and I figured they were behind schedule and I would not meet them on this day, so gave the scan function the flick. My bad.
Radio coms when everyone follows protocol, works very
well on the CSR and crossing the Simmo. We knew about 10Km’s in advance of every opposing vehicle we encountered. It’s not the place for a head on.
Maybe as a group of like minded remote travellers, we can execute a change here. I know Ilkurkla monitors Ch40, and the Outback Travellers Guide strip map has Ch40 plastered all over it. But we have SA parks recommending Ch10 for desert crossings for example. So it’s not going to be an easy fix and will require discussion. But it’s in all our own best interests to do so. We could get Parks SA and permit providers to get on board and have it included in the permit literature.
David/Michelle, if you want to get onboard this idea, shoot me an email. Anyway, thanks for listening and I look forward to your replies.
Sharkcaver at iinet dot net dot au