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Alex70
X-TRAIL ENTHUSIAST
Date Registered: 01-2008
Location: North Rocks
TOTAL POSTS: 209
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Re: A National X-Trail Get Together
Hi All
I have just discovered this thread but have been thinking about such a trip next year myself and have been thinking it through more with Stephen and Brett on Stephen's thread. I also 'did' the NT in 1987. Here are some thoughts of mine on other peoples' proposals so far:
October is a bit hot. The average in Alice Springs is 31C. And remember that is the average. The Weather Bureau (BOM) says that on average, each October has 9 days over 35C! I think June, July August is better for the Centre (I went in July 1987), when the average is around 20C maximum (I think 20C is a bit cool, but more bearable than 31C). So I would suggest the school holidays in winter rather than spring. However, the average minimum in July is 4C so you would have to bring the woolies (there was frost on the ground when I camped there). The BOM rainfall data also indicates to me that the wet can start in October some years.
People expecting to take a week off work for this event can kiss goodbye any thought of seeing much of the centre. In 1987 it took me three days of solid driving to get from the Centre to Sydney (2700km. Think about it: assuming you keep to the speed limit that is 30 hours of actual driving! And then there is eating, refueling, and if you have kids .....). So assuming you take both weekends as well as the week for the trip you are leaving yourself only 3 days to enjoy the company of the rest of the forum, and see what the centre has to offer. Even the stuff close to the Alice (McDonald Ranges, Palm Valley; but not Kings Canyon, Uluru or the Olgas) would take more than 3 days. I note that this OzExplore note suggests that most of the west McDonnald ranges and Palm Springs could be done in 3 days, but from my experience you would not be spending much time at each place at all (note this trek note suggests October is the very end of when you would want to be traveling). I certainly will be taking more time - 5400km of driving to just see 3 days of stuff is a bit beyond me.
People concerned about the state of certain roads (eg the Plenty Highway) will find the OzExplore web site really helpful. It also has a story of an XTrail going east to west which might give confidence to some owners about what the X can do in the outback.
Given the substantial time commitment this trip requires I am guessing that we may not get huge numbers. I suggest we get some realistic numbers before we talk to service clubs about catering.
Alex
Last edited by Alex70, 12/Nov/2008, 12:59 pm
--- Alex X-740(c)
2006 Prado Petrol Automatic (sorry, but the Xtrail had to go as it gave me a taste to travel where it cannot go)
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12/Nov/2008, 10:55 am
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loafer
X-TRAIL VETERAN
Date Registered: 02-2008
Location: Brisbane, Qld
TOTAL POSTS: 973
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Re: A National X-Trail Get Together
quote: Alex70 wrote:
Hi All . . . . . . . . .
Given the substantial time commitment this trip requires I am guessing that we may not get huge numbers. . . . . . .
Another point to consider is the organisation of such a mammoth event. I don't know how many people have organised anything of this magnitude before, but event management takes time, patience and more time. So many things can pop up (mainly that bloody Murphy character 8( ) and plans need to be flexible to accommodate such things.
One suggestion to ponder:- what if each state / territory were to organise their own annual get-together over the next (say) 12 months. Then next year (2009/2010), each of the state representatives (ie those persons who organised each of their state's meets) meet with the forum admin team to officiate and organise the National X-Trail Get Together. That way, some of our international members (who may very well have considered visiting Oz) also have the opportunity to come along, and extended holidays can be adequately planned for.
In planning my red centre trip and trying to co-ordinate just four people and two vehicles, I am finding out just how many aspects of the trip need to be thoroughly researched and quite a large commitment made to see it through.
This is my two-bobs worth.
Stephen
EDIT Have just re-read thread and I see that Paul (X989) has already suggested something similar (great minds, mate )
Last edited by loafer, 12/Nov/2008, 9:17 pm
--- Stephen
X756 (c)
Electric Blue 2008 Ti CVT
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12/Nov/2008, 8:53 pm
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Re: A National X-Trail Get Together
Hi Stephen,
While the idea of each state organizing their own get together is good, I believe we're already doing that through organized forum outings and it is pretty evident that only 2 states are active in this regard (being NSW and QLD) with the rest of the states yet to organize a forum outing, let alone a state get together.
The idea behind the national get together was to have as many states involved as possible, hence the proposed central location being Alice Springs, but if we're to get only one member from WA and/or NT attending this event, it can not justify the rest of the states driving for such a distance to make it there, so we may have to consider choosing the final destination for this national get together based on the members joining this event.
With Alice Springs being proposed as the central location, we could end-up with another location that is central between NSW and QLD if we only get interest from members from these two states to attend.
Alex is correct in saying that not everyone would be able to afford to take 2-3 weeks leave to make this event, but those of us who can should really start planning a head from now and state their attendance so we know exactly how many members from each state will participate.
I don't think organizing such an event will be too hard, it's only the initial stages of having as many members as possible agree to what is being proposed that can take a long time, so it will be good to come-up with two plans straight away.
I will hold-off on the idea of establishing the organizing committee until we know how many members from each state can actually make it.
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12/Nov/2008, 9:37 pm
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trailx
X-TRAIL HOLIC
Date Registered: 10-2005
Location: way west of Mareeba FNQ
TOTAL POSTS: 1233
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Re: A National X-Trail Get Together
Having spent a bit of time in the Territory on and off over the years, October is not a particularly good time to travel to the Centre, generally speaking.
There is the Wet season and the Dry season, and then there is the Build Up (although more common in the Top End) - the bringer of intermittent scattered showers, and occasional severe storms, from October to December or whenever it finally rains. You get a build up of cloud and you think it's going to rain or storm, and then it doesn't. And it will do this day after day until it finally breaks, often with a big one. And then it commences to build up again, over and over. A lot of people go weird at this time, and it's referred to here as "the silly season" (putting it mildly).
There are reasons the tourist season is in the Dry, see this article from the "local" paper for one of them:
Desert Storm
and there was another storm more recently.
Although I would personally love to go down there that in season because I love hot and muggy (and spectacular weather), October in Alice Springs will be a lot hotter than most "southerners" will enjoy, unless you want to spend a lot of your time in the aircon.
On a personal level, I wouldn't let it put me off a private trip, or a national meet-up, but I do think that for something this big including families, that mid-winter would be a more suitable time.
As for whether I can actually make it or not, it's in the hands of fate. I don't know where I will be living by then and will have to play it by ear, but if I can possibly be there I will.
cheers
Julie
--- Julie X-231(c)
2005 ST Manual Platinum
Yokohama GO12, towbar, roof rack, luggage pod, bonnet protector, weathershields L&R, floormats
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13/Nov/2008, 1:38 am
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Re: A National X-Trail Get Together
OK Guys,
I think we're going around in circles here.
For us to make a decision on the venue, we need to know approx. how many from each state are taking part in this event, once that is known, the season and the time can be determined.
So here we go (add your name to the list and your state)
1. Jalal & Family (NSW)
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15/Nov/2008, 9:35 am
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