OUR TRIP TO CITIN 2003

GETTING THERE

WE BIN MUDLARKING

 

The 'problem' with Australia, of course, is distance. When a Citroen Car Club holds an annual meeting in Queensland, the trip can be seen as a 'problem'. When I broached this 'problem' with a few mates, it sounded like a damn good excuse for a holiday. 

Our plan is to depart at 5.00a.m. on Friday 11 April 2003, travel the 4500km to the meeting, and return. We are John, Chris and Shayne, travelling in two 2CVs, and this is the page that will tell our story. This page will be updated as mobile internet access allows.

 

FRIDAY 11 APRIL 2003

Well, as it happens, 5.00a.m. turned into 6.30a.m. depart from John's. John and Shayne had a curb weight of just over 900kg, and Chris looked to be loaded lighter, with K9 Sally as co-driver to the point where he kept cosmetics like hupcaps intact.

 


Slushy Road

We moved out gently, seeing a few sites, the Hyden Norseman track was open when we entered, however it was closed behind us and proved to be a slippery experience.

We refuelled at Norseman and spending the rest of the day driving through storms to stop at the now familiar Ciaguna water catchment.

We had travelled 1000 km on the first day 700 bitumen, 300 dirt averaging 50mpg.


Emu Tracks?

SATURDAY 12 APRIL 2003


DUST STORMS

After constant storm activity all night, Chris was complaining that he had not slept at all. We departed early for a pleasant days travel with a constant tail wind. Contrary to the storms of the previous day today's storms were dust related. We set a bush camp between Bookabie and Penong.

We had travelled 742km averaging 53mpg.


MADURA PASS


OCEAN VIEWS
Head of the Bight

SUNDAY 13 APRIL 2003


JOHN TRYING TO GET DEADED


TYPICAL CREEK

Early start once again. short stop at Ceduna for a shower and onward and forward through the Flinders Ranges.

Bush Camp in brilliant full moonlight. Our information revealed that the Strzelecki Track was open and transit only hampered by bulldust holes and washaways.

We had travelled 774km averaging 50mpg.

 

 

 


SHAYNE HAVING FUN
 

MONDAY 14 APRIL 2003


ROAD CLOSED AT MERTY MERTY

Quick trip up to Lyndhurst and time to fuel up for the Strzelecki Track. There was some noise about 90 points of rain and the Strzlecki was closed from Merty Merty to Moomba. News was that it should be opened to 4WD later in the day so we headed out for Merty.


NOTHING BUT SLUSH

En route we met with a Subaru 4WD which had given up and turned around, after having all four wheels spinning, and having to dig out of the mud. None deterred we continued.


CROWN OF THE ROAD ONLY

 


BEACH SCENE IN THE MIDDLE OF AUSS

We stopped for a quick dip in the Montecollina Bore, a hot artesian spring.


DOG SWIM

We had travelled 320km on slippery rutted and difficult roads.The heavy load on the roads kept the engine temperature high

 


EVEN IN ALL THIS MUD WE MAKE A DUST TRAIL

MUMMY OUR CARS ARE DIRTY

When we arrived at Merty we were informed that the road, yet again, had been closed behind us. We were surrounded by closed roads. "Rained in" in the Strzelecki Desert.

We had travelled 442km averaging 42mpg.


STRANDED
AT MERTY MERTY

Ohh, and I forgot to mention the flys.

There is no way to describe them. We had a competition to see how many could you kill by clapping two hands together. The record was 41.

 


ZILLIONS OF FLYS
(no dung beetles in Eastern Auss)


ISOLATED AT MERTY MERTY

 

TUESDAY 15 APRIL 2003

Roads opened to 4WD midday, and pleasantly the track was easier than the day previously. We arrived at Innamincka to find an excellent old pub. We had a chat and a few beers knowing the road to Thargomindah was open then there was a story two people who were at the bar, only just making it through from Thargomindah in a Frontera. Complaints of creek crossings, deep wheel ruts, and thick red mud. Full of Dutch Courage we thought it best to depart immediately (where had the sun gone). The brilliant moonlight and high beam lights lit the way. We crossed creeks and water, it never seemed to end. It was probably best that we could not really see the extent of the crossings that we needed to make ignorance is bliss right up till you get bogged in the middle of a never ending mud stretch.

QUOTE OF THE DAY. John, 'Is there any particular reason why we have stopped.'

The consensus was that, since I wasnít wearing shoes I could do the pulling, so out with the tow rope, I bullocked until the vehicle made its way through. This act was repeated several times through out the evening. I ripped off a brand new fuel line at one stage, yet we continued on.

When we finally hit the bitumen in the Queensland Oil Fields, the next question was where to camp. By about midnight we had left the low lying area and set up camp.

We had travelled 413km averaging 42mpg. (Pool competition dead even, John having won best of three at Sandstone and Shayne doing likewise at Innamincka.

 
THE BLACK TOP AT LAST

 

WEDNESDAY 16 APRIL 2003


GIBBER PLAIN

Back on the bitumen the kilometres roll by. Vehicles were serviced at Thargomindah, the track having scored one wing nut. We elected to dine at the Thargomindah Hotel, to recover from the exploits inspired by our last visit to a hotel. Thargomindah pool, Shayne 3 John nil. Off to Cunamulla where we camped. All new language round these parts. Everyone had one word on their lips

'YOUSEBINMUDLARKIN?'

We had travelled 395km averaging 45mpg


TREE LINED AVENUE

 

THURSDAY 17 APRIL 2003


JOHN LOOKING FOR GOODIES

Back on the Bitumen to Dalby but so many things to see on the way. John seems intent on picking up a third car for the trip back this one needed too much work.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: 4Wder, 'Jeez you guys better watchit, the bitumen is rough from here to St George.'

We had travelled 613km averaging 50mpg.

 

FRIDAY 18 APRIL 2003

Off to Maleny arrived on time and the Citin started.
I am sure there are a heap of web pages covering the Citin, and we will put the links in when they become available.


TWO DIRTY UNWASHED 2CV'S from WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Coming home