brett 2,315 Posted March 1, 2014 Report Share Posted March 1, 2014 Last time you saw me was in Norfork Island, I stayed with my new friend Pappy, in a small back bedroom, for a little over a week doing odd jobs around his home to earn my keep. His wife was an excellent cook and I was sorry to leave when an old college buddy called me, John was traveling around the world for the past 12 years in a beautiful old deHavilland Beaver. He is not exactly rich and supports his trek buy working spare supply runs along the way until he saves enough to move on to his next dream spot. He happened to be in Ceduna and knowing that was my next ATWC leg departure point I finagled a ride over there the next day. I would work for him until I needed to leave. Originally I was going to rent a plane to carry the baton but as fate would have it and with a bit of unfortunate luck, my buddy got sick and had a delivery to the town of Forrest. I felt bad for him as I happily climbed aboard his newly refurbished Beaver, settling in to the left seat after filing my flight plan and doing a walk-around. As I go over my check list I spy a Dingo out my window and throw him my last bits of breakfast sandwich and immediately feel bad, there are signs everywhere stating not to feed them. Oops and oh well, he looked happy enough but better not to do that anymore and I mentally punish myself. I got an early start and am starting the old bird up at 0500. It's a cool morning but clear and sunny as I line up. One last look to insure the trusty baton is on board and firmly bound. I am glad I am not traveling east today, the morning sun is blinding as I reach for the throttles. Even with a stiff 13kt wind the Beaver holds the line with little effort and it's big wings lift me on my journey like it was born a bird. I turn east by circling around to overfly the town of Ceduna and the coast ahead. Instead of flying directly to Forrest airport I decide to overfly some disused airports and some small airport slash roadhouse's and reach my first waypoint. Penong airport is officially closed although it still looks as it gets some use. As I head toward my next objective I make my usual gauge scan, after all these years of flying it is as automatic as breathing. My clear day is interrupted by a series of low clouds moving in, I hope none of them are storm filled. Passing over Nundroo's supposedly disused airport I spot a DC3. The town of Nundroo also has a hotel/motel/gas station and bar. Waypoint 3 is Yalata Mission airport and is used by the air ambulance Emergency Flight Services and is also open for private flights. As I chug along you realize how big Australia really is. Where I am on the south coast it's mostly flat for miles ahead, and behind. As my flight path brings me closer to the coast I see a previously un-noticed series of worm like hills dotting the landscape. I think some research is needed to see if the hills have any significance. My flight path has been roughly paralleling the coast line and the A6 or highway 1, also known as the Eyre highway, I reach what looks by the map as the northern most part of the Great Australian Blight or really big bay for us non Aussie's. My next waypoint, number 4, is the Nullarnoor airport which you can see just ahead over my aircrafts nose. As I make my next turn at wp1 I also spot the Nullarnoor Motel/Roadhouse. I just happened to have a snapshot of it from my last road trip. A bit over halfway on my flight, I settle back for a snack and power drink from my fly bottle, get it fly and I fly, I laugh aloud to myself every time at my private little joke and take in the scenery. I will be reaching Eucla soon so I take a quick look at the cliff's along the coastline. As I overfly a somewhat desolate Eucla airport, I will be turning inland to the northwest leaving the southern coast behind. Just about 25 minutes to go at my present speed, the clouds lift a bit and a more desert looking landscape begins. Around 12nm from Forrest I double check the ADF needle, which has been active since the trips halfway mark, confirming for the hundredth time that I am on the right track. I also check my handy airport diagram deciding to land on runway 18, the wind has lessened and is from about 142deg's according to the dust kicking up below. I also check my pocket watch, 7 minutes to my destination. I enter the downwind leg of the circuit right on time. Lining up on 18 with a wind gust kicking me over a touch. With the tundra tires and the Beaver being the plane it is, I grease the landing with barely a quiver through the airframe. Turning off the runway with thoughts of something a little more thirst quenching than Gatorade. As I air out the plane and gather my belongings, a Cargomaster gets ready to get airborne. Before leaving my plane, I take along glance at the baton and wonder how every scratch, gouge and smear tells many a story. Now to will see if Rob is about or if I will need to wait around, either way I hope there is food and drink about.......... I apologize for the large image size, I enlarged my screen size in windowed mode and then I forgot to resize the images. I will try not to make that mistake again. Link to post Share on other sites
hurricanemk1c 195 Posted March 1, 2014 Report Share Posted March 1, 2014 Superb shots and story there Brett! Link to post Share on other sites
mutley 4,497 Posted March 1, 2014 Report Share Posted March 1, 2014 Nice flight Brett, your fly bottle would have only lasted 5 minutes, you must be very thirsty. Don't forget the local population is only 18 and probably all related. so watch your back mate. Link to post Share on other sites
rob16584 42 Posted March 1, 2014 Report Share Posted March 1, 2014 Nice scenic flight Brett. I'll set off in couple of days! Link to post Share on other sites
brett 2,315 Posted March 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2014 No problem Rob, I found the only rooming house available to stay in until you arrive. Sleeps six and I will sleep with one eye open. Link to post Share on other sites
J G 927 Posted March 2, 2014 Report Share Posted March 2, 2014 Great read buddy! A great little tail, I really enjoyed reading it!. Like your accommodation, God knows what the dunny must be like! For all of those flying down under, I found this site very useful! http://www.koalanet.com.au/australian-slang.html Link to post Share on other sites
mutley 4,497 Posted March 2, 2014 Report Share Posted March 2, 2014 You will need that for my PIREP! Link to post Share on other sites
SEATAC 400 Posted March 2, 2014 Report Share Posted March 2, 2014 Great job Brett! Slim Jims and lays potato chips! The well balanced meal of any pilot. Link to post Share on other sites
brett 2,315 Posted March 2, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2014 Thanks guys, @John-The dunny was an outhouse fifty yards away, mornings are tough. @Rich- I did have some fruit rollups warming in my pocket to round out a well balanced meal. I hate to keep down playing an interesting place, the pic above is really the original rail station building. Check out this little snippet about a passengers account(1929) of flying from Adelaide and Perth, with stops at Forrest. Another interesting fact is that Forrest is on the longest stretch of straight railway in the world, almost 500km. I wonder if it shows up in FSX. Link to post Share on other sites
hifly 925 Posted March 2, 2014 Report Share Posted March 2, 2014 Nice trip me ole mate. Forrest, rather ironic name dontcha think. Link to post Share on other sites
brett 2,315 Posted March 2, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2014 Ironic, yes. Ha, never thought of it that way. I think there are two or three towns called Forrest in Australia. Maybe a common name or the name of an early adventurer. Link to post Share on other sites
stu7708 244 Posted March 3, 2014 Report Share Posted March 3, 2014 Great flight Brett, and you even managed to stay out of trouble Some very nice looking scenery in there too, a few OzX airports I guess Link to post Share on other sites
ddavid 149 Posted March 3, 2014 Report Share Posted March 3, 2014 Bonzer trip there, Brett, me old Mate. Have a couple of frosties on me and don't accept a Bondi Cigar if you're offered one! Loved the debris on the passenger seat - some fair dinkum shopping, Sunshine. Cheers - Dai. Link to post Share on other sites
brett 2,315 Posted March 3, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 3, 2014 Thanks a bunch guys, Great flight Brett, and you even managed to stay out of trouble Some very nice looking scenery in there too, a few OzX airports I guess Yep, staying out of trouble so far. I'm not sure who made this one, could be a default one even. I did try doing a find search in the manuals and the airport did not show up. Bonzer trip there, Brett, me old Mate. Have a couple of frosties on me and don't accept a Bondi Cigar if you're offered one!Loved the debris on the passenger seat - some fair dinkum shopping, Sunshine. Cheers - Dai. Haha, a Bondi Cigar. Had to look that one up. I'll know better next time now. Link to post Share on other sites
rosariomanzo 545 Posted March 4, 2014 Report Share Posted March 4, 2014 Nice flight and pictures, Brett! Link to post Share on other sites
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