The Ford Barn

Darrell S · 03-20-2022, 01:12 PM

That humble, homemade caravan is ingenious. I love reading about your travel adventures.

Lawrie · 03-20-2022, 04:32 PM

I haven’t posted for a few days as I have been on back roads and no phone service out here,
One thing I notice is there are a lot of wedge tail eagles out here , they seem feed on road kill kangaroos,they have up to 3 mts wingspans and are so sure of themselves that they just look at me as I slow down and go around them,they are huge.
The other night when I stopped at a c/van park, when I got up there was a young girl parked next to the 33 she was sleeping on the ground in a swag,she was on her way to a new job on a station in Cloncurry, some 1000 or more ks away,also a guy on a push bike towing a small trailer on his way to Ayers Rock, that is lots of thousands of ks away.
33 going great and first time I actually passed a B double, he was loaded to the limit by the looks and eased over and told me to pass, man I sure hung on to the wheel ,I was only doing about 45 but broke one of my rules about not passing ,I had plenty of room and the driver was chatting on the UHF as I passed, so was quite safe,
I have some good pics to post but the iPad seems to have trouble uploading them some times so will do that later when I have better service.
Fuel has come down to 2.20 at the last fill up.
We have things called “driver revivers” here where you can stop and get a free coffee and biscuits, I stopped at one yesterday and met some motor cyclists, had a good chat,turned a half hr stop into a 2 hr stop , but a good time .
I should be home in a few days , and the 33 will get a good clean and service ,plus fix a few things ,like the trim piece has come away from above the rear door and the trim that covers the wheel well next to the rear seat cushion has also come loose.
Miles to day 1600 with a few more to home.
Lawrie

sugarmaker · 03-20-2022, 05:12 PM

Lawrie,
Awesome to ride along with you! In a land I will probably never see. Makes me want to go out and get the 32 truck out for a spin, on this sunny cool afternoon!
Regards,
Chris

flatford8 · 03-20-2022, 05:20 PM

Safe trip home Lawrie.....Take Care.....Thanks for sharing...Mark from Maine, USA.

mercman from oz · 03-20-2022, 10:16 PM

Map - Lawrie's Trip out West.
His home town is circled top right, with towns mentioned in his Post circled on the left. Queensland is a huge State covering thousands of square miles.

vilanar · 03-22-2022, 01:30 AM

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Very nice ! Thanks for sharing.

Mart · 03-22-2022, 04:51 AM

Thanks for posting the map. It puts it all into perspective.
Fantastic trip, Lawrie, and a great report.

Mart.

Als48 · 03-22-2022, 09:29 AM

It's great to hear about your travels. I can identify, as I own a motorhome and have travelled considerably in it. Having owned 3 other MH's and a couple of truck campers, we've put in quite a few miles. Sorry to hear about your wife recently passing. I can imagine how that affects your overall life. Keep on keeping on.

Al Hook

cas3 · 03-22-2022, 10:29 AM

Yes, thanks for posting the map mercman

GB SISSON · 03-22-2022, 10:16 PM

Lawrie, this has been such a great trip. As so many have said, you are an inspiration to us all! Safe travels as you steer towards your home.

Lawrie · 03-23-2022, 01:25 AM

Im back home now, got home yesterday arvo, but on my last stop at Biloela,I had a coffee and a sandwich at the shop, hopped in to head to the fuel stop and it would not start, the starter would only turn the engine one fan blade over but as slow as and that was it, tried rocking the car back and forward and starter was not stuck, so I gave the starter a hit, bit made no difference, I was standing looking at the engine a young guy pulled up and said his father had just moved to town and had a 35 fordor, I told him my drama, and I said a tow would get me going, so he hooked the strap on and after about 2 ft the 33 was going,I think it did not want to go home.
I filled it up at the servo with the motor running and headed home, no drama.
So this morning I did a bit of trouble shooting, and took the starter off, it had oil and grease all over the brushes and commutator,so I fitted the spare starter and its back starting like a dream,I will fixed the starter I took off ,but no hurry as there were 3 o/hauled ones on my spare shelf.
The 33 is covered in red dust and mud and will get washed and serviced tomorrow.
Trip was 1800 miles, oil use about 1 ltr, fuel mostly around 17-18 litres /100 klm.
Pics , one of the wide loads I encountered,
There was 80 tons of beef on the road train
Neat place names and one nice spot I camped at for a few days
Lawrie
.

ssffnomad · 03-23-2022, 01:30 AM

Welcome home Sir. T/Y for sharing your great travels with us. Get some rest.
Stretch

mercman from oz · 03-23-2022, 03:44 AM

Roads out West Qld encountered by Lawrie.

mercman from oz · 03-23-2022, 03:50 AM

Truckload of Beef heading to Market

mercman from oz · 03-23-2022, 03:53 AM

Check out this heavy machinery encountered by Lawrie

51woodie · 03-23-2022, 08:02 AM

Laurie. Good to see you are safe back home. When I took a close look at the map that mercman posted, I saw that you were in Quilpie and Eromanga, as was I when I did my drive from Sydney to Perth. Thanks for bringing back the memories of my trip across your wonderful country.

03-20-2022, 01:12 PM	#61
Darrell S Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Everett WA Posts: 346	Re: 33 out west That humble, homemade caravan is ingenious. I love reading about your travel adventures.

03-20-2022, 04:32 PM	#62
Lawrie Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Qld, Australia Posts: 4,215	Re: 33 out west I haven’t posted for a few days as I have been on back roads and no phone service out here, One thing I notice is there are a lot of wedge tail eagles out here , they seem feed on road kill kangaroos,they have up to 3 mts wingspans and are so sure of themselves that they just look at me as I slow down and go around them,they are huge. The other night when I stopped at a c/van park, when I got up there was a young girl parked next to the 33 she was sleeping on the ground in a swag,she was on her way to a new job on a station in Cloncurry, some 1000 or more ks away,also a guy on a push bike towing a small trailer on his way to Ayers Rock, that is lots of thousands of ks away. 33 going great and first time I actually passed a B double, he was loaded to the limit by the looks and eased over and told me to pass, man I sure hung on to the wheel ,I was only doing about 45 but broke one of my rules about not passing ,I had plenty of room and the driver was chatting on the UHF as I passed, so was quite safe, I have some good pics to post but the iPad seems to have trouble uploading them some times so will do that later when I have better service. Fuel has come down to 2.20 at the last fill up. We have things called “driver revivers” here where you can stop and get a free coffee and biscuits, I stopped at one yesterday and met some motor cyclists, had a good chat,turned a half hr stop into a 2 hr stop , but a good time . I should be home in a few days , and the 33 will get a good clean and service ,plus fix a few things ,like the trim piece has come away from above the rear door and the trim that covers the wheel well next to the rear seat cushion has also come loose. Miles to day 1600 with a few more to home. Lawrie

03-20-2022, 05:12 PM	#63
sugarmaker Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Albion PA Posts: 1,676	Re: 33 out west Lawrie, Awesome to ride along with you! In a land I will probably never see. Makes me want to go out and get the 32 truck out for a spin, on this sunny cool afternoon! Regards, Chris __________________ 1932 AAB Truck 1953 Ford Jubilee 2015 Ford F250 SuperCrew Lots of Allis tractors Some Cub Cadets

03-20-2022, 05:20 PM	#64
flatford8 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Lyman,ME. Posts: 2,626	Re: 33 out west Safe trip home Lawrie.....Take Care.....Thanks for sharing...Mark from Maine, USA. __________________ I'm thinkin' about crankin' My ragged ol' truck up and haulin' myself into town. Billy Joe Shaver

03-20-2022, 10:16 PM	#65
mercman from oz Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 10,361	Re: 33 out west Map - Lawrie's Trip out West. His home town is circled top right, with towns mentioned in his Post circled on the left. Queensland is a huge State covering thousands of square miles.

03-22-2022, 01:30 AM	#66
vilanar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 162	Re: 33 out west Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Very nice ! Thanks for sharing.

03-22-2022, 04:51 AM	#67
Mart Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Solihull, England. Posts: 8,747	Re: 33 out west Thanks for posting the map. It puts it all into perspective. Fantastic trip, Lawrie, and a great report. Mart.

03-22-2022, 09:29 AM	#68
Als48 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: Paducah Ky Posts: 279	Re: 33 out west It's great to hear about your travels. I can identify, as I own a motorhome and have travelled considerably in it. Having owned 3 other MH's and a couple of truck campers, we've put in quite a few miles. Sorry to hear about your wife recently passing. I can imagine how that affects your overall life. Keep on keeping on. Al Hook

03-22-2022, 10:29 AM	#69
cas3 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: sw minnesota Posts: 4,571	Re: 33 out west Yes, thanks for posting the map mercman

03-22-2022, 10:16 PM	#70
GB SISSON Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Orcas Island Washington Posts: 4,924	Re: 33 out west Lawrie, this has been such a great trip. As so many have said, you are an inspiration to us all! Safe travels as you steer towards your home. __________________ Owner/Operator of 'Jailbar Ranch' on the side of Mt. Pickett. Current stable consists of 1946 1/2 ton pickup turned woodie wagon with FH V8, 1947 Tonner Pickup (red) mostly stock with exception of a cummins 6at turbo diesel, 1946 Tonner Pickup (green) with 226 cu in 6 cyl flathead, 1979 Toyota landcruiser wagon, completely encased in 1947 Ford Jailbar sheet metal. Ok, cornbinder rear fenders..... 'Rusty ol' floorboards, hot on their feet' (Alan Jackson)

03-23-2022, 01:30 AM	#72
ssffnomad Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2021 Location: Upstate N.Y. Posts: 443	Re: 33 out west Welcome home Sir. T/Y for sharing your great travels with us. Get some rest. Stretch

03-23-2022, 03:44 AM	#73
mercman from oz Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 10,361	Re: 33 out west Roads out West Qld encountered by Lawrie.

03-23-2022, 03:50 AM	#74
mercman from oz Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 10,361	Re: 33 out west Truckload of Beef heading to Market

03-23-2022, 03:53 AM	#75
mercman from oz Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 10,361	Re: 33 out west Check out this heavy machinery encountered by Lawrie

03-23-2022, 08:02 AM	#76
51woodie Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Chelmsford, ON Canada Posts: 528	Re: 33 out west Laurie. Good to see you are safe back home. When I took a close look at the map that mercman posted, I saw that you were in Quilpie and Eromanga, as was I when I did my drive from Sydney to Perth. Thanks for bringing back the memories of my trip across your wonderful country.