long time no see.

Quote from: Traveller on May 25, 2026, 09:25:07 AMWelcome back. Did you pick up another Patrol, or have you gone to the dark side?

No, not a Patrol, nor the dark side...I now have a 2025 VW Amarok Pan Americana with many goodies and I now tow a Eagle 12ft Off Road Van...:-)

Quote from: jk on May 25, 2026, 07:07:32 AMGood to see you here again mate, welcome back !

Cheers...:-)

Welcome back. Did you pick up another Patrol, or have you gone to the dark side?

Good to see you here again mate, welcome back !

Quote from: GGV8Cruza on May 24, 2026, 07:36:08 PMWelcome back stranger

GG

Thanks mate...

Wow! I've been away for far too long it seems.

I always hate to lose the info found among forums, majority of it can never be replaced properly. However there's definitely been a trend where they're declining in popularity and therefore traffic. The old 4wd action forum was flooded with ads - for their own business mostly - but that was another one where a heap of knowledge was lost.

That said I don't get among forums as much any more simply because I have an issue where I keep going down rabbit holes and can spend hours following threads or ideas and what not and I forget I have things like a wife and kids and a house that need my attention so I had to detox and learn to forum sparingly, that was over 10 years ago now.

These days I have a couple of forums I use via Tapatalk and a couple that remain open tabs on my phone web browser and I limit my time on them.

They have been and continue to be great sources of information, but if a forum goes the way like the news outlets that require a subscription to read an article or browse I'll be out. Not that I don't want to contribute to forums expenses just that I can't. (And I definitely won't for a news outlet.)

My unneeded 2c worth done I'm super glad there are hidden geniuses among us that rescued the forum so thanks to those people and Brett and Jill for everything you have done already.

Much appreciated

Welcome back stranger

GG

Well, been away too long. Back and now living in Adelaide so will be looking at organising some SA trips...New rig and camper...😊

I know this will sound silly... (that we've just realised this) but for the last 2+ years up here in Yarralin, we've been doing monthy runs to Katherine for groceries and stuff.  (5h each way)

With that comes motel costs. during the dry, we're averaging around $199 - $279 a night (depending on if we have two dogs with us or not)

three weekends ago we picked up a third Samoyed puppy from Darwin airport and we used our (new to us) 2011 Kedron ATV. Caravan park cost - $65 at the Oasis Darwin and then $55 at the Big 4 Breeze in Katherine on beautiful green grass...

I know that it's a somewhat false economy in taking the van to Katherine *every single time* (tyre wear for one)... But for one... it's fun. And we're ok with two dogs and a puppy at the park. (and no $40 per dog cleaning surcharge at a motel) and bonus, we have the 190L van fridge for bringing food back.

We also have the option of leaving here on the Friday arvo and stopping at a rest area for the night on the way in. (need to increase the solar though)

So if you see a Sandy Taupe 2018 V8 Troopy (with an Alu-Cab roof conversion and PAWS plates) towing a 21' 2011 Kedron ATV parked up at any of the rest areas on the Victoria Hwy, between The Buchanan Hwy and Katherine... and hear some barking... and see white samoyeds... come over and say hi! (I promise *we* won't bite and the dogs are guaranteed to lick you to death... ok the little one "might try" at the moment, as she's at "baby velociraptor" age right now) 🐾🐾🤠🐾