A STRENUOUS HOLIDAY

Southland Times, Issue 22993, 12 September 1936, Page 19

A STRENUOUS HOLIDAY

CARAVAN TOUR OF AUSTRALIA An adventurous caravan tour of 7000 miles through outback Queensland and the Northern Territory was recently completed by Mr G. T. Bridgborn, an aiderman of the Launceston (Tasmania) City Council, accompanied by his wife, his son, his brother, the Rev. W. C. Bridgborn, and Mr M. White, (writes the Sydney representative of Tire Evening Post). The tour started from Tasmania in March last, and since then the caravan, aptly named “The Wanderer,” has found itself in many strange places and in many awkward, and even dangerous, situations. It has hung suspended over steep banks, with only a tree preventing a crash of 30ft or so. It has spent day and night firmly held in Northern Queensland bogs. It has been gripped in the quicksands of the Clark River in Central Queensland, to be released only by herculean efforts. It has skidded almost to destruction, hundreds of miles from any habitation, and has forded, and even been stuck, in crocodile-infested rivers. For more than five montlis “The Wanderer” has visited strange places, and now is having a rest in Sydney, while Mr Bridgborn and his party are enjoying the final days of a long and exciting holiday. Mr Bridgborn designed and built “The Wanderer” himself. It is a luxurious home on wheels, ingeniously constructed, and cost approximately £lOOO. The real adventures started after leaving Cairns, when huge bogs were encountered. In one of these the party spent two days and nights. By means of block and tackle, and young trees laid to form a tramline under the double rear wheels, “The Wanderer” was eventually released, only to be bogged again for a day and night after travelling three-quarters of a mile. Then for six days “The Wanderer” was in and out of begs. For the greater portion of the time in Queensland the party were off the beaten tracks. The roads were mostly blazed trails, steep gullies were almost unnegotiable, and huge washouts impeded progress seriously. Near the border of the Northern Territory it was impossible to travel more than 25 miles in four or five days. The Burdekin River was in flood, and only an improvised bridge, consisting of two trees, with decking of spars and bush, was available. It had to be repaired before the risky crossing could be undertaken. Half-way across, the bridge sagged and swayed dangerously, but by careful distribution of their weight, the party managed to restore equilibrium, while six inches of water flowed over the bridge. At the Clark River there was further danger, After travelling the country known as Hell’s Gullies, the party reached the telephone and telegraph station, where the man in charge said they had no hope of crossing the river because of the torrential rain that had fallen for two days. No car had crossed since December, he informed them. The waters were rising, but as there was not enough food or petrol to last through the return trip through Hell’s Gullies, Mr Bridgborn decided to push on. Skids were made of split timber, and were towed down to the river, which has a quicksand base. The car was run on to the first set, and then began the laborious task of placing skids in front as progress was made. The 400 ft journey took three hours. In the Paulfrey River. “The Wanderer” was caught in the quicksand, and was released after 61 hours’ work with,.,,block and tackle; levers, and spars, the water at the completion of the task being almost at the top of the wheels. The caravan weighs about four tons.