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HAPPY APPING ON AUSSIE ROAD TRIPS!

And speaking of road trips, we came across this handy list of apps & one website which we thought might be useful for those times when you're doing your own self-drive adventures in the Aussie bush rather than travelling with the gypsies.

There's Nothing Like Australia (free app on iPhone & iPad) features standard & off-the-beaten-track tours, places to stay & gives details about towns you can visit. It also allows you to build and export an itinerary that you can save or share with family or mates.

Appy Travels is not one app, but a series that is constantly presenting updated info on various mainstream Oz destinations. Features interactive maps, news, image & video galleries, weather & daily deals specific to the areas you are visiting, reviews, comments & recommendations. (Free app on iPhone & iPad)

Australia On The Cheap – it does just what it says! Features over 450 free or inexpensive attractions as well as advice on great places to camp & stay. Use it to plan your trip as all the maps & photos are included in the initial download – very handy if you're in the middle of nowhere without wifi! (Costs $3.79 on iPhone or iPad)

Australia Bushwalking features 90 bushwalks from leisurely coastal strolls right through to epic challenges. Walks are divided into categories such as overnight, guided, full day, half day, desert, river, coastal & further broken down by state. (Costs $4.49 on iPad and iPhone)

Yelp assists you to find restaurants, accommodation, fuel stations, pubs & many other types of businesses in the places you're visiting. Review-based. (Free on iPad or iPhone)

Stayz allows you to search & book accommodation from over 45,000 listed properties in 2000 locations & shows reviews, rates, descriptions & pix. (Free on iPhone)

The Visit By Road website (www.visitbyroad.net.au) helps you plan your trip, share your itinerary, find accommodation that best suits your needs & discover local events & activities. Happy holidays!

KENNEDY RANGE EXPEDITION REPORT

Wow! What a great adventure & what a fantastic group! Our first visit to the pristine & little visited Kennedy Range since 2010 was absolutely spectacular! Thanks so much to Dale Borgward,Geoff Connor & Linda Reynolds, Wayne & Jill Fairclough, Suzanne Gallagher, Anne Gilkes, Russell & Meagan Lees, Ross McGillvray, Evan & Helen Parker, John & Heather Richardson & Graham & Donna Slessar (all from WA) & Ian & Alison Brien & David Sims (NSW).

There were so many highlights we don't know where to start! First off, maybe we should give the weather a big thumbs up! Sunny skies, warm days & no rain. Pretty chilly at night mind you, but when we were decked out in our beanies, gloves & Ugg boots & cuddled up around the campfire we managed to stay nice & toasty!

Special memories include admiring flowering banksias on top of the range; reading bush poetry & Ian's clever self-penned ditties round the campfire; the talk on local history & botany by DPAW Ranger Gary Hearle; celebrating Meagan's birthday with a special camp-oven cake; losing & finding (!) John's squillion-dollar camera & lens in a bush search that professional trackers would be proud of; earning Tim-Tam rewards for crossing the Gascoyne River (more like a puddle!); spending time with the delightful kids Belinda, Ashley & Dennis at Mt Sandiman station; the unique table decorations made from an old wool press by our artistic gypsies; the clear, vast night skies & marvellous stars; a full moon at Quobba Station; the "Saving of the Akubra" ceremony at Red Bluff & the marvellous swimming & snorkelling we enjoyed at Gnaraloo Bay with its crystal clear water, tropical fish & colourful coral. Every day just brought us more magical experiences.

With the Gibb River Road & so many other 4WD favourites so busy now, it's getting more & more difficult for us to find remote destinations that are scenic, quiet, uncrowded, have just the right amount of 4WD challenges yet are accessible & convoy friendly. So it was a real treat for Jeremy & the group to venture into the Kennedys.

The only downer was that two gypsies had to return to 'civilisation' before the tour ended. We really missed their company & sadly they missed the Farewell Dinner which was yet another knock-out meal served under the stars by our Safari Hostess, Jo Clews. Thanks, everyone, for making it such a great trip! We're ready to turn around & go back again!

SQUARE EYES SECTION: RECOMMENDED VIEWING!

We've found lots of visual goodies to enjoy on these cold winter nights! Our faves are a sweet little ABC series called Good Karma Hospital with Amanda Redman, supposedly set in Kerala, India (we were there earlier this year!) but actually filmed in Sri Lanka; the return of Poldark – the adventures of a rebellious, kind-hearted hottie in scenic 18^th century Cornwall (ABC-TV); & (of course) the new season of the gruesome but addictive, pseudo-historic thriller Game of Thrones.

Meanwhile, on DVD is the white-knuckle, cloak & dagger, illegal arms-trading, award-winning mini-series The Night Manager with Hugh Laurie & heart-throb Tom Hiddleston (move over Daniel Craig – here comes the new 007!). We also saw Al Gore's latest climate change doco, An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power – uncomfortable but unmissable. And what can we say about "Dunkirk" – too fascinating, heartbreaking & unforgettable for words.

TOUR GUIDE TRAINING COURSE HAPPENING IN DECEMBER!

With our book, "How to Be an Award-Winning Tour Guide" selling quicker than hot pies at a footy match, we thought it was time for another Tour Guide Training Course! So if you, friends or your family members have ever wanted to get into guiding, here's the perfect opportunity to learn all about it!

Our experienced instructors, all of whom are working in the industry, will cover such topics as duty of care, risk management, narrative & commentary, problem solving, how to run different types of tours, cultural awareness, environmental responsibility, customer relations, starting your own tourism business & more.

And it's not a stuffy old schoolroom course either! We'll spend 2½ days at beautiful Yanchep National Park in their new campground, conduct most of the sessions in a 'bush classroom', have lots of interaction, role plays & hands-on practice, go on bush walks, cook up our own meals & sleep in tents in the great outdoors. We can only take a small group of students & will only run one course this year so we suggest registering early.

For more details & a booking form visit: www.globalgypsies.com.au/training/Tour-Guide-Training/

And to buy a copy of our book for yourself or as a special Christmas gift for an aspiring guide you know & love, turn the page to : www.globalgypsies.com.au/how-to-be-an-award-winning-tour-guide-book/

RUDALL RIVER HERE WE COME!

You asked for it! So another Rudall River (Karlamilya) self-drive 4WD 'tag-along' expedition' is happening from July 18 – August 1, 2018! This exciting catered & escorted remote outback adventure has already attracted several international & local gypsies so get your wheels spinning! We can only take 10 vehicles – make sure yours is one of them! Do not pass go, do not collect $200. Drive straight to the Rudall River tour page for more information!

HOORAY FOR THE HOLLAND TRACK!

Don't forget our annual Holland Track Expedition from Nov 16 – 19, 21017. A long-time favourite for experienced 4x4 drivers & a great introduction for 'newbies', this escorted & catered mini-outback adventure – which is a joint venture with RAC Travel - is short, sweet & sensational. See the Holland Track tour page for details.

CANNING STOCK ROUTE SUCCESS!

Combine wonderful weather, a great group that bonded like superglue, heaps of fun, excellent 4WD challenges & 21 days on the "mother of all outback adventures" & what have you got? Another amazing Canning Stock Route Expedition! We took so many photos we can't share them all with you here, so please check out our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/globalgypsies – there are about 50 photos to enjoy in four separate FB posts!

Thanks so much to the intrepid gypsies who joined us on this awesome experience! From Victoria - Barrie & Carol Bradshaw, Allan Batchelor & Carlene Farmer, Graeme & Janet Cocks & John & Maxine Winters; from NSW - Glenn & Di Bordujenko; from WA Mike Dawes & Jan Hazell, Anne McMullan, Steve Fabbris & John Matthieson. Jeremy was ably assisted by our good friend from Melbourne, Andy Phillips, who acted as 'shotgun' & 'cookie', was excellent company & worth his weight in gold! And thanks also to Alfred Canning who surveyed the route & dug the wells back in 1907 thus making all our Canning tours possible!

Highlights of this incredible journey included seeing a litter of newborn dingo pups in a secret location; guided gorge & summit walks; streaking meteorites & falling stars; a full moon at Well 12; camping amongst the she-oaks; Dr Andy performing bush surgery on a Belgian backpacker's ear; great poetry & Canning diary readings round the campfire; a lovely DIY ditty by Maxine Winters (you can read it here) & hubby John's Aussie slang; Master Chef quality damper & scones from the camp oven & seeing stunning wildflowers & lots of wildlife including emus, kangaroos, camels, large brown snake, dingos, finches, parrots & bush turkeys.

Thanks to 'Madam Whiplash' (Carol) we collected $620 from silly fines & misdemeanours for Trackcare WA for their ongoing restoration of wells & 'dunnies' - we traditionally match the amount & have since sent them a cheque for $1240!! For this reason, we particularly enjoyed seeing our name on the bush loo sign at Well 15 as a major sponsor – what a way to get famous!

Mechanical problems & bush repairs ranged from flat tyres to fridges, roof racks, gas stoves, spotlights, water tanks, battery mounts – take your pick! The endless corrugations & almost 1000 sand dunes over 2000 rough kms take their toll on any vehicle!

And although we're taking a CSR break in 2018, we look forward to doing it all again in July 2019 & hope you'll be joining us!

Until next time, happy travels from – Jan and Jeremy