Here comes the Wet Season!! We hope!
In our inaugural newsletter we thought we’d try to keep everyone up to date on a number of issues dear to our hearts. You see, we live and feel the droughts, the heat and the sweat of the Far North of Australia, and as we are starting to enter the build up to the wet season there are many doing things really tough out there. Cairns is rapidly joining the rest of Qld with a dull brown look, despite a short dump of rain a few weeks back. The Cape is dust brown, and so is the West.
Also, and no surprises here, but there are fires around Queensland, Northern NSW and High Risk warnings in much of Australia. There are also total fire bans in many places and the dry gusty winds are making these worse. What this means for travellers is there is a super high risk of bush fire at this time of year so please be super conscious about it and don’t take risks. Causing a serious bushfire is not something you want on your conscience, trust me. (yes, there is a story, but it is way too early and I don’t know you yet…)
Barra Season up North
For anyone doing a late season trip or coming up for the wet season, a friendly reminder from Queensland Fisheries that the Barra season has closed for the year and will re-open as usual when the fish have gone off the bite. Yes, the big girls are spawning, the pan sized beauties are smashing lures all over the place, but you can’t keep the buggers, so let ‘em go and find something else to keep you occupied.
Qld Fisheries promise they have enough budget to be working at least one shift outside of business hours between now and Christmas.
Camera Crews are great fun!
Cape York Camping with a camera crew
In a first for OST, we decided to spend a lot of money on trying to up our marketing game, and, surprised ourselves with just how much fun this could be. Our faith in Scotty Mason from Southern Sky Images, and
Phil Warring from Phlipvids, was 100% rewarded and we managed to not only drink rum and BBQ fish, on one of North Queensland’s best beaches, but also grab some great images doing it.
By the end of the four day trip we all badly needed our wives to tuck us into bed and tell us that it was normal to feel so dehydrated, be ok about busting our pluggers, nearly losing our boots, getting bogged on the first sand dune, and having to cook coral trout in a healthy dusting of flavoured kettle chips. No need to mention that we nearly ran out of fluids.
Sleep, good husbands, sleep…you deserve the break from all the hard work.
Snakes
Yep, snakes live on the Cape. And, not only that, but some of the baddest, bad ass buggers that Australia has the pleasure of owning, live right out the back door. And yes, if we still had back yard dunnies, we’d be acquainting ourselves with them a whole lot more than we used to.
So, this being the case, OST has, in our very well thought out and plugger friendly way, decided that we should partner up with Survival First Aid kits and start stocking something that might actually save our asses instead of just selling boxes. Great boxes, by the way, and yes, they hold snakes securely if need be…
Survival First Aid kits are Aussie designed and are top notch in their build quality, layout and instructions. Highly recommended for any remote adventuring.
What’s next?
Besides more grey hairs and worry about what our kids are up to after we’ve gone to bed at 9’oclock (which, by the way, is the new midnight), Open Sky Touring is diversifying in a way that probably only makes sense to us, but hopefully works all the same.
You will soon be seeing a few more products and bundle deals available from our new slick arse website. In short, we are now offering up some bundles of kit with our Expedition134 boxes! Gear that we personally use and rate highly for what we do and love. Aussie made gear that ticks all the boxes that we hold dear. At the moment, we have some great bundles with EzyAnchor, Survival First Aid kits (yes, snake stuff and more) and now, RacksBrax! That ingenious new product that allows quick release of awnings and tradie stuff from our roof racks! Super cool gear that we love and should bring you pleasant murmurings of contentedness once you’ve used it.
We also are getting a little bit more into this whole YouTube thing and are producing some no doubt lame excuses for video content, but potentially entertaining all the same.
Featured Products
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Expedition134 Heavy Duty Plastic Storage Box | Starter Expedition134 Kit | Survival Snake Bite Kit |
BUY NOW | BUY NOW | BUY NOW |
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OPEN SKY TOURING REVIEWS
from 75 reviewsIt fits... Stanley socket set and screwdriver set, spanner roll (large), hammer (med) , 2x vice grips, Allen keys set, 2x bum wipe, a restraint bag (6x 500kg ratchets&straps), kings recovery kit, kingcrome 80amp jumper leads, a 200mm x 250mm x 150mm box with wheel nuts/studs, cable ties ect, a roll of paper towel, a large total tool breaker bar (diagonal) and wheel sockets. Plus little wires and stuff i find. Can recommend.
Three fit perfectly along the width of my ute tray. Kept out red dust and rain with no issues, and are a great size to prevent you overfilling them and being unable to lift easily! No metal components on the hinges, so don’t have to worry about rust with all the salty gear that got thrown in the boxes.
The quality of the products are great and to be a Australian product worth it. The first aid kits are well stocked.
Very happy awesome box
Another great Aussie product, simple and easy to fit.
Impressed with the quality, not much use yet but if it performs as good as it looks I be even more impressed.
Great storage box and tie downs. Secure with locking points. Easy to open to access without removing straps. Straps have a clip to easily disengage when taking off. Dust proof. No problems in/out of byfield national park.
Excellent product, absolutely fit for purpose.
Awesome aussie made product, top notch service!!!
Quad Expedition134 Pack
Awesome !!!!
Great quality, love the tie downs and their anchor points, box fits on my spare fridge slide perfectly and I can use as a pantry box
Recently tried out these Expedition134 storage boxes. They are rippers! Aussie Made and Owned! They are great for boat, the 4wd, or around camp.
So easy to clean. You can lock them. You can open them without having to undo tie downs. And seal up great to protect you gear! Can’t say enough about them. Thanks Open Sky Touring for designing these great Aussie boxes!
Once again my delivery from Open Sky Touring arrived without a problem and I knocked the boxes together easily. I love these boxes and when finances allow will purchase another three. These are simply the best boxes on the market.
Strong, versatile and easy to store in camper trailer