Simpson desert,Gammon ranges and 3 corners run

[gavo]

The catalysis for this was the fact that 2years ago when doing an across Australia and back trip, which was to include the desert, we had not predicted that the damn place would be flooded
Anyhow, 2 weeks off work and the plan, Trailer bikes to Eulo QLD (couldn't waste my nobbies on blacktop) 3 DR's as starters Day1 Eulo to Tiboburra, Day 2Tiboburra to Arkaroola, Day 3 Arkaroola to Marree , Day 4 Marree to Oodnadatta,
Day 5 Oodnadatta to Mt Dare to somewhere in the Simpson, Day 7 more Simpson, Day 8 Simpson to Birdsville, Day 9 Birdsville to Innamincka, Day 10 Innamincka to Eulo. sweet
Here's how it went

Day 1 After a night of bullshitting ,eating and drinking

Then this pub ,ex cob and co but not open yet, Hungerford

[gavo]

Sturt National park

Mt Wood station ( in the video at the end)
Tiboburra Hotel best stay of the trip Highly recommended

More Sturt national park
Just lost a bag here after going in ditch


[IMG]http://i943.photobucket.com/albums/ad272/gavo6/desert%20trip%202012/IMGP1682.jpg[/IMG
Cameron's corner


bet noone's seen this before


To bunk at Arkaroola
Into the Gammons





Nooldoonoldoona waterhole

Gill's lookout



Through Blinman to Parachilna through Beltana

To Marree, stayed at the pub another good stop

[gavo]

Today's leg is Marree to Oodnadatta the "track" is more like a dirt freeway
Art in the outback


Rail bridge for old Ghan line

The mound springs were interesting



A little eco system surround by nothing

and lake Eyre

and the salubrious accommodation behind the pink roadhouse



Day 5 Oodnadatta to Mt Dare
Eringa waterhole was a nice stop


And a brief stop for a group photo

[gavo]

Mt Dare to 212ks further on
Dalhousie springs


There was a group of walkers spread out along the French line with army support trucks. the oldest walker was 83 I believe, the could walk as much or as little as they wanted and could be picked up at marked points.

We were going well and making good time when we decided to stop and let some air out of the tyres, thats when I found 2 broken spokes in my rear wheel.

After that break I don't know what changed but both Doug and myself lost the rhythm, 1st and second gear, couldn't get on top of the sand, couldn't stay on the track or upright, bad situation we got spread out, Pete was going well and thought we were behind him, I was about 1km ahead of Doug we I went bush and spent about 10min trying to wrestle my bike to a position where I could lift it. Knackered I rested for 5min---no Doug, so I head back find him ,he's mobile but had to unload his bike to lift it and get up a dune, thing were not going well.
Doug and I went search of Pete but it was slow going, found this teddy in a chair watching telly on one of the flats, some people take strange stuff to the desert


Our first nights camp, we only made about 40kms in the afternoon and this was cause for concern


Tomorrows another day

[gavo]

Well tomorrow came and it all fell into place after a cold night but not unbearable.
Straight up third and fourth gear,good speed and very few excursions



Not far from Poeppels corner




About another 40k's or so and we made camp. We figured we were around 100k's from Birdsville
Plus a fire tonight, someone had left some wood

[gavo]

Left maybe an hour after sunrise after another cold night, my minus 10 bag was just adequate and it's been fine for many a Budgie rally so it was cold, the other 2 had Aldi -15 bags and said they felt the cold.
After what seemed like an easy short ride we were at the last dune "Big Red"

After some discussion we thought last on e , give it a crack
Peter went first , straight up no worries I followed on the same approach also with success.
Doug decided on a different track to the top and bogged down 3/4 the way up so went down for a go at the track Peter and I used

A celebratory picture on the top and the view



The temp road from Big Red to Birdsville was a little tricky but no indecent' s and on for a well earned beer after completing the crossing in 2 1/2 days

[DaveTrx]

Great report Gav! Now time to get ready for something completely different!!!!!!

[gavo]

Day 9 Birdsville to Innamincka
We headed for Haddon corner with a little stop just outside Betoota, you cane see it in the background, deserted

then on to the corner



We were going to the Burke and Wills dig tree but as my bike was being extra thirsty we elected to by pass that for a shorter route and come back tomorrow
Pelicans in the river on the edge of Innamincka

Day 10 Innamincka to Eulo via Nappa merri-Santos rd
The site of Burke's death

And then around to the dig tree


And the one more historical pub to finish things off at Noccundra

Just this video now

[Goosefeather]

Nicely done . . .

[J_B]

Good RR
interesting your comments about losing your rythm , could it have been a little fatigue and difference in sand temperature. Found it I tough going around midday in the dunes with the sand noticeably softer.

Good to see you pushed on

Jb

[WILL_S]

nice one

[Worm Burner]

Hi Gavo, I've been waiting to read your ride report 4 some time now, your still faster than my report. Just can' t help think that you have left best bit off though. You know the 3 or so hours after you left Eulo on the way home . good stuff

[gavo]

Originally Posted by Worm Burner

Hi Gavo, I've been waiting to read your ride report 4 some time now, your still faster than my report. Just can' t help think that you have left best bit off though. You know the 3 or so hours after you left Eulo on the way home . good stuff

You mean the part when we missed the turn off and ended up 100+kms in the wrong direction and state
I can claim I was in the back seat with my head in a magazine but I don't know what the guys in the front will claim

[Ian Robinson]

Good report .. Some nice country out there. A few dramas go to making a memorable trip.

[pirate63]

great stuff gave