Central Oz August 2011

[k0diak]

I feel lucky that I got a bit of a flu going and didn't get there just for the worst of it. Hopefully by the time I'm there it will dry up a bit, looks like better weather is coming that way.

[cul8rr]

You missed a good ride Kodiak.
Took advantage of the good weather, put some k's behind us.
Finally made it to the border

Stopped at Docker River for fuel. Rocking sorta place.
As soon as we crossed the border the roads were ...... fun... haha
WA certainly looks after their roads a bit better
Miles of corrugations,soft sand, ruts.
Had a grader working halway which made things a bit better for a while.
Wouldn't be dead for quids. Having a ball.




Called in to se Lasseters Gold. Is it fact or fiction?

Lasseters cave

Views from above Lasseters cave

This is the end of stage 1. The Great Central Road. Laverton to the Olga's


As much as I would like to go to see Ayers Rock. I can't see it without the family...
So this is as close as I got this trip. Next time I will do the tourist thing with the family.

Camped at Yalara tonight and then it's of to Alice Springs to stock up and do some repairs.
Warakurna to Ayers Rock Part 1.... There seems to be a bit of a gap missing from the GPS along here....... Maybe I should have been a bit kinder to the Elders at Docker River.......

Part 2 of this weird bit of Oz....

[k0diak]

I didn't miss it, I'm in Laverton and heading out that way tomorrow.
Did the Old Laverton Road and a few others in the area, most of them were like a dirt highway today :)

[cul8rr]

Left Ayers Rock on Thursday and took the sealed road to Alice Springs. With all the bush fires in the area a lot of the back roads were closed. Sourced some rear brake pads,filters and oil from the Yamaha dealer in Alice and kicked back and serviced the bike,sunk some beers by the pool chilled out for a while.
Random photo's along the way. Couldn't see too much with all the bush fires around the area.

Cool looking flower

Tomorrow (Saturday) will be heading down to Finke, Dalhousie, then onto Oodnadatta.

[RedDogAlberta]

Love it!

[cul8rr]

Stayed in Alice for 2 nights. Serviced the bikes and replaced the rear brake pads..... It's good to finally have brakes again....
2 nights too long in civilization
Shots of Alice Springs



Left Alice and headed down the Ghan Heritage trail. Looked like an easy run to Finke then onto Mount Dare.
Start of the track was brilliant, then it was time to establish some sand riding skills on the run........ I didn't have much before, but this track give it to me by the bucket load..
Didn't stop to get many pictures. Too beat up getting through all the sand.


Finke never looked so good

Finke was closed for the weekend so headed into Mount Dare for the night
At the turnoff for Mount Dare and refuel out of our jerry cans.


Another border crossed


Chainsaws???? whats out here to cut down...
Mount Dare station

[k0diak]

Nice photos!

I made it to Alice as well yesterday after 3 days on the GCR and an extra from there. It was a pretty nice run, the last bit from the NT border was the best. Nice, smooth sand finally, no corrugations at speed

[cul8rr]

Had a late start after Mount Dare...... must have been something in the water... haha
Highly recommend the Boags.
Met 4 blokes on KTM's about to do the Simpson desert without backup. Hope they made it.
Headed done to Dalhousie Springs. What an oasis in the middle of nowhere.
Went for a swim and felt great, even got a pedicure from the guppies swimming around.

Dalhousie Springs


Dalhousie station ruins. Must have been a different world back in 1885

[cul8rr]

After feeling refreshed from Dalhousie Springs and getting some cool breeze through us we came across more sand.... the inevitable happened.... at least this time it was dry and we were able to get it back up easier


After this little effort it was easy riding into Oodnadatta for the night
Oodnadatta track and Ghan Heritage trail intersection

The view dosen't change much

Oodnadatta's pink pub


Took a run out to see the painted desert. All was going well until I followed some car tracks..... Where they went I went......



I guess that makes it 2 -1 .........
Scene of the crime.

Painted desert



Back onto the Kempe road and into Coober Pedy

[k0diak]

Originally Posted by cul8rr

Took a run out to see the painted desert. All was going well until I followed some car tracks..... Where they went I went......

Haha, are you sure you were not following my tracks?
I did the same, coming around the corner at around 80km/h, hitting that unrideable crap. Managed to pull out to the side, running along that bank a bit and slow down just in time without dropping at exactly the same spot.
What a crap surface that is...I can just imagine on the heavy bikes.

[cul8rr]

Could have been haha
Didn't have to loft it to far.....

[cul8rr]

Spent the night at Coober Pedy......
There is a few "unique individuals there.
On the way there went through the dog fence.
One sign said 5600km's long, on the road to William Creek another said 9600km's....

Old v's new.... which is which...

went into one of the underground gem shops.
Old opal mines


Onto the William Creek road we came across this.
Shouldn't have too much trouble with this in the loose sand....

Roadside take away....

Plenty of wild flowers


William Creek. Seem to be a place where a lot of rockets fall back to earth....


Lake Eyre.
Awesome spot to see with it near full. Photo's don't do it justice




Still following the Ghan from Alice Springs down along the Oodnadatta Track.

[cul8rr]

Still following the Ghan

Into Marree for lunch before setting up camp near Copley

[cul8rr]

Camped at Copley and headed into the Flinders to Arkaroorla for fuel before heading to Cameron's corner. Stopped to wait for John and again no sign of him......


I headed back to see what's going on and found him.....

After his off track excursion at Lake Eyre his rear tyre wasn't holding the air anymore.....
Got a hand from some others travelling through. Thanks guys.
Some of the view on the way to Arkaroorla


View at Arkaroorla

Once we had got our fuel we had a better look at John's rear wheel.
Results of contact with huge rocks at Lake Eyre showed 1 spoke missing and a few loose ones as well.
Decision was made for John to head towards Adelaide to get some repairs done and grab some parts. While we were working out where to go from here Broken Hill was mentioned....
While he was in Adelaide I thought it would be a good idea to head over to the Hunter Valley for the weekend and catch up with family. Not much to see on the way just crunching some kays to get over there and hopefully meet up in South Oz somewhere.
Road to Yunta.... All I wanted was a left hand turn to change the crosswind into a tailwind......

Ruins north of Yunta

Another border crossed

[cul8rr]

Broken Hill
More mines........

Part of the past

Picked up a bit of work while in the area......

Just ouside of Dubbo for lunch

Came through the Great Dividing Range to see the Hunter Valley under cloud......
Same way it looked 13 years ago......

That's about it until next week.
So far 6,500k's mostly off road except for Yunta to the Hunter Valley in nearly 3 weeks.
Damages so far have been....
My bike, rear brake pads wore out after 1,000k's on the Great Central Road in the wet.
Diff oil coming out the breather/seal area. Changed the oil at Alice and had a bit of water in it.
Front tyre went flat almost every morning. Going through the sand with lower pressures had it flat almost hourly.....
Front rim damage due to pressure dropping going over corrugations.
Clip on the tank bag ripped off when I went sailing over the top of it.
John's bike, Same as above with the brakes and diff.
Both rims damaged when forced of the road, also loose spokes on the rear.
Once we get the bikes up to spec we'll see how we go on the way home.....
Till later.......