Australia, across and back and points of interest

[gavo]

The reason this ride report is so late is----I'm slack and was otherwise occupied.
The idea was to ride from Gympie in Queensland west on as much dirt as possible to Perth WA via a few beauty spots including the Simpson desert to Gympie. Sound simple doesn't it.
Doug our Navigator/Slavemaster a regular dirt rider. DR 650
Pete a regular road rider but not much dirt. Dr 650
Graham a regular road and race rider but dirt virgin. Husky 610
Gavin (me) regular road rider and extensive dirt rider but no dirt for 20+ years. Dr 650
We left on a Friday afternoon 06/05/2010 just to get a few kms under the belt and plan to stay at the golden spurs hotel in Proston
The route and were it splits eg Perth to Esperance, me the inland route the other three the coast. Because I used to live in WA and I wanted to go that way.
And from Ceduna, Doug still wanted to go inland despite extensive flooding and rain, Pete and I couldn't risk getting stuck and Graham had flown home after mechanical failure.



Next morning Doug bike won't start, dead battery. After trying to jump start, tow start, no joy I ride to Kingaroy to buy a new battery round trip approx 120kms Shit.
After a late start and no further drama's we head west for Injune
straight forward dirt roads and a pub and beds




We leave Injune nice and early heading for Isiford via Womblebank gap

the husky sidestand retired

Don't ask where this was Pete took the pic, maybe near Blackall



A lot of roos between Blackall and Isisford
and the pub, Great place, unfortunately a big hangover the next day


Heading out towards Boulia










About 100kms short of Boulia it was getting dark so we decided to camp at a place called Slashers creek/Pioneer creek.
The mosquitoes were horrific they were even biting through my gloves apart from that a pretty spot

[zadok]

Looks like a lot of fun so far.

[gavo]

Up early ,a cuppa and into Boulia for fuel

and out on the donohue hwy


then Plenty hwy


rest under the trees

the border crossing into the Northern Territory

The road were in good condition, ruts not too bad around 120kph seem to be a smooth speed on the more open stuff until we hit Jervios station. filled up the bike$62 and pitched camp, great little spot.

[nzrian]

what tyres were you running.
i did a simpson crossing last year from brissy on a dr650 with the mitas eo9 front and back, 6500km no worries, the rear was rooted though when we got home.
the dr is a good weapon for these type of trips i reckon.

[IMG]http:/
IMG_0460 by Rian2008, on Flickr[/IMG]

you might recognise this from the plenty highway near jervios.

[gavo]

I was using a dunlop 606 front and Mitas eo9 rear Changed rear at Perth
doug had a 606 front TKC rear , rear changed at Alice
Graham had Bridgestone motocross front and TKC rear changed rear at Alice changed front at Esperance
Pete had 606 front and Metezlar sahara rear changed rear at Esperance
I remember that termite mound it was huge but for some reason no one stopped to take a pic

[gavo]

Left Jervios station headed for Alice springs. good speed, straight forward. About 10km before the road becomes sealed Doug turns of to the left, one of his sidetracks special stages as he likes to call them, the name , Cattlewater pass Actually a really good track, sand, rocks etc. trouble is the sand is super soft, I think this track gave Graham a lifetime sand phobia and me a badly twisted ankle that got caught under the bike.So after a very strenuous time on Cattle water pass with much sweat and off's we hit the Alice for 2 days bike maintenance and an X-ray for me.
A previous victim of the pass






And stopping for some repairs on the plasti's of the Husky

[gavo]

After a couple of days r&r in Alice we headed out, some with new tyres some with tyre's on the rack to fit later.
So the plan was Hermannsburg, Kings canyon to Curtain springs.

Hermannsburg


There's a good 4wd track cuts across the Canyon loop but Doug was the only one willing or able so too dangerous alone so a bit of disappointment.

Artistic recycling


From the lookout

And the pump attendant at Curtain springs

Curtain spring , very popular, Free camping around 50ks from the rock. shits all over the prices at the rock.

[gavo]

Left Curtain springs fairly early and as Graham had been suffering pain for a couple of days after an off on Cattlewater pass we decided to stop at the medical centre at Uluru so he could get checked out.


After Graham got the all clear we pressed on and as some of our crew had been to the rock before and others were put off by the entry price we pressed on. making a stop at the Olga's



some more of the local traffic hazards

We stopped for a look at lasseter's cave at Hull's creek


wide open country


We stayed the night at Warakurna, bunkhouses, camp kitchen, even a TV.


Funny thing , there was some bloke staying there and working on housing and a couple of grey nomads stayed the night one group wanted to watch AFL the others League it was getting touchy, shit it's only football get a life

[gavo]

Morning comes and we're away


I'll have to say although the scenery is vast and a camera doesn't do justice, sometimes it just gets boring

another traffic hazard

and smoko

and a fuel stop I've never seen a pump so well protected.

we stopped about about 200km from Laverton and 80km from Cosmo. There's just something about camping in the middle of nowhere


and another early start

[Tsotsie]

Thank you for taking us along. Great read!

[jmcg]

Love 'ya work.

Great trip and pics.

Thanks,

JM.

[gavo]

Originally Posted by Tsotsie

Thank you for taking us along. Great read!

thank you all encouragement welcome

[gavo]

Originally Posted by jmcg

Love 'ya work.

Great trip and pics.

Thanks,

JM.

Thanks after so long it's lucky I took a bit of a diary

[gavo]

We headed south, now Doug our intrepid navigator knows this area pretty well having worked in various mines so he took us to the Grand hotel in Kookynie

It's a hard life but someone has to do it

and across to Niagara Dam reserve

We were told all the cement to build this dam wall was brought in by camel

So through a few back roads to Ora banda a nice pub with a terrific sunset but the gravel strewn rock hard tent site in the pubs campground
was crap and overpriced.

[gavo]

left Ora Banda for Kalgoorlie next morning went past a couple of Doug's old haunts and stopped at the Super pit for a looky

See the ute following the dump truck up the hill

and Kal's skyline

next to Coolgardie and down the Holland track heading for Hyden



and to Wave rock with the obligatory surf pose


and on top of Wave rock



And we stayed at Tressie's museum and caravan park Kalgarin, great little place.good clean accommodation at a
good price but no beer