New Year's Resolution

[Bozo]

Digger
Regarding Eighty mile beach:
It is 137 miles or 220 km long.
It was originally called Ninety mile beach but was changed to avoid confusion with Ninety mile beach near Sale in Victoria.
Bozo

[Bozo]

Digger
The Broome cable was the third international communications link for Australia. The first was from Java to Darwin in 1872. The second was from Australia to New Zealand in 1876. The Broome Batavia cable was completed in 1889.
Bozo

[Digger]

Hello Slackers,
Welcome to the weekend!

Update - End of Day 21
We have arrived safely at Kununurra after exploring the Bungle Bungles. What a stunning landscape we have up here in the Kimberley. We have been joined by Bruce, another Club member who has left his caravan in Derby and will accompany us on this leg of the journey, the Gibb River Road.
We could be off the grid for several days.

See captions below.


One of many ‘prison Boab Trees’ in the Kimberley Region. They were used to intern Aboriginals temporarily while waiting to be shipped to Jail or sent off as Slaves.



Tunnel Creek. Some sections of the Creek were only accessible by swimming thru deep water because of recent heavy rains earlier in the year.



Sunrise. Bush camp on our way to the Bungle Bungles.

More to follow...

[Digger]

Day 21 cont...


Transiting to the Bungle Bungles.



Some of the spectacular scenery within the Bungles.



Cathedral Gorge. Stunning!

More to follow...

[Digger]

Day 21 cont...


Echidna Chasm. Created after the Earth fractured 360 Million years ago.



The end of the road, Echidna Chasm.



Lake Argyle. Created after damming the Ord River in the 1960’s. initially dammed for irrigation and then later adapted for hydro electricity in the 1990’s.


More to follow...

[Digger]

Day 21 cont...



Downstream from the Dam.



Negotiating Ivanhoe Crossing...where the Ord River crosses before being dammed further downstream.


SPOT Link is here;
https://share.findmespot.com/shared/fac ... UCtYLNPufa

See you on the other side.

[Digger]

G’Day Slackers,

Update - End of Day 30. Broome

The trip has not gone without incident. We have had one car (a tag along who joined the group earlier in the journey) who suffered several punctures and decided to abandoned the trip on Day 2 of the Gibb River Road. They returned to Kununurra to organise replacement spare tyres and returned to their home in country NSW. Whilst at Mitchell Falls on the Mitchell Plateau we had another bloke medevaced by the RFDS because of a twisted bowel and was flown to Broome for treatment. Then on the last day on the Gibb we had a Hilux do a rear wheel bearing which had to be towed to Derby. The same Hilux broke a front shock mount the day before. Camille and Jacki have returned to Perth today (Sunday) and were sad to leave the group.

From here we head south to Sandfire Roadhouse and then head inland on the Boreline Road. We could be off the grid for 72-96 hours.

See captions below.


Emma Gorge at El Questro. Something like you’d see on a movie set. Stunning.



The Pentecost River as it meanders thru El Questro.



Zebedee Thermal Springs. Beautiful!

To be cont...

[Digger]

End of Day 30 cont...


The Cockburn Ranges, Gibb River Road.



Mitchell Falls, Mitchell Plateau off Karumbaru Road.



Little Mertens Falls on the walk trail to Mitchell Falls.

To be cont...

[Digger]

Day 30 cont...


Some aboriginal art near the Falls.



Spooky! A sacred burial site.




Tough conditions on the road to Mitchell Falls. This van was on the road for three days awaiting recovery.

To be cont...

[Digger]

Day 30 cont...


Bell Gorge looking from the top of the Falls.



Bell Gorge from the side.



Oh no! A blown hub seal or collapsed bearing 30 km from Derby or 200 km from Broome. Surprisingly the car was back on the road in just over 24 hours with the repairs taking place on a Sunday (at considerable cost!). The broken front shock was also replaced on the same day.

SPOT Link is here;

https://share.findmespot.com/shared/fac ... UCtYLNPufa

[Robbo]

Looks like a great (eventful) trip Steve.
Photos are stunning.

[Digger]

Hello Slackers,

See Desert Raid update in ‘Rides’ Thread.

Update Day 36 - Tom Price

The journey continues without major mishap but we had to make route changes on the fly due to road closures. After leaving Broome and camping overnight at Sandfire Roadhouse, we had unseasonal heavy rain within the Region. This did not impact us immediately (although I was ankle deep in water flowing thru my kitchen while preparing dinner) but it did impact us 24 hours later. We were hoping to visit Desert Queen Baths in the Rudall National Park but road closures heading to Telfer meant we had to bypass that. Trucks were bogged on that section and after waiting overnight nearby we decided to return via Skull Springs Road. We are in Tom Price to allow exploring the Karijini National Park and depart tomorrow (Sunday) to head for the Kennedy Ranges and Steep Point, the Western most point on the Australian Continent.
We are now down to 4 cars only.

See captions below.

Telfer Access Road closed. The truck heading out was bogged for 24 hours but managed to dig himself out. There were several vehicles waiting to access the road both commercial vehicles and tourists alike.



Car graveyard at an abandoned Homestead. A bit ironic if you ask me. The tow truck worked for Leete Motors, a car dealership in Port Hedland, 340 km away.




We had an absolute ripper of a bush camp high above the surrounding Ranges just south of Auski. It was a tough drive to the top and an exciting way to start the day the following morning.



Fortescue Falls, Karijini National Park. A sudden cool change in the weather meant no one was taking a dip. Too bloody cold!



Sturt Desert Pea, an outstanding Native flower, growing in the harshest of environments.

SPOT Link is here;
https://share.findmespot.com/shared/fac ... UCtYLNPufa

[Digger]

Hello Slackers,

I’ve had to abandon this trip and need to return to Perth urgently to attend to a family matter.

I expect to return by Monday evening 28th Jun.

Watch this space for video of the journey.

[Swampy]

I hope it's not too serious Steve!!

Swamps

[Digger]

I hope it's not too serious Steve!!

Swamps

Hi Swamps,
Death within the extended family...thanks for your concern.
Regards