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So Much To Do....So Little Time
Posted: Tue 31 May, 2016 2:01 pm
by Digger
G'Day Slackers,
I've got some unfinished business to take care of and an opportunity has arisen to allow me to see it through (although not motorcycle oriented).
I am departing this Saturday, 4 June, to head Outback but this time in my Toyota Hilux. A group of us are heading for Warakurna on Great Central Road and then heading for Kintore at Sandy Blight Junction. From there we head West to Kunawaritji along the Gary Junction Road. We then head South along the Gary Highway to Everard Junction before returning to Perth.
I was thrown off my DR650 on the Gary Highway last year within the first couple of hours and decided to turn around (hence the unfinished business). We may return to Great Central Road via the David Carnegie Road which is an option for those riders traveling to Desert Raid 2017. I'll report on track conditions if that is the case.
SPOT Link is here;
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/face ... UCtYLNPufa
I expect to be back in town around 26 June.
So much to do...
Re: So Much To Do....So Little Time
Posted: Tue 31 May, 2016 6:42 pm
by _Wilks
Have a good trip dig.
Take some video of the worst bits of the DCR please... errr, I mean the sandy bits.

Re: So Much To Do....So Little Time
Posted: Tue 31 May, 2016 7:01 pm
by Cookie
Hello Digger
Sounds like another adventure in the making, have a great time

Re: So Much To Do....So Little Time
Posted: Tue 07 Jun, 2016 2:18 pm
by Digger
G'Day Slackers,
Had a lotta rain out here. Got as far as Warburton and been told the road is closed heading East. Will stay at the roadhouse tonight. No more rain is expected. Have beer and food so all is good.
If I was on the bike, I would've turned back days ago. Very greasy out here.
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/face ... UCtYLNPufa

Re: So Much To Do....So Little Time
Posted: Tue 07 Jun, 2016 6:45 pm
by Digger

Early problems on day two. We camped 15 km west of Kal (Lake Douglas) so it was easy for the driver to replace his knackered battery the same day...for $200. Ouch.

We won't see a sealed road now for several thousand km. The GCR was in good shape other than the rain making conditions slippery.

Typical view out of the windscreen today (Tuesday)

Currently stuck in Warburton...road is closed. Roo tail for dinner on the menu tonight.
Re: So Much To Do....So Little Time
Posted: Tue 07 Jun, 2016 8:10 pm
by boomer61
Looks like a winning dish coming up for the camp cook off 2016!!!!
Re: So Much To Do....So Little Time
Posted: Tue 07 Jun, 2016 8:49 pm
by Bozo
Digger
Skin on roo tail. Forecast 9 to 14 degrees. Greasy roads.
Makes the trip to Woop Woop seem like sheer luxury.
Bozo
Re: So Much To Do....So Little Time
Posted: Tue 07 Jun, 2016 9:10 pm
by jls
looks like a roo in the stew

Re: So Much To Do....So Little Time
Posted: Wed 08 Jun, 2016 8:50 am
by Digger
Update as at Wednesday morning, 8 June.
G'Day Slackers,
The road heading East has reopened this morning. I've been told that the track to Sandy Blight Junction is "interesting" at the moment.
See you on the other side.
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/face ... UCtYLNPufa
Re: So Much To Do....So Little Time
Posted: Thu 23 Jun, 2016 3:58 pm
by Digger
G'Day Slackers....guess who's back!!!
Great trip...although in the comfort of the car it was still good to be Outback. Did some roads I haven't done before and glad I was in the car and not on the bike cause the conditions would have been too difficult on the bike in some stretches due to rain, wet conditions, track conditions and some difficult riding situations. For those Adventure Riders in the audience, never consider the Gary Highway. Avoid this road at ALL costs. On the other hand, the David Carnegie Road may be an option for those going into or out of Desert Raid 2017.

I've traveled Great Central Road many times over the years but still haven't seen it all. This was a Rockhole (Tjulun) filled to overflowing after recent heavy rains. The road was closed East of Warburton overnight but was reopened the following day. We only lost a couple of hours in total.

We went as far as Sandy Blight Junction in the NT before heading West along Gary Junction Road. This was/is Len Beadell's burnt out ration truck located at Kiwirrkurra Community. The truck burnt to the ground further East of the Community but was relocated to this spot at a later date.

McPherson's Pillar which lies East of the Gary Highway (Highway??? Phffft) north of the Gunbarrel Highway

We followed the Gunberrel Highway between Everard Junction to Mulgilli Claypan before heading South on David Carnegie Road. This is the support vehicle for a motorbike tour which tried to avoid water over the Gunbarrel Highway by driving around it. It took us a few goes before we were able to extract him from the bog. We used a V8 Troopy cause earlier attempts with a lighter vehicle failed. In the end, we all went thru the water on the road which proved to be the smartest (and firmest) option anyway. The bike tour was headed for Carnegie Station that evening. Their beer supply was late that day.
I hope to produce a video of the trip and may post the link here (even though this is a MC blog) cause the local track conditions may interest some of the Adventure Riders.
Back to work Slackers...

Re: So Much To Do....So Little Time
Posted: Sat 25 Jun, 2016 4:30 pm
by Robbo
It looks like you've had another great adventure. Slightly different to your usual ones but great all the same. Look forward to the video.
Robbo.
Re: So Much To Do....So Little Time
Posted: Sat 25 Jun, 2016 4:37 pm
by Swampy
Good one Cecil
Swampy