Goin’ to the Shops to get some milk…

[Digger]

Hello Slackers,

…but, the Shop happens to be at the Tip of Cape York, the Northern most point on the Australian mainland.
Depart Thursday 4 Aug.

SPOT Tracker activated from Thursday morning. SPOT Link is here;

https://maps.findmespot.com/Track?ishr= ... ory/assets

I will give regular updates when I can.

First port of call, the 45th Anniversary of the Border Run on Saturday 6th August.



Watch this space!

[Nurzo]

I'll be very interested in the section between Normaton and Coen from what i can determine there's no fuel for 600kms.

Steve

[Digger]

Goin’ to the shops to buy some milk…

Update end of Day 4.

Made it to the 45th Anniversary of the Border Run at the WA/SA Border. Some of the roads and tracks we wanted to use were closed, so much of the way was on the blacktop. We did decide to take the ‘Ol Telegraph Track from Norseman to Balladonia which perhaps wasn’t the smartest choice given the recent wet weather. We are currently bush camped about 200km west of Ceduna after completing most of the Old Eyre Highway.
See captions below.



First night bush camp was cold…bloody cold. Local ABC radio said it got down to 1 degree Celsius. No wonder ice formed on the bike cover.



Bush camp west of Coolgardie.



We chose the Telegraph Track (200km) from Norseman to Balladonia and expected to be clear of it by days end. We weren’t! We pulled up short. Another bush camp complete with cold temps.

To be cont…

[Digger]

Update end of Day 4 cont…


Refuelling at Balladonia. The bike weighs an extra 20kg after being coated in mud. Very treacherous conditions which proved to be difficult going after so much heavy rain.




45th Border Run…about 100 Riders from all over Australia.



Big cross section of bikes and Riders.

To be cont…

[Digger]

Update end of Day 4 cont…


The legendary ‘Pudding’. Probably now on its way to the Off Centre Rally in Qld.
Pudding history here;
https://www.flyingdoctor.org.au/news/au ... ng-legend/



The SA/WA Border crossing. You think they’d go to the trouble of repairing the sign!



Border quarantine station entering WA looking west.

To be cont…

[Digger]

Update end of Day 4 cont…


The cliffs of the Great Australian Bight. Simply stunning.



Koonalda Homestead on the Old Eyre Highway. A travellers rest stop back in the day. Abandoned in 1988.



Car graveyard at Koonalda. Some real gems in that lot.

To be cont…

Back to work Slackers.

SPOT Link is here;

https://maps.findmespot.com/Track?ishr= ... ory/assets

[GSDisciple]

Great shots Steve - thanks for the update
JP

[Digger]

Great shots Steve - thanks for the update
JP

You’re welcome…

[Digger]

Goin’ to the shops to buy some milk…

Update end of Day 7.

The nights are gradually getting warmer now that we are heading North…thank goodness for that. We have covered a lot of ground and experienced a real mixed bag of road types as we continue our journey to Adels Grove for the 2022 Off Centre Rally. We are just North of Birdsville and should be at Mt Isa for Thursday night.
See captions below.


Another freezing night (pardon the pun)…My ‘dishwater’ froze in -2.5 degree temperatures.



This way to Kingoonya via the Gawler Ranges in South Australia.



Woomera…the ‘Head Office’ for all the rocket testing and Atomic Bomb testing from 1949 to 1971. In its heyday it had a population of 7,000. Now it only has about 136 inhabitants.




Woomera…

To be cont…

[Digger]

Update end of day 7 cont…



The final resting place of Len Beadell in the Woomera Cemetary. Len passed away in 1995. Anne survived him until 2010 and is also laid to rest here.




Took the Borefield Track north of Roxby Downs until we got to the Oodnadatta Track. Then we head to Marree and onto the Birdsville Track from there.




Tom’s bike had developed an engine oil leak. We pulled up early at Marree to try and isolate and fix the problem.




Free camping alongside the Marree Pub and gold coin donation for a shower. It was a pleasant change to have a pub meal and something that didn’t come out of a can.



Damp conditions on the Birdsville Track after overnight and morning rain.

To be cont…

[Digger]

Update end of day 7 cont…


Just south of Birdsville crossing into Queensland. Hopefully no more freezing nights until our return home.



No caption required.



Before Happy Hour.



Public Bar, Birdsville Hotel.



During Happy Hour.

To be cont…

[Digger]

Update end of day 7 cont…



Inching our way northwards.

To be cont…

[Digger]

Goin’ to the shops to buy some milk…

Update end of Day 10

We crossed into Qld with the threat of rain on the Birdsville track but we’re lucky enough to dodge a bullet and have a relatively dry transit to Mt Isa for a tyre change. From there we made our way to Adele Grove for the Off Centre Rally. From here we start the next search for milk to the Northern most point of the Australian mainland; the Tip of Cape York.
See captions below.




We camped near the abandoned Carcory Homestead one own d by the pioneering Kidman empire.



The freedom of the open road…the view from my office window.



Camped at a Mt Isa caravan park. Space was at a premium because of the Mt Isa Rodeo that weekend. The Rodeo is the biggest in the Southern Hemisphere. We were allocated some space on the side of a creek.



Tom tried to fault find some electrical problems…no headlight or grip heaters. His bike looked like an A
Humanoid with its face removed!

To be cont…

[Digger]

Update end of day 10 cont…


Front tyre replacement (previously arranged) at Mt Isa for my bike…



…and a new rear for Tom’s bike.



Inbound to Adele’s Grove we found an abandoned car which appeared to be a ‘freshie’. All their personal gear was in the car as well as the key in the ignition.



The food queue for dinner at Adele’s Grove. Very short staffed so a long wait for service and food. Bummer.



The Gregory River swimming hole within the campground.



Indarri Falls swimming hole. Very nice!



There is a local croc there that takes offence to Swimmers if they get too close.

SPOT Link is here…

https://maps.findmespot.com/Track?ishr= ... ory/assets

[Kots]

So good to see these reports including the photos Steve.

It has given me something to brighten up my day as I sit in a council meeting while people are arguing about rubbish collection, traffic, setbacks, plot ratio and the list goes on. Well at least I am being paid for sitting here.

Keep up the reporting. I look forward to the videos you are most certainly recording.

Kots.