Hi folks,
I am currently at the tip of Cape York. I have decided to return to Perth via the Tanami Track. I have not had time (before leaving Perth) to research roads/tracks suitable for a loaded GSA from Halls Creek to Perth (via Mt Augustus). Any suggestions? Pls bear in mind I am a solo rider. I will next be accessing this forum from Cairns on Mon 4th July (tyre changover). I will be leaving Cairns on the 5th.
I have the 'Desert Series' Hema maps plus a general map of WA only. For those who want to test me...pls, no single track stuff.
Any assistance would be appreciated.
Regards
Steve
You don't have to have a long neck...to be a goose
A heads up in the event you are not aware, Rabbit Flat on the Tanami Rd is closed. After Alice Springs, Petrol is available at Tilmouth Well (184k from Alice) and then Opal fuel is available from Yuendumu (100k west of Tilmouth Well). The next fuel stop after Yuendumu is Halls Creek. Yuendumu to Halls Creek ~760k. Cheers Noel
Halls creek and Fitzroy crossing are culturally significant, bring your own alcohol. Derby has sensational barra at the spinifex hotel. Kunna has good barra at the hotel next to the CP in town and Catherine gorge is worth a look.(This is in reverse). Bungles are a must. Pt Headland is dry. South there are a few beach places worth visiting after Hedland and ask when they are rebuilding at Sandfire. After Hedland, turn inland towards Newman and visit Karajini. Others will extoll it's virtues here, listen. Personally I love the coast, so Coral Bay is great if you take the boring coast h'way south.
Hope you're having a good ride and hope you see this before leaving Broome.
Suggested route (I've ridden all these tracks in recent years and, with the usual care, should be OK for your GSA)
Broome
Sandfire
Boreline Rd (takes you to the old Shay Gap area)
Marble Bar
Carawine Gorge (it's a little sandy last 200mtrs or so into the gorge area but no real trouble and not nearly as bad as Neale Junction sand. Highly recommended and def worth visiting)
Skull Springs Rd (great ride; 1 creek crossing of note - wasn't deep in August '10)
Nullagine
Munjina - Roy Hill Rd (but take care if your speed creeps up because there is the occasional bull dust patch; if moderate speed - no worries cos you'll easily see the bull dust)
Auski Rdhse
Karijini
Tom Price
Paraburdoo
*Ashburton-Meekatharra Rd
*Pingandy Rd (which becomes the Dooley Downs Rd)
Mt Augustus
(*I haven't been on these tracks for quite a few years but they should be OK. On Advrider, a noob off-road rider on his fully loaded Tenere 660 - and first adv ride - rode these tracks last month and described it as good riding but with care required at the dry, sandy, creek crossings)
Shane,
That is the sort of thing i was after!!!
I have left Broome....but the bike hasn't. Bowe and I ventured onto the Gibb River Road from East to West. The last river crossing was the last river crossing. I ended up hydraulicing my engine....got it started but damaged the starter motor in the process. Used Bowe's bike to tow start mine and got as far as Broome before his diff seal packed it in. With his bike off the road, i could not go any further either. Both bikes are in Broome...his to be shipped down to Perth and mine to be repaired in situ. That means i may still have the chance to return via your suggestions.
Thanks and regards
PS...love your comment about my signature. I wonder if he got it???
You don't have to have a long neck...to be a goose
Mmmm.... my diff seal packed it in at Broome after riding Gibb River Rd too. Some have said to me putting a hot final drive into cold river water will test any seals. And I know how easy it is to get water up the 1200 snorkel... I was a bit luckier than you though.
Pity to hear the ride ended that way. Must have been a real anti-climax.
I'll be driving up to the Kimberley soon - leaving here 28 July, getting there 8 Aug and staying in Broome for 5 days. Let me know if there's anything I can help you with. I'm going on the GRR myself mid-August. I hear there's plenty of water in the GRR river crossings. I'm towing a caravan (not a hwy one with checker plate dressing, but a proper offroader). Any comments about the conditions ahead of me?? BTW I'll be crossing the Pentecoste at low tide.
_Wilks wrote:Mmmm.... my diff seal packed it in at Broome after riding Gibb River Rd too. Some have said to me putting a hot final drive into cold river water will test any seals. And I know how easy it is to get water up the 1200 snorkel... I was a bit luckier than you though.
I hear there's plenty of water in the GRR river crossings. I'm towing a caravan (not a hwy one with checker plate dressing, but a proper offroader). Any comments about the conditions ahead of me?? BTW I'll be crossing the Pentecoste at low tide.
No other 4WD were experiencing problems with the crossings...Bowe and I 'island hopped' at the Pentecoste to get around that one. There were even a couple of conventional vehicles on the GRR who made it thru unscathed. I drowned the bike at the Manning River, just East of Mt Barnett Roadhouse...Bowe got thru Ok by walking the bike thru (concrete ford) until he was passed the deepest part before firing up his engine. They have had a severe wet season up there and parts of the road had been washed away. Road crews are up there fixing things. The GRR was no worse than other roads encountered on this trip..some corrugated sections that would loosen your fillings and other sections which were quite boney and rocky.
Regards
You don't have to have a long neck...to be a goose
I gunna have to bend your ear about riding to Cape York. I'm planning to ride the GSA up there for the OCR in Aug 2012, cos if I don't start riding the GSA on these long rides soon, I might as well sell it ... and just use the DR.
... and just use the DR.