Easter ride to Gwalia / Leonora

[boomer61]

Sandstone had 38mm on the 18th
Leonora had 62mm on the 19-20th
Menzies refers you back to the Leonora airport reading
Given they don't get any other big rains the roads should be drying OK
Just have to see what the shires do with opening roads
There are enough roads open to do a modified trip if need be

[jls]

hi Guys
there are a few roads closed at the moment ,and there may or may not be more
rain
Im committed to a one ,two, three or four day ride regardless and if it is that wet im sure there will be a nice pub somewhere with a fire
I did notice that the dirt road from Paynes find to Sandstone is closed at the moment ,but the dirt from Sandstone to meeka ,Yeelirrie ect ect are open
ill be ringing the shire of Sandstone Thursday afternoon for a update
I have also been looking at the a joining shires web sites for road conditions and have rung and spoken to Yalgoo ,Meekatharra,Sandstone,Murchison,and Leonora
Plenty of options for a mixed bag of riding
730 for a 800 departure Friday at Gingers
Jamie

[Kots]

I'm up for it too! Sorted the Rotopax (well Howard from Motoraad did) I'll pack some plastic bags and will expect to bring back some stories. See you all at Gingers. Kots aka Sleepy Paul

[Digger]

Jamie, Ive been out that neck of the woods before after rain and sometimes the Shires are a little tardy pulling down 'road closed' signs. I would expect that when they knock off for Easter early Thursday afternoon the last thing on their mind would be signage. It might pay to ring the Shire(s) around noon on Thursday to confirm (or run the gauntlet on the day).
Wish i was goin'...there will be other opportunities.

[jls]

guess whos back in town
decisions on the move

[BillB]

So who is still going. May not be doing a lot of dirt if rain is heavy. Will look at alternate routes. Paynesville Find- Sandstone and see how it goes from there.
Jamie people are trying to contact you on your old mobile number maybe let us know your new one.
Indicate whose going so we don't leave without you.
Bill
Kots
Jamie
David

[jls]

Ok guys
730 for a 800 start from gingers
As been said some roads are open some are shut we are out there for a good time and safety is paramount as always common sense will prevail and am looking forward to a good ride
Jamie 0417299950

[jls]

Opps
Chris G
Is a starter as well who is as we know very familiar with all the roads and tracks in that part of the world

[Swampy]

Have a good trip and come back safe all of you guys taking the trip.

Look forward to seeing you all next week at Cat's with some stories, Tall & True

Swampy

[wightman]

Absolutely, fellas. Have a good one. Tall story from a BMWMCCWA member? Never!

[BillB]

Bill's spot tracker

login details removed. Bill just post the link not the keys!

[Kots]

This Thunderbird is GO! Just gotta make sure Spot Tracker is on, wake up, pack and get to Gingers! Kots

[_Wilks]

Geez Bill. Delete those login details mate. All your personal details are open!

Mods - maybe delete it on Bills behalf.

Have a good ride gents.

[BillB]

Bills spot link

http://share.findmespot.com/shared/face ... 8eLmdOtTO6

For those that wanted to see where we went.
Got back today after spending the night at Paynes Find . Left Perth yesterday morning after meeting at 8am at Gingers roadhouse. Headed up Chittering valley Rd , Julimar Rd to Toodyay then found dirt to Wongan Hills. Then headed dirt to Paynes Find. Dirt was varied but apart from temps getting up to 38" was moderately challenging. The storm clouds were building in the West and as the afternoon progressed the daylight subdued as the clouds started blocking out the sun making the sand tricky to read. Anyway all managed to stay upright and arrived at Paynes Find at 4.30. With the sky now looking very angry and lightning and thunder starting to cover the Western horizon Kots and Bill decided a pub donger was the way to go. The rest Jamie, Anthony Chris G, David and Jens didn't have the same weather concerns as Kots and Bill and went off down the road to set up a bush camp. The storm reached Paynes Find about an hour later. The roads turned into torrents of flowing water, lightening bolts and thunder was going off everywhere, the rain pelted down on the Paynes Find pub roof as Kots and Bill sat down for a pub meal, while the hard case campers apparently who had managed to get a fire going, had it extinguished as the rain hit the camp. They all headed into their tents for what I hear was a pretty rough night. The next morning the drowned rats arrived back at the pub for breakfast. We enjoyed telling them of our very comfortable relaxing night in the restaurant and then a goodnights sleep. The drowned rats had decided enough was enough and talk of heading home became the consensus. Jens wasn't keen on this plan as it was still raining fairly heavily and went and booked a donger for the day and night. The drowned rats took off after breakfast leaving Kots and Bill to catch up as we hadn't packed. We left 20 mins later. The Great Northan Hwy was fairly wet with lots of water flowing across the road on probably about 20 locations. The worst one was probably 800 m with the water flowing quite strongly at about 1.5 feet. The road was only noticed with the White road poles sticking up out of the water. The crossing was done in first gear with just enough pace to go against the side current and not too much bow wave. Bill and Kots arrived at Wubin fairly soon after the drowned rats had arrived. We all had a break and the stories started. Apparently Chris G had to handle a monster wave provided by a road train that went past him at a great rate of knots without slowing down. A bit more sledging regarding decisions to bush camp during a major storm and we were off again following Anthony who took us back to Toodyay via back roads to avoid the road trains. It rained fairly heavily all the way to Toodyay and back to Perth.
Overall a memorable and interesting ride with great company as most BMWMCCWA rides are.

[wightman]

You guys are talking yourselves into a trophy nomination! Staunch effort boys