Desert Raid - Empress Springs: August 7, 2019

[bowewilson@gmail.com]

Don't treat the Desert Raid lightly, it's not a difficult ride but prepare well, near top of your list should be water, when you think you have enough take a bit more, you don't want to find yourself in a serious situation with little water like someone was last time round.
If this sort of ride is a first for you, there is plenty of experience in the club you can get advice from such as boomer61, GSDisciple, Digger and co.
To all of you who are going to Empress Springs have a great ride!

[Digger]

G'Day Slackers,

My SPOT Link for Desert Raid and beyond (from monday morning).

http://share.findmespot.com/shared/face ... UCtYLNPufa

See you on the other side!

[Digger]

G’Day Slackers,

50 Riders attended this years Desert Raid...not a bad turnout! I was travelling with Shane and Dren. Unfortunately, Dren got all crossed up on the access road in to Empress Springs and was thrown off the bike. My guess is that ankle is broken. At time of print, he was inbound to Perth (?) for treatment. I’m now heading for Exmouth (apparently) following another small group.

See you on the other side.

[Cookie]

Looks like you are making good progress, stay safe and I look forward to catching up upon your return. We played it safe and turned around after my off - made it home safely last night

Great run out the Central, but the track knocked my confidence.

[boomer61]

Back safe tonight from DR2019.
Thanks to JP, Chris, Paul and Digger for the ride.
Good turn up with about 51 riders at the camp with a few others for welcome support.

[Robbo]

Sounds like Desert Raid was a huge success with riders returning home,
Dren hopefully the injury is not as bad as mentioned and the recovery is a quick one.
Robbo

[wightman]

Also got back last night, and finished washing my gear.......Good to see many familiar faces, like Jean, Anthony, Digger, Bear, Bruce etc.

We need to get out more often............

[Digger]

G’day Slackers...remember us?

An update...we have arrived safely at Coral Bay near Exmouth. We have travelled from the Outback to the Ocean. What a country of contrast. We will stay here for two nights and arrive back in Perth on Thursday afternoon after returning thru the Murchison. An update on Dren. He has a fractured tibia...he won’t be pulling on motorcycle boots for a few weeks.


Refuelling at Tjukarilya Roadhouse after the Raid...long delays while blokes were ordering hamburgers and chips!!!



A nav check in Outback WA.



Another nav check...where the f*** are we?

[Digger]

Lunch stop at an abandoned station homestead.


Refuelling at Mt Augustus...$2 a litre!


Cattle Pool at the Lygon River.

SPOT Link is here...
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/face ... UCtYLNPufa

[Digger]

G’day Slackers,
Just another day at the Office today...relaxing around Coral Bay and eating stuff that doesn’t come in a can for a change. Back on the Outback tracks from tomorrow (Tuesday). See you on the other side.


Coral Bay looking north



Coral Bay looking west



Fish feeding...great experience for the kids.

[spacey1]

Raider's video on the track from Empress Springs back to the Great Central Road.

Very entertaining I notice that you didn't do too much sight seeing. The camera seemed to have an intense focus on the track directly ahead

Raider, love yer narration, especially through the wriggly bits


(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6k593RyfrM)

Nice of you to keep the language suitable for a 'General' audience

[Raider]

Spacey1,

Glad you liked the video. Not too much sight seeing... Oh look - a camel. Definitely a laser-like view on the track ahead! As for the commentary - more like a chanted prayer. Bloody BMW GSA's have speared me down the track more times than I care to remember. On the Desert Raid at Neale Junction, I got in without a mishap. On departing I only got a couple of kilometres before I lost the front and careened into some woodwork. Badly broke my left hand. Compound fractured. Rode it out but managed to spear off many times in the process. Ask His Griceness! By the time I got to the hospital at Laverton I was a mess. Mike Stothers assisted - got me into my riding gear the next morning. Thanks Mike! Rode home that day - just... My left hand never recovered. To this day I can't hold the grip properly...

The end of the video clip saw me headed to Tjukayirla Roadhouse for breakfast. After a coffee and a burger I headed for home. Arrived home in Nedlands right on midnight. Not a bad effort after the ride out from Empress Springs.

Regards,

Raider

[goodguy]

Great clip, plenty of sand, great skill.

[Digger]

G’day Slackers,

The journey home continues...

The new bridge crossing the Gascoyne River near Gascoyne Junction...looking north.



Looking south...



Chris noticed the front end was a bit ‘heavy’. Works out he had a pinch flat from earlier in the day while crossing a dry creek bed.

[Digger]

The day was mostly dry until the afternoon when we copped a bit of rain while nearing Mullewa.



We went to Coalseam Conservation Park hoping to bush camp but no fires allowed so we headed for Mingenew to get a room at the Pub. There’s an Expo in town so all accn was booked out. We are spending our last night in our tents at the local caravan park and will return to Perth tomorrow (Thursday).

See you on the other side.