BMW Enduro and Off Centre Rally (OCR) Combo.

[Hill Billy]

I've been across there before. Is fuel not available at Wingelina any more?

Not sure...never checked or called in. I thought they were all closed roads and closed communities so I try not to attract attention.

Fair enough. That's correct but they were very welcoming to us.
I suppose different people on a different day could be much less cooperative.

[Digger]

G'Day Slackers,
I've recommended my journey after collecting the bike in Adelaide and heading north. It rained for two hours today and even hailed at one stage. I've taken the soft option tonight (Wednesday) and booked into a motel at Auburn to dry off before heading for Mungarannie.
SPOT Link is here;
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/face ... UCtYLNPufa

[Digger]

G'Day Slackers,
Just exited the Oodnadatta Track after the OCR and about to enter the Badlands (APY Lands). I should surface at Warburton on Great Central Road in about 48 hours. See you on the other side.
SPOT Link is here.
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/face ... UCtYLNPufa

[Digger]

G'Day Slackers,
To take up where I left off...
Once I left Adelaide, I headed due north on what was the original highway heading out of town.

Apparently, in Orroroo, God has a plan. Can I get an 'Amen' to that Brothers and Sisters!!!!


The closer I got to Mungarranie, the numbers of Bikers increased and the variations of Outfits and bikes increased also.

[Digger]

Somebody at Mungarranie has a sense of humour... I think this sign was erected halfway along the Simpson Desert a couple of years ago by some pranksters and it was removed shortly afterwards. "Do you want fries with that"?



10 wide and 10 deep...it was a long wait to order a beer at the pub. I estimate there may have been 300 riders at the OCR. The next one in 2018 is planned for Forrest on the Trans Continental Railway just north of the border.

[Digger]

After leaving the OCR I headed for Oodnadatta and started making my way westward. The Oodnadatta Track is a high speed gravel road and is in good shape....doable by big and small Adventure Bikes alike.


The Pink Roadhouse at Oodnadatta. From here, the original Ghan Railway headed north thru Finke and onto Alice. There was an interesting Railway Museum here which allowed me to break up the journey a little.

[Digger]

The Sturt Desert Pea; SA's floral emblem. Found in abundance along the Oodnadatta Track. Magnificent that something like this can grow and flourish in such a harsh environment.



The Algebuckina Bridge over the Neale River...use to be the longest single bridge in SA until 2014. A major flood in 1974 saw the floodwater almost reach the bridge deck and was one of the reasons the line was realigned to its current position. Earlier bridges had been washed away during flood times.

[Digger]

Once at Marla on the Stuart Highway, I had to refuel to ensure a range of 900 km to get me across the APY Lands in northern SA....these are closed roads and closed communities. The road starts 40km north of Marla and brings me out onto Great Central Road at Warburton. The other option (725km) is to pop up at Warakurna on the GCR. The 30 litres in the tank and the 22 litres in the 2 bladders makes for a heavy load. The road thru the APY Lands is in good shape and quite scenic.


WA wildflowers west of Meekatharra on the way to Gascoyne Junction. It has been a bumper year for inland Australia and the remote Outback. There were scenes like this all the way back to Perth after the Races at the Junction.

[Digger]

My final destination (other than Perth) for this trip...the Enduro, OCR and now Gascoyne Junction was the aim for this journey (and remember....it's not about the destination; it's about the journey). I attended the Races and never lost a cent, mainly cause I didn't place a bet. I finally got to see the Kennedy Ranges this time as last year when i was here (not the same time of year) the road was washed out and blocked.



The TKC 80....don't let anyone tell you they are not good value for money. They' are when I use them. I was tempted to run this tyre back to Perth but thought it might raise some eyebrows if I stopped at the lights. I swapped it out with a spare at Gascoyne Junction. Remember; traction is over rated.

I ended up covering about 10,300km on a bike that was less than a month old when I left. I'll get it serviced and park it up now until the BMW Safari to be held in South East Queensland in November. Naturally, I'll ride it over and back. If you own a GS, you need to get out there and use the bike for what it was intended for. It opens up a whole new world.

Back to work Slackers.
SPOT Link is not here;

[profoundly_disturbed]

I reckon if you used a magic marker to paint some knobbies on that tyre, there would be at least another 5,000kms of life left in it.

When's the film due for release?

[Digger]

I reckon if you used a magic marker to paint some knobbies on that tyre, there would be at least another 5,000kms of life left in it.

When's the film due for release?

Phfft...5,000km. Don't be ridiculous. That would be irresponsible. I'd only expect 4,000 on the outside. The movie...gimme a break (hopefully about a month; these things don't happen overnight).