Simpson Desert & Hay River Track April 2012

[crowe2815]

Very Cool. Much better to be ahaed of the schedule with options all around you, rather than having to miss out on shit because you're behind.

[lotsa]

Originally Posted by jtb

Did you lose the BMW supporter by the end of the trip?

Well spotted in the mirror.That's as arty as my phtos get

I wear BMW Rally Pro 2 jacket and pants and people ask me at stops where is my BMW and I tell them it's that blue one over there that looks like a DR650.

[b0mb3r]

im in too

[lotsa]

Day 4
Alice – Hay River Track

Up at sparrows we made our way towards Ross River Resort and the scenery was stunning. McDonald ranges I think













The dirt started after Ross River Station




It was a great windy road to punt along until we reached Cattleman’s Pass turnoff which was closed




We obeyed the sign and took the next turn north to the Plenty Hwy which would put a strain on our fuel range.


The Plenty




Tryhard was blowing into his tank for the last 30km to Jervois Station to feed the 690 fuel pump. We came into Jervois on vapours. Tryhard filled his 26lt tanks with 26.3lts and my 30lt tank took 30.6lts. Not much room for error we realised.


Jervois Station




We chatted to the lady running the show about movements on the track and living on the station. Hopefully she wasn’t telling us any Furphy’s




Fuelled and watered, we set off for the Hay River Track with the turnoff only about 2km away




There was about 75km of this






At Batton Hill there’s a camping area and the track goes past the caretakers shed who came out for a look at us. We had our permit so all cool




It starts off like this




We camped the night here 125km in

[poppy]

G'day Lotsa, great read and pics mate. The ground looks a lot more moist than when we were out the last year. Its a fair stretch to Jervios, we got a splash at Atitjere Aboriginal Community.

[lotsa]

Originally Posted by poppy

G'day Lotsa, great read and pics mate. The ground looks a lot more moist than when we were out the last year. Its a fair stretch to Jervios, we got a splash at Atitjere Aboriginal Community.

The ground made it too easy really.........but I'm glad it did. Good timing I call it. Exactly as we planned.

It was ANZAC day that day and we poped into Atitjere. Sign said it was shut public holidays and looked like no one was around so we pressed on.

[lotsa]

Day 5
Hay River Track

We woke to a brilliant blue sky and a good days riding ahead. Stopped at Dingo Well







From this point, the whopping trees started to appear. As in “the Hay River Track is going to open a can of whoop-ass on you and your bike”. Mother nature had planted trees close to the track edge and in the middle of the track which left you nowhere to go at speed except through them….at your peril.

Not to be confused with whipping trees found on the QAA Line and French Line, these were thick branched buggers which looked nice and leafy and easy to go through until it caught the handle bar which took me to the ground a couple of times or shot me off course. Bloody whooping trees. Suppose we could have slowed down.







The track ran along the Hay River and through it for a short section




A break and battle the flies for a bite to eat




About lunch time we came across a group of three 4wd from Guyra NSW that was travelling in front of us. They had been knocking over some of the whooping trees in the centre of the track but not anymore.

I had a look at my GPS when I got home and I reckon there was about 200km of track with tight sandy corners and whooping trees and it was slow going. The problem for me I think was I couldn’t get the speed up enough to get steering over the front end and I’d had a couple of falls that banged my legs up and couldn’t stand on the pegs.

Just before Madigan Camp 15 the track opened up and we could ride more comfortably




Tryhard signing the book at camp 16







There was a great section of track with nice open sandy turns passing the base of dunes that you could just cruise along in a high gear. A good way to end the day.

Camp was setup in a top spot just north of Clay Pan in anticipation of hitting the dunes and the shot line first thing in the morning

[Stefs_cruiser]

Thanks for a great RR, I loved the section that went in and out of the River, but it sounds like there is a lot more growth now, than when we were there.

Great read, Thanks..

[lotsa]

Day 6
Hay River – Birdsville

All the spare fuel was in the bikes and we were down to Camelbaks for water so with no time to waste we hit the track




There were a lot of big fat dingos about who would stay on the trail looking at us before bolting.

Dunes ahead that had a right turn at the bottom leading up to them just as Joel had said. We were going over them easily and waiting for the hard one but it never came




The start of the shot line







Great day to be out riding in the desert




At Beachcomber Oil Well we had a snake break and that was the end of the dunes




There was good road from here for the last 50km except for big washouts




At the clay pan we knew we were close to QAA Line







Across this clay pan and the start of the QAA Line lay the dunes to Birdsville




My pannier rack mount on the frame broke and Tryhard offered a cable tie




That’s not a cable tie…this is a cable tie




Not much tyre wear for 2000km







Tryhard….stop taking photos and let’s ride




The distances between dunes were getting bigger so I knew the end was near. I came over a dune and realised I was looking at Big Red. That was a moment to remember. We’d done it.




Tryhard rode up big red




The sandy detour track around Big Red that we needed to get our eye in on the first day of the ride disappeared under our wheels quickly and then it was a quick run into Birdsville.

The must do Birdsville pub photo




Then the Birdsville Bakery for a tasty pie and cold beer, brilliant




Great company, no mechanicals, no flat tyres, a couple of injuries and I would say the best riding out in the desert. Thanks Tryhard, pleasure riding with you.

[evildingo]

Awesome

[Desertboner]

Looks like a wonderful trip

[Dusty Rhodes]

Doesn't get any better than that

Cheers.

[OzJuJu]

Great Ride Report!, Can't wait for next year riding these tracks with my Bro!

[Wilmo]

Thanks for posting!

[hdog]

Bloody rippa