The destination of this trip was proving difficult to lock down. Maybe Innamincka? Maybe the Victorian highlands? My grand plans were finally screwed when the missus announced that she had to be back home in just 4 days. I decided wed better head to Menindee for a look. After finalising some business stuff on Monday morning we finally got going around midday on the little 650 V-Strom with 60kg of gear. <center> <a href="http://s660.photobucket.com/user/ItsGotToBeYellow/media/014-3_zpscf6eed72.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.advrider.com/advrider-photobucket-images/images/I/ItsGotToBeYellow_014-3_zpscf6eed72.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 014-3_zpscf6eed72.jpg"/></a> </center> We headed out to Eden Valley, Pine Hut Rd and on to Towitta. <center> <a href="http://s660.photobucket.com/user/ItsGotToBeYellow/media/000_zpsf8fff820.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.advrider.com/advrider-photobucket-images/images/I/ItsGotToBeYellow_000_zpsf8fff820.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 000_zpsf8fff820.jpg"/></a> </center> You wouldnt think a bit of wind would bother 430kg of bike, gear, pillion and rider but youd be wrong. The bike was getting blown across the dirt tracks and we had to continually dodge fallen tree branches. After just being missed by a rather large falling branch we decided to bitumen it to a motel in Barmera. The view from our room showed some rather large waves breaking on the Lake Bonney beach. <center> <a href="http://s660.photobucket.com/user/ItsGotToBeYellow/media/0001-2_zps48e53a12.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.advrider.com/advrider-photobucket-images/images/I/ItsGotToBeYellow_0001-2_zps48e53a12.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 0001-2_zps48e53a12.jpg"/></a> </center> Absolutely crazy weather. The next day looked much better but still a little windy and we took off to Wentworth via the Old Wentworth Rd and Renmark Rd. Stopped off for a look at Chowilla. <center> <a href="http://s660.photobucket.com/user/ItsGotToBeYellow/media/06-1_zps4987e17c.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.advrider.com/advrider-photobucket-images/images/I/ItsGotToBeYellow_06-1_zps4987e17c.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 06-1_zps4987e17c.jpg"/></a> </center> The road was a fairly major gravel road that varied in both track condition and scenery so it made for an interesting trip. <center> <a href="http://s660.photobucket.com/user/ItsGotToBeYellow/media/011_zps7b9a24bb.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.advrider.com/advrider-photobucket-images/images/I/ItsGotToBeYellow_011_zps7b9a24bb.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 011_zps7b9a24bb.jpg"/></a> </center> <center> <a href="http://s660.photobucket.com/user/ItsGotToBeYellow/media/014_zpse0c3d01d.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.advrider.com/advrider-photobucket-images/images/I/ItsGotToBeYellow_014_zpse0c3d01d.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 014_zpse0c3d01d.jpg"/></a> </center> After a feed and fuel at Wentworth we followed Lower Darling Rd until it hooked up with High Darling Rd. This took us up the western side of the Darling River. Nice roads and scenery with numerous sand drifts to negotiate (probably due to the windy weather). <center> <a href="http://s660.photobucket.com/user/ItsGotToBeYellow/media/014-1_zps415885b4.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.advrider.com/advrider-photobucket-images/images/I/ItsGotToBeYellow_014-1_zps415885b4.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 014-1_zps415885b4.jpg"/></a> </center> We crossed the Darling to the eastern side just before Pooncarie and headed to Menindee via the Pooncarie-Menindee Rd. This was a more major road but was a lot rougher and we bottomed the Stroms rear suspension on a number of occasions. After a drink at the Menindee local and a refuel, we headed out to camp in Kinchega National Park. We chose a site on the banks of the Darling which was fantastic. <center> <a href="http://s660.photobucket.com/user/ItsGotToBeYellow/media/015_zps571c5a81.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.advrider.com/advrider-photobucket-images/images/I/ItsGotToBeYellow_015_zps571c5a81.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 015_zps571c5a81.jpg"/></a> </center> On Wednesday we followed the track through the national park which was a great ride except for a rather close encounter with a 5 ft brown snake that was spread across the narrow track. I had intended to follow the Darling down the western side but missed the turn at Emu Lake and ended up at Tanduo Station. <center> <a href="http://s660.photobucket.com/user/ItsGotToBeYellow/media/024_zpsa0dce91e.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.advrider.com/advrider-photobucket-images/images/I/ItsGotToBeYellow_024_zpsa0dce91e.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 024_zpsa0dce91e.jpg"/></a> </center> Followed Bindara-Tandou Rd to Coona Point-Bindara Rd. <center> <a href="http://s660.photobucket.com/user/ItsGotToBeYellow/media/028-4_zpsc1e3c7ad.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.advrider.com/advrider-photobucket-images/images/I/ItsGotToBeYellow_028-4_zpsc1e3c7ad.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 028-4_zpsc1e3c7ad.jpg"/></a> </center> Again mostly good clay roads with quite a bit of sand. The sand wasnt deep and a bit of throttle carried us through without much drama even though the Strom is not a big fan of sand. <center> <a href="http://s660.photobucket.com/user/ItsGotToBeYellow/media/029-4_zps3b9a3975.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.advrider.com/advrider-photobucket-images/images/I/ItsGotToBeYellow_029-4_zps3b9a3975.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 029-4_zps3b9a3975.jpg"/></a> </center> We followed the Darling until we hit the same bridged that we used to cross the river the day before. We crossed back to the eastern side and had a spot of lunch on the rivers edge. We then headed for Mungo National Park via Top Hut Rd. This again was a rough road and we crushed the rear bump stop on the Strom on numerous occasions. Had no option but to back the speed off to 80k for most of this road. Mungo in a dust storm is interesting. <center> <a href="http://s660.photobucket.com/user/ItsGotToBeYellow/media/037_zpsd93f0b1b.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.advrider.com/advrider-photobucket-images/images/I/ItsGotToBeYellow_037_zpsd93f0b1b.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 037_zpsd93f0b1b.jpg"/></a> </center> <center> <a href="http://s660.photobucket.com/user/ItsGotToBeYellow/media/033_zps9b723a2e.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.advrider.com/advrider-photobucket-images/images/I/ItsGotToBeYellow_033_zps9b723a2e.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 033_zps9b723a2e.jpg"/></a> </center> Then headed south on dirt to Mildura for the night, treating ourselves to another motel (and a shower). The plan was to follow the old Mail route to Renmark but I ended up on the wrong road. Still a really interesting track. <center> <a href="http://s660.photobucket.com/user/ItsGotToBeYellow/media/038_zps73f80a3c.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.advrider.com/advrider-photobucket-images/images/I/ItsGotToBeYellow_038_zps73f80a3c.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 038_zps73f80a3c.jpg"/></a> </center> Finally caught up with the Old Mail Rd only to find it closed. As it had rained the night before we decided to heed the warning and took the bitumen to the Vic/SA boarder. There we turn south. What a waste of time. Just boring and dull. Had to negotiate one tricky sand hill but mostly was a grass overgrown, dead straight, two wheeled track with no scenery worth a second glance. <center> <a href="http://s660.photobucket.com/user/ItsGotToBeYellow/media/040_zps3eb6a7f3.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.advrider.com/advrider-photobucket-images/images/I/ItsGotToBeYellow_040_zps3eb6a7f3.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 040_zps3eb6a7f3.jpg"/></a> </center> <center> <a href="http://s660.photobucket.com/user/ItsGotToBeYellow/media/041_zpsefb3c71b.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.advrider.com/advrider-photobucket-images/images/I/ItsGotToBeYellow_041_zpsefb3c71b.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 041_zpsefb3c71b.jpg"/></a> </center> Oh well, been there, dont have to go back. We followed the border track to the junction with Carwarp Rd and Fisher Rd. Fisher Rd turned out to be a great road with refreshing scenery including a number of old ruins and lush farmland. <center> <a href="http://s660.photobucket.com/user/ItsGotToBeYellow/media/042_zps17ffbe30.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.advrider.com/advrider-photobucket-images/images/I/ItsGotToBeYellow_042_zps17ffbe30.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 042_zps17ffbe30.jpg"/></a> </center> We then followed the GPS into Berri for lunch via some delightful Riverland orchard country. Camped the night on Katarapko Creek. <center> <a href="http://s660.photobucket.com/user/ItsGotToBeYellow/media/IMG_0223_zps903cd980.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.advrider.com/advrider-photobucket-images/images/I/ItsGotToBeYellow_IMG_0223_zps903cd980.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0223_zps903cd980.jpg"/></a> </center> Hit the bitumen on Friday morning and headed home via Morgan. Lobbed back at midday. Over way to soon for my liking but a worthwhile trip all the same.
what an adventure. Did you say you took 60 kg of gear? that seems like quite a bit. can i ask what weighed so much? thanks for sharing with us great pictures... really enjoyed this thread
As the changed destination was a last minute thing, I ripped some pages out of an old road atlas and that was all I had for maps. Not a lot of detail. Lucky to get to Menindie at all.
We took a Black Wolf 2 man tent, Mont Warmlite air beds, Roman -5C sleeping bags, a plastic tarp, cooking gear and backpackers gas stove, food for 4 days, 11 litres of water plus longlife milk and fruit juice, 750mm of grog, walking shoes, clothes for 3 days, toiletries (remember I'm traveling with a women). Also had a First Aid Kit, Camera, Spot, GPS, air bed pump, torch, spare batteries and chargers for phones, camera and GPS. Tools included a puncture repair kit. Thats about it. The 60kg was a guess, the bags and pannier cases weighed 50kg packed and I added 10kg to cover tools and our riding gear. The water and other fluids were overkill for this trip but I originally had planned for something more adveturous and didn't change the packing. Glad you enjoyed it. IGTBY
Nice one. . Mungo NP is a pretty interesting place to have a wander around in. Haven't been for years and never on two wheels. Now where is that ever growing "to do" list.
Beautiful scenery. The contrast between the fiery orange earth and the vivid blue sky never ceases to amaze me. Thanks for your report!
