Central Oz August 2011

Stayed in Alice for 2 nights. Serviced the bikes and replaced the rear brake pads..... It's good to finally have brakes again....
2 nights too long in civilization
Shots of Alice Springs



Left Alice and headed down the Ghan Heritage trail. Looked like an easy run to Finke then onto Mount Dare.
Start of the track was brilliant, then it was time to establish some sand riding skills on the run........ I didn't have much before, but this track give it to me by the bucket load..
Didn't stop to get many pictures. Too beat up getting through all the sand.


Finke never looked so good

Finke was closed for the weekend so headed into Mount Dare for the night
At the turnoff for Mount Dare and refuel out of our jerry cans.


Another border crossed


Chainsaws???? whats out here to cut down...
Mount Dare station

Nice photos!

I made it to Alice as well yesterday after 3 days on the GCR and an extra from there. It was a pretty nice run, the last bit from the NT border was the best. Nice, smooth sand finally, no corrugations at speed

Had a late start after Mount Dare...... must have been something in the water... haha
Highly recommend the Boags.
Met 4 blokes on KTM's about to do the Simpson desert without backup. Hope they made it.
Headed done to Dalhousie Springs. What an oasis in the middle of nowhere.
Went for a swim and felt great, even got a pedicure from the guppies swimming around.

Dalhousie Springs


Dalhousie station ruins. Must have been a different world back in 1885

After feeling refreshed from Dalhousie Springs and getting some cool breeze through us we came across more sand.... the inevitable happened.... at least this time it was dry and we were able to get it back up easier


After this little effort it was easy riding into Oodnadatta for the night
Oodnadatta track and Ghan Heritage trail intersection

The view dosen't change much

Oodnadatta's pink pub


Took a run out to see the painted desert. All was going well until I followed some car tracks..... Where they went I went......



I guess that makes it 2 -1 .........
Scene of the crime.

Painted desert



Back onto the Kempe road and into Coober Pedy

Haha, are you sure you were not following my tracks?
I did the same, coming around the corner at around 80km/h, hitting that unrideable crap. Managed to pull out to the side, running along that bank a bit and slow down just in time without dropping at exactly the same spot.
What a crap surface that is...I can just imagine on the heavy bikes.

Could have been haha
Didn't have to loft it to far.....

Spent the night at Coober Pedy......
There is a few "unique individuals there.
On the way there went through the dog fence.
One sign said 5600km's long, on the road to William Creek another said 9600km's....

Old v's new.... which is which...

went into one of the underground gem shops.
Old opal mines


Onto the William Creek road we came across this.
Shouldn't have too much trouble with this in the loose sand....

Roadside take away....

Plenty of wild flowers


William Creek. Seem to be a place where a lot of rockets fall back to earth....


Lake Eyre.
Awesome spot to see with it near full. Photo's don't do it justice




Still following the Ghan from Alice Springs down along the Oodnadatta Track.

Still following the Ghan

Into Marree for lunch before setting up camp near Copley

Camped at Copley and headed into the Flinders to Arkaroorla for fuel before heading to Cameron's corner. Stopped to wait for John and again no sign of him......


I headed back to see what's going on and found him.....

After his off track excursion at Lake Eyre his rear tyre wasn't holding the air anymore.....
Got a hand from some others travelling through. Thanks guys.
Some of the view on the way to Arkaroorla


View at Arkaroorla

Once we had got our fuel we had a better look at John's rear wheel.
Results of contact with huge rocks at Lake Eyre showed 1 spoke missing and a few loose ones as well.
Decision was made for John to head towards Adelaide to get some repairs done and grab some parts. While we were working out where to go from here Broken Hill was mentioned....
While he was in Adelaide I thought it would be a good idea to head over to the Hunter Valley for the weekend and catch up with family. Not much to see on the way just crunching some kays to get over there and hopefully meet up in South Oz somewhere.
Road to Yunta.... All I wanted was a left hand turn to change the crosswind into a tailwind......

Ruins north of Yunta

Another border crossed

Broken Hill
More mines........

Part of the past

Picked up a bit of work while in the area......

Just ouside of Dubbo for lunch

Came through the Great Dividing Range to see the Hunter Valley under cloud......
Same way it looked 13 years ago......

That's about it until next week.
So far 6,500k's mostly off road except for Yunta to the Hunter Valley in nearly 3 weeks.
Damages so far have been....
My bike, rear brake pads wore out after 1,000k's on the Great Central Road in the wet.
Diff oil coming out the breather/seal area. Changed the oil at Alice and had a bit of water in it.
Front tyre went flat almost every morning. Going through the sand with lower pressures had it flat almost hourly.....
Front rim damage due to pressure dropping going over corrugations.
Clip on the tank bag ripped off when I went sailing over the top of it.
John's bike, Same as above with the brakes and diff.
Both rims damaged when forced of the road, also loose spokes on the rear.
Once we get the bikes up to spec we'll see how we go on the way home.....
Till later.......

Hi Cul8rr ... see you have different accesories compared both bikes ... which are them? ... benefit of metal to soft side panniers? ... would it be possible to have your track posted as .jpg or .gdb if you carried GPS? ... very nice report ... hope to make a 2 month journey in Oz sometime next year with mu Black Pearl if they allow it as a temporary import.
Cheers,
Roberto aka Thagua

Hey mate great RR

Don't forget to post up a few of those sleeping Tenere pics Here

Got to catch up with the Stroms a bit.

Cheers
Graham

Hi,

just: WOW!... and maybe: f*ckin' f*cker of you...

G'day Thagua,
Different accessories for different tastes.....
John liked the hard panniers, I like the soft.
The hard panniers did make it easier to pick up.........
i would rather the sw Motech sump guard. John had trouble getting his Altrider off when we serviced the bikes in Alice Springs. Both have excellent protection.
I have been tracking the whole trip on the GPS, when I get back home and have more time I will post the tracking info.

Finally left the Hunter Valley on Tuesday morning and headed for the Putty Road, been quite a while since I've enjoyed this road. Didn't stop much except for fuel along the way.
Out of nowhere this popped up. Must be prime real estate.......

Some of the views along the Bells Line on my way to Crookwell, or as the locals call it Sick Water.......


Brilliant roads through here with great scenery, except for the haze.......


Stopped to have a stretch and could hear running water...... finally found this in the side of the hill

Left Crookwell once the fog had lifted....... Bloody cold down this way
I wonder how much colder it's going to be down there?

It hit 5 degrees through there......... Gotta love thermals haha
Stopped for a stretch along the dreaded Hume and come across this little bit of Aussie bushranger history.
As gold was discovered around the area in 1864,hold-ups increased along the road between Jugiong and Gundagai.
In November 1864,Ben Hall,Johnny Gilbert and John Dunn had a field day on one particular day robbing 60 people. Late in the day ,the mail coach arrived with Sargeant Edmund Parry and Inspector O'Neil riding shot-gun on top.
In the insuing battle,Sargeant Parry was killed .Inspector O'Neil survived because he ran out of bullets and had to surrender.

'Edmund Parry,Sargeant of the N.S.W. Police ,who lost his life in the execution of his duty whilst courageously endeavouring to capture the bushranger Gilbert by whom he was shot dead near Jugiong'.

This may have been the area. Stand here long enough and you could imagine the battle


Haven't been to this pub for about 18 years. An Aussie iconic pub thanks to Ken Maynard


This shot in particular has some...... memories of 18 years ago

Going from Albury through to Mildura.
Good to see things green again.

This would be a good spot for fishing.

You could only see this in Australia.......
The Down Under Dunny

And everything else.....

Yep... looks bout right...

Not much to see going along the sealed roads.......
Murray River

Left Victoria.... 5th State I have been through. Into South Oz

I was asked at the quarantine station if I had anything to declare..... they didn't appreciate my response..... haha

I pulled up here for a look around and stretch. Where I am standing is about 40 metres above the water line and all the surrounding rock around here was embedded with seashells and oyster shells. incredible that this height was the sea bed.


Random shot of riding around the Murray River

Came across this bit of South Oz history


Come across this little gem...... Couldn't find my size or colour.....

Can't believe I am taking photo's of any sort of mine.......
If you are ever looking to step back in time and enjoy how it was in the 1850's in South Oz, call into Burra. Great little hidden gem.




Heading through the Southern Flinders Ranges

Apparently this bloke was 85 years old living out here never going anywhere else. Partly blind and deaf and surviving on mostly handouts. He had fallen over by the road one day broke his hip and deteriorated away and was eventually found passed away not far from his camp. He was cremated and his ashes spread around the area. Moving stuff.

Minnipa is famous for.......... The Concrete Crappa.... They must be very proud..... haha
I did check it out and it all functions as it should....

Climbed a granite outcrop of a view of the surrounding area on the way to Streaky Bay

Big ride, mate. That first section of red greasy clay on the Great Central must have been exciting. What kind of tyres are you running and how are they coping with the sand and mud? How would you rate the Teneres for the job? They look perfect. The oil leak at the rear looks worrying - was it an easy fix?
Re the difference in posted lengths of the Dingo Fence, it's because the fence used to zig-zag all over the countryside between Surfers Paradise, Qld and Dog Fence Beach, SA, but it was realigned and straightened to suit changes in grazing areas, hence why it's some 3000km shorter now. So both signs were right when they were put there.
Glad you're enjoying our backyard. Really enjoying the bushranger bits.