Desert Queen Baths by TW200

Old Betsy · Aug 29, 2013

Day 1
Flight from work to home.

Change clothes then onto the TW200, push the starter Button to fire up all 16 Horsepower of the motor then off.

The group of 16 guys left 8 hrs ago. I head north at a rapid speed of 85kmph to catch them.

Did you ever hear the storey of the Hare & The Turtle. I am the turtle. I ride for 5hrs pull into Mullewa at 8.30pm

I check into the hotel as I couldn't be bothered setting up the tent , and I also needed an early start to catch the guys. I check the Internet has to where the others are, they are 100km up the road. Spot trackers are good for that information.
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Day 2
Up early to a great sunrise,waiting at petrol station to open at 7am.

Refuelled and off. A good sign about an hour later I pass 2 of our fellow riders headed back towards home. They were only going for the one night stop over ride. Came across some river crossings.

So they can't be to far up the road, but at 85kmph I really wasn't going to catch them with speed.

At 10am I pull into the murchison roadhouse for fuel. And guess what so were 50 other bikes. The last of our group were still filling up so I pulled into the line for my turn. After a quick chat and update date as to next meeting point I headed off.

Next fuel stop was Mt Augustus,

then up the road to Dooley Downs. This is an old homestead,

so 16 of us camped there overnight. With some old machinery about the property.

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Day 3
What a great sunrise.

Came across a small hill that I just had to get a photo on top of.

Jamie broke down losing all his oil out of the engine.

Steve towed him into Ashburton Downs, where Jamie stayed the night. One of the workers of the station were travelling to the local airport the next day, so Jamie got a lift with them to the airport and flew home. Came across this old mining truck.

We camp the night at Hamersley Gorge.

Day 4

Headed off early again, Hare & The Turtle thing. passed thru Rio Tinto Gorge.

We meet one or two road trains on the gravel roads

onto an old abstetos mining town of Wittenoom.

The town only has 4 local left living there. On talking to one of the locals he mentioned about going up the wittenoom gorge. So pleased I did as I will probably never did the chance to come here again.

Onto Carrawine Gorge for the nights rest.

Where we meet Mike & Isabelle. Guess what the Turtle won the race for that day. Set up camp in the daylight, had a bath, coffee ,relaxing. With darkness upon us concern was been raised as to where the others were. Onto the sat phone I ring home to check the spot tracker locations of the guys. They were coming into the gorge as we were checking. Mike headed out in his 4x4 to guide them in. So drinks and a nice roast meal cooked by Isabelle and Mike went down a treat. Some war stories from the day went down a treat, some of the guys had burnt out there clutches coming into Carrawine Gorge. There were deep river stones that made the going tough for the bigger bikes, but the TW turtle just rode straight over them. To the disgust of many.
Day 5
Destination today DESERT QUEEN BATHS,

with only 6 of us left.

Off we go again with a serious head wind which really knocked the speed out of the TW.
water bore.

We get to the DQB turn off with plenty of time.

Only 18km to go apparently this 18km is meant to be quite difficult . On the bigger bikes it must have been a hand fall, as it was a real mix on sand,rocks,open tracks, but difficult all together. The TW just putted along with not to many issues at all. Finally get into DQB's with a few other riders already there.

Set up camp.

With other riders coming in with there stories of how the got there it was a good afternoon the carried on into the night.
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Day 6
Stayed at DQB's for the day and did some adventure walking to take in the beauty of the place.

With only Steve,Chris, Paul and myself out of our original group left.
Had a small mechanical issue today, I had to adjust the chain by 1 knotch
Day 7
Headed in the direction of home. I did have a crash here, as with alot of sand tracks if you take your eyes off the track to look at the sceney you crash as i did this was my only off for the whole trip.

Jigalong was meant to be our next fuel stop, but when we got there they were shut. Just as well we were carrying extra fuel with us. So we emptied our fuel bladders into the bike then headed for Kumarnia for out next stop.

The track between Jigalong and Ku marina was just fantastic with a huge variety of terrain. Well worth the trip if you get the chance. Into Kumarina for fuel then 90 km down the road for our next camp site.

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Day 8
we head towards Wiluna and past the Canning Stock Route entry/exit depending on direction which I did last year.

See link.
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=819854

We head towards Paynes Find for fuel and our camp stop is just down the road.

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Day 9
With the weather closing in, we aren't far from home only about 250km to go. Past some canola fields.

I pulled into home at about 11am. About 1hr later it started raining and didn't stop for 2 days.
The bike travelled 3976km for the trip. We averaged about 26km per litre

Muddler · Aug 29, 2013

Geez, chain adjustment? Your bikes a dud, get rid of it!
Great RR.

J_B · Aug 29, 2013

Thanks for sharing Abdul, bizarre bike but looks perfect for where the bitchimum ends. May be in the mkt for a new stead so will put it in the pot ....
Nice to see you again
Jb

bully1 · Aug 29, 2013

nice Mike, the "Happy Bike " did the trip with no drama's, when's the CSR run then ??

gsjam · Aug 29, 2013

Well done mike sensational pic,s

panhead_pete · Aug 29, 2013

CLASSIC - Love it! Thanks for the post and the reminder you dont need the typical ADV bike to have awesome ADV rides. Something I am yet to learn.

What killed the DR?

Aussie Digger · Aug 29, 2013

Mike, a great effort and a great reward knowing you were one of many that attempted but only one of several that succeeded.

guzzimike · Aug 30, 2013

Mike, you're a deadset legend, well done mate.
Easier work than the F8 eh?

sidetrack one · Aug 30, 2013

Incredible pictures! and those big wheeled bikes look awesome!Thanks for posting, an area I have not been to YET!

Neonasty · Aug 30, 2013

Looks like a great trip.

Those little TW200s look like they'd be a bunch of fun. You dont see many of them come up for sale, either thats because there good, or they never sold many.

Im trying to get the Mrs onto a bike (and something I can play with too) Im going to keep my eyes out for a cheap one.

CoomaGravelSurfer · Aug 30, 2013

Love the post
I have a TW200
Had it for 7 years as a farm bike
Got it road registered last week and did the TTT on it
What a great adventure bike
A bit limited in carrying capacity
A bit slow
Now that it's a proven performer I'll bling it up a bit with bark busters and a rack that will cary some gear
The next TW adv
Wadbilliga road to the coast from Cooma
That will test it out
Photo to follow

twotyred · Aug 30, 2013

Great story!!!

raycam01_au · Aug 30, 2013

now that was a gr8 read over a morning coffeeeeeee

awesme job, gr8 pics :)

pzs · Aug 30, 2013

panhead_pete said: ↑

CLASSIC - Love it! Thanks for the post and the reminder you dont need the typical ADV bike to have awesome ADV rides. Something I am yet to learn.

What killed the DR?
Click to expand...

Any thing on the DR oil blow?

gsjam · Aug 30, 2013

Have not had time to pull the bike apart ,did pull the front sprocket off ,the seal looks ok with no oil residue on it strange ,the drive shaft when rotated sounds like crap it's either the bearing behind the seal or more likely thrown a gear

Davis53 · Aug 30, 2013

gsjam said: ↑

Have not had time to pull the bike apart ,did pull the front sprocket off ,the seal looks ok with no oil residue on it strange ,the drive shaft when rotated sounds like crap it's either the bearing behind the seal or more likely thrown a gear
Click to expand...

 Sounds like the dreaded 3<sup>rd</sup> gear failure!

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=424132

-KATO- · Aug 30, 2013

Great pics..

go the turtle..

GSDisciple · Aug 31, 2013

Great stuff Mike - terrific pictures as always and commentary is spot on as usual.

Turborob · Aug 31, 2013

Good stuff; great to see another TW out and about.

Koos · Aug 31, 2013

Thanks for taking us on the trip Mike, great snaps!

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Desert Queen Baths by TW200

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Desert Queen Baths by TW200

Old Betsy Adventurer

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panhead_pete Gone riding

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guzzimike Long timer

sidetrack one Chief Tiddler Supporter

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twotyred Practising Recedivist

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