64 replies to this topic

[Spider]

After a long drought (from travels), we're off again today. Between Outback Floods and Covid, we've been 'locked out' of our playground for a few years now.

 

My long time friend, Jack (Mavro on the forum) and myself are heading off on a 2 week, ~ 5000 km trip in to the Australian Outback. This being Jack's first, we are keeping it 'simple' and not likely to stray too far from unsealed roads. Jack has come from Adelaide (1400 km away) so we could finish a few items on his Moke in my workshop, final tune, add Cruise Control and just give the car a general check over.

 

We're heading off to Birdsville, via Cameron Corner (the corner post of 3 states) and returning down the Birdsville Track.

 

I'm presently unable to upload photos to Imgur from my I-pad (seems I need an app ? that will only load on an I-phone, but not an I-pad), I'll figure something out and get some pics up when I can. As these are some quite remote areas, we'll be out of 'Radio Range' for around a week at a time, so there will be a bit of an extended break between up-dates here.

 

Cheers Lads

[Maccmike8]

Thats sounds amazing. I hope you both have a fantastic and reliable time.

[4XMOKE]

Travel safe and good luck with the Mokes.

 

4X

[Avtovaz]

sounds good mate! hope it works out well

 

 

 

Adelaide --- reminds me of neighbours and well Kylie ;) ahem!!!

 

hope you have a good time mate!

[IronmanG]

Dont forget your metal detectors. There be gold out there!

[A-Cell]

Have a fantastic trip!

[Martin108]

Safe travels, looking forward to updates.

[Spider]

Many thank for your well wishes here guys, apriciated.

We’re at a small outback town this evening, Innamincka, they do have phone service here, but we have been without it the past 3 days.

The first couple of days of driving were good but uneventful no complaints there !

Yesterday, we finally saw off the last of the sealed roads we’ll see for the next 10 days or so and this has bought on some interesting moments.

When driving off the track up between sand dunes, yesterday evening looking for a camp site I did get bogged, nothing particularly unexpected in that, however, when getting out of it, the RH drive shaft had other ideas. This was about 100 km west of Cameron Corner ( the corner post between 3 states). I had had enough for the day, so that was the campsite for the evening.. morning I replaced the drive shaft, dropped the tyre pressures to 10 psi and we drove out of the back on the main track. Up to this point ( and actually until midday today) we hadn’t seen another vehicle.

By around morning tea time, we were on the Old Strezleki Track, it weaves it’s way up a small oil field for part of the way so that first section is well maintained, however, after passing the last oil Derek, the track pretty much returned to it’s former self - 2 wheel tracks through the grass. There were many flooded sections along here ( there were some huge rains through here about 8 weeks back) though, they all had ‘chicken tracks’ to get around them - one of which Jack missed and promptly ended up to the sump guard in mud. I drove up ‘cross country’ to get in front of him, a quick snatch and he was out - only then, I was bogged in the sand! Jack backed up and snatched me out of that, then back on the track. The going was slow, we expected to be here around 11 but was almost 2 - only 3 hours behind where we thought we’d be, and 4 hours to cover about 280 km. I’d had enough for the day by then, so we’ve pulled up stumps here for the evening.

Lads, I do have loads of photos, but bear with me, I’ll get them up here as soon as I can work out this I-pad / imgur bug.

Cheers guys, probably be back in about 2 days.

[Richard_]

Good luck! - take lots of pictures!

[4XMOKE]

Spider,

tell the truth, you and Mav just like mud wrestling each other.

Glad you only twisted your shaft, painful as that sounds....

 

4X

[4XMOKE]

Spider, considering the world wide audience here, why not quote some distance figures from home to various points and from point to point on the trip, give the folks an idea of where you are and the vastness of outback Aus.

 

4X

[Magneto]

I'd like to hear about the cruise control!

 

Best of luck with the rest of the trek.....

[Spider]

Some photos to fill in the story - so far - better.

 

Stating from the start ! Foggy morning at Kurrajong Sydney leaving on our first morning.

 

 

Not looking great but usually, a good omen.

 

 

Mid-western NSW - perfect traveling weather.

 

 

Some 'road art' near Lake Cargellico where we stopped our first night.

 

 

White Cliff an Opal Mining Town far western NSW. Somewhere it has taken me some 35+ Years to get to ! Finally ticked of the bucket list !!

The Underground Motel we stayed in for our 2nd Night out. Great place, great people, great food !!

 

 

Tibooburra. Hottet town in NSW and gateway to the Outback.

 

 

Our very own Creek.

 

 

 

Cameron Corner Gate - Our First State Border Crossing and the Corner Post o 3 States.

 

 

 

Inside The Corner Store and a bite to eat for lunch.

 

 

Our first Camp about 100 km west of Cameron Corner. Where I also broke the drive shaft.

 

 

 

Oil Derek on the Old Strezleki Track.

 

 

 

 

This is a new one since I was last up this way - the Blue Tree !

[Spider]

 

" Hey what's that Lake on the track  "

 

 

 

" Oh I see,,,, "

 

 

 

Pull me, push you !

 

 

 

 

Finally, we both got our of that one !

 

 

 

Innaminka Watering Hole

 

 

 

 

Crossing a flooded Coopers Creek

 

 

 

 

Cordillo Downs Shearing Shed, reputed to be one of the largest in the world, though no longer used fr shearing.

 

 

 

SA / Qld Border Crossing - our second for the trip.

 

 

 

A tired and dusty Spider.

 

 

 

Not much for miles out here !

 

 

 

Last night's campsite - 60 km out of Birdsville.

 

 

 

Civilisation - or is it ?

 

 

 

Some breakfast

 

 

 

More to come folks

[nev100]

This is great .
Keep up the pictures and progress reports.

Spent a year there was I was younger. Love the mass open expanse of the Outback.

Good luck and stay safe.