Lots of rain heading for northern SA over the week end.

Hi Dad1340

We have had a very dry autumn here in South Australia, trust me. When are you intending on being that way, as from what we are hearing on the TV and Radio, many areas up north are going to cop a good drop of rain that should cut most Outback Roads for days.

With the dust settled and the roads dried out, it will transform the outback in weeks.



Cheers



Stephen

Thanks Steve, we will be leaving Oodnadatta on the 30th May so with a bit of luck things will dry out

Cheers

dad

Stephen, guess we all have different ways at looking at the weather from travellers, farmers and holiday makers.

To the farmers, I hope you get a good slow, steady drop of rain. To the holiday makers I hope you all stay dry.

I know a 2 up couple running a triple to the west tonight that hope they don't have to go through heavy rain and looking at the bom they maybe ok.

May the weather suit all of you.

Hi Peter

Looks like the weather man has got it right for some areas and not for others.

We have only had 8mm of rain here in Clare so far, compared to to 50 plus mm that was forecast.

Anyone interested in travelling outback areas in the next month will be in for a real treat. I hope that western Queensland gets some good raid, as they need in more than many others.


Cheers


Stephen

50mm @ Cowarie, Stephen.

After the excellent rain earlier in the year, it will look a picture through the winter.

Regards,
Bob

Last Wednesday I was enjoying perfect weather in the Flinders Ranges. About to go to Arkaroola when I went up Stokes Hill for the view and Telstra reception. Saw the forecast and thought I better boogie up the Birdsville track instead in case it closed.

The track was in good condition. Saw few other tourists and all camps along the track were empty when I drove past. About a dozen caravans in Birdsville.

Checked the forecast again- now up to 45 mm predicted. Decided to head North instead of across the Simpson.

Salvaged some desert experience by camping at Montara Sandhill 90 Km West of Bedourie.

Yesterday morning it was still dry but the flies certainly thought it was about to rain. Their numbers and persistence increased beyond belief.







I am now in Boulia waiting to see how much rain actually falls and where before deciding my next move.

Just spoke to the stepdaughter who is working at Moomba. They've had about 20mm up to just after lunch, and that seems a pretty common amount of rain across the NE corner of S.A. up until now.

She said she was revving the blokes up to get the camp area battened down for rain, and they wouldn't believe her, that it was going to rain enough to get messy!

One bloke in particular wouldn't take her instructions, until it had really started to come down!
Then he raced out, and had to do all the wet weather changes in the rain and mud, and what would have taken him 20 mins - if he'd done it, when SD first told him to do it - took him 3 hrs! - and he got soaked and splattered with mud! He was really peed off, apparently.

Some blokes are slow learners, they think that all women are just there to be ignored! LOL

If he understood just how much plumbing, pipeline, drilling, oilfield, and managerial experience she has, over nearly 25 yrs, he might wake up to the fact that she knows what she's talking about!

Cheers, Ron.

Hi Bob

Have you had any rain up your way. I was speaking to a guy at work the other day and he said Longreach was still screaming out for rain, and was now looking worse then ever?

There is a saying that we all say in the country, and I bet you even said it with your days on the Land........" There is money in mud and only tears in dust "


Cheers



Stephen

Hi John

We have been caught out with rain on the Birdsville track a few times and never ever again.

One time years ago, it was starting to rain at Marree, and was told by the local Policeman the track is not shut yet, but just get as far north as you can.

The further north we got the wetter it became and the track was a skating ring, impossible to keep in a straight line. It took us 8 and a half hours to get to Mungarannie and the road was not officially closed until 7am the next morning. The next 2 and a half days the track remained closed and to take no chances with anyone sneaking out, every number plate number was taken and phoned through to both the Marree and Birdsville Police for good measure.

Another time when we were in Birdsville on a lazy day off on our way home, the sky in the morning was jet black and we had to be back at work in 4 day. One guy said we were working about nothing and I told him different. We went home via Quilpie, Cobar and Broken Hill, when he headed off down the Track. I had contact with the other gut a few months later and he was stranded half way to Mungarannie, and then another 4 days in Birdsville before the track was officially open up to four wheel drive only, and he had some real fun heading south.

Like I said, been there and done than, so if the roads look like they are in for rain, either sit tight or get the hell out of there.



Cheers



Stephen

does anyone know if 4 people travelling in a mitsubsi 4x4 van made it to mt dare .they left birdsville on the 4th of may and didnt have much recovery gear.They are 2 asian couples and we are a bit conserned

Hi Stephen

Have you rang Mt Dare to see if they made it there? Do you know them and I wonder why they did not carry basic recovery equipment, as if they are not experienced desert travellers, they must be crazy to go unprepared.

Presuming they are crossing the Simpson, and if so the rain will make the dunes very easy to drive over. The only things you have to worry about crossing the desert is the claypans around Poepple Corner and to the west, and then in the Swales the further west you get after Purnie Bore where there can be some very ingesting mud traps.


Hope you find them safe.


Cheers


Stephen

No, you should have come to Winton, John. :-)

Bob