Madigan Line

Submitted: Monday, Apr 16, 2012 at 21:03

Member - Blaze

Well we made it. Got home on the weekend after a great trip across Madigan's. I will do a Blog later, but I have to do a Magazine article first, but for small insight read on.

The desert in places didn't look like anything I expected, the fires of 2011 had removed lots of the Spinifex, which I believe made the trip harder, the burnt sticks were just looking for rubber.

Typical Pucture
Typical Pucture


With 7 vehicles, suffered 10 flat tyres, with some suffering up to 3 puctures. 4 of these tyres were left at Birdsville and couple more may be dead.

Burned Desert
Burned Desert


The desert was so different with green everywhere, and allowed us to see a different sort of desert than many have seen out here.
Green everywhere
Green everywhere


The views from the top of the Sandhills made us think twice about breakdowns in such a large area with very small chances of recovery. Luckily, we suffered only small problems that were fixed in minutes.
Looking out ahead
Looking out ahead


Some sandhills were fairly large, but no winching or snatching was needed, I believe preparation is the key to a successfull trip and help from people who have done the trip and I got lots of help from EO members.
Large Sandhill
Large Sandhill


Now to the sour note, we couldn't find Camp 20 as it was under water, but this was nothing to what we found at a couple of the markers, Camp spot 12 was the worse. Who would take the trouble to drive all the way out here to scratch and deface a sign, some times people and I use the word loosely amaze me. Love to tie them to the sign and leave them.

Defaced Sign
Defaced Sign


Only other negatives were the heat, nearly 40 for the first 4 days and the flies drove us crazy. Hope this and the pics help anyone heading out this year.

Cheers
Adventure before Dementure
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AnswerID: 483315   Submitted: Monday, Apr 16, 2012 at 21:22

Member - Phil G (SA) replied:

Gday Glenn,
Nice report - look forward to the rest.
Glad it all went well!

Cheers
phil
2012 VDJ200 Landcruiser
2003 TVan
2008 VW Tiguan TDi
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AnswerID: 483317   Submitted: Monday, Apr 16, 2012 at 21:30

Michael A (VIC) replied:

Thanks for sharing, the photos are great.

Michael A Thumbs UpThanks 0
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AnswerID: 483318   Submitted: Monday, Apr 16, 2012 at 21:48

equinox replied:

Sounds like a good trip Blaze, and some good photos.

Looks like you did OK on the puncture count - look forward to hearing more.

Cheers
Alan


Canning Stock Route
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AnswerID: 483319   Submitted: Monday, Apr 16, 2012 at 22:21

Member - Blaze replied:

Sorry People made a mistake, 7 Vehicles were going but one pulled out, so it was 6 Vehicles. Derrrrrr

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AnswerID: 483321   Submitted: Monday, Apr 16, 2012 at 22:31

Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) replied:

Hi Glenn

It was good for the daily updates, thanks. It would have been a great trip.

Looking forward to the Blog.



Cheers


Stephen
Roxby Downs Special
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AnswerID: 483335   Submitted: Tuesday, Apr 17, 2012 at 09:26

Robin Miller replied:

CAMP 12 PLATE
CAMP 12 PLATE
Mission accomplished - fantastic Blaze.

Sad about camp12 plate - and suspicious , it wasn't that way august last year picture attached. Can't imagine it would be any travellers, would only have been a handful following our crossing.

Robin Miller
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FollowupID: 758597   Submitted: Tuesday, Apr 17, 2012 at 09:46

Member - Blaze posted:

Gday Robin,

Was a great trip, I agree with you about saying you can't imagine it being a fellow traveller, but other than a UFO we can't think of anything else. If you look, you can see it has been scratched back and forth from top to bottom.

Our thought process was maybe a kid when his parents were not watching, but then thought why would you have kids out there and if you did, maybe you should watch them. (It was only 20cm off the ground, so easy reach).

Guess we will never know, just hopefully it gets replaced.

If we had known about it before hand we would have organised a replacement plate

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AnswerID: 483348   Submitted: Tuesday, Apr 17, 2012 at 12:35

Member - graham p (NSW) replied:

Thank you for your information. I am doing it with others later in the year. Which brand of tyre and type had fewer punctures, and which most. we are looking at tyres at present.
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FollowupID: 758610   Submitted: Tuesday, Apr 17, 2012 at 14:27

Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) posted:

Graham

The type of tyre or brand will not stop you getting side wall punctures in country like that.

The main way to avoid punctures in that type of country is to be the last vehicle in the group and do not deviate from the tracks in front of you. It is usually the first 2 - 3 vehicles that will collect any hidden stakes in their tyres, giving the following vehicles a clearer run.


Cheers



Stephen
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FollowupID: 758617   Submitted: Tuesday, Apr 17, 2012 at 16:24

Member - Blaze posted:

Spot on Stephen,

As you mentioned the only thing that helps save you a bit is having 3 vehicles in front of you. The best in our group had (gulp) Coopers on and only got one small pin prick 1pound a day loss, but when he led lots of times we had track's.

When Krakka and I led it was full on offroad and burned sticks everywhere.



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FollowupID: 758624   Submitted: Tuesday, Apr 17, 2012 at 17:16

Crackles posted:

"The type of tyre or brand will not stop you getting side wall punctures "
While they may not stop you getting a puncture a decent tyre will certainly minimise the number. On our crossing the 2 cars with Procomp Extreme tyres had no punctures (including the trip leader blazing the trail), 2 cars out of the 6 with MTR's had one stake each & the sole car on Coopers had 13 in the front left alone (lost count of total) with 2 completely destroyed beyond use.
Many thought the trip leader was being a bit harsh banning specific types of tyres for the crossing but proved to be pretty right in hindsight. He made an exception for the STT's seeing the guy had just put a brand new set on but that backfired as he only had to replace the whole set when he got home.

Cheers Craig..................
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FollowupID: 758627   Submitted: Tuesday, Apr 17, 2012 at 17:31

Member - Krakka posted:

The sidewall punctures that I had were stakes that had caught on the sidebiters on the sides of the tyres and with the sidebiters creating firm resistance for the stakes to drive through, I bought Toyo Open Country MT tyres specifically for this trip.

As Blaze said, the stakes that we got where while leading the sections where there were no tracks at all, the Coopers on the trip were AT3 s I believe.
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FollowupID: 758701   Submitted: Wednesday, Apr 18, 2012 at 11:39

Member - graham p (NSW) posted:

Craig
What year was it when you did the trip?
Graham
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FollowupID: 758741   Submitted: Wednesday, Apr 18, 2012 at 19:28

Crackles posted:

June 2006. Was a fairly dry season.
Cheers Craig..............
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AnswerID: 483358   Submitted: Tuesday, Apr 17, 2012 at 15:36

Member - Trouper (NSW) replied:

Yes its a great trip Blaze, Our group travelled that route back in August 2011. We also were unable to reach Camp 20 due to it being under water. we were about 10km West of it and could see only water to the horizon and so we turned South and eventually, a day and a half later picked up the Goonamillera Crossing on Eyre Creek. Our group were determined to access as many Camps as possible so we then headed North and was able to visit Camps 21 and 22 with an overnight camp on Eyre Ck at Annandale Station. A trully worthwhile detour and roundabout way of getting to those two Camps. The next day we headed for Birsdville. Would happily do the Madigan Line again.

regards...................jeff Thumbs UpThanks 0
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FollowupID: 758618   Submitted: Tuesday, Apr 17, 2012 at 16:26

Member - Blaze posted:

Hi Jeff,

Tes 21 and 22 are worth the drive, we did it by running south on the inside of a dune for about 13k's then crossing a now dry Eyre Creek. Camped near 22 and it was a great area with loads of feed for their stock.

Cheers
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AnswerID: 483489   Submitted: Wednesday, Apr 18, 2012 at 20:23

Member - gujimbo replied:

Hi Blaze

Our group can replace the sign at Camp 12 ( we will be through the area 1st week in June.
Is the sign in book still at Camp 15 ? and does this need a new one?

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FollowupID: 758777   Submitted: Thursday, Apr 19, 2012 at 11:32

Member - Blaze posted:

Gday Jim,

That would be great to get the plate fixed. As for the book, I am not sure if you have mixed up the site numbers or I have, but I believe its camp 16 that has the book. I am at work now but will check with my Photo's. Whichever camp has it, the book is fine as is the marker there.

Cheers

Glenn
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FollowupID: 758853   Submitted: Thursday, Apr 19, 2012 at 20:02

Member - Krakka posted:

Hi Jim, Pretty sure there is also a book at camp 11, but for some reason none of us signed it.

Peter
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