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Simpson via Hay River - Travel Times please

Submitted: Monday, Jul 28, 2008 at 10:54

Member - Mick O (VIC)

Greetings all,

the big trip continues. Just breezed into Alice to attend to some tyre problems and the washing. Due to time constraints we have to make a few quick decisions. Could anyone give me a best estimate for completing the Hay River Track south to Birdsville. Trek notes say 9 days from GemTree. Can someone who's travelled the track lately give a an idea of number of days from Goyders Pillar down. Thanks.

Trip going exceptionally well. For those doing the Gary JUnction - Heavily Corrugated north west of Kintor up to the Gary Junction. Overall fair to average. Good from Gary Junction to Kurnawarritji (well 33) bar the corrugations around that intersection. Grader was on the Talwana from Kunawarritji to Jigalong so it's a super highway.

Rudall main track from Telfor south in fair to average conditionwith deep patches of heavy sand and corrugations. Back route out is an adventure drive- Fires have burnt out the area around Queen desert baths but it's stilla great spot to visit.

Puntawarri is in good shape getting a fair bit of use these days on the section from the Canning to Puntawarri itself. Notgrown over at all.

Hunt Oil Road in Good condition. Very little in the way of corrugations. Not much use. Cleared fallen shrubs. Hundreds of Camels around Alexander Spring.

Sandy Blight Junction Road is all corrugations. Very slow going but survivable. Some areas the bumps are 25cm high and 80 cm apart. A test of nerves that one.

Great Central is as you'd expect after the holiday season. Fairly poor and shocking fromDoccker into Yalara.

Giles - Mulga Park also in poor to fair condition with sand,stone and corrugations. Get's worse around the communities.

Fuel: $4 per litre at Cotton Creek - Cash Only. $3.20 at Kurnawarritji, $2.40 at Jigalong, $2.80 all along the Gary Junction, $2.70 at Warburton.

More detailed report when I get the chance. Hope some one can offer advice on the Hay.

Globalstar - Still friggin terrible!

Cheers.

Mick
Crossing the King Edward River - Kimberley WA
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AnswerID: 317644   Submitted: Monday, Jul 28, 2008 at 11:21

Member - Phil G (SA) replied:

Gday Mick,
Glad your trip's going so well and thanks for the reports.

From Alice,
Minimum times if you just drive:
Day 1 Batton Hill
Day 2 South of Lake Caroline
Day 3 Near the shotline
Day 4 Birdsville

Add one day at batton Hill to do Bushtucker trip
Add one day to veg out and explore lake caroline
Add one day to explore some of the Madigan Line - camp 14, 13.
Add one or two more days to take your time in the nice parts of the Simpson
Mt Finke
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FollowupID: 583994   Submitted: Monday, Jul 28, 2008 at 11:29

Robin Miller posted:

Sounds about right to me.

We took it easy and camped 4 nights in total south of Batton hill 5th night in Birdsville (we actually did it reverse way around)
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Robin Miller
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AnswerID: 317651   Submitted: Monday, Jul 28, 2008 at 11:58

TimS replied:

Hi Mick,

From QAA line turnoff to Plenty Hwy took us less than two days only three weeks ago. We travel pretty quick though and we were on our own, so no need to wait for slow coaches.... :)
We didn't see anyone else on the track itself but it's apparent that it's getting plenty of use. GPS not necessary to find your way, although it might be handy for confirming your position.
The 9 day estimate is way over the top for my money, 4 to 5 days to Birdsville would be heaps as mentioned above.

Rgds,
Tim
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AnswerID: 317753   Submitted: Monday, Jul 28, 2008 at 21:24

Member - Bob of KAOS replied:

If you allow three nights on the track you will be just strolling. (Oct 07)
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FollowupID: 584107   Submitted: Monday, Jul 28, 2008 at 21:36

Member - Bob of KAOS posted:

PS I am surprised that you found Globalstar wanting. When I had an Ericsson R280 I never had a problem. It worked everywhere. My current Telstra Motorola thingy is a dog due to the voice delay (which Globalstar doesn't have). Conversations with people unused to the 2 second delay are almost impossible.

Having owned both I would clearly prefer the Globalstar.
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