Been to
Birdsville three times, twice to the races, but all the time only driving by plane. This time, for the first time, I am taking the Bruiser with the Missus, her cousin and cousin's bloke for a three week loop. Looking forward to it BIG time... Cousin's bloke is an interesting guy - is one of those hard bitten NZ bushies who has been there and done that (talks about going on 6-week camps shooting deer in the Alps when he was a youngster...). Can't get enough of the Oz outback.
The plan so far. SY to
Lightning Ridge (one of those
places I never got to when I was flying), thence
Birdsville. Taking 4 days to do that, arrive for the
Birdsville Races (meeting a mate with his plane).
Once the hangover has worn off, take a short Sunday drive on the QAA line to
Poeppel Corner (I will try to avoid the traffic jam out of BDV), thence the French Line to Lindsay
Junction. From there head south on Knolls Track to Poolowanna Oil
Well,
Rig Road to
Warburton Track, then north a little on the
Birdsville Track. Pick up the track to
Walkers Crossing then get into
Innamincka.
From
Innamincka, Metry Metry via the Old
Strzelecki track,
Cameron Corner,
Tibooburra,
White Cliffs and then a run for
home via
Wilcannia.
From BDV to SY - about 1.5 - 2 weeks.
Passes/Permits - SA Deserts Holiday Pass - any others needed? (NP&W???). Can any of these passes and additional maps be obtained from the Information Centre in
Birdsville? From memory it is a pretty good setup there.
Anyone got any advice on
places to see and things to do, please step in. And if what I am planning wont work, same.
Equipment: One modified LC105 (2"
suspension, engine, 45l
water tank mounted behind rear
seat + additional drinking water, std fuel tanks (145 litres). Experienced sand driver, inexperienced desert driver though I have been reading up heaps and this
forum has been invaluable. Quirk Autofridge and as we speak, additional _Affordable_Storage_Drawers.aspx and enclosure with drop slide are being installed. PLB (GPS), laptop with Memory Map, coupla three GPSs (to be sure to be sure), standard maps. Scary
first aid kit. Two spare batteries - aux battery and Thumper; spare fuel filter, alternator, radiator hoses; engine oil and ATF. Also a blow torch for the gas bottle, flux and solder for fixing a holed radiator - does not take much room and it is something I am capable of... fixing it that is. Good shovel, two compressors (underbonnet and a small backup). Tool kit (gotta watch what I take with me - got heaps of tools!)
Usual stuff - tents (Safari Dome and an OzTent RV3 - for shelter a
Foxwing),
camp oven, spare tyre, spare spare tyre, clothes for 3 seasons, tyre repair kits, beadbreaker, levers, tubes, patches and plugs. Air jack, base plate for car jack. Sandflag, UHF x 2 (nailed into the dash and portable - to be sure to be sure). Selection of snatch straps, shackles, tow straps and chains. Axe and pruning saw.
Somewhere in that lot we will find space for beer and wine, and maybe some food... (Have a Rhino Rack on top).
What I do NOT want to take if I can help it, unless otherwise advised: winch, highlift jack - instead I am looking at a Maxx Tracks or similar (bloody dear those things!). No jerries, or if I have to an empty 20 litre, filling only if the plan changes or something else happens...
Things to consider - sat phone (not likely), fuel range and fuel planning (I work on the wreck/tech diving principal: a third in, a third out and a third spare, so based on that half of the main tank into the desert and the other half of the main to the next fuel stop; the sub tank emergency only).
Any comment, criticism or otherwise gratefully taken
viz