io, io, it's off to the Simpson I go.

Hello all,
Yep you read that right. My trusty Pajero io and I are heading off tomorrow morning to cross the Simpson Desert.

It's my first time across the Simpson although I have now on several occasions dipped my toes into it from the eastern end.

First night will be at Marree to catch up with Maz and Phil at the Hotel, second night I hope to catch up with Jeff at Mt. Dare (a bit out the way, but what's the rush?). Then it's lunch and a dip at Dalhousie before I start my crossing. We've planned for 3 days to cross the desert although I'm happy to blow that out to 5 days. Plenty of provisions to do so.

Through years of reading this forum, I'm pretty sure I have things covered, and I'll be travelling with 3 other vehicles. 40 litres of water ( supplemented by juice and Ginger Beer), 60 litres of fuel in jerry's, enough food for about 1.5 weeks and a -34 degree sleeping bag, swag and pull out awing for shade. Comms will be via a UHF (25 watt) and HF radio. Running OziExplorer although the maps that came with the desert pass look more than enough.

Taking the French line until Purni, then dropping south to pick up the WAA line and sounth again to pick up the Rig Road, then north up Knolls, past the Lone tree, Poepells and into Birdsville.

Only one more sleep..... busy day ahead today so catch you all tonight and later on my return. It's probably fair to say I'll be the only io out there, so if you see me, say g'day.... I don't bite.

Fab.