Saturday Matinee -Carnegie Bluff & the dunes of the Great Sandy desert

Submitted: Saturday, May 03, 2014 at 11:22

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Mick O

Here's a video I just finished that follows the latter stages of our Carnegie Retracing Expedition. This was the second to last major desert leg and the dune country to the south of the Bluff was something to behold, a sandy hell. We crossed over 100 dunes in the first kilometres of the days travels and many were monsters, the sheer size of which we hadn't encountered before in all of our travels along the Canning and Simpson.

The fantastic timelapse of the desert night was the work of Peter Blakeman (extremefilm)...thanks Petey for the use of that fantastic piece.

No doubt blog will follow.

Cheers Mick

''We knew from the experience of well-known travelers that the
trip would doubtless be attended with much hardship.''
Richard Maurice - 1903

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Reply By: Member - Duncan W (WA) - Saturday, May 03, 2014 at 11:48

Saturday, May 03, 2014 at 11:48

Gee Mick that 5 minutes was the fastest 5 minutes I've had for a while. Excellent stuff! Al must be the master of minimalism? BTW you looked knackered.

Cheers

Dunc

Dunc
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Follow Up By: Mick O - Saturday, May 03, 2014 at 12:47

Saturday, May 03, 2014 at 12:47

Long days in the saddle Dunc. It's pretty tough going in the dunes and this was actually Day 17 of the expedition, the last 11 of which had been on the quads. Wrestling her up some of those dunes really takes it out of you for sure (especially when you have to have a few goes at some of them. The joys of being twice the size of my travel companions lol).

Cheers Mick

''We knew from the experience of well-known travelers that the
trip would doubtless be attended with much hardship.''
Richard Maurice - 1903

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Reply By: Member - John and Val - Saturday, May 03, 2014 at 13:41

Saturday, May 03, 2014 at 13:41

Thanks Mick,

Great stuff!! Couldn't help noting the scenery contrast with your Canadian/Arctic footage!!

Cheers

John

J and V
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- Albert Einstein

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Follow Up By: Mick O - Saturday, May 03, 2014 at 14:34

Saturday, May 03, 2014 at 14:34

and I bet you know which scenery I prefer John ;-)

Can't wait to get back out there in a few short weeks. No quads this year though. Glad you enjoyed it.

Safe travels to you both.

Mick

''We knew from the experience of well-known travelers that the
trip would doubtless be attended with much hardship.''
Richard Maurice - 1903

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Reply By: equinox - Saturday, May 03, 2014 at 15:40

Saturday, May 03, 2014 at 15:40

Brings back a few memories Mick. I loved riding through the desert like that.

Those Oaks where we had lunch are mentioned in Carnegies's writings:

"....therefore the gloomy desert oaks were greeted with joy; for through their sombre appearance is eminently appropriate to a funeral procession, they give some shade and relieve the eye"

Oaks on Carnegie's map

Carnegie's Oaks

Cheers
Alan

Looking for adventure.
In whatever comes our way.

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Follow Up By: Mick O - Saturday, May 03, 2014 at 15:51

Saturday, May 03, 2014 at 15:51

It's great to think that in all probability, we may well have sat beneath the same desert oaks that Carnegie himself rested under. Should have the matching blog up next week.

The new quad arrived yesterday. It will sit it the crate until after this years travel. Guess what....it's green. ;-)

''We knew from the experience of well-known travelers that the
trip would doubtless be attended with much hardship.''
Richard Maurice - 1903

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Follow Up By: MUZBRY- Life member(Vic) - Sunday, May 04, 2014 at 16:53

Sunday, May 04, 2014 at 16:53

Gday Mick
Dont walk away from the new quad , you will never find it when you come back...

Muzbry
Great place to be Mt Blue Rag 27/12/2012

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Reply By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Saturday, May 03, 2014 at 19:15

Saturday, May 03, 2014 at 19:15

Hi Mick

Another great watch, thanks for posting. It must have been great out there.

Cheers

Stephen

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Follow Up By: Mick O - Sunday, May 04, 2014 at 11:38

Sunday, May 04, 2014 at 11:38

It always is Stephen, cathartic to say the least.

Cheers

Mick

''We knew from the experience of well-known travelers that the
trip would doubtless be attended with much hardship.''
Richard Maurice - 1903

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Reply By: Phil B (WA) - Saturday, May 03, 2014 at 20:26

Saturday, May 03, 2014 at 20:26

Hi Mick,

Another great vid - most enjoyable. And as Dunc said you do look beat.

You're getting a new quad - whats wrong with he old one - dirty - lol. I'm sure you'll have lots of fun out there again this year.

cheers

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‘Human Being’ and ‘Being Human’.

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Follow Up By: Mick O - Sunday, May 04, 2014 at 11:37

Sunday, May 04, 2014 at 11:37

Got to keep up with the Whithorn's Phil! ;-) No an opportunity arose and while the Minister for war and finance was in an expansive mood, permission to purchase was provided.

Too good an opportunity to pass up. Mind you it's going to be very hard to let go of Big Red. It's a great machine and somewhat more robust than the newer versions I find.

Oh well, can't stand in the way of progress. There will be some work to be done outfitting her before the 2015 expeditions I'm sure.

Glad you enjoyed the ride.

Mick

''We knew from the experience of well-known travelers that the
trip would doubtless be attended with much hardship.''
Richard Maurice - 1903

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Reply By: Echucan Bob - Sunday, May 04, 2014 at 11:12

Sunday, May 04, 2014 at 11:12

Mick,

thank goodness you haven't developed an interest in confluence points.
Knocking them off in those quads would be a piece of p....
How susceptible are the tyres to side wall stakes?

Bob

AnswerID: 531800

Follow Up By: Mick O - Sunday, May 04, 2014 at 11:31

Sunday, May 04, 2014 at 11:31

Bit of Bad news for you Bob;

Confluence list

I have five unique with another three yet to post (I've been a bit slack). Hope to pick up another two in out of the way places this year. I notice you've scored a few I had my eyes on of late.

Soft bias-ply tyres are very susceptible to punctures out in the rough. We went over to a Baja Claw radial tyre last year with much better results. Not as soft, radial belt and 6 ply construction. They still cop some damage but nowhere near as much as the bias-ply and they don't tear as easily.

Cheers Mick

''We knew from the experience of well-known travelers that the
trip would doubtless be attended with much hardship.''
Richard Maurice - 1903

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Follow Up By: Echucan Bob - Sunday, May 04, 2014 at 22:46

Sunday, May 04, 2014 at 22:46

Mick

Crikey, I'd better get serious. I just did a major trip over Easter but too tight for time and too wet for CPs. Echuca, Alice, Papunya, Yuendumu, Nyrrippi, Kiwirrkurra, Kunawarritji, Punmu, Telfer, Rudall River, Newman, Kalgoorlie,Trans Track, Home.

I wonder if Bajas would offer an advantage on the Land Rover. No punctures on the above trip with the STTs on the car and STs on the trailer but not much off track work.

Bob

FollowupID: 815017

Reply By: Member - John (Vic) - Monday, May 05, 2014 at 02:36

Monday, May 05, 2014 at 02:36

I've watched this clip several times now and one of my favorite bits is the look and little tail wag Massie gives you when you wake Al up in the morning.
Very cute.

You're editing skills have grown so much over the years Mick, always interesting and great interaction between stills and video, your music choice is excellent also.
Good job mate.