Andamooka, Arcoona, Bosworth.

Thanks Motherhen.

Kawasaki Bayou 2WD 300cc. Adequate for the job, if only just.

ATV Page

Regards,
Laurie.

Thanks David for those observations.

Yes they are plastic wheelbarrow wheels. They are my main worry. I'm counting on the piossibility that I'll have to make some skids out of bush timber (if I can find any) to get the trailer home. My main vulnerability is getting sand in the bearings. If it doesn't work out I'll get some ATV wheels and stubs before next trip.

I've built the trailer small so I can take the wheels off and put it in the big trailer under the bike for transport, and light so I can use it for a trolley should I need to abandon the bike and walk, assuming the wheels are still on it.

The ground clearence is low but it's about the same as on the bike. I'll just have to go steady on rocky ground and pick my track. Being narrow, it won't bridge so far so that will help a bit, but ground clearance could also bring me unstuck.

The 40 liters of fuel is heavy but half the weight of the fuel is on the bike via the drawbar. The spare wheels and camping gear are fairly light. I can lift the back of the trailer when loaded. The load is a bit high for the width; a bit like a double decker bus and that's part of the reason I can't afford to gun er.

Regards,
Laurie.

Hey Wolfie!

I'll say hello for you.

You must know the Purple Downs country well. Driving up the highway it looks ruggard. Is it photographer's country?

Regards,
Laurie.

Very nice, but unfortunately, it lies in the Woomera Prohibited Area.
You will do well on Andamooka. Bosworth is very, very stony....... very stony.

Cheers

Wolfie

Wolfie,

Have you been on Andamooka Island (the island itself that is)? In the satellite image it looks quite something but when I compare the sat photo to the topo map I think it's probibly just the way the light caught the terrain.

Regards,
Laurie.

"Have you been on Andamooka Island (the island itself that is)?"

Never heard of it. I guess life's like that, you live somewhere, and you don't always see everything, yet I see overseas tourists here, and they see EVERYTHING!!!

Cheers

Wolfie

Thanks Wolfie.

Now another question: Will I get to Andamooka and Bosworth station homesteads in the car? I'm traveling in a Comodore wagon with a trailer carrying the ATV. I'm planning on leaving the car at the homestead complexes for security rather than just somewhere out in the desert.

Thanks,
Laurie.

Yes, easy.....

Thanks Steve.

It's not only the time factor but the dollar factor.

Everything thing you say rings true and I'm afraid that in a month's time I'll be posting to say you were right (and David as well). But in the mean time I'll just have to try to keep out of the sand with the trailer, leaving it behind when I come to the sandy country. I can quite safely go 20 or 30 kms without it.

I've been on some good practice rides on forrestry roads and tracks with the trailer loaded and had no trouble. If I keep my fingers crossed and avoid the sand I hope to get away with it.

If need be I can stack the jerry cans on the front rack and the wheels on the back. It just means I can't get my camera or tripod out without a major unpack every time. There are alternatives there. I won't perrish over a blown trailer tyre or melted wheel, though it will be quite inconvenient.

I've made sure I can navigate and get out of a bog. What I have to be constantly on the lookout for is a nasty accident on steep ground such as a creek crossing.

The other thing is the nights. It will be the dark of the moon. I'll be camping on my own miles from civilization. I reckon the nights will be pretty scary with not even the glow of a campfire. Please spare me a thought around new moon. At least the stars will be brilliant.

On the website linked to below are some images from my previous trip to the Roxby Downs, Andamooka area. I was in the car and a bit restricted. Laurie's Photos Click on the "Arid Desert" link.

Regards,
Laurie.

My thoughts on those narrow wheels is that they will sink almost immediately you hit the sand

Hey, thanks Luxoluk for that great info. You tell a great story with it.

I've seen Bill's pub on the net.

I've seen White Dam on the map and considered going there for a ride. Now that you mention a shack, Bill's Pub and other shacks it sounds very appealing. Would I get shot at if I went around there? Are these shacks as full of character as the ones in Andamooka?

Would I find any ruins from the early pastoral days around this country?

Abandoned Miner's Cottage, Andamooka

Lying in what remains of the garden of a former miner's wife, an old jerry can rusts away. Looks like it got pretty hot while the seal was still holding.

Regards,
Laurie.

Thanks for that Geoff. Perhaps the next best thing is to carry the phone on my belt.

Mind you, at my age and with quite a bit of delicate photographic gear on board I won't be ripping around the desert like a young hoon.

Regards,
Laurie.