Walking the Simpson West to East-June 2006

Hi Stephen

Yes, plurry rough in places.

It took us 3 full days of driving from the French Line and back to it, a distance of about 170km.

I also headed out to Thomas Oil Well but then it got too rough and I swung due south and found a much easier run. At one stage we were averaging 15kmh!!!!!

I should have my Simpson story on our trek up on my website within the next week or so.

Yes I have been in touch with Lucas Trihey and have sent him some pics of the terrain.

BTW You weren't the one with a broken CV joint coming out the desert? VKS talk.

Cheers

Hi Willem
It was on hell of a trip. We had to cut our desert section 2 days short(we were out in the desert for 15 days). From Thomas No 1, We should have heaed northeast, coming out near Kilpatha. A Munga Stake hit up under the front wheel arch and broke my brake line, hey bingo no brakes. A litre of brake fluid does not go far. Was not able to crip the brake line enough. Had that fixed in Birdsville. 61 kms south of Mungeranie and car starts makeing loud noise and vibrating badly. Called up the VKS and told up what to do. Had the front wheel bearing checked and wheel alignment before the trip in Adelaide. The driver side front circlips not put back correctly. Just as well it was on the Birdsville Track and not in the Middle of the desert. What did you think of those mega new live dunes at the Geo Centre? We went cross country from the Geo Centre, back out to the main shot line, only 6kms as the crow flies, but it took 2 hours of hard driving. When we hit the French Line and headed to Birdsville, the biggest joke was every large dune heading to Birdville, someone in front of us was getting bogged on every dune and must have spend hours putting cane grass in their wheel tracks to gain traction. We found after the desert propper that the French Line was like driving on a road of silk, nice and flat and smooth. Someone should have told the vehicle in front of up to drop their tyre pressure and they would have had no problems.

Cheers

Stephen

Hi Stephen

I was running 13psi cold on the Nissan and 10psi on the trailer and never had to back down for the whole trip except for the very last dune on the Rig Road. There was a sandblow of around 6 metres over the track. The second attempt saw me bellied out but then I dropped the tyres down to 9psi and just drove out.

About 70km north of the French Line I lost the rear radius arm nut off the front suspension. But I am a really lucky person and could not believe that I had a nut in my toolbox which fitted!!!

That main shot line 6km to the east of the Geo Cebtre was the only one I found that was driveable. The others were very overgrown.

I am going back next year to have another look for my plaque. It must still be out there somewhere...lol

Cheers