Wednesday, Apr 02, 2008 at 17:57
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forum and buggered if i can find you email address's
Day 4
The
Simpson DesertBirdsville – 26O02’17”S 137O36’36”E CNR French Line and Knolls Track
221km
Other 4wd’s 2 x Nissans with trailer, 1 x Toyota tray back ‘Park Ranger’
Departed the caravan park at seven only to find the servo didn't open till 8am. I didn’t want to wait as a 12-vehicle tag along was leaving at 8am and I didn't want to be caught behind them. Looks like no extra jerry, probably saved myself a few $$$, Righto bring on
big red, the track out to
big red was good, I pulled up to read the warning sign as we were at the edge of the Simpson and lowered the tyre pressures to 20 psi. The GPS indicated we were at
big red so up and over we go with ease so I thinking this cannot be
big red. The track turned to the right as soon as we got over, after a few hundred meters or so there was a sign
big red to the right and QAA to the left. Now this looks a little harder. We are now on the western side of
big red looking to the east and there were three tracks with the left looking the hardest. Thought I may well tackle the hardest first, engaged diff locks and charged off only to be short by a 1-2 cars lengths, reversed down selected low range and got no further. I didn’t want to push the defender too hard as I still had 600km in front of me, out of interest I disengaged the diff lock and had a crack and surprisingly got a couple of meter closer to the top. Reverse down and had a go at the middle track and got to the top, I than drove down the eastern side turned around and got to the top of the tougher track took a photo and drove down the tougher track on the western side. Selected high range and continued along the QAA line. Came across a couple of rangers heading back to there camp for lunch, they were doing some work at Poeppels Corner. When I got 100km from
Birdsville I thought I would top the tank up to see how many litres I had used seeming the fuel gauge only indicated the last 2/3rd of the tank. Much happier just over half a jerry for a 100km, I was at ease as I new I had plenty of fuel to cross the Simpson. The defender was getting over the dunes with no problems in high range, plenty of people seem to use the chicken tracks. I was going to travel the QAA to it’s most western point than south to Poepples Corner until I seen the hi-way that hugged the dry lake to Poepples Corner and took this option, even got into 4th gear hi-range whoohooo. Check out Poepples Corner, once again walked to the correct
spot using the GPS, which again was a couple of hundred meters away. Headed along the French Line and drove across Lake Poepples and thought what a pain it would be if it was wet. The sand dunes were getting a bit tougher and had to use 1st gear high a few times. Came across a couple of Nissans towing camper trailers, didn’t hear these guys on UHF 10, they said they had to have a couple of goes at a couple of sand dunes since they joined the French Line, they had come across the WAA and up the Knolls to the French Line. The tougher dunes had chicken tracks not that the defender needed them. I put UHF on scan, as these guys were not on channel 10, now I was picking up everybody on the Simpson, didn’t feel so lonely. It was cloudy and windy with the odd sprinkle of rain. There were plenty of wild flowers on display along with plenty of little lizards darting around the place. We managed to catch one for Josh, he didn’t hang a round long on the bonnet as our mascot. Got to the junction of the French Line and Knolls Track and decided to set up camp. Two motorbikes came though in the dark travelling the knolls track, they checked their maps and continued on to
Birdsville. Made a fire, had dinner and crashed.
Day 5
26O02’17”S 137O36’36”E CNR Knolls and French - 26O19’41”S 136O48’05”E CNR Rig and WAA
198km
Other 4wd’s 2 x Nissans with trailers, 2 x Toyota’s and 1 x Nissan Navara.
Departed camp at 7:40am and headed south along knolls track, travelling with the sand dunes is a nice break from the ups and downs of the French Line. Stopped at the
Approdinna Attora Knolls, Dad and Josh walked to the top of the right hand one while I had a bit of a look around at ground level. Continued along the Knolls Track and came across a Nissan towing a trailer and stopped to have a chat, he was travelling with another Nissan which was about 1km behind him, they had come across the WAA line. Move along the track and just as I noticed the next Nissan I realise I hadn’t turn my UHF on, I didn’t think it would be a major problem. Stopped and had a chat to Nissan driver no. 2, after a bit of small chat about his blown rear shockie that was slowing him up the driver asked if I was on UHF 10, I apologised and explained that I had only just turned by radio on. He asked if I was on channel 10, I indicated no and before getting another word in reminded that there were signs all over the desert instructing drivers to use UHF 10. I tried to explain the reason why I was not on UHF 10 however I couldn’t get a word in. I thanked him for his advice and indicated I would be sticking to scan so that I could pick up all traveller on the desert as everybody travelling with more than one vehicle were using a different channel, scan seem to work for the second half of the first day in the desert. Spotted some camel footprints on the track and thought there’s got to be a camel just around the corner. Had smoko at the start of the WAA line, kept heading south along Knolls and notice there was more vegetation growing between the tracks indicating less vehicle traffic, finally away for the crowds. CAMELS WHAT BLOODY CAMELS Wild flowers still about with some nicely scented purple flowers. The tracked has flattened right out and was getting more comfortable to drive; I can see way the trailer and motor bikes come this way. Just starting to get peckish as
Lone Gum Tree was approaching, perfect timing for lunch. CAMELS WHAT BLOODLY CAMELS It was peak hour at
Lone Gum Tree as two Toyota’s join us for lunch. Lost count how many flies I ate with my lunch. Quite amazing how this tree has survived let alone get so big. Definitely glad I made the effort to come this way. By now we are on the Rig Track which is clay topped and great to drive on. A few corrugations here and there, spending most of my time in third gear, a bit of drift sand to make you think on top of the dunes. Stopped at the Walkandi Airstrip, the strip is still in good nick, still had all the 44 gallon drum cut in half making the strip. I decided I would see how tough it is driving across the desert with no tracks to follow and
search for an old oil well. I went about 1-2km and can confirm it tough going negotiating the Spinifex humps; I now know what you went through Caption Rightfoot. Gave up on the oil well as it was probably only a small piece of steel sticking out of the ground and would be impossible to find so it was back to the Rig Road. CAMELS WHAT BLOODY CAMELS Had a chat to a couple in a Narava Ute that were travelling back from spending two months in
Broome. Found a little shady tree for afternoon smoko it was back onto the track and after a couple of sand dunes CAMELS YIPEE. It was a pack of six and only hung around long enough for a photo before heading off over a sand dune. More of the clay top on the way to Wonga Junction, corner of the Rig Track and WAA Line where we set up camp. CAMELS YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN THE CAMELS The average speed picked up today with travelling on the clay top. The flies still have nothing better to do than annoy the **** out of us. Check oils and the underneath of the defender, all looking good, not using as much fuel as expected even better.
Day 6
26O19’41”S 136O48’05”E CNR Rig and WAA – Mt Dare
229km
Other vehicles – 4
The end of the Rig Road so it’s a left onto the WAA, more clay topped tracks with some wash outs going up the dunes and the usual drift sand at the tops of the sand dunes. Came across a dead camel on the side of the road. Passed a very big sand dune with two
hill climb tracks going up it, looked like nobody has made it to the top, was tempted but drove on. Had a bit of a look the Mokari Airstrip, grave site, oil well etc. A little further on came across two more camels, after taking some photos the trotted onto the track and started heading the same way as us, I followed slowly till they got over the dune, waited a little bit however when I got to the top of the dune they were still trotting along the track. I followed for a while expecting them to move of the track, they didn’t so I sped up got right on there tails beeping the horn doing 25km/h, they still didn’t move off the track. I didn’t want to stress the camels out so I decided on an early smoko. As I was getting back into the drivers
seat I noticed a wet patch on the floor, that’s strange I thought, I didn’t remember spilling water, had a closer look and the clutch pedal was wet as well, damn it’s clutch fluid. I popped the bonnet and I was missing half a reservoir of fluid. No problem as I had a clutch master kit on board (thank god MR Automotive talked me into it), I decided I would do the rebuild in Mt Dare. As I only has one bottle of fluid I drove the rest of the way not using the clutch, missed a couple of gears hear and there, after learning to drive a truck with a crash gear box the defender was a piece of cake. Stopped at Purni
Bore, much larger than I thought, I was going to have a swim not only did it look shallow nobody else was swimming. There was a toilet, shower and a covered picnic table at the carpark, it was good to sit on a real toilet, BYO toilet paper though. Looking forward to
Dalhousie Springs for a swim and lunch. We pick up a guy on the UHF that was warning some vehicles that were following him about every little rock
on the road and having a good old chat. Sure enough he stopped us for a chat, he was driving a Vitara stock standard, next to nothing in the back, no sand dune flag, no roof rack, travelling alone etc so I thought he was only going to purni
bore than back to Mt Dare or somewhere. He told me he was going across the Simpson, although I have not done the complete French line I than thought he would be going the WAA or Rig. Wrong again he was doing the French. In the back of my mind I’m thinking why the hell did I go to so much trouble in my preparation when I looked at his rig. Although I didn’t travel with any other vehicles and a Hyundai made it across with the tag along tour why should on question what others were doing. Wished him good luck and continued on. He was talking to three other 4wd’s behind him; I stopped for another chat with the next 4wd and asked if they were all travelling together. They had been trying to lose the Vitara as he just invited himself to lead these three guys across the Simpson. The track was good to
Dalhousie Springs 60-70-80km/h. Some sections would turn into trouble with the slightest bit of rain. There was still some water on the side of the track from previous rain. The wild flowers were brilliant, much better than the Simpson. Arrived at Dalhousie, toilets, showers,
camping areas, well maintained, a boardwalk around the spring with steps, tubes for the kids, great setup. Went for a swim, somewhere in the 30’s was the temp, felt good. The tag along had caught us up, we had just finished lunch and couldn’t resist another swim, so back in for another half hour or so. The road to Mt Dare was not as good, a fair bit of water
on the road with plenty of sidetracks. As we were heading north up the Old Ghan and not to sure if fuel was going to be available at Finke along with wanting to know exactly how many litres I used for the Simpson crossing I decided to fuel up at Mt Dar. $1.75/L, 78.3L, 648km, 8.3km/L. I was keen to rebuild the clutch master, dad was keen on a
beer and Josh was even more keen on a game cricket so we each went our own ways. Having not done a clutch master it all looked easy just take the inspection plate off the master should just unbolt. Had a quick look in and realised its main purpose was to adjust the free play in the clutch, it had me stumped for a bit, surely I don’t have to the whole mounting bracket off, after having a look on the inside I sure did. I had to remove the air cleaner as well to wriggle it all out. While stripping the master the little spring and plunger went shooting across the tarp I was working on. I open the rebuild kit as yes there were more parts than I pulled apart, had a quick look on the grass to if there were any stray parts. Cleaned all the bits and reassembled, fitted it back in the car, bleed the clutch and packed the tools up, The clutch didn’t feel as good as it should have so I was hoping the first 20 gear changes tomorrow would sort it out. About two hours to complete, it should have been quicker as I had about a million flies wanting to help. One of the tag alongs popped over just as I was finished and couldn’t believe I was carrying the parts and actually did the repair, well it was a bit of luck I was carrying the kit and lucky I have some mechanical skills. Had a shower, some dinner and headed off the MT Dare pub for a
beer or two at $4.50/XXXX Gold. The wind had picked up when we walked back to the campsite. I woke up at some ungodly hour to pull down the awning as there was a mini tornado moving through, the wind must have been 300 knots!!!! Dad and Josh did even stir. Went to sleep hoping the awning was not damaged. Later in the night we had a couple of drops of rain, was thinking it was going to bucket down however it moved on, Josh and Dad still didn’t stir..
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