In post 55972, True Blue was asking about road conditions on the
Oodnadatta Track, and I said I would be there last week on a working/Holiday.
Well were back and so I will give you a report on my trip whether you want it or not!!! LOL
Diesel in
Clare 159.9
Friday night 28th march we made our way to Booleroo Centre
( Mid Nth SA ) for the annual steam and traction rally which I am associated with, where we crank up and drive/parade dozens of old tractors, traction engines and a whole heap of other old machinery for a public display day.
Off to Pt A Gutta on Sunday night, bit of shopping monday morning and off to
Woomera for our first job.
Diesel in Pt A Gutta 159.9,
Pimba 168.9.
For many years Spuds Roadhouse in
Pimba has been consistently 29 - 30 cents a litre dearer than Pt A Gutta, and Glendambo around the same. Nice to see that they may have been scared back closer to reality for fuel by the ACCC !
Still too dear in relation to the surrounding towns when they are all filled by the same tankers !
Job done and off to
Andamooka for the next job, and when finished back to Roxby to spend the night with one of our sons who works there, and lives in the caravan park.
Diesel in Roxby 161.9
Job done in Roxby next morning and dragged SHMBO outa the shops and off to
Coober Pedy.
Diesel in Glendambo 167.9
Coober Pedy 164.9
Unable to raise my contact for my job in town, had to spend night in a caravan park, yuk.
Job done next morning and off to
Mintabie, haven't been out there before, but its just like most other Opal towns on a smaller scale.
Job done and back to
Marla for another job, and to be robbed by another roadhouse who think they can take money from the poor, and the rich just because they are on the highway!
Diesel in
Marla 190.0, not bad 25c more than
Coober Pedy for a distance of 230 k. Bet the trucky doesn't get the freight money anywhere near that price. I will be emailing the ACCC, considering the price was the highest including the ones to come.
With tyres aired down we set off into the sunset and camped about 100k down the
Oodnadatta track, very peaceful.
Next morning off to
Oodnadatta for fuel topup and then off to Dalhousie for a swim and another peaceful night in the great Australian bush. Must have run over a bit of wire out Mintabie/
Marla way so had to jam a plug into a rear tyre before heading off for the day.
Now we get to track conditions, the Oodna track from
Marla was good, gravely patches between the wheel marks, and a few mild corrugations, but easy 70k with safety. Road to
Hamilton station not quite as good but in good condition for this track.
A bad slant on this trip section was meeting about 50 of the Variety club 4wd bash vehicles coming down from Mt Dare/
Hamilton station, someone needs to take SOME of these clowns aside and teach them how to pass oncoming vehicles, they don't need any lessons on how to give free gravel showers !!!
Now we weren't under any illusion's as to the condition of the Pedirka track as it is unmaintained, but I think some locals must patch it up in a few
places. It was slow and rough and an average speed of around 30k an hr was the go.
On speaking to a bloke who came from Mt Dare, he said the track from over there was even worse, so allow 2 hrs from there too if you value your vehicle and tyres.
The swimming is fantastic and
well worth the near 400k round trip for a couple of long sessions in the 36 degree pond.
Diesel in
Oodnadatta 184.0
Back in Oodna next day and yet another job completed, filled with fuel and off to Algebucknia
Bridge for another peaceful
bush camp with good sunset and sunrise photo opportunities with the
bridge.
This section of the track between Oodna and
William Creek was the worst section of the track, but still mostly good with a few mild corrugations and stony patches that have been there for many years. Average speeds of 60 - 70 k safely.
A steak sandwich at the
William Creek pub for lunch the next day, (
shop there is shut down ) but caravan park still operating.
Diesel in
William Creek 179.9
Off to
Marree for our next stop, and what a surprise. The best peice of road you will find in the outback, new or near new all the way.
Could easy have taken the Ferrari to
William Creek via
Marree if I had wanted too!!!
Never stay in
Marree anymore, as I think it is the pits, but thats a personel opinion, so off to Clayton
bore up the
birdsville track for a spa and our last night out, best 60 k you can travel for a great night in the scrub.
As much as I would like to give you a report on all of the
Birdsville track, the bottom 60 k is great, I think it has had the same treatment as the Oodna track back a bit.
Back to
Marree next day, last job done and filled with fuel, and off
home at
Blyth by 9 pm.
Diesel in
Marree 170.0
Hawker 168.0
Did 3200k and averaged just under 6k per litre fully loaded with camper, 140l water 120l fuel, extra spares etc, and spraying equipment and spacecase of work gear, oh and SWMBO of course LOL
Only
breakdown was a broken swaybar saddle on the rear axle housing, so the bar spent half the trip on the roof rack .
The country out there is very dry and baron still, but was great to get out in the red dust again, in the million star motel.
Weather was perfect mild days and mild nights, except for a light shower of rain in
Coober Pedy, just to speed up the packup process!
Hope this covers True Blue's needs.
Cheers Pesty