Just back from Simpson Desert. Some photos and observations.
Submitted: Monday, Oct 13, 2008 at 18:54
ThreadID:
62516
Views:
4763
Replies:
12
FollowUps:
15
This Thread has been Archived
Member - Mfewster(SA)
The photos
http://mfewster.smugmug.com/photos/swfpopup.mg?AlbumID=6223238&AlbumKey=sEmE9
The observations. Easily the most demanding crossing we have done. High temperatures and winds. We think the Rig track dunes are getting higher and steeper. The track from
Oodnadatta to
Dalhousie Springs via Perdika is now not too bad a drive (compared to a few years ago). Airconditioner and Waeco fridge both broke down. Still waiting for report on what went wrong in the fridge. If you intend going to
Birdsville on the
inside track and haven't done it before, the marking to access the track is no longer there. Get GPS readings for this and the later turn to the right.
A few of us compared tyre pressure strategies and experiences as we went. Low pressure approach won by a mile. Interestingly, the quite old Kelly Safari tyres on my Toyo 60 showed no chipping at all while many much more expensive tyres were badly chopped up.
Don't miss the Mungeranie pub and its wonderful and most hospitable publican. Don't miss their hamburger either.
And if anyone is interested in support crewing a rider in next year's event, let me know and I'll send more details.
Reply By: Member - John (Vic) - Monday, Oct 13, 2008 at 19:02
Monday, Oct 13, 2008 at 19:02
Nice photos indeed,
well done.
Here is a link to make it easier for others to get to the photos, save the copy and paste business :-)
Simpson Photos
AnswerID:
329707
Follow Up By: Member - Mfewster(SA) - Monday, Oct 13, 2008 at 19:32
Monday, Oct 13, 2008 at 19:32
Thanks for that John. How did you do that trick?
FollowupID:
597153
Follow Up By: Member - John (Vic) - Monday, Oct 13, 2008 at 19:44
Monday, Oct 13, 2008 at 19:44
When you hit the Post Follow Up button and end up at the screen which allows you to type your follow up have a look at the bottom of the data box that you type your reply into.
You will see a range of buttons, hit the Insert Link.
Copy and paste the address for the site you wish to link and type a name in the second box describing what it is, IE "Simpson Photos"
Just remember to delete the http that already resides in the entry box so you don't double it up with the one from your site address copy and paste.
You can then hit the Preview button and scroll down to see if your post and the respective links are actually there and you can test the link at this point also.
Hope this makes sense???
Can be a little finicky first time but it works
well and is a terrific feature of the site.
Also can add photos and embed video also if you like.
Have a go in a follow up to me in this post linking something if you like to see if you can get the hang of it.
FollowupID:
597156
Follow Up By: Member - John (Vic) - Monday, Oct 13, 2008 at 19:48
Monday, Oct 13, 2008 at 19:48
"You can then hit the Preview button and scroll down to see if your post and the respective links are actually there and you can test the link at this point also"
Sorry mate should have added after this bit.....
Then when happy you hit the submit button to post the reply with links.
Cheers hope it helps
FollowupID:
597157
Follow Up By: Angler - Monday, Oct 13, 2008 at 21:50
Monday, Oct 13, 2008 at 21:50
Why can't I see the pics? tried both URL's and just get a black screen. I have latest flashplayer installed???
FollowupID:
597204
Follow Up By: Member - Mfewster(SA) - Monday, Oct 13, 2008 at 22:26
Monday, Oct 13, 2008 at 22:26
Thanks John. I have filed that away for future use.
FollowupID:
597219
Follow Up By: a convict - Monday, Oct 13, 2008 at 22:34
Monday, Oct 13, 2008 at 22:34
" I have latest flashplayer installed???"
..check "allow scripts" (this page)
FollowupID:
597224
Follow Up By: Angler - Monday, Oct 13, 2008 at 23:08
Monday, Oct 13, 2008 at 23:08
Works on IE7 so I will check out Firefox a bit more.
Thanks
Angler
FollowupID:
597239
Follow Up By: Angler - Monday, Oct 13, 2008 at 23:09
Monday, Oct 13, 2008 at 23:09
Great pics incidently, proves again the button pusher is the star, not the camera.
FollowupID:
597240
Follow Up By: a convict - Monday, Oct 13, 2008 at 23:15
Monday, Oct 13, 2008 at 23:15
"Angler posted:
Works on IE7 so I will check out Firefox a bit more.
Thanks"
..btw there are two (2) versions of Flash, an "IE" ver. and 'non' "IE" one.
FollowupID:
597242
Reply By: Wayne (NSW) - Monday, Oct 13, 2008 at 19:21
Monday, Oct 13, 2008 at 19:21
Mfewster,
Good photos.
The two photos where the vehicles are stuck, it looks like there is no wheel tracks to follow.
Was this because of the wind blowing the tracks or have you drifted off the main track?
Wayne
AnswerID:
329714
Follow Up By: Member - Mfewster(SA) - Monday, Oct 13, 2008 at 19:31
Monday, Oct 13, 2008 at 19:31
Generally we were following tracks, but over the big dunes the wind had moved sand and tracks had disappeared. Checking what was on the other side was essential. There were often vertical, or near vertical, sand walls on both faces.
FollowupID:
597152
Reply By: Garbutt - Monday, Oct 13, 2008 at 19:37
Monday, Oct 13, 2008 at 19:37
Great pictures, obviously a tough race this year, no 100% finishers.
AnswerID:
329720
Follow Up By: Member - Mfewster(SA) - Monday, Oct 13, 2008 at 19:49
Monday, Oct 13, 2008 at 19:49
You are right. Our rider has done this four times and he says it was the toughest he has done. He missed one stage. I don't know how they do it. Just driving is hard work. When the riders cant pedal up a dune, they run up it carrying their bike!!!
FollowupID:
597158
Follow Up By: Garbutt - Tuesday, Oct 14, 2008 at 16:16
Tuesday, Oct 14, 2008 at 16:16
Yep been there done that but only once.
FollowupID:
597323
Reply By: wendys - Monday, Oct 13, 2008 at 19:51
Monday, Oct 13, 2008 at 19:51
Great photos.
AnswerID:
329724
Reply By: Member - Traveller (QLD) - Monday, Oct 13, 2008 at 20:01
Monday, Oct 13, 2008 at 20:01
Terrific photos, and a great site. A good camera with a good operator sure deliver results.
Cheers
AnswerID:
329726
Reply By: Member - extfilm (NSW) - Monday, Oct 13, 2008 at 20:50
Monday, Oct 13, 2008 at 20:50
Nice pics mate....... Would love to head ou there for that event but unfortuanetly this year was a round of the Mtb world cup and next year at the same time is the mtb world championships.......... May pencil it in for 2010 though
Peter
AnswerID:
329737
Reply By: Fiona & Paul - Monday, Oct 13, 2008 at 23:08
Monday, Oct 13, 2008 at 23:08
Mfewster they are great Pics and thanks for giving us a look, makes me want to head back out to
the painted desert as we missed it a couple of years ago on our first big trip to Ayres Rock.
I'm darned sure we won't miss it next time, ifonly I can talk the chief into giving it another go.
Paul & Fiona
AnswerID:
329776
Reply By: Member - Bucky (VIC) - Tuesday, Oct 14, 2008 at 04:36
Tuesday, Oct 14, 2008 at 04:36
Mfewster
Brilliant pics there,,,how did you get that many great pics...
I can take 1000, and get about 4 good ones....never mind, it's the memories.. eh !
Once again, great work
Cheers
Bucky
AnswerID:
329788
Reply By: Member - John and Val W (ACT) - Tuesday, Oct 14, 2008 at 08:34
Tuesday, Oct 14, 2008 at 08:34
Great photos, thanks for sharing them.
Val.
| J and V
"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted."
- Albert Einstein
Lifetime Member
My Profile My Blog Send Message |
AnswerID:
329797
Reply By: Jayk At - Tuesday, Oct 14, 2008 at 16:04
Tuesday, Oct 14, 2008 at 16:04
Thanks for this and the pics.
We met you, i.e. the support team and the, at that stage, remaining riders, towards the bottom end of the
Inside Track and wondered how it all ended up. A couple of the riders asked us to radio the support crew for assistance. Stuffed, I think is the word.. :-)
The sand/dust storm further back up the Track was pretty surreal at times with visibility down to a few metres. We certainly didn't envy the riders having to do that leg.
Congrats to you all. Top effort.
Jeff
AnswerID:
329864
Reply By: Miss(an)Jo - Toad Keeper (Bris - Wednesday, Oct 15, 2008 at 13:57
Wednesday, Oct 15, 2008 at 13:57
hey they are great photos! Really enjoyed them!!!
AnswerID:
330014
Reply By: A J - Wednesday, Oct 15, 2008 at 19:15
Wednesday, Oct 15, 2008 at 19:15
Mfewster(SA) - great photos - as I am about to update my camera gear do you mind advising the camera and lenses that you used - thanks A J
AnswerID:
330040
Follow Up By: Member - Mfewster(SA) - Thursday, Oct 16, 2008 at 09:34
Thursday, Oct 16, 2008 at 09:34
Happy to help. I use a Sony A700 and a number of different lenses. I am out of town at the moment and a bit rushed but I will be back in
Adelaide in a few days and will have a longer chat.
FollowupID:
597607
Follow Up By: A J - Thursday, Oct 16, 2008 at 11:48
Thursday, Oct 16, 2008 at 11:48
Mfewster(SA) - thanks for that
A J
FollowupID:
597623
Follow Up By: Member - Mfewster(SA) - Sunday, Oct 19, 2008 at 22:03
Sunday, Oct 19, 2008 at 22:03
OK AJ, I am back. How can I help? As this is more personal. it might be better to run this conversation via email rather than taking up
forum bandwidth. Check my profile and email me with your email address and we will swap notes. I think there are other considerations as
well as camera brand/lens that may take a bit of discussing. I also tend to think that any of the main camera brands do a good job and while I have particular reasons for the gear I use, this may just suit my needs and in no way argues that the brands I use are better. They just suit my needs at a particular point of time.
FollowupID:
598439