SMH Article - Saving $1,400 on Petrol

I am still stunned at the economy I got from my 60 series turbo diesel Toyo on my recent Simpson desert crossing. Filled up in OOdnadatta and carried a Jerry with a further 20 litres which I put into my (dual) diesel tanks a couple of days later. Crossed via Perdika, Dalhouisie and Rig Road and inside track to B'ville. I thought I would be cutting it fine so drove carefully to conserve fuel. Very heavily loaded including roofrack, push bike and gear for 3 people and 170 litres of water. Low tyre pressures. Crossed the big sand dunes. Some periods of strong headwinds. Couldn't believe it when I refilled in B'ville. Just over 7 litres per 100km. Double and triple checked my figures. The mobile servo operator in Bville said he wasn't surprised and rightly guessed that I was with the bike race and therefore had been driving quite slowly. He said these sort of figures aren't unusual across sand (even the dunes) with low speeds and low tyre pressures. I still find it hard to believe. Much better than I get highway driving.