Parallel No 2 Road
Submitted: Thursday, Feb 05, 2009 at 12:56
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Member - Stephen L (Clare SA)
Greetings All,
Just wondering if anyone has travelled Parallel No 2 Road between the Connie Sue Highway and the
Great Central Road last season. Just interested to know what condition it was in and time frame for travelling it.
Thanks in Advance.
Stephen
Reply By: Member - Phil B (WA) - Thursday, Feb 05, 2009 at 14:35
Thursday, Feb 05, 2009 at 14:35
Hi Stephen
I have been on it in both the 2007 & 2008 seasons - its a walk in the park.
Here’s a quick extract from my notes.
Returned to the turn off and headed west along the Parallel Rd, although narrower than the Connie sue there weren’t any corrugations and we made steady progress. Drove at a steady 40 to 60 kph along the Parallel Rd. Occasionally we had rocky patches and washouts and the odd patch of corrugations. When I came this way in 2007 (10 months ago), there was a lake about 700 metres wide blocking the track. This year it had disappeared with no evidence of it – amazing.
Bird life was prolific along this stretch saw mulga parrots, emu’s, bustards and finches.
You could do it in half a day easy.
cheers
AnswerID:
347680
Follow Up By: x - Thursday, Feb 05, 2009 at 17:34
Thursday, Feb 05, 2009 at 17:34
Phil
We struck that lake when approaching from the west in May 07. The lead car managed to get badly bogged, needing a snatch strap recovery.
We set off on foot looking for a way around, first to the north, then to the south. We managed to get around skirting the southern shore, saving several hours of back tracking.
We managed to find
the caves mentioned on the map.
Bob
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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Thursday, Feb 05, 2009 at 19:03
Thursday, Feb 05, 2009 at 19:03
Hi Phil,
Thanks for the reply. Just the type of information that I was after. I think that this track will be on our "must do" for this years trip.
Regards
Stephen
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Follow Up By: Member - Phil B (WA) - Thursday, Feb 05, 2009 at 19:41
Thursday, Feb 05, 2009 at 19:41
Hi Stephen
At 26 59 32.5 S and 126 09 15.4 E there is a T Off South - from memory there is a old trackside sign saying water.
The track only goes a short way to two PVC capped bores, with a very strong.torch you can see water down the
bore. The bores are at 26 59 48.6 S and 126 09 02.8 E.
Nearby are some interesting old rusting steel cleats/tracks that look as though they were going to be wrapped around a regular truck tyre a bit like snow chains. But its only a guess.
Maybe err they were for our cousins the Nissan drivers!! I'll duck now.
cheers
FollowupID:
615928
Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Thursday, Feb 05, 2009 at 21:14
Thursday, Feb 05, 2009 at 21:14
Hi Phil
Once again, thanks. Is there anything else that we should keep an eye out for?
Cheers
Stephen
FollowupID:
615945
Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Thursday, Feb 05, 2009 at 21:23
Thursday, Feb 05, 2009 at 21:23
Hi Bob
Were
the caves worth looking for and did you find the location where they should be on the map. Thanks for your information as
well.
Cheers
Stephen
FollowupID:
615949
Follow Up By: Member - Phil B (WA) - Friday, Feb 06, 2009 at 06:50
Friday, Feb 06, 2009 at 06:50
Hi Stephen
The caves Bob mentioned are at 26 59 37.1S and 125 40 49.3E and are almost on the track but to the north.
They are probably best described as undercuts in an eastward facing breakaway. Approach them quietly and you could see small bats roosting. They had been there on one occasion and not on others.
At 26 59 23.5S and 125 47 04.9E you will be driving along the top of a northward facing breakaway giving nice
views to the north.
That’s the total of what we have found over the years. Enjoy your trip.
Phil
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: x - Friday, Feb 06, 2009 at 11:30
Friday, Feb 06, 2009 at 11:30
Stephen
Phil's right.
The caves are nothing special - but they gave us an excuse to get out and have a walk.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Friday, Feb 06, 2009 at 12:51
Friday, Feb 06, 2009 at 12:51
Thanks Bob
Cheers
Stephen
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Member - Duncan W (WA) - Thursday, Feb 05, 2009 at 15:42
Thursday, Feb 05, 2009 at 15:42
Did it in July 08. As Phil said a very good road as it doesn't see a great deal of traffic. Very scenic route. The Connie Sue mind you was as rough as guts in
places.
Some very nice camping spots can be found along the route.
See also my Blog (Gt Vic Desert) days 12 & 13 for some notes on this road.
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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Thursday, Feb 05, 2009 at 19:06
Thursday, Feb 05, 2009 at 19:06
Hi Dunc
Just had a read of your blog. Sounds like you had a ball. We can't wait until we are out there again in the middle of the year.
Thanks for your reply and valuable information.
Cheers
Stephen
FollowupID:
615923
Reply By: Richard Kovac - Thursday, Feb 05, 2009 at 22:19
Thursday, Feb 05, 2009 at 22:19
When are you doing it Stephen? we should be on it second week of June on the way back from the SBJ road.
Cheers
Richard
AnswerID:
347745
Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Thursday, Feb 05, 2009 at 22:27
Thursday, Feb 05, 2009 at 22:27
Hi Richard,
We will not be on it until very early August. If you have not travelled the SBJ Track, you will have a ball. Make sure you take the side trip to the
Sir Frederick Range - very steep and low range, but
well worth it.
Cheers
Stephen
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Follow Up By: Richard Kovac - Thursday, Feb 05, 2009 at 22:54
Thursday, Feb 05, 2009 at 22:54
Stephen
this will be our first trip so have allowed plenty of time have studied your trip note and down loaded the plot file.
Got the NT permit wanting on the WA side but it will be OK. we are all ready dieing to go.
Cheers
Richard
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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Thursday, Feb 05, 2009 at 23:22
Thursday, Feb 05, 2009 at 23:22
Hi Richard
Make sure that you do not forget to go to Bungabiddy
Rockhole. It is only a short drive in, then a short walk up into
the gorge to where the
rock hole is. Just before the
rockhole, on the left hand side walking in, take a good look at the
rock face - very old aboriginal
rock paintings. Also before the walk in, if you have an eye for blazes, you will see one made by Hann in about 1903?
Enjoy the SBJ.
Here are a few tempting photos..
Cheers
StephenImage Could Not Be FoundImage Could Not Be FoundImage Could Not Be FoundImage Could Not Be Found
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Follow Up By: x - Friday, Feb 06, 2009 at 11:35
Friday, Feb 06, 2009 at 11:35
At the base of the cairn in the photo above (the one with the rusty chair on top) you can just make out a rusty tin. Inside are the notes and cards of visitors to the top of the SFR.
Well worth the side trip.
From here you can just about see the coast in any direction you look ;-)
Bob
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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Friday, Feb 06, 2009 at 13:03
Friday, Feb 06, 2009 at 13:03
Hi Bob
Yes we found the cache, and added our names on the back of one of the ExplorOz Business cards. Like you say, the
views are woth a million dollars. When you start the track up, you can see the cairn, which does not seem that far away, until you start the climb.
Cheers and thanks again
StephenImage Could Not Be FoundImage Could Not Be Found
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