More Dust Coming - Watch Out
Submitted: Monday, Oct 12, 2009 at 23:31
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Member - Stephen L (Clare SA)
Hi All
Just back today from 10 great days in the
Flinders Ranges. Took a great detour on the way home, not the usual Martins
Well to
Yunta, but via Warcowie, Holowilena, Baratta,
Waukaringa and down to
Yunta. Sure this way is longer than going down from Martins
Well, but has a lot more to see. Just past the stone cairn on top of a small
hill, in came the dust and it got thicker the further south we went. In one section between Baratta and
Waukaringa it became quite eerie and we had to stop 3 times, as we could not see the road and anything at all past the bonnet of the car. I wonder how far this dust will travel.
Here are a few pictures for anyone thinking of a different way to the Flinders.
Cheers
Stephen
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Reply By: Member - Jeff M (WA) - Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 06:57
Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 06:57
It got down as far as Port Gibbon
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 08:19
Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 08:19
Hi Jeff
The way the dust was kicking up, it looked like it was going to be a repeat of a few weeks ago and the east coast might cop it over there. The Port Gibbon dust must have been from the west coast area. By the sounds of things, it must have been very dusty in many parts of the state.
Cheers
Stephen
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Reply By: Peterbilt - Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 07:29
Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 07:29
Stephen,
thanks for your photos and comments. The route looks interesting and one that I'd considered as a shorter way home than through
Orroroo. At a quick calc, it seems an equivalent distance to the Martins
Well route if returning from
Wilpena Pound. I travelled
Balcanoona to
Yunta a month ago and although incredibly dry and dusty, there was still a tinge of green in some parts.
Peter
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 08:41
Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 08:41
Hi Peter,
Distance wise, it is a little shorter, but takes a lot longer in time. As you would know, the main
Yunta to Martins
Well and beyond is a real outback highway and is usually in good condition and very easy to sit on speeds of 90 - 100 kph in many
places. The scenery
well and truly makes up for that though. The country still had green tinges until Holowilena and then it is as dry as chips. I personally know the owners of Holowilena, and they said that they have not received any good rains for a very long time, and it was very evident from the dry looking country. We have travelled out that way before, but never from Baratta to
Waukaringa. I would recommend this way for sure, but next time when it is not blowing a gale and as dusty as hell.
Cheers
Stephen
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Reply By: Willem - Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 08:10
Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 08:10
Hmmmm Stephen...its raining Datsun Cogs here in the Boro this morning :-)
Yep there are some good backroads between the Northern and Southern
Flinders Ranges.
Cheers
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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 08:54
Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 08:54
Hi Willem
We left Wilpena yesterday morning, a sunny 22 degrees and not a cloud in the sky. The wind picked up near Holowilena and increased from there. We were going to go via your way, but did not like the look of the dark clouds to the west and went down via
Hallett. From there on until
Burra, it was only 9 degrees and raining like cats and dogs and then cleared before
Farrell Flat and back up to 11 degrees. Hit
Lodge Hill and a drastic temperature drop to 8 degrees and more rain. We can still smell the
camp fire and see those clear, deep blue skies of the Flinders. I is one place that we never get sick of visiting and is only just over 3 hours from home.
Cheers
Stephen
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Reply By: Dave B ( BHQ NSW) - Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 08:27
Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 08:27
That is an interesting drive that way Stephen, a couple of gates, but the scenery changes quite considerably right along that route.
I said we would send some more dust via airmail to the East, it passed through here yesterday afternoon, so the delivery is on the way.
Dave
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 09:03
Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 09:03
Hi Dave
The way that is was travelling, it would not have taken very long at all to reach you and then further east. When we arrived in
Yunta, the area north looked like a movie scene, just red skies as far as you could see to the north and heading your way at a very fast rate of knots. If they have had any rain like we have had since being home, it will then of course take care of it.
Cheers
Stephen
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Follow Up By: Dave B ( BHQ NSW) - Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 09:14
Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 09:14
R A I N, I just looked that up in the dictionary.
No, haven't had anything like that.
Dave
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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 10:13
Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 10:13
Hi Dave
It has been bucketing down all night and we have had over an inch last night. A vast contrast in 24 hours from the Flinders.
Cheers
Stephen
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Reply By: Member - Richard H (NSW) - Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 09:09
Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 09:09
Yep,
Broken Hill copped it yesterday, though not as badly as a couple of weeks ago.
The wind at present is from the N.W. (again) so I expect we'll cop it, though it was only localised stuff. Still, it's a pain in the bum.
This what we had to contend with on 22nd September, 2009.
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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 10:20
Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 10:20
Hi Richard,
It was very scary when we could not see the road at all. All our modern toys in the car could not help at all. We knew that we were on a road, but if we drove on slowly, there were some very large rocks on the side of the road that would have done some great damage if we struck one of them. My biggest fear was if someone was coming the other way or from behind and did not stop like we did, it would have been and head on or rear on when stationary. I did not have time to get the camera out, as we were to busy concentrating on the conditions.
Cheers
Stephen
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Reply By: Member - cuffs (SA) - Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 09:12
Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 09:12
I drove across
Walkers Crossing to
Innamincka after the
Birdsville race last month & could not see over the bonnet because of the dust, the GPS came in very handy.
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 10:23
Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 10:23
Hi Cuffs
Yes it gets very scary when you can not see past the bonnet, just a red wall of thick dust.
Cheers
Stephen
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Reply By: Tenpounder (SA) - Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 09:26
Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 09:26
Hi Stephen. Just adding my thanks for the information - SOMETHING NEW to explore!!!
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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 10:09
Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 10:09
Hi Chris
This was a very interesting track and can recommend it as an alternative way to the great Flinders.
Cheers
Stephen
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Reply By: Member - Don M (NSW) - Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 20:06
Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 20:06
Stephen,
Just replied and the system shut down on me for "maintenance"....??? So here goes again.
We left Wilpena today after a few days there following a few days at
Arkaroola. First time at the Flinders and loved it.., very dramatic. However, on the advice of a good mate...(thanks Graham!!), we took the
Yunta to
Arkaroola road, via
Balcanoona, all 300km of it in a road van (Jayco Sterling). Let me assure any of you thinking of doing the same....DON"T...even a Bushtracker would have the s*** shaken out of them!! 300km of dirt road and you can easily do 80kmh on 200km but the other 100km, the road is quite rough and corrugated with very sharp stone paving. The fact that I didn't get a puncture has nothing to do with good management.
And Stephen, I can tell you where the dust went..., it's all in my van and cruiser...!! It will take a year to clean it out...!!
And guess where we got to tonight...???
CLARE... Blowing a gale, pouring rain and 10 bloody degrees....!!!! Anyway, locked in the van with the heating on consoling ourselves over a glass of red or three.....
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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 20:30
Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 20:30
Hi Don
This trip we did not get past
Wirrealpa. What a bugger, we missed you at Wilpena. We were there for 10 days and did some big day trips from there. We managed to clock up 2000 kilometres in 10 days, and had a ball as we always do in the Flinders. I hope that you did the
Bunyeroo Gorge drive, this would have to be one of our favourites. The Flinders has realy changed over the years, from dirt roads, to now that black stuff all the way to
Blinman. I have spent all day cleaning the inside of the car, and will tackle to outside tomorrow. If you are staying longer here in
Clare, send me a mm with you phone number and will give you a call if you would like to catch up on Wednesday.
Enjoy our cold and wet weather, because I wish I was still up the Flinders.
Cheers
Stephen
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Follow Up By: Richard Kovac - Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 20:35
Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 20:35
Stephen
Looks like you need to buy the Oztent ground sheet, Too keep the dust out (said only to keep on topic) they fit perfectly.
Cheers
Richard
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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 20:46
Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 20:46
Hi Richard
I also have a 2.4 X 4.3 Cgear large ground sheet, but only took the shade cloth, thinking that we were only going to stay for 4 nights as originally planned, but turned into 10 nights and 10 days. The Cgear is the same width as the shade cloth, but a lot longer, and comes
well past the front awning poles. The dust was not an issue when we were camped there, just the fine ash from the
camp fire.
Cheers
Stephen
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Follow Up By: Richard Kovac - Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 21:02
Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 21:02
Stephen
We have a Cgear mat as
well, two years now gee they work
well in sandy areas, can't seem to get it back in the bag.
Richard
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Reply By: Fred G NSW - Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 20:44
Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 20:44
Yeah, yeah, we got some more of your topsoil here today in the hunter valley :-((
BTW great pics there Stephen.
Fred.
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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 21:29
Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 21:29
Hi Fred
I think that the biggest worry with the dust, is that it is so early in the season and summer has not even hit us yet. The Flinders is such a great spot and it would be hard not to get a few good pictures. Like I said above, our favourite
gorge would have to be the
Bunyeroo Gorge drive.
Thanks.
Cheers
Stephen
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