Simpson Desert and Birdsville track just got another 2inchs and more of rain

I am off to the same area in 3 weeks and starting to get nervous. Now if I could only be sure of getting there and then get rained in that would be OK...

Pete

Yep I'm another one getting a bit nervous. We leave week after Birdsville races across the french line. Hopefully will be drying out a bit by then, particularly as we are riding motorbikes.

I'm heading from Windorah to Birdsville next thursday ?

Is the developmental road ok?

How about the road out to BIG RED??

Thanks

There is a large detour south of big red if you want to get Image Could Not Be Foundto get to big red

G'Day Seanny... we're off that way same time as you. Leaving Adelaide 27th Sept, heading through (and staying at) Leigh Creek, Marree, Birdsville, Windorah, Longreach, then across to the coast and back down south through Canberra and home.

Will be travelling in two silver/grey Holden Captivas.

Might see you out there. Hopefully we'll get through.

Fab.

Hi Oztours
We were forced to take that road only a few days ago and it is a very good road. Having said that, if they get any more rain, they do close the road, and it was closed only less than a week before we used it. The long detour in from Big Red is a very pretty drive with That large body of water stretching for many kilometres.
Also when heading in from Windorah, make sure you check out Deon's Lookout, there are unreal views from the top.

Have a great trip.

Cheers

StephenImage Could Not Be FoundImage Could Not Be FoundImage Could Not Be Found

Tam,

Know just how you feel. Planned our Simpson trip fo rabout 18 months, got rained in at Oodnadatta for 3 days, managed to get to Coober Pedy and then decided to head to Alice.

Spent some time in East McDonnell Ranges, (Trephina Gorge, Rainbow Valley and Chambers Pillar), had a great time and worth the trip.

How weird is it..who would have thought we would get rained in around August..and in Coober Pedy! not much to do around here really and all the tracks are so wet..never mind.. we are on holidays and are loving it just the same..

I am wondering if the guys from thread 80851 are the stranded bikes that are having to be rescued near Arrabury. Should make for very interesting Birdsville races. The Derwent Creek is now running into the Warburton and it's risen 1m far from the trickle some people think it is and The Groove is far from a trickle as well, sorry Bob. The desert district has had close to their yearly rainfall in the last 3 weeks

Terra I was thinking the same thing when it came up on the news tonight. Can only hope all those stranded are ok. It can happen so easily that's why we decided not to risk it. Its so drenched it only takes a small down pour to change things.

I like the pic.
What was the windorah track like ?
My goodness that is a big detour
Yeah people don't listen there stranded everywhere up here

Hi Stephen, was wandering how you guys got on.
Less than two years ago most of the country was in serous drought. Banjo Paterson had it right.
Cheers
Sharon

Hi Tess
The track to Windorah was in very good condition, but had been closed for some time and had only been open less than a week when we headed out. Reading the above about the bikes stranded at Arrabury, there were 3 bikes just in front of us from Birdsville and they headed down that road, I wonder if it was them. You can tell the experienced desert travellers. When the sky changed and that band of black cloud came in, the Birdsville Caravan Park cleared at once by the people that wanted to head out. The experienced people all headed east, while those that could not be told headed south.

Cheers

Stephen

Hi Sharon
I have lots of stories to tell, some good and some not so good. I was told to stick to the centre track through Lake Poeppel by a group from Victoria. Weather it was because we were solo I do not know, but I took their advise, but I should have gone with my hunches. I have since found out that the centre track was used by an old army truck and the ruts were knee deep and it took 2 hours to get out.

Cheers

Stephen

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Its a hard call to listen to others while travelling solo. We don't always have the luxury of watching others go through first. We hate mud it wrecks everything. Your wheels are unbalanced until you get it cleaned and alternators ha..
Hope you do a blog.
CheersImage Could Not Be FoundBefore the weekend rain

Hi Sharon
I will be doing a blog, but it will be a long one. The Simpson was after we had travelled in from the vehicles breaking Anne Beadell. What I can say from previous Simpson Desert trips that we have undertaken is that we have seen better displays of wild flowers in about 2003/2004 but it did not have the amount of water in then desert then though. The best thing that we heard and noticed in the Simpson now id the bird life. We have never seen so many types of birds out in the Simpson and in some places the budgies were in there hundreds, if not thousands. The new Eyre Creek southern detour still had about 18" of water in it, but was no problems. Big Red was a piece of cake, as was the whole desert crossing for that. Below are a few more pictures of what it was like out there.


Cheers

Stephen
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