Against the Grain. Any sightings across the Simpson

I've just found out what "Against the Grain" is all about. I now understand the size of the support. But that doesn't take away from the fact that what they are doing - given the present conditions - is going to destroy a lot of the desert tracks. Even in perfect conditions that convoy would make a mess.

teege

Hmmmm! Let's see what else has preceded them in the last couple of weeks.

At least three and possibly seven vintage Chamberland tractors, some of them towing trailers going west to east. Before the rain, but they were said to be the team that left huge ruts near Mt Dare.
A 1940s Blitz (type) truck also towing a trailer - came into dalhousie after heavy rain and left the next morning when all roads in SA were closed.
Various convoys of 'normal' 4WDs ranging up to 10 in a single convoy going into and coming out of the desert at the time all surrounding SA roads were closed. Lost count of how many in total, but they were the main offenders.
Several (I'm told) grey Fergie tractors but they came through earlier.
Up to 10 bike riders in convoys plus their support vehicles. Before the rain.

No doubt all of these travellers will have perfectly valid reasons for doing what they did, just as I (and only two others) had a valid reason for sitting in the mud (it was dry when I got there) at Dalhousie for several days until the road was fit to travel on.

Until the National Parks gets a bit tougher on several issues - like towing trailers, collecting firewood, camping anywhere and lighting campfires anywhere, off-track driving and road closures within the parks, there is little anyone can do. Given that EVERY vehicle must do some damage to that environment, perhaps those worried by some extreme examples should be agitating for the complete closure of the entire park - or the building of a sealed road through the middle so everyone can enjoy it.

To be fair though the Oka's wouldn't be running any bigger tyres than most 4wd's, they are a 16" rim normally with the equivalent of 35's, they still have solid axles so ground clearnace would be very similar to a cruiser on 35's. Plenty of cruisers weighing in at 4+tonne loaded too.

The wind and sands of time will be changing now and in 1000000000 years a couple of okas wont hurt the dunes. Go pester your mrs and leave them alone im sick of people pointing the stick at someone who doing something that they dont like. there not breaking any laws I cant see any real harm being done Cheers Balko

Maybe it will make the crossing a bit more of a challenge? or should they just push a road across and seal to make it an easy drive for everyone.
Chris

You can certainly gauge the clearance of a lot of the vehicles by looking at the tracks across the gypsum flats. They all had deep ruts across with the ground scraped level between the ruts. A group following just behind us did strike a little rain and a couple had to be "recovered" from the middle of Lake Poeppel.

My OKA has 19.5" rims so does have slightly better clearance, but it doesn't make much difference when things get boggy.

20 years of drought did worse!!! I know some people do the wrong thing regarding chopping up the country side but gees natural climate is pretty good at it too be it drought or cyclones.

yes it is shocking how they rip up the tracks and in a BIG truck, just shocking ....
I think we should all stay at home and watch the documentry when it comes out, that way we show that we care, after all we should vote for the Greens and close all tracks and parks and walk not drive ......
Still will point out there are MORE dikheads on the road than off it at the moment, and doing far more damage ...........

On "facebook" also, you will get up-dates there, really big CREDIT to them, that takes GUTS and BALLS .........
100% backing from me.

Yep me sick of winging too, if its that bad STAY HOME.

"On "facebook" also, you will get up-dates there, really big CREDIT to them, that takes GUTS and BALLS .........
100% backing from me."

Couldn't find anything more recent on facebook than nearly three weeks ago. Will have another look. They do have satellite internet with them but I imagine they have more interesting things to do than slave over a hot - or rather, wet - keyboard.

Teege - Its not an issue - Tracks too deep move 1m either side of the tracks.

Then the dry and the winds come and sandhill all good again

Mud Pans dry out and the tracks get rolled, next rains come and fill the tracks with silt.

All fixed

Then we can go out and do it all again :-0

Not an issue and people have to stop making this an issue with the Simpson - Cheers Tony

Probably a little bit of Schadenfreude involved, but they were towing with standard ball couplings and I'm dying to know what happened at the first dramatic change in slope.

Might have been a couple of motorbikes with them as well. Two of the OKAs were towing and assuming they did get the trailers across the Simpson in one piece, would have had to go by another route as no trailers on the ferry.

Didn't see any 2 wheelers but there were some on the track on their way to Marree the guy with the truck was taking a trailer accross I don't know if it was theirs