The Many Faces of Big Red

Hi Bob

It is amazing to see the changes over the years and shows how rain can transform the landscape. The thing that I find incredible is how all the seeds survive for years in times of no rain, high winds and very high summer temperatures and then in front of your eyes, a green oasis.


Thanks for your reply.



Cheers


Stephen

That video would have been mine.
I've seen that dune twice and on both occassions it has been surrounded by water and lush vegetation.
Now I want to see it after a few dry years.

Stephen, thanks for the photo timeline. My favourite topic at the moment.

Love your work!!!!!

Fab.

Hi Fab

Thanks for that. As for the Simpson, it sounds like you have been bitten with the bug and will want to keep going back, and back......

Well before I started posting blogs here on the forum and the Caravan Park had Ian and Ruth (Who were the BEST), my dad was impressed with my stories and photos that he drove the Birdsville Track with my mum to see it first hand himself. Some sill way what is the big deal about that. Dad was 76 then and mum is blind.

They had a ball and still talk about today.

It is one place that when we get back to, it seems like home.

All the Best


Stephen

Hi Robin

Thanks for that and yes things do change on top of Big Red, that is for sure. One question that I have never asked and who and why did someone dump lots of gibbers on top between 2005 and 2006.

For about 8 years in a row - must be crazy, be did many crossing and then in early May 2006 there were all the gibbers when along side of my Pajero.

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Someone may be able to "Please Explain"


Cheers

Stephen

I'll ask around - do know that as part of the launch of new Porsche 4wd , the advertizing film crew tried to jump one over the top , they couldn't do it until my brother in law disconnected the traction control , thought that was 2004 , don't think they would have made a hard surface ramp, although they were getting desperate for pictures , the sequence shots that were across hotel wall
were taken almost on dusk.

Hi

In a dry year you would have no problems but this year there is lots of vegetation which could slow you down. If you found a bare patch, you could have hours of fun, thats for sure.

A small section where there is still no vegetation and steeper is when you get to the top, on your right hand side looking towards Birdsville, then would have a ball.


Cheers


Stephen

Hi Glen

As for the Eyre Creek detour, there was still a very lot of water there and it will be running for a long time to come. We did the southern detour last year when the water levels were lower, but the northern detour is rocky and you will not get bogged.

There was some talk, and that is all it may be, but someone was telling us that they think the southern detour will not be used and only the northern one, but like I said it could all be talk.

We were hoping to also camp there, but not on top. We picked out a great little spot last year on the eastern side, but it was well and truly under water this year. There was the remain of a camp fire on top of Big Red, so that will been on our next to do list when back up there again. Like I mentioned in my 2 latest blogs, the desert dunes are back to normal, nice and soft and low tyre pressures are the order of the day. The dunes are very cut up on the new wet weather detour out to Big Red that follows the Border fence for a few kilometres. I will send you a plot file so you can see where it takes you.

I should have another photo blog up by the weekend on the Birdsville Track, showing just what there is for travellers to see along the way.


Have a great trip.


Best Regards

Stephen

Hi Stephen

I am back in the Simpson on 21st Sept with another tag a long group.

This will be crossing number 15 for us but am interested to know where the track along the border enters the desert.

After seeing the position of the detour sign compared to last year and with my customers all wanting to do big red , as you do , any heads up would be appreciated.



Cheers Teza

Hi Teza

I'll have to start charging......LOL

You should have received my email with the Trek file for the new detour. Like I said, the worst part is going out to Big Red with the track very cut up from tyre pressures that are far too high.

Enjoy all that water and have a great time.



Cheers


Stephen

Stephen,

Thanks for the file. Should be a great help, but I'm guessing its a pretty well warn track or it will be by the time I get there.

I know there is no way of policing it but wouldnt it be great if all these Asphalt Cowboys that run high pressures had to pay double for a desert pass or even pay normal price just to drive out to Big Red if they leave their tyres up.

Heard one guy the other day, bragging that he did all of the Simpson a couple of years ago in 2 wheel drive. (My Question) WHY. What did it prove? I have seen the desert where I could have done it also in 2wd but I purchased a 4WD and it is so much kinder to the tracks to use it and lower tyre pressures. Lets stop trying to show we have tough rigs and drive it how it should be driven.

Hi Glenn

The track out there is a very good apart from where you have to cross the sand dunes, along the section of track that runs along the border fence. The dunes were very cut up from one thing only and that was people running far too high tyre pressures and not knowing how to drive in soft sand. Once you leave Big Red the dunes are no where as cut up and like a normal soft sand crossing that you can expect through the Simpson.

I know to 2 vehicles that left the caravan park to drive out and see Big Red and returned in less than 45 minutes, and both said that they could not get over the dunes. I mentioned about low tyre pressures and they both stated that they did not want to roll the tyres off of their rims and they never had pumps to re inflate their tyre. It is people like this that cut the track up and make it bad for everyone else that heads out into the desert.



Have a great time.


Cheers


Stephen

Hi Phil

Thanks for the reply and great photos. Like you said, for the tens of thousands of vehicles that would have crossed the desert, it has not changed a great deal.

Thanks for you help for our last visit, as like I told you we would never have found that place.



Regards


Stephen

I was very happy that you found the Pages Grave despite the overgrowth!! Setting out on foot was a good move!

The interesting photo is the 2006 one - shows you how much a couple of dry years changes the place (2004 was fairly wet and full of flowers from memory!). Were your first couple of photos from a similar time? My 1988 photo looks very similar to other photos that follow a wet spell.

There's word now that campfires will be banned from Witjira National Park - too many people using too little wood and there is a fear that people carrying wood in will also carry in weeds and pests. Pity but I guess its necessary.

Cheers
Phil

Hi Phil

Yes the first couple were in 2006, while the others were in 2010 and 2011.

This is my personal view, but the best wildflower display from one side of the desert, right through to the other and wall to wall were in 2003 from early opening rains in the desert and then fine for the rest of the season.

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Cheers


Stephen

Hi Stephen,
Been digging through the photo library - 2002 wasn't bad either:
Here's a photo from Big Red 2002:
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I'm a bit biased, but best desert wildflowers I've seen have been in the GVD!
Oct 2004 was great and having been there twice this year, the flowering eucalypts, grevilleas, hakeas, sturts pea and daisies take a lot of beating. It really has been a good couple of years!

Cheers
Phil

Hi Phil

Another great image, thanks.

We need to ask what happened between 2005 and to 2006 for the large swale to become so barren and almost completely devoid of all vegetation. I know when we went through then that there was still a lot of water out there in 2005. I should have included these for 2005:

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Cheers



Stephen

Hi Rumpig

Thanks for that and those reflections of the dunes in the water look great.



Thanks for taking the time to reply.




Cheers



Stephen

no worries Stephen,
i walked that water to see how deep it was, in some sections it was knee deep in old wheel ruts. the water was also like ice, my feet were numb after only walking about 5 metres...lol

Don't know why that didn't work.

Hi Dave

Thanks for taking the time to reply. Perhaps try again and see how you go.



Cheers


Stephen

Hi Kevin

They are fantastic and thanks for sharing. To think that in your first image we kayaked across there and it was well over 3 metres deep.


Cheers


Stephen