Fire Crosses the border

Meant to add , if you look at one of the lighting strike websites , your probably better off up in the Simpson than melbourne as a huge band is tracking right to us here.




http://www.gpats.com.au/php/cust-cgi/LIAS_free_15m.php

Thanks for the sites Robin, I just spoke to them and the Simpson is definately closed till the weekend and probably over the weekend also. It has crossed the French Line near to the Erabena Track.

I agree there is more lightning hitting around Melbourne but hopefully it doesn't cause the same smoke clouds down that way. I may clear before next week, but it will be a pretty discusting view to drive through heaps of burnt out area's. Part of the reason i was going was for the birds etc, bet they have long gone out near there :-)

Looking back, its probably done me a favour, I have done the Simpson so many times now it doesn't matter, but have never passed over the Sandy Blight :-)

NAFI sit is also a good one!

http://138.80.128.152/nafi2/

Gday Jeff,

Just had the News down here and it says Mt Dare to Andado was closed because of fire and that Andado Track through Santa Teresa is closed?

Can you confirm these, and would you think they will be the same by Sunday?

I know the last part is hard question, but you can at least see the weather conditions..

Cheers Glenn

Yep all closed at the moment I am updating the roads reports on here & the Mt Dare website for the area as we get updates.

As for how long they will be closed for, with the winds that we are getting at the moment It's anyone's guess!

TX Jeff,

Plan "C" Will go and do the Sandy Blight via Docker River in reverse to plan "B" and come down your way in about 7 days time maybe.

Best of luck with fires..

Roads north of Mt Dare are now open.

Roads South & the Simpson Desert are still closed.

Thanks for the info Jeff,

Do you have any idea how much of an area along the road itself got burnt, my brother wants to do some bird photography and of course it will be a bit sparse if its burnt out a fair bit. From what I can find there looks to be only about 20klm's along the road itself, which will not affect the birds.

We are going to stay with a reverse trip so will probably be down your way about the 7th, so will catch up then..

Cheers Glenn

Just finished talking to one of the Andado guys & he said that north of Andado is burnt almost to the house, the same for New Crown.

Quite a bit of the Old Ghan is burnt but there seems to be plenty of bird life around at the moment.

lol Try living out here! never a dull moment!

Mum and Dad (EO members) and sis and her family and a heap of friends are supposed to be 1/2 way across the Simmo ATM. I wonder where they are and if they are bogged to the hilt in mud..lol
Dad id driving a white GXL 105 series with a small EO sticker on the rear window (i think) and NSW plates and sis is in a silver 50th anniversary playdo say hi for me if anyone sees them.

The Simpson has been closed since last Thursday & there are no vehicles reported to be out there.

Which way were they crossing over E/W or W/E?

PM me there details & we will see if they have been through, hopefully they are relaxing in Birdsville!

Thanks Jeff,
I spoke with Dad last night and they were in Oodna. They will make a final descision this morning but will probably head for Katajuta and up to Alice, across the plenty and back down to Birdsville, Cameron's and back to Sydney.