Just completed an epic journey across the
Simpson Desert, the first to do so in 2012.
6 days in the desert with a few mobs of camel to act as short time travel companions and not another vehicle in sight.
Starting at Mt Dare, the tracks were wet but passable and with Dave Cox from Mt Dare leading the way to Dalhousie
ruins and then on to
Dalhousie Springs.
The amount of new growth around the track made for a very green approach to the desert, a sight not common to regular travellers to this area.
Dalhousie Springs were deserted except for the flies during the day and we would except mossies during the night. A night on the French line was a better idea.
Being the first to cross the dunes, a wall of sand had to be negated after a short run up. The dunes would have been a lot easier from the other direction with a drop off at the top. There were no tracks to follow which also meant that all the corrugations had been blown away during the summer closure. Even the run up Big Red was very smooth.
The reason for a early crossing was to try and experience what the first vehicular crossing might have been like 50 years ago. It was not as tough as the first crossing but we conceder it to be as close as possible in this day and age.
I have crossed the desert many times before, but this would have to be one of the most remembered.
Wayne