Simpson... update

Have you read the trek notes most of the basic answers including timming etc are answered in there? Ttrip Planning - menu TrekNotes select SA Deserts and go from there.Regards
ExplorOz Team - David
--------------------------
Always working, not enough travelling ;-)

Too early for any of us to go out into the Simpson - also 47 C at 2:45 p.m. today in town. David's Trek Notes are absolutely brilliant - called the French Line because the french came and put it in when exploring for oil and gas (interesting photos in the Pub here about that). In fact, all the roads and lines in the Simpson Desert are courtesy of the oil and gas explorers - some of them are just shot lines. If you check your maps you will notice they are in grid patterns. I'd be going West to East - at least you've got Birdsville on the end when you finish!! Which way to go usually depends on which way the winds have blown during the summer. As the Georgina River is flooding up to the north (Urandangie way) this will also impact as the lower end of the Georgina becomes Eyre Creek and should the floods come further down than Muncoonie Lakes then it is possible that the flood detour may come into effect. The crossing on Eyre Creek is 28 sand dunes past Big Red and if this is flooded necessitates a 60 klm detour to the north (30 up and across and 30 back down the other side). Hope this helps.

Uther - It is worth taking the flood detour as it is a fantastic place to camp. Make sure you go to the coffee shop Blue ??? and have drink and buy a print of the Simpson. The crossing can take as long as you want - we did it in four days but spent most of the time talking to the other drivers. You see strange sights such as three Ferguson Tractors doing the trip. You need to stop at the hot springs at Dalhousi Springs and have a look at the old homestead. Make sure you buy a permit from Explor Oz and read David's notes. Watch out for the wankers in the tag along groups we found them to be unsociable and they drove like maniacs. Yes I know this is a generalisation.
Trev