Longest Hardest Route Ever – Canning Stock Route 17 Days 26/06/14 – 08/07/14

Home Forums The Adventure Moto Riding Forum Adventure Ride Reports Longest Hardest Route Ever – Canning Stock Route 17 Days 26/06/14 – 08/07/14

This topic contains 6 replies, has 0 voices, and was last updated by  Shane Cosgrove 10 years, 4 months ago.

Viewing 7 posts - 1 through 7 (of 7 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • #104241

    Longest, Hardest Route Ever – Canning Stock Route 17 Days 26/06/14 – 08/07/14

    Mick (BF) and I arrived with all out toys (bikes, kayak’s, etc) for a camping weekend at Riverwood Downs and accidently stumbled on the Horizon’s Unlimited Travel Event (Worldwide Motorbike Adventure Riding Community) and had the pleasure of meeting/listening to Christophe Barriere-Varju talk about his Dakar Rally experiences. It wasn’t till I realised his moto on Dreamracer “it’s at the edge of who you are, that you learn who you can be” that it gave meaning as to why I love pushing boundaries. Trust me on the Canning Stock Route I saw sides of me I loved and hated but either way it enriched me….. In this ride report I share my experiences and hope it inspires others to give your dreams a go regardless of the pain, sweat and tears. Just remember each day you step closer to the end and each day is for living those dreams.

    The Route:
    Fremantle to Broome 2560km via the Canning Stock Route running from Wiluna (mid-west region) to Halls Creek in the Kimberly region. This is the longest historic stock route in the world and in 1906, the Government of Western Australia appointed Alfred Canning to survey the route of which he bored 48 wells along the route. Commercial droving began in 1910, but the stock route did not prove popular and was rarely used for the next twenty years. The Canning Stock Route is now a popular but challenging four-wheel drive and dirt bike riding adventure. By the way you have to cross 4 deserts, Little Sandy Desert, Gibson Desert, Great Sandy Desert and the Tanami Desert and for 1800 km you experience everything from sand dunes, soft sandy switchbacks that make you dizzy, rocks, corrugations that make grown men & girls cry and the number of dead 4WD’s and bikes along the route that demonstrates the harshness of the environment.

    CanningStockRoute_zpsa593b650.png

    The Beginning – Which Bike
    Like many girls I have a wardrobe but it’s not full of dresses, handbags and high heels. I have a bike for each occasion. So which bike do I take – Honda CRF230L (that was successful in crossing the Simpson Desert in 2010) or Honda XR400 Motard converted to adventure bike. Thanks to Mick Strong both bikes were prepared and after spending time training on Stockton Beach we decided the XR400 was the right bike. In a ride like this it’s important to have a bike that has power but also not excessively heavy to pick up. I knew the XR400 would be a challenge to pick up for me but with support around I knew it would be the right bike. The CRF230 wouldn’t have coped with the distance to travel in the sand.

    10298662_796756903678594_117542670219925906_n_zpsf4004b49.jpg

    The Approach
    I was fortunate that in 2009 I started riding motorbikes/dirtbikes and trained up for my first big adventure ride from Perth to Airlie Beach via the Simpson Desert in 2010 with Magnus – Outback Adventure Treks as a supported ride. This enabled me to concentrate on riding the bike (try keeping upright) and the rest is catered for. So when Magnus had the Canning Stock Route advertised for 2014 I knew this was the only way I was ever going to achieve my dream by doing this as a supported ride with my bike. Magnus and Outback Adventure Treks from the start were incredibly helpful from the time my bike arrived in Perth through to the time it arrived home in Sydney. More to come in my report on the amazing support from Magnus and his trusty American side kick Dillan. BTW I would NOT recommend anyone attempting this route without support (lack of fuel, water, remoteness are all reasons for an unpleasant experience).

    6 New Zealanders & 1 Aussie – Outnumbered…
    Mick flew over to Perth with me to see me off and do last minute tweaks on my bike.

    P1110873_zps228920bf.jpg

    The night before our departure we meet the other 6 riders. OMG I was outnumber 6 to 1… all NZ’ers. I knew I was going to be saying sex rather than six by the end of the ride but for those that know me really well that wasn’t going to be a problem.

    So the motley riders included:
    Frank – hard core south western NZ farmer that looks quiet unassuming until he has a dirtbike underneath him and tries to keep up with 19yrs old son!! (bottom middle in photo)
    Alex – son of hard core south western NZ farmer that isn’t quiet and rides like any 19 year old on heat. (bottom left)
    Alan – Policeman friend of hard core south western NZ farmers that is quiet and unassuming and didn’t once see his handcuffs come out…. Bummer. (top second from right)
    Steve – Orthopaedic NZ Doctor that had all sorts of drugs, bandages and caring nature when picking bikes off girls. (top left)
    Denise – Midwife/Nurse and wife of NZ Steve that had a considerate and caring nature that brought tears of joy and pain. (top second from right)
    Merv – the NZ hugger. When the going got tough you could look to Merv for a couple of motivational words and big hugs. (bottom left)
    All the NZ’ers hired the DRZ400’s from Magnus and they were super reliable and efficient in the conditions
    Dillan – Unassuming American Support Vehicle drivers, bike picker-up-a, cook, cleaner, mechanic, etc from Outback Adventure Treks (not in photo)
    Magnus – Owner of Outback Adventure Treks – patient, considerate, caring, awesome cook, knowledgeable on route & bikes and overall top Aussie bloke. (not in photo)
    Rob – Friend of Magnus who joined us from Fremantle to Paynes Find. (top far right)

    P1110875_zps7a31d2e0.jpg

    The rest is coming!!

    #260145

    Fremantle to Willuna (Start of Canning Stock Route) Approx 810km

    We started with a rider’s brief that was interrupted by some gnarly weather but didn’t stop Magnus from pushing on.

    P1110884_zps3c81c2e5.jpg

    P1110885_zpsd37339af.jpg

    It took two and half days of open country dirt roads to get from Fremantle to Wiluna which is the start of the Canning Stock Route. The first day was 360km via Calingiri to Lake Moore in the rain and red dirt but out spirits weren’t dampened as we were all excited to start the adventure.

    P1110895_zpsf58915c4.jpg

    #260146

    P1110939_zpsd99c5cbf.jpg

    Only had one bike misadventure where Merv ‘s front sprocket came loose but that was quickly and expertly rectified by Magnus.

    P1110918_zps1d581c4b.jpg

    P1110923_zpsa4be37b7.jpg

    One thing you learn quickly it to be efficient in setting up your swag and getting in/out of cloths and not consuming to much energy as you find out soon you don’t have much left in the tanks after riding all day.

    P1110948_zps0e87e246.jpg

    Dinner was awesome

    P1110952_zps1476af70.jpg

    Day two we woke to -2 degrees and ice covering everything.

    P1110959_zpsce20aea0.jpg

    From Lake Moore we headed to Montague Gold Mine 450km away via Paynes Fine and Sandstone.

    P1110962_zps62323c1b.jpg

    P1110971_zps20789801.jpg

    Stopped in at London Bridge

    P1110980_zps4e003e3d.jpg

    And enjoyed my last Rum and Coke for couple of weeks

    P1110983_zps2df514b3.jpg

    This is where I found out the NZ’ers are really hard core going for a swim in 10 degree water to have their wash….

    P1110992_zps025e8389.jpg

    P1110995_zpsf138f196.jpg

    Campfire working and sun going down

    P1120008_zps5d43d1ba.jpg

    After last night my ‘blue bit’ or otherwise known as “hottie tottie” came out. The hot water bottle was the best thing I packed.

    P1120014_zpsa32f71a7.jpg

    Dinner was steak and vegetables that was enough to feed me for 3 nights. Alex was tucking into his steak.

    P1120018_zps16361e4f.jpg]

    If you stayed awake long enough you could star gaze with Magnus. My star gazing was done with my eyes closed inside my swag.

    P1120019_zps6a1e99e6.jpg

    The next morning was -4 degrees and by 7.30am we were thawed enough to ride into Willuna and arrived at 11am. In our riding brief that morning we were warned about “Danger Corner” well there has to be one in every crowd and a bike went down. It was renamed “Alan’s Corner” but we were all relieved to know Alan didn’t hurt himself.

    P1120022_zps3362d856.jpg

    P1120028_zpsf1e9e42d.jpg

    Made for some good pictures tho. We had lunch and commenced our ride at 1pm and the start of the great adventure.

    P1120036_zpsc84b0651.jpg

    P1120039_zps9a4f6a54.jpg

    The Canning Stock Route – 1800km to Halls Creek

    It feels surreal when you are presented with a daunting task ahead of you but something guttural pushes you forward. You find ways to set little goals (ie count each well, focus on getting to next meal break, celebrate after each tough section) that all comes together in an experience that will enrich your life. So the next section is snippets of my experiences on the Canning:

    P1120049_zpse8ef60bc.jpg

    #260147

    terryjhaynes
    Member

    Wow Kat,,,yu got some ticker all rite,great to hear from you again :)

    Cheers Teza.

    #260149

    Before setting off Magnus provided us with a riding brief on what to expect. There is a great track guide produced by “The Outback Travellers” – Series 4 (www.outbacktravellers.com.au) that Magnus was using. I would strongly recommend that you get a copy and take it with you as it’s your new best friend on this type of trip…. That’s if you want to know what to expect before experiencing it. Sometimes I wonder I’m better off NOT knowing!!!

    P1120047_zpsf353d0b1.jpg

    The well counting begins.

    P1120046_zps97c4d001.jpg

    At Well 2 and 49 of them to go…..

    P1120051_zpsbc1f7fa9.jpg

    Time to remove some layers and take some shots

    P1120052_zpsb08284c7.jpg

    P1120053_zps239f65a9.jpg

    Next section had lots of rocky and gibber stones, steep rough and rocky descents that would catch you out. It was always in the back of my mind that you don’t want to stuff up the bike or yourself early in the trip otherwise it was going to be a difficult or sad ride.

    P1120054_zps1024ba82.jpg

    P1120056_zps89b44c64.jpg

    Denise having a break from the rocky section:

    P1120055_zpsc8206f50.jpg

    Well 3 and by this stage I was taken down by a branch that decided to grab my barkbuster and throw
    me in the bush. Thanks to a shove from Alan I was back out on the track. There was one enormous washaway (chest height for me) with awesome skid marks from the young gun Alex that cause Alan and I to admire and accidently follow. After much grunting both Alan and I got out of it. I was too focused on getting out that a photo opportunity was missed.

    At Well 3 and our campsite for the night

    P1120059_zpsd230529a.jpg

    Unpacking the truck

    P1120066_zps04fc9f5c.jpg

    Dillan and Merv removing my 40 tooth rear sprocket (which was ideal for the 2 days of open dirt roads) and replaced it with my 44. All the DR’s were running with 44 as well.

    P1120064_zps2e7f6835.jpg

    So all up from Montague Gold Mine to Well 3 we covered 220km and ‘enjoyed’ mug of cask red wine (I’ve been spoilt on good bottles of Red) and beef stroganoff. All our adventure riding gear was packed away and out came our light weight riding cloths.

    Day 4 – Well 3 to 20km north of Well 8 (185km)
    After bacon and eggs we set off at 7.30am and road with Denise and Steve for most of the day. It started with nice flowing sandy corrugated tracks… that changes quickly
    Steve showing the way

    P1120067_zps74bc902a.jpg

    Steve and Denise loving the rocky sections:

    P1120068_zps54627e13.jpg

    Steve and Merv consulting the map

    P1120069_zps8a584541.jpg

    Funny shot at Well 4

    P1120070_zpsbbd87b2b.jpg

    Boy’s checking out the well.

    P1120072_zps41af90a7.jpg

    The next section to Windich Springs had lots of dry river bed crossing full of rocks and was unrelenting. Perfect spot to stop and enjoy morning tea and would make an ideal place to overnight. The bird life was amazing and great to hear them chirping.

    P1120074_zps240d8053.jpg

    P1120075_zpsba85c147.jpg

    Alex and Frank (father and son) chilling out as we wait for the truck to arrive.

    P1120082_zpse252862e.jpg

    Attempted a selfie group shot using the timer

    P1120085_zps7410e09b.jpg

    We pushed onto Well 5 and the track guide had lots of warning about rocky and rough corrugations…. the warnings never seem to prepare you.

    The boys showing how it’s done at Well 5.

    P1120089_zps551be09f.jpg

    Lunch was at Well 6 and Magnus used this opportunity to top up the water tanks.

    P1120093_zps56851b98.jpg

    P1120094_zps5db8d421.jpg

    Photo opportunity with Magnus

    P1120097_zpsff9fda55.jpg

    Stop to enjoy the scenery

    P1120099_zpsc9646ffb.jpg

    Frank cruising on by

    P1120100_zps609a40e8.jpg

    The photos don’t ever give it justice on the rocky experience

    P1120101_zps9302cd0c.jpg

    Just before reaching Well 8 we experienced the first small sandy crest and it known at the first sand dune in the Canning. I was over it before I knew it so no photos.
    Frank had the job to find a camp site outside of Well 8 and found a perfect spot so it was officially named “Frank’s Knob”. The setting up of the swag and getting in/out of cloths became efficient. With hot water bottle and in the swag at 7.30pm (always first to bed) I survived another day.

    P1120102_zps439c4b52.jpg

    #260148

    usi
    Member

    Cheers for sharing Kat!

    #260166

    Kat that looks FRIGGIN AWESOME, the support truck and little bike combo on that route would be the bomb, well done! That trip looks like it would definitely rate

Viewing 7 posts - 1 through 7 (of 7 total)

You must be logged in to reply to this topic.