This topic contains 39 replies, has 0 voices, and was last updated by 
-
Day 4
Alice – Hay River TrackUp at sparrows we made our way towards Ross River Resort and the scenery was stunning. McDonald ranges I think
The dirt started after Ross River Station
It was a great windy road to punt along until we reached Cattleman’s Pass turnoff which was closed
We obeyed the sign and took the next turn north to the Plenty Hwy which would put a strain on our fuel range.
The Plenty
Tryhard was blowing into his tank for the last 30km to Jervois Station to feed the 690 fuel pump. We came into Jervois on vapours. Tryhard filled his 26lt tanks with 26.3lts and my 30lt tank took 30.6lts. Not much room for error we realised.
Jervois Station
We chatted to the lady running the show about movements on the track and living on the station. Hopefully she wasn’t telling us any Furphy’s
Fuelled and watered, we set off for the Hay River Track with the turnoff only about 2km away
There was about 75km of this
At Batton Hill there’s a camping area and the track goes past the caretakers shed who came out for a look at us. We had our permit so all cool
It starts off like this
We camped the night here 125km in
Day 5
Hay River TrackWe woke to a brilliant blue sky and a good days riding ahead. Stopped at Dingo Well
From this point, the whopping trees started to appear. As in “the Hay River Track is going to open a can of whoop-ass on you and your bike”. Mother nature had planted trees close to the track edge and in the middle of the track which left you nowhere to go at speed except through them….at your peril.
Not to be confused with whipping trees found on the QAA Line and French Line, these were thick branched buggers which looked nice and leafy and easy to go through until it caught the handle bar which took me to the ground a couple of times or shot me off course. Bloody whooping trees. Suppose we could have slowed down.
The track ran along the Hay River and through it for a short section
A break and battle the flies for a bite to eat
About lunch time we came across a group of three 4wd from Guyra NSW that was travelling in front of us. They had been knocking over some of the whooping trees in the centre of the track but not anymore.
I had a look at my GPS when I got home and I reckon there was about 200km of track with tight sandy corners and whooping trees and it was slow going. The problem for me I think was I couldn’t get the speed up enough to get steering over the front end and I’d had a couple of falls that banged my legs up and couldn’t stand on the pegs.
Just before Madigan Camp 15 the track opened up and we could ride more comfortably
Tryhard signing the book at camp 16
There was a great section of track with nice open sandy turns passing the base of dunes that you could just cruise along in a high gear. A good way to end the day.
Camp was setup in a top spot just north of Clay Pan in anticipation of hitting the dunes and the shot line first thing in the morning
Day 6
Hay River – BirdsvilleAll the spare fuel was in the bikes and we were down to Camelbaks for water so with no time to waste we hit the track
There were a lot of big fat dingos about who would stay on the trail looking at us before bolting.
Dunes ahead that had a right turn at the bottom leading up to them just as Joel had said. We were going over them easily and waiting for the hard one but it never came
The start of the shot line
Great day to be out riding in the desert
At Beachcomber Oil Well we had a snake break and that was the end of the dunes
There was good road from here for the last 50km except for big washouts
At the clay pan we knew we were close to QAA Line
Across this clay pan and the start of the QAA Line lay the dunes to Birdsville
My pannier rack mount on the frame broke and Tryhard offered a cable tie
That’s not a cable tie…this is a cable tie
Not much tyre wear for 2000km
Tryhard….stop taking photos and let’s ride
The distances between dunes were getting bigger so I knew the end was near. I came over a dune and realised I was looking at Big Red. That was a moment to remember. We’d done it.
Tryhard rode up big red
The sandy detour track around Big Red that we needed to get our eye in on the first day of the ride disappeared under our wheels quickly and then it was a quick run into Birdsville.
The must do Birdsville pub photo
Then the Birdsville Bakery for a tasty pie and cold beer, brilliant
Great company, no mechanicals, no flat tyres, a couple of injuries and I would say the best riding out in the desert. Thanks Tryhard, pleasure riding with you.
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.