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At Birdsville that arvo after a chat with the local plot we decided to do Walkers Crossing. I had been thinking about it for weeks before the ride when I found it had been opened. I had a route on the GPS and after hearing the start turn could be hard to find Crash and I searched the maps and GPSs to find I had the turn marked spot on (which was the case the next day)
We left early in the morning again and cruised down the Birdsville track, nothing had changed since the last time I was there. The Walkers Crossing ride was the best experience I have ever had on an adventure bike. The thing was on a string and I couldn’t do a thing wrong. The deep sand was a walk in the park, the new Ohlins shock is incredible given the last minute dramas we had a Tekniks until Nick settled on a F and F setting for the valving. The guy is a wizard is all I can say, a comment heard by Crash, Pete and other ADV’ers when we were out west is testament enough for me. At the end of Walkers I was surprised how far I was in front of Crash, given the talent he has on a bike. Pete had struggled in the sand a little and choose to be there at the end, given where we were it was the best play. We came over a rise and there were the Moomba gas and oil fields, what an amazing sight in the middle of nowhere. A town like something from mad max that houses 4000 people I am told. I had phone range so quickly called FF to get an update on where Strucky and Ace were. We stopped for a cuppa soup and headed over the Merty Merty rollers, I couldn’t find the yellow bus which confused me at the time. We failed to notice a bad bull dust hole on the time of a dune on the way in, luckily that didn’t bite us in the arse the next day but was close!!. Again I ran out of fuel, this time 2.8kms from the corner store. I laid down and waited for the guys as I knew they had fuel in the bladders. Pete (ol one job) had my bladder and was stuck with carrying it because he had list my other one.
Finally we cruised into the Corner and there was Strucky and Ace. They had been there a while they were showered and smelling better than us.
Crash and I were out of rubber and had planned on carrying tyres, as it happened Boulder rang me days before and said he had two 17inch rears at the corner that won’t find their 990’s now did I want them. I said bloody oath, so Crash and I did tyres, Pete showered and carried them to the shed for us and pumped them up. We hit the bar, the tab for the evening was large, very very very large but we had fun. We met Strucky’s new girl the fence lady, umm lady yeah a bush lady!
More later
Birdsville or bust
My trip started early thursday at Tekinks, Nick double checked the ride height loaded. All setup and ready
You saw what happened on the drive to Trangie, we need not go through that again
Unloaded and setting up in Trangie at the farm
We chilled in the homestead then, Richie and Emma
PTW on the net
We motored in the morning, had 300 of the dreaded slab to kill, was all crusiy until Pete this ride is about me Wulf got a flat, was a decent blow out as well
Pretty soon we were in the out back proper, west of Bourke and humping along happy days, sand, ruts and wild life. Life is good
We arrived at the border pretty well on time, give or take Petes flat
Hungerford pub, great steak sandwich (read into that “best steak sandwich”) and cold beer, no pic of the sandwich it disappeared lickerty split
We left there and I forgot or miscalculated our fuel, so soon up the road we had our first course adjustment and headed for Eulo, for fuel. Umm we have fuel but the bowser is not working, ok thanks lets bust a move for Cunnamulla its only 66kms. I ran out of fuel 3kms from town because I had gone nuts for a while earlier in the day and used all reserve fuel it seemed. Pete and Crash rode into filled and filled a bladder and I got into town and fuelled. OK discussion time, do we stay here or get back to Eulo and Crash’s (gas him up girl friend) Lets risk the wildlife and do the 66kms back to Eulo. None of us thought about riding into the sunset DOH!! Looked great but with the wildlife it made for massive concentration
Boys had a few Solos for their thirst when the big girl behind the var told Crash “they won’t gas you up, get a rum up ya” Crash took a shine to her straight away. We ordered dinner, the Royal Snags and veg
Ok but different, oh and don’t like the other two store your un-eaten snags in the fridge because the smell in the morning in that fridge means it will need burning
We headed to Toompine for breakfast, but explored off track at times, including climbing up this ridge
Toompine for breakfast, where bacon (see almost a entire pig) eggs x 2 toasted and what seemed to be a can of Spag all over will fill you up. Oh yeah three of them, two coffees, and OJ and 3 bottles of water, a great chat will set you back $33 total!!! So cheap Mick would eat there almost.
The cook / cleaner / bar ladies here do it all, including loading and unloading trucks
Getting ready for another 400kms
They even put the Drs here up on stands
Crash’s skid mark on a bitumen section when a emu stepped out at 120 !!
Rode through Baracoo channel country, just amazing
And finally got into Windorah, it was hot to hot so we fuelled and hit the pub.
After a few (read maybe to many that early in the arvo) we setup camp
As per normal, Crash seized the moment and got his gear off, see a pattern here
We carried on at the pub for a while but planned to make a mile early to beat the heat.
Next morning up early and launched here is Crash and I out of Windorah
Sign says it all we pushed on
They have these shirt bitumen overtaking sections every 30 or so kays maybe, if you have ever seen a road train out here on the dirt its the only way you would pass them or even a car for that matter
Beautiful country
And so into Diamantina Country
We stopped at a lookout for breakfast (cuppa soup) and the views were breath taking to say the least
Finally we hammered into Birdville and went where first, you the pub
Next morning we hit the Simpson after breakfast at the famous bakery for a camel pie
Big Red
More later
Same for KTM eh Axel? :huh:
axel wrote:Nothing innovative from Honda? Yawn, what a surprise
TB
Hey PJ, give some thought about giving Nick at Tekniks a crack at your suspension, the guy is the original Guru and there are more ADV riders here than miles covered that would sing his praise. You also get a discount being that you are an OBT member. Just a thought
TB
WHAT HAPPENED AFTER CAMERON CORNER ACE!!
Great read mate awesome
TB
Awayonmybike wrote:Hallo all,I’m after GPS map advice.
I have a Garmin Etrex legend HCx – currently on it is the OSM map of Australia. Is this the correct (or suitable) one to have for the ride? If not what should I have loaded / where do I get it / is there anything else a GPS novice should know or do before the ride?
Many thanks for any advice anyone can give.
Martin
Champ that should be fine, if it isn’t I will fix it for you on the Friday evening
TB
Lefty wrote:Trailboss wrote:Lefty wrote:Trailboss wrote:micknmeld wrote:Lefty wrote::laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: Good point! You got me on a technicality….. :blink:TB always will. :laugh:
Its called thinking ahead, checking the angles
TB
I’m sure he’ll trip up one day!
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:I trip up all the time Lefty :laugh: :whistle: :blush:
TB
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: Me too!! BTW when do we see the report on the latest ADV ride. :dry: You must need a new 660 by now this one must be out of warranty :laugh: :laugh:
PTW has all my footage and pictures :pinch: was coming down early in the week but thats changed, thinking I might drive up there tomorrow evening and drop off his trailer and take my hard drive, if not tomorrow weds night.
Strucky is go, photos loaded will be adding to the RR he tells me
TB
