Camels, corrugations and howling dingoes

Day 22: Uluru to Warakurna via Docker River







The much-anticipated road was ahead of us. The plan to re-route was abandoned so we set of for Kata Tjuta (The Olgas)

From the Olgas we hit the dirt road and for the first 15 kms it was a fair bit of red sand, but we managed and then the corrugations started. They were so bad that we struggled to keep our eyes focused!






We spotted some camels on the road.

We were very, very surprised at the general condition of the road.






We stopped to buy lunch at Tjuntinanta known as The Docker River community store. Not a place you would want to live!

We decided to proceed further than planned because the road was so good and the wind was from the east and in our favour.






We stopped to rest in a riverbed next to a ghost gum.

Trevor sitting under the tree in the sun, like a local.

We arrived at the roadhouse on Sunday afternoon and found it closed. We booked a backpacker room and decided to make Sunday lunch, a braai (barbie) using Docker River chops and bread and Diet Coke to quench the thirst - No alcohol because this is another dry area. Being good law abiding guys, we complied.

Making sandwiches for “padkos” tomorrow.

We spoke to some locals and it is absolutely mind blowing the tax money that is being paid to consultants etc. You have to hear and see it to even remotely grasp the magnitude of the travesty!

Luckily we were able to view a good sunset to end another good day.






Day 23: Warakuna to Warburton






Next morning we waited at the petrol pump to fill-up with Opal fuel. Trevor was inside paying and unbeknown to him some fella had commandeered his bike and helmet.

The wind was again in a favourable direction so the trip was uneventful except for one puncture. A shard of quartz damaged the front tyre.

At Warburton one of the guys took a $90/night cabin and two camped. Guess who took the cabin!

Checking out Alon Rathbones’ bike. This is one of our friends that were a couple of days ahead of us and had a bad fall. This is again testimony to the strength of these machines - only some cosmetic damage.

One of the many funny stories:






Remember Dinkie the singing dingo?






Well, one of the guys videoed the whole performance. A couple of days later while two of the guys were still sound asleep, and he being a very early riser, proceed to replay the howling of Dinkie the dingo while holding the video recorder very close to the ear of the guy who took flight at Montecolino Bore when a real dingo came sniffing around our camp. You can only imagine what happened! We will laugh about this forever and a day.






Tomorrow we head to Tjukayirla Roadhouse

The going gets tougher.......

Day 16: Coober Pedy to Cagney Roadhouse via The Painted Desert Road

This really looks like a painting.

Crazy man! Scotsman peddling from Aberdeen to Adelaide and then some.

One of the many victims of the strong crosswinds…..

Day 17: Cagney Roadhouse to Stuarts Well Roadhouse and Dinky

Teatime on the road.

Monument to a disastrous Canonball road race. A number of people died when a Ferrari motorcar went out of control at high speed. This race took place on a normal road while in normal use!

Feeding time at Stuarts Well Roadhouse.

Dinky the dingo.

After supper, Dinky the dingo entertains the punters. This dingo has become world famous for his “singing”

Day 18: Stuarts Well Roadhouse to Chambers Pillar

The road to Maryvale

Entering the community of Tjikikala

And then the deep sand started…….

50m from the campsite and having just done 130km, two of us parted company from our respective bikes!


One ended up under the tree.

the other, just hit the sand when he saw the first guy under the tree

Result. One slightly sore knee. Guess which one.

Oh yes, the pillar.

Camping at the pillar. No tents, just sleep on a table.

Addit: The team now has its own Flying Doctor!

One of the guys hit deep sand at 65kms/hr and was literally caterpulted off his bike.
Result - grit and sand in every nook, cranny and oriface. One broken mirror and various items bent into new shapes. Otherwise, all good!!

Day 19: Chambers Pillar to Alice Springs

Replace tyres and general maintenance.


Our resident chef created the entrees for the dinner we were invited to, by the folk we met at Chambers Pillar – Yen, John and Sally.

A welcome “home style” cooked dinner.

Day 20: Alice Springs to Uluru (Ayers Rock)

On the way, we stopped at a lookout point called Mt Connor. There were a number of tourist busses and within minutes, we were being photographed by many crazy photographers, eager to snap away at anything.


This was a hard days riding with lots of wind again. At least we know were all the sand is going to – Sydney.

Uluru is so busy, it’s unbelievable.


Camping bikey style. No tent.

Was it cold? – you bet.

Guess who!


Day 21: Uluru Camp and R&R

Sunset at the Rock.

Hundreds of cars and many, many busses bring tourists to view Uluru.




Benches to rest on the way around the rock

Contemplating!

Time to retire.

The next part of the trip promises to be more challenging than the entire trip to date.

Three of our friends who did this next part of the trip a week ago had very bad luck and only one eventually drove into Perth. One decided to go via the RFDS and the other to Kalgorlie Hospital and then train to Perth. With this news we are not very excited about the next couple of days!




Tomorrow we head to Docker River.

Underground Campsite as the shenagigans continues

Day 13 Continued:

This was a very strenuous day due to the rain the night before. We slid and hung on for dear life for some 240kms. The bikes actually got heavier as we went, due to mud sticking to them.

Gerhard decided that he would exercise his culinary skills and proceeded to feed us mega amounts of protein and a very small salad to balance things out!

  

  

Trevor dressed for the occasion

One of us got no sleep because the one on the top bunk kept climbing up and down and doing what, only he knew. Eventually we put the kid railing in-place and this prevented him from getting down until morning!

Day 14 Leigh Creek to William Creek (Lake Eyre)

We got an early start, fearing more rain and damaged roads.

  

Stopped in at the Lake Eyre Yacht Club…..

There where two small cats for sail.

Some modern art – Outback style

That’s not water. It’s just a mirage caused by the reflection of the sun off stones.

World class hotel.

5 star accommodation at William Creek. The water is so salty that not even shampoo foams.

A parking meter in William Creek

Just a reminder of how far away we are from home.

  

Our pilot, Alison for the flight over Lake Eyre. Trust us when we say she is one very, very good pilot.

Lake Eyre from the air.

When the lake was at 50% capacity (a couple of months ago), the fish thrived and the birds flocked in the thousands. At the moment the lake is about 30% full. It is a very shallow lake +- 2ft of water and dries up very quickly.  The birds have departed and the remaining fish have died due to high salinity.

Spot the camel track. The poor thing walk some 150kms in search of water that kept on receding until it eventually got bogged down and the rangers euthanized it.

  

Day 15 William Creek to Coober Pedy

Talk about feeling isolated. This place is like a moonscape.

 Entrance to the underground campsite in Cooper Pedy

  

See the bike in the background.

Camping underground in Cooper Pedy. That’s a bike under all the stuff.

One of our guys prefers to do things in style. Guess you?

Tomorrow we leave for Kulgera Roadhouse.