Sun Oct 09, 2011 7:21 am
All,
Many photos so please be patient when loading
Swerve Total KMs
Tar in GU towing G60 - 2505 km (Fuel - $1133)
G60 on dirt - 3822 km (Fuel - $1670)
TOTAL - 6327 Km (Total Fuel - $2803, budget was $3k so under budget
)Friday 23rd September
Distance – 703 km (Mortdale, NSW to Hay, NSW)
Left Sydney early afternoon and got stuck in the mother of all traffic jams heading south out of Sydney as a bitumen truck had caught on fire blocking the main Hwy heading south, My GPS got me around most of it but it was still slow going.
Drove until 11:30pm and made Hay, met up with Paul (Hilux) and made camp after a beer or two.
Saturday 24th September
Distance – 587 km (Hay, NSW to Broken Hill, NSW)
Woke up at camp and we had to wait for Paul’s brother to arrive (Dave) from Melbourne, not long after getting up, he rolled into town .
Few photo’s after waking up and poking around.
After Dave arrived I took off to Broken Hill, as they were seeing relatives in the local area and no need for me to hang around. For some strange reason I thought the road from Ivanhoe to Wilcannia was tar and headed that way. If I had of known it was dirt I wouldn’t have gone that way at all.
After I was through, I was really amazed with the wildlife and scenery and was very glad I went that way after all. Just wasn’t my first choice towing a trailer?
Emu’s with chicks
Driving through Wilcania I bumped into Ferdy (White G60 Ute) and Ross (Green G60 Ute) and said hello. I said I would meet them in Broken Hill so I took off while they went in and had lunch at around 2:30pm. Once I arrived at Broken Hill the boys started turning up with Miller convoy from Melbourne arriving a few hours later.
Miller - Silver GU with Black bat work
John Miller Snr - Silver GU with color coded bars
Spida, (Dom) - White GQ Wagon
Mr Muck (Darren) - green MWB G60
Sunday 25th September
Distance – 0km (Broken Hill, NSW)
Photos below of the Broken Hill Caravan site
Tim's GU wagon with TD42
Here we have Spida, Miller Snr, and Miller (Tim)
Darren (Mr Muck) working on his clutch, was worried at the start about it getting to hot, turned out to be fine after all that.
Mr Tim Miller (Miller)
While test driving Mr Muck Ferdy and Darren bumped into a blue G60 in town with a GQ TD42 and five speed, Anyhow passed on the word and he came down for a look see.
Sunday night at Broken Hill, last night before we head off on Monday Morning
Monday 26th September
Distance – 550 km approx (Broken Hill, NSW to Cameron Corner NSW/QLD/SA)
Poser shots outside the Caravan Park. Darren (Mr Muck) was a little late so missed the photo shoot
Heading North from Broken Hill the road was becoming very corrugated and dirt so we aired down to 24psi.
While we aired down the Miller clan caught up with Mr Muck
Miller Snr (John)
A bit further north we arrived at Packsaddle roadhouse (Pub), you learn everything (town) is a pub in the outback . We had a late brekkie and beers hear before getting back on the road.
Another good poser shot at PackSaddle Roadhouse
Further up we passed a lake so took a few happy snaps
Paul in his Hilux
We arrived at Milparinka for lunch before Tim took us down some better roads for a scenic detour to Cameron Corner
Now we took the back road to Caneron Corner which was great, was nice sandy, small dunes and fun track, Tim got a roo road kill at only 40kph. Shoudl have seen Tim $hit himself, LOL. Nice old road sign on the way
We pushed hard as we just made night fall at the corner, Miller clan and Spida went straight in for some beers
Bloody southerners Simon (Ferdy passenger) on left, Tim, Spida, Collin from 80 Series Cruiser
Poser shot in Cameron Corner carpark
While the boys drank, both Paul and I went off to set up camp, great sunset took some picks, this was only about 2km west of Cameron Corner. Miller clan was staying at the pub but joined us for beers at camp., Had a great night and we all chatted for hours around the campfire. Was our last time we would see Tim on this trip as they would leave early Tuesday morning and head back to Melbourne.
Tuesday 27th September
Distance – 237 km (Cameron Corner, SA to Inamincka SA)
After waking up and packing camp we headed off over the small dunes heading west. This section of road was very tricky and we had short sharp dunes perfect for head on collisions. To make matters worse the clay topping on the dunes had broken through so some big holes had appeared on every 4th or 5th dune making for a bloody bumpy, rough ride if you got caught out.
Unlucky for Ross (Green G60 Ute) who had a great retro roof rack with large tool box and blue drum with his swag. One of these crests put him very sideways and unsettled and in this massive instance change of direction the roof racks said no more and separated from the car. Meanwhile the other were waiting at the yellow bus with no idea of the drama behind us. Collin (80 Series) was playing tailend Charlie and helped Ross piece it back together again. We all agreed to maintain radio contact as we had spaced out a little to far making this a little worse.
So after Collin and Ross arrived we all looked over the bus, this had been towed in 30 plus years ago and was originally used as a hunting shed.
Spida’s GQ and Paul ‘s Hilux
All the 60 Series lined up at the Bus
Some more bus photos
After finishing heading West over the dunes we started to head North in the valleys towards Innamincka, on the way you start going through the Moomba gas fields. Here is one of the pumps which run on a small generator. Wasn’t working for us that day, but was still worth looking at.
After this we were within 50km of Innamincka and found out the FUN old Strezlecki track was closed, so had to travel on the boring road. We took this straight into the camp ground and had lunch. Then the lads could all make their own way into town to fill up and get desert passes. When I went to get a beer after going into town with Spida, I found my freezer had died. So I went to start the car and move it and the gearbox had jammed in 2nd gear. This happened a few years back on a steep hill filling the ute with dirt and I was able to pop it out. Bad luck on this trip we had no choice to pull the selector off to unseized the box. Many thanks to Collin and Chris (Collin’s 80 Series Passenger) also known as TEAM KIWI for taking control as I was a shitty mess at this stage, 5 drinks didn’t help. Anyhow once that was fixed in the late hours of the day, we then worked out the Alternator had 13.8 volts, but the battery was only getting 12.2v. So I had a voltage drop. I assumed it was a burnt out charging circuit from the Alt to starter and was correct. So after running a new cable the next morning all was good.
Team Kiwi (Colin) working on my gearbox. Did I say these two back in New Zealand were mad 4WD Winch Challenge competitors, Motorbike races and mad anything with engines and very good car mechanical knowledge, there was a reason they were invited (wink)
Wednesday 28th September
Distance – 470 km (Innamincka SA to Lyndhurst SA)
The previous day we had learnt the Simo was closed just as we left Sydney due to fires. We were in touch with Eddy now on the forum and phone. Eddy was saying in short no reason to keep the desert closed but being 3 or so layers of management would take time with RED tape to open back up. So it wasn’t worth doing the 500km drive north to Birdsville to only find it closed and then drive south again, doing a 1000km detour for no reason. Hence at midday we decided to head south down the Strezlecki Track to Lyndhurst and take some time waiting for the Simpson Desert to re-open.
So after hot showers at windy Innamincka we departed around midday for Lyndhurst. We knew this would be a long day (470km) as we left late and had to make good time. First stop was a lookout over Moomba Gas Plant (private town) were we had lunch and a few of us refilled.
Moomba Gas Plant
Darren (Mr Muck) refilling
We had stopped at one of the rivers crossing the track to re-group, took quite a few photos
Ferdy's ute, with passenger Simon
Collin (Passenger Chris) in the 80 Series
Ross in his 1968 ute
Spida (Dominic)
Paul and brother Dave in the Hilux
Ross looking around
Now we were heading South and some great views over the desert, we stopped many times to regroup, take photos and all that tourist stuff.
. Was around 5pm now and some good light for photos. We had stopped to regroup, boys were looking at lizards in the rocks and being curious
We were all about 50km out from Lyndhurst and in the distance we could see a huge storm approaching. I suggested all batten your cars down for the rain and wind etc, I moved my swag into the cabin to avoid it getting wet, others did similar. Storm was huge with wind like you had never seen before. The number of tumbling weeds on nitros coming across the road was amazing. Roads became muddy and slippery and all G60’s had to sit behind a new car as headlights were just crap. We all so pleased to make Lyndhurst, BUT only to find power had been off so no cooked food was available. Only miro-waved meat pies and snag rolls. After food and beer we found shelter behind a fence, set swags up and crashed.
Thursday 29th September
Distance – 214 km (Lyndhurst SA to Coward Springs SA)
After the miserable night storm the next day was wonderful. You can see the swags all lined up in the only shelter from the wind in the caravan park.
Cool John Deere sprinkler
Ferdy
Oichre Pitts just north of Lyndhurst, used by the aboriginals for arts and painting etc.
Farina, From Maree to Oodnadatta we are following the old Ghan railway lines built in 1878. As the line was rushed through service huts were built every 20km for workers to maintain the railway line. These huts dot the old railway line fo rthe next 800kms or so.
Farina below
Paul (Hilux) looking through window at Farina
Next ruins along, need to dig up the name
Some bloke making crazy peices of art
Dave in Pauls Hilux (Paul in passenger seat)
South Lake Eyre, 18m below sea level
Coward Springs, this had another station along teh Ghan and also a natural hot spring, makes for a great camp spot, $10 per adult
Ferdy fixing his washer bottle which died
Spida fixing his spot lights, or trying to wire them up
Both Colins and Spida awning joined up making the main shelter for this evening
The drop toliet amenties, was very good, well worth the $10 fee
The natural spring, this was heaven after a few days on the road.
The old station building which is now a mueseum
Darren (Mr Muck) packing his camp up at Coward Springs
Friday 30th September
Distance – 404 km (Coward Springs SA to Hamilton Station SA)
Well plan today was to be at phone communications before 5pm to obtain word on Simpson Desert status as it was still closed when we went through Maree the day before.
First stop along teh road was another Ghan Ruin called Beresford. After looking around Spida also had the first flat for the trip on his 33" muddies. Below are a heap of photos at Beresford
William Creek, Petrol and Deisel were $2.20 per litre, the most exspenive for the whole trip.
We stopped for lunch as a dry creek bed with a great looking bridge, only bad part was the sand, it was REALLy soft. Most cars went slow but Ross on the skinneys found it extra hard going. Ferdy got to use his Max Trac's which worked a treat.
Warina Siding
Great read, really makes you think about what these oldies did back in the day. To even do this now with new technology is a feat, but without current food technology, GPS it just blows you away.
Dominic (aka Spida, white GQ Patrol)
Algebuckina Bridge, great peice of craftsmanship back in it's day.
Rolled into Oodnadatta around 3pm, time for a late lunch early Dinner, get fuel, cheap at $1.95 Litre and best of all find out Simpson is open. However the road to Mt Dare via Hamiltopn Station was still closed due to a scrub fire south of Hamilton Station. Talking with the police this was due to open soon. Off to the pub for a beer and 1/2 way through it opened. Hence beers skulled and we were off, before roads got closed for anything. We camped that night 15km north of Hamilton Station in a creek bed,
Saturday 1st October
Distance – 271km (Hamilton Station SA to Purnie Bore SA)
Plan today was to leave camp early with no brekkie and make Mt Dare for beer and breakfeast. Arrived at Mt Dare at 8:30am and had the best brekkie all trip, even better washed down with a cold beer. Really wished we could have stayed there for a few days and it's a top place, with a even better publician.
Spida, Paul and Darren (Mr Muck) having brekkie, yum yum
Few shots of the bar, really is a great place and you feel like your at home.
Some recoveries the Mt Dare guys have saved
Most important the bar
Did I say it feels like home
So after beer and brekkiw we took off driving the 68km to Dailhousie Springs. We had to stop and regroup as we had some bad roads which slowed a few people down. I just go faster
smoothes it out more
Well made Dailhousie Springs for Lunch, but more important time for a swim with beer to relax, we all stayed in there for hours untill all wrinkley
Spida, Dave, Paul having lunch
So now we were on the final leg to actually enter the Simpson Desert, we were all very keen to get in the desert before anything closed it again. Stopped here to regroup as we all travel at different speeds
Now as we were at the start, it's time for the poser shot which G60's up front, support cars at rear.
G60's Left to Right
Ross 68 Ute, Steve 78 Ute, Mr Muck 77 MWB, Ferdy and Simon 77 Ute
Support Left to Right
Spida 96 GQ Patrol, Colin and Chris 80 Series Crusier, Paul and Dave 2009 Hilux ute
About 20km past poser shots we made Purnie Bore which we were planning on going through. I suggested to all to lower tyre pressure to 15 PSI and in the process we found a BIG issue with Darrens MWB (Mr Muck). The front left shock mount had torn half the chassis rail off, the front right was also cracking and not far off as well.
Well team kiwi (Colin and Chris) swung into action and took control. Before you know it we had the car dismantled, Ferdy on the grinder to clean up parts ready for welding, thanks Paul for the grinder
Now for bush stick welding with two car batteries, batteries connected in series with the negative to chassis, and positive to stick electrode. Worked a treat, Ross has used this system before and became head welder.
While the welding was going on we had a cast of thousand taking photos, was trying to get a photo of them but missed out
Welded up shock towers, looking much better and survived the whole Simpson (Once 100mm bumpstop extenders were installed) Darren had outsourced the installation of shock for the front. The new shocks compressed length were 100mm to long so once it had gotton rough (last 30km) the shock towers gave way.
The right side which had also cracked
Quick photo that evening at Purnie Bore workshop
Here you can see Team Kiwi wooden bumpstop extenders installed. Thanks to another group who donated the wood
Few photos of the Purnie Bore info signs
Taking the hi-lift jack out
Sunday 2nd October
Distance – 124 km (Purnie Bore SA to Erabena Track few km's east)
This day was slow going, mostly doing around 15-17km per hour in 1st and 2nd gear. Bumpy as all hell and just painfully slow. Didnt make Simpson Target distance of 150km, but close.
After entering the Desert, every sand dune ridge was wonderfull, it felt like every valley was different, yet the same. Very hard to describe, even harder to show in photos.
Again another great sand dune, to many great photos
Dominic (Spida)
Just some great shots of HP
Sunday night camp, all cars did well with no issues. Even after the major repairs the previous day
Spida (Dominic)
Ferdy
Chris (80 Series Passenger) also known as Team Kiwi
Simon , Ferdy's passenger, also very close in that two man tent, every morning we all heard funny noises from these two
Paul (Hilux)
Monday 3rd October
Distance – 146 km (Erabena Track few km's east to midway on QAA line about 30km west of Eyre Creek )
One of many claypand before we got to Poeppel Corner
At Poeppel Corner looking around. This is the junction of South Australia, Northern territory and Queensland
On teh information wall is a photo of Reg Sprigg, Better still it's a 1962 60 Series Patrol, you can tell from the canvas rear anbd drivers door, which was open.
We had just travelled about 15km North from the corner and the track went through numerous claypans, these got quite boggy and we all had a ball. Shared many good stories at this point, Ferdy was caught out in 2WD and thank god for the locker
Heading East the valleys started to get bigger and tree's were growing. No long after all started seeing tree's the preferred campsite was a short valley with thse nice tree's, well we found one for our last camp in the Simo
After finding camp I noticed a small oil leak on my rear end. On closer inspection the previous owner had moved the crossmember forward 50mm to fit the now removed LPG tank. Problem was on full compression the diff hits the crossmember. The constant hitting had spilt the seen at the top of the H260. Had Ross weld it up a little but still leaked the remaining 1500km to Broken Hill
Some people (Ferdy) jsut could not accept their cars getting dirty. So here he is cleaning the mud of his 4WD in teh middle of the Simpson Desert
Also as we pulled into camp, Spida noticed his window was smashed, worst part was he had $30 of pub stickers on his window which he had to tape over, poor bugger
The mighty 80 Series was also looked at as the front thrust bearing or something had been making noises, Colin pulled it apart and back together and proudly announced all good. Also a few days back teh latch on his dual wheel carroer had busted as well.
Ross also had a new issue which both front springs busted. one of the two main leave had given away on both sides. Nothing could be done but to continue driving, a litte slower
The last night camp in the Simpson
Campfire
Tuesday 4th October
Distance – 213km (Midway on QAA line about 30km west of Eyre Creek to Birdsville, QLD)
Stopped on a dune and took some great shots, was very cool
Dave taking photo's
Eyre Creek on the bypass track, very cool to do this track as only open during floods
Big Red
The eastern valley of Big Red is normally grass etc, With all the flood waters this is a lake which casued a little confusion. Some other travelers mentioned a detour track, but we followed the wrong path and were literally on the eastern slope of Big Red dune. Was a fun/ scary little track but was good photos, bad luck about Colin staking a tyre and Ferdy got a little jumpy in some soft sand.
At Birdsville Pub, for a well earned thirst
G60 on the photo wall
Me having a beer , hmm that was a nice drop
More wall photos
Can you notice anything wrong with Ross's car ?
Have a closer look, centre bolt missing, two small springs missing.
Wednesday 5th October
Distance – 302km (Birdsville, QLD to Mungarannie SA)
Ross was having major issues with his rear diff coming loose and moving as was missing the centre spring, also started running rough again, and then not at all. hence the decision to A-frame it up to Spida's
All along this road we had great mud puddles which were fun for everyone.
Well everyone had been having fun to this point and then I was waiting at the puddle for the lads, however they never showed. I then drove back 5km and found this mess
So most of us were up late this night peicing a GQ Patrol back together, those who wernt working on the cars helped out at the campsite and everyone pulled together. Again a big thanks to Phil and staff from Mungarannie Roadhouse who let us use the workshop, were flexible with meals and were a great help just knowing we had that support. THANKYOUSpida wrote:well time for an up date!
for those of you unaware, the GQ had a bit of an accident on the way home down the Birdsville track.
long story short i was towing Ross's ute and we went through a boggy bit of the track, i'd say his wheels went into a different rut then mine and crossed up causing my vehicle to get pushed hard off the track breaking the tow hitch and rolling the GQ onto its roof!!!
Fortunatly it was low speed and i was completely unscathed. But the poor old patrol wasn't looking to flash
We rolled it back over and tried to start it but no go! hydraulic lock. so running out of day light we decided to tow it about 20k's to Mungarannie.
At mungarannie we cleared the cylinders of oil and managed to get it started. big thanks to all involved, and Phil the owner of the roadhouse for his hospitality.
(if there's an article in the mag we should definatly thank the Mungarannie roadhouse people!!)
The next day we tidied the GQ up, put the roof rack back on with a bit of gentle persuassion.
I was very lucky that the windscreen was still intact, and although it was cracked you could still see through it.
So since then i've driven it a few thousand k's across 4 states back home to Hobart, where it sits in the shed awaiting a body swap!!
Some good news today, i located a GQ ute body from a 96 coil cab nearby!! wiring loom and all. the blokes gona give me a price tomorrow.
It's at a wreckers so probably won't be cheap, but its the best option.
Be great if i can do a ute conversion!
Pretty gutted about the whole situation but it could have been alot worse. just glad its going and i got it home. plus things are looking up with this ute cab.
a few depressing pics
Thursday 6th October
Distance – 541km Mungeranie SA to Cradock SA)
Well we had a late start as we spent half a day working on Ross and Spida's cars. Then we made sure we had a few drinks with Phill from Mungeranie Roadhouse and lunch.
Once on the road 30km south Ross started having issues again, with the car dying. In short we were not game on towing him the remaining 160km to Maree so we made the decision to get roadside assistance. At the Cooper Ferry we also asked around and a chap call Peter Weir was going to watch out for Ross and help as well. The rest of us raced to Maree to call Roadside Assistance. Well at Marree around 5:30pm we sorted out roadside assitance, had a beer at the pub. The remaining cars (Paul, Spida, Mr Muck, Me) all headed south to Lyndhurst to get fuel. Got dark on half way on this road and I was blatting along while it was still light. No food at Lyndhurst, bumped into tow truck heading to get Ross, had a good chat and inspected his rig. We then drove to Hawker and missed the pub food by 10 minutes.
So we now decided to split (Spida, Mr Muck and me headed south home, why Paul was going to check the Flinders Ranges out. Spida, Muck and me made Cradock and slept in a creek bed. at about midnight or so, all totally shagged.
Cooper Ferry
Friday 7th October
Distance – 1268km Cradock SA to Molong NSW)
Well drove into Peterborough with the lads and had a good brekkie and coffee. We all aired up tyres, some got fuel and went on our seperate ways. I made Broken hill in about 350km's loaded up HP onto the car trailer, showered and took off. The amount of animals on teh road was amazing and dodging goats and roos with a trailer was a real PITA.
Fox
Rest Stop near Cobar
So I pushed on taht night untill 2am when i was almost falling asleep and stopped when the fog and rain started as was to tired to concentrate through. Made good distance today with 1268km
Saturday 8th October
Distance – 297km Molong NSW)
Only a small leg home and made it home for midday and then vegged on the lounge all day
TRIP OVERmiller wrote:Swerve making the first major repairs for the trip...
The Broken Hill round up..
