2007 Finke desert race - the long way around

Wilbur · Post by **Wilbur** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 4:42 pm

It all started when stuart (brumbyrunner) was down in brisbane building up his brumby for this years finke desert race. I had wanted to see the race for many years and decided this was the year to start my addiction. I mensioned this in passing to my brother who had wanted to do a simpson desert crossing this year. So we decided to combine the two and take the long way around to alice springs.
Enter saturday the second of june. The cars were packed the night before when I returned home from work. We left at about 6am with the destination of the ward river (just west of charlieville) in mind. Free camping on the stock route beside the river was nice and quiet with only one other group, that were well out of sight on the other side of the highway. Good roads with no dramas saw us fed and in bed just as the sun was going down.
Sunday morning arrived very early with a 5am start so we could make birdsville with time to find a spot to camp before sunset. Another long day behind the wheel covering plenty of km's even before the sun appeared over the horizon.
The route acorss the desert was plotted into the gps, km's checked, water filled and silly me was well out on my fuel estimate which found me at the shell in the morning purchasing two more jerry cans (at $55 a pop thanks for coming) and now carrying in excess of 200L of fuel, 40L of water and enough food to last for 2 weeks. Last time I listen to my brother when fuel is involved, as you will find out later. We camped where the race horses are kept for the famous birdsville races on the banks of the diamondtina river. Another nice spot, that was also fee free. The birdsville development road was a beauty with near highway speeds achieveable. Current road works should see this road well maintained.
Monday morning saw us cresting little red sand dune in search of the big fella, which could quite easily be missed if you didn't read every sign that faced the wrong way. Something I had started to do on the long drive from brisbane to keep from going nuts. With the tyres now on 15psi, the *cough* hilux *cough* skipped up the dune like a spring lamb in 3rd cog, low range, and made the return voyage in similar style.
The next couple of days had us roving the desert, trying to take in as much as possible, but still keeping on schedule. Eyre creek was still up and the 6km detour (not on any map I've seen) saw us easily across said beastie with no fuss. One thing I noticed is how straight the qaa and french line are, and how bored someone was to count the 1200 odd sand dunes that make up the crossing. We arrived at poepell corner, took some happy snaps and found a spot to camp. A mixed day, considering less than 200km were covered for the whole days effort.
The next day saw us bored of the constant up and down of the french line so we turned down the knolls track and onto the waa line. These two go between, across and over the dunes in much the same fashion as the tracks behind the dunes at double island and fraser. Along the knolls track we passed something I have never seen on tarmac, let alone crossing the desert. An Audi Q7. We camped along side the waa line that night.
Noticing how brisk the morning air was, I soon found my car was covered in a frosty layer of ice. Yep, sure is cold. From our spot just off the waa line, we made an agreement to head for the warmness of purni bore and dalhousie springs via the rig road and finally back onto the french line. Dalhousie is a wonderfull place for a well earned swim in the nice warm springs. It was here we had heard of a small stuff up in the desert that cost some dirt bike riders a cold night in the desert with nothing to eat for a full day. They had taken a different turn to their supporting cars, which eventually found them very early the next morning. Keen to get on with it the lads rode on into the next night to make Alice springs, with time to rest, repair and register for the race.
After a refreshing dip we headed off for Mt Dare hotel, the first pub and fuel since birdsville, some 3 days ago. At this point I would like to point out the error of listening to my brother for the fuel calculation. I had left brisbane with the figure of 6 jerry cans would be more that enough, but after our conversation on the banks of the diamondtina river, we decided I needed more. We were of the thinking that the sand of the simpson desert would be soft hard going, but after recent rain, we were much mistaken. I had only used two of my now eight cans, and still had a 1/4 of a tank left and my brother in his coight (landcruiser wagon) had made the crossing on only his main tank. Oh well. The fuel will be used in the coming days anyway.
Camp at Mt Dare Hotel was very nice, even if a steak was $25, a can of bundys best $7 and a spot to roll out the swag of similar price. Plenty of yarns were shared with travellers from as far away as new zealand. Great night, well worth stopping for.
After another few km's of corrogated dirt roads we were in the never never territory of australia. A quick peep into the town of finke, then onto kulgera for a break and some lunch. Finally back onto the backtop, and after the couple of days we just had I didn't notice the new vibration the ute had picked up until a further 200 odd km's up the stuart highway. After a road side check, I had found my rear uni joint of the tailshaft was begining to sieze up. Oooppss. The seals had parted company with the cups somewhere between birdsville and now and had let in alot of sand and dirt. Another couple of hundred km's found us at the toyota dealer in alice springs buying a joint for me to fit that night back down the road at stuarts well camp ground. It was here at the toyota dealer I rang a strange phone number not in my mobile phones saved memory. Something I don't usually do, but quite lucky I did as it was stuarts (brumbyrunner) other phone line at his house. He had been forced to return home after one of his workers was involved in a fatal accident.
The next day, after finishing off the tailshaft repair with the help of a retired mechanic from armadale, and his 4 inch angle grinder that were touring around the NT we headed off to see uluru and the olgas. Too many tourists and the $25 per head entry to the park did not sit well with me, but I paid and looked anyway. We returned to curtain springs station/roadhouse to camp that night. Another day I am pleased to have 6 driving lights on the ute. It makes spotting wildlife very easy.

Wilbur · Post by **Wilbur** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 4:42 pm

Knowing a mate from Mt Isa was waiting for us back at stuarts well, another early start was in order the next morning. A small surprise was that he had been forced to quit his job to come come down for race. Something he didn't seem too worried about. We caught prologue for the buggies and bikes, but unfortunately missed the cars, something I was looking foward to. The decision was made we would camp out on the race track that night, and what a great idea it was. We had a raging fire, about 6 different camp sites within viewing distance letting of fire works and a nice bloke in the morning to wake us up with ABC darwin/alice springs. According to the waeco thermometer we left out it was somewhere between -4 and -2 degrees that night. Needless to say there was once again a thin sheet of ice on the vehilces in the morning. We spent the remainder of the morning watching the buggies and cars flying past, trying veinly to get some decent footage, through the plooms of dust. I think I will get hold of the official dvd. Might see a little more there.
We slipped out over the track after the sweep car and took off to face off the plenty highway. After another couple of hours of daylight driving we pulled over to figure out how far away tobermorey station was. Roughly another 2 hours to go......in the dark. After a strange video game like drive dodging cattle and other wildlife we arrived a little after 8pm to the loudest generator I've heard. Had a quick bight to eat and rolled out the swags. It was here I parted company with my brother as he didn't want to make any detours on the way home. He left before sun up and before the staff at tobermorey could catch him for the $15 camping fee.
Morning came, I filled the fuel tank yet again and had a joke with the attendant. As I handed over the credit card to pay for the fuel, she said 'ah credit where would we be without it'. I sharply replyed with a 'asking you for a job' to which she retorted with 'if you know anything about cattle, he'd probably give you one'. I made my escape and we headed back to my mates place in Mt Isa so he could pack up his gear for the trip back home to brisbane. A nice little half day drive. We spent the night there after a good feed and a couple of square bears.
My mate and I headed off the next morning with no destination in mind. We left fairly late, 8am so we wouldn't be going too far. We found a motel on the main drag of emerald and spent the evening there after having the best bacon and egg burger ever at the winton bp. No dinner that night.
The next day saw us rolling on home via a tour of the square bear distillery in bundy. The credit card got a flogging here too with some rums only being available from what I call the rum house. A very different tour, with more 'you can't go in here's' there there was when I last attended some 10 years ago. We parted company in caboolture and I made the 20 minute trip home just in time for the state of origin. Something I had not intended on being home for but welcome non the less.
So after more the 7000km's in a week and a half, we are all back home safe and sound with the only damage being my tail shaft uni joint and some paintwork from the countless stones flicked up by the tyres. The rear shocks look a little beaten up and I may have to do something to protect them for next time.....and invest in a long range tank to regain some valuable tray space. A great trip with many memories being taken away. Hopefully I will return for the 2008 finke desert race....the short way around. You know, one of those metal birds with big jet engines.

Anyway, photos and videos to come when I return to broadband, er work on monday.

Xtreme_RX · Post by **Xtreme_RX** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 4:59 pm

Sounds like a fantastic trip Barry....
I so want to go next year...........

stamp_licker · Post by **stamp_licker** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 8:16 pm

GReat trip report Barry.Looking forward to the pics.

brumbyrunner · Post by **brumbyrunner** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 8:44 pm

Great yarn wilbur.
Your memories are fonder than mine.
See you there next year.

vincentvega · Post by **vincentvega** » Sat Jun 16, 2007 8:26 am

awesome wilbur. looking forward to your pics

Wilbur · Post by **Wilbur** » Sat Jun 16, 2007 11:40 am

Here is a little taster. This is sunrise just east of Quilpie.

Suby Wan Kenobi · Post by **Suby Wan Kenobi** » Sat Jun 16, 2007 12:40 pm

Sounds like you had a great time, which means you will be more ready for it next year....

Great pic of dawn but a pity there is a Tojo in it.... (LOL)

Wilbur · Post by **Wilbur** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 10:43 am

Yeah, ya get that. Would be a good trip for the likes of your wagon.
Pics are uploaded, just doing a couple of vids.

Here - http://s45.photobucket.com/albums/f97/p ... %20around/

vincentvega · Post by **vincentvega** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 3:32 pm

awesome barry. that buggy sounds unreal.

without the tojo vs subaru crap, how do you reckon our cars would fare out there? Any parts you wouldnt take a suby through?

Wilbur · Post by **Wilbur** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 4:19 pm

I'd take your wagon over those tracks in a heart beat. I just wouldn't drive around dusk/dawn or dark like I did.
Those buggies are real nice. I have more video on another camera that will be made in a dvd when I get around to it.