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Post Finke adventure; final days

Thursday 22nd June. Cobar

Astonishingly we took no photos on the way to Cobar. We must have been focused on the drive home. I also had picked up a nasty virus and wasn’t inclined to do more than sit vegetatively in the passenger seat.

Friday 23rd June, we made the last leg to Home.

We got underway at a reasonable time and stopped for a tea break at Soul Food Design & Gallery, which was very relaxing at Narromine NSW.

Tea stop at Narromine NSW

After a final stop at Cowra Munchies for a toastie – the slowest ever made!! (but yummy) we were head down for home to ensure that we arrived before dark. The trailer electrics were completely smashed by the stones of the gibber plains and beyond any sort of repair. We didn’t want to upset the local constabulary with our lack of tail lights and blinkers on the trailer! The countryside had completely changed since our adventure in the Centre. Red dessert had given way to green paddocks and sheep. The roads even had bends in them!

change in countryside from the red centre

green paddocks and sheep!

Brief diesel stop at Booroowa

Pleased to arrive home and have a couple of days to recover before heading back to work on Monday. As it turned out I went to the doctor on Monday and stayed home for a full week recovering from that virus. Roy spent all week washing red dust out of everything, the car, the camp gear and our clothes!

Big adventure!

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Post Finke adventure day 8; Wednesday 21st June.

Broken Hill

Accommodation at Broken Hill was small but warm and cheap.

We went to see the Pro Hart Gallery in town and then headed out to Silverton, the town where Mad Max movies were filmed.

Roy having lunch outside the pub with a Mad Max style VW bug.

We had lunch at the pub, which was a bit of a country icon with interesting decor both inside and out. 

Some of the decor inside the Silverton Pub.

Most obviously there was a group of untethered (wild???) donkeys on the verandah when we arrived. They were quite happy to have their photos taken and obviously have the place staked out for food and water handouts.

”Wild” donkeys loitering by the pub

Silverton has become a bit of an artists collective and there were many studios accessible for a gold coin donation (who has gold coins nowadays?). It also seems to be where old VW bugs come to be decorated and die.

Another VW bug, decorated by a local artist.

The artists enclave was eclectically decorated.

As we headed back to the car the donkeys had moved up to the old church and made a great picture, thanks donkeys.

Picturesque donkeys by the old church.

Back to Broken Hill for a quiet night.

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Post Finke adventure day 7; Tuesday 20th June.

Broken Hill

At Mt Chambers it was again a very cold night. We dragged ourselves out of the tent though for a stunning dawn light on the ridge. 

Mt Chambers in early light.

There was a heavy dew on the outside of the tent which rapidly turned into ice as I packed it up and the temperature continued to drop after dawn. At least this is our last night under nylon so we’ll be able to unpack and dry out the tent when we get home.

Cold damp tent ready to pack up.

Last night’s log on the fire was so big that it was still hot embers and we stoked them up to boil the billy for breakfast. Then we packed up one last time in the Flinder’s ranges, a short but fascinating visit that hopefully we can extend in the future. Off to Broken Hill via Yunta. We carefully drove back out on to the main road past the wandering cattle.

Very healthy looking wandering cattle

We saw some beautiful Sturt’s Desert Pea growing by the side of the road in the harshest of conditions and stopped to take a photo or 20.

The road was still dirt for some time and we passed road trains, flocks of emu (crossing the road) and kangaroos. 

Road train kicking up some dust.

While the wild goats are smart enough to run away from the road as we approached, unfortunately the same can’t be said for the emus and kangaroos whose behaviour can be more than a little erratic. Fortunately we didn’t hit any, but saw lots of casualties.

Road out of the Flinders, road kill emu in foreground.

Flocks of emu crossed the road in front of us

The dirt ended and we found bitumen at Yunta – hooray! We filled up with diesel and junk food and internet. 

We were able to get online and book accommodation at Broken Hill for the next two nights so could relax that we had a bed waiting as it was going to be getting dark as we arrived.

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Post Finke adventure Day 6: Monday 19th June

Mt Chambers

We had camped overnight at Arkaroola in our trusty 3-man tent and man it was a cold night. We snuggled up together to stay warm.

Boiling the Ecobilly for breakfast Up just after 7am hoping for a brilliant sunrise but we had caught the best of the display on the nearby peak at sunset last night. The place was alive with birds and flowers and I managed to snap a couple of them. 

Flowering shrub at the campsite.

It was a beautiful day although a cold morning. We fired up the ecobilly and had coffee tea and biscuits (yo yo. Biscuits!) for breakfast before shifting into pack up mode. Once packed we helped ourselves , as per instructions in the wash room, to 5 litres of rainwater then over to the Village to see if we could find someone to pay for our camping site and to advise us on what to see in the area.

We found a very obliging lady at the store who spent a long time suggesting what we might do while pulling a bike trailer and sporting Finke injuries. We also filled up with diesel, paid $25 for our camp site and bought souvenirs for Liss and Simon back home.

The road to the water hole

We headed south down the road 6km and turned into the waterhole track which was another 6km along. She sure wasn't kidding when she said the track was rough! I wonder what the other tracks were like that she warned us off? The track was quite magnificent however with many beautiful craggy peaks, ghost gums and river crossings as well as emus and red kangaroos. 

Red kangaroo with unusual white eyebrows!

We were very much hoping to see the yellow footed rock wallaby but alas all we saw were lots of droppings. It was very dry with little water in the water hole. 

Walking along the river bed at the water hole.

Lots of “signs”, but no yellow-footed rock wallaby

Apparently there was no water in the hot springs further along the “road” so after morning tea and a look around we headed back to the "main" road. From there we headed south for the 4wd ring road. By the time we had turned off the road and made it to the beginning of the ring road, another 50km we decided that it would take the whole day, so we moved on to Grindells hut, which had been completely renovated ( although not the actual hut) for lunch. 

Lunch by Grindell’s Hut.

We planned then to continue on that road and take the road back to the main road but it looked like we were starting the ring road so Roy did a clever turn with the trailer on a pretty rickety road and we ended up back tracking all the way to the road. I suspect the map we were using was not quite accurate!

Interesting to approach a crest in the road like this!

It was then so late that we contemplated stopping earlier than Mt Chambers if we found somewhere suitable. All marked "towns" on the map turned out to be just markers on the map so we pushed on to Mt Chambers for the camp ground which was isolated and beautiful. We passed groups of cattle grazing loose on the way in.

There was another group camping , horror! But we managed to find a private spot and set up tent and campfire with the the wood we had been carrying. It will be our last campfire so we burnt the big log!

Sunset on our camp at Mt Chambers  Tomorrow onto Broken Hill through Yunta where we will probably spend a couple of nights before pushing home.

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Post Finke Adventure Day5; Sunday 18th June 2017

Had a latish start, didn't get out of bed til 8. We had a nice breakkie in the warm cabin and a lovely hot shower. Time to repackage and reorganise the car before heading off. We went into the "shopping centre" but of course it was shut, being Sunday , which was a bit unfortunate but not a disaster . Fortunately the petrol station was open so we filled up with diesel and bought a few odd bits there and headed off for the Flinders ranges . We sent a few last messages while we still had internet coverage, as we went. We headed into Copley and out into the Ranges, bravely, foolishly or otherwise we elected to take the long route to Arkaroola. Well we had an adventure.

Francis the Ford Ranger with bike in tow ready for adventure

We pulled off the road for morning tea and were joined, at a distance by a small herd of feral goats who were quite magnificent and some small birds which flitted around in the trees. 

Well fed feral goats.

We got going again and through the day we saw lots of emus, 2 eagles and lots of red Roos, along with many magnificent trees and mountain ranges. 

Lots of wild emus.

We turned off a couple of kilometres to a camp site where we had lunch in the bush then headed back onto the main track - which was pretty rough. 

Lunch off the beaten track.

Well it just got rougher from there! Although there were numerous stations and settlements it was a very rough road and we were glad that Francis was a very accomplished 4wd vehicle. We inadvertently missed a turn somewhere and ended up taking a "shortcut" of extremely rough but beautiful terrain and several times wondered whether we would get through and whether the track might just end. At one point we thought it must have ended, but we were able to back track on foot and find where it joined up to another goat track and keep going...watching above to the sides and below all the time to make sure we could keep going- and towing the poor old trailer with the bike on board! ,

By this time it started to get late. It took an hour to do the last 14km, we must have only covered 150-200km all day after 6 hours of driving. We were very pleased to have the Hema maps to have some idea of where we were. The upside of the late day was the magnificent light on the trees and mountains as the evening shadows got longer.

One of many late-day river crossings

We were quite pleased to see the sign to the Arkaroola caravan park and turned up there to see what we could find. There are amenities blocks and plenty of campsites with quite a few caravans in place. We drove on for a bit to where it said "camping" but apart from a couple of kangaroos there  we didn't fancy it and drove back up and found a camp site at the foot of some magnificent craggy mountains as the sun lit them up like fire in the sunset.

Brilliant sunset lighting of the ranges at the camp ground Arkaroola

We set up the tent and lit a fire with our wood in the provided camp fire space and cooked kebabs and Veges, I got out the tripod and did a bit of night photography as the sky was so wonderful, then we sat around the fire til bedtime. Tomorrow, more Flinders ranges.

What a sky in the Flinders Ranges

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Post Finke Adventure Day 4; Saturday 17th June

In dawn’s early light we got up to see the dawn over the lake. There was a beautiful pink and blue glow over the salt, but the best view would have been looking in the other direction. We were not well positioned for that, but still took plenty of shots in the cold. And boy, was it cold!!

Team M8s racing in the freezing dawn at Lake Eyre

Fiona rugged up against the cold for dawn photography at Lake Eyre Coffee tea and bikkies for breakfast then we all packed up and got going. 

The campsite in early light.

We stopped at what we thought was a mound Spring on the road out of Lake Eyre, but decided it was a man made bore. There was some ducks too in the adjoining stream and pond. 

Bore water oasis.

We stopped again at Beresford  Dam/ railway siding but Ian and Rhonda carried on and we met up with them at Coward springs. For $2@ we had a dip in the spring which had a couple of powerful jets shooting out from the side and bottom. A nice hot salt bath to clean us all up. 

Ian soaking at Coward Springs. A well needed wash!

From there we headed towards Marree where would separate, but first stopped by the roadside to look at a field of sculptures including a pair of Cessnas planted into the ground!

Ian and Fiona pretending to be Cessnas.

Roy with his new BFF sculpture

At Marree we filled up with fuel, looked at the closed Lake Eyre yacht club and the store which had great photos of Lake Eyre, then said our farewells to Ian and Rhonda before heading to Farina. The team partners headed separately home.

Soon after we passed a car on the dirt road whose driver got very upset and said lots of aggressive things on the radio- which we ignored. Unfortunately after we stopped for a variety of photos along the way he caught up with us at Farina and tried to engage with us but we drove off so he said more rude stuff on the radio, which we ignored again. Glad I'm not travelling with him. but it did sort of ruin our visit to Farina. From there, on to Leigh creek. As we went through Lindhurst we got Telstra 3G signal so were able to hop onto the Internet and book a cabin at Leigh creek. We arrived in time to hunt around trying to find the place but eventually stumbled upon it and were set up in a very nice, warm little cabin where we cooked our own meal with enough left over for another night.

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Post-Finke Adventure Day 3; Friday 16th June 2017

Lake Eyre

Overnight camp was at the corner of the Oodnadatta track and the road to Mt Dare. We had a leisurely start, with pancakes for breakfast cooked over the open fire while we watched the odd road train trundle down the track and slow up for the turn. 

Eco-Billy on the boil for breakfast.

When we were pretty much packed up ready to go we mosied on down the river bed a while and Ian brought the chainsaw to cut a bit of firewood to strap on to the trailer for our upcoming camping adventure. 

Camped in amongst the Mulga.

The world’s most diabolical thorn/3-corner jack.

Once strapped on we returned to the camp site and all headed out onto the Oodnadatta track proper - where you see some funny things on that long straight track.

Very ambitious, bicycles on the Oodnadatta track.

Ultimately into Oodnadatta where we picked up some diesel and ice creams along with many pictures of the pink roadhouse. 

The Pink RoadHouse Oodnadatta

Its a long way from anywhere. We went to Coward Springs, Leigh Ck, Copley and Arkaroola.

Rhonda decided ultimately against the pink Akubra and settled for a tea shirt, in pink . We all headed off and met up at William creek where we had a good look at the William creek pub along with the internal decor including a water buffalo head! 

Roy’s new BFF at William Creek.

From there we all headed out to the Lake Eyre turn off, however not far in we saw that a permit was required so we chatted to Ian on the 2-way and agreed we would head back to William Creek to purchase permits. 

William Ck Hotel (3 men and a dog) 

We drove the 7k back into town where the lady at the pub told us we had to get them on the road as they didn’t sell them- but the kiosk by the side of the road was all out! So we headed back out again, having filled with diesel to justify the return trip and again took the turn into North Lake Eyre. We passed a large flock of Corellas, what looked like a mound spring and lots of little birds flushed by the car flew in flocks over the road. There was one type of little bird which ran across the road, then flew- a little brown bird with a v of white on its tail. Never managed to get a photo of it.

We caught up to Rhonda on the road, she had got out of the Mog and was riding her mountain bike the last 20 or so km into the campsite. Not too long after that we caught up and passed Ian, so we arrived at the  campsite first. The last section into Lake Eyre was a shock. Rounding a turn it felt like you were suddenly catapulted into a black moonscape. Black rock everywhere. As we got closer it looked like there was water in the lake but ultimately it was salt and completely bereft of any visible life. 

Walking on Lake Eyre; Salt!

Very disappointing that the water and birds had gone, but a fascinating landscape nonetheless. We went for a walk down to the shore and out onto the lake. Salt had puddled in earlier footsteps and must have been an inch deep. We set up camp and enjoyed a beautiful sunset.

Roy in the salty sunset over L. Eyre.

 Ian cooked up a chicken stir fry which was yummy. It was a cold night in the tent!

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Post-Finke Adventure Day 2; Thursday 15th June 2017

 Oodnadatta track.

We woke up early in the cabin at Mt Dare but didn't drag ourselves out of bed in the ensuite (size of a wardrobe but lots of hot water) cabin until about 7:30am. While Roy was in the shower,  I went for a bit of a walk  to take photos in the stunning morning light and to see if the truck had arrived with diesel- so we could proceed with our journey. Though we were planning to go ahead anyway as we had been onto Ian via the satellite phone and he had plenty of diesel for us to get to Oodnadatta . The diesel truck had not arrived so we had breakfast and headed for Dalhousie Springs to meet up with Ian and Rhonda who were already there. It wasn’t very far to Dalhousie but it took some time and was quite challenging terrain. It varied from thick red sand to gibber plain and clay pans.

Thick red sand with corrugations.(Note the aerial had been shaken loose)

Gibber plains

Clay pan

We made it to Dalhousie ready for a nice cuppa and a swim in the Springs. They were both lovely. The Spring was a large lagoon at around 38-39c with pool noodles for general use, we had a swim around and lapped up the heat. Particularly good for Roy's bruised bones! All those Artesian salts wouldn’t have hurt either.

Dalhousie Springs, beautifully warm

Local information on the Springs

Back to the car for lunch and another quick swim in the Springs before packing up and heading for Oodnadatta. It was about 4pm by the time we reached the junction with Oodnadatta track after all the stopping at the Dalhousie ruins and a few other photo stops and chasing cattle off the road. 

The race team at Dalhousie Ruins.

We found a nice camp site by a dry river bed and set up camp for the night. Ian cooked chops and kebabs with potatoes, sweet potatoes and onions on the fire. Yum!

Oodnadatta corner camp Sat around the camp fire yarning til late, at least 9 pm.

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Post-Finke adventure Day 1: Wednesday 14th June 2017

Off on our outback adventure to home. Alarm at 6am, breakfast, final packing and out the gate by 7:30. Rather later than planned but not too bad. Filled up with fuel and, having decided that the Finke Rd was too cut up; we went back to Finke via Kulgera again then turned right to Mt Dare.

Lay by on the Stuart highway.

Leaving a dust track behind us on the Finke Rd.

But.. not before we had taken a diversion off the Finke road into Lambert’s Centre of Australia which is the geographical centre of Australia. Here we met Roy's new fan club, a bunch of blokes impressed to meet a Finke finisher and thinking of having a go themselves one day! After a few photos and a quick lunch we got back on track, which tested the 4wd for the first time in some deep sand.

Lambert’s Centre of Australia.

We arrived at Mt Dare around 4:30pm ready to fill up with diesel only to find the cupboard was bare. Diesel had run out this morning and they were waiting on the truck from Pt Augusta to deliver more. We had to make a call on what to do. Not enough fuel to get to Oodnadatta via Dalhousie Springs with us and no idea when the truck with fuel would arrive. 

Station with no diesel.

The empty bowser.

The Mt Dare pub had a number of cabins available and a camp ground but only one cabin with ensuite left. For $20 extra we took the fancy schmancy ensuite (wow) and took time out for some photography . 

The Mt Dare Hotel

Galahs settling for bed.

As well as choosing not to unload and pitch a tent we decided not to try and cook as we had no wood and didn't feel inclined to break out the gas stove. It turned out the cabin had a cooker, but having seen it, we had made the right call to order early for the pub dinner!

Another vehicle waiting for diesel...

The Mt Dare pub had some very interesting interior decor with strings of stubby holders pegged across the room, peak caps pegged along one wall, including an autographed pith helmet, and more standard Akubra style hats along another wall. All with several decades of dust built up and probably a whole ecosystem inside! 

Inside the Mt Dare Hotel.

We pulled up a couple of stools to an old barrel and settled in with a beer and wine- anyone need some paint stripped? But it was a very atmospheric drink! Great sunset and sky colour behind an old windmill . Some great old rusty cars strategically placed for atmosphere as well.

Local windmill.

Dinner will be served at 7:45pm, we had to order around 5 to get that time slot. We will head off to join Ian and Rhonda at Dalhousie first thing in the morning. Looking forward to enjoying a swim in the springs.

Tucking into Pub Grub.

The Diesel truck didn’t arrive by morning but we had been in contact with Ian via Satellite phone and he had plenty to spare so we were ready to leave regardless.

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Finke Race Day 2: June 12th 2017

After a good night's sleep in our new 3-man tent we woke to the sounds of the race vehicles prepping before light- the cars would head out at first light. It was -2C so we didn't hurry out of warm sleeping bags but eventually had to crawl out as the back wheel of the bike had been bent with broken spokes and needed replacing before the race starts.

Finke camp, working hard on prepping the bike for race day 2

It was a beautiful soft dawn light interrupted by racing car noise and helicopters buzzing around over the race track . Ian and Rhonda had got up early and were out of sight watching the cars racing. I packed up camp and made breakfast while Roy did the bike maintenance.

Working hard in the garage Before we knew it it was time for him to head up to the start for riders briefing and to find his start time. We took plenty more photos, the others had returned to camp by now and we're also packing up to head out to do more adventurous sightseeing. 

Team send off.

Roy took off for race day 2 sign on at 10:00 and briefing and I finished packing up and set out back to Alice, undertaking to catch up with the others again on Wednesday, it was after 10 by the time I headed off. Nonetheless I had to go past the riders to get out so I stopped to find Roy for a final good luck the. Headed out onto the Finke road and more red dust.

Bikes ready to race Day 2 from Finke

Bike 890

Checkpoint Started

Day2

Time of Day 12:43 (provisional)

 Checkpoint MtSquires

Time of Day 1:38:52PM (provisional)

 Checkpoint Bundooma

Time of Day 2:16:02PM (provisional)

 Checkpoint Rodinga

Time of Day 3:03:53 PM (provisional)

 Checkpoint Deep Well

Time of Day 3:34:15 PM (provisional)

 Checkpoint Finish Line

Time of Day 4:38:45 PM (provisional)

 An unusual and temporary dust-clear view on the Finke Rd.

It was a long but unremarkable drive back to Alice – well if you consider the huge amount of traffic and overwhelming red dust on the Finke Road as normal...Worst thing was that the iPod wouldn’t deliver music so it was a long quiet drive. I arrived in Alice at the finish line in plenty of time for Roy to come in, considering his later start today. The queue of traffic on the highway back into Alice from the track was stationary. I had to drive briefly on the wrong side of the road to get into the track and go and find a park in the back blocks of the carpark. I found a reasonable spot for last photos, photographed lots of riders that I couldn’t identify – just in case! Most looked very beaten up and there was not much aggressive finishing, just a lot of relief.

The last dash for the finish.

Finally Roy rode into sight and I snapped a few last pictures then raced around to the transponder hand-in desk to meet him. It took a while for him to come into sight, and he was moving independently but I’d say only just. 

Still walking after the finish

Loved it, had a ball.

We handed in the transponder, bought a huge thick shake to bring him back to life ( the lady gave us a spoon as she thought he may not have the energy for the straw), picked up the bike and loaded it back on the trailer. We joined the queue to inch our way out of the car park and were lucky to make it back to the accommodation in time to unload, change and get to the Casino for presentations.

All worth it to get the “survivor’s spike”.

Thanks team!!

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Finke Race Day 1: June 11th 2017

Still happy and clean, kitting up for the race. Bike#890: Roy Chamberlain

Texts sent to pit crew, but only received if in range (ie next day)

Day1 StartTime is 12:12:00Sunday

Checkpoint Started Day1

Time of Day 12:12 (provisional)

Checkpoint Deep Well

Time of Day 1:15:41pm (provisional)

Checkpoint Rodinga

Time of Day 1:46:07 (provisional)

Checkpoint Bundooma

Time of Day 2:33:16pm (provisional)

Checkpoint MtSquires

Time of Day3:12:11pm (provisional)

Checkpoint Arrived Finke

Time of Day 4:07:40pm (provisional)

With riders sign on at 9.45am we headed out to be at the track by 9am. Lots of last minute checking of the bike and gear as well as all the camp gear needed for the overnight at Finke. At least with Ian and Rhonda already at Finke our camp was already staked out and the billy would be boiling when we arrived.A late decision was made that I would drop Roy off at the track, stay for sign on and then head off to Finke as it could take 5 hours of driving to get there through Kulgera and down the Finke road which is red sand all the way. That way I might make it to Finke before he arrives - rather than much later and possibly after dark. So we signed him on, ready dressed in race clobber (!) and with the bike parked at the track start we went back to the car for provisions to keep him going through riders briefing and a start time of 12:12. I was waving goodbye and heading off to Finke by 10:15, leaving Roy with a ham sandwich, a bottle of water and pocket money☺️.

Pumped up with race readiness! The road for support vehicles to Finke through Kulgara is long and straight and fast with a speed limit of 130kmh for most of it, though towing a trailer I didn't take advantage of the high speed limit. Saw plenty of wedge-tailed eagles squabbling over carrion and plenty of other bike trailers headed for Finke. I stopped at Kulgara and joined a longish queue for the one operating diesel pump then headed off into the red dust for Finke. There were plenty of other vehicles of many sizes, some quite huge, road trains and buses on the road. Some of the vehicles were slow as slow and I was able to pass and some screamed past in the dust. How they did that with no visibility I don't know.

 A handy and hi tech sign for finishers in case they’d forgotten where they were.

It was coming up to a 3pm arrival time at Finke and I kept getting stuck behind slow vehicles however I made it to the finishing line not long after 3 and waited by the track for him to arrive. 

Bike #890 emerges from the dust (left)

After Roy's target time came and went I found the marshalls and checked that I hadn't missed him go by and they were able to tell me that he had passed the last checkpoint (phew!) and should be arriving shortly. Sure enough he came in just short of 4 hours very beaten up. The track was really tough this year; so dry and dusty it was impossible to see anything.

End of world’s toughest ride. (Day 1)

He was still able to ride to the agreed camp spot and I followed in the car with trailer to where Ian Rhonda and the Uni of were set up, sure enough the billy was boiling.

Servicing the bike in the “garage” After we managed to dislodge Roy from his riding gear the bike had to be serviced. We set up the car with new awning and LED lighting so he could get that underway quickly. Meanwhile I set up camp with help from the others and they heated up the spag Bol that we had brought frozen.

Raring to go and still smiling!

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Finke Prologue: June 10th 2017

Dust at the track start at Prologue. Bike #890

Out on the track by 9.00 am we met up with Ian and Rhonda and had a bit of a look at the cars clocking their times on the Prologue track.

All too soon it was time to go over for riders’ sign on at 10.15 am and then just time to kit up and have a bite before riders’ briefing at 11.00am.

 A lucky charm emu on a competitors bike!

Fortunately we had moved the bike down on to the track already, as no sooner had rider’s briefing finished than it was time for the Prologue reconnaissance, where it was a free for all to ride around the track behind the lead car to get to know what you were in for. 

Roy, centre, already dusty after reconnaissance round.

Roy got off up front but still found the dust so severe that he nearly had to stop a few times – no visibility! After that he did a few practice starts and then we had a break – enough time for a sandwich and to clean the goggles. Bike Prologue started at 12.30 and Roy was scheduled for 13.11.

Text message to pit crew:

Bike 890 Scheduled Prolog StartTime is 13:11:00.000 Saturday Tatts Finke Desert Race

We headed over to the track separately with plenty of time to spare, planning to meet up at the beginning of the track. Roy got caught up with the marshalls as soon as he arrived and headed up to starting position while I arrived at the appointed spot and couldn’t find him! Ian and Rhonda turned up after their supply run to Woolworths and we all hunted for him; but of course he was already in position. By the time we found out that all was OK it was too late to get up to the track for photos so I positioned myself on the track with a good view of the finishing line and got a few shots of him crossing the line.

Roy crossing finishing line at Prologue

He was not happy with his run but did significantly better than in 2016. Prologue time a whisker over  7 minutes. Apparently he was overtaken by another bike and couldn’t see where he was going, but then I guess everyone has the same challenge with that dust!

We handed over all the essentials for bike and Roy-maintenance (after race day 1 tomorrow) to Ian and Rhonda who headed off to Finke to set up camp. We packed up and headed back into town to fill up with fuel for the bike and car, and food for the overnight camp tomorrow.

FDR _SMS Tomorrow; Race Day. Bike 890 Scheduled Day 1 StartTime is 12:12:00 Sunday Tatts Finke Desert Race

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Finke Scrutineering; Friday June 9th

We were up early even though nothing was happening at the track until 5pm for scrutineering.

Francis, the Ford Ranger, was booked into TJM Alice Springs, for a replacement back windscreen after we lost the last one to a stone on Tuesday during a test run on the Finke road. The shop was very accommodating and had even agreed to take the show model off the floor for us as otherwise it would not have been possible in our time frame.

I'm sure it had a front wheel before!

Um, anyone remember where this bit came from?

The TJM people kindly gave us a lift back to our accommodation and the day disappeared into repairs etc on the bike, getting it ready for prologue and race. There was early optimistic talk of having a walk in the surrounds during the day, but that disappeared as more rough road calamity was discovered on the trailer which had to be rewired to get some lights functional at the back, and a new number plate constructed as we had lost the plate on the road on Tuesday as well!

The new beautifully constructed cardboard number plate - which lasted until Finke!

In the end there was no walk, and we arrived at scrutineering a lot later than planned, arriving a 4.30pm rather than 3;30pm read for the start at 5pm. We parked Francis, complete with new back windscreen - covered completely in cardboard - to avoid another rock disaster, and unloaded the bike.

Rolling the trusty steed down the ramp.

The scrutineering queue was already running down the length of the car park and curling around into the distance.

We duly joined the END of the queue (unlike some more important people) along with hundreds of other likely contenders - apparently the favourite to win was just behind us.

One of these bike is favourite to win. You choose!

With a flash of brilliance, Roy remembered that last year we had to get the riding gear checked over first and then the bike, which I was able to verify with Martials. I stayed with the bike and called up the support team (Ian and Rhonda) to help move it while Roy took his gear off to the desk for checking. Just as well, as that gear checking queue soon swelled rapidly once people realised. Eventually  it was moving even more slowly than the bike queue, but by then we were done with gear and were jut waiting in the bike queue.

Waiting in the scrutineering queue

Making the best of the cold wait as the shadows get longer

Difficult to be other than patient with this crowd ahead.

We were through scrutineering with no issues in about 2 hours, by 6.30pm. It was dark and it was really cold.

There were so may people and bikes, it felt like double the previous year although there was only about a hundred extra bikes.

Rhonda and Ian bought stone cooked pizza nd met up with us just we went through scrutineering. They here hot and really yummy but a bit hard for the cold scrutineers to watch us tucking in! we parked the duly approved bike along with all of the others and took some team photos. First order of action was to fix the transponder to the bike!

Attaching the transponder

A friendly Marshall managed to take a couple of "bursts" of photos on the iPhone and filled it up with rubbish shots, but we hopefully got some good ones on Roy's phone or Rhonda's.

Hooray we made it! Seem to be saying that a lot.

[amazingwylietravelsblog]

Finke registration; Wednesday

First order of business, off to TJM to see what can be done about the canopy glass as the Canberra connection has been unable to source anything for us.

8 weeks to get a central locking replacement, 1 - 1.5 weeks for the other. Can't air freight it in any faster. Hmm, looking like a serious problem until we noticed a display canopy on the floor which looked very familiar. The sales guy was very helpful and after chatting to his boss agreed to take off the glass and install it in our car and was persuaded that it could be done on Friday so we could continue our planned trip- hooray!

Registration after lunch and suitable purchase of merchandise out at the track.

The race team kitted out with "merchandise"

Roy and Rhonda in their flash Finke T-shirts and caps.

Ian and Rhonda, the race support from Northern NSW.

Mooched into town to get supplies at woolies and also found a go pro chest mount - not allowed to wear go pro on helmets anymore.

Steak and Veges on the BBQ for dinner and managed to get the blog up and running.

Nice to have a "rest" day😊

[amazingwylietravelsblog]

Practice Day 2; Finke to Alice (almost)

Its 7:51am, zero degrees in Alice, up from -2C, and we are well on our way to Finke for a test rum North on the track all the way to Alice .

We will have lunch at Finke before heading back as you can't travel North on the track until after midday.

A glorious sunny day; must wear sunscreen today!

Bit of an unexpected turn as a stray rock flicked up by the trailer exploded the back windscreen on he car. Some how Roy noticed it looking through the back and stopped quickly to see what had happened. Black glass in a thousand pieces dripping quietly into the back of the car and onto the road. Bum!

Cleaning out the broken glass from the broken screen.

Drove the car off the road for safety and set about cleaning away the glass as much as possible. Amazingly I had 1 circle of phone signal on my mobile and we managed to contact the TJM shops both in Alice and in Canberra who promised to do what they could to find a replacement in short order. Meantime there seemed nothing better to do than find a nice spot and boiled the Ecobilly for morning tea. As it was still early we had some time. Can't do the run from Finke North to Alice before midday anyway.

The new back dust cover.

Roy and Ian did a great job covering up the open gap in back of the car with an old sheet, some cable ties, rope and gafa tape. The decision was made to continue the day as replacement plans for the car seemed to be in train. Nothing more that we could do by returning to Alice. So we drove on into Finke. It's a long way! We mooched around to get our bearings and locate the camp spot from last year before finding a good spot to pull out the chairs and uncover the lunch supplies. While Ian and I set up camp and lunch, Roy unloaded BAD ( The Blue Angel of Death- not sure I approve of this moniker) and kitted up in his body armour for the practice run.

Ready to attack the Finke track, heading North.

It was getting late, well after 1pm before he got on his way. At least he would have the track to himself. We were able to drive the car alongside him on the track for a long way and I could take photos while Ian drove. This seemed like a good idea until Roy hit some whoops badly and speared off the bike onto the road - potentially in front of his own car. How ironic would that have been? Fortunately we could see what was happening in slow motion and avoided him successfully. Would have been a quick end to race aspirations.

On the track, running alongside the road.

By the time we stopped the car and I pulled my shoes on and jumped out of the car Roy was still lying unmoved on the racetrack/road and I was momentarily concerned that he was injured. Turned out he was just having a little rest, ha ha, winded actually and pulling himself together. He responded to my query that he was ok and pulled himself up with expletives about how hard the sand is to ride on, but at least soft to land on! He pulled the bike out of the bushes and back up right, shook off some of the sand, remounted and headed off for the next club refuelling stop. As the road and track still ran close I was able to capture plenty of go pro video, iPhone video and stills.

More trackside running.

We met up at the refuelling station, had a quick chat and check and headed off again for the next fuel stop.

At the next stop we refuelled the bike, chatted with some other blokes in the old buffers class and though it was getting late, Roy took off for the third fuel stop where we would touch base again.

At the third stop it was getting very late in the day and shadows were across the track but Roy insisted on pushing ahead. Carefully avoiding looking at me so I couldn't stop him! It gets dark quickly in the desert and it was only a short while later that we all called a halt and loaded up the bike in the moonlight, bundling Roy into the car in full kit for the rest of the drive back to Alice. It was well after 7 when we got back and he was seriously exhausted and ready for a hot shower and a roll in ice gel.

Way too late to be on the track. Yes, that is the moon!

Rest day and see what can be done about the broken window tomorrow.

[amazingwylietravelsblog]

Practice Day 1. Alice to fuel stop 2.

Now we have arrived in Alice, it's time to start getting serious about this race! After a good nights sleep.....Started off with a big sleep in. Didn't have to get out of bed until 6:00am and with the time difference in the Northern Territory that's really like 6:30! As a bonus the temperature was above zero!

 The bike ready to go

for the first practice on a beautiful Winter's morning in the desert.

After a quick breakkie, the 4 of us piled into Francis, the Ford Ranger and headed out to the beginning of the Finke track ( not the Prologue track). The KTM team were already there complete with the local TV camera team, ready for their promo filming and practice. As you can see it was already pretty dusty.

 Roy kitted up in his dirt bike gear in a beautiful morning with stunning skies. In the sun it was even starting to warm up!

   Heading South!

After a few photos, Roy disappeared South into the red dust and we piled back into Francis to follow along. First stop , a big red Sandhill about 30kms in for some posed photos, then off he went into the distance again. We found him waiting for us up the track where the road and track run parallel for some way. We were able to drive alongside him for a long way and later give him feedback on how he looked on the track, how fast he was going etc.

cresting the sand dune.

Finally we stopped at the second refuelling point and all pulled over for a well earned ecobilly tea and coffee with banana cake!

refueling.

Riding parallel to the road allowed some photos from the passenger's seat! Challenging shooting!

Tea and cake at the refuelling stop.

Well enough was enough and we put the bike back on the trailer, scraped up Roy back into the car and headed back to Alice at a rather more sedate pace. So much further to get home!

A bit of red dust, but not too bad yet.

   Sharing the road!

Home in time for a few running repairs to the poor trailer that had spat its electrical connection and important beer supplies.

 Ready for another practice day tomorrow!