Three Mitsubishis across the Simpson

[nj swb]

I was fortunate enough to score an invite to accompany old Jack and Pajero 12 across the Simpson, returning to Adelaide via Walkers Crossing, the Strzelecki and Arkaroola.



Thanks to some meticulous vehicle preparation, with massive input from OJ, all three vehicles ate it up. Fully loaded, but with the right tyres and suspension, we weren't troubled anywhere. Across the Simpson, we were able to climb (most of) the dunes using traction alone, and didn't need to charge up the chopped-out dunes to make it over the top. Obviously Big Red was one of the exceptions - with a little experimentation and refining, all three vehicles flew up one of the tracks that we were assured was "too hard".

We did have some issues. Pajero12's homemade storage system required some TLC in Birdsville, and I lost a nut from my front sway bar - for the second time. First time, I just happened to have a spare nut (found a few years earlier in a pool on the Wongungarra River), but this time I wasn't so lucky - so OJ crawled underneath with a length of cord and lashed the link back into place, a repair that lasted another week before we found a suitable replacement in Arkaroola. Thanks OJ! M14 x 1.5mm flange nut, for those who might want to know.

I've started wading through my photos, and have made it to the edge of the desert.

The obligatory stop at the Prairie Hotel:




The remains of an old rail bridge at Duff Creek:


Algebuckina:






Pedirka:


Dalhousie Ruin:


Dalhousie campsite:


More to come...

[stumagoo]

looks like an awesome trip guys.....

[Ian H]

Great pics, thanks for posting

[sharkcaver]

Great stuff NJ. looking forward to the rest.

[nj swb]

looks like an awesome trip guys.....

Certainly was.

Great pics, thanks for posting

Great stuff NJ. looking forward to the rest.

I'm glad you like them.

After a night in Dalhousie, with dingos howling all around, we were the third group out of the camp site in the morning. The track was in good condition, and we made good time to Purnie Bore, where the only water to be found was a leak at the bore head, and another from the overhead tank at the showers. So we continued on, with next stop at the boundary of the Simpson Desert Regional Reserve.



We followed the French Line for a while, and I think the best way to describe it is wearying. The track is horribly lumpy, from too many vehicles scalloping wombat holes in unfathomable places. For us, traction was never an issue, but we were typically restricted to 20 - 30km/h, because to attempt any faster would induce a "pogo" effect as our suspensions would hit a resonant frequency over the bumps, which would quickly proceed from uncomfortable to dangerous. The 40km/h speed limit was a distant dream as we slowly picked our way over the lumps and bumps in the interdunal swales, and cruised up & down the dunes.

We stopped for lunch at the junction with the Colson Track, which we subsequently followed south to the WAA line. After the French Line, the Colson Track was a wonderful drive along the swales, much smoother, with a firmer surface. I suspect that, because the Colson Track isn't a part of any "standard" crossing, it doesn't receive anywhere as near as much traffic.

Our relaxing cruise down track was over all too soon as we reached the WAA line, and we turned east once more. The WAA line was reminiscent of the French Line, with red sand and dunes, but the dunes were spaced further apart, and the track was in better condition - probably due to less wear and tear, as it's neither the most direct route (French Line) or the easiest route (Rig Road).

I originally labelled the following photos as French Line, but based on the time stamps, I now believe they're actually from the WAA line. I don't appear to have taken any photos on our first stretch of the French Line.









Late in the day, as we were exchanging calls with a vehicle heading towards us on the WAA line, we spotted a reasonable campsite and pulled in for the night - letting the oncoming vehicle know that the track was now clear. No photos of camp.

Sunrise:


Once up and rolling the next morning we quickly passed a single vehicle camped off the track, which we presume was the oncoming from the night before. A little later, we passed a group of four vehicles still packing up camp, and we continued to hear them, and chat to them, for the rest of the day.

When we hit the Erabena Track, we turned south once again, to visit the Lone Gum Tree:



We had been listening on the UHF to the group of four travelling along the WAA line, and they sounded like they were struggling a little. We decided that if we returned to the WAA line along the Erabena Track we would end up behind them, and probably be delayed. So we elected to continue east on the Rig Road, which also gave us a little more variety in our travelling.



The Rig Road is definitely the easiest way to cross the desert, albeit the longest. In many places the original clay cap is still intact, but is also completely broken down in other places, and the current track has also had to create new diversions around some severely eroded spots. All in all, much easier driving, but I think we all agreed that the WAA line was the best compromise of interest and ease.

At the end of the Rig Road we turned north along the Knolls Track back towards the French Line. Another north-south track following the swales, it wasn't in as good condition as Colson or Erabena Tracks, possibly because it carries most of the traffic that avoids the French Line. As we approached the end of the WAA line we could hear the group of four approaching, and it looked like it would become a race to the junction. The other group paused at a salt pan, and we passed through in front of them.

We stopped at the Approdinna Attora Knolls for lunch, and a trek to the top of the Knolls to view the surrounding terrain - not that I took many photos.



From the Knolls it was a short run north to rejoin the French Line, and turn east once more towards Poeppel Corner.

The track was still lumpy & slow, but the dunes were further apart, and interspersed by more salt pans.



A quick stop at the corner, then, as it was getting late in the day, we selected a camp site, and settled in for the evening.

[ticky]

wonderful photos again Scott and I love the thread.

Hope to catch up with the gang again soon, just had new sneakers put on the pajero yesterday and I would like to get them dirty.

Steve

[NTBenny]

Looks like a great trip. Thanks for sharing it with us. How did everyone's differing brands of tyres fair?

Benny.

[old Jack]

Looks like a great trip. Thanks for sharing it with us. How did everyone's differing brands of tyres fair?

Benny.

Tyres fitted are;
NT Kumho MT 51 LT265/70R-17 about 1/3 worn.
NW Cooper ST Maxx LT265/70R-17 almost new.
PB Cooper ST Maxx LT245/75R-16 about 2/3 worn.

All cars were at Max axle limits so GVM+130-150kg, all tyre were run at very similar pressures on and off road with pressures as low as 12psi up to 38psi cold.

No tyre problems or failures, we did just over 4,000kms in 13 days and 3,000kms was off the bitumen so we were not ambling along. A combination of the correct tyres, correct pressures and correct suspension setups and sensible driving gave us a trouble free trip in regards to tyres.

OJ.

[NTBenny]

Thanks OJ.

Benny.

[nj swb]

Next morning we continued north along the French Line, angling towards the west, further into the NT. After a few kms the track hit a salt pan, which we followed all the way to the junction with the QAA line, where we turned eastwards once more, on the final run towards Birdsville.

Not too far into the QAA line I crested a dune to see what I considered a rather awesome site:



Yes, I know they're a feral pest, and I would readily shoot them all if I could. But I couldn't shoot them, so I just enjoyed the sight, and thought about the contribution that camels made to the opening of this region of the country.

We entered Queensland again without ceremony, and continued to the boundary of Queensland's version of the Simpson Desert national park.



Not far out of the park, while I was bringing up the rear of the group, I crested a dune to spot a dingo trotting along the track in front of me. As I got closer it darted into the scrub, but not too far. As a certified (certifiable?) dog lover, I stopped to take some photos







For anybody who wonders about the inclusion of dingo blood in the Kelpie:



We soon detected on the radio an oncoming "group of nine" vehicles, who also sounded to be making slow progress. Fortunately we encountered them at their lunch stop, so we lost no time for the two groups to pass each other. The lead vehicle of that group was a VW Touareg - I'd love to know how it fared on the full crossing.

Next POI was Big Red, which we conquered with relative ease. This is Pajero 12 on a charge:



After the obligatory photos ...





... we aired up at the bottom of Big Red, and continued into Birdsville. After hitting the roadhouse to fuel up, we cruised around to the Bakery - too late for lunch. So we showered & changed, shopped, did some laundry, drank at the pub (and had dinner, too), and turned in for the night.

The next morning was breakfast at the Bakery, and taking the opportunity to buy some fresh fruit and veggies from the fridge truck - we were quite fortunate that it was in town while we were. We went back out to Big Red for another play (because we could ) and some more photos:





After the play, it was back into Birdsville to finish packing up, finalise some shopping, then head down the Birdsville Track towards Walkers Crossing.

[letsgoplaces]

Well.... all I can say is that you needed some colour to break up the white!
Glad you had a a great trip

[Pickle]

Looks like another great trip Love the shot with the camels.
Dave

[m_and_m]

Some fantastic photos there. Brings back lots of good memories...and bad ones like the French line.
Only one problem...there wasn't a grey Paj there to break up all the white cars

[Alex86]

Awesome photos, looks like a great trip.

Could have added in my white Escape to add some more white mitsi to it haha

[letsgoplaces]

Only one problem...there wasn't a grey Paj there to break up all the white cars

That's what I was thinking.... white grey white brown white.
Would have made for much more spectacular pictures