Tanami Desert and a jaded P1

[craven morehead]

Is it my imagination that the pic of the ute and trailer above shows the wheels of the trailer well behind its CoG - meaning its front presses down on the rear of the ute, hence the problems? And why the really long trailer-ute linkage - more then the rear door opening arc?

View attachment 195106

Interesting observation

 

[juddles]

Is it my imagination that the pic of the ute and trailer above shows the wheels of the trailer well behind its CoG - meaning its front presses down on the rear of the ute, hence the problems? And why the really long trailer-ute linkage - more then the rear door opening arc?

View attachment 195106

Just a couple of notes regarding this:

First thing is that this photo was on a stretch where we had deflated all tires tremendously - a given on soft or corrugated ground. Second, the trailer has its own air system where you can raise or lower it - we were riding it high at this point, so probably skews the reality. The trailer did have a fairly high towball weight - wont say the exact figure as I cannot recall this second - but the trailer is actually quite well balanced - the visuals do not give the info re centre of weight due to the heavy water tank, etc. But anyway, if we let the air pressure down in the trailer suspension the whole rig would appear far more balanced. And once we had toyed with things it actually rode extremely well.

 

[juddles]

Just a question of my own, but in relation to camper vans, has anyone here had experience? We did our travels with a Patriot, but the more we learn, the more we are attracted to a Drifta setup. Anyone have experience in these?

 

[juddles]

Apart from the flies did you see any fauna?

Quickstatus, a disappointment that I felt was that I never got to see a camel. Initially we travelled mainly by day, but with the thirst driven by 40+ temperatures we slowly wound back our "happy hour - we can drink" time. Despite any other posts, we are not children or imbeciles - we waited faithfully each day before embarking on our red cans. We eventually settled on a rhythm of getting to bed early and starting another day's drive at 2am. In the Kimberleys this was fantastic - a gazzillion roos of different types, cattle, etc. The one dingo we saw was at dusk about south 200km of Alice - amazing and beautiful. There was a strecth on the Tanami with many goannas, even in the middle of the day.

 

[juddles]

Hi all,

yet again despondent as have so few minutes to update - and I know a TR that fails to deliver consistently loses appeal

Anyway, will, in the forlorn belief that anyone is still watching, post some more photos:

 

[juddles]

Despite having being born in the desert, and lived at both Alice Springs and Tennant Creek, I had never actually seen the marvel of Ayers Rock (Uluru). I would not use the term "bucket list" to describe my interest here, as that term is so shallow and often used. But I did really want to see it. Although I love climbing up rocks and mountains as a hobby (for the sheer physical challenge) I shied away from joining the masses that suddenly wanted to "do" Uluru now that it is closing. Part of my hesitance was not wanting to ever be part of the bogan white mainstream, the other part came from a much deeper part of me - call it spiritual or whatever. But I actually RESPECT that place, even though I do not understand nor fathom it. Sometimes you do not have to have all the answers to make a decision....

Anyway, as is me, I still had a curiosity. And blow me down with a feather, I found in the middle of the desert such magnificent tall structure, but it really and sadly underwhelmed me. Yes, it is a rock placed on top of an otherwise mainly flat landscape. That is cool, if you are truly bored. There are no horror cliff faces but yet I get that the initial climb, being close to perpendicular, could afford a challenge. But seriously, what is the overall hoopla about this stone? It did not seem so formidable to me.

So rather than scale it, I saved five minutes and just took a happy snap:

 

[juddles]

Just touring the Tanami, came across an old place that now does not exist in a civilized manner, but the blip you may see on your maps as "Chilla Well" is very odd. (It is just off the Track to the south) A small camp of modern structures that have been abandoned - felt more like an attempt at tourism rather than working camp. But there is still water. The decayed old windmill (so common) is now absent, but there is a small solar panel and a well:



There were no cattle present, but evidence was there of recent visits. I walked and failed to capture the glorious clouds of finches that enjoyed the water spot

 

[juddles]

I have to add this photo, taken somewhere on the Tanami - it is of our glorious car, "Ruby".

 

[juddles]

As is my thing, often I choose to walk. That way you get a real feeling of the isolation and conditions. So one day I did that - walked several km ahead. But I have an eye for the ground before me. I could not believe that I found a two dollar coin:



I wondered at this find. On the one side I am used to scaling the ground, searching - it has been a part of Life for me. But at the other end I wondered about the odds of finding cold hard currency on a 1000km dirt track.....

I did as I always do - I placed the coin in a special pocket so that I could save the amazing find. But then, as I also do, I forgot about it. I have lost that coin. I suspect the most probable fate is that that the other day when I went to the Noosa Aldi I rummaged deep in my garb for a coin for the trolley - and found and used this. Being me, I would also have abandoned said trolley as I prefer to move on with Life rather than go back for trolley-held mere coins....

I have not yet lost sleep, but one day I will, when I contemplate the intellectual consternation that coin was made to endure. Born, travelled, lost in the deep desert, then awakening in an Aldi trolley, unclaimed. And I thought my life was bad!!

 

[juddles]

Towards the end of the Tanami we got to Wolf Creek - the whole crater thing and the relevant movie. Our intention was to camp there - we simply had to given the hype or notoriousness of the place. And it was stunning. Really special site. Beautiful crater and landscapes to match. But also after a few minutes, you have seen it all. The camp ground was the sorriest I have seen - no fires allowed, bare and desolate.



Please forgive my shorts - I grew up in south america where shorts are despised - and I agree.

We attempted to linger, but as I said, once you have seen the crater, there is nothing left. I advised my travelling companion we could either press on to Hall's Creek, or we could stay and I would prey on backpackers and do hideous things. He opted for the latter, but when I refused to cook, we ended up going to Hall's.....

 

[juddles]

After deciding to get off the Track, we pressed on to Halls Creek - got in in the late arvo and stayed at a place that seemed to have many names. I think that technically it is a Best Western. In any case one of the few places available, and they had a dinner service that was great.

They allowed us to wash off Ruby with great quantities of bore water. Then a great meal. But we discovered (as often on this trip) that most staff in the remote areas are south american people who have to work bush to maintain their work visas. this was not a problem for us - we relished the chance to chat up fellow south americans. In Halls Creek the people were Chilean and Peruvian. The only "Aussie" was the senior bar staff member, a lady in her 50's, really nice, but someone who has seen it all. She said to us simply "you two look like trouble".

I have not been as proud of that compliment ever as I was that night. We apologized and explained we would be out by 2 am.

 

[juddles]

And we were....

 

[juddles]

Question for the botanists - what the hell is the real story behind these:


I call them "paddy melons" as a remembered thing from many years ago.

 

[Buzzard]

Really enjoying your TR @juddles, your journey is a real adventure.
The way you wrote it, I feel sorry for that 2 bucks.

 

[juddles]

Really enjoying your TR @juddles, your journey is a real adventure.
The way you wrote it, I feel sorry for that 2 bucks.

Buzz, I hear you but disagree. Every day is a new adventure. The pre-trip stay in Adelaide was a "dead zone" for me in that it was sheerly waiting time, but I got to meet you and Matt and had a memorable evening. That two dollar coin probably feels the same way

 

[juddles]

A small admission here, is that I enjoy birdwatching. I have endless roots that are not the tough guy I like to portray now. (Do an ancient search and you will discover that I used to win many awards for flower arranging..... ) But birds are special for me. Black coughatoos are both painfull and delicious. Painfull as I miss them, but delicious as every so often they invade these suburban suburbs that I must live in now.

Stopped on a stretch of road, and there they were:

 

[VPS]

Question for the botanists - what the hell is the real story behind these:
View attachment 195836

I call them "paddy melons" as a remembered thing from many years ago.

We always called them paddy melons as well and Dad never liked them because I think they were poisonous to the stock but where he grew up in the South Australian mallee sometimes that was the only thing that was green

 

[JohnM]

Question for the botanists - what the hell is the real story behind these:
View attachment 195836

I call them "paddy melons" as a remembered thing from many years ago.

Mate (and I am NOT a botanist, despite your best efforts to cast me as such ), those cough things are a nasty invasive from southern Africa. It's a weed in California as well. 2,4-D is about the only stuff that's effective against them...

 

[Buzzard]

The yellow tail black coughatoos are magnificent. Luckily we have them where I live in ADL.

 

[RooFlyer]

I have to add this photo, taken somewhere on the Tanami - it is of our glorious car, "Ruby".

View attachment 195830

juddles, that would have to be the cleanest 4WD I have ever seen, in the city, or in the bush. Not even the tyres have any orange dust on them. Be honest now, you just had a helicopter drop the vehicle off at odd spots for a pic, right? No footprints in the dust either. Hmmmm...

Did you end up needing the snorkle?