25th May 2019

Georgia Bore to Bush Camp 50kms

Happy Birthday Mackenzie 🎉🎂⛺️🦂🕷

Both boys rode out, and managed to do about 23kms before Will had had enough of the sand and dunes. He even got followed by a curious dingo for about a kilometre.

After loading Will and Sandy into the Pussy Wagon, we carried on to Well 24 for our lunch stop. It was off on a side track, that wound through a salt flat, come soak, kind of area. As we rounded a bend, we spotted two large grey birds take off, from a manky pool of water. We believe they are Brolga, but not really sure, as we only saw their bums and wings.

Looking around the area we were busy taking pictures of some camel bones, and hadn’t noticed a sneaky visitor to the spring (which also looked manky). A very healthy and strong looking dingo had snuck down and was rapidly having his drink, while diligently keeping an eye on us. When we spotted him, and tried to get close enough for a good pic, he got antsie and backed away into the rocky hill behind.

Thirsty Dingo, who are we to deprive him. He was very cautious, but bold.

Max arrived, and the dingo had returned for more water. We sat in the shade of the Malilucas, watching and listening to the finches, zooming in a mass flock, from tree to tree. The sound wave from their collective wings was like an airplane overhead. Very cool lunch break.

Windy Corner is where the Talawana Track, meets the Gary Highway. Another road for the future hey?

Max was happy to continue on, as the track firmed up a little, and we’d look for a camp spot around the fifty mark. Very soon after we passed him, after lunch, we crossed several clay pan areas, that had reasonable places to camp, but it was too soon. So on Will and I pushed, and suddenly hit 49 kms. No choice but to camp very soon. It was almost 3:30pm. At the base of another tall and steep dune, it was a clear enough spot for a camp. Will walked to the top and spotted a better spot at the base on the other side. Right oh, poor Max, it’s either the last thing for today or the first thing for tomorrow. We felt better to get it done.

Sand, sand and sand! So frickin tough on the bike. But the Old Girl was loving it. Me too!

It was only a few minutes after we parked for the day that Max peaked the dune, and rolled happily to the end of day. Another big riding day for him.

We didn’t want to make Max climb the big dune at the end of his day, but thought it better to finish on that high note, rather than start by pushing up it.

26th May 2019

Bush Camp to Well 27 61kms

Max departed a bit later than he’d planned, we are not a good influence on his early starting regime. His plan was to get up, pack up, eat cereal and piss off. We got up made coffee, and he sat and enjoyed one with us. This added another 45 minutes to his morning routine. Oops, sorry Max.

Very soon after he finally did leave us, we had a visit from a very underfed dingo, sneaking into our camp to investigate our rubbish bag. He was not aggressive, but it is not good to encourage these wild dogs, so Will tried to scare it off with noise from the shovel and metal bucket. It took a couple of goes, but it eventually retreated about 100 meters into the spinifex.

After, I showed Will how things are done as the driver of the Pussy Wagon, (basically sit under tree, drink coffee, and enjoy the surrounds, while occasionally getting up and packing the odd item in the car.), we got going about an hour and a half after Max. Lots of dunes, and slow going. We caught Max, and had a short break, before pushing on to Well 26.

Well 25 in ruins, but still very picturesque. No water, but okay for camping.

This Well was first restored in 1983, then repaired in 2011 and again in 2013. It is in excellent condition, and the water was divine. I winched up a bucket full, and couldn’t resist chucking some over my head. As I was removing my clothes, I called for a cup from Will.  He got to it, and I proceeded to have myself a good old bush bath. Ah, heaven. So nice to get some grime off, and feel refreshed. I reassembled myself, and Will took over, first doing some washing, and then enjoying his own bush bath.

Well 26, restored, with some good history info, great water, and a camping area away from the Well. It also had a visitors book for us to sign.

Minutes after this, in rolled the “Orange Man”, ready for his turn in the cool, refreshing water. We enjoyed some lunch, a wash, and getting some gear clean. All our clothes hung out over the Well to dry, we chilled out, came up with a game plan for the afternoon, then all piled in the Old Girl, and headed for Well 27.

A nudie wash, then a clothes wash. It was very nice indeed. Of course you don’t stay clean for long, but it is pleasant for a while.

The going was slow, lots more dunes, and Max was happy to enjoy the Fly free environment with some air conditioning. Coming over one dune, around a bend before the next one, we came across a Bustard, having a little wander on the track. Cool! It just started trotting, and puffing itself up, but wouldn’t leave the track. Will and I encouraged Max to jump,out and catch it, but shortly after he got out of the car, it dashed off into the scrub, even flying a short distance to get a bit further away. Lots of fun.

Slate Range was a very nice area, and we all needed plenty of picture stops.

Arriving at Well 27, a bit later than we’d like, it was a bit disappointing. Our information said it was a good campsite, in some Mulga trees. What we found was a giant sand pit. But, this is us, so we just selected a flat patch, and set about getting camp together. Wood was difficult, but we scrounged enough for an ambience fire, so we could sit and enjoy our dinner. We actually cooked some sweet corn and sweet potato in the coals, to eat with steak and veg.

It was a tough day, hard driving and riding. We are all very tired.

27th May 2019

Well 27 to Well 29 60kms

Both boys got up early, and headed off. Max has a tourist type map, and it states “Good travelling between Well 27 & 30”. So they figured they could have a great days ride. I just enjoyed the peace and quiet, with my coffee, and let the solar panel do it’s thing. Half an hour later, I could here the distinct sound of man made machines. It was the crew from Outback Spirit Adventure tours. Five large Mercedes G wagons, hauling tourists along this track. They stopped to take pictures of the Well, and we all enjoyed a good 5 minute chat. Lots of questions about the crazy cyclists, and our routines, and then they were off again. Shit, I had better get to packing, cause now the boys will be expecting me.

The G Wagon team are great. All the guests were super happy to be able to experience this rough country with many mod cons. Lucky buggers had toilets and hot showers. Not to mention a chef, almost as good as me…he he he.

I didn’t muck about, packed up, and headed off down the “Good Travelling” track. Hmm, not so good yet, it was super slow going. The original track was a wash out, and the new track was being forged over the spinifex scrub. Lumpy and bumpy, and twisting and turning. Next it was deep, soft sand. Oh dear, Will is not going to be happy. Suddenly, my peace and quiet is loudly interrupted by “Radio Freedom, Radio Freedom, do you copy Mother Load?” “Rogie, Radio Freedom, how’s it going?” “Man, it’s tough, lots of soft sand, dunes, then sharp branches hanging onto the track. We’ve only done 6kms.” Crap, that is hard, they’ve been gone an hour.

My drive was very slow going too, and there were heaps and heaps of dunes. Some were steep, but most were just winding and boggy. The Old Girl did them all pretty well, in high range first, except one, which had no run up space, and came straight off a sharp, boggy corner. Low range second was all I could get, but that was enough. Those poor guys. This is really slow going. Even between the dunes, it was corrugated and like driving through a field of Freddy Krugers. Burnt, sharp branches attacking the sides of the car. Best to just take it slow and try to miss as many as possible.

I finally caught the guys at 15kms, and Will didn’t hesitate to chuck Sandy on the back and hop in. Max, as usual, carried on until lunch time. It was seriously, just a whole day of dunes of every description. All in all, over our sixty kays, we reckon we would have easily done 50 dunes. Max impressed us by actually riding 30kms of them, before we convinced him to get in. The other 30 kays, was just more of the same, and we didn’t get to Well 29 until after 4pm. Another late camp, but there wasn’t many other options in amongst the dunes. This spot was pretty sheltered from the wind that had come up, and people had left wood for a fire. Excellent.

The changing colours, the burnt country, and then some amazing little shrubs with stunning flowers.

As we all sat relaxing under the enormous sky of stars, thinking about this day, we are all feeling buggered, and happy with the journey so far. It is nothing like any of us imagined, but it is not disappointing. Much tougher for all of us, and just as rewarding as we’d hoped.

The only thing we all can’t believe, is the bloody flies. It is so bad, still, that we have decided the Fly Apocalypse has begun. They are taking over. There are also quite a few serious and life threatening conditions they bring forth. This is our theory of the progress;

First, you may have several occurrences of the FI – Fly Inhalation.

Then, you will experience differing degrees of FIT – Fly Induced Tourette’s.

This condition will inevitably bring on the FID – Fly Induced Dementia, which if not dealt with, will result in FII – Fly Induced Insanity.

Now this is treatable, with medication, and an isolation chamber, similar to that used in The Bends. But, if picked up at the FIT stage, and treated with said medication (alcohol above 3.5%, take two immediately on first symptoms, then one an hour until calm), you may possibly prevent FID. So, as you can see, we are all suffering the FID, as we don’t have the required amount of preventative medication, and are only just holding the FII at Bay.