Bushnuts Trip Report

BUSHNUT

Well-Known Member
Bushnut’s South Australian trip.

The loose nuts crew consisted on the first part of the trip Royboy , Singapore Dave and myself crambed into Royboy’s GU wagon, Little Bobby and Di in a Nissan Navara Twin cab , Stevo and Justine in a Rodeo Twin cab – Others to join us later were Beesnees in his 75 series ute at Goog’s Lakes and Simon and Linda in their VW Tiguan at Ceduna .

On Saturday the 8th of August we left Melbourne for Renmark, where we soft camped at the Big 4 Caravan park , stayed in cabins there .

Sunday’s travel was to Leigh Creek and again we went soft and stayed in Cabins there .

Mondays travel was all the way to William Creek . On the Oodnadatta track, between Marree and William Creek, Little Bobby’s Navara had its first mishap, a delaminated back right handed tyre, it was in tatters .

William Creek was a s#!t hole , somehow the pub now owns the camping ground and what was the café across from it , it was a good place for a feed when we were up there two years ago . The present people who ran the pub are not the sort of people that should be in a pub , they seemed to have all the character of a fart in a bottle . We swagged it in the camping ground for the two nights.

Tuesday’s travel was out to Halligan bay , about 60 KM out from the Oodnadatta track , on the way out you pass a reminder of if your vehicle fails to proceed, the first rule is to never leave it, a monument to a German tourist who tried to walk back to the Oodnadatta track after the vehicle they were in got bogged whilst driving on the lake bed – it was in the December , imagine the heat then , she perished after only covering about 17 KM .

Returning to William Creek, we took a flight over Lake Eyre North, on the way out to it , you are flying over part of Anna Creek station, the largest cattle station in the world , you can fit Belgium within its borders, Belgium has 16 million people, Anna Creek has 4 people and a the cattle dog , in good years , it will support one head of stock to the hectare , it is a hard country . The flight over the lake was very interesting but not spectaclular, it was unique in the fact that there was water in there , it had receded down to about 50% of what it had been but because it is a fairly shallow basin it still looked immense . There were still quite a few pelicans there although most of them had gone .

Wednesday morning we left William Creek and took the road to Coober Pedy , on the way, Little Bobby had his second tyre go , he was running Cooper ST’s for those who want to know, so one has to question the durability of them . At Coober Pedy we went to get 2 new tyres , we were hoping to get BF Goodrichs but not to be had, it seems that most people use Hercules up there a Chinese tyre and swear by them they seem very hardy and at $220 a pop fitted , saw a lot of vehicles with them on too .

It was there that we noticed that Bobby had another problem, the back plate of his rear diff had a weep, we took it to the local garage, who didn’t seem all that interested in doing it , so we got diff oil , a bucket, Gasket goo and decided we would fix it our selves when we stopped at Glendambo to the south .

In the evening by torchlight we drained the oil out of the diff and cleaned the existing gasket as best we could and applied the gasket goo and filled the diff up to it proper level, it hadn’t lost a lot which was my concern .

Thursday we drove out past Tarcoola which basically follows the transcontinental railway line to the start of Googs track , travelling from North to South is supposed to be the steeper way for the 300 dunes, we diverted from the track and went out to Mount Finke had lunch there and then resumed back onto the track and arrived at Goog’s Lakes for the camp about 4.30 in the afternoon . Here we met up with another of our Group Robin Beasey or Bee’snees ,who had come in from the South . We spent the next day and night there, a rest day you might say, went for a walk and found aboriginal middings , Beesnees has spent a lot of time with the aboriginals up in the territory and is very Knowledgable about bush tucker and so forth , we even found a Quandong tree . Returning to camp, Bobby produced a big bottle of Vodka so we investigated the merits of Vodka , lime and Lemon – I think we enjoyed ourselves but it needs further discussion .

Friday we drove to Ceduna and camped at a caravan park as I think the women in the group would have rebelled somewhat and I must admit , I liked that shower. We also met up with another couple in our Group, Simon and Linda who were driving a VW Tiguan , which is not an off roader at all .

On Saturday, we changed our plans a bit and drove 300 KM’S to the top of the Bight to look at the whales , this was fantastic, they were wonderful creatures .
We then made our way back and camped well off the road just before Yatala .

On Sunday, we resumed our journey back through Ceduna and started down the western coast of the Eyre peninsula , drove out to Point Brown but decided to come a bit inland as it was a bit blowy on the coast and not much firewood, should have stuck with blowy as the bloody mosquitos were in their thousands and as big as dive bombers .

On the Monday we explored a bit more of Point Brown and on the high tide , we did a bit of surf fishing and we caught 7 salmon between us . We then drove down to Baird bay and camped there for the night, we had salmon done in foil with lemon , Capsicum, red peppers and tomato – we do eat well . Each night we would sample reds and the occasional white as you do, nothing better than that around a campfire .

On the Tuesday we drove down to Coffin Bay , went to an oyster boat that had not been in long and bought about 8 dozen oysters got some lemons from the general store made up our own oyster sauce mixing tomato sauce and mayonnaise , had a picnic on the foreshore lawns , shucked our own oysters downed with a nice couple of whites – life is tough . We drove onto Port Lincoln and then headed north up the eastern side of the Eyre Peninsula . not as interesting as the western side . We decided to camp off the highway just before Arno Bay .

The next Day , Thursday, some were heading to Adelaide and so our party split up, Beesnees and I , Bobby and Di , Simon and Linda decided that we would come across via Renmark or get us as far as we felt like it and then the next day make it all the way home if possible . We didn’ t stick together as in a convoy but but we kept in frequent contact as Bobby was a bit crook and so he was taking it easily – we were prepared to turn back if he needed us . Just before Renmark we really rough camped it at the Country Club Golf course , Linda and Simon shouted Beesnees and I a night and a meal there which was really hard to take . I rang Bobby and Di to see how they were fairing , they had made it to Renmark and were staying at the Big 4 caravan park in a cabin – we weren’t the only ones doing it soft .

Next day we made it back to reality .

Trip Summary – Googs Track was quite good, it was the only time we went into 4WD, I would rate it as low level to medium , tyres down to 20 and you are fine .

The whales at the top of the Bight – Fantastic .

Photo 1/. Over lake Eyre, the high salt content gives a high mirror image.

Photo 2/. Bobbys Navara on Googs Track

Photo 3/. Our Camp at Googs Lake

Photo 4/. One of Googs Lake

Photo 5/. Whales at the top of the Bight.

complete set of photos of the trip to come .
 

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knot_gillty

Active Member
Good report as usual Simmo!! So, is Little Bobby getting rid of the Navarrrra now?? Or just doesn't recommend Coopers?:rolleyes:
 

BUSHNUT

Well-Known Member
Good report as usual Simmo!! So, is Little Bobby getting rid of the Navarrrra now?? Or just doesn't recommend Coopers?:rolleyes:

After that episode, I must admit that I don't think I'll trust Coopers out there, at the tyre place we went to a hefty percentage of buggered tyres were Coopers.

Bobbys Navara , well he is not to happy with it, much prefers his Challenger which he has kept he is pissed off with the mechanic who serviced it before he went away - they had supposedly checked the diffs, we had to give the brace bar a few love taps with a hammer to free the filler / checker bung on the diff, no way it had been checked .
 

BEK

4x4 Earth Contributer
After that episode, I must admit that I don't think I'll trust Coopers out there, at the tyre place we went to a hefty percentage of buggered tyres were Coopers.

Bobbys Navara , well he is not to happy with it, much prefers his Challenger which he has kept he is pissed off with the mechanic who serviced it before he went away - they had supposedly checked the diffs, we had to give the brace bar a few love taps with a hammer to free the filler / checker bung on the diff, no way it had been checked .

Good work Simmo love you trip reports for their detail and description :D

K Rudd is after a good diplomat to sort things out with China and your velvet smooth descriptions couldn't upset anyone:D

On the Coopers the only damaged tyre I have ever had was one of those and when I went back to Coiopers the rep said no warranty on them because i was running them at 28 not the prescribed 40. BFG's and Maxxis for me these days

PS it sounds like it was a Bast@rd of trip and you will clearly never do it again:rolleyes:
 
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BUSHNUT

Well-Known Member
Good work Simmo love you trip reports for their detail and description :D

K Rudd is after a good diplomat to sort things out with China and your velvet smooth descriptions couldn't upset anyone:D

On the Coopers the only damaged tyre I have ever had was one of those and when I went back to Coiopers the rep said no warranty on them because i was running them at 28 not the prescribed 40. BFG's and Maxxis for me these days

PS it sounds like it was a Bast@rd of trip and you will clearly never do it again:rolleyes:

Hi BEK, you old smooth talker you,

Going to Lake Eyre was because it had water in it, the last big fill was 77 years ago . William Creek isn't much to miss .Googs track was good and would be a good training track for what you might meet to a lesser degree on the Simpson .

Speaking of the Simpson, contemplating putting a proposal of doing an East to West crossing next year with some of our forum crew, Victorians, Banana benders and Middle Earthers could come Via Broken Hill, Tibbooburra,Inaminkah then either by Walkers crossing or Cordillo downs ( depends on what has dried out by then ) to Birdsville across to Dalhousie Springs and Mt. Dare .Then back down to Marree, do a tour through the Flinder's ranges finish off with a an important fact finding mission in the Clare Valley and then home , comfortably done in 2 weeks . If everyone was able to get 3 weeks, the only variation would be to include Lamberts centre just out from Finke and perhaps go up the old Ghan Line and go west for a bit out to Chambers Pillar then come back down to Mt.Dare .

Would you think we would get any takers ?
 

BEK

4x4 Earth Contributer
The number of takers will be limited by the length of trip unfortunately

All I'd say is at least 6 months notice would be needed
 

knot_gillty

Active Member
Depending on work and time of year we would be keen Bushnut. Probably bring the inlaws along in their F250 with some rellies from O.S. See how we go mate.
 

BUSHNUT

Well-Known Member
Depending on work and time of year we would be keen Bushnut. Probably bring the inlaws along in their F250 with some rellies from O.S. See how we go mate.

I would aim for the 2nd week in August of any given year as by then either or both Cordillo Downs or Walkers track would be made open by then . Do we start a poll for who is interested and how many weeks they can get off ie. 2 or 3 .

Yes there will be plenty of notice given as vehicles will have to be right up to scratch mechanically wise , almost mandatory to tell the mechanic when you take your vehicle in for a service and a checkover that you tell them that you are going across the Simpson as what can seem minimal like a slight weep from a shock absorber cand quickly turn into a mega problem . Also spare filters oil and air , radiator hoses and belts will need to be purchased and oils , enough for one sump fill will be need to be carried and brake fluid and steering as well .

Those with standard fuel tanks will have to consider how they are going to carry extra fuel, rule of thumb is that you must carry enough so that if you can;t get through because of flooding at the Eastern side you will have to carry enough fuel to get back to Birdsvlle . Anyone who is not in RACV TOTALCARE or simillar motoring body total care, it is strongly advised that you do . The latest I heard it is $5000 to retrieve a vehicle from the Simpson .
 

millsy

4x4 Earth Contributer
Looks like you saw a lot of Oz on that trip. Bad luck about the new owners at William Creek. Thanks for the informative trip report.

Am looking forward to getting further than Leigh creek one day myself. Not sure about tackling the Simpson just yet though. I don't think you would be allowed to leave an old MQ on the side of the track out there. So I would have to spend a lot of money on it to make it worth the cost of a retrieve!

One of the members of a 4x4 club in Adelaide, who has done a lot of trips across the Oodnadatta Track, says that the old fashioned 'rags' tryres are the best for standing up to the rocks. I think he means the narrow 4 ply, rather than the steel belted.
 

Gunna

Well-Known Member
Good report as usual Simmo' always enjoy the read, looking forward to the rest of the pics.
 

frosty

4x4 Earth Contributer
I'M SOLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Count me in!! (and the eatnpoopn machines)

3 weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

let's go. We'll wait for ya Gilly! (yeah, RIGHT!)
 

Gunna

Well-Known Member
Hi BEK, you old smooth talker you,

Going to Lake Eyre was because it had water in it, the last big fill was 77 years ago . William Creek isn't much to miss .Googs track was good and would be a good training track for what you might meet to a lesser degree on the Simpson .

Speaking of the Simpson, contemplating putting a proposal of doing an East to West crossing next year with some of our forum crew, Victorians, Banana benders and Middle Earthers could come Via Broken Hill, Tibbooburra,Inaminkah then either by Walkers crossing or Cordillo downs ( depends on what has dried out by then ) to Birdsville across to Dalhousie Springs and Mt. Dare .Then back down to Marree, do a tour through the Flinder's ranges finish off with a an important fact finding mission in the Clare Valley and then home , comfortably done in 2 weeks . If everyone was able to get 3 weeks, the only variation would be to include Lamberts centre just out from Finke and perhaps go up the old Ghan Line and go west for a bit out to Chambers Pillar then come back down to Mt.Dare .

Would you think we would get any takers ?
I'd love be able to join you on this trip but I've already organised to be amongst the Banana benders in September so I'll have to give it a miss.
 

millsy

4x4 Earth Contributer
Great shots. Very impressed with those shots of the lake from above. Amazing views. Thanks for taking that ride and putting up all those pics!
 
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