Outback Australia - the Oodnadatta Track across the desert

G'day all

Australia has a number of famous 'Tracks' crossing the outback - with the Oodnadatta Track across the state of South Australia being one of them. The Track is 620km long, all gravel / dirt road with surface varying from 'good with some corrugations' to 'bluddy-awful and corrugated like gulleys'. While there is an old saying about "mad dogs and Englishmen .... " here in Oz it's "mad urban explorers ...."

The Track passes through one of Aussie's desert areas - 50-year average rainfall is 5 inches / 130mm ... the 2019 rainfall to 31 August is 1/2-inch only. Apart from the starting town and finishing town, there are 2 towns located along the Track. "Town" is a bit of a misnomer as each has a dozen or so houses, a fuel depot and a pub. Fuel one can get, puncture repairs - usually, but anything more than this, it is a tow-truck job along with maybe $5000 in towing fees to the closest large city with repair facilities. Needless to say, every year hundreds of intrepid Aussies do the Track - and most complete it safely and securely ... with a few completing it via the tow truck

Here's some images from our recent journey

1) Thumbnail Aussie Map

2) The view from the driver's seat

3) One of many old ruins from 100 yrs ago

4) "Watering holes" are important to all intrepid travellers ... and the food was excellent

5) A breakdown - the caravan towball & hitch has come apart so some 'bush-repairs' needed until proper repairs can be done elsewhere

As always, feedback welcome
Phil

Ozzie_Traveller wrote: 2) The view from the driver's seat…

On the wrong side of the road, Phil!  

Potentially too much dust, too hot, and not enough trees
in that part for a Canadian, my friend!

How did the towball & hitch repair story end, if I may ask?

The ruins looked so awesome. Nice patterns!  

It looks like west Texas. I'd go.

Looking so arid and dry. I like the ruins as well. Would love to visit this place. 

How did the towball & hitch repair story end, if I may ask?

Hi NS
Another traveller arrived - he had a heap of bits in the back of the ute incl a length of soft-steel bar.  It was bashed & bent into a suitable shape to do a "fish-hook" sort of connection between the 2 units, followed by a very slow drive for the next couple of hours to the next "town" - after that it was up to the caravan driver to sort it out for the full repair

We also met someone else who had seen a twin-axle 28ft / 8,5m caravan which had the front axle wrapped under the rear axle after the mount and leaf springs had broken away.  Major mess - needing the flat-top tow truck for the 1000km ride south to Adelaide for some serious repairs

ps: There is no phone coverage anywhere out here - locals and regulars all use satellite phones
Phil

G'day Hannah + Gary

Oz is one of the best-kept secret destinations - wonderful place to live / visit, heaps to see and do, no language issues, money the same as the USA, extremely safe as we do not have gun issues, BUT distances can be vast, esp for the tourist

We regularly hear about / meet European [often backpacker] travellers who have run a finger across a map and decide to go from "A" to "B" in 1/2- a day, to find that the actual distance is 1000km ~ and it ain't a 1/2- day drive

If anyone here is seriously thinking of visiting Downunder-land, I am happy to chat via email any time

Phil

Major mess - needing the flat-top tow truck for the 1000km
ride south to Adelaide for some serious repairs

Ouch… bad way to end a trip! Hope you're good. 

G'day NS

Our motorhome is now 16 yrs old - we've had it since new and next year it will clock up the magic 500,000km number on the odometer. It is home for us for 250- 280 days each year

Phil

Ozzie_Traveller wrote: Our motorhome… is home for us for 250- 280 days each year

Younger, I had an ol'school bus. A 37 feet long yellow submarine
that had some photo gear, some guitars and the necessary stuff
for long trips to where Nature is, motorcycles gatherings happe-
ned or where the girls were. Great time!  

This is a nice set. I love the composition of the ruins. 

 Impressive shots!