just across from the pub
Madigan Line 21-6-19
Re: Madigan Line 21-6-19
This is whats commonly called camp 25, Birdsville, the end of the Madigan Line. we are starting from this end and working backwards.
just across from the pub
just across from the pub
Re: Madigan Line 21-6-19
Monday 24th:
We were up at Sunrise to a 1.3 degree breeze and none of us seemed to be in a hurry to leave so enjoyed the warmth of the sun and did a few menial things before finally heading off at 9am.
The road out to Big Red was quite smooth with a fair bit of bitumen and it wasn’t long before we were airing down at the base of the dune.
We had an easy run up and over Big Red then into the desert proper on the QAA line until we hit the water at one of the Eyre Creek channels and took the detour upstream following the bypass track North on the map.
When we arrived at the muddy looking Eyre Creek crossing there was multiple choices but the main track was blocked by the last of a group of vehicles who just parked at the waters edge so we stopped and went and checked our options.
The guy finally moved and another lone vehicle towing a Tvan came along and hit the crossing pretty hard with lots of crashing and bashing across hidden rocks … as soon as he was out of the water he stopped in the middle of the track and got out to inspect the under side of his vehicle for several minutes before finally moving on to continue the track.
I had picked out a line through deeper water just above where all the rest had gone and found it smooth and solid and was able to idle across in second with the water barely half way up the wheels, the rest followed with an easy crossing as well and we continued along west until we found the South bypass track closed and our new track heading north then west again.
We continued west until not far from the National Park Border and finally turned South passing a couple of bores on station tracks until we reached the QAA line again. We stopped for lunch then hit the track again until we crossed the big salt lake and turned right for the Hay River Track.
A few Kms North we made camp near a big lot of wood and had a very nice campfire with no wind to spoil our enjoyment of the warmth and glow, a lone Dingo scouted around camp for a while before moving on and we all retired for the night after a bit over 200 Kms of easy driving.
We were up at Sunrise to a 1.3 degree breeze and none of us seemed to be in a hurry to leave so enjoyed the warmth of the sun and did a few menial things before finally heading off at 9am.
The road out to Big Red was quite smooth with a fair bit of bitumen and it wasn’t long before we were airing down at the base of the dune.
We had an easy run up and over Big Red then into the desert proper on the QAA line until we hit the water at one of the Eyre Creek channels and took the detour upstream following the bypass track North on the map.
When we arrived at the muddy looking Eyre Creek crossing there was multiple choices but the main track was blocked by the last of a group of vehicles who just parked at the waters edge so we stopped and went and checked our options.
The guy finally moved and another lone vehicle towing a Tvan came along and hit the crossing pretty hard with lots of crashing and bashing across hidden rocks … as soon as he was out of the water he stopped in the middle of the track and got out to inspect the under side of his vehicle for several minutes before finally moving on to continue the track.
I had picked out a line through deeper water just above where all the rest had gone and found it smooth and solid and was able to idle across in second with the water barely half way up the wheels, the rest followed with an easy crossing as well and we continued along west until we found the South bypass track closed and our new track heading north then west again.
We continued west until not far from the National Park Border and finally turned South passing a couple of bores on station tracks until we reached the QAA line again. We stopped for lunch then hit the track again until we crossed the big salt lake and turned right for the Hay River Track.
A few Kms North we made camp near a big lot of wood and had a very nice campfire with no wind to spoil our enjoyment of the warmth and glow, a lone Dingo scouted around camp for a while before moving on and we all retired for the night after a bit over 200 Kms of easy driving.
Re: Madigan Line 21-6-19
Tuesday 25th :
Once again we had a cool morning so hung around the fire for a couple of hours before getting our arses into gear and getting moving.
Travelling was pretty quick as we headed north to Beachcomber oil well on a well formed track.
We turned on to the shot line east and slowed considerably as we twisted and turned along the line that used to be dead straight. We turned north again and speed increased for a while until we zig zagged our way across the dunes to finally end up in the Hay Valley just near the old claypan which has now been bypassed.
We stopped at the site of the Eagles nest which has now disappeared but we could see the main trunk of the tree it used to sit in had been chainsawed off several years ago.
We continued on to hit the Madigan line at Camp 16 where we stopped for a look and some pics … we could not see any sign of Madigans Blaze on his tree but did see Norms Blaze still visible on another tree several metres away.
We had finally started our official Madigan Line trip at 3:30 pm.
Once again we had a cool morning so hung around the fire for a couple of hours before getting our arses into gear and getting moving.
Travelling was pretty quick as we headed north to Beachcomber oil well on a well formed track.
We turned on to the shot line east and slowed considerably as we twisted and turned along the line that used to be dead straight. We turned north again and speed increased for a while until we zig zagged our way across the dunes to finally end up in the Hay Valley just near the old claypan which has now been bypassed.
We stopped at the site of the Eagles nest which has now disappeared but we could see the main trunk of the tree it used to sit in had been chainsawed off several years ago.
We continued on to hit the Madigan line at Camp 16 where we stopped for a look and some pics … we could not see any sign of Madigans Blaze on his tree but did see Norms Blaze still visible on another tree several metres away.
We had finally started our official Madigan Line trip at 3:30 pm.
Re: Madigan Line 21-6-19
We headed north to Camp 15
then turned west for a few Kms to Camp 14
then turned west for a few Kms to Camp 14
Re: Madigan Line 21-6-19
The track slowed us right down to around 15 kmh as we bounced our way west looking for a spot to camp, not much in the way of clear spots until we got to Camp 13 at 6:00pm where we set up for the night just before sunset … what we call Fly O’Clock as the incessant flies finally start to disappear for the night.
Another pleasant night around the campfire after around another 200 kms of driving
Another pleasant night around the campfire after around another 200 kms of driving
Re: Madigan Line 21-6-19
Wednesday 26th :
I had a wander around camp before we headed off.
The driving was slow and bumpy to camp 12 [which had been defaced] so we averaged around 15 to 20 kmh most of the time, usually in 2nd high with the odd squirt to get up the sand dunes which usually were curved … pretty much none of the tracks went straight over a dune like the dunes climbs on the QAA line.
I had a wander around camp before we headed off.
The driving was slow and bumpy to camp 12 [which had been defaced] so we averaged around 15 to 20 kmh most of the time, usually in 2nd high with the odd squirt to get up the sand dunes which usually were curved … pretty much none of the tracks went straight over a dune like the dunes climbs on the QAA line.
Re: Madigan Line 21-6-19
Along the way we passed Madigans Claypan.
Unlike most of the camps, Camp 11 and Camp 10 were very close together but apart from that the terrain was very similar all the way along.
Unlike most of the camps, Camp 11 and Camp 10 were very close together but apart from that the terrain was very similar all the way along.
Re: Madigan Line 21-6-19
We passed camp 9.
We spotted a track heading south 1 dune east of camp 8 which we presume goes to the Geographical Centre but with the extra distance done around the Eyre creek bypass we are not real flush with fuel and decided not to risk it as it was an extra 90 to 100 kms.
There is a very steep and high dune beside camp 8 which Jeff missed making by about a foot and headed off on a Northern track to see if it went round, Brett had a few goes and made it over then Myself and Phil drove it only to find it looks like a play hill and Jeff had followed the actual track which joined up again on the other side … oh well… it was fun anyway.
We spotted a track heading south 1 dune east of camp 8 which we presume goes to the Geographical Centre but with the extra distance done around the Eyre creek bypass we are not real flush with fuel and decided not to risk it as it was an extra 90 to 100 kms.
There is a very steep and high dune beside camp 8 which Jeff missed making by about a foot and headed off on a Northern track to see if it went round, Brett had a few goes and made it over then Myself and Phil drove it only to find it looks like a play hill and Jeff had followed the actual track which joined up again on the other side … oh well… it was fun anyway.
Re: Madigan Line 21-6-19
We carried on until roughly half way between Camp 7 and Camp 6 where we found a good camp spot and stopped early to cook up a lamb roast … bloody delicious !!
Another 125 kms done.
Another 125 kms done.
Re: Madigan Line 21-6-19
Thursday 27th :
Todays travel was a lot faster, around 30 to 40 Kmh so it wasn’t long before we passed camp 6 then crossed the Colson track to Camp 5, from here we travelled down the Colson for a bit as you’re not allowed to access Camp 4 and 3 due to the Traditional Owners not wanting people in to the Hale River area.
With my fuel filter blocking and restricting me to 1500 RPM max we turned West then headed towards Camp 1A .
Todays travel was a lot faster, around 30 to 40 Kmh so it wasn’t long before we passed camp 6 then crossed the Colson track to Camp 5, from here we travelled down the Colson for a bit as you’re not allowed to access Camp 4 and 3 due to the Traditional Owners not wanting people in to the Hale River area.
With my fuel filter blocking and restricting me to 1500 RPM max we turned West then headed towards Camp 1A .