[qik60]

This is our Plan B trip if CSR doesn't open and looking increasingly likely to happen.
We have five weeks May/June Townsville to Townsville , three humans, one Patrol and a motorbike.
Looking to tick these boxes primarily plus the other places on the way:
Sandover Highway, Finke Gorge, Mt Conner, SG Corner, Gunbarrel Highway, Anne Beadell Highway, Coober Pedy, William Ck, Oodnadatta/Track, Dalhousie, Colson Track, Madigan Line, Hay River Track, Finke Desert Race, Lamberts centre of AU, Plenty Highway, Boulia. Been to a few of them before but this maps out as a good trip. Remote with some fuel and water arrangements to make for the 900k stint Dalhousie to Colson to Madigan to Hay River to Birdsville. Haven't been to the Finke Desert Race before, maybe Toby will get the double this year after his disastrous Dakar.

 

[qik60]

Been doing a fair bit of prep giving the car the once over, thorough degrease and lanolin underside, new spring pads, shock bushes and replaced the drivers side engine mount with a factory unit after trialing the superior jobby for a bit. Too much vibration with them both in so left the passenger side one in as it cops the most punishment. everything else under there all good. Took the alloy rack off and put the steel one on, fitted the three awnings and threw some of the stuff we're taking on, make sure we have enough room for all the gear for three blokes. Swags, stretchers, chairs, clothes bags and pillows in the bag. Plastic table, pair of maxtrax, 2 1/2 jerry cans, alloy part of the bike rack, milk crate toilet seat, couple of ground sheets , bag of bike spares and 2x tyres. (not all on yet).

Light bar to mount in the front of the rack and the two work lights for the sides. Have decided to revert to the Hella spotlights on the bullbar, waiting on new lens/reflectors to arrive.

We are taking a bike rack as a contingency in the event of bike or rider failure. This is the third version we have had and works well although never fitted to this car.

Current mounts are for a ute and will not sit as far out on this one. Bike gets serviced this week then crated up and transported to Alice Springs.

Need to fab a couple of 50mm angle stabiliser arms for either side of the mount point to fix to the rear of the car utilising the rear bar chassis mounting points and the recovery point on each side. The bike only weighs 180kg (not bad for a 690!!) and the rack is primarily alloy, 25 kg or so and if all goes according to plan will not be utilised. However Murphy is out there so it needs to be functional.

 

[qik60]

Last permit just arrived, pick up a Deserts Pass at Alice Springs and only awaiting permission for Adria Downs. Changed the route slightly around SA to simplify the applications process. Have the day tomorrow after early morning hike to tick a few more jobs off.

 

[qik60]

They have had a bit of rain along the Oodnadatta track and caused a bit of grief. Should be nice and green when we get there.

'They could be having some cold showers': Food, gas supplies run low for up to 80 stranded on outback track

Travellers have been stranded on the Oodnadatta Track for days after a recent downpour caused dozens of vehicles and caravans to become bogged.

www.abc.net.au

 

[qik60]

Had the idea of putting a bottle of hand soap beside the jerry tap for ages and just never did it, so while I was messing around yesterday I folded a bit of alloy up, threaded some bungee cord through and fitted it, done. Put the can crusher back on and of course the handle of the tap I fitted while it was off, fouls it. Quick fix, grind the stopper off and switch it to the other side, done. Think I've maximised the use of that space.

 

[qik60]

We're taking a few frozen meals with us so I knocked my lot up today and vac sealed them.

 

[qik60]

Been flat out prepping for this trip last couple of weeks doing a heap of those '5 minute jobs' that take a couple of hours each to do and ticked them all off yesterday. We had arranged to pack the car yesterday for an early departure today however we've had a little hiccup, one of the boys ended up in the Emergency Department at hospital two Saturdays ago with intense stomach pain and after tests told him kidney stone has passed through kidney, now in bladder to pass, something to look forward to. My wifes comment:" another male about to understand child birth pain" However whilst testing they discovered a cyst /growth on his kidney they would like to have tested further and that happened yesterday morning with results/action plan to be determined at 10am Tuesday round table meeting of specialists. So after months of planning and preparations we are delayed three days with a go/no go verdict to come. Fingers crossed all is well for him. This bloke would be the least likely candidate you would think, never drank alcohol in his life, very fit and eats well. Genetics huh.
So, couple of the 5 minute jobs completed recently.
New throne. Drove over the last one.

Took the side lights off the alloy rack onto the steel one

 

[qik60]

Put the light bar back on the roof rack and fitted new spotlights. Have had Hella Rallye 4000 halogens for over 10 years and until the roos head busted the lens of one of them recently never thought of replacing them. Found a pair of the new LED pencil beams for the right price but they only come in black and my current units and preference is chrome. Good news the lens reflector fits easily into my old bodies and i think look flash as. I do like these lights as they only use three LEDs with reflectors so less draw than multiple LED units. Of course there are other areas where they don't perform as well but for my application with the light bar they are very good.

In the black housing

Much betterer in the old chrome housings

 

[qik60]

Had this small barn door table cut out for a couple of years and finally completed the job. Did the gas strut mod while I was at it and that is a good thing.

 

[qik60]

Put a panel together to mount behind back seats to house three amplifiers, an inverter, fuse, fuse box, couple of screw in fridge plugs, anderson plug for the oven, relay to trigger the amps and all the wiring. There is some hours in putting this one together fix all those issues in one.

I also knocked a sub woofer box up for a 10inch speaker to fit in the cavity behind the cargo barrier in front of the fridge but haven't completed yet and wont before the trip. Need to seal it and carpet it, will post a pic when finished.