Quagmire on the Oodnadatta Track

[eksjay]

One of my most favourite tracks is in the news. There has been much rainfall over the Oodnadatta Track recently which is causing problems for travelers and towns along it.

When I was last on the track in 2019, the conditions were dry but it was just no place to haul caravans - even the hard core off-roaders. Many towing big vans realised that they had to somehow curtail their trip and find their way to the black top quickly. The track looked like it had not been graded in a long time. Some vans were dumped on the side of the road due to serious damage.

Hope everyone will be able to get to their destination safely, despite the weather delays. It one of Australia's great off-road journeys with lots to see.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-04-...e=abc_news_web

[humdingerslammer]

Yes well.

Problem is that people get their 4x4 through leasing as work/pay deals and then they just want to go "outback". And then they need somewhere to stay so they buy a bloody great big caravan that says "off-road" and so off they go. The only difference being a slightly higher caravan bottom, but it doesn't change the need for commonsense and understanding about how to drive and when to drive on all outback tracks. So they get bogged, without even a pair of maxtraxs thingies that could get them out of trouble in no time at all. And of course, road tyres all round. And inadequate backup supplies of water and food and communications.

No clue about what is involved and u can't get a lot of info from net etc although YouTube can be helpful. Depending on how up to date it is.

I want to go through the guts of NSW and Qld to look at some NPs I have yet to see but keep putting it off because of rain and wet dirt roads. Watching it like a hawk so I can just piss off. Bugger me if Winton hasn't just been drowned. So, still waiting.

Mind you, I did use a Magna S/W to tow a small, normal caravan up the Birdsville track when I knew no better and across the Oodnadatta track and the Tanami track, but that's history. I would never do it again now that I have learned a bit more.

[Grippy]

Originally Posted by Farwest

Only age and experience hummdinger...only age and experience

ps: loads of 'travellers' stuck midway on Googs Track currently....the club Grippy was travelling with 'timed it well'....good excuse for an extended holiday though

It absolutely pissed down on the day we were travelling from Lake Googs to Mt Finke, wipers were going flat out and the track was rushing like a river! It was good bloody fun. The next day, the track from the northern end to Kingoonya was in pretty good nick but water covering the road in many many places. Out at Glendambo there is an inland lake, haha, soooo much rain up there. We were laughing as when I mentioned rain when we were ready to go at Ceduna, old mate walking past cracked it, "Oh, and you believe in the fuckin tooth fairy too mate, it never rains on Googs!" well we showed him!

The Oodna can get pretty wild with a bit of rain, my mum was the Governess up at William Ck in the 90's, she taught the pub owners kids, old Peter now owns the Pink Roadhouse up the road They got rained in a few times and got caught out one day on the old track that runs through one of the properties, they had to take it as you cop huge fines if caught on the Oodna after rain.

[Grippy]

The best bit, my car being soooo filthy, the Mrs and I went to the casino the day after I got home for lunch, haha, the Grand looked great parked next to the Rangies, Audis and Beamers all looking like htey've never been on gravel

[humdingerslammer]

Originally Posted by Grippy

The best bit, my car being soooo filthy, the Mrs and I went to the casino the day after I got home for lunch, haha, the Grand looked great parked next to the Rangies, Audis and Beamers all looking like htey've never been on gravel

Pissed myself laughing reading this!!! Reminds me of the parking yard at a hospital where I worked.... on one of 5 levels I counted up close to $4m worth of cars....exxy, exxy, exxy.... and all the 4x4s were cleaners than a cat's arse!!!