Flinders Ranges and Lake Eyre

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longbow steve
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Flinders Ranges and Lake Eyre

#1 Post by longbow steve » Sat Sep 15, 2012 11:15 am

I have just returned from a 4500klm round trip on the bike through the Flinders Ranges and up to Lake Eyre in South Australia trying to catch the lake with water in it. I have heaps of photos so I have cut them down to the highlights. I apologise that my camera is pretty average and doesn't really show the colour that well but it will give you an idea of what it was like.
Ready for the off
Ready for the off
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The Hay plains
The Hay plains
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Cotton as far as the eye can see
Cotton as far as the eye can see
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longbow steve
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Re: Flinders Ranges and Lake Eyre

#2 Post by longbow steve » Sat Sep 15, 2012 11:21 am

The bikes
The bikes
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We went to Mungo National park for a day and night and rode out to the Walls of China, it is an amazing landscape out there and the series of dried lakes are amazing. Mungo NP is where Mungo man and Mungo Woman were unearthed 40 odd thousand year old remains.
Mungo Lake
Mungo Lake
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Mungo Lake
Mungo Lake
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longbow steve
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Re: Flinders Ranges and Lake Eyre

#3 Post by longbow steve » Sat Sep 15, 2012 11:31 am

Emu at the Walls of China Mungo NP
Emu at the Walls of China Mungo NP
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We head from Mungo to Mildura then cross the Murray heading into South Australia
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road to Burra SA
road to Burra SA
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Couldn't resist checking out the Motorcycle Museum at Peterborough SA
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longbow steve
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Re: Flinders Ranges and Lake Eyre

#4 Post by longbow steve » Sat Sep 15, 2012 11:37 am

Took about three days to get from home to the Southern Flinders and I thoroughly recommend everyone try to get there for a look. My pictures dont do the scenery justice
Wilpena Pound Flinders Ranges
Wilpena Pound Flinders Ranges
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Hot air balloon flying over Wilpena
Hot air balloon flying over Wilpena
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Brachina gorge
Brachina gorge
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Re: Flinders Ranges and Lake Eyre

#5 Post by longbow steve » Sat Sep 15, 2012 11:45 am

Our next stop was Marree near Lake Eyre for a flight over the Lake. When there is water in the lake it is a tourist hotspot. We camped out the back of the pub for free and enjoyed the company of the locals and other tourists for the night.
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Full moon rising at sunset
Full moon rising at sunset
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Rob and some local stockmen
Rob and some local stockmen
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longbow steve
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Re: Flinders Ranges and Lake Eyre

#6 Post by longbow steve » Sat Sep 15, 2012 11:51 am

The next morning we flew over the lake. It is still 30% full at the moment and most of the bird life has gone but beautiful regardless.
Our plane
Our plane
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Marree township
Marree township
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Re: Flinders Ranges and Lake Eyre

#7 Post by Gringa Bows » Sat Sep 15, 2012 11:56 am

Great pics Steve,makes me want to start saving up for a new motorcycle :biggrin:

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Re: Flinders Ranges and Lake Eyre

#8 Post by longbow steve » Sat Sep 15, 2012 11:56 am

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Some water
Some water
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Pink water due to algae
Pink water due to algae
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Re: Flinders Ranges and Lake Eyre

#9 Post by longbow steve » Sat Sep 15, 2012 12:00 pm

Rod it is the way to travel Australia these days I reckon, we managed at best 30 klm to the liter and camped almost all of the way except for 3 nights in pubs at Broken hill and Hillston so it was an outback trip on a budget :smile: . Steve

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Re: Flinders Ranges and Lake Eyre

#10 Post by Gringa Bows » Sat Sep 15, 2012 12:02 pm

Top stuff,i dont know if the old bones would like it though :lol:

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Re: Flinders Ranges and Lake Eyre

#11 Post by longbow steve » Sat Sep 15, 2012 12:06 pm

LB rod 55 wrote:Top stuff,i dont know if the old bones would like it though :lol:
Ok :smile:
I did lug my bow and seven arrows the whole trip and almost fell of my bike when we found a mob of camels :smile: But they were tame and used for tours through the Northern Flinders ranges.
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Re: Flinders Ranges and Lake Eyre

#12 Post by longbow steve » Sat Sep 15, 2012 12:12 pm

Our next camp was at Arkaroola in the North of the Flinders, it is a nature reserve and very spectacular.
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Re: Flinders Ranges and Lake Eyre

#13 Post by longbow steve » Sat Sep 15, 2012 12:43 pm

We picked our way back from Arkaroola to Broken hill and did the tourist thing there
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I let the guys have a break from all the running around
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Then we made a dash for home over the next couple of days.
It was a memorable trip and has really inspired me to explore more of the outback of Australia. Next years ride is to Cape York but we might slip a Camerons Corner or Simpson desert trip in before that :smile: . Get out there guys. Cheers Steve

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Re: Flinders Ranges and Lake Eyre

#14 Post by bigbob » Sat Sep 15, 2012 3:31 pm

thanks for posting. Great time was had by all then it seems.Loved the motor cycle museum too.Used to do the same thing many moons ago.
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Re: Flinders Ranges and Lake Eyre

#15 Post by stickshooter » Sat Sep 15, 2012 5:46 pm

great pic Steve loved the museum,just charged the SVs battery up to get out & do a few Ks myself :biggrin:

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Re: Flinders Ranges and Lake Eyre

#16 Post by Jeffro » Sat Sep 15, 2012 7:04 pm

Fantastic Steve thats a trip to remember.Very flat in some of it.I know you were planning it for ages.
the plane flight would have been cool .
Did you get sore sitting on the bike for long peiods?
Now we'll have to get some hunts happening

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Re: Flinders Ranges and Lake Eyre

#17 Post by longbow steve » Sat Sep 15, 2012 8:48 pm

bigbob wrote:thanks for posting. Great time was had by all then it seems.Loved the motor cycle museum too.Used to do the same thing many moons ago.
Thanks Bob, we all had a great time. What bikes did you ride?
stickshooter wrote:great pic Steve loved the museum,just charged the SVs battery up to get out & do a few Ks myself :biggrin:
Hi Nigel?, I would love to try an SV. They are a great motor and in a lighter bike with a bit more pep it wouldn't give much away to its bigger brothers :smile: .
Jeffro wrote:Fantastic Steve thats a trip to remember.Very flat in some of it.I know you were planning it for ages.
the plane flight would have been cool .
Did you get sore sitting on the bike for long peiods?
Now we'll have to get some hunts happening
Hey Jeff, the flatness is one of the highlights out there, in some of the pics it shows the curvature of the earth I think. Yeah some days you get sore from the ride but get off for 20 minutes and then you are right for another 100klms :smile: . The biggest days were 500 klms with plenty of stops.
Yep I am keen to get a hunt booked in when you are :smile: . Cheers Steve

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Re: Flinders Ranges and Lake Eyre

#18 Post by jonow » Sat Sep 15, 2012 9:12 pm

Next trip you could come up this way Steve, plenty of cats here at present and a looooong ride here and back :)

Jono
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Re: Flinders Ranges and Lake Eyre

#19 Post by longbow steve » Sun Sep 16, 2012 6:18 am

Hi Jonow, could be on the cards in the next couple of years. Dad and his mate want to get back to Arnhem land one day and I would love to tag along. How is it going up there? I often think of how remote you are up there and when you showed me you town and house on Google earth it really stuck home. Any new Kombi's :smile: . Steve

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Re: Flinders Ranges and Lake Eyre

#20 Post by Benny Nganabbarru » Sun Sep 16, 2012 8:18 am

Awesome photos of a lovely part of the country.
It's the great, big, broad land 'way up yonder,
It's the forests where silence has lease;
It's the beauty that thrills me with wonder,
It's the stillness that fills me with peace.

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Re: Flinders Ranges and Lake Eyre

#21 Post by Stickbow Hunter » Sun Sep 16, 2012 6:28 pm

What an adventure mate - top stuff!!! :biggrin: By the photos you got to see some special places indeed.

A dual sport bike would be good to do more dirt riding but with Jude and I riding two up it isn't really viable.

Jeff

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Re: Flinders Ranges and Lake Eyre

#22 Post by bigbob » Sun Sep 16, 2012 7:13 pm

longbow steve wrote:
bigbob wrote:thanks for posting. Great time was had by all then it seems.Loved the motor cycle museum too.Used to do the same thing many moons ago.
Thanks Bob, we all had a great time. What bikes did you ride?
Only had the British bikes mainly Triumps but couple BSA';s too. Oh also had a 42WLA Harley given too me but wouldnt be seen dead on an ol' thing with hand gears and foot clutch and sold it in perfect running condition for $6!!!! Of course that was back when dinosaurs still roamed the earth!
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Re: Flinders Ranges and Lake Eyre

#23 Post by longbow steve » Mon Sep 17, 2012 3:01 pm

Ben Kleinig wrote:Awesome photos of a lovely part of the country.
To right :smile:
Stickbow Hunter wrote:What an adventure mate - top stuff!!! :biggrin: By the photos you got to see some special places indeed.

A dual sport bike would be good to do more dirt riding but with Jude and I riding two up it isn't really viable.

Jeff
Yeah I dont think I would feel comfortable with someone on the back off road Jeff but it is a great way to see Australia. Steve
bigbob wrote:
longbow steve wrote:
bigbob wrote:thanks for posting. Great time was had by all then it seems.Loved the motor cycle museum too.Used to do the same thing many moons ago.
Thanks Bob, we all had a great time. What bikes did you ride?
Only had the British bikes mainly Triumps but couple BSA';s too. Oh also had a 42WLA Harley given too me but wouldnt be seen dead on an ol' thing with hand gears and foot clutch and sold it in perfect running condition for $6!!!! Of course that was back when dinosaurs still roamed the earth!
Wow Bob, I love the old bikes and I can only imagine what it was like getting around on the British bikes back then. Probably the Golden Age for motorcycling. Cheers Steve

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Re: Flinders Ranges and Lake Eyre

#24 Post by TEX » Sat Sep 22, 2012 7:52 pm

Hi Steve
Great stuff. Itching to get out with you. I think my triumph would be more comfortable with a sheep skin seat cover. I've nearly got all the gear ready.

Must have been awesome looking over the speedo with a straight road stretching for miles ahead of you.

We're you able to have a camp fire in the evening.

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Re: Flinders Ranges and Lake Eyre

#25 Post by longbow steve » Sun Sep 23, 2012 6:53 am

TEX wrote:Hi Steve
Great stuff. Itching to get out with you. I think my triumph would be more comfortable with a sheep skin seat cover. I've nearly got all the gear ready.

Must have been awesome looking over the speedo with a straight road stretching for miles ahead of you.

We're you able to have a camp fire in the evening.
Hi Mark, yeah a cover helps but if it is really bad check out Air hawks. I am fine for about 300klms on road before my seat grow teeth but when you have a break you are right for another 100 after that then repeat :smile: . Our biggest day was 500 klms.
Yeah the straight roads are a highlight, Rob on the BMW and I were similarly matched in the pace we like to travel at so we were often together but I also got allot of time alone which was great.
Yes a camp fire was had on most nights except when we were camped at the back of the pub.
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Re: Flinders Ranges and Lake Eyre

#26 Post by Nutgrass » Fri Sep 28, 2012 8:31 pm

Great trip by the looks. Some really good pics in there to share it as well 8) Thanks 8) 8)
RABBITS (karen) wrote:NUTGRASS >>----> Nobody knows where he came from, & nobody knows how to get rid of him.
Shooters get to 50m to shoot, but only a hunter gets inside 20m to hunt.

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