From Melb., we made it on this 2nd attempt. Last year the track from Innamincka to the Park was closed due to rain.
We went to Arkaroola for a few days waiting for tracks to reopen after rain and took the East route to the Strezlecki track at the Mt Hopeless intersection. That leg was a bit hairy. 5 hours to cover 180 km. We bellied out at one point and spent an hour digging clay before a 4by came along and pulled us out in minutes. The damn satphone wouldn't connect then or over 2 weeks of tests apart from twice using the test number.
At the end of that stretch, just near the northern junction there was 200 m of bog and with engine revving and wheels spinning we got through by the skin of our teeth. Towing an 800 kg gross camper didn't make it easier but a troopy had got bogged going wide just before us. Foz 1, 4by 0!
We carried 20 l of extra fuel for Arkaroola to Innamincka but got there without it, with 3 l left in the tank.
Coongie Lake was a gem; a paradise for bird watchers, canoers & photographers.
We'd been told by locals to camp on the Cooper at the Kudriemitchie outstation and do day trips the 25 km to the lake and that's what we did. But the rig would've got over the dune on the Lakeside track to allow camping at water's edge.
All up it was fantastic. There were a heap of minor breakages and failures. We hit a roo at low speed so there's some cosmetic damage; bull bar called for on the next trip.
We ran Dueller 697's again and they continue to impress. The Foz is an '08 build year manual and the LSD and low range box were essential in bog conquering.
3,200 km in two weeks. Had to come back early due to illness in the family.
We went to Arkaroola for a few days waiting for tracks to reopen after rain and took the East route to the Strezlecki track at the Mt Hopeless intersection. That leg was a bit hairy. 5 hours to cover 180 km. We bellied out at one point and spent an hour digging clay before a 4by came along and pulled us out in minutes. The damn satphone wouldn't connect then or over 2 weeks of tests apart from twice using the test number.
At the end of that stretch, just near the northern junction there was 200 m of bog and with engine revving and wheels spinning we got through by the skin of our teeth. Towing an 800 kg gross camper didn't make it easier but a troopy had got bogged going wide just before us. Foz 1, 4by 0!
We carried 20 l of extra fuel for Arkaroola to Innamincka but got there without it, with 3 l left in the tank.
Coongie Lake was a gem; a paradise for bird watchers, canoers & photographers.
We'd been told by locals to camp on the Cooper at the Kudriemitchie outstation and do day trips the 25 km to the lake and that's what we did. But the rig would've got over the dune on the Lakeside track to allow camping at water's edge.
All up it was fantastic. There were a heap of minor breakages and failures. We hit a roo at low speed so there's some cosmetic damage; bull bar called for on the next trip.
We ran Dueller 697's again and they continue to impress. The Foz is an '08 build year manual and the LSD and low range box were essential in bog conquering.
3,200 km in two weeks. Had to come back early due to illness in the family.
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