Gunbarrel Highway/Surveyor Generals Corner 2018

Left home (Lithgow) on 16-07-18, BLOODY FREEZING all the way to Bathurst with things improving after Cowra once well clear of the Great Divide. From there on out through Hay, Balranald, Mildura etc.



Strong westerlies reduced cruising speed to around 65 km/hr. Even the Grey Nomads were complaining about it.



The sign isn't quite correct, there's good water at Geraldton Bore, 205 km up the road. I spent two days here for a bit of R&R. Fuel here wasn't the dearest at $2.50/litre but right up there.
Station manager Jim Crew says they're on 1,500,000 acres with (he thinks) about 15,000 head of cattle, many of them feral so muster time must be a real challenge.
The neighbouring property Wongowol Station (only 130 km down the road) and Carnegie are jointly owned by the one family.


Carnegie Station camp $20/night includes clothes washing facilities. $30 two course dinners and $15 breakfasts available in the station kitchen if you want. All you can eat.



Geraldton Bore 205 km from Carnegie. Camped here and the next day made it about another 20 km up the track before getting bogged in soft sand. Winched myself out and headed back to Carnegie to look for an alternative route to Warburton.
Bad luck because I was about half way and fellow travellers coming through reported the track to Warburton was more of the same. Later in the trip I met a couple of blokes on Honda Africas who persevered on that section for two days before giving it away so I didn't feel too bad.



Tried the David Carnegie Rd as an alternative route to the Great Central Rd and 25 km in struck this. Just like beach sand. Also ripped the RH muffler off about four times on rocky outcrops and washouts. Gave up re-fitting it in the end and tied it to the top of the sidecar with Occy straps. Winched myself out of this stuff about four times before giving this a miss as well. Back to Carnegie and finished up taking the Windidda Rd - a full width dirt highway that only sees local station traffic, a dream!



Wingellina School teacher Mareka with some of the local kids. The Ural was a big hit. UDF big time! They had to run the photo sessions in shifts. Now only about 10 km from 'the corner'.







Made it to the corner. Here I am in South Australia with the bike in the Territory. The WA border was intended to lie on the 129th meridian but the two markers are 127 m apart due to a political balls-up in 1922. Interesting story.


Stayed at the Transcontinental Hotel Oodnadatta for the night and was greeted by a flat tyre in the morning. Squirted some green goo into it and re-inflated but only lasted about another 90 km or so.


Dutton Siding ruins on the Oodnadatta Track.



Sunset at Warinna Siding ruins on the Oodnadatta Track.


New inner tube at Warinna Siding.




Birds just got no respect! Stayed at the Copley Pub for the night and came out in the morning to this. Lesson here is don't park under trees.

Got shitloads more pics but this is enough
.
Trip summary:
Covered a bit over 10,000 km. No mechanical disasters this time, only worn, notchy steering head bearings and flogged out front shock bushes to replace when I got home and a new tube needed for the spare. With 33,500 km on the clock now, just fair wear & tear I'd say.
Away for 5 weeks 4 days.
Average fuel price = $1.815/litre
Dearest fuel = $2.600/litre at Docker River NT
Cheapest fuel = $1.389/litre at Yunta SA
Av. fuel consumption = 12.9 km/litre or 7.8 l/100km

Overall probably the best run I've done on the Ural so far and looking forward to Cape York next year.