Who is planning a Simpson trip this season?

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Originally Posted by Tins

Think D2Dave is doing one in August.

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Just finished it. Fantastic trip.
We were delayed though. When we got to Birdsville track it was closed for 3 days due to rain.

Also did it last year, west to east, Madigan Line. This trip East to West via French and Rig Rd.

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Originally Posted by grey_ghost

I did the Simpson (Madigan line) in May with one other vehicle. I have only done the Simpson this one time.

Madigan line - we didn’t see another vehicle 5 days roughly)

French Line / QAA - 15 vehicles in one day.

People did say that the Madigan Line is becoming more popular - people trying to avoid the masses.

Having said that - looking at the visitor books, even on the Madigan line people came every 2-3 days.

If you stick to the French Line / QAA - I would travel it solo without concern in a well prepared vehicle.

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When we left the French Line and headed south down Knowles track we stopped soon for the night.
Next morning we saw a party of 3 vehicles. From there it was seven days before we rejoined the French Line. In that seven days we saw one car and one motorcycle.

Last year when I did the Madigan, I did go two days without seeing a car.

Will post some photos when I get home.

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Originally Posted by d2dave

When we left the French Line and headed south down Knowles track we stopped soon for the night.
Next morning we saw a party of 3 vehicles. From there it was seven days before we rejoined the French Line. In that seven days we saw one car and one motorcycle.

Last year when I did the Madigan, I did go two days without seeing a car.

Will post some photos when I get home.

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C'mon, Dave! It's now the 24th and still nothing in 'Trip Reports'! [bigsad][biggrin]

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Originally Posted by Saitch

C'mon, Dave! It's now the 24th and still nothing in 'Trip Reports'! [bigsad][biggrin]

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But Woolies have apples back in stock. [wink11]

We had to abandon our trip; got as far as Coober Pedy when we received news that friends' grandchild had passed away. Did a wiiiide u-turn via Oodnadatta and came home via back roads. The Simpson will still be there next year I'm sure. We could certainly see the evidence of the recent heavy rain up there.
I'm very sceptical about all the road closures though, the Kempe road had all manner of warnings, 4wd only, drive to conditions etc, the sign turned half-way from 'closed' to '4wd', like a reluctant assent that they couldn't keep it closed forever- it was billiard-table smooth the whole way, first 200km bitumen like a Nascar track surface and the gravel section as good an outback road as you will ever encounter. Similar with the Oodnadatta Track, moderate corrugations where the Kempe road and the road up from Roxby Downs feed in, the rest was in excellent condition but had the same warnings. Things that make you go 'Hmm'.

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Originally Posted by POD

Things that make you go 'Hmm'.

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They don't want you to go. Simple as that. It's insidious, and it's everywhere in "Western" countries. Not getting into the "why" or we'll wind up in CA.

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Originally Posted by POD

We had to abandon our trip; got as far as Coober Pedy when we received news that friends' grandchild had passed away. Did a wiiiide u-turn via Oodnadatta and came home via back roads. The Simpson will still be there next year I'm sure. We could certainly see the evidence of the recent heavy rain up there.
I'm very sceptical about all the road closures though, the Kempe road had all manner of warnings, 4wd only, drive to conditions etc, the sign turned half-way from 'closed' to '4wd', like a reluctant assent that they couldn't keep it closed forever- it was billiard-table smooth the whole way, first 200km bitumen like a Nascar track surface and the gravel section as good an outback road as you will ever encounter. Similar with the Oodnadatta Track, moderate corrugations where the Kempe road and the road up from Roxby Downs feed in, the rest was in excellent condition but had the same warnings. Things that make you go 'Hmm'.

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A recent video I saw, re Ineos IIRC, where the creator and a Land Cruiser had to back track a considerable distance, because an open road was totally impassable.

I have not been directly affected, but what gets me going is road closures for hours on end after an accident. Sure, there is an immediate need to clear up the scene and victims, but why keep the road closed for hours on end after that is accomplished?

There was a recent occasion here in WA that had the main northern highway closed with trucks backed up for several hundred km's each way. The police begrudgingly let a livestock carrier through, so there was nothing wrong with the road.

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Originally Posted by Old Farang

I have not been directly affected, but what gets me going is road closures for hours on end after an accident. Sure, there is an immediate need to clear up the scene and victims, but why keep the road closed for hours on end after that is accomplished?

There was a recent occasion here in WA that had the main northern highway closed with trucks backed up for several hundred km's each way. The police begrudgingly let a livestock carrier through, so there was nothing wrong with the road.

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Major collision investigation. Particularly if there's been a fatality, but also for significant injuries. The MCIU personnel may have to travel long distances to the scene, then do their thing. The area is treated as a crime scene until they give the nod to clear it.

A few pics.Attachment 191093

This one is self explanatory.

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One of our few stops where we stayed for two nights we were blessed with two eagles giving us a twenty minute hunting sortie.

These pics were not easy to get, as they were flying back and forth and trying to keep them in the lens and focus at the same time was a challenge.

Attachment 191096

This just shows the vastness of the desert.

Attachment 191097Attachment 191098

Bloody camels. Get off the road

No pics but we did see a snake, two dingoes and two emu's