Madigan’s Line / Hay River Track
Tuesday, 18 May 2021 8:26 am
West of Camp 20 the track follows the old Rabbit Proof fence, the turns North West through the National Park.
Once you cross the Qld/NT border the track turns due West where the dune crossing are more acute and frequent.
Some 100kms west we arrive at the blazed Madigan Tree ( Camp 16 ).
The blaze has long gone.
Last time we were here was back in 1995 then there were no tracks and it was one tough trip.
Some flashbacks....
That trip started at Old Andado when it was still the home of Molly Clarke.
Our group photo in 22nd June 1995 with the very welcoming Molly Clarke.
She invited us all for morning tea and offered a good look around sharing her life stories.
The group of modern day explorers from the left:
Peter Ayres, Robert Marks, Self, Molly Clarke, Phil Gaffney, Tony Ryan, Lyn , Phil Clem, Greg Thompson, & Ralph Martel, Seated Molly’s Friends Margaret.
The 5 vehicles taken from Twin Hills.
In 1995 there were no tracks all was done by GPS bearings.
Being our first real GPS plotting Lyn and I both had severe migraine/tension headaches until we felt comfortable that we were tracking well.
From early morning till dusk we bounced over dunes and spinifex moguls.
That constant pounding caused ongoing problems.
GThe springs started to break on the Toyota Hilux.
Our unit was well set up to weld and re-fit.
As they continued to break we continued to weld back together, cooling them slowly in the desert sand.
Next the break was the spring coil towers pealing off the Nissan chassis rails.
More welding....
As lead vehicle our spring shackle finally gave way...more welding
A typical end of day way tyre repairs and welding.
In all we had:
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• Numerous Tyre fixes
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• 1 x Spring Shackle
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• 14 leaf spring welds
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• 1 x Diff line broken
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• 2 x coil towers broken
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• 1 x Fridge - no work !
We did get to Madigan’s Tree but permission never arrived for us to transit the Qld National Park.
Hence not to stop us, we headed on a GPS bearing to Bookera Springs and then on to Sandringham Station.
That was one great adventure !
After Madigan’s Tree some 30kms down the Hay River Track, we are heading south towards Poeppels Corner
We have to go this way as further western travel is restricted to easterly travel only
Camp 8 : Hay River Track
Cost: Nil
Altitude: 88m
Today: 127 Kms
GX West: 2051 Kms
Tuesday 18th May 2021
Some mornings you are just lucky !
Flat tyre ...
Yes it was flat but the plug repair I had done in the Simpson desert over 12 months ago had started to leak...BUT it was only because the plug was at the bottom of the wheel when parked overnight, and the bulge at the bottom caused a slow leak.
Once pumped up again it was good to go.
The Hay River Track is more like a station track, 4WD was not needed until later in the afternoon.
Following the dune valleys and what is left of the Hay River valley we head south east.
As we approach the Queensland border the track veers due south crossing the dunes at a shallow angle.
The track turns 90 degrees and picks up an old shot line heading due West.
What that means is then east to west dune crossings that are sharp and challenging.
Perhaps some of the most challenging on the trip so far.
They have been challenging for all before us as indicated by the deep opposing holes on the approach side.
On the most severe ones, this makes for a thoughtful approach.
Run up the dune as reasonable as possible then back back down flattening the most severe of the off camber holes.
The track turns south and follows for 60kms an old extremely corrugated rig road to the salt lakes around poepples corner.
Camp 9 : Up a dune valley on the French Line
Cost: Nil
Altitude: 28m
Today: 172 Kms
GX West: 2223 Kms