Overcoming Simpson: Season 5 – Birdsville then goes home

Crossing the Simpson Desert by motorbike
Part 5 – Birdsville and the return home…

With Mark Battersby

Having conquered Big Red and the Simpson Desert the day beforeour tentative plan was to leave the WR250R in Birdsville (give my ankle a day off) jump in a 4WD with the boys and go to the Betoota Pub, which we all wanted to visit. .

First, it’s straight to Birdsville Bakery, which is famous for its wide range of cakes including Camel and Kangaroos Shiraz, plus some irresistible cakes.

When we got back from breakfast, Mick decided to check with the local police about the possibility of flooding and I decided to take advantage of one more shower at the caravan park.

I couldn’t shower for more than ten minutes, but by the time I headed toward the campsite, everything was already packed with the boys ready for the sudden departure.

“They expect the Birdsville Raceway to close today or tomorrow, go south. “Mick explained. Too much for a visit to Betoota Pub.

As we left town, we stopped with some trepidation at the closed road signs, stating Mungeranie with Marree CLOSED. This is not good and it looks like our attempt to tackle the flood has failed. A quick call to the Mungeranie hotel shows the trail remains open for now, but it’s unclear for how long.

Let’s go! For the next three hundred kilometers, the tiny WR worked harder than all she had traveled, buzzing at 100 km/h to dodge the deep-road incidents caused by trucks and trains in the distance. caused by previous floods.

I suddenly discovered the fuel capacity of the 14-liter Safari tank when the WR pulled out and came to a stop less than five kilometers from Mungeranie. The boys were only a few minutes behind me and we poured a few liters in and kept going.

After a quick burger, we continued for another two hundred kilometers following the Birdsville Trail to Marree. The status of the Birdsville Track is the same as the Oodnadatta Track, it varies greatly depending on the rain.

For us, it’s mostly quiet with the WR and 4WD able to comfortably travel between 90 and 100 km/h. There are frequent sections of damage caused by trucks, 4WDs and caravans during floods, but these are easily avoidable.

We decided to pamper ourselves in Marree and check out their cabins, which meant another chance to shower, suddenly this adventure became too civilized. As we sat in the pub that night, enjoying great meals and freezing cold drinks, we forever remembered desert camping sites and agreed that we’d love to go back to the desert to share our stories. The story is followed by dingoes and spiders with reflective eyes.

Day 8 was our last and relatively peaceful day in this epic adventure. Run 600 km through Lyndhurst, Flinders Ranges, Clare and back to Tanunda. Although the paths were less exciting, it provided an opportunity to reflect on the last week and what I accomplished.

It was without a doubt the hardest ride of my life, and perhaps my greatest personal challenge. Sometimes I think I was driven by my naive stupidity to think this was within my power, but the final feeling of accomplishment I simply cannot describe.

So to answer my original question, ‘Should you try to cross the Simpson Desert’, one hundred percent YES! Even if you’re just a Simpson tasting, a day trip from Dalhousie or Birdsville, just find your way and go.

How is the WR250R? Greg Yager was right, for a relatively inexperienced off-road racer like myself it was the perfect lightweight desert steed. Aside from the fork seal leak that left Hawker, the bike was completely faultless.

Do I make any changes to the bike for a future ride? It’s a question I’ve been asked since returning and honestly, I can’t think of anything. I had full intention of selling the bike when I got back, why would I need a 250 when I also have a Tenere 700?

I love the little sleigh in the desert so much, she’s a keeper – now. Maybe its sentimental is like the bike I crossed, but I honestly think the smiles the bike brings in the sand that I have to take her out again. Someone once told me that the desert occupies a part of your soul and they are dead right.

My tips for new adventurers looking to outrun Simpson:

1. Ride a light bike; WR250R, DRZ-400 or similar.
2. If buying used to avoid COVID Taxes and bidding wars, try to buy off the market, post a wanted ad on your local ADV Facebook group.
3. Try your first attempt at support, having someone bring you fuel, food, water, and camping gear.
4. If you can’t match up with a mate who owns a 4WD vehicle, explore organized trips with tour groups, they certainly cost a few dollars but they provide great support.
5. Be honest about your fitness and prepare as much as you can.
6. Reach out to local racers and find some sand to practice with.
7. Wearing a thermos at night, the desert becomes cold.
8. Carry a portable UHF plus emergency equipment like a SPOT tracker.
9. Do not rush the desert, two nights is not enough.
10. If finding sponsorship or support for your adventure doesn’t tell the business what you want, let them know what you can offer.
11. Capture your memories on your GoPro or optional camera.

If you are an experienced terrain or sand racer skip most of the points above, I’m a newbie and really don’t know.

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You can check Full series Long Way to Wauchope Rally here (link).

Also check Endometriosis Australia and Gotcha4Life if you are interested.