Trail Bike Adventure Magazine

Simpson Crossing Dream

Thursday, 17 June 2010 11:55

The Simpson Dream by Mark Brimley

I have a small circle of close friends and one thing most of us have in common is we are involved in motorcycles. Our ages are about 40 and we have ridden since childhood. This story starts about 25- 30 years ago when my mate Steve and I were travelling home on a school bus in the Blue Mountains. We spotted a pair of early model XT600 TENERE’S all loaded up for an adventure. We sat there and made a commitment, to one day do the very same thing.

Twenty five years later and after many years riding a variety of bikes each. We decided it was time to make it happen. The Simpson Desert was to be our goal. An invitation was put out to our mates, all were keen but unfortunately with families and other commitments holding some back, it turned out Steve and I were the two left. Over the next 12 – 18 months Steve changed his ride from a BMW GS1150, and my XR400 was put into retirement. We purchased DR650’s and set about preparing the bikes and ourselves for a Simpson Desert crossing in 2008.

The usual preparation for this type of ride was carried out. Big tanks, racks, HD tubes, bashplates, spares, camping gear etc. We are both Tradesmen and Steve in particular is a real enthusiast when it comes to setting up a bike and fabricating all types of practical improvements. We planned routes, what gear to take and counted down the time till the planned two weeks for April 2008. We had always planned to make this trip unsupported, then before Christmas 2007 a mate, Craig, who lives in Roxby Downs asked about coming along in his 4WD, and maybe putting his Berg in the back for blast in the desert. We still prepared as though the ride was unsupported but it was a good back up knowing Craig was there in his 4WD, as well as having another mate along.

The time came for us to set off on this journey that was dreamed about so many years ago, early April 2008 we said farewell to our respective families, Steve leaving from McGraths Hill in Sydney to my home in Dubbo. Loaded up and well prepared, including a Sat Phone and EPIRB, but with a minimalist approach, knowing from experience how you can take too much unnecessary gear, we left Dubbo early the following morning. We had our route well planned and headed out west through Narromine, Tullamore, and Condobolin for a stop at Knoll’s Bakery, Mt. Hope, then follow the railway line through Roto, where we got our first taste of riding through some sand to our first overnight stop on the outskirts of Ivanhoe, off in the scrub. It was a great feeling being in the bush with the smell of campfire and sleeping on the ground.

Next day we headed for Menindee Lakes, again following the railway line and through properties, we pulled up and had a yarn to some property owners who were out grading the road, they told us it was a common route for bikes. After a break at the lakes we rode up to Broken Hill. The trip was going well and after lunch we headed off along the tar for the 200km stretch over the NSW/SA border to Yunta. Getting back on the dirt our next stop was the Waukaringa Ruins, we stopped and had a good look around the ruins, we could have spent longer there exploring the ruins but the sun was getting low and we decided to find a camp. Our second night was spent in another bush camp off in the scrub. It is one of my great pastimes camping in the scrub and it certainly is a great way of leaving the stresses of life behind.

Up early the next morning and ready to ride through the spectacular Flinders Ranges, we stopped at Wilpena Pound and then for lunch at Brachina Gorge. After sitting on a rock eating a tin of cat food, sorry tuna, taking in the spectacular views we headed for our next fuel stop at Leigh Creek. The 30lt tanks are great for this these distances.

We had planned to meet up with Craig, and his young bloke Adam, who had flown over from Dubbo that day, at Roxby that night for a BBQ, we had a fair way to go. If we didn’t make it then we would meet the following morning. We turned off at the Farina Ruins in the direction of Mulgaria Station for a run around Lake Torrens, Andamooka and Roxby. We stopped at Mulgaria Station to pay the small fee for passing through, and have a chat to the friendly owner who gave us directions and was very helpful. As we later found out, sometimes directions from locals although helpful can be misinterpreted, when they say a few kilometres, it can sometimes mean 50 kilometres. Not long after leaving the Station we hit our first serious sand and were having a ball. We got to Lake Torrens and saw some tracks following the old fenceline, we decided to go for a look and thought it may be a shorter route to Andamooka. When we reached the other side the tracks disappeared into the sand dunes and we were faced with riding back over the Lake and around. By this time the sun was getting lower and I mentioned to Steve that we needed to watch out for the rocks as the shadows were forming, and making them hard to spot. We both took off taking things pretty easy.

Steve was leading and I dropped back to stay out of the dust, taking it pretty easy, when next thing I knew the bars were pulled around and I was flying through the air. After hitting the ground I tried to move and realised my arm was at an awkward angle and I was in a lot of pain. Steve came back and we made the decision to call Craig on the Satellite Phone. After talking to Craig we decided to set off the EPIRB. By this time darkness had set in and Steve had taken over making the decisions and did a great job keeping my spirits up. The great people from Mulgaria Station travelled out and stayed with us until the SES from Andamooka arrived about four hours later. It is an important to remember that these types of rescues take a lot longer in remote areas and at night it made it more difficult for the SES to travel the rough terrain and pinpoint our exact location. By now I was pretty knocked up and the drugs the SES officers had administered weren’t kicking in, but I was put in the troopie, ready for a long and slow ride back to Roxby Downs Hospital.

Craig and Adam travelled out that night but could not locate us and decided to wait for morning light. Steve thanked all these good people for their support, before being left in this remote area with two bikes on his own, worried about his mate and thinking how all this would pan out.

The next day Craig and Adam drove out from Roxby and picked up my DR and Steve followed them back to town. Steve was shown some country hospitality that night with a BBQ and a few beers. Just what he needed!

The excellent service that is The Royal Flying Doctor Service, flew me from Roxby to Adelaide where I finally arrived approx 18 hours later after the accident, and was able to receive the appropriate medical attention.

Steve decided he didn’t want to go on without his mate. And after the past 24 hours that he had just experienced which for a ride like this, is discussed and planned for, you just really don’t know what to expect unless you have been there before. Steve sadly headed for home. Two days later he arrived home to his family. Not the adventure that had been planned but an adventure all the same.

Craig and Adam travelled the Strezlecki Track to Innamincka then followed the route that we would have taken, Camerons Corner, Wanaaring, Louth, Cobar, Dubbo. They missed out on the Simpson crossing but had a great time together, camping and enjoying the Outback. Craig wishing he had his Berg on board instead of a tired looking DR650.

I spent three weeks in Adelaide Hospital recovering from a broken arm, nerve damage to the arm caused by being dislocated for 18 hours and blood clots on the lung, before flying back to Dubbo. Six months off work followed and after two years I am starting to get some use of my hand back.

The way to keep positive in times like these is to understand that things could have been worse and there are always others worse off. I was lucky to have good people around who kept level headed and made some tough decisions. My family and especially my wife looked after things while I was on the mend. And is still supportive of me getting back on the bike soon!

Steve and Craig I can never thank enough as well as all the people who helped with my rescue and recovery. We started this adventure, following our dream ride that ended very differently to what was expected. But life goes on and if you see a couple of blue DR650’s getting around NSW or beyond give them a wave, there will be a good chance we will wave back. And if your kids spin around in the car seat they too may get to enjoy years of Mateship and Motorbikes.

“The mates you make riding bikes are truly mates.”

I would like to finish this story, in a way that many others have previously done before, the enjoyment that we get by travelling to these remote areas is sometimes dampened by accidents that can happen. When this occurs we are left to the care of others. These organisations and their people that live in the regions are truly champions that do save lives, and get us back home to our families. After my experience I have had the opportunity to see the great work that is done by such organisations as the RFDS and SES and the great care and empathy that they provide. Thank you.

Mark Brimley's story is part of round two of the monthly TBAM Online Reader Ride competition, and goes into the draw to win an EPIC VIDEO CAMERA and a set of GOTCHA STRAPS