Saturday, 4 September 2010

Executive Summary - Desert Trip 2010



Overall I travelled 8078 km in 23 days during this trip, with 6 of these days being just travel days getting to Coober Pedy and then getting home. The fuel economy (13.45 l/100km) wasn't nearly as good as I got on the trip to the Cape (11.25 l/100km) although the car has had a few modifications (suspension raised and more aggressive tyres) and I had more trouble with driving into strong winds and then problems with the MAP sensor. Our longest distance without fuel was Coober Pedy to Ilkurlka Roadhouse (817 km) along probably some of the roughest roads I've driven on for any distance. The fuel economy on this bit of the Anne Beadell highway was 14.9 km/100l meaning I didn't need to touch the spare jerry can of diesel I carried along. Ilkurlka was also the most expensive fuel of the trip, costing $2.49 per litre, meaning this was the most expensive fuel bill I've ever had at $295.


Photos from the trip are on my picasa website.

Highlights
- A couple of days where we basically didn't see any one else.
- The abandoned section of the old Gunbarrel Highway.
- The weather was dry but chilly overnight.

Lowlights
- no fish were caught (a hang over from the trip to the Cape)
- The MAP sensor on the Pajero stuffing up and stranding me in Alice for 6 Days.

Dramas
- Apart from my car problems, the only hassles we had were a few roof rack problems on the Cruisers.

Quote of the Trip (from Brett)
"The night was clear and bright, the damper was dark and stormy."
This was after a particularly good damper prepared by Leon using a can of Bundy Rum Dark & Stormy donated by Brett.

Participants
- Leon and Ryan in a Toyota Landcruiser, Petrol V8
- Brett also in a Toyota Landcruiser, Petrol V8
- Me in my NS SWB Pajero diesel

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