Dates: 19 Feb 2016 to 22 Feb 2016
Where / location: Jaurdi Station (proposed conservation park, ex pastoral lease)
Facilities: Jaurdi homestead – shower, water, shearer’s shed/homestead/large shed. & Bush camping in various locations
Jaurdi Station
Jaurdi Station Homestead camping area, Jaurdi Station - Explore Australia

Previous report on the area:
Jaudi Nature Stay and Baladjie Rock - WA

How to get there: Jaurdi is off the beaten track. Access is via the Mt Walton Road and Ryan’s Find Road, 98 km east of Southern Cross.
Explore Australia by 4WD

What do you need: you beef to be self-sufficient. Nearest town / fuel is 100km east (Coolgardie) or west (Southern Cross). Fuel range required- upto the specific individual, but would recommend at least 300km (to get to Jaurdi and back from a surrounding town with a bit to spare for some sightseeing). If you plan to do some more riding and need a fuel dump, please arrange with John Lizamore/Squily at least two weeks before (quantity of fuel required and octane). All fuel orders are non-refundable and will have to be paid in advance.

Registration for the event if more than 10 people attend we can get group discount.

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Squily

A bit of a disconnect between Facebook page and this. We have 4 confirmed for the weekend and three interested.

Check out the link below for ideas of tracks in the area we'll be visiting. Click on / Activate the following tracks in the Western Australia section for some ideas:

• Unverified Goldfields tracks
• Jaurdi & Mnt Elvire Station areas
• Credo Station (South)

Trans-Australia Trails : Adventure rides around and across Australia



Could be nice and warm with high 30's, which means less riding and more swimming in the water holes. Could be wet- we've just had 20mm overnight here in Kalgoorlie surrounds with 39mm recorded further north-east.

But either way, she'd be all-right mate

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Squily

A reminder for people interested in the ride. I will be doing a fuel drop 8-12 Feb. Cutoff date for orders are this weekend.

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Squily

Some feedback from the small weekend trip through the Goldfields.

Originally planned for October, the Esperance fires had us postpone the action to February. Originally three of us (Neal, Ewen and I), but the numbers fluctuated upwards and at one point we had 8 riders. Final number was 4, with Johan stuck on a mine site, Ewen not able to sort out his BMwhoppleU, Awie's shifts didn't work out etc. etc.

All met in Kal on Thursday the 18th. Bikes were packed and prepped. Dinner at an Italian restaurant for a last minute luxury. Friday morning we were off. The 1st time Steph's doing a loaded bike with luggage, so we took it easy. Morning tea at Boondi rock. Despite nice warm weather, nobody braved the ice-cold water. Found some interesting, but well camouflaged locals

Off to Jaurdi Conservation Park. Recent heavy-ish rains created some havoc with tracks and plenty of sand washed onto it. Steph had a oops- Plenty of bruises and some ego-difficulties, but no harm done. As we all know, a big off in the sand can seriously dampen the enthusiasm, but she soon got back into it

We set up camp at Ive rock 15km NW of Jaurdi homestead. Interesting granite formations, dam full of water, a gnamma hole, grass and shade. What more can you ask for?

Rest of the day was spent exploring. 71-mile rock, Ray's mine camp, cool breakaways, old prospector's camps and an abandoned mine sites

Being the 1st night out, luxuries a-plenty and we feasted on steak and cold . We topped up the bikes for an early departure in the morning.

Saturday was a long day. When I warned them 500+km, I was not taken that seriously. Not a lot of stops, but plenty of hard-ish riding. Lots of sand and washed out tracks. We stopped at the Polaris mine camp for some water on the way up, then topped up the tanks again from a fuel-dump I made north of Helena & Aurora range. Off to Mount Elvire via Mount Manning Nature Reserve, yellow sandplains and the lakes country. Again, plenty of changing scenery, loose sand, rocks, kopi and everything else that make life interesting.

We finally made Mount Elvire homestead just after 3PM for a welcome rest. Due to time constraints, we did not go further up to the northern hills and Lake Barlee as was originally the plan, but headed back south after a quick visit to the ocre breakaways west of the homestead.

We managed to make Helena & Aurora ranges for sunset. Really speccie and I'm sure Neal will indulge us with some pictures. The ride up the mountain was more technical than usual as a result of the rains. I decided to take the shortcut down the eastern side of the mountain. This is a one-way trip under the best of conditions, but with no track left, maybe not a good idea... After dropping the AT a few times, we managed to walk it down the last section. Then the heavy Vara, followed by the light as air XT. By the time we sorted out all the damage on the bikes, it was well and truly dark. Not one of my best decisions... :hide

Being faced with 50km of sand tracks in the dark, we made the 2nd mistake of deciding to rather chance some of the abandoned haul roads. :fpalm

A large stick in the rear tyre of the Vara had us nurturing the beast just to run into an active mine etc etc. So we ran into a maintenance truck:
"We're lost- we need to get back to Jaurdi"
"YOU guys are REALLY lost!!!"

They were kind enough to sort us out with more water, some more tyre assistance and an escort out and down the haul road to the 71mile track. Phew!!! 515km for the day. Back in camp at around 10PM. Not one of my finest moments :hmmmmm

Sunday saw us stripping the Vara. After deciding the tyre was a lost cause, we decided to fit a tube and go on. Packed up camp and headed South and East. Lunch and a swim at Wallaroo rock (complete with the fish cleansing experience).

We split up and Jo and Neal headed east and north to Credo via the sandplain. Steph and I stuck to the northern side of the railway to Coolgardie road before heading north. Setup camp at Rowles lagoon. Perfect weather and we had a swim in the lake before dinner. Neal and Jo showed up a little after us, having been treated by the Credo host to coffee and ginger cake.:dukegirl

Monday, after refueling from another dump, we headed north to Lake Ballard. For me, maybe the highlight of the weekend. It was a bit of dreary day, with intermittent rain making the road very interesting. And for those keeping a track of this- Heidenhau K60 and Mitas E07 are REALLY crap in muddy/wet conditions!!! :scratch

Lunch at Lake Ballard. A bent front rim (and a flat) on the Vara, followed by a pinch flat on the AT when we wanted to leave. Interesting...

Heading south, we planned to go via Uralling rock. We made it about 5km down the road before calling it a day and going the long way around. Did I mention Mitas tyres are crap in the wet? Some serious donwpours also laid waste to our intention to visit Davyhusrt cemetry and surrounds. But the further south we went, the better the weather. A nice relaxing sunset back at Rowles.

Next morning was an early departure- Neal was really looking forward to a 3 hour tele-conference at 10, so we decided to head back to Kal. And then Steph was good enough to point out that the lady was the 1st that was ready to go...:dirtdog

The trip was ended by a big fry-up of mushrooms, bacon and eggs. After Neal's tele-c, Steph and Neal departed for Esperance. I washed my bike and Jo caught up on his blog.

Thanks to all. Over 1500km for the few days off-road (or not on sealed roads anyway).

PS: there are still some fuel stored out there if anyone wants to have a crack at the area...:deal



Some photos at:
Goldfields Feb 2016 by John Lizamore | Photobucket

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Squily