Tornado_ALIVE's Rok Project.

[Tornado_ALIVE]

Over nearly the last 2 weeks, we travelled to and enjoyed the Big Red Bash in Birdsville, also tacking Big Red. This trip was organised by Pat Callinan’s Unsealed 4x4 Team and we travelled in a convoy of 25 Amaroks.

It’s always great running with the ACV crew and was great meeting other Amarok owners from around Australia. I am looking forward to meeting some of them again on future trips. A big thanks also to Tim Stanners and the Unsealed 4x4 crew for organising and co-ordinating the event along with VGA and Ben Tiebels from VGA for supporting the Amarok convoy.

Below was our schedule. Over the next few days I will post pics and commentary of our trip.

Day 1 – Melbourne to Mildura
Day 2 – Mildura to Silverton and Broken Hill
Day 3 – Broken Hill (after meeting the ACV crew) to Cameron Corner via Packsaddle and Tibooburra
Day 4 – Cameron Corner (Joined up with the Unsealed 4x4 Convoy) to Innamincka
Day 5 – Innamincka to Cadelga Ruins
Day 6 – Cadelga Ruins to Birdsville

Day 7 – Birdsville
Day 8 – Birdsville
Day 9 – Birdsville
Day 10 – Birdsville

Day 11 – Birdsville to Marree
Day 12 – Marree to Hahndorf
Day 13 – Hahndorf to Melbourne


Silverton Hotel and the Mad Max Beetle









Silverton Ruins





Mad Max Museum









Mad Max Museum – Ford Coupe paining on the side of the wall




Silverton car art

[Tornado_ALIVE]

Meeting up with the ACV convoy on the outskirts of Broken Hill, bound for Tibooburra








Packsaddle Roadhouse





Departing Packsaddle



Sambo taking off after departing Packsaddle (road runway strip)




ACV Convoy at Tibooburra. Waited an additional hour for the Unsealed 4x4 Convoy unsure if they made it through road closures. Could not contacted them so we pushed out at 2pm bound for Cameron Corner.

[Tornado_ALIVE]

ACV convoy Arriving at Cameron Corner











Rozelle sitting in 3 States (QLD, NSW, SA)





Jacqlyn sitting in 3 States (QLD, NSW, SA)




Welcoming in the Unsealed 4x4 Convoy into Cameron Corner (NSW and QLD convoys) a few hours behind the ACV convoy





Cameron Corner Roadhouse





Enjoying the fire at Cameron Corner







‘ACV Big Red Bashers 2016’ decal fitted





Lining up to depart Cameron Corner





Not before a plane lands though.









Nearly took out 3 x Roos

[Tornado_ALIVE]

On the way to Innamincka





Made camp at Innamincka and enjoyed the entertainment of vehicles getting bogged in the camp site. Patrol recovered, no sooner did I pull him out another two vehicles came charging into the same area full noise with camper trailers on and got bogged as well.





Not a welcoming site as we prepared to leave Innamincka bound for Birdsville.





We had word that Arraburry Road may open later in the morning so the convoy headed out on Innamincka Road and waited at the track intersection awaiting word. At 11am, Arraburry Road was opened and the convoy continued.









A quick stop via Cordillo Downs Shearing shed which in the 1880’s was considered the largest sheering shed in Australia and set a record for shearing 85,000 sheep in a season.















Due to the late start, the convoy was unable to make it to Birdsville as planned so we camped at Cadelga Ruins for the night











The next day, the convoy grouped for departure to Birdsville.

[Tornado_ALIVE]

Setting up camp at Birdsville













Airing down at Big Red





This pic gives a little perspective as to how big, Big Red is.













The easier track











One of the more difficult tracks. Popped the bead of the tyre running 12psi after hitting a rut but managed to re-inflate.

[Tornado_ALIVE]

And again







Airborne…….





And the tougher tracks. I just could not get over this one. Had the front wheels over the top but must have been bellying out due to ramp over angle.







Birdsville Bakery….. Had to be there at 6.30 open to have any chance of getting bread. All bread was gone daily by 7.00am.







Little Ro-Ro got to meet Alice the Camel She had been asking all trip to meet Alice.





Home via Marree







It was a little wet.

[Tornado_ALIVE]

Even in the outback, I can track down a yacht club









Marree









Tom Kruse’s (Not the actor) Royal Mail Truck







Camels heading to the Marree Races





Camping at the Farina Ruins just south of Marree












Flinders Ranges on the way south from Farina Ruins





The last night we had enough of camping in the tent (Cold…. Ice between the fly and tent) so we decided to live it up and book ourselves into some hard cover accommodation at Hahndorf. Time to celebrate before making the final dash back to Melbourne.

[Tornado_ALIVE]

Just casually cruising up Big Red

https://vimeo.com/174502732