Reader’s Ride – The Flinders - AdventureRiderMagazine

This entry is part 13 of 18 in the series Adventure Rider Issue #18

wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Main-series-img-6.png

Shaun Rudd and some mates spent a weekend in the Flinders. As weekends go, it was a good one.

Port Germein Caravan Park in South Australia is set on the water-front, and it’s an excellent starting point for exploring the Southern Flinders Ranges.Apparently the jetty out front of the park is the longest wooden jetty in the southern hemisphere.

Who would’ve guessed?

It was the rendezvous for our April weekend away, and the group was made up of 12 blokes and one female. Bikes included one F800GS, a Sertão, a KTM690, a KLX450, two DR650s, five DRZ400s, a WR450 and two KLX250s. We gathered on the Friday night for a barbeque and tea a few bevies to ready our group for the next day’s riding.

Capacity crowd

It was still very dry in SA, so dust was expected to be a little problem.

But, hey…you put up with it, right?

We set off aiming to run via the Bridle track, Port Germein Gorge and the survey road, then from Melrose to Quorn via backroads and the Old Gunyah Road. Richmans Gap and Altmann Camel Track were set to take us into Quorn for lunch at Emily’s Emporium and to top up the fuel tanks – some of the bikes only being equipped with their standard tanks holding between seven and nine litres. A few riders carried a little extra fuel, just in case.

Early to bed

We barreled through Quorn and rode Arden Vale Road lookout, Proby’s Grave, Simonsen, Bobby Creek Road, Partacoona Road, Barnes Road and into Hawker Hotel, our headquarters the following two nights.

With the dust problem through-out the day there wasn’t a minute to waste. I bolted to the bottleshop for a carton of ale and a bag of ice.

I also asked the attendant if I could borrow a chip bucket from the kitchen for a makeshift Esky.

This, I believe, is one of the contributing factors to a great

adventure ride – the bench racing with a cleansing ale in hand. Does it get any better?

We enjoyed tea at Hawker Pub and headed off to bed for an early start the following day.

Telly time

Sunday saw us ride north to Bunyeroo Gorge, Brachina Gorge and some look-outs. We then hit Leigh Creek railway line into Parachilna, rode along the gorge to Angorichina to refuel, then back to Glass Gorge and Blinman for lunch.

The arvo was a glorious run back to Hawker for the night via the gorges, railway line, Lake Torrens Road and Hookina.

I grabbed another armful of dust-cleaning fluid before joining the others in the Hawker Hotel for dinner and to watch the football on TV.

How good was this!

One of

Monday morning we found the town was having its ANZAC Day Service on a newly developed site at 8.00am, so it was decided to get up, pack up and show our respect.

It was a great plan.

After the wreath laying and Reveille we headed back to where the cars were stored at Port Germein, carving through Hookina to Top Bore Road, Bobby Creek Road, and into Quorn again for lunch. From there we hit Gunyah Road to Wilmington, Horrocks Pass to Nectare Brook Road and some 4WD tracks back to the caravan park.

There was only one off to report. One of the DR650s was flying along when the rider decided to adjust his jacket. With only one hand on the ’bars and a road full of large rocks it was inevitable something would happen. It did, and the bike careered straight off the road. There was some minor bike damage and a few scratches to the body, but probably the most damage was to the ego.

Other than that everyone had a great long weekend of adventure riding at its best. What a fantastic three days of riding. The Flinders Ranges has some spectacular scenery you have to see to believe.