BICYCLE HELMET MIRRORS

Yamaha Canning Stock Route Dirt Bike Expedition - 1974

Even in those days the Talawanna Track was a important access to the Lake Disappointment area and beyond.

The fuel dump was used for those proceeding further in inland on the Talawanna Track.

Up to that point in time only one of two 4WD a year, would make the journey each year from Wiluna to Halls Creek, and in the central part of the stock route there was no defined track. This caused some navigation difficulties for the riders, and we were unable to locate them for two days from the aircraft, despite searching for hours.

We did locate a lone aboriginal running through the desert lighting fires about 45 miles SE of Lake Disappointment.

The aircraft being low on fuel we did not waste time identifying the riders, but prepared to make the drop at the location of the last fire being lit. I was about to push the fuel out the door when I recognised it was just a lone and naked aboriginal, not the bikes or riders at all. He was the last remaining nomadic aboriginal in Australia. I often wonder what he thought as we lined the aircraft up for the drop and flew over him at about 20 feet.

The motorbikes on the expedition relied entirely on fuel dropped in 1 litter oil cans wrapped in foam from the aircraft.

Pakse - attapeu 4 day loop and waterfall trip. Great scenery, mountains, forest, clouds, rain etc and one hell of a mud fest - this is the good part of the mud track! We made 5ks in around 45 mins, when the locals started skidding and falling of we called it a day and turned around. I will be back in dry season to see the waterfall and complete the loop.