Good vid , what i like about your clips is I'm not looking at talking heads, with yours we get to see much of the country, thank you for that, some of these other people think their running for local government , keep up the good work mate you have a new viewer
I'm certain that snake is a big Mulga Snake (AKA King Brown). The king brown snake (Pseudechis australis) is a species of highly venomous snake of the family Elapidae, native to northern, western, and Central Australia. The king brown snake is the largest terrestrial venomous snake in Australia. Despite its common name, it is a member of the genus Pseudechis (black snakes) and only distantly related to true brown snakes. Its alternative common name is the Mulga snake, although it lives in many habitats apart from mulga. Australia's largest venomous snake, the king brown snake can reach 2.0 to 2.5 m (6.6 to 8.2 ft) in length with a weight of 3 to 6 kg (6.6 to 13.2 lb), with males around 20% larger than females. The longest confirmed individual was 3.3 m (11 ft) in length.
Dunno. I stood on it as i was walking thru tall grass while on a field exercise. I felt the bite (just below my right knee), saw the snake wriggle away and i knew then that i was in the shit. I think it was an Eastern Brown Snake from what i can gather after the event...light brown or yellow belly and darker shade on top. The nearest hospital was over an hour away and i was pretty crook by the time they got me there.
@@mongreldogproductions You're lucky that you had others with you when you were bitten; You probably wouldn't be making these treks if you were alone; the Brownies venom takes as little as 15 minutes to start attacking our nervous system so the first thing we need to do is immobilise the limb...not even possible if we are alone and need to get help by way of anti-venom injection(s); Prior to 2000, all (NSW) outback properties were supplied with anti-venom for Brownies but 'government' stopped funding the supply so getting bitten by a Brownie was pretty much a death sentence if we were alone; I'm surprised the ADF doesn't carry anti-venom as field supply... I worked on a property near Bourke NSW and we had Brownies, Death Adders and Western Vipers everywhere and nearest help was nearly 2 hours drive away; After a near successful strike to my shin by a Western Brownie while watering our small vegie patch one arvo, I took to wearing my MX Boots whenever i was out alone from that day on; I took my XR600 with me when I moved to the property so I had all my Enduro riding gear with me.
Yeah this snake looks like a female Mulga to me; The females are the biggest...and most likely to strike; The male roams from patch to patch whereas the female claims territory once she has had a clutch of babies; She will defend her territory where the male will usually slither away; Contrary to popular belief, the younger (small adult) the snake, the more deadly they are; The larger Adults instinctively save venom for later whereas the young will keep on injecting until the venom bladder is empty; Moral to the story...don't chase snakes no matter what size they are; Don't kill them unless they are a threat, ie, in your chook shed or home; They have an important roll to play in Australia's eco system.
You inspire me so much mate. Me and a mate did Wagga to Silverton and back last week. That's just a quick trip to the shops for you but im getting there slowly. Learning heaps of stuff watching vids like yours. Working my way up to doing a lap in the next few years when we (my mrs rides too) can afford to. At the moment just happy riding. We're heading to qld end of this month. Anyway thanks for sharing your life on here. Bloody champion.
Thanks Steve, that brought back happy memories of the Gibb and Mitchell Falls trip in 2008, looks like more bitumen and more traffic since then. Most enjoyable, looking forward for the next episode.
Great video Steve! Finding the "sweet spot" is always good eh and the pavement is sometimes "short lived"? Thank you for the ride along, always enjoy your videos! Keep 'em coming! 👍🏍
Nice to see the Gibb again. We did Derby to Kununurra in 2013 and we had 3 flat tyres, 2 on the van and 1 on the car and we kissed the Home Vally Station ground when we arrived. One thing we learned the rocks on the road are very sharp. Also some damage on the van. We were glutton for punishment and in 2015 we did it again but Kununurra to Broome. This time we were better prepared and had no issues. 2017 we did the Plenty Hwy to Boulia and on the way did some fossicking in the Harts Ranges for garnets and zircon. The managing director said NO MORE DIRT ROADS after that. To this day we still see the red dust spots from the Gibb in the van and car. It was very enjoyable to relive the adventure.
Another great video Steve. Did the Gibb last year on my first big ride up to East Arnhem Land and loved it. The snake was some type of python. Bloody huge mate, hope the cars didn’t run over it! And the dust! Was on my own and was cautiously entering the dust of a slower vehicle ahead and nearly ran up the back of an escort for a grader! Frightened the crap out of me. The many hazards of which one needs to be aware!
15:22 smart people slow down on the bitumen to make it last longer 😇 Thanks for the ride --- 40 odd years since I dragged two trailers of cattle out of there (somewhere) back to Derby
Ha talk about a small world. I’ve been watching your videos for years. We were driving the Pajero sport towing the jayco coming the opposite way at the start of the video
Great Stuff Steve as always , and thanks for going the Emma gorge I bypassed this on my Push bike crossing of the GIBB , i know i missed out! I had to cross the Pentecost at dusk camping for me was on the east side and i was on the wrong side, the water was thigh high and i was on a heavily loaded bicycle ! I kept thinking this could be the end if a Salty gets me! I did all the other gorges I really enjoyed Windjana Gorge and swimming with the freshies!
There was a Swedish couple cycling the Gibb when we did it. We first saw them a few days earlier leaving Kununurra. They were complaining about the dust from passing vehicles. Go figure! The dust would just hang in the air. I bet they (and you) would have found the rivers, gorges and streams very refreshing. How is your training going for the Canning (you crazy bastard)? The Series of our trip (8,000km) will start to be uploaded in the next few weeks.
@@mongreldogproductions Aloha Steve ..IF I'M WATCHING !! Yeah the Dust was bad like you said there is little wind but what i found was it drifted to the south side of the road and i was headed east so it cleared fairly fast enough , if your going west it might be a bit worse , Gibb was the first track i ever did in OZ and it lit a fire inside to do more... Yes you need to be a bit crazy but its all so crazy good out there..! Training not going well but as always i have a plan ..I was offered a job under work permit in Melrose (The bike shop) next year might look into that..if i do it's 9mo ill bring my GS with! Good to hear from you mate and thanks for the adventure!!
8:12 the smartest thing I’ve ever heard! “Let the gear cool before hitting the water” Steve is seriously right, i used to repair 4x4 hire vehicles, so many tourists used to stop in water crossing to take photos after miles of beating hot driving, all the bearings would suck in the muddy water, and a few 100kms down the road, i would be sending myself or a few of my mechanics in different directions across OZ to replace burned out bearings and seals and these were on (brand name withheld) real proper 4x4s not fake school taxi SUVs, so yes there’s nothing wrong with the designs, but super heated bearings/ seals thrown into cold water? It’s a recipe for a failure, and if anyone doubts myself or Steve, we used to use the same brand vehicles to go recover and our recovery vehicles didn’t have them issues. Actually had a tourist swear to me he didn’t do that straight to my face, then as my lads were repairing the front hub seals and rear wheel bearings, he offered to show me photos of his trip so far, sure enough 30 odd photos in and there he was showing me a photo of the rig sitting in a “splash through” (It was at that moment he knew he fooked up 😂) There’s nothing i could do legally but I seriously don’t miss chasing after them kinds of people, other than coin the phrase “stupid people create even stupider problems” 😂
Hi Trev, yeah, I like to think I know a thing or two about a thing or two but I am old and wise and made mistakes along the way. I wish i didn’t make the mistakes that I’ve made that have cost me time, money and inconvenience over the years but that wouldn’t be much fun would it. 😂😂😂. Nowadays I will do things on my terms and not listen to anyone younger than me…what the hell would they know. Thanks for taking the time to comment. If it helps one other person then that is a good thing. At least we can’t be accused of makin’ this shi* up! 😀
Mate you were starting to sound like an old Holden diff, whinging. A hot dirty day on the bike absolutely kills a good day at work. Wash the dust down with a coldie or two. Cheers mate great vid. 🤣🤣🤣🍻😎
Just found your vids, great presentation. How about a short vid one day on the gear you carry and how you handle security in the caravan parks with your gear. I have just bought a Yamaha XT1200VE Super Tenere and started collecting some gear for my first trip, so any advice you feel like throwing out there would be gratefully received🏍
Another great video thanks Steve. I personally would not take my caravan on that road. Maybe El Questro but no further. Not only tough on the van but murder on the car with 3 tonne behind it. I guess I will have to wait until its all bitumen. A bit far from Melbourne for a boys camping trip.
It can vary...early in the season the road can be better but the water crossings can be tricky. Later in the year the roads are torn up but the water crossing are easier.
Great to see the old girl reliable as ever, how many kms are on her now?, and what tyre pressure do you run for the corrugated section please? I have a 2016 GSA with 97,000kms on her.
@@TheHavinacrack Just about to tick over 150,000km. I leave the pressures at 32-36 front and 38-42 rear. The rims are soft and are susceptible to damage if you hit a big boondy at speed. Road pressures will reduce that risk. The pressure monitor flashing light drive me nuts if the pressures are reduced too much. 😀
What was your thoughts on the road conditions from the pentecost to elenbrae station. We chatted at Kununurra I mentioned it's the worst road conditions I'd driven on
There are some big, sharp boondys all along that section. The corrugations are manageable if we get to speed and find the sweet spot. That road is tough on tyres but its not the worst road in Australia.
Hi Tim, no. I've just returned from a three week, 7,000km journey taking in Uluru, Kings Canyon, Tanami Track, Gibb River Road and some other roads and tracks and these vids were posted up on the fly (which is not something I usually do). Since then, I have returned to Perth and have commenced producing the longer versions of the vids. Gimme a few weeks and you should start seeing some uploads. 😀
Dunno, I stood on it while walking thru tall grass when out on a field exercise. I think it may have been an Eastern Brown (lighter on the belly and darker color on top). I was pretty crook by the time they got me to hospital an hour later.
It is a thing. I have read many times of road trains pulling up before a river crossing to let things cool down so water won't get sucked into the diffs etc through the seals.
Steve just remember that those things are all around you whilst you “sleep like a dog” 😳. As the saying goes “🖕🏻that for a game of soldiers” . Stay safe and well 👍🏴
