Sydney to London route check, Sept 2013

The COT team is providing the first four days of competition for the Sydney to London Classic Marathon Rally in April 2014. In September 2013 we did a route check and took these pics along the way.

Billabong at Burrawang West.

Stage finish of Hilliview – with the sun setting. From here into Cobar and a well earned break.

Joe at Belvedere is restoring an old dozer. We have a great 18 k stage on his station.

The Renmark Hotel awaits crews at the end of day 4 of the Sydney to London Classic Marathon Rally 2014. It’s also the end of our part of the SLM… we hand off to Ivar and his team to take the SLM through to Perth. We’ve had a good survey week and the first four days of the SLM are shaping up really well.

KR at shearing shed… on Burrawang West Station.

Forest stage, Mt Canobolas State Forest, near Orange. — at Mt Canobolas.

We discovered a new outback wildlife hazard today… when it rains the cattle come out of the bush to drink from the puddles.

Great 57 km stage on Avondale and Farmcote to end day 3 of the SLM.

He wouldn’t turn off – and was doing 43 kph…

Coombah – a 58 km stage to start day 4 of the SLM that has everything from fast plains, lots of red sand and some large dunes. Oh yeah – and lots of animals.

Lunch at Eugowra – some impressive murals. — in Eugowra, New South Wales.

AN old outstation on Farmcote, near Broken Hill.

The overnight rain caused us some concerns today.

The route runs past an amazing ruin on Farmcote – this is an abandoned hotel at The Springs, an old stage coach stop. We stopped for a beer, but the pub was delicensed in 1893.

When it rains in Broken Hill, it really rains – that why there are huuuuge gutters. But, the flooded lanes are useful for washing mud from under the car.

Silverton Hotel – this is Mad Max country… The SLM crews wont get out here unfortunately.

A fantastic 23k section on Nullogoola starts day 3 for SLM crews.

Mustering at Comarto… those big boys are Charolais bulls.

Setting out timing markers; Mt Canolbolas SF.

Interesting geological outcrop on Farmcote.

“Gardening” in Back Yamma State Forest, near Forbes

Goats are cleverer than sheep and mostly just run away from the road. This one didn’t… he tumbled like a gymnast after we clipped him, got up, did a “tada” and ran away.