landyacht said...


gypsum , mate, gypsum. you were runnig on a gypsum,sand,clay mix, that is bonded by saline water.the water evaporating at the surface gives you a crust to sail on.
lefroy is similar without the sand, and a higher salt content.
how was the lake compared to 2008?
sorry we couldnt get there. and by not going ourselves, it was hard to convince other to go.

Hi Landyacht
was a little apprehensive about the surface as the feed back from a local advised us that there was water and soft patches .
Well when we got to the lakes edge decided to walk out first before driving on,should not have bothered as the lake was dry and rock hard like concrete even had a hard time wacling in the tent pegs.
Even out on the middle the karts left no visable inpression didnt get chance to explore too far from camp as the breeze was a little light and flucky.
i will try harder next time

port said...


as a general rule for driving on lake bed, DONT. you will eventually get caught.
I have been driving on a lake where Ive had to use a pick to dig the hole for the anchor point, but couldnt even stand at the bogged wheels. even had one where only 1 wheel went down, to the height of the wheel, leaving the opposite wheel in the air.
always think about where you are and how long it will take to get out, with the tools? you have, BEFORE driving on it.
I think it may even be illegal in SA to drive on lakes in a National Park. might be worth checking on.
On many of the gysum lakes, and limestone(walyungup) type lakes you get a hard margin that changes very suddenly, with saline lakes be very cautious when you see really red, dusty margins and Samphire bushes that suddenly stop. this is usually an indication of a high watertable ---VERY SOFT edges.
the only reliable rule is that you cant rely on the surface , it can and will change.
I have measured a 450mm salt crust on Lake lefroy that took a drill rig 2 days to drill through with a hammer. they drove 6kms out across the lake in a dual axle truck to deliver fuel to the rig, but next year after only minimal water on the lake the same site had only 200mm of friable salt that would only support a quad

port said...

camping lake side at gillies

landyacht said...

Its tight along the fence line because the track isnt kept clear.