2023-12-18 -32 141

Mon 18 Dec 2023 in -32,141: -32.0109859, 141.4752137 geohashing.info google osm bing/os kml crox

Location

Very close to but ultimately outside of the Broken Hill Airport.

Participants

• Johnnybutler (expedition leader, navigator)
• TheJosh (driver)
• Tim (navigator, negotiator)

Plans

A few days after my first renewal hash, I had a call from my friend John about another hash, this time in the southern graticle. On inspection it appeared to be on the fence-line of the Broken Hill airport, but without any clear way of knowing which side it was.

Expedition

We had been gathered at a mutual friend's party, and decided to also rope in Tim. At this point it was quite late, about 8pm. With a bit of rallying up we decided to go for it, and told the girls it would be "half an hour max"...

On the way, an executive decision was made to avoid jail time, and to therefore not cross past any "No Trespassing" signs or closed gates.

Our first attempt was to go down the main road towards the airport, and then turn left to try and go around on the dirt roads to the west of the airport. This was mostly okay with reasonable condition roads, although eventually as we circled the main runway the fencing ended with a No Trespassing sign just before the southern radar site. We turned around to try the eastern side.

Our second (eastern) attempt was via the airport itself, but all eastern roads had "Road Closed" signs.

Our third attempt was to go back into town, and then head out again on the Wentworth road. From this road we discovered some dirt tracks which weaved and winded there way near the airport. Mostly soldi, but also some sandy parts. At this point, no gates crossed, as we weaved in slowly closer around the main runway and then curving in towards the cross runway. Past a dam! Some hilly bits, some soft parts.

We turned and found ourselves parallel to the cross runway and heading south. A 90-degree turn, and along the bottom of the runway boundary. Another 90-degree turn, we now had only a few hundred meters to go; it was right in front of us.

Suddenly, a fence ahead! The boundary fence curves away. With no other choice, we continue to follow. It curves back, thank goodness. 300m. 200m. 100m... and then we're on it! Within 10m and the app says "you've made it". A small amount of walking gets us to about 3m from the point and three happy lads. Only been a bit over one hour thus far.

(more to come)

Achievements

Johnnybutler earned the Graticule Unlocked Achievement by being the first to reach any hashpoint in the (-32, 141) graticule, here, on 2023-12-18.