Birdsville

We have have finally ticked Birdsville off our bucket list!

Yesterday we left Windorah and headed off to Birdsville not knowing what to expect in regards to the road conditions, we were just hoping they were as good as the reports we had received. We were pleasantly surprised how good the gravel sections of road were, we were able to travel along at 80 -90 klm per hour, when we encounted the sealed sections we could take it up to 100 klm per hour.  We had to keep a good lookout for cattle and kangaroos along the way, we have found that the older cattle only lift the head to see what is passing but the weaners are unpredictable and flightly. It would have been OK for us to take our van in but still think we made the right decision leaving our van at Windorah in regards to the dust and gravel rash to the van. We are staying at the Birdsville Lodge that is situated in the same block as the pub, it has only recently been completed, it is modular donga style, completely self contained with access to an amazing camp kitchen also laundry facilities.

The population of Birdsville is usually around 160 but swells to 7,000 or more in September when the Birdsville Races are held, in July it will also swell in numbers due to the Big Red Bash a music festival that is being held out towards Big Red and free camping has been allowed on a dry lakebed.
Birdsvilles's water supply comes from a bore sunk to a depth of over 1200 metres into The Great Artesian Basin, it is pumped into cooling ponds as when it hit the surface it is 98 degrees Celsius, once cooled then transferred into the water tank that supplies the town.

This morning we travelled the 35klm to the eastern edge of the Simpson Desert from Birdsville to see what Big Red was all about.  We arrived at Little Red and took the track to the right for 3 klms, to where the enthusiastic adventurers with their 4 wheel drives attempt to get over the largest sand dune.  I am sure we would have made it on the well compacted sand, but we elected to walk to the top and watch others.

This afternoon for lunch it was a visit to the bakery where Baz enjoyed a curried Camel Pie, I was not so game stuck to what I know a chunky steak. (I hope it was!)

Tomorrow we tackle to trip back to Windorah and our trusty van.

Curious cattle and Weaners

Road to Birdsville

Deon;s Lookout showing the scale of the outback

Snake art

Birdsville Hotel

Royal Hotel ruins

Our friends Sharmon & Jack have their names on the ceiling of the pub

Water towers at sunset

Getting a beer at the bar

Water being pumped up into cooling ponds

Track up Big Red

Simpson Desert recovery vehicle ex German Army

Roadtrain making dust