Birdsville

13th - 15th April 2016

Another leisurely start to the day. Thanks for brekky Dezzi!

Pack up time again.

Windorah camp.

Windorah to Birdsville. This is where we leave the bitumen behind and hit the gravel. Really in the outback now!

Every now and then along the way the country is green from the recent rains and flooding. Sometimes there is still water laying along the side of the road.

We stopped off at Dean's Lookout. What an amazing view!

The monument.

The top of the lookout.

Amazing view.

There's the road winding away down there!

Stop to let the tires down ready for the gravel. About 235klm of it today!

Next stop Batoota. 7klms off the track Batoota stands lonely on the gibber plain. In 1885 it was a customs post used to collect tolls for stock as they travelled to South Australia. This lasted until 1901. It was also a Cobb and Co. stop off. In 1880 the hotel was built - of course there had to be a pub! The last publican was Simon Remienko from Poland. He was the sole resident of Batoota. When he died in 1997 the pub closed and is now in ruins. It's sad to see what was a thriving pub for travellers and drovers be no more.

They even had a courtesy bus ha ha ha!

Onwards to Birdsville.

We tried to find a spot along the Diamentina River to free camp, but the ground was just too uneven and the flies just about carried us away. 

The Diamentina River still flowing at a good rate.

So into "town" to stay at the caravan park. Big lash out at $30 a night.

We had a great spot down the back overlooking a massive billabong. Flies still insane! The publican said they are the worst they have been for years! Great!!!!

Sunset over the billabong.

Sunset looking back to our camp.

The next morning I actually rattled myself out of bed for the sunrise. Beautiful cool morning. The flies still in bed. Ahhh...the serenity.

Had to put this one in. I am addicted to photos of reeds and grasses.

The birds were beautiful.

First stop the next morning...the famous Birdsville Bakery. Real coffee, yummy cake and a stock up on their pies to put in the freezer. Such delights as Curry Camel, Roo and Shiraz and Spicey Chook!

Enjoying the inside of the bakery. Fly free and air Conditioned!

Pie menu.

At the front door of the bakery is the fly removal zone. This blasts you with air when you open the door to knock off any flies stuck on you. Great hey!

Belly full of morning tea and a bag full of yummy pies!

Into the fridge for later.

Next stop was the famous Birdsville Racetrack. A ghost track today. Not like when the 7000 odd punters are here in September! 

So the race today was between two kangaroos, with a very excited spectator crowd of galahs!

And they're off!

The birds are loving it!

The track is looking a bit dodgy!

Finish line.

Starting gate.

Pretty primitive track.

We also visited the Frontier Services museum. I love seeing how the pioneers lived. 

I can't imagine driving this car on the roads out here!

The old hospital trolley.

Dental visit anyone!

Old sterilising unit.

We certainly have come a long way in communications. You had to peddle this one to make it work!

This was just a photo on the wall that took my fancy. I love the smiles on these children.

Another random photo taken in North Queensland that was hanging in the museum!

John Flynn.

Our trip to Birdsville wouldn't be complete without a beer and lunch at the Birdsville Pub! Beautiful old pub and great food!

And it a absolutely wouldn't be a trip to Birdsville without a drive out to the edge of the Simpson Desert and a crack at Big Red 4WD challenge.

There it is Big Red. There are three tracks up and over. The chicken track, middle track and serious track. Dezzi did the middle track. Ain't going to be no chicken! The serious track has a serious lip at the top and we were too top heavy to risk that one. So.......let's go!

Gun it Dezzi!

Halfway and still going!

And....there! He is behind the tree!

Yessss!!! It was very exciting. And I got it on video too of course!

The view west from the sand dune.

Desert flowers.

Looking west from Big Red if you are heading out across the Simpson Desert.

More pretty flowers.

Pretty amazing to be out here!

I call this one "Desert Footprints" 

The top of Big Red. Been a few here today.

Desert Sands.

Coming back over Little Red. Easy!

Sunset over the desert.

And as the saying goes.....all fun and games until you break something! Easy up and over Little Red first. Easy as. However...... when we did Big Red the central diff locker didn't like the experience and the light is flashing and it won't disengage. Bugga! This means we are now only in 2WD, no 4WD!  And we had to get back over the other side. So Dez let the tyres right down and we went back to the first dune - Little Red. Absolutely gunned it and thank goodness made it over!!!

Put a bit of a damper on the experience for Dez, but that is all part of being in the outback!

The next morning he tried to see if he could fix it, after consulting all the forums, but no go. So up to the garage to consult the mechanic there who was as useless as tits on a bull. The standard reply was "dunno" umm. "dunno"...........

So we will only have 2WD until Alice Springs by the look of it! And the Birdsville Track and Oodnatta Track still to tackle! 

Oh well...onwards we go!