Friday 1st May 2015 – Continuation of Birdsville Inside Track

Fine, Sunny clear skies – it was the coolest morning so far at 6C – it was comfortable, warming quickly and the jacket was soon off.

Camp photos from the total of the small sand dune and a closer shot. 

My little walking buddy, who followed me and stayed within a few metres all the time – checking me out.

We started down the dry cracked clay road again, I was hoping for a sandy base once we got to this sand dune.  We are approximately 100 kms south of Birdsville.

As we got close to some of the station yards, we spotted a couple of dingoes who took off with their tails between their legs.  Very cautious.

Eventually this one stopped running and stopped for a look around at us.  I think there is some grass in front of the dog (out of focus) causing the striping effect.  They looked quite young.  As we got closer to Birdsville, we saw several Emu.

 

 

 

 

 

Some more hazards to deal with.  Lots of dead crabs on top of the dried clay.

That’s the track ahead – deep soft sticky mud – just waiting for someone to be silly enough to try to drive across it.

If we cut back the trees branches on the left, we have just enough room to keep the left hand wheel of the car and trailer on firm ground and get through.

  As the trailer came through it was slightly off the dry line and collected all of this.   Even just very close to the dry edge, it was very sticky and soft.

We had no option of any other bypass and just enough room to squeeze by.  We are hoping that this is the end of the channels.

 

 

 

 

 

Yippee, we are out of the clay, this is a bit of a sand and clay mix, but definitely totally dry and easier driving on.

Here is our nice smooth ride to Birdsville. :)

Here is my panorama of our view towards Birdsville.

Crossing a small sand dune.  The roads mostly run between the sand dunes which run north south, but every now and again you need to cross across dunes.

We crossed the border into Queensland around 11.50am SA time – and had to advance our clocks half a hour forward even though we drove almost straight north.

Oops, the track is closed this end – well we won’t be telling anyone in Birdsville how we got there.  There were definitely no signs on the southern end advising of this.  We were very glad that we took the track, none of the track was difficult, but common sense and caution was needed otherwise you would definitely be in trouble.  It was great to be on a road less travelled.

First port of call in Birdsville is of course the Birdsville Hotel.

We went out to Diamantina Crossing (about 2 km out of town) to camp.  The roads around town are now sealed and the airport is fenced off.  Once this was all dirt and the planes practically parked outside the pub.

The airport runway just across the road from the pub.

After setting up camp and meeting our neighbours who are making their way to Hamilton Downs on the Tanami for a three month stint at the station, we headed out to the famous Big Red sand dune.

Whose wheel tracks are these over the lovely patterned sand dune, yep the patrol.

 

On the top of Big Red looking north, you don’t have to drive over the top, there is a chicken track that goes around.

Yes it is very high up and over.   Glen on the drop off with the road west.

You have to love outback humour, it is just the best.

From Big Red you head along the QAA line to Mt Dare Hotel.  If you want to know how far it is.

If you want to know how far you are from Birdsville once you have crossed Big Red

Yes, you can get a Bundy and Cola with your loaf of bread.  They sell alcohol as well.