03.08.07

BIRDSVILLE

Well it finally rained, nearly all night but ever so light only 3 mil’s.

Were ready to leave by 830 and stopped at the pub for a photo when the chap came out and said he would ring for a road report (we were the first out for the morning). He rang Birdsville to find they had none so then rang Marree where I spoke to Willie and they hadn’t any either. The road was wet for about 200 k’s which helped with the dust problem. Di wasn’t happy as the van “is all covered in mud”.

Amazing country to visit, endless flat gibber plains nearly devoid of vegetation, although in the creeks and washouts it was green so the cattle were in very good condition. Only saw two roo’s and a few birds but not much else. Around Clifton Hills the road was pretty stony and rough but over all it was excellent, especially the last hundred k’s after leaving the gibber country and arriving in big long stretches of sand hills. Traffic was very light with only five vehicles to Birdsville; however the fourby’s are thick here in Birdsville.

Stopped at Mirra Mitta bore where we saw our first boiling bore, you can see the steam for a mile back. Very hot. Another hot bore here in the Birdsville.

Booked in for two nights with power water and SAND! Went the bakery and had a bun each as it is the first we have seen, not even one in Roxby. Later went for a drive back to the Diamantina River and spoke to bloke who was camped on the river bank. There are lots of good camp spots and some are there already for the Birdsville Races in a month’s time. Didn’t take camera so may go back tomorrow.