Birdsville or Bust

August - September 2016
A 13-day adventure by Gassman on da road
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  • 13days
  • 32photos
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  • 2.1kkilometers
  • Day 2

    Wollongong

    August 26, 2016 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    It was with great anticipation and excitement we finished packingTommy Troupie and swt off to Birdsville. First stop Gilgandera, to pick up the forth amigo in our posse Ken.
    Phil was awarded the converted 'Donkey Shirt' for his efforts during the planning weekend.Read more

  • Day 2

    Gilgandera - Brisvegas

    August 26, 2016 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Picking up fourth hombre - Ken. We arrived after a 7 hour drive. Traffic through the blue mountains and Lithgow wasn't great. Stopped at Dunnedoo for a pie.
    When we arrived at Gilgandera we filled up Tommy Troupe and got some supplies, as well as paying our respects at the coo-ee march statue. For those of you who don't know Gilgandera is where the coo-eee march.
    We arrived at Ken's place where 'friday frenzy' drinks were had , great batter about funny stories of the past and what might happen as we make our way out to birdsville.
    A beautful roast lamb was consumed- caryling prepared by our hosts.
    The boys were lucky as i introduced them to the legendary drink- pickle barre.
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  • Day 3

    lightning ridge - hot springs

    August 27, 2016 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

    After a nice lunch and a look around town renowed for the mining of black opals. We headed for the artesian baths. Wow- what a refreshing swim spent in artesian water of a constant 40 degrees.

  • Day 4

    Eulo Hotel

    August 28, 2016 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    Arrived here and set up camp on the banks of the Paroo river.
    I am sitting here while dinner is being cooked contemplating life while staring into the falmes of a fire with a bevvy in hand. Some things that stick out to me are:
    1. How lucky we are to live on this beautiful/dramatic country.
    2. How lucky I am to have a wife and family who allow me to enjoy such a precious/ funny/ adventurous time with great friends.
    3. How great country folk are at welcoming you into their world and wanting to have a chat
    4. How great the stars are at night out of the city.
    5. How we get caught up in our own hulubulu of every day life. There is a big wide world out there to explore and experience.

    Today we traveled drom the Culgoa national park with Kenny getting the donkey shirt for a few funny personal injuries. Numerous times he was asked about it his shirt.
    After a stop over on cunnamulla and stop in at the local it was on to Eulo where we are now.
    A trip to see the mud baths was intereating and at $60 per head we decided not to. The proprietor looked at us like we might have batted for the other team.
    A "toddie" swim in the paroo with a few beers at the eulo hotel and another great day has been ha.
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  • Day 5

    Quilpie

    August 29, 2016 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 -3 °C

    Arrived after visiting toompine hotel for lunch. The drive consited of a detour due to a crossing being under water- the result of excessive rains they have had out here. This meant an enjoyable 100 km dirt road dash.
    Arriving in camp we set up, got some supplies and had a relaxing soak in the artesian water.
    At tribal council phil was awarded the donkey shirt for 2 days running- mostly for indiscretions caused by the 'tawny'.
    Day 2- we went for a visit to Eromanga. Eramanga has the distinction of being the furthest town from the sea in Australia as well as having the biggest dianasour remains ever found in Australia and maybe the world The dinosaurs name is cooper.
    In the evening we attended the kangarangado street party. Here we had a ball participating in wool bale rolling and bath tub races. A stewards inquiry is still going on into how we failed to make the finals.
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  • Day 11

    Birdsville

    September 4, 2016 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 11 °C

    We arrived here after pushing through and deciding to miss the yabbie races at Windorah. We were warned of the potential rains coming and that Birdsville may become cut off. Lucky we did... for four days now Birdsville has been inaccessible by road. This is interesting in itself as you drive 5km in any direction from town and the road is closed.... it is a little.... well... chlosterphobic i guess and now there ia a little cabin fever setting in.
    A chat to the locL tourist information centre reaveals 2 things to do whilst stranded.... go to the pub or go to the races.
    Birdsville is interesting in that it only evists because it is at the intersection of a couple of outback roada.
    When the rains did come, our campsite resembled conditions I think our WW1 soldiers woul have experienced in the battle for the Somme.
    Race day was a fantastic experience. We elected the hospitality package in the marquet and were treated to fine wine, food, cold beer and entertainment. The backdrop of desert race track, warm weather, clear blue skies and interesting characters was fantastic.
    An interesting story from the phantom race meet that was held the day before was of a young las who took fund raising for the RFDS to a new level. After raising her target of $8000 she went through with her promise of a nude streak up and down the home straight much to the delight of the onlookers. Sadly we were not there, so no photos.
    Another story was of the couple we met from cronulla. The wife who after a day on the champagne at the races, got up and volunteered to fight the female (the beaver) in Broughy's boxing tent... complete in her white satin dress. Her husband had to quickly run back to camp and get her joggers so she didn't have to fight in heals. From all reports she put on a good show.
    Birdsville, you have been a great and interesting place..... but we now need to leave
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  • Day 13

    Winton

    September 6, 2016 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 24 °C

    Winton is an interesting town with a rich history. It has links with Australia's infamous shearers strike, the birthplace of our national carrier- Quantas , is where banjo patterson penned 'Waltzing Matilda' and has a number of dinosaur remains sites.
    Unfortunately we did not get a chance to visit thise places. Getting out of Birdsville prooved ridiculously difficult with our road out being briefly opened before a car was washed away by rising flood waters and closed agaun. This resulted in us having to take the alternate route which meant traveling an extra 900 km to our trip home. ( originally we were going to travel south through Innaminca, Silverton and Louth. This road may not open for another month). As a result we got into town late last night, organised accommodation and got some food before succumbing to sleep. Some positives to come out of this alternate route are the fact that we got to visit places i haven't been before, like Boulia, Bedourie and Winton. We also got to cross the tropic of capricorn and will cross it again tiday. Another advantage is that we got to see more of the Gibber Plains.

    Gibber Rock
    Most of you would not find this funny but the vastness and amount of these boulder/rocky paddocks has been quite the topic of conversation in the car and perhaps we just like saying the word 'gibber'. I think there is an opportunity to open a Gibber farm- just need to find a use for it. We also picked out a few nice ones and are taking them back as gifts for our loved ones.
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