Birdsville and the races

Got to Birdsville on the 3rd of September, racers are on the 6 and 7th so time to check the place out where normally 140 people live but swells to between 6 and 8 thousand for the races. A month ago they had the big red bash ( a music festival ) which is capped at 10,000 people ( at 400 bucks a ticket ) and is held out at Big Red, a massive sand dune 40k east of Birdsville ,so they are use to crowds! There were blood suckers everywhere, after your money, and that’s before they let the horses 🐎 have a go at your pocket!! The atmosphere was fantastic and everyone seemed to get into it. It was very well run, plenty of free camping as well as paying sites, lots of toilets and water points throughout the sites. Shuttle buses ran between the races and Birdsville for a gold coin donation to the RFD ( royal flying doctors ) which were well patronised, both the buses and the doctors, as the demographics of people were definitely favouring the old ( we looked positively young!! ) The first day of the races we killed it, came out 50 bucks up. Went back the next day to finish them off but they must have rigged it as we couldn’t pick one to save our selves!! Ah well back into town for the festivities for the evening and it was just fantastic. Comedians kicked it off followed by a country rock singer and she was great ( Tammy Moxon ) After a long day and a big night, well for us anyhow, we walked home regaling a great day and fun had by all. We stayed a couple more days so they could clean the town up and we could see what Birdsville actually looks like naturally and we wanted to go out to see Big Red!! Big Red is the last sand dune you have to cross when you come across the Simpson desert from Alice Springs. We actually got our truck up this side of it but I wouldn’t try going down and back up the other side as it was a lot steeper and very soft so probably would have needed a tow. Another time maybe!! Also went out and saw one of only 3 stands left of the Waddi tree. This wood is so hard and dense it will blunten your axe, it virtually won’t burn and white ants don’t eat it. Because it doesn’t burn it just smoulders the aboriginals would take a smouldering piece with them on their desert crossing for fire lighting. These trees are millions of years old, good luck mans here!!Read more