|
8. The Birdsville Working Museum
As we got closer to Birdsville we passed through lush Mitchell Grass country,
and saw our first yellow wildflowers, before crossing the Diamantina river into
Birdsville.
The Birdsville Working Museum is an amazing place and well worth the $5
entry. It is a one-man effort by John Menzies who has collected a fascinating
array of bush memorabilia. John has also restored a number of old drays, plus
has working examples of early butter churners, washing machines, chain pumps etc
etc!
9. The Birdsville Pub 
Birdsville
is on the Diamantina River which was still flowing a little, and is the
last post of civilisation before setting off across the Simpson Desert. The
Birdsville Pub is fairly touristy now, and includes 20 motel rooms, all with the
luxury of hot showers and real toilets which was much appreciated by our
dirty(?) group. There were even real telephones in the rooms too, except they
were not connected - "tomorrow" they would be, so we were told! We dined on emu steaks and salad, and filled up with wine,
diesel, and good Birdsville water.
600kms to the next fuel and water stop at
Mt Dare!! 10. The Intrepid Explorers! 
For
the desert crossing we split into two groups - with/without families. This is
the "kidless" group ..Harvey, Chris, Neil, Chris, Di, Adrian,
Russell, Judy, Tony (Leader), Joy, Michael, Bob, Greg and Nina. A fine bunch!
And we all got on really well together!
11. Big
Red is in sight! 
"Big
Red" is the highest dune on the Simpson desert crossing, and is
approximately 40km West of Birdsville. Time to let the tyres down to 22 psi or
130kpa.
12. Big Red - wheee! 
Nina
and Joy celebrate reaching the top of Big Red!
13.
Can we get back up?? 
Big
Red is even steeper coming from West to East (though it may not look it!) but we
had to try and climb it, and fail - only Adrian
(Slim) in "Little Pajero" made it up!
Conclusion -
Landcruisers with spare wheels underneath are NOT designed for climbing sand
dunes, 2 door Pajeros are made to flyyyyy! 14.
Desert?? 
Into the
desert, along the QAA Line, up and over the red dunes, and all we see is wildflowers, wildflowers
and MORE wildflowers - truly amazing and beautiful! How could we be so lucky!
More please! | 
