Thursday 29/7/2010 Poeppel Corner to Birdsville

(Poeppel Corner to Birdsville)
Packed up in drizzle this morning. We didn't leave until 0930hrs as Brian was talking to Col this morning for about 30 minutes. We headed north along the western edge of the next lake over. It was very wet mud and had to occasionally head off the lake  when it looked too boggy. It went for ever. Longer than it seemed.
We then had to turn east, straight across the centre of the north half of the lake on the QAA Line to Birdsville. It was such a long crossing. Deep ruts, water and mud. After our previous experience we were pretty worried about getting bogged half way across. Staying in the ruts, we kept our speed up and went flying across with mud and water spraying everywhere. The longest claypan crossing we've done, and the recent downpour made it scary but fun with it getting deeper on the eastern side. I think it was getting close to needing to divert north around the top half. Brian contacted us to check if we'd made it across so he knew whether or not to try.

Wildlife galore. A black kite, 2 brown falcons, lots of budgies and gidgee trees in most swales.
There are some beautiful flowers that look like budgies. They remind me of orchids.

We've passed 2 groups so far. Everyone stops and gets info on the track ahead.
Brian's group are about 8km behind us. Lots of radio chatter.

We're seeing lots of red-tailed finches. They are big wide swales now with gidgee forests. The track seems firmer now with a clay base, with sand on the dune peaks.
Jordan had another drive, going across another small clay pan, a side track around deep mud and through some water.
Then Jack had his first turn. He did a donut off the left of the track (in slow motion). They are both brilliant drivers and would be able to get us out of trouble if needed. I think they are both pretty keen to save up for a 4WD now!

Almost at Eyre Creek. Galahs galore!
Eyre Creek is flowing. It is wild with birdlife here. Cockatiels, four kites, budgies, martins (swallows), galahs.

We stopped and chatted to an older couple camped on the eat side of Eyre Creek. They were living in a 4WD bus. She told me that the flower I saw was called "birds beak".
Further north on the creek it was crowded with campers.
It wasn't much further to Big Red.

It really was big and spectacular and really is very red sand. We drove up it without any problems, but it also probably helped that it had rained.

Most things I've read say it is steeper from the east, but it seemed about the same to us.
There is currently a massive lake on the eastern side of Big Red, with a flooded forest of trees and again, birds galore.

Ducks, doves, piwis, white cockatoo, galah, kites, other water birds and a giant eagles nest. It was a huge detour south around the lake.

It was a well graded road and a speed of 80km/hr for the remainder of the trip to Birdsville, arriving at 1700hrs, then changing our watches to 1730hrs their time.
We decided not to set up camp in the mud (clay) next to the Diamantina Billabong in the drizzly rain. A relaxing night in the Birdsville Hotel instead. It was a lovely, clean, spacious 2 bedroom apartment with a loungeroom, out the back of the Hotel. You could park right at the door and the laundry was a couple of doors away.

Showers all round (Aaahhh)! I put the washing on, then we all headed to the Hotel for dinner.
Such a nice pub. Lots of old country charm.
Apparently Innamincka is closed, even to flights at the moment due to flooding. The airstrip is underwater.
The Birdsville Track and Cordillo Downs Road (through the Sturt Stony Desert) are also closed.
The gravel road east is our only option. We aim to head for Arabury Station, then Innamincka if able.
Cameron's Corner is also closed so we may miss the Strzelecki Desert as well.
Looks like we'll have to come back out here again!