Birdsville to Boulia 27-8-12

In the morning we drove into Birdsville to have a look around.

Hmmm there are many many people in town and…….the variety bash is about to leave. There are approx 50-60 cars all lined up along the street being sent off in groups. We are not too happy to be following in their wake eating their dust (they are going the same way we are. Still it’s really interesting and a great deal of fun. The cars [many old classics] are all decked out, horns playing different noises including a cat’s meow from one of the cars. They are all beautifully decked out – including a pink one Belle. They have ‘things’ on their rooves - a bed, a camel, a model of the Birdsville pub etc. We watch until they have left (or nearly all) and go to the bakery for a coffee. Wefigure to give them 1/2 to 3/4 hours start.

Birdsville is under preparation for the Birdsville races next weekend – all the food vendors are arriving and setting up plus the Boxing Tent. Last year over 5000 attended the races. Made a quick visit into the Birdsville Hotel, then off northwards.

 

The roads are excellent, a lot of bitumen now, we make good time and have lunch in Bedourie very nice setup for travellers.  There is nothing out here, it is a vast empty country.  We haven’t seen very much wildlife – 3 brolgas, a few emus, and……2 feral cats.  No kangaroos at all.  we were speaking to a local aboriginal in the bar and he says that there are no kangaroos in that country, but that we should see a few from now on.  He also told us that they had a plague of very large rats some time ago and this killed off a lot of the feral cats, they choked on the rat’s fur!

We reached Boulia about 3.45 and booked into a motel. Showers!!!!! We have not had a shower for 7 DAYS. This was heaven. Thank god for baby wipes. Unfortunately they can’t do anything for the hair.

Have tea in the hotel restaurant and sleeping in beds tonight.  Amazing how we take things for granted, even sitting on a toilet seat is bliss.  Haha