Tripping the Track...

Friday the 14th April, 2017

     Today we set off along the Birdsville track, the track itself is in good condition, because we are travelling early in the driving season. There are corrugations, patches of bull dust (which is very fine dust, similar consistency to dry cement) there are patches of coarse stone, dips and rises, and the occasional cattle grid.










     A short time after leaving Birdsville we crossed into South Australia. Not long after crossing the border we saw a large dust cloud in the distance….this was just a small road train (only 2 trailers), we stopped let him pass, and wait for the dust to clear.

     For all its remoteness, we saw a number of other caravanners, and single vehicles during the day. The days of being stranded in this remote area it seems are long gone. Most of the traffic was early in the day, but even so, you would have to be really unlucky not to have a vehicle pass if stranded.   On coming vehicles are very obvious, even in the distance.....




      We travelled about 220 k’s down the track, the condition of the track was for the most part very good, it was wide and well maintained and we averaged about 70 kph. (Not the 40 or 50 that I had allowed for?)

     Anyway we set ourselves up a little way off the track and settled in for the afternoon/evening. We were blessed with a beautiful sunset, followed by a magnificent star show.      A couple of beverages, a camp fire, and a bloody good relax!

   Our camp site, was a little on the remote side........but well worth it.

     The lands surrounding the track is gibber desert, gibber is a stony layer, which has been worn smooth of thousands of years of wind action.    The stones are a rusty red colour, and vary in size from tiny to football size.   The mosaic of stones is scattered with spinnifex, saltbush and other grasses.

    
Saturday 15th April, 2017

     This morning we re-assessed our trip down the track, realising that it would not take the time we had allowed.   So we set off with an undefined time-line for the day.

     There is always something to see along the track, but this is the first time I have been pre-warned of this.....normally I have to work out what's true myself!

   We continued down the track, we encountered a convoy of trucks, including a large drilling rig, presumably heading towards one of the many gas fields serviced by the track.

     We then drove through the Mungerannie Pass, and then to the Mungerannie Hotel, where we had lunch.  Clearly in this remote part of  Australia, you need a sense of humour....

    After our short break, we continue towards Marree...the track condition is very good along this section as well, so we made good progress.    The track passes a number of ruins, the reminders of the early pioneers in the area.    Through the southern area the landscape becomes increasingly sandy.

     We crossed the Cooper Creek, which is a wide depression (not the traditional creek that we southerners would expect)

     We continued down to Marree, arriving early afternoon.........having visited Marree last year, we elected to refuel and continue on our way.    We continued on and stayed the night at Leigh Creek.

     So we now have a couple of days up our sleeve.....we will work out if and when we'll use them.

     Over all the Birdsville Track.....not what I expected, I thought that it would be narrower, rougher, and a bit more challenging.    It was interesting to see that part of the country,  but we can now tick that on off the list....and look forward to finding something else.