Next - Birdsville Track - to Far West Coast
Surf/Beach Fishing

Alderley Station - There's movement at the station_____ Up early - not a problem - Gen. Set auto start 0500hrs, every one off mustering 0630hrs.

Frank and crew back for break around 1030hrs – bacon and egg sandwich and biscuit slice – cheerios and on the road 1100hrs.

Boulia wash down and got the seeds and dust off the van and vehicle got extra attention with a soapy scrub.

Only 7k’s of dirt from Boulia to Bedourie great and not much traffic, as the RACE's crowd had dispersed. Reported to have been 7,000 at the Birdsville Races.

Bedourie crowded with the local races later in the week, camp 63k’s out side of town at the bird hide also jammed waiting for the Bedourie races.

Glengyle Rest Area - 63k's south of Bedourie, billabong and bird hide - 315ks for the day 4hrs 39min average 63kph - track / road in great shape. Mostly sealed on in progress.

Road Train - at least we will not be sucking in his dust.

The only TREE for miles and this fellow found it,

it was 38 degrees on the air intake

0700hrs on the road, dirt, black top, dirt black top, dirt – you get the drift all the way to Birdsville.

Stop for breakfast checked out the info ctr – inside track open to all traffic. Checked out the bread shop only white at $6/loaf no thanks.

No signage for the inside track, turn around and soon cruising with an average of just over 50kph. No other traffic for it’s entire length, good sandy soft track until 14k’s from the Birdsville (outside) Track and Stuart Stoney Desert hard rock down to 2^nd and 1^st gear @ 20kph.

Birdsville Track
The Birdsville Track was established in the 1880s as a stock route between Maree in South Australia an Birdsville. It was a very difficult track, not all cattle making it to Birdsville. Camels were used as transport along the track until the 1930s.
The track is now usable by conventional vehicles for most of the year. There are actually 2 tracks to Birdsville, the Outside Track and the Inside Track. The Outside Track is used by most drivers, the Inside Track can be treacherous, as it crosses the soils of the Goyder Lagoon. It joins the main track just past Clifton Hills. This track is 4-wheel-drive only.

No signage for the Inside Track, turn around and soon cruising with an average of just over 50kph. No other traffic for it’s entire length, good sandy soft track until 14k’s from the Birdsville (outside) Track and Stuart Stoney Desert hard rock down to 2^nd and 1^st gear @ 20kph.

The next feature of note is Clifton Hills Homestead, the largest holding on the track. Beyond this, you'll begin to skirt the edge of the Sturt Stony Desert, an expanse of rocks and stones with very little by way of vegetation. There are a number of minor creek crossings around here, some of which provide a bit of shade in which to set up camp, but there aren't any particularly attractive options here as far as this goes.

Rest area on the track fully exposed, thus we kept trucking onto Warburton Creek crossing to camp

Sun rise at Warburton Creek Crossing

Coffee in hand, poke my head back in the door.

'Looks like RAIN!'

Next thing Sue’s packing like mad and out the door within 15 minutes, and we are on the TRACK. Did not want to be stuck at the x-ing waiting for it to dry out.

Got a few drops on the track out to the track.

______ a few more DROP's actually requiring the wipers!

It sure looked threatening, and the sure can

do with some rain out here

Dropped into the Mungerannie Hotel – 1st traffic light since Darwin 5,768k's give or take a couple, some neat artifacts - see below!

Gott'a have a couple sets of golf clubs on hand for the tourist.

Okay, now it's serious, thankfully no parking inspectors! Time to get out of here!

Roads all open

Yet! another find

As the signage above indicates - Cooper Creek, camp area maintained by the near-by station. The tap handle is well worn with folks checking the water flow - Got'cha!

Yep! we are back in South Australia and the FLIES!

MV Tom Brennan

"M.V Tom Brennan"Print Page

The barge was used during major floods between 1949 and 1956 for transporting mail, stores and drovers across Cooper(s) Creek at Kopperamana Crossing, to stranded settlers on the Marree/Birdsville travelling stock route.
One of the early operators of the punt was Tom Kruse, the well-known Marree to Birdsville Mail Contractor. The barge was named after Dalgety’s Livestock Manager, Mr Tom Brennan, who was instrumental in providing it for the settlers. Dalgety & Co. Ltd presented the punt to the settlers on the Birdsville to Marree travelling stock route in 1949

Completed yet another Beanie = BT (Birdsville Track) Beanie, getting fancy with cable stitch.
All done on the track without a dropped stitch!

Clayton Clay Pans opposite the station – hot spa and shower, flushing dunny all for $10/n.

Flies, flies and more flies along with the WIND, WIND and more WIND!!

Filling the SPA!

Coldie or two in the SPA = Magic

Flies and more flies!!

Dog / Dingo proof fence.

Hi-Tech with a motion sensor with alarm - sure works

Solar panel keeps the battery charged on the motion sensor

The Dingo Fence or Dog Fence is a pest-exclusion fence that was built in Australia during the 1880s and finished in 1885, to keep dingoes out of the relatively fertile south-east part of the continent (where they had largely been exterminated) and protect the sheep flocks of southern Queensland. It is one of the longest structures in the world and is the world's longest fence. It stretches 5,614 kilometres (3,488 mi) from Jimbour on the Darling Downs near Dalby through thousands of kilometres of arid land ending west of Eyre peninsula on cliffs of the Nullarbor Plain above the Great Australian Bight near Nundroo. It has been partly successful, though dingoes can still be found in parts of the southern states. Although the fence has helped reduce losses of sheep to predators, this has been countered by holes in fences found in the 1990s through which dingo offspring have passed and by increased pasture competition from rabbits and kangaroos.

Off early on the road 0600hrs – good track for 40k’s then slowed down the last 30k’s to Marree.

Hats finally one that fit’s Sue and looks great.

Tom Cruise mail truck

Checking the tire sensor's before we hit the Borefield Track

Borefield Road good for 60k’s, 20 okay and last

10 into Roxby Downs good.

Re-fueled at BP $1.79/ltr. (Pimba $1.90/ltr)

Checked out the town and shopping ctr, Woolies. Subway for lunch.

Rolled into Woomera late in the day, had quick look around. A lot bigger and interesting place – will visit again as only 9k’s off the Stuart Hwy from Pimba.