Birdsville and Big Red

After pulling into Birdsville yesterday afternoon we set up and then took the bikes for a spin around the town. Didn’t take long as it’s not a very big town. Was good to get out and stretch the leg muscles though. We are parked near the Diamantina River, which is now just small pools and the billabong. Must be an awesome sight when it is in flood. There are a few other campers here and some that came in after dark but most are at the caravan park.

Saturday morning we had a lazy start to the day, Philip pottered in the kitchen for a while, while I read my book and relaxed. Once we were up and the cleaning and washing done we drove into town to the visitors centre. This is a great Centre with some very nice displays and a great little movie with many well know people from around the area. Next stop was the Birdsville Bakery. Philip can’t help himself and has to have a pie. (I had one too) Lamb Shank which was very very nice. This is one of Australia’s few licensed Bakeries and serves dinner one night a week. Serving Birdsville Fried Chicken.

Then on the road out to Big Red. The aptly named Big Red Sand Dune which rises up from the Simpson Desert, just 35 kms from Birdsville. Heading west from Birdsville Big Red is one of 1140 dunes that populate the desert and rises 40 metres over the surrounding plains. We arrived to find a group of vehicles trying to scale the dune, some with success but most taking several tries to reach the top. It was great watching as they would get so close to the top and then have to back all the way back down again and try again. Some just had to take the easier routes and admit defeat.

It was quite a hike to get to the top, the sand is very soft and shifted easily but certainly worth the view.

After lunch and some jobs done we took the bikes for a ride out to the Birdsville Billagong, or nearly, the road was pretty soft and made riding difficult so we turned back before we reached the water. Then another ride into and around town. Now I’m sitting on the bed in the van with the sun streaming in the window writing this blog. Ahhhh life is tough.