Andrew lead the convoy as Karl and Joy teamed up with him to rehearse their act for the Birdsville Gala Night. Left for Birdsville via Bedourie with more desert scenery, this was what a lot of us expected for the entire outback. The dirt road had a number of water crossings after the recent rain and 2006 flooding ® in the area. Okie went through the water a bit too quick and the electrics filled up and stopped the engine. Pam got bogged, but with Carolyn’s guidance managed to free herself, true girlpower.
Birdsville was built up as having some of the best accessible disabled facilities but much to our disappointment, they had been removed. The local service station opposite the caravan park came to the rescue and allowed the wheelies to use the disabled toilet and shower at the service station. Upon further inquiries, the Birdsville Hotel itself has excellent disabled facilities so a couple of rooms were booked and the wheelies stayed the 2″d night at Birdsville at the Hotel. Our Gala Night took place with acts of singing, dancing, poetry, comedy and musical items. The standouts were the handbag quartet staring Stu, Chrissy, Rachelle and Mick with their own song. Graham’s bush poetry and Foxtrot Communications provided some close to home laughs as presented by Karl, Joy and Andrew. Russell was another surprise talent playing a couple of tunes on his mouth organ. A comedy sketch by Karen, Rachelle and Craig was also excellent. Once again, Carolyn’s MC work and encouraging everyone to take part helped to bring together the group.
After a break stopover camp at Boulia, we headed off for another much anticipated discovery of Australia in Birdsville – land of the famous pub and the ‘Big Red’ in the Simpson Desert – a must see and do for the 4WD enthusiasts and tourists alike. On the way we primed our 4WD experience with spectacular bogs on the dirt tracks with lots of laughs, photo’s & comical digs across the 2-way. We arrived in Birdsville with the desert doing what it does best, welcoming us with wind and dust wrapping its friendly arms around our camp. With a short period of anxiety after we learned that the disabled facilities of the caravan park were no more, the ‘hero’s with hospitality’ emerged from the hearts of the locals, and the servo and pub provided us with their facilities whenever we needed them day or night. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts Birdsville! At different times, we took the time to stand in the middle of the dust with nothing but dirt and sand for miles to see, with the occasional tree holding up its branches in celebration of it’s survival. Just when you least expect it, the land gave back to us in return of our surprising awe, a gift of such raw beauty. The desert somehow awakens a sleeping remembrance of ancient whispers of the essence of who we are and where we’ve come from. That first afternoon watching a storm roll across the horizon, a rainbow appeared. I believe the desert was saying thank you. Australia sure does boast its wonder in our beaches and cities, but you’ve got to give yourself the experience of its desert as well, it certainly does open up your eyes to the everything that Australia has to offer.
