Saturday

We wake to the second race day and after some discussion last night about whether we'd go we've decided that you can't come all the way to Birdsville without going to both days. This time though we are taking our stools.

We get to the bus and although we are the first stop it is already fully seated. They pack people on down the aisle and it looks full to me long before they stop packing people in. There is a group in front of us when I here them ask for 2 more so Martin and I jump on this bus - Martin standing in the stairwell. It' stage same driver and crew (donation collector) as yesterday and we try to get a Mexican wave happening. Unfortunately it only goes back 3 rows on one side. Oh and we find that they have crammed 110 people on the bus.

As soon as we arrived we headed to the shade we'd had yesterday - next to the Toyota marquee - and set up. Once settled I went down to get the schnitzel burgers only to be told they'd run out yesterday. Steak burgers today and they were just as good.

We chose a horse from the first race but didn't back it - it won. We weren't so lucky today - I was backing horses for a win and they kept coming second. I finally backed a horse each way and it won. We didn't really keep a tally today but think we're probably down $50 over the 2 days. And Kev's Destiny was scratched today.

We left after the Birdsville Cup (2nd last race) along with just about everyone else. On our way to the bus lines Martin pointed out Charles Woolley and while I thought about asking him for a photo I didn't - wish I had though cause I'm now living by "never miss an opportunity".

We got the same bus crew again so are we'll packed on. I got halfway down the bus and a man (probably in his 40s) stood up and gave me his seat. And while it did make me feel old I wasn't too proud to enjoy a seated ride back to camp. Oh, and the Mexican wave worked this time.

Another quick wash and change clothes for town. Martin wore his roosters shirt following their win in this round and on the chance that they'd be minor premiers and we walked to town. We only got a couple of campsites away before being stopped to talk about football.

Once we got to town we stopped and ordered wood fired pizza's and Martin got a beer. Martin has been stopped by every drunk in town commenting on the football. They seem to be either Rabbitoh's or Manly supporters but one was particularly memorable. He was a Panther supported and so drunk I was amazed he could still stand. He had thick dark hair with a 'reverse Mohawk' right down the middle. Neither Martin or I think he knew that he'd been partially shaved and we weren't going to be the ones to tell him.

We headed for the pub so Martin could use up his remaining beer tickets and found we were standing near ST Ruth so had a quick chat and took some photos. She is really lovely and happy to have her photo taken with everyone who asked.

We listened to the support act then Tanya Kernigan sang around 4 songs before The. Mick Lindsay Band started. They were quite good and we enjoyed the music and watching the dancing while talking to other travellers.

We left the pub, bought some hot chips and walked back to camp. The boys camped near us were sitting around the fire listening to the closing minutes of the. Manly game. One of them was a rooster supporter so both he and Martin were happy when. Manly lost.

We've talked about when we'll leave and are thinking Tuesday - when we've talked to others about half are leaving Sunday and half on Monday. So it's a sleep in tomorrow.