3rd September 2009

We were all up, packed up and on the road by 5am this morning - a great effort.Our first stop was at Betoota for a quick toilet break and a bit of a look around at the old pub that has been closed for quite a few years now.Then it was on to Birdsville through some of the driest country in Australia.Dad's Ute was still playing up and once again he ran out of fuel - about 10kms out of Birdsville.Once we topped his tank up we continued on the Birdsville and went straight to the servo.Once again we couldn't believe how many people were around.There were caravan and campsite everywhere along the road from about 5kms out of town.We had organised to meet some friends from Melbourne at Birdsville and as luck would have it we bumped in to one of the group at the servo so it wasn't long before we were greeting our group and setting up camp.Rod, Jackie, Young Ben, Bob (Rods dad) & Butch (Jackie's dad) along with Ged and Cath had spent the past week travelling from Melbourne to Birdsville via Innamincka specifically to catch up with us and travel across the Simpson Desert with us.After we set up camp we walked in to town for a few drinks before meeting up with Mel's friend Janelle who had flown from Brisbane to Adelaide and then travelled by bus up the Birdsville track to meet us for the races.

4th September 2009

Today is the first day of the races and also Janelle's birthday - Happy Birthday Janelle!We dressed to suit the conditions and walked up to the main road and caught the bus out to the race track.For anyone who doesn't know what the Birdsville race track looks like.....well it's pretty much just red dirt with not a tree in sight and on a windy day you get to eat a lot of dust.Thankfully the weather wasn't too warm and there wasn't much of a breeze so the day was bearable and there was a few wins on the day as well.

After the races it was back to the pub for a few drinks before heading in to Brophys boxing tent to watch the action.Brophy's boxing tent is the last touring boxing troupe in Australia and it has been a family business for at least 4 generations.How it works is that people in the crowd volunteer to partake in a boxing match with one of Brophy's trained boxers.I am not a fan of boxing but I must say that the boxing tent is very entertaining and I would recommend it to anyone if you have the chance to see it.We were lucky enough to see a mad Irish backpacker in the ring as well as a couple of girls giving it a good go.

Then it was home to camp for an early night - or that was the plan until Bob came home and asked who wanted some port - so the boys sat up drinking and the girls went to bed.It was a freezing cold night and I couldn't wait for the sun to come up!

5th September 2009

Well today is Birdsville Cup Day - the big race day.So once again we dressed to the conditions - jeans and singlets and boots - and caught the bus out to the race track.There were a lot more people at the races today!Once again we had a fab day at the races although the winnings were minimal.A couple of highlights was Matt, Ged and Andy having a foot race down the home straight of the race track - Andy sooked it up and was scratched before the start so it was a fight between Matt and Ged, although it was a pretty easy fight with Matt winning by about 5-6 lengths!Another highlight was participating in the arm wrestling competition that had started up behind the betting ring.We all had a go with Cath and I being the first girls to compete - I won that one but only because Cath agreed to do it left handed even though she's right handed.Janelle even got in the ring and had a go and I must say she was the only contender wearing dress!All up in was great fun and the day was over before we knew it, so off to the pub we went!

6th September 2009

Rod, Jackie, Young Ben and Bob farewelled us today as they had to head back to Melbourne, we also farewelled Janelle whose bus was heading back to Adelaide today.We played tourists and visited the Birdsville Working Museum before heading to the servo for some provisions.We also attempted a swim in the creek because it was so hot but the water was absolutely FREEZING so it was a very quick dip.Then the boys went to the pub while Cath and Mel went to the caravan park to do the washing and have a shower and wash their hair - ah bliss! Clean hair.