Birdsville & Big Red.

Birdsville is on the edge of the Simpson Desert. 1845 Sturt made two trips into Birdsville. 1860 Robert Burke arrived into Birdsville. 1889 the first white child was born in Birdsville. 1929 The first Royal Flying Doctors service. 1925 The first telegram sent by battery.1967 was the worst dust storm on record. 1974 highest recorded flood. 1979 Birdsville hotel burnt down. 2013 Steve & Dee visited Birdsville!!!

Here we are now at Birdsville, which seems to be a great little town. We have been to the race track, the bakery, the pub and best of all BIG RED. For those that don't know big red is a huge sand dune, that all 4wheel drivers want to drive over!!! We did it!!! Well I was taking pictures. Good fun!! Big Red, made of red rusting iron particles in the sand & believed to be the largest of 1133 sand hills across the Simpson Desert. This famous desert landmark stretches to a massive 36.5m (120ft) above sea level

                                                          The Race track at Birdsville.

                                                                 The Birdsville Pub.

                                                           Steve on top of little Red.

                                             The wind was howling at the top of Big Red.

                                             Me getting blown away at the top of Big Red.

                                    Steve going back down to fetch the car & tackle Big Red.

                                Here comes Steve getting some speed up. Can you see the car?

                                                        Here he come's, will he make it?

1st attempt & Steve eased of to soon, look how close he was!!! Still he just has to roll all the way back down now & try again!!

                                                                 Rolling back down!!

                                                        2nd attempt- here he comes!!!

                                                    Yes!!! A big smile as he made it!!!

                                                                   Down on the track.

                                                                      Desert Pea.

                      Steve outside the ruins of the Royal Hotel, which became a hospital in 1922.

Inamincka.

25.05.13 we left Warren Gorge and took a different road back to Quorn, the scenery was spectacular, but the horses wouldn’t get of a cattle grid so we could keep moving on.  A quick coffee in Quorn and on to Hawker, the races were on here and we nearly stopped. On we go passing Rawsley station, Wilpena Pound, Wirrealpa, Mt Chambers, Wearing Gorge, Prism Hill, Peter Fagan’s grave, Balcanoona to Arkaroola and Arkaroola villiage.

On this day we saw 62 Emu’s, 20 plus Kangaroo’s, A big wedge tail Eagle, Many Horses, Thousands of sheep, a small herd of Brahman Cattle and a blue Tongued Lizard. The scenery was simply stunning and anyone that hasn’t been to the Flinders' is missing out big time!!!

Left Arkaroola at 0900 and headed off road towards the Strzelecki track, the scenery was stunning and the wild life good, the track had muddy patches, but was no lumpier than South Australia's sealed roads!! Once we were on the Strzelecki, the road was busier and there was very little wildlife. What wildlife there was Steve shot (Dingo). As with no one maintaining the dog fence, Dingo’s run freely into South Australia. So we try and do our bit for SA sheep farmers. After 460klm we arrived at Innamincka.

We camped at Cooper’s creek Innamincka, which is beautiful. The weather is much warmer here, but the flies are a pain. Captain James Sturt became the first European to set eyes on this wetland area in 1844-1845. Only fifteen years later Burke & Wills died here. Their companion John king, was eventually rescued by Alfred Howitt, only after receiving help from local Aboriginal people. Burke’s & Will’s memorials are all found in the Innamincka Regional Reserve. We spend last night at the Innamicka pub, where they had a singer on. The Dingo’s howled all night!!! I hate them!!!!

One of the many road signs, which was wrong!!!

 

                                                                                                                                                Our camp site at Coopers Creek, Innamincka.

 

Steve at the Innamincka Hotel- Nice!!!

                     Steve at Burke's original grave. 

                                                                                                                                   Steve found a tree to sit in, perfect for relaxing!!

Moving on to Birdsville tomorrow, another big drive, across a lot of nothing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

South Australia/Flinders

Back in McLaren Vale for 9 nights, catching up with friends. 

We left McLaren Vale (Thursday 23.05.13) and headed towards Quorn (one of our favourite spots in the Finder’s Ranges). We arrived at Warren Gorge and stayed here for two nights, the first thing we see are Rock Wallabies, followed by, many kookaburras, Emu’s and Kangaroo’s. A great way to get us back into the relaxed holiday mode!!!

Our friend Nia & Paul got pregnant & had baby Tyler whilst we were away!!

                 Rock Wallaby, Warren Gorge.

 

                                                                                                                                   Southern Flinders' Ranges.

                We arrive at Arkaroola.

 

                                                                                                                               Arkaroola old stock yard.

             Some of the ranges around Arkaroola.

We love the Flinders' Ranges, but boy was it cold!!! Time to move on to a warmer climate!!

                                                          

                                                                                 I think this Emu wanted a road race!!

 

Thevenard Island 11.

More pictures .... Steve and I had a day off and took a Plaka (small Boat) around the island, it was a great day!!!

                                                                Me driving the Plaka.

                                                   Back Beach was a great place to be.

                                          Me swimming with the Island in the back ground.

                                           Steve taking the Plaka out with the Telehandler.

                                   All the staff, except Andrew the Skipper on our last night.

                                            The Warradale, the boat we left the island on.

                                                         Keith & Nick going to work.

                                                                     The work Boat.

Once we arrived back into Onslow, we picked up a hire car and drove to Karratha (330klms). We stayed in a very nice hotel for the night. On the Monday we flew Karratha to Perth and Perth to Adelaide. Were we were meant by our very dear friends, Neil, Ethan, Aiden & Abbey.
We have now been back in Adelaide for 1 week, getting organised for our next adventure- leaving soon!!!

Thevenard Island 10.

More pictures of our time on the Island......

                                            Cray cooking on the BBQ for Jade's Birthday.

                                                            Jade's Birthday Dinner.

                                                         What a fantastic Birthday Cake.

                                                The drinking games begin and Jade won!!!

                                              Sunday off and the volley Ball court is busy.

                                                                       Good Game.

Thevenard Island 9.

We have many living things in the ocean close to the Island. Sea Urchins, Tube worms, Coral, Nudi branch, Damsel Fish, Acorn Barnacle, Jelly Fish, octopus, Chiton, Limpet, Baler Shell, Logger Head Turtles, Dugongs and lots & lots of big fish!!! There are also many  living things, that we don't have names for.

                                                                                   Fish. 

                                            It was definitely alive, any ideas to what it is? 

                                                            So cute, but what is it? 

                                                                        Any ideas? 

                                                                  Some other thing? 

                                                               What about this? 

                                                                     ????????????? 

Well we hope you enjoy these amazing creatures from the Ocean, that's it for now!!!

                                       

Thevenard Island 8.

The weeks keep ticking by. Work is so busy, still lots to do with admin, fixing up rooms.  Putting new Tv’s in, fridges, bedside cabinets, general cleaning & maintenance, organising staff. Of course in our spare time, well there are boats (plaka’s) to be taken out, snorkelling & fishing to do!!! Swimming in the ocean and the pool. Shovel nose sharks to watch from the beach.

                                                                   Anzac Day.

                                                                Plaka's for Hire.

                                                                 Me going to work.

                                             Steve near The Club Thevenard work rooms.

                                                    Steve near the pool and court yard.

                                                       One of the roads on our Island.