Weather in Birdsville

Sad isn't it that I was up so early - old fella went fishing and left all the animals with me and they needed feeding. Nice again today - without the wind chill. Going out to the racetrack shortly for the Gymkhana - had a good night in the Pub last night - usual Friday night, mostly locals too. See you shortly!

Trevor, do I need to ring her and counsel her on what a great time she will have. sooo good out in the Desert. Only 4 channels in Eyre Creek ran - still water in the Creek though, makes the waterhole look good. You can see where the wildflowers have been in the channels - the monkey faces (Mimulous Prostrata) must have been specatcular - low ground cover with tiny dark green leaves and mauve flowers that look like forget-me-nots.
On the dunes the Parrot Pea (Crotalaria Cunninghamii) are starting to flower - right beside the track as you go up and down the dunes - most exquisite lime green flowers.
Outside the Bakery is a stunning Sturt's Desert Pea - which is about to flower - it's only one plant and looks massive.
Yabbies - put your pots in on the eastern side of Pelican Point (yes that is the billabong at the bottom of the park - but Pelican Point is on the other side). Then put your big pot on the fire with some onion, carrot, garlic, celery salt, chilli sauce, parsley - celery tops if you've got some - to make the broth. Bring all this to the boil, drop the yabbies in - when it comes back to the boil cook for 8 minutes. Tip out into basin, don't burn your fingers taking the tails off!!! The yabbies are big enough that there is good meat in the claws as well. Peel the tails - thumbs on either side of inside of tail and peel back off - clean out black line, don't waste the cover tho - dip in something nice - I like sour cream mixed with Thai sweet chilli and EAT.
You can make up a cheesy (4 cheese instant sauce) sauce with more garlic and fresh parsley (or dried) and on a rice base - similar to risotto.
Or else marinade in big mobs of garlic and olive oil - quickly on bbq and eat. To heck with the heartburn afterwards - boy, it's worth it.
Don't forget the wine.
Yabbie pots with meat bones - and as added extra, little water bottle with some holes and dried dog food. Seems to be working. Enjoy it - see you soon.

G'day mate yourself - Jack Frost is out in the Simpson. Will be here all August - and spewing (nice Ossie word that) about missing Warraweena - family!!?? Wish we could be there to help Jen celebrate her birthday and Mrs Al - any reason at all to have a drink.! See you August, old friend.
Hey, a few more Afrikaaners have lobbed up here - nice too.

Tried that last night with Scotch - didn't seem to work.

Having to take blood thinners doesn't help either :(( That's why I have to stay away from scotch these days , get drunk too easily :))

Doug, are you tripping or moving? Just been out to the car to look in maps to check it out. Glad you put Dusty's coat on, poor little mite. Clear and sunny today, light breeze comes up about 9:30. See you next year. Talk to you before then tho.

Glenn, it's just the same as being at home, only better! He's already been camping so you are on the way - just put him in his sleeping bag he normally wears and then cover him over again (and again) during the night. No doubt you'll be in a tent (?). During the day, depending on the wind factor - layers of clothes, beanies and gloves or mittens (even I have been wearing mine this week). Does he have his own little swag - or maybe one of those foldup foam chairs that you put down and a cuddly doona. Have fun no matter where you are.

A little swag type thing may be the way to go , hopefully he wont be able to wrestle out of that !

Thanks ,

Glenn.

Janet, not anymore - did for 10 years and letting someone else have all the fun now. Yes the dingoes do sometimes venture into the park - but usually when it is very dry and this year after the rain and flood there is plenty of food elsewhere. The really prefer to hang out around the tip - they can get to it from the dunes without bothering anyone.
You can sometimes hear them howling down the river - nothing to be scared of - they don't take children in Birdsville but they do like leather boots.
Only saw one dingo in the Desert last week - she obviously had a couple of pups parked close by - and was feeding them from a dead camel on the K1. She was a beautiful specimen - I can say that now that I don't go out into the paddock and find my calves all bitten or dead.
There is an animal control officer in town who keeps a close eye on dogs, whether town dogs (of which there aren't many here anymore - when we first came here 10 years ago there was 100 people and 320 dogs - nowadays people are expected to be more accountable for their animals) and wild dogs - and they have traps set on outskirts of town.
So come and enjoy the place - you will! Happy trip. I'll be here somewhere in town or the Desert just ask.

Many Thanks Ruth.

We'll look out for you. We are not worried about the dingoes...in fact we are quite hoping we will see 1 or more. Yes we are looking forward to the cold. NOT. Is there plenty of firewood available or should we pick up on the road as we come up like others have suggested.

Can't wait to get there. I have wanted to come to Birdsville ever since I can remnember. So 1st August we arrive.

Thanks again Janet

Janet, pick up on the way - then when you get here someone can point you in the right direction for some more!

Gone Bush, did you get yours yet? Comments after 6,000 klms - make sure to get rear end lift immediately. Not quite as much power as Ian thought - fuel consumption not quite as good as hoped either. Comfortable to ride in, good gearbox, good seats - large transfer case means passenger right leg not straight - slightly bent (which I am finding annoying actually). Yes we will be here then. See you when you get here.

Yes Ruth, we've had ours for about 3 weeks. Only done about 800k's so far but got 24mpg. That included some hooning (I'm very happy with the power). I've heard a couple of comments about the rear springs but will wait until we see the effect our new van will have. We are picking up a Trakmaster in Melbourne and coming home via outback NSW and your neck of the woods.

Will definitely catch up. Hope you have some garlic yabbies waiting for us.

Gone Bush, well good news that you have the vehicle - will try and get my photos of the rig doing the Simpson - the spare tyre carrier makes a grader - with our tray mods the spare tyre can't be carried in there anyway (not if we want to use it anyhow) so Ian has decided to put the two spares up top and remove the other.
The Dunlop tyres which came with the ute - well, one lasted 6,004 klms and blew the plasticy side out in the gibber (probably more suitable to mud/snow ??) Ian not happy - it was 5:45 a.m., dark and wind blowing from the Pole - and the normal jack is a bit crappy also. The rear springs are very ordinary and will definitely be contacting Fred Ford's Conversion for a lift (we've used him on our other Toyotas - particularly rear lifts). We noticed it when towing our Taj Mahal of campers - although generally very happy with the towing ability and power.
It is very comfortable for long distance travel - even though passenger side with the wider transfer case gives me leg ache - trouble is Ian won't let me drive now because he's enjoying it too much. We'll see you in Birdsville - make sure.