Big Red Bash - 2015

After a recent trip to the Atherton Tablelands, I was allowed to head down to Birdsville, for the Big Red Bash.

Arrrived in Birdsville about midday on Saturday, to be met with people, and vehicles everywhere..........there must be something going on? A shower at the Ablution Trailer, then up to the bakery for a couple of "maggot bags". Renigged on the curried camel and rabbit, and stuck with a couple of beef offerings.



Just after midday, there was a noticeable mass departure towards Big Red, so after my pie purchases, I joined the queue. Steady travelling towards the venue, but back to a crawl as we motored along the side of the dune.





Finally got to the entrance to the camping area, where I was directed to go "anywhere you like, as long as you don't go off by yourself". I interpreted this as don't leave the camp area, to find a camp.



After a walk up Big Red, I questioned a marshall about numbers, and he suggested about 4,000 attendees!Camping area, even on late Saturday, was getting very crowded. wonder where the dunnies are?





The performances started each afternoon about 3pm, and continued almost non-stop till around 9pm. They also showed a video of the earlier Big Red Run, a 250km run into, and out of the Simpson Desert, that finished a few days before the entertainment.

A Laser light show, on the side of Big Red, accompanied by an Aussie "Top 30 Hits", was provided by Redarc and ARB Lighting.



A Robinson R44 was on site, and did a brisk trade, every day.



At times people were like ants, over the top of Big Red. Many of the kids had their boogie boards, to surf down the slopes, while others just ran and crashed out, rolling and tumbling, until they were ready for another go.



Plenty of the adults were trying their, and their vehicles skills, on the western side of the dune. As it's all to do with tyre pressure, and momentum, many had to have 2, 3 or more attempts before they were successful. One 200 series just couldn't hack it, without a lengthy run-up, even with those 600 NM's under the bonnet. The most impressive vehicle, to do the job without a lot of fanfare, was a late model Navarra.....maybe it was a V6?

Obviously we can't live without our modern communication devices, so Telstra provided free Wi-Fi for the masses, coming from the unit pictured below.



And plenty of people used the service, including myself(catching up on emails and EO).



Conveniently situated adjacent to the main toilets, one could virtually "Whiz on Wi-Fi".

And speaking of toilets.......! 16 portaloos(spread over 2 locations) and a toilet trailer were barely adequate for the masses. Many people had their porta pottis, and without these I think we'd have been up to our armpits in human excrement! I understand there is to be a review of this before next year's event.

Along with many others. I departed for home, before daylight on Tuesday morning. Pulled up at the Cuttaburra, south of Glengyle station, to make a coffee, and toast some bun loaf for brekkie. Fuelled up at Bedourie(170.9c/L).

Took a look at the Vaughan Johnson Lookout, which is at the Boulia/Diamantina Shire boundary. This lookout was the venue for 2015 Anzac Day celebrations, where they had 100 horseman in attendance, as well as members from HMAS Diamantina. Would have been a moving experience for all those who attended.







Next stop was near Min Min Creek, for a quick sanger, at the western access road to what was our old home for many years. Remainder of the trip past Middleton, and through Swords Range, then over the Diamantina crossing, was uneventful, due to little traffic.

Bob