First Official Pictures of Cooper over the Birdsville Track

Hi mazcan
Those that are thinking of heading up that way, it will be one trip not to put off.
This is only the start of the water and it is going to get far greater and deeper.

Cheers


Stephen

Still a couple of weeks before the ferry will be required??

Hi Spade
I am not quite sure where you have received your information from, but it is 100% false, sorry. If you check the Transport SA Northern Roads Report, the track is now officially closed due to flooding of the Cooper Creek.

When I rang Patsy and Jade first thing this morning, the boys were down taking videos of the crossing and if you know the area, water was lapping the toilet block and as Teraa has supplied below, the water is now over 1 metre deep and still rising fast over the road crossing.

Transport SA has now been caught out, having many months in advance notice that this was going to happen so I there are many locals up there that are far from happy.


Cheers


Stephen

Spoke to a fellow yesterday arvo who goes to Birdsville working all the time. He is actually planning a trip there from Perth in a couple of days. He assured me it would be a couple of weeks before there would be enough water to make it impassable.

He was taking a trailer and wanted to set off in time to beat the water.

I spoke to another guy this morning who also goes to Birdsville a fair bit and he didn't believe there was enough water to rise very quickly.

So where did I get my information?

From a cornflakes packet it seems like.

If you see a fellow with WA plates and a bemused look, trying to see how he is going to get his trailer on the punt. Tell him Spade said to say G'day.

Hi Spade
The speed at which it picked up over the last few weeks even had the locals talking. Depend on what reports that people have been watching, as there have been many varied and far from accurate information given out. The information that I have been posting was taken first hand from Teraa, Patsy, Jason and Jade and are based right where the action is taking place.

Your friends will not be dissapointed, as just to see all that water will be worth the drive alone.

Cheers

Stephen

Hi Lotzi
The photos are great, but it would have been better to be there on the spot like Patsy and Jade. There will be a lot more great pictures to be put up, including my personal ones when I am are there in a couple of weeks.

As they say, keep watching this forum for more great pictures.


Cheers


Stephen

Hi Cam
It adds a personal touch when you personally know the people on site. The station phone has been getting a real hammering today, including from myself. I have made 4 calls to Jade and Patsy today alone. It is great to think that these picture are the exclusive first seen pictures, and not from a paper or another internet site. How great is modern day communications.

Cheers

Stephen

Stephen,
Yeh it sure helps when you know people in the right spot. Great to have such up to date info too. This will be handy for my olds who are leaving very soon for this area (Mum are you reading this) lol.

Cheers and thanks again,
Cam

Hi Cam
Your parents will have a ball. I can not wait until next week myself.

Cheers


Stephen

Hi Moose,
The actual road crossing will not stay open for much longer, probably less than 24 hours if the current flow rate remains the same. When I was speaking to Patsy tonight, she said than one of their work men was stopped in the water, talking to another person. When he drove off, there was a small 10cm fish stranded on his running board of the Toyota tray top. He could not believe that fish was there in that short time and brought it back to the station and showed Patsy.

The depth has risen a good deal today and there is still the main body to make its way towards Lake Eyre. It is only going to get better.

As for the ferry ride, Patsy was speaking the person in charge of the Northern Roads today and there is still no firm time for when the ferry will run.

I have 10 days before I head up there and it would be great to see it running by then, as the track will be closed well and good by them.


Cheers


Stephen

Hi Stephen.
I will second Peter's comments.
Keep up the great work.
Regards.
Vince

Hi Peter
This is what this great site is all about, sharing information with other people that have a common interest. I am only the carrier pigeon, my thanks goes to people like Patsy, Jade and Teraa who are lucky enough to be on site and give my the first hand information and pictures.


Cheers


Stephen

Thanks Stephen.
I am at Toowoomba on my way.
Looks like I have missed and it will be the long way round via the Plenty.
The channel country should be looking good though.
Cheers
Russ

Hi Russ
Depending on how quick you think it will take to get there, give Transport SA a call, as now there is over a metre of water over the track, they will now have to pull their finger out and get a move on, as the locals are far from happy.


Cheers


Stephen

Hi Sally
The water is going to get far better and should by all accounts last for around six months, if not a little longer. The last few weeks the rate of progress has caught everyone out by surprise. One of my passing comments with Patsy today was Jason's date of the 20th June for the crossing date. Jason has been keeping a very close watch, both by air and land. Patsy then went on and said that none of the other station people came near the date, so they all lost the bets.

Now that it has finally happened, they are gearing up for a great increase of traffic, just to see the water and the ferry.


Cheers


Stephen

Hi Cuffs
This is what I like doing, but I can not wait to get up there and see it first hand. I am heading up just before the long weekend. If you are up there then, you are welcome to join me, as I am doing a few other stations track as well that are usually out of bounds.

Cheers

Stephen

Hi mechpete
All the thanks go to Jade for supplying them so I could use them here on the forum. What makes it even better is that the forum site viewer are the only lucky people to see them first hand, well before any other media organisations get out there. Another first for ExplorOz.

By August, it should be unreal and the ferry in full operation.


Cheers


Stephen

Hi Neil
Do not get put off just yet, give this number a call 08 - 8648 5231. Transport SA will be able to give you the latest correct information. This is one event that you would not want to miss.

Have a great trip.

Cheers


Stephen

Hi Marion
Thanks for that, it is a pleasure to be able to share what I have. I know that there are many more member that would do exactly the very same thing if something a public interest was happen near them.

I write this information, as I do not know how much coverage this event is getting in the other states of Australia, as even here in South Australia there is very little coverage about it. If I did not personally know both Jason and Patsy, then I would have had no on the spot information to share, so in the end it realy comes down to Jason and Patsy, Jade and Teraa.

I personally thinks it is great that these are the very first picture that were taken at the time of the event, not days after.

I like you can not wait until we are up there and see all that water first hand, and it would be even better if the ferry is running by the time we get there, but I am not holding my breath. On one of my other posts, it was reported by another person that the ferry was running, which is completely wrong. Here are a couple of pictures taken as late as last Thursday, and as you can see, it is still sitting high and dry, only days before the waters have cut across the Birdsville Track.


Cheers and enjoy your trip.


Stephen

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Hi Olcoolone
I received a phone call yesterday, so you would be surprised who watches the forum.

Cheers

Stephen

I am now madly going through all the forums cause my prediciton was end of May early June but I am still unaware of the prize.

That is fast. Seems unusually fast.

Just noticed that myself at Trans. SA

We need to tip our hat to Trevor Wright who said back in January that this would happen, this he mentioned on talk back radio. At the time I put on a post here about it but even the locals affected thought there wasn't enough water.

After seeing the pictures I wish I could go tomorrow but will have to wait till the school holidays.

Dean

Hi Teraa, Spade and Dean
When I was speaking the girls yesterday - (Patsy and Jade) they said the water was making fast progress and they said that within 24 hours it would have well and truly cut the Birdsville Track, how right are they, you can not beat local knowledge.

When I was speaking to them before work this morning, Nathan was down videoing and said that the water was lapping the toilet block.

As for the speed Spade, this is still only early days and it is going to get a lot deeper than the current 1 metre, there is just so much water still coming down.

This is one event that should not be missed and I know many people taking the drive just to see the water and have a ferry ride.

See you up there soon.


Cheers


Stephen

Hi Steve
Make sure that no one is taking a camper, as they will not be able to take it over on the ferry. If there are campers in the group, you can camp a few kilometres away around Lake Koppermanna, the very same lake where the Lake Eyre Yacht Club are holding their regatta in a few weeks time.

Have a great trip and be prepared to see the most unreal sight.


Cheers


Stephen

Thanks Stephen, most if us are towing campers but we are all keen to check out the cooper in flood. So we're not scared to double back to Birdsville and continue. But its all good and as long as were out there we'll be having fun.

We visited the cooper last week and it is upto 4+ meters at the ferry, of course we had a ride with the kids. Sorry I'm not a member so cant attach any images although i did notice a explorer oz sticker on the road closed sign.