Well, hello to you all from Birdsville. Yep... we are here for a couple more days..all mudded in, cold and some damp, and all having a beaut time. We arrived in Birdsville last Wednesday, camped up at the race track with my brother {he had 7 horses racing} and the rain came Friday night. Noone can leave the town for a few more days. My brother was told only an hour ago the races will now be abandoned, not postponed. The thing that strikes me the most in this situationis..... there are 17 people in our camp, some meeting for the first time,all unable to DO anything except sit around a campfire for days and talk. All from different walks of life,all different stages of life,but, all enjoying life. We have had a drink{or 2} played cricket, dined on some of the finest food, shared anything dry,and not one complaint about our plight. Birdsville..the town, has been wonderful to all 4 or 5 thousand of us. Nothing has been too much trouble for anyone. Any form of entertainment has been made welcome, and believe me there has been some entertaining people. I believe the road north will be opened on Tuesday. We were heading to Lightening Ridge, but the road south won't be opened till Thursday, so will head to Mt Isa with my brother instead. Just learning the freedom of retirement.LOL. Having a blast, living history. First time in 128 years this has happened in Birdsville! Cheers all Dellie
Gerty Dancer said
09:05 AM Sep 6, 2010
So very hot and dry when we were there, its hard to imagine Birdsville wet.
Goodonya Dellie! Great to hear you are safe and enjoying whatever comes.
tonyd said
06:39 PM Sep 6, 2010
Hey, what a shame about the races being cancelled. I am hoping and planning to be there next year. Rain, rain, go away!
Cheers, Tony
Dunmowin said
09:50 PM Sep 6, 2010
Hey DellieMay, all experience in the GN mode of travel. Does it make you feel good being "part of history". Have bee following the news - have they run out of food yet? I am so envious. Tony, see you there next year. We will be there.
DellieMay said
07:51 PM Sep 7, 2010
Well all. Finally got out of Birdsville today. We have been in Boulia for 1 hour and parked up with 100's of others.It was unbelievable!!!! Yesterday.. the local Boulia cop called a meeting for all {in front of the pub, of cause} to tell us approx 4 or 5 thousand people, he would welcome us back anytime. He said there was NOT 1 crime in all those days. Wallets handed in and money all still in them. Restores the faith, I think. The roads are a mess in places and water, water everywhere. The council in the Birdsville shire have graders and workmen on the side of the road ready to assist anyone needing it. The road was to be closed off this afternoon, to reopen in the morning. We did have supplies flown in but the town looked after us like you would'nt believe. Our personal concern was the horses. They were starting to go stir crazy locked up in the stalls, and food for them was a really big worry. The powers that be let the horse trucks go very early as soon as the road was open,and I believe they should nearly be in Mt Isa now. Hope so anyway.
If you go next year I know you will enjoy it.
Cheers Dellie
DellieMay said
07:52 PM Sep 7, 2010
Sorry... It was the local Birdsville cop
Cruising Granny said
09:03 PM Sep 7, 2010
That's the great thing about Birdsville, and Innamincka, especially at race time.
Everyone, no matter what their background is there for the same reason, with the "Birdsville experience" in common. The great leveler.
The fact you were all stranded, brought everyone a little closer together in the circumstances.
Shared adventure, shared days together, shared times, shared beers, shared food and shared cricket.
Pity you couldn't all finish the experience with shared race day. It's good everyone was able to escape safely.
glassies said
06:55 PM Sep 8, 2010
wow that is great to hear isnt it all wallets and stuff handed in ,unbelievable great stuff i reckon wish we would hear more of that happening .
good on you for going, i myself cant wait to experience birdsville but i dont want to go the race time i want the solitude of it all to myself .
have safe travels xx
DellieMay said
08:31 PM Sep 8, 2010
Glasses, please go when the races are on. That time is the real Birdsville. The population is normally 100. To swell to thousands, all different people in their normal lives...to a town where everyone is there for no other reason except to enjoy what life has to offer, is just great. We loved every aspect of our adventure. By the way... We have to go to Brisbane {hospital} when we go home so will need an address and would love a cuppa on the way.
Cheers Dellie
The thing that strikes me the most in this situationis..... there are 17 people in our camp, some meeting for the first time,all unable to DO anything except sit around a campfire for days and talk. All from different walks of life,all different stages of life,but, all enjoying life.
We have had a drink{or 2} played cricket, dined on some of the finest food, shared anything dry,and not one complaint about our plight.
Birdsville..the town, has been wonderful to all 4 or 5 thousand of us. Nothing has been too much trouble for anyone. Any form of entertainment has been made welcome, and believe me there has been some entertaining people.
I believe the road north will be opened on Tuesday. We were heading to Lightening Ridge, but the road south won't be opened till Thursday, so will head to Mt Isa with my brother instead. Just learning the freedom of retirement.LOL.
Having a blast, living history. First time in 128 years this has happened in Birdsville!
Cheers all Dellie