The old stock routes : Birdsville en Oodnadatta Track

When we exit the Simpson Desert, we decide to take the old stock routes – now famous Outback ways – all on dirt roads.
It are the Birdsville Track, some 560 km’s between Marree and Birdsville and the Oodnadatta Track, another 600 km’s between Marree and Marla. We only travel them partly in both cases, but long enough to enjoy the scenery. The reason why they were so famous in the real drover’s days is because the presence of lots of bores or springs along the way. They allowed the mobs, horses and drovers to be rested and watered.

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Going Simpson

Finally… After all the rodeos, repairs and frightening by locals we’re going Simpson!
Just Janis and us. Show them your value girl! Pick a couple of dunes.

Fueled up, provided with food and water, motor tuned up,… We are ready!
Deflating our tyres till 20psi, locking hubs, putting in high 4WD…

Radio on : ‘Heading West on QAA Line – Here comes Janis, a red Toyota LandCruiser’

Dune 1… a couple of spectators on top.
Radiocontact : ‘is the way clear?’ – ‘All is clear, you can come up’

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RODEO RODEO !!!

vrijdag, 28 juni 2013 tot zondag, 30 juni 2013

Een nieuwe belevenis…rodeo in Bedourie!!!
200km heen en 200km terug…dat vonden we het wel waard voor een unieke belevenis. Trouwens, dat is naar Australische normen een gewone afstand voor een weekendje uit.
Officieel heet het evenement: Campdraft, rodeo & gymkhana.

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Intermezzo : Shopping Outback…

Onze volgende bestemming: Bedourie.

Even enkele anekdotes over het shoppen in de outback.
In het infocentrum van Bedourie horen we dat er in de lokale winkel veel verse groenten en fruit te koop zijn. Op naar de winkel! Zoals zo vaak in de outback staan er geen prijzen op het fruit en groenten. We nemen vanalles mee en laten het wegen.

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Remote Birdsville…

Finally, Birdsville…
The gateway to the Simpson Desert. But for us first a visit to the mechanic to order our brake parts. At the end of the week they’ll arrive, so we have two days of rest on the local campground.
We park us near the local billabong and enjoy the camp facilities. A hot shower, the camp kitchen and washing machines. A necessity after a couple of days ‘going bush’!

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