Day 10 September 30– Big Red to Mungerannie Hotel and Campground

Cooked breakies all around this morning, as we were in no real rush.

Once packed up we once again tackled Big Red, with all eventually getting over the middle option, then over to re-inflate tyres before heading in to meet Col, Mary and the Boys.

Birdsville again saw fuelling up with diesel and lunch, which we took out to eat with the others at the Birdsville Jockey Club – an area where the jockeys hang out/sleep etc during the famous Birdsville races.

From Birdsville, we headed South along the Birdsville Track towards Marree, with our camping destination being Mungerannie. Last time we were heading north along the Track, it was wet and slippery and we only just made it to Mungerannie, today it is dry and dusty with temperatures hovering around the 40 degree mark. Got to feel for Mary, Phil, Kate and Lachlan who have been travelling without air conditioning, as it failed very early in the trip. Credit to them all though they have soldiered on with not a whimper…gutsy effort guys (not that there is a lot of choice)

Thought I’d take the opportunity, while Kerri drives and the track is not terribly intereting to introduce you to who is who on this trip. Basically we are a bunch of friends, family or workmates of someone on the trip. A lot of the connection is via Volleyball and Stef is a bit of lynchpin, as he is connected with others via work.

Starting from the back of the bunch currently:

Our tail end Charlie is Stef, Meg, Peyton and Milani, these guys are all in one vehicle and are a family. Dad, Mum and two daughters. These guys are driving a Landrover Discovery.

Second last today is us – Nicola and Kerri, Nicola plays volleyball with Stef, and Kerri is connected through her late husband, Steve, who worked with Stef and Col. We get around in the baby car of the bunch – Ska- a Suzuki Grand Vitara

Now behind us due to a call of nature are Steve, Reve and Sarah – again a family, Steve and Sarah are Father and Daughter and Reve is Steve’s Mum and Sarah’s Gram. Steve is the proud owner of a new Toyota Landcruiser.

In front of us now are Mary, Phil, Kate and Lachlan. Mary, Phil and Kate are a family – Mum, Dad and Daughter. Phil met Stef many years ago through volleyball. Phil, Mary and Kate all play volleyball, so there is a lot of connection there. Lachlan is a very good family friend who was keen to come camping. These guys are rolling along in a Toyota Prado.

Then there is John and Rohan, John is Nicola’s Dad, and Rohan is also connected via Volleyball and a long friendship with Stef. Mode of transport is John’s Toyota Hi-lux.

In second place currently is Col and Mary – they are husband and wife and are connected to Stef via work. Col and Mary are driving a Nissan and towing a Jayco camper this trip.

Way ahead, having broken away from the main convoy is Rod and Greg, these guys work with Stef/Col and are along for the trip this time. They are travelling in Greg’s Red Landcruiser.

So now the crew are introduced, there are only a few days left of this trip and plans are changing daily, after over night tonight a Mungerannie, I am not sure where we might next head, we can only be sure that it will be closer to home.

Rolled into Mungerannie, standing around waiting to sort ourselves out when someone noticed a hissing sound from my tyre…bugger another puncture. This is exactly what happened last time at Mungerannie. Luckily the roadhouse has tyre fixing facilities, and after finally getting the attention of the owner who was working behind the bar serving some folk, he said he would fix the puncture, while talking with him I figured his bar work included one for him everytime he served someone else, so he was rather ‘under the weather’.  I enquired again about 10 minutes later and he said he would be out the back where I put my car in a couple of minutes. This time true to his word he came out and started fixing it. It turned out that someone had put a tube in my tubeless tyre. This bearded, barefooted country mechanic was not happy. So he put in a valve and patched the puncture (a screw had just poked through the tyre) all for 25 dollars, which is cheaper than home, where one of the places I have been for a slow leak had put a tube in instead of finding the leak. Not happy. He told me I should take the tube and $#%%# stick up someone’s $#$%^# arse.

A quick trip back to camp and we had a spot mapped out for us, all raked and ready, thanks Dad. Then a quick dip in the ‘pool’ before heading back to the hotel for tea.

While we were all in the bar variously ordering our meal, drinking and waiting to be called for tea, the big bearded wooly bloke asked Peyton how old she was, we all thought he was going to refuse her a drink, when she replied 20, he grabbed her and took her behind the bar, gave a bit of a rundown on the til and left her to serve us all, while he went to the kitchen to help his Mrs cook our dinner. Poor Pey was a bit shocked to start with, but did a very good job and would make a good barmaid we all reckon. Once our teas were ready we were called to the dining room. Pey was given a drink for her trouble (she only drank half) and was called to the table when hers was ready. Thanks to Pey I think we got our tea way earlier than might have otherwise been the case. Good meals all round and reasonably priced too, especially for the middle of nowhere.

Later back at camp the bloke came over with the other half of the bottle and a block of chocolate and offered her a job next season. Somehow I don’t think that’s an offer Pey will be taking up.

Early night to bed, only to be woken by rain at about 1.30 – up to shut windows and bring in the chairs.

 

The Crescent moon over Big Red.

Big Red - Hard track to the left, easier to the right.

The one at left top with some wheel tracks was the steep one we got up yesterday.

one of the dunes in the Simpson. We drove over a few, so we could say we did some Simpson

We've all got that look, waiting for something to happen. Just on a dune checking the surroundings in the Simpson on this occasion.

Some animal prints - possibly a lizard.

One of the few flowers we saw. This was the softest most delicate flower, surviving in harsh desert conditions.

and again.

Driving across the Simpson!

Change of seats.

Ro driving over Big Red.

There we all are lined up on Big Red. Mary has the official group shot

Heading back south, down into South Australia again...

...along the Birdsville Track

This was a mirage, but it looks all the world like a lake with red cliffs.

Sunset over the wetlands at Mungerannie.

and again

oops! and again. 

The artesian water pool at Mungerannie, I think that's Kerri and Dad and Phil NOT about to dive in.

Peyton got a job serving the bar at the Mungerannie Hotel, there was us and few other people in the bar at the time. 

Here we all are having a pre-dinner drink and chat waiting to be called when meals are ready.

Not a great shot, but that is Peyton with the owner - a bushy bearded bloke, the same one who had earlier fixed my tyre.