West2East Challenge Day 11: Bedourie to Windorah – 567km

It’s early, not even the sun is up just yet and we’re packing up ready to go! 6am comes round and we’re on the road and we’ll be mostly on tarmac today, what a treat indeed!

Our main stop today will be in Birdsville around 200km away where we’ll have brekkie and drop Simon, Gina and Adrian off at the airport ready for their long journey to Melbourne. We’re still very much in the Outback here so they’ll be visiting no fewer than 6 airports to get to Melbourne! Birdsville to Windorah, Windorah to Quilpe, Quilpe to Charleville, Charleville to Toowoomba, Toowoomba to Melbourne! What a day!

First though, as soon as we get to Birdsville we stop for photos and videos outside the iconic Birdsville Hotel which is on the outskirts of The Simpson Desert and is one of the most isolated towns in the Australian Outback. Built in 1884, The Birdsville Hotel stood the test of time in the extreme weather conditions until 1979 when there was a fire but has since been re-built. As we’re trying to get ‘the money shot’ of the two caravans in front of this iconic building, it seems as if everyone else has the same idea! It’s getting busy here today – usually a town with no more than a couple of hundred people, things are really hotting up ready for the annual Birdsville Races which have been taking place each year since 1882 and the place is buzzing with people getting ready and setting up for the weekend! There’s already hundreds of caravans here, I can imagine this quiet little town is going to be alive with excitement this weekend, it’s a shame we’ll miss it! After an emotional goodbye to the guys at the airport, I made my way back to the Birdsville Bakery where I left Wozza, Eddy, Lance and Steve and they’ve done a runner! Maybe I’ll get to see the races after all! Panic over, they’d just gone to re-fuel and we’re off on the dirt again to Windorah which is the Aboriginal word for ‘big fish’.

AND FINALLY! I’ve been here nearly 3 weeks and I’ve seen my first kangaroo! And they’re gorgeous! In fact, there’s no shortage of them around here, sorry Simon!

I managed to find out 3 things about Windorah – Firstly, there’s lots of British people here, it’s almost like being at home! Secondly, they’re also setting up for their annual races, but unlike Birdsville who race horses, Windorah race Yabbies! Each Yabby is auctioned off before the races start, of which there are 4 in total finishing off with The Cooper Cup. All funds raised at this event go back into the community or The Royal Flying Doctor Service. The third thing is that there are plenty of bindis here – little sharp seeds which stick to your clothing or in your skin and won’t come out! Horrid things!

Crumbed sausages are on the menu again, but I gave these a swerve this time in favour of chicken parmigiana whilst the others go for steak. Keen not to break a tradition, the steaks can only be described as gigantic! They don’t even fit on the oval dinner plates! Manful efforts were made all round though, well done chaps! An epic game of cards finishes off the evening (I’m only saying that because I won, twice!) and it’s back to The Coopers Creek Camping Site and it’s my turn to pitch up – skilfully done of course!

No electricity tonight but there is a shower block which is great and it’s only $10 per van for the night to stay here – what a bargain!

It really feels like we’re winding down now. Roma tomorrow then it’s our last stop – Byron Bay! Only 1,400km to go!

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