Thread: Birdsville races abandoned

We just got back from that area and seems we were very fortunate with timing. Beautiful weather to fly over Lake Eyre on Monday, drove up the Birdsville to catch the punt across the Cooper for lunch, then back again. The track was in very good condition. Then up the Strzelecki to Innamincka - again, pretty near perfect track condition, and so much green all around! At Innamincka, everyone was talking about the coming rain. We headed down through Orientos and Santos to the Warri gate and Tibooburra - track not so good, contrary to what had been suggested. The pools of water on the road weren't the problem, the little bypass tracks weren't the problem, it was the bypass that just led through more mud that got us stuck - to the hubs in soft wet mud. With visions of the rains arriving and being stuck for days, one other vehicle came along - the only other vehicle we saw on that track. We jointly surveyed a better attack, and then I used him as an anchor to winch out. A long trip after that though, as the light went and we were left doubting each bypass until we finally hit the main north-south track, which had properly constructed bypasses. Hit Tibooburra about 9pm and rolled into the Family Hotel to enquire about a room - no problems - they were packed the night before, but everyone had disappeared due to concerns about being rained in, so we were the only guests that night. Today driving back the last leg from Swan Hill to Melbourne was pretty wet though - tons of water everywhere flat and in every creek and river. Took it easy on the highway too, as it was often awash as well.

Today's news is that the police are enforcing the road closure out of Birdsville. A group that managed to leave before this are now stranded roadside with the road impassable in front and behind. No movement expected for at least three days.