7th July - depart Bashville to camp between Birdsville and Bedourie.

Vans were moving to queue up before 6am with a gates open time of 7am. They did start moving then, it seemed quite organised a row at a time. It's dusty and warm already at 11.00. We are waiting to get into line to wait for this row to have its turn to enter the road. Seems to be moving OK out there. 

The early birds, queued up for departure, at least an hour before the gates were open.

They were lined up for a long way too.

Our camp was clearly not one of the 'early birds', there was no action in our neck of the woods.

Sunrising, still queuing and awaiting the 7.00 opening.

Still queued in daylight.

up and down the aisles to our left and right.

We are packed and now just figuring out how to break into the queue.

And so it continues.

Discussion, consideration, thinking. In the end, Steve talked his way in to one line, and Sarah snuck in too. Jadon, waited patiently and was let in, then we all did this one by one, waiting for the kindness of others and doing the same for others.

I spoke too soon. After hooning along at 60 or 70kms. This was as fast as we've been for a while. Then we and everyone else ground to a halt. There was a rumour along the line that a van had rolled. Sometime later two ambos raced past with lights flashing. 

It was slow enough for Stef to get out and push is along.

The queue back to Birdsville. It did eventually move and was Ok.

The entry to Birdsville, we waited here for everyone to gather.

We got moving again, pulled off at the stockyards to fill our water. Stef grabbed our rubbish to drop at the dump. We headed into town for a shower. Steve and Carmel had already filled water and were waiting out the Bedourie side of Birdsville. Mary, Phil, Kate, Sarah and Michael were showering. We saw most of them leave the shower while we were in line for our turn. Dad and I filled up without any trouble and went to meet The Davey's and Michael and to await the arrival of the others. As Dad and I left the showers the Dundek's were in the line. I suspect by now J had made his way to the bakery for another camel pie. Michael also partook today. Camel pies gets a thumbs up. 

We eventually made tracks for Bedourie at 3.10. A bit of traffic on the road both overtaking us and us overtaking some too. There were quite a few camped along the way. 

Interesting country - we passed through a stand of Waddi trees, crossed a

Creek or two, some ruins, the Telstra sat dish (heading from Bashville to the Bedourie rodeo and perhaps the Boulia Camel Races. 

The Telstra dish from the Bash, Kate wanted it to come with us. We figured it was heading for the Boulia camel races.

Some of the countryside.

and another.

We pulled up short of Bedourie and pulled off behind a sand dune to make camp. A lovely sunset and the moon is almost full. 

Leftovers for us tonight and Sarah is making another pudding as we have a lovely fire so just sitting round waiting for it to self sauce itself in the camp oven in the coals. 

A couple of white ports and into bed by 11. Weary after late night and early morning. 

Our camp tonight, sun sets out here are simply stunning.

Moon in the sunset pink clouds

The colour was lovely.

I could do sunrise and sunsets forever. 

The electric wire was annoying me, so I thought I'd feature the pole.

and some trees.

The colours are so intense and so outback.

 Leftovers for us tonight and Sarah is making another pudding as we have a lovely fire so just sitting round waiting for it to self sauce itself in the camp oven in the coals. 

A couple of white ports and into bed by 11. Weary after late night and early morning.

Fireside gathering.

We played a game of Codebreaker and decided we could make it a 'group play' by air dropping updated pictures of the game board to 'i Devices' within the group. Worked well

An updated version...with some clues gone.

Tomorrow - Bedourie and beyond. The weather forecast is a bit of a worry. Time will tell.