Up the Birdsville and into Qld

We arrived on at the Cooper just before dusk, we set up camp and sat back with a couple of beers and a bottle of wine, to watch the sun go down over the water.  The creek is normally dry, but due to the rain earlier this year is in full flow in to Lake Eyre.  The level is so high, the SA govt. is running a car ferry to cross the creek.  So after a good sleep and a great dawn with all the water bird life, we caught the ferry and headed up the track.

An hour north of the Cooper is a roadhouse at Mungerannie, we arrive around 8.00am and thought we would have a cuppa coffee. 

Went to the door and rang the bell, the Publican opened up and asked if we wanted instant or expresso, we said 1 white and 1 black.  We sat at the bar with our coffe and the publican came and sat with us and reached back and cracked an Tooheys Old stubbie.  I said if I knew the bar was open I would have joined him.  I finnished my coffee and we started on beers.  What a great morning, the three of us just hit it off on a range of subjects, it was the only publican we came across know who shouted us beers.  By 11.30 Kevy is saying it's time to go, I had lost count after 4 beers and it was time to continue north again. 

We got to Birdsville mid afternoon, set up camp and headed for the pub.  The Union final was on and we had a few beers and feed.  The pub had been painted and has become commericial from what I remember, I did ask if anyone had handed in my hat that I left 10 years ago and the barman said it would check the lost property box lol.  All the bar staff had RM Williams uniforms with name badges and while there was memorbilla about, neither of us took any pictures inside.  Given our morning session at the Mungerannie, the Birdsville is definately a tourist mecca now.

   Had a couple more beers at camp and I slept pretty good, Kevy not so good.  We headed for Innaminka and drove through Cordillo Downs.  Saw the shearing shed, however all the old photo's and history was gone, very disappointing.  The road was the roughest yet we travelled (expected) and after passing through sandstorm and burnt out country, made the Innaminka for lunch.

This too has really changed from the last time I came through.  The the license had been through 5 publicans in 10 years and no more pig DJ.  Most of the walls were bare, accept for flood photos.  We a good feed of burger and chips (that hadn't changed) and a couple of beers.  We headed east toward Queensland and the famous dig tree.