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Report of a self-supported and self-planned bicycle tour on the famous Birdsville Track, Australia. Monsoon rains added an unexpected degree of difficulty...

Summer, Sun, Sand and Mud - cycling the Birdsville Track, Australia

Waltraud
2004-03-05 13:53:55

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we can't make it through and have to get of the bike in the middle of the water stretch. Often riding is made difficult by the deep tracks of a truck. Once riding inside these tracks, it is impossible to change position.

We were prepared for drought, heat, lack of water, loneliness. But not for rain and flooding. How can you know…

Mungerannie by the sea

No more worries about drinking water, we are riding through it. We can also take baths, and wet our shirts and head bands. However, heat, flies, and mosquitoes are still there. And the mud. In the meanwhile we and our bikes look like we'd been on some sort of off-road trip. We find mud even on top of our hat.

The wind is pushing us today, so that we reach our goal already shortly after noon: Mungerannie. Before we reach the farm with hotel and gas station, we have to cross the Mungerannie River – not an easy task at the current level of flooding. We first carry the panniers across, then the trailers, then the bikes, then we reward ourselves with a cold drink at the bar.

The other guest as well as the barman are seriously worried that two "bloody Germans" want to ride the Birdsville Track at this time of year. After having told them about our previous adventures, they were convinced that we are "full time crazy" and we were somewhat accepted in their world.

Mungerannie is located next to a bore which was opened about 80 years ago. Since then, large a amount of water is running out of the bore, which has created a river of a few kilometers and an island of green in the desert. Mungerannie is famous four its bird life. With the rain, the river has additionally swollen. The water has a nice temperature of 30°C – ideal to wash off the dust of the last two weeks.

Fresh bread and cold beer

Nightlife in Mungerannie is short but intense. We are not alone in the pub, not only because it is Friday. Besides the two ...