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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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the two RoadTrains standing in front of the hotel, four more 4WD vehicles have arrived. The road North is closed. The track is more than 1 m under water over several kilometers. Some have tried it anyway and returned with a car muddy up to the roof. The Australians take it easy – have a cold beer and wait. We are among them and seem to be entertaining with our "full time crazy" stories from other continents.

After that night, we begin the new day with a refreshing swim in the river. Today is bread baking day. We bake fresh bread every three or four days to supply us during lunch breaks of the following days. Soon everyone knew about there being fresh bread, and we donated two loafs for dinner. Most people in the Outback know "fresh bread" only as sliced toast from the freezer. Therefore, everyone was delighted about real bread made on a camping stove. Suddenly we were not anymore the "crazy" and "stupid" tourists who "don't know what they are doing". From now on the rough cowboys of the Outback treated us with respect.

"Simpson Wetland District"

After two-and-a-half days of waiting at Mungrannie, a 4WD truck wanted to make its way through the northern "wetlands". This was a good chance for us to hitchhike across. We had to make up for the time we lost through waiting, since our tour was limited to six weeks, and there is still a long way to go. By chaining the truck together with another 4WD truck, we managed to cross the floodings. We would not have been able to cross on bikes for a long time – even pushing would have been impossible. 100 km later, we were dropped off on solid and dry ground. From here on its 200 km to Birdsville, but without bores along the road. We can only hope for, but not be sure of rain water puddles. We are prepared: with 60 liters of water we can survive for at least four days. We are prepared to have no help, since only very few vehicles can pass from the south.

Finally we experience ...