-- From Normanton to  Birdsville

The road tracklog 
From Normanton to Mt Isa
from 2010/07/26 to 2010/07/30 

After some shopping at the local Food Market I left Normanton in the late morning by Savannah Way heading to Burketown. On the way I stopped at the camp n°119 where perished valorous explorers in 1861. After a lunch pause I continued on a gravel road surfaced well. This area is traversed by many active rivers to be thrown in the Gulf of Carpentaria also called Gulf of Savannah. Birds are numerous to water themselves on the water levels. I bivouacked in Leichhardt Falls, without water at that time.

The stage in Burketown promised to be cultural according to Lp. Indeed part of the Nevil Shute's novel “A Town Like Alice” occurs to Burketown, alas nothing does not mention this event not even a poster in the Visitor Center. Only sight was the Pub,…, 130 year-ld, an Australian antiquity! I bivouacked at Gregory Downs on the way towards Boogjamulla NP.

The days after as of sunset I traversed the gravel road towards Adels Grove where I booked a site for the bivouac. Then I headed to Boodjamulla NP for trekking in the Gorge since the low part where I visited a site of Aboriginal Art Rock. I walked on until middle of afternoon in splendid landscapes among a mixture fragrance of overheated ground and rocks, scents of eucalyptus and dry grasses. I traversed approximately 13km GPS in four hours I evacuated the stress of waiting of information for the future countries to visit as well as dysfunctions of my truck and cell to be repaired, if possible before leaving Australia. Actually I hid them under the carpet.

On July 29 around eight am  with a morning low angle light I visited the D-site at Riversleigh listed in the World Heritage. It is one of the richest fossil mammal sites with species dating back to Oligo-Miocene (15-20 million years). With Naracoorte Cave in South Australia it is recognized for showing key stages in the evolution of the mammal fauna and the quality of persevered fossils.

By arriving in Mt Isa I reserved a campsite at Moondarra Caravan Park, then I traversed the city to buy fuses for the Panda Generator, que nenni after six shops I did not find my happiness. After lunching I visited the “Outback at Isa” which promised much. Actually only “Riversleigh Fossil Center” -RFC- was worth a detour, “Isa Experience Gallery” told the recent history of the city with objects of the era as well as the discovery of copper and lead. I supplemented the stock in food and in diesel for the Birdstrack from Mt Isa to Marree.

Forward on the cover page of the site I show a photo catch by visiting the RFC. Europeans imported not only cattle but also a predator the fox, certainly for the approval of the British practicing the fox hunting. But the most important predator is man, this animal gifted of reason who create technologies for his comfort destroying nature, and I benefit from it.

The road tracklog 
From Mt Isa to Birdsville 
From 31/07/2010 to 01/08/2010 

By leaving full south Mt Isa by a single-lane road with sides for passing and overtaking I moved towards Birdsville to traverse the mythical Birds Track. But before I visited Boulia, 300 inhabitants, which welcomes travellers with an obelisk and a huge windmill. Visitor Centre shelters Min Min Encounter Centre which gathers odds and ends of objects and two mannequins speaking the history of the city. A very beautiful Dodge van testifies to the splendour of the city which is known by an annual camel race as well as by a mysterious light appearing and disappearing in the night, called Min Min.

The road from Boulia to Bedourie crosses “The Chanel Country” thus named for the many small channels which traverse it. This area has a very wet ground while being a desert.

Bedourie, “Oasis in the Desert”, was a halt in the 19th century for the cowboys who transferred cattle from Northern Territory towards Queensland in Birdsville then towards the South Australian markets. Only curiosity is a house in mud vestige of this era.

The road from Bedourie to Birdsville is called “The Bilby Way”, name of the rabbit-eared bandicoot. It is peppered with water points as well for cattle as for camels which transported food products and building material. Two other curiosities are at the edge of the track.

In Birdsville, the Birdsville Hotel is among the iconic pubs in Australia.

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