3rd to 6th Sept.

The population of the Birdsville Caravan Park has shot from about 100 when we arrived to just over 2000 before the race events even begin. The road eastwards is designated "free-camping" between Birdsville and the Diamentina River, about 3klm. Both sides of the road, to a distance of about a kilometre, every possible campsite is occupied with many camped out in the blazing sun on the dusty plain.
 
By Wednesday morning Birdsville has transformed overnight, the Main Street now only one lane west, orange barricades, information boards and signs, porta-loos on guard throughout the entertainment precinct (the whole of Birdsville), the pub is now XXXX Gold central with flags, banners, new facia and security guards.....for XXXX Gold! There is even a special "Birdsville Cup XXXX Gold" limited edition can....but wait....it has eight X's in honour of mighty Queensland's State of Origin victories....choke you cockroaches!
 
Every day now the population increases by about 30%25, parts of Birdsville resemble a refugee shanty town from somewhere not nice (Ireland? Sorry Ash). To get a beer you first need to buy tokens, no money accepted over the bar in town, or on the race track. No glass, everything in cans or wine and champagne served in plastic cups, classy stuff this! Entertainment is everywhere but we can't see it because the whole crowd have been on growth hormones and all we see are shoulders and breasts, not to mention the Akubra hats!
 
Every arvo at 5pm we meet at Gary & Del's van with about 3 other couples for happy hour. The conversation was fun, and you could hear it without having to shout as in the pub. Some evenings we ventured to the pub and jostled with the crowd which constantly moved though for what we never discovered....it was standing room only!

Friday we went to the races armed with chairs, boots, Akubra's and drink tokens. Friends had arrived early and kept us a spot under a large pavilion, so, we settled in, bought a drink and studied the race guide. This study had the wonderful effect of successfully supporting the bookmakers....we didn't exactly back any last places, but a few times forth place was also second last if you get the drift!
 
Hot, windy, dusty, noisy and we were broke...we retreated ungracefully to the 5pm happy hour and drowned our sorrows. Vans, camps, 4WD's and people were still flowing into town for the Saturday race day....we opted to get out of Birdsville on Saturday morning.

Birdsville Races....been there, done that, Evi has the T-Shirt.....next!