Before reaching Birdsville we went out and had a play on 'Big Red' which is the biggest and last sand dune on the edge of the Simpson Desert. At 90 metres tall ( 295 feet ) it is an impressive sight and a real blast to fly over it. We both did it with ease even with a fully loaded trailer behind mine weighing in at just under 800 kgs ( 1760 lbs. ). It was a lot easier than last time, (I crossed all 1100 sand dunes on the French line ) even though our total weight was 400 kgs ( 880 lbs. ) more but I now have the pair of Detroit True Tracs with 4.11 gears.

Taking a run up at 50 mph to charge up 'Big Red'.

At 90 metres or 295 feet it's the last and biggest of 1100 dunes.

Made it over and to the famous Birdsville Hotel.

It was then on to Bedourie on the Eyre Development Road which is dirt all the way and had some deep ruts left in it from the road trains which had gone on it before it had dried out ( they get fined $1000 an axle if they get caught ). It was on this stretch that things got interesting as we were suddenly met with a very flooded section of road which just disappeared into it and there was no end to the water in sight. There were even about a dozen Pelicans swimming where the road should be! My wife was sent across first, walking to check the depth and to see if the road hadn't been washed away. Ken went in next as he had a snorkel and no trailer to tow and could turn around if the need arose. It was done in stages as we had to be able to keep sight of my wife and any signals she was giving. After Ken made it through my wife walked about halfway back so she could take some photos to show you. I went in after opening up my airbox diversion so that it breaths from the top of the firewall and had a lot of water spraying over the bonnet which ended up with a small fish on it about 1 1/4" long! It ended up being 2.1 kms ( 1.3 miles ) before we saw the end of the water and the track again.

Wife sent in to remove Pelicans and depth check

2.1 kms or 1.3 miles later and it was out the other side and dry track again

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