Preliminary organisation.

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This has been at trip that we have both been looking forward to for ages. On the bucket list of camping expeditions this is definately one that must be done - the other being the Bungle Bungles.
We have been busy researching exactly how to execute this trip. Thinking that the route will be
Mackay - Longreach
Longreach - Birdsville
Birdsville - Marree (SA).
Just realised three interesting facts
1 - Lake Eyre is in SA, just outside the Qld border, and the rain that falls to the west of Mackay will evenutally make it's way all the way down to the Channel Country and eventually into Lake Eyre
2 - The Dig Tree is in NSW and it's possible to make a dog leg enroute to actually visit Cooper Creek and see the Dig Tree (Where Burke and Wills finally perished)
3- It's possible to drive all the way to Birdsville and remain in the same Education Department region !!!!!

We have started repacking the camping trailer and making preliminary lists etc to ensure we have everything. Expecting to get away from Mackay around Sept4th. It seems that the Birdsville races are on that weekend, hopefully the bulk of race goers will be gone from Birdsville by the time we arrive there. No doubt the town will be suffering post races hangovers at that time.
We are currently looking at a helicopter flights over the lake. Initial quotes suggest an 80minute flight should cost about $600 each. We're also looking at fixed wing planes at this stage. Those flights are cheaper, but we are weighing up the photographic potential of the two flights.
http://www.phillipislandhelicopters.com/Lake-Eyre/lake-eyre.html
http://www.wrightsair.com.au/lake.htm

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