Dirt n Dust Festival 2016

The Dirt n Dust has been running now for 22 years.  You would have to call it a success.  It started as a discussion around the bar at the Julia Creek Town and Country Club when a little "live wire" who we will call Mad Maggie said that the town needed an event to liven it up.  All sorts of things were suggested but in the end it was decided that we would run a Triathlon with a Country Music Festival to support it.  Triathlon was in its infant years back then and the first triathlon drew a massive 20 competitors.  We were very impressed with this number.  This year the triathlon had almost 400 competitors from all over Australia.
My husband has competed in almost every one of the 22 triathlons.  In the first few years he competed in the team event with our two sons but it didn't take him long to start doing the individual event.  He loves it.
This year there was quite a few from our little area that drove the 1000km to either participate in, or enjoy the weekend festivities.  The weekend starts on Friday with the Junior Triathlon followed that night by a free concert.  Saturday is the Senior Triathlon followed by the Artesian Express Horse Racing.  Saturday night is the PBR Bullride followed by a concert with a "big name" performing.
We stayed at the Julia Creek Caravan Park in our little camper with our friends Richard and Tracy.  Tracy also competed in the Triathlon.  It is the perfect spot to stay as it is close to everything and a local bus shuttle service running between all venues is available if you don't feel like walking.
We stayed in Julia Creek until Sunday morning before then making our way to Porcupine Gorge for a night of camping.  It is a glorious spot and I wish that we had another day to enjoy it.  Philip and I did the 2.5 km walk to the bottom of the gorge and thank goodness we did!  The little rock pool below Pyramid Mountain is pretty beyond belief.  I just wish that I had packed bathers!
We are now home and looking forward to next years DirtnDust.

Philip "racking up" his bike

 The local mayor (right) is a good friend of ours and competes in many triathlons

Tracy checking her gears are correct

The competitors bikes are transported to the waterhole in the truck if they don't have their own transport

In readiness for the swim leg at Eastern Creek Waterhole

The run leg....a sea of runners the length of the main street in Julia Creek

Tracy on the run leg

It was one of the coolest triathlons due to the lovely cloud cover but the drinks were still needed by the runners

Philip on the run leg.  The knee is well strapped.

Magnificent reflections in the rock pool at Porcupine Gorge

Pyramid Mountain

Our campsite at Porcupine Gorge.  Bliss.