We are adjusting to the slowing of pace and life is particularly pleasant. This morning after another relaxed start we all piled into the Scott’s car and headed to the Durack River about 20km away with a picnic lunch. We were keen to see the river crossing here as it has been very high since the rain a few weeks ago and travellers we have spoken to have all said it was the most challenging crossing. Thankfully it has dropped quite a lot…
This morning was cold and windy. We didn’t hurry getting out and about and had a relaxed cooked brekky. Karen and Kieran took us to the sandy gorge they rode to yesterday (by car this time as the track was really sandy and I fall off bikes…). While we were there Karen set to finding the slow leak in their hiking air mattress so she can attempt a fix. Once she’d identified it she paddled across the river on the…
Today was a 140km hop back to the Gibb and then head east to Ellenbrae Station for 3 nights. The road was really corrugated and we found the contents of one of our cupboards all over the floor when we arrived – including the camp oven. On the way, we stopped off at some more aboriginal art. This art did seem to have been touched up recently. Apparently only descendants from the same tribe are able to touch up existing rock art. Ellenbrae…
We feel like we’ve had an actual weekend! Karen and Kieran exercised early while Bob and I caught up on the news of the world and did crosswords. Karen has given me some of her shots from her walk. I really love the rope one. After a relaxing morning, the Scott’s headed back to the river to kayak. Kieran decided to not only ride his bike, but to carry the 19kg double kayak on his back as well….. Bob and…
A leisurely get up (730) and a leisurely breakfast this morning. So decadent 🙂 . The boys set about checking torque on wheels and other boring (but necessary) stuff. Today is 12 weeks since we said goodbye to our nearest and dearest, and what a simply amazing 12 weeks it has been. Almost all of it done with a smile on our faces (except the week where I was dragging my bottom lip with no sunshine, no exploring, no battery charging and a broken…
After our 5th night swagging this trip (I know, who’s counting? – I am 🙂 ), we packed up and started our retreat back towards Drysdale Station. The intent was to head towards King Edward campground and explore the river and a couple of aboriginal art sites before camping for the night with our reduced kit. We were more efficient than expected and the lure of our luxurious caravans only 100km of corrugations away was enough to convince me to…
Today was another day that I have been looking forward to all trip and it did not disappoint! We were off early to beat the heat of the day for the 4.5km hike. Bob talked me into packing my full camera kit and tripod for the walk today (I have been surviving with the latest iphone for all hikes up until now). We found more aboriginal art (Bradshaw stick figures), explored the Merten Creek and cooled off in it when we got hot until…
A few days ago I didn’t think we’d be making the trip to Mitchell Falls after the Gibb was closed for a week. The road up here is notoriously the worst road in the Kimberley and causes grief for many vehicles. Not only did it open, but it has been graded! So it is far from the worst road we have travelled on this trip. The corrugations are still terrible and I’m not volunteering to go on a gravel road when we get home…
On the move again today. Although the distances we are travelling aren’t huge, the pace is relatively slow. We were on the road by 9 and arrived at Drysdale Station 160km up the road in time for a late lunch. There isn’t too much evidence of the wet from a couple of weeks ago now. Dust everywhere! We did a partial set up as the vans are going into storage tomorrow and headed out on the bikes to check the…
Off to Barnett River again this morning. I got given control of the car and it was a fun 45km one hour drive. Along the way we saw the resident cows beside the road and the equipment used to smooth the road in to Mt Elizabeth – I have to say it doesn’t appear to have been used for a while based on the state of the road in. After a 1 hour hike into the gorge we arrived and had the…