26/6/09 – We’ve been away for 3 weeks now and it really doesn’t feel like it.  We hit the Gibbs River Road – all excited that we were finally ‘on it’.  We arrived at Winjana Gorge/Tunnel Creek this morning and headed straight for TC.  It was amazing – check out the photos.  We took 2 hours to complete the 750 meter walk – waiting patiently for ‘tourists’ to wander through.  They do get in the way sometimes.  When you get to the end of the ‘tunnel’ it’s like finding ‘the land that time forgot’!!  The photos somehow don’t do it justice though.  Off to do the gorge in the morning.

 

27/6/09 – Yep – it was lovely.  Hot, hot, hot though.  Saw lots of freshwater crocs today, they are quite amazing to see in their natural environment.  We took our time and have some good photos but mostly it’s the eye that sees the beauty not the camera this time. 

 

We’ve talked about all the great things so now it’s time for the not so great.  The sudden realization when one suddenly finds they have forgotten to get some cash out!!!  ‘Oh bother, (you are free to make up whichever expletive you like as an alternative to this) I said, we don’t have any money, we’ll have to go all the way back to Derby!  The next few kilometers in the car were a bit quiet.  However, we made the most of it and did a detour off to the Hart Wilderness Lodge and it was a great 4wd track which we both drove.  Then we stopped for a cuppa and the next ‘Oh bother, leaves our mouths, the back door won’t open’.  So now we have to stay another night in Winjana Gorge so that we can fix it.  The best photo of Steve says it all!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some Sunrise Pix on the Great Northern Highway thru the morning mist

25/6/09 – We did the ‘touristy’ bit today.  Visited the Pioneer Cemetery, The Prison Tree and went for a walk in a Flora and Fauna Reserve.  Found a little coffee shop which was lovely. But, it’s all go here in other directions.  Steve got a call about another Aerial Photography job and it looks like we may have someone who wants to rent the house for 3 months.  Decisions to be made.  Logistics to be worked out, and all as we’re about to head off on the Gibbs River Road……….   He may need somewhere to stay!!!  

 

Termites practicing the last line of the Austinville Anthem!

18/6/09 – Finally arrived Broome – took time out for a coffee. We’ve decided not to get the air con fixed and will save about $300. I bought a garden spray bottle instead for $1 so when Steve asks for the air con I’ll spray him with cool water!! Off to camp on the beach today – we like the idea of a bit more quiet. Off to Cape Leveque tomorrow.

19/6/09 – We ended up staying at a rather expensive caravan park as we spent too much time shopping! We like Broome. Now off to find that quiet spot. Wow – what a Beauty and free. We have been swimming and just taken some fantastic sunset photos. Thanks again Stephan. Also got the solar panel going today – thanks Al and Adrienne for the loan! Steve went off in search of timber for the fire – I just couldn’t believe it when he got back – check out the photo.

20/6/09 – Up for the sunrise – we saw an amazing mirage today. Really special. Went for a swim – nude which was great. Just chilled today – can’t believe how great doing nothing is. Got the fire going again and made some bread in the camp oven. It came out like two burnt balls – but we managed to scrap out enough of the inside and put jam on it – it was great and we’ll try it again. Decided to sleep under the stars tonight we may not get a better chance. I made sure my sleeping area was well protected. For those who don’t know I have a phobia about ants. I brought my Baygon and zoned the whole area – nothing was going to climb up my bed legs!! I nearly backed out when I saw all the hermit crabs running around our camp area but Steve promised me they couldn’t climb so I went to bed.

21/6/09 – OK so we picked the wrong night to sleep out – it was a very damp night and we ended up having to dry everything out. Good job the sun was out. Neiher of us slept very well (which is nothing unusual for me). Very reluctant to leave our great spot. Went for a swim again, showered and left – boo hoo. Now camped in Bully’s camp (Djoodoon) ground about 20 klms from Cape Leveque so we can get a early start. Hoping to go for a boat trip to the horizontal falls tomorrow.

22/6/09 – Camp site was ok but we headed off early to CL. We nearly didn’t stop as it didn’t look very special but we thought it was worth a closer look especially as Steve had driven for 2 hours on a dirt road to get there. Talking of which, Steve is a real trooper now on the dirt roads – I said to him ‘you can see the change in the road surface’ and he said it’s a bit menopausal!!! Anyway, we like CL – we stayed for coffee and lunch, had a great walk on the beach and then headed back to our ‘special place’. Sadly no spots left so we had to drive a bit further on – getting late so we just took what we could get – not perfect, but it will do. Oh, and no boat trip!

A ‘womens’ thoughts – we women just instinctively know which sheet is ours and which pillow is ours – it’s just there, w know. Why don’t men??

Not sure what’s going to happen in the morning. If we can get back to our ‘special place’ then we can set up camp again. Steve will head on off to Broome for supplies and I will sacrifice myself and stay with the tent and swim, read my book, take photos, and chill all day – tough eh!!! Bah humbug, our spot is full. We found an ok place and I went and got the shopping!!

23/6/09 – Making tracks for Derby and the Gibbs River Road. We are really excited. Stayed at a free overnighter, it was remarkably quiet and a good stop. Except for the toilets – I nearly freaked out when we had a look – HUGE cockroaches running around the floor and in and out of the toilets. I was nearly sick.

24/6/09 – Taking it easy this morning. Steve – 13 strap Steve, as I have renamed him, is putting more straps in the truck. Yes we now have 13 straps holding down something. Arrived in Derby, no freebies here unfortunately. We will stay for 2 nights and relax. More later.

15/6/09 – Really great to be able to leave the tent up for 2 nights in the BB’s. We had a lazy afternoon yesterday and used the shower that Paul and Brenda lent us – thanks guys. Cathedral Gorge and the Domes are amazing. It’s fantastic to actually see it for real and not just in a magazine. Steve has taken the best photo so far I think – me sitting in CG – we hope you like it too. What a great stop. We loved the drive there and back – a real 4 wheel drive experience. Steve was a bit sad – he kept getting out of the car after we drove across a river just to see how far the water had come up on the car – boys!!!




We drove back to Halls Creek for the night – our 8th anniversary. We found a fantastic restaurant, attached to the Best Western Motel, and had a great evening. Good food and alcohol. The alcohol was a bit of a factor to eating out too as there is a ban on selling anything over 2.2 % and we had run out the night before so we were in need.

16/6/09 – A long 150 klm drive to Wolfe Creek – the Meteorite Crater. Steve walked down into the middle of it and hasn’t been the same since – spooky. Most of the drive was just dandy but there were some HUGE corrugations. However, true to form, we met someone who gave us some sound advice about tyre pressures and the drive back 150 klms to Halls Creek was a breeze. Driving to Broome tomorrow. Looking forward to that. Oh and the crater was a big hole!!!!

17/6/09 – OK we haven’t reached Broome because we stopped at Geike Gorge, but we will get there tomorrow. We weren’t overly impressed as we couldn’t see much from the ‘viewing area’ and we missed the boat!!

We have stopped at a roadhouse for the night. We were nearly crushed by fighting bulls – three of them charging around by our tent. It was quite scary. Saw some huge Boab trees today – they are quite beautiful.

18/6/09 – Finally arrived Broome – took time out for a coffee. We’ve decided not to get the air con fixed and will save about $300. I bought a garden spray bottle instead for $1 so when Steve asks for the air con I’ll spray him with cool water!! Off to camp on the beach today – we like the idea of a bit more quiet. Off to Cape Leveque tomorrow.

Sorry the pics don't match the text - but this internet cafe computer is crap & won't let us arrange it all properly!!!!!!!!

9/6/09 – Shopped in Mt Isa, but quickly moved on. How did you live there for so long Adrienne? It served its purpose, we had a good coffee. We were then supposed to stop at Camooweal to have a look at the caves, but when we got there we were told there were no caves – just a hole!! We moved on to the Barkley Homestead and stayed there the night. A good lamb roast and a couple of beers in the pub and a very cold night.

10/6/09 – Onwards to Tennant Creek. I was so excited to get here. Sadly, if not for the fact that the car needs an oil change, we would not go back. Meantime we have headed out to the Devils Marbles – fabulous huge boulders just spread everywhere. A photographers delight. We are sitting under a fantastic star filled sky, by a log fire, watching satellites and shooting stars go by. Nice! It’s what we came for. After the car is serviced, we’re off into the unknown again. We’re not sure which way to go now as we have to make up time. We’ll let you know next blog.

A couple of thank yous. Thanks to Kay for telling me to take my bed socks and thanks to Brenda for telling me I would wear the same clothes for days – which I have!!

11/6/09 – We had an interesting morning – very early start. Steve left his glasses in the tent so they got folded away – we’ll get them out tonight hopefully in one piece still. He was going off to take some early morning photees but we heard the dingos calling and he decided to stay close to camp – wuss!! Then, because he couldn’t see, I drove out of camp, but the car wouldn’t go – turns out I had my foot on the brake!!!!! More later. Car now serviced and we’re out of there! Off to Top Springs on the Buntyne Hwy – our first real 181 klms of dirt road. It’s listed as a Major Road – dirt track. Now in Top Springs and we found the ‘Major Road’ ok – no problems except red dust everywhere. Ready for the next long stretch tomorrow.

12/6/09 – We left TS ready for a long drive on the ‘Major Road’ 540 ish klms. This was a seriously fun start to the day, but then we hit trouble – just after my call to Adrienne saying everything was fine!! The car started loosing power and having electrical failure. We were still several hundred klms from the nearest ‘town’ with no mobile reception and another vehicle every ???? (We saw 4 vehicles the whole trip to Palm Springs). But, no fear, my man was here! He soon sorted the problem out – a loose battery banging against a pipe – which pipe you may ask. It was either the air con or the power steering. We’ve still got the steering. It got hot!! We now need to get the air con sorted but we were good to go.

Onwards, towards Palm Springs. Thanks Stephan for this little tip – an Oasis that was very welcome. After a swim and a short rest we were off again to camp for the night at the Halls Creek Lodge camp site. We will be in Halls Creek in the morning for provisions then heading to the Bungle Bungles.

13/6/09 – Went off for a little bimble then took the last few klms into Halls Creek. It was a long trip across but now we can relax and slow down. Halls Creek, another ‘town’ that just isn’t!! We got really excited about getting the blog up to date but they don’t have the internet facility available at weekends – so disappointed, now we have to wait until Tuesday. Anyway, we are now in the Bungle Bungles – a great 60 klm drive down a true 4 x 4 road only, across rivers, corrugations and more – fantastic. Iain and Trish, you would have loved it. One thing I am not enjoying is how dry the air is – it’s sucking all the moisture out of us – we feel like prunes.

14/6/09 – A lovely warm night and an early 5.30 am start. Nice sunrise. Did our first load of washing in the roof top tub – I shall use it when I have too. Did two walks today Echidna Chasm, Mini Palms Gorge. They were both fantastic. Off to Cathedral Gorge, Piccaninny Gorge and the Domes walk tomorrow. Then we are off back to Halls Creek to update the blog (sorry so much to read in one go) then to Wolf Creek to have a look at the crater. Ha ha ha ha ha!!

BTW Sue’s phone has died – guess it didn’t survive the corrugations L - you’ll only be able to contact her using my phone no ‘till we gat back.