22/7/09 – Left Katherine in a hurry after a dreadful night at the campsite.  We were unhappy campers.  Headed to Batchelor for the Skydive meet.  I drove to Darwin and picked a very happy Adrienne up at the airport.  Had a pleasant evening and crashed!

 

23/7/09 – Adrienne and I walked into Batchelor town centre today.  The newsagent was also the post office and the grocery store and there was one take away shop – that’s the town centre!!  It didn’t take long.

 

Quite a few more people are arriving here and by Saturday morning it will be packed.  So glad we got here early and found a good spot with some shade away from the potential noise.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15/7/09 – BBQ boat trip last night was very pleasant.  Good food, good views too.  Did a quick walk round Hidden Valley and left Kununurra.  It was quite sad leaving that part of the Kimberley.  We’ve had a great time and the scenery has been spectacular.

 

We had a bit of a clean out of the car – got rid of some of that dust.  One thing I have learnt on this trip is the art of ‘stuffing’.  Being able to stuff ‘things’ into small spaces!  Oh, and talking to yourself when you do it – for instance; ‘oh now will that fit in there, oh yeah that’s perfect’!!!  I’m going mad.

 

We’re now set up at Lake Argyle and what a lovely place it is.  Just watched State of Origin – one of the best games I think we’ve seen.  We missed you Peter and Kay!!

 

  Heading off tomorrow into the Northern Territory.  Lots more adventures ahead!

 

17/7/09 – Had a bit of a disappointment today.  We turned onto the road heading to the Gregory National Park and the best spot was closed.  Instead we headed down the Buchanan Hwy which goes to Top Springs.  We found a great little camp site 55 klm in and we’re on our own again.  Cooking up a lamb curry in the camp oven and enjoying the peace. 

 

By the way, you remember I said we had cleaned the car, well it is very dirty again and everything is covered in dust – AGAIN!!

 

18/7/09 – The time change really threw us this morning.  We didn’t get up till 7.45 (old time 6.15) but we continued to be lazy and didn’t break camp till 10.00 – it was great.

 

Had a great stop for lunch by the Victoria River and the old river crossing.  Just lovely.  We were headed to Katherine but have diverted to a campsite in the Flora River National Park.  We are staying here for a couple of nights as it is delightful.  Only two other campers set up so it should be quiet.  Lots of wallabies, a couple of waterfalls all mixed in with some estuarine crocs!!

 

We have been away for 6 weeks now.  Here are a few statistics:

 

22 paid campsites, 20 unpaid.  

Average cost per night (over the 42 nights) $13.

The tent has been up 33 times.

 

Not bad eh!  That doesn’t include any park fees.  I have no idea how much we have spent on fuel.  Food costs are low and we are eating much the same as we would back home.

 

19/7/09 – Nothing to say!

 

20/7/09 – Now in Katherine.  It’s ok here and we will stay for a couple of days and get some things done; shopping, coffee, car stuff etc.  Spoke to Adrienne today and she arrives in Darwin on Wednesday so I shall pick her up then.  Great that she can get here and spend some time with us before Alan arrives.

 

Sorry it’s so long since the last blog was uploaded.  Hope you enjoy the latest photos – some beauts we thinks!!

7/7/09 – Took our time getting sorted this morning.  We went for a walk and took some bird pictures – even had a second cup of tea!

Got to Wyndham.  Left Wyndham – a very sad looking place.  The look out was good but there is nothing else there.  We went to see our second Prison Boab Tree (the other in Derby).  Parked up in a free area with about 20 other travelers but it’ll be ok for tonight.  Going to look for somewhere better tomorrow.  It’s proving difficult staying within a sensible distance of communication – a real pain in fact.  I’ll be happy when we know if the job is a go or not so we can get on with the trip – or not.

 

8/7/09 – It was a bit of a consolidating day – Steve submitted his tender for the ‘job’ and we just chilled.  Had lunch by the river.  Found our new home for the night.  A good spot off the road by some caves.  Quiet and private.  We watched a movie!!

 

9/7/09 – A day of washing and shopping.  Went to the Hoochery in Kununurra but didn’t sample – it was only 1 pm!!  Whilst on that subject – Steve was quite upset last night.  He’s just finished his first bottle of home brew.  He only brought two!!  Back to our little spot for tonight.  A shame we couldn’t just leave everything up but it’s too much of a risk.  We’ve just cooked up on the fire and now watching the moon come up.

 

10/7/09 – Went into Kununurra for fuel and supplies.  We have decided to go to El Questro for a couple of days.  We’ve had mixed reactions and comments on whether we should or should not go there, but having missed out on Mitchell Falls and part of the GRR, we have decided we are not ‘gorged out’ yet!  We pitched the tent and headed off to Moonshine Gorge.  What a lovely walk – different to the others we have done and very pretty too.  Went across our deepest river yet - part of the Pentecost River.  We both had a look out the window and it was scary (for me anyway). 

 

  Busy or what!!  We are definitely solitary folk.  It’s perishing cold too (but not wet).

 

11/7/09 – We went down to Zebedee Springs this morning to sample the thermal springs and it was lovely.  Lots of people but it was fun.  Then headed into Amalia Gorge which a very nice walk.

 

12/7/09 – We decided to have a look at El Questro Gorge today but to only do the first half.  It didn’t work out that way and we ended up doing the whole walk.  It was fantastic, challenging, pretty and in some places bloody hard work.  I followed Steve and we scrambled over the rocks, climbed rocks and traversed waterfalls.  The last part of the walk was the most difficult and required some rock climbing skills and I almost didn’t continue.  It wasn’t till we were going back that I realized Steve had taken us the wrong way there, and the correct way was easy.  I nearly throttled him – but I did it and that made us both happy.  Off to Emma Gorge and the Pentecost River crossing tomorrow – then we’re done on the GRR (for now!!).  We’re really glad we chose to do El Questro but I think we will be ‘gorged out’ by tomorrow.

 

Sunset from the Cockburn Rest Area near Kununurra

13/7/09 – Headed off to Emma Gorge this morning and what a delight again.  A good rocky walk up to a huge water hole surrounded by 100 metre cliffs.  The water was FREEZING but it had to be done so we both stripped off to our undies again and took the plunge.  There was however some relief from a thermal spring so we were able to resuscitate our frozen limbs!!  Had a nice coffee at the resort and took the GRR to the Pentecost River.  You have to be here to really appreciate the size of this place and the beauty of it all.  Our photos will help but it is fantastic to actually be here.  The Cockburn Ranges are stunning, Majestic.

 

I apologise for the longwinded blog today but we are having the best day.  Steve went off to do some sunset photos and left me in charge.  I was scared (again) – I was on my own and he didn’t get back till dark!  We got the fire going and cooked dinner and we are here all on our own camped by the Pentecost River – how good does it get.

 

Except; Steve lied to me. l have a BIG dislike of ants.  Well, we have put the tent up right in the middle of two ant runs.  Steve told me they don’t travel at night.  He lied, they do, and they are crawling over my feet.  Not good.

 

14/7/09 – Up early to pack up and say goodbye to the GRR, but not before a good egg and bacon breakfast cooked on the open fire.  Now set up again in Kununurra getting ready for our BBQ boat trip up the river.