Saturday 27th
The alarm went off at 6.30am and we got up and had breakfast and got ready for our walk in to Manning Gorge.
(We are on holidays this 6.30am business is really rude dont you think, but hey Manning Gorge is worth it. All of the Kimberley is worth it)
We hit the track at about 7.30am (Rena is very hard to get up of a morning, she has got use to sleeping in, will have to retrain her closer to getting home). I clearly remember this track from last time we were here and HATED IT!! It was so hot and horrid I thought, so I didnt want to walk it in the heat of the day again, and walking in earlier in the day hopefully it will be a much better walk.
The walk in was ok this time, when you start the walk to cross over the swimming hole there is now a boat that you can put your stuff in and pull yourself over the river. Is very good for the kids and also for the adults that dont want to swim across.
Well Rena got the sprints on when she could hear the sound of the waterfall. From dragging her feet to sprinting. WOW another gorgeous spot.
As we were making our way around the rocks (a little bit of rock hopping was required) to the waterfall we found some aboriginal rock art that we didnt see last time we were here.
This time the waterfall had some water going over it, so after a timid entry to the brisk water, Rena and I swam over to the waterfall. We went underneath the waterfall were there is a little cave, and a very nice lady held Rena for me so I could go and swim directly under the waterfall. A very magic moment indeed.
I wasnt able to coax Rena into swimming under the waterfall, so we headed back to James who by this time had taken some photos and was heading out to greet us with a Mertins Water Monitor in his hand.
We then swam back to shore, James returned the lizard to its home, and we dried off sitting on the rocks. What a truely awesome spot.
We headed back to camp and it wasnt too hot but hot enough. For James and I the walk was enjoyable for Rena well she dragged her feet a bit until we got to the boat, the people infront of us had waited for us as they wanted to swim across to cool down but needed someone to take their stuff over on the boat, so we obliged and took their stuff whilst we stayed dry. It was a fun experience for Rena.
Back at camp we relaxed the afternoon away. Rena was a bit upset as the family that camped next to us last night had left, they said they would meet us on the walk, but obviously they had a time table to keep to.
James scored well, the HEMA mapping team turned up, so I asked him to go down and see if they had one of the Bush Tucker Kimberley maps as I hadnt been able to get one since we saw it in Kununurra. Well off he went and came back with a new Kimberley map, unfortunately the Bush Tucker map is no longer in print, so they gave him the latest Kimberley may. BONUS!!!!
Well early night tonight, off to Bell Gorge tomorrow.
Sunday 28th
We packed up camp and headed to the Mt Barnett Roadhouse to fill up the gas bottle. When we got to the roadhouse we found out that they dont do gas refills (map was wrong), I looked at a box of breakfast cereal as we needed some and well at $7.00 for a small box of corn flakes I left it. So no gas refill so we hit the road again.
Next stop was Adcock Gorge, what a spectacular little gorge, easy walk in to it, (drive was a little challenging in spots but not overly hard). What another beautiful Kimberley Gem.
We even got to see another water monitor sunning itself on the rocks (that is until James went to take a closer look, boy those things can move fast and even faster in water).
We then headed back out on to the Gibb River Road again, we called in to the Imintji Store and this time got a gas bottle refill ($29.75 for 3kg of gas), topped up the fuel tank only $2.295 per litre for diesel got 100 litres OUCH! (was $2.40 at Mt Barnett). This time the box of corn flakes was $5.50 but was for a smaller box but we needed it. All up spent $280.75, it is expensive out this way paddle pot was $2.50.
Obligatory ice creams in tummies, diesel in the tank, gas bottle refilled we hit the GRR again headed for Silent Grove campground.
We arrived at the campground which was pretty full and found our spot, at the entrance to the campground we were met by the volunteer campsite hosts. Very friendly people, let us know all about the drinking water and not to swim in the creek, if you want to swim you go to Bell Gorge and swim. Also that there is now hot showers and flushing toilets.
We found a spot (not many not genny ones left at this stage of the day) and set up camp. They have really improved the campground since we were here last time.
Rena hasnt stopped complaining about not having kids to play with since the sweedish girls left yesterday. Hopefully she will find some kids to play with here.
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