Mount Barnett to Broome

Monday 25^th June.  Up with the sunrise this morning and again it is quite cool – it got down to 7 degrees overnight.  We back tracked to Galvin’s Gorge and parked the car and walked the kilometre into the gorge.  Atfirst you thought it was going to be not very nice but at the very end of the clambering over rocks there was this lovely waterfall and a crystal clear pool. 

The boys yesterday morning - Darryl, Buster, Tommy, Jimmy and Markus

 1km to the falls

 The bottom waterfall and the pool

two waterfalls and an old Boab at the top

There was a very small creek with stepping rocks in it so across we went and then we found that there were actually two waterfalls and a grand old Boab at the very top.  On the way back to the path Buster ended up in the creek and boy did that invigorate him – he was running every which-way and was bounding along the path J.  By this time it was 8.30am and we had not seen the lads.  Hopefully they are over their blues of yesterday.

We were going to stop at Adcock Gorge to have a look but were informed that the road was steep and very rocky and not suitable to take the van L.   We were going to call into Silent Grove and Bell Gorge, but because they are in a National park we are not allowed to take Buster onto the property.  So we continued on our way to Nimintji Store and morning tea. 

 We told them about the lads coming on their cycles and they said they would keep an eye out for them.  We continued on and stopped at the March Fly Rest Area for lunch.  Well - it was such a nice spot that we decided that we would spend the night here. We have got a lovely view of Mount Bell [the largest in the current range of mountains] and the creek babbling past the back of the van is very relaxing. We have now been joined by 3 camper trailers, a roof top camper and a few guys in tents.

 Mount Bell in the distance,

Creek behind the van

our camp spot at March Fly Glen

Tried to spice up Busters dinner loaf tonight – but to no avail L He really is starting to get me worried.  We finally got him to eat some bread and some leftover frankfurts and we are trying to think what else we can do.  When we get to Derby – hopefully in two days – we will buy some mince and make up a mince and rice dish for him and see if that will make him eat.

Tuesday 26^th June.  Left March Fly Glen at about 8.30 this morning.  It was such a great place to stop.  We headed along the road and went into Lennard River Gorge for a looksee. 

Rock formation on way to Lennard Gorge

There was 5 km of dirt road in and 1 river crossing which was nothing major.  We got to a large car park and new amenities and then there was a 3km (return) walk into the gorge.  We were going to do it until we saw that it was rated grade 4.  This would mean some strenuous climbing and we did not think that a good idea because of Darryl’s left knee.  So we went back to the car and drove out again.

the walk rating

Te road on this part of the Gibb has been very good – minimal corrugations :D.  [We have had so many water crossings on this road that I have lost track of them.  The deepest was definitely Hann River but the widest was the Pentecost].  We stopped at the Lennard River rest stop for morning tea.  What a lovely spot this is. 

 looking upstream at the Lennard River

 You could relax here for quite a time and the river is crystal clear.  Up near the bridge you could see hundreds of fish that appeared to be about 30cm long. 

hopefully you can see the fish in this photo - there are at least 5

downstream on the Lennard River

After morning tea we continued on our way and 500metres up the road we saw a sign for a rubbish dump, and as we had two days’ worth of rubbish, we decided to stop – this was at the turnoff to Windjana Gorge. 

When we opened the caravan it was to have a strong smell of ammonia gas.  We searched the van for what could cause it – ruled out the bleach and the hair dye and then decided it was the fridge. 

Wattle near the public refuse dump

 onto the Asphalt at last!!!!!

We continued to travel the road (now asphalt) and when we stopped to re-inflate the tyres the smell of ammonia coming out of the fridge was very strong.  We arrived in Derby at about 12md and went straight to the van park. 
Derby - the first European to visit King Sound, on which Derby is situated, was William Dampier in 1688, however it was not until 1879 before pastoral industry was established.
 The chap there advised us to see the local refrigeration guy – which we did.  Lindsay was not able to help us but he recommended a firm in Broome – so we went back to the park and set up the van and then opened all the windows and vents and put the van into the bottom of the fridge space – trying to get the ammonia out. 

panorama of the Derby Wharf.  The tide was coming in (and expected to reach 9 metres) and we came here to get away from the ammonia gas.

 Sunset at the Wharf

Derby Wharf at low tide - they have up to 14 metre tides here.

 It took until about 9pm that night before we could safely sit in the van without fear of getting gas poisoning.  The gas was really making my head hurt and it was so nice to be able to breathe clear air.

Wednesday 27^th June. Today I did 3 loads of washing and got it all hung out. This park is the most equipped with clothes lines and washing machines that we have been into :D.  10 machines and 16 clothes lines – amazing!  
Went back to the van and pulled out the printer to get copies of the purchase certificate and the information on the fridge to fax through to Broome so that they can order in the part for us.  Then went to the office and they faxed it for me. This afternoon we went for a drive around town, out to the Prison Boab Tree,

 Frosty’s Pool, Built for the Army personnel in WWII

 and the 120metre long water trough for animals; then out to the wharf again and we were going to go to the ‘Dinner Tree’ for sunset but got talking to our neighbours who were heading out to the Gibb tomorrow.  They were wanting information on the condition of the track etc.  Whilst we talking we were joined by Faye and Arthur (who we met at Sullivan’s Campground in the Gregory National Park just out of Katherine) and then we were greeted by Kesley and David Court who were parked behind us at the ACC national Meet in Maryborough in 2010 – when we were still on our ‘shakedown’ trip with the caravan.  They had seen our ACC (Australian Caravan Club) tyre cover and then the Billabong and said – it has to be Barb and Darryl!  And it was J :D
Darryl went out to the wharf and got us some fresh fish and chips for dinner and then it was time to start sorting things out.  We moved all the foods out of the fridge to the Bushman in the back of the car and some into the esky with ice.

Thursday 28^th June.  We left Derby today and headed down the road towards Broome – 220km away.  We were hoping to see the boys on bikes come out of the Gibb River Road (5km down the road) but it wasn’t to be.  We passed a Golden Eagle caravan heading to Derby and tried to contact our friend’s Greg and Carol but did not get a response – so thought it mustn’t have been them.  We stopped at the Willare Bridge Roadhouse and got some nibblies and hoped that Buster would eat them – but he didn’t L.
We had the phone plugged into the aerial on the car and got reception 90 km out of Broome  – so rang the company in Broome about the fridge.  We are to take it in tomorrow morning so that Bob can have a look at it.  Unfortunately it seems that they did not receive the fax that I sent yesterday with all the details of the fridge. L

Arrived at the Roebuck Plains Roadhouse and checked into the caravan park – initially for 4 nights.  We told them that we will need to extend but for how long????  It is a nice new park.  Having said that there are the original 8 spots that they had and they have added 41 more sites, some motel accommodation and a pool.  LUnfortunately we can’t use the pool as it has not yet got final council approval L.  We are able to leave the car attached to the van tonight so that we can take it out early in the morning to get it checked.