Well here we are at about the half way mark and all the way over at Broome. Its so far away. Now a recap of the past week.
Day 23 Left Kununarra on abit of an art trail. First stop back to Zebra Rock Gallery so Kiara can pick up some chips to make gifts for her friends. Then on to the Warmin Art Centre for a good dose of aboriginal art. After much uming and arhing we decide on a piece as Cath’s birthday present and organise to have it posted home. Then its onto Halls Creek. By some consensus we decide it would be nicer to stall at old Halls Creek.
SO its out of town and down the start of the Duncan Highway which quickly becomes a unsealed road. Fifteen kilometres of corrugations and floodways later we arrive at the campground in the ruins of old Halls Creek. Initial impressions are not good but we are too tired to try the road again and we need to fix a few things that have shaken loose on the trailer. As it turns out the place is not too bad if a little rough – apart from the constant drone of the generator.
Day 24. We are off to Wolfe Creek Crater. Think we are finally getting use to the sunrise start, sunset bed routine.
The road back to town seems a bit easier without the trailer and the car handles the corrugations better. Just as well since Wolfe Creek Crater is 130 km down the Tanami Track which varies between nice red dirt road and medium corrugations. The termite mounds get taller, the kites and wedge tails get more common as they graze on road kills and the cattle are everywhere. We even have to stop as a mob is driven across the road.
Finally we reach the crater. Fascinating history and views. Spot our first dragons – and then keep tripping over them. Kiara and I scramble down to the crater floor. Rather quiet and hot. Rim was more interesting. Lunch under one of the few trees around, then back down the Tanami track. Long and dusty.
On way back to camp stop of at China Wall – a impressive outcrop of quartz – and Caroline Pool – a nice quiet billabong. Bit of an explore of the old town but not much there.
Day 25 – On to Fitzroy Crossing. Bit of a short drive through a changing landscape as we move from east to west Kimberleys. Cross the limestone country and hit the rich red plains. Where did the boabs go? Set up camp by the old Crossing Inn. Very nice ground with actual grass to set up on. Fitzroy river looks big as we go across. Hate to see it in flood. Stock up on supplies and information. Is that all we did?
Day 26 – Out to Geikie Gorge for a bit of a walk and a boat cruise. Spotted some brolgas on the way out. Limestone cliffs are impressive an awe inspiring. Bit of ABC (another bloody croc) happening though Siobhan was having more of an ABG moment (another bloody gorge). Cath just finished reading, and I am starting to read, a history of Jandamarra and the aboriginal resistance so this is extra interesting. Again the guide was excellent if a bit croc focused. How do the croc’s and the martins know when the river is going to flood?
Then back to the camp to relax and plan for the next stage.
Day 27 – Don’t mention Derby. Head out of Fitzroy Crossing and start towards the coast. First across vast flat plains. What would this be like in the wet? Then as we get closer to the coast the boabs are back. Some huge examples appear and demand snap shots.
As we turn of towards that place we stop in at the prison tree (or another example of a prison tree). Get to town and find the tour we were hoping to take to Windjana Gorge and Tunnel Creek isn’t running and girls not keen on staying at Birdswood Station and the highlights are not that high, except the pier and tides. Horizontal Falls tour is too expensive so why are we here? In stress of re-planning manage to jack knife trailer and wipe out Rob’s nice stone guard. Strap it onto trailer, book a cabin in Broome and calm down.
All is well again. Drive on to Broome, picking up some boab seeds for Kiara, and settle ourselves into a nice cabin as we all catch our breathe again and a dose of Rock Kwiz.
Day 28 arrives and after a lazy start we plan to visit the Court House Market, cruise around Broome and take it easy. Oh, and repair the stone guard.