The Gibb River Road
12th Aug to 21st Aug 2021
I left the van at Perry's Creek and tented it across the Gibb River Road.
I met up with fellow traveler Liz, who is set up with a neat camper set up on the back of her 4x4. We will be travelling together on this trip which will be really helpful to both of us.
We decided not to do El Questro as so many people tell us that it's to commercialized. So we were both happy to give it a miss.
The first section of the GRR was sealed all the way to Bells Gorge. The Cockburn Rangers around us were spectacular and we couldn't stop taking photo's. It was pretty hot on our first walk to Emma Gorge and Liz found the heat was too much and turned back after a bit. She's a pretty slow walker where I'm fast but due to an injured heal, I was reduced to a very slow and limping pace (as I was on every walk), and the track in was really rough. No steps or hand rails but some hard climes over some big rocks. I made it to the falls and enjoyed a lovely swim. After Emma Gorge we hit dirt, welcome to the Gibb River Road folks, you have 600 k's left of this badly corrugated road ahead of you.
We soon came across the infamous Pentecost River crossing. I couldn't believe it, as there wasn't much there at all. Apparently they put a lot of rocks on it as it was becoming too deep. But I think they over did it. I was a bit disappointed in it, however it was low tied. We set up camp right beside the sandy river bank where I pitched my tent but we (or should I say, I) was a bit worried about crocks, so I set a few chairs and things around as a hopeful pre-warning and I'm pretty sure my tent is crock proof. I think?? Anyway all was good, I was still alive the next morning.
Ellenbrae Station was the next stop where we enjoyed coffee and scones while watching the magnificent double bar finch's feeding right next to us. On the way out of there Liz had a flat tyre that I was able to repair for her using my repair kit. That was a bit worrying as we had a long way to go and flat tyres are common occurrences on this road. But that's the only one we had thank goodness.
After a couple of days camped besides Gibb River swimming and relaxing we headed North on the Kalumburu Road to Drysdale River Station and fulled up, ($2.15/L, Cheaper at last stop, $2.10) than onto Mitchell falls campground. The road up was rough, 160k's to the turn off then 85 k's into the camp on the worst corrugations I have ever en counted. It took 3.5 hours to do 85 k's.
The walk into the falls was said to allow 3 hrs, but we smashed that taking nearly 4 hours. We were both doing it tough as my heal was really playing up, I even used a walking stick. But luckily for us we booked a helicopter flight out.
At Manning Gorge as you left the camp ground you had to strip off and put all your belongings in a tub and swim it across the river. A bit of a novelty I guess, but I said to another hiker, “glad to see they do something with the $12 entry fee mate”. Thousands of people do this hike and there (like all) absolutely no assistance, like paths, rails or bridges. Hell they don't even move a rock. And as far as road maintenance goes. “What's that mean?”. But then again, it's great fun.
Back along the Gibb we came across a young aboriginal family with a flat tyre. On close inspection the front tyre was completely shredded and their spare was flat. Not only that but they had broken off three studs trying to take the wheel off. I was able to repair and inflate the tyre and save the last two studs. They were heading for Darby some 200 k's away. Preparation? 1/10.
I left Liz at the turn off to Windjana Gorge, Liz went on to Derby as she had appointments in Broome. Thank you Liz you were a wonderful company and an excellent cook.
I walked (hobbled) the Windjana Gorge with the magnificant cliffs all around and plenty of crocks lazing about.
What an excellent trip. I'm just about gorged out. Although I have two more before returning to my much missed van. But also really glad I left it behind.
We ended up clocking up 1300 k's on this trip, even though it's 620. But the trip up to Mitchell falls was about 450. I hope you enjoy the photos as it has taken a bloody lot of effort to get them to you but that's also the fun part.
Regards Doug.
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This is a long form text area designed for your content that you can fill up with as many words as your heart desires. You can write articles, long mission statements, company policies, executive profiles, company awards/distinctions, office locations, shareholder reports, whitepapers, media mentions and other pieces of content that don’t fit into a shorter, more succinct space.
Articles – Good topics for articles include anything related to your company – recent changes to operations, the latest company softball game – or the industry you’re in. General business trends (think national and even international) are great article fodder, too.
Mission statements – You can tell a lot about a company by its mission statement. Don’t have one? Now might be a good time to create one and post it here. A good mission statement tells you what drives a company to do what it does.
Company policies – Are there company policies that are particularly important to your business? Perhaps your unlimited paternity/maternity leave policy has endeared you to employees across the company. This is a good place to talk about that.
Executive profiles – A company is only as strong as its executive leadership. This is a good place to show off who’s occupying the corner offices. Write a nice bio about each executive that includes what they do, how long they’ve been at it, and what got them to where they are.