The boys feeding the horses at El Questro
Wednesday, 6 June 2012
El Questro Lookouts
Today we awoke to sore heads and what I thought was 2 days’
worth of fire wood was decimated last night, oh well, guess we are going
hunting again today.
We went to the station stables because the boys wanted to
feed the horses an apple, they really dug this and Nat got some great shots.
After this we went to Zebedee Springs where the pockets of rock pool springs
were amazingly warm, 30 degrees consistently in fact and it was a real treat,
the boys didn't want to leave.
There are quite a few lookouts over the station, so we
explored them. The first time we have really hit low range and some steep rocky
ascents & decents, great fun and Nat was a little quiet at some hairy
moments, but the Prado continues to be as reliable as rain in the Qld summer
when you are trying to build a new depot.
After this we were told about an unexplored track which
leads to a waterhole which is great fishing, so we followed it. Not sure about
unexplored as we passed 4 utes full of blokes driving out, but the track was
the most intense we have done and definitely a lot of fun. We threw a couple of
lures and soft plastics in but to no avail. Dad got a red bream which jumped
off the hook as I tried to bring it in on the rocks, but that was it. Zander
had fun winding in the lures and we had the place all to ourselves, very
special and not sure where you can do this anywhere with this type of
remoteness.
No fire tonight, we are going to get going early in the
morning so we can attack Emma Gorge early and avoid the heat.
Hopefully Mav will do some walking instead of being
carried. Time will tell. Anyone that says that on this sort of trip "the kids were just great" (if they
are young and dependent) are kidding themselves. If your kids can't feed, crap in a porta
potty or walk 5klm by them self then it will be hard work.
This has and will continue to be a great - but very busy
holiday. Nat & I like to call it a labour of love - because the good stuff
far outweighs the bad. Our boys are good at times, & bad at times - just
the same as at home only there quite often is no retreat in a tent on
wheels....you just don't always get the time to fully relax. Nat and I have
been getting on famously even when I am tired and irritable.
Stuff like last night and today just makes it all
worthwhile and we wouldn't change it for anything.
Jase out....
Tuesday, 5 June 2012
First stop on the Gibb - El Questro
Today we left Kununurra and again it wasn't the most
pleasant stay. Noisy all night again but we had to stock up on supplies for our
journey down The Gibb River Rd, which is an area we have been looking forward
to.
Zander blew up because he knew that at a site with nobody else the chances are he couldn't make any new friends, we just said suck it up little fella, this is what camping is all about....& he hasn't complained once. We honestly think that in these types of camping areas the boys are better because there are no distractions, just us in the bush with a river, a fire, and the quiet. So - as far as I know it's 10 o'clock on a weeknight and we are quite sloshed sitting in front of a brilliant fire that our sons created about 6 hrs ago.
Jase
We couldn't believe our luck when we arrived at El
Questro Station not expecting to get a private camp site (which are highly
publicized) along the Pentecost River away from everyone. We love remoteness,
but appreciate the need for power and as luck would have it, today was our day.
I rocked up to the info centre to find a line of about 4
people. I waited in line behind everyone listening to this exceptional young
girl telling all of these people the same thing - where to go - what to do -
lengths of walks - what she thought was easy and what wasn't etc, until it was
my turn.
As luck would have it the old bloke before me relinquished his private
campsite because "it was too far from the toilets"....I knew I was on
a winner.
I said "I will take old mates site if he wants to be
closer to the dunnies!"
She was happy to oblige as it was the only one left. Now
we find ourselves in what she described by the staff here as the best private
campsite in all of El Questro, just
enjoying the serenity.......
Zander blew up because he knew that at a site with nobody else the chances are he couldn't make any new friends, we just said suck it up little fella, this is what camping is all about....& he hasn't complained once. We honestly think that in these types of camping areas the boys are better because there are no distractions, just us in the bush with a river, a fire, and the quiet. So - as far as I know it's 10 o'clock on a weeknight and we are quite sloshed sitting in front of a brilliant fire that our sons created about 6 hrs ago.
After setting up this afternoon as a family we fished for
Barramundi, gathered wood, built this fire, sat in the dirt & played cars,
watched the moon rise, spotted birds and listened to the sounds that the bush
brings you around a camp fire. They also managed a few games on Mum & Dads
iPhone too, but it is 2012 and that is cool. At around 8pm the boys enjoyed a
few toasted marshmallows and some cuddle time with the oldies, excellent, just
excellent.
Nat never stays up later than 9pm but tonight she was
more than happy to sit with me in front of the fire and talk tall stories with
her old Mann...As much as she loves a good hot shower and some power to charge
everything up, I think she is more comfortable with us in the dirt by the fire
with nobody that can hear us screaming at the kids!! She is a very special (as she will put it)
feral looking camping lady...
Tomorrow we will do the lookout and thermal springs
thing, I am sure it will be brilliant.
Monday, 4 June 2012
Sunday, 3 June 2012
Bungle Bungles
After a very sleepless night thanks to a very drunk backpacker who sang and played guitar till all hours of the morning, we were glad to see the back end of Kununurra! Let's just say we won't be staying back in this caravan park again!
We drove 3 hours to the turn off to the Purnululu National Park then it was another 1 and a half hours drive along a very windy and rough 4WD track. The boys and I were lucky not to be car sick (and secretly I think it may be Jason's driving!) Note to self: I must take the motion sickness tablets on our way out of here!
We got to our campsite and were set up by late afternoon. Jason was instantly relaxed when we arrived here because there was no one around! Such a difference from last night! There was only one other couple camping in the same area as us and of course Jason befriended them as they had the fire pit near their camp. Gee, I wonder were Zander gets it from??? They seemed like very nice couple and seasoned travellers. They also like to get "off the beaten track" like Jason so they gave us us some great locations to visit in WA to get away from the crowds.
We got up early (thanks to sun rising about 5am in WA!) to tackle the Cathedral Gorge walk. No one tells you how vast this area is as it was another 30kms along a dirt track from our camp to get to the car park. It was a 3km return walk and the boys sooked up a storm! It was well worth the whinging from Zander and having to carry Mav most of the way - It was amazing. Not to mention the stripped beehive formations that the Bungle Bungles are famous for. You can't explain how different this place is as I have never seen anything like it, and the pictures don't do it justice. You will just have to come and visit it yourself.
After lunch we drove north to another walk called the Echidna Chasm. We had been told this was another great walk and it was only 2kms, so great for the boys. I was a bit apprehensive because I was waiting for the boys to crack it as Mav hadn't had a sleep today but they both wanted to go so off we went. Of course Mav was carried half the way and Z kept having "breaks" every 2 mins but we eventually made it. You walk up a dry creek bed full of rocks into a chasm. We walked between two 100m high rock walls only body width apart. We had to climb over rocks and up ladders (and of course Mav wanted to do all those things....) It was spectacular and I am glad we did it.
Overall we really loved the Bungle Bungles. It was definately worth going off the beaten track to see it. There are a lot of people here doing the walks but it seems only a handful of people camp out here.
Tomorrow we are back to Kununurra to restock and refuel. Gibb River Road here we come.....
Nat
We drove 3 hours to the turn off to the Purnululu National Park then it was another 1 and a half hours drive along a very windy and rough 4WD track. The boys and I were lucky not to be car sick (and secretly I think it may be Jason's driving!) Note to self: I must take the motion sickness tablets on our way out of here!
We got to our campsite and were set up by late afternoon. Jason was instantly relaxed when we arrived here because there was no one around! Such a difference from last night! There was only one other couple camping in the same area as us and of course Jason befriended them as they had the fire pit near their camp. Gee, I wonder were Zander gets it from??? They seemed like very nice couple and seasoned travellers. They also like to get "off the beaten track" like Jason so they gave us us some great locations to visit in WA to get away from the crowds.
We got up early (thanks to sun rising about 5am in WA!) to tackle the Cathedral Gorge walk. No one tells you how vast this area is as it was another 30kms along a dirt track from our camp to get to the car park. It was a 3km return walk and the boys sooked up a storm! It was well worth the whinging from Zander and having to carry Mav most of the way - It was amazing. Not to mention the stripped beehive formations that the Bungle Bungles are famous for. You can't explain how different this place is as I have never seen anything like it, and the pictures don't do it justice. You will just have to come and visit it yourself.
After lunch we drove north to another walk called the Echidna Chasm. We had been told this was another great walk and it was only 2kms, so great for the boys. I was a bit apprehensive because I was waiting for the boys to crack it as Mav hadn't had a sleep today but they both wanted to go so off we went. Of course Mav was carried half the way and Z kept having "breaks" every 2 mins but we eventually made it. You walk up a dry creek bed full of rocks into a chasm. We walked between two 100m high rock walls only body width apart. We had to climb over rocks and up ladders (and of course Mav wanted to do all those things....) It was spectacular and I am glad we did it.
Overall we really loved the Bungle Bungles. It was definately worth going off the beaten track to see it. There are a lot of people here doing the walks but it seems only a handful of people camp out here.
Tomorrow we are back to Kununurra to restock and refuel. Gibb River Road here we come.....
Nat
Friday, 1 June 2012
North to Kununurra
Today we headed north to Kununurra to restock and stay the night before starting the Kimberley tomorrow. Everyone so far has raved about this town but first impressions arent anything to go on for us. The place is very busy, every caravan park is overpriced & chocked, the shopping centre is packed and only one diesel pump working at the servo.
To add to our frustration, you cant buy full strength beer before 2pm in the Kimberley or Pilbara, there is no cask wine which is great for travelling, and I found out after going back after 2pm and waiting in line that was 20 deep with two cartons of beer and 4 bottles of wine that I was only allowed 1 box and 2 bottles!!!! Unbelieveable.......whats a bloke got to do to get a beer around here???
I seconded a local bloke and befriended him so I could tell the guy at the counter the he was with me - so I ended up getting what I wanted.
In Katherine you cant buy grog before 2pm full stop, in Darwin they ask you for your license so they can scan it to see if you are on the banned list (apparently there are 2500 of them) and it is dear as poison.
I am sure Kunnanurra is a beautiful town when you get used to it, but we are looking forward to taking off to the Bungle Bungles tomorrow, a couple of nights seclusion we hope.
Jase.
To add to our frustration, you cant buy full strength beer before 2pm in the Kimberley or Pilbara, there is no cask wine which is great for travelling, and I found out after going back after 2pm and waiting in line that was 20 deep with two cartons of beer and 4 bottles of wine that I was only allowed 1 box and 2 bottles!!!! Unbelieveable.......whats a bloke got to do to get a beer around here???
I seconded a local bloke and befriended him so I could tell the guy at the counter the he was with me - so I ended up getting what I wanted.
In Katherine you cant buy grog before 2pm full stop, in Darwin they ask you for your license so they can scan it to see if you are on the banned list (apparently there are 2500 of them) and it is dear as poison.
I am sure Kunnanurra is a beautiful town when you get used to it, but we are looking forward to taking off to the Bungle Bungles tomorrow, a couple of nights seclusion we hope.
Jase.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)