Another Day Another Gorge

24th July

The gorge of choice today was Bell. To try and compensate for how slow I am compared to the others the Garments headed off a bit earlier than everybody else . This was aided by the fact that we have run out of bread so throwing down a bowl of cereal for breakfast didn't take very long.

It was a 10 km drive from the camp ground to the start of the walk. The walk itself was unsurprisingly rocky and a steep decent but for a pleasant change the walk actually got easier. The view from the top of the gorge was beautiful it was a layered waterfall with a crystal clear water hole at the bottom. Knowing my walking capabilities I elected to stay on the rock overlooking the top of the falls the kids however couldn't resist the lure of swimming in the waterhole and decided to walk down into the gorge.

Once everyone was leaving the bottom of the gorge I reluctantly left my sunny rock to head back to the car and for once I wasn't holding everyone up.

We went back to camp an packed up to head to Windjana Gorge. As we arrived yesterday there was a sign saying Windjana was closed for camping for a week except for Sunday 24 th. We figured everyone would be camping there seeing as it was the only day it was open but when we got here the sign said it was closed for a week because there was a show playing here. We opted to believe they were open for tonight and came in anyway - obviously everybody had followed the sign at the turn off because we practically had our pick of campsites.

Once again it was a late lunch after setting up but the kids were happy because it consisted of nibbles dip and leftovers.

Seeing as we have a beautiful afternoon free the kids had to do their journal writing. Of the 11 kids it is the same few struggling with their journals. In our family it is poor Luke . I have taken to getting him to dictate it to me and I write it and all he has to is copy it and we are still struggling.

My main focus at the moment is to have a hot shower. You know you are dirty when you are covered in dust and dirt and you can't stand the smell of yourself. There have been a few swims in the last couple of days and a very quick wash down in Matt and marees shower tent the other night but I am craving a three hour soak in the tub with a scrubbing brush!

I have just realised we have been on the road for four weeks. The kids haven't once said they have missed tv but there have certainly been a lot of squabbles. But there have also been some fabulous family moments to make up for it.