Gibb River Rd or bust!

July 20th

It was a lovely slow pack up this morning because we only had an hour and a half drive to our next stop.

We were ready first and didn't have any last minute things to do so Claire and I decided the boys needed to see the Ivanhoe Crossing which, when we got there was flowing even faster than yesterday. The boys thought it was really cool. We then headed back into town and Miramar National Park. It was supposed to be a bit like the Bungle Bungles - personally I didn't think so but it was pretty nevertheless. The others arrived just as we were finishing our walk so the Garment's made a pit stop at Coles and bought some morning tea which we took to Celebrity Tree Park.

After Paul refused to sit under the tree planted by John Farnham - we found the next shadiest tree and sat down to our rather sad morning tea of jam rolls (Paul's choice). We had a game of hide and seek behind all the trees and I discovered I am raising a bunch of cheaters who are being taught by their father!

Back on the road again we had one last petrol fill up and headed out of town. Once we turned on to the Gibb River Rd we stopped to let down tyr pressures and dicovered we had another slow leak in one of our tyres (not the one we just had fixed), so we pumped it up and headed off onto the dusty corrugations - by the way that is an undersatement. There is no wind so the dust from the car in front goes nowhere, no wonder Matt likes to go first!

There were a few mud holes and river crossings before we arrived at El Questro station, our home for the next two nights. It was a quick set up because at 3pm we still hadn't had lunch.

We decided to go for a drive to Explosion Dam but we weren't really sure where we were going so we ended up driving down to Chamberlain Gorge which was really pretty with the late afternoon sun on it - it was also my type of gorge - you drive right up to it - no walking involved!

Once back at camp Deb, Maree and I got out our matching Nitmiluk wine glass holders and put them to the test, three three bottles we polished off would indicate they work quite well. While I was putting my coldie holder through it's paces Paul cooked a magnificant risotto which two thirds of the family ate (good odds for us) thank heavens I packed a heap of rice cakes for my non eaters.