Hot and Cold

21 st July

We started the morning with cereal and BBQ toast (Paul has become quite adept at cooking toast on the BBQ). It was then into swimmers and packing lunch (which basically means grab a loaf of bread and throw what is in the camper trailer fridge into the car fridge).

Our first stop was zebedee hot springs - a little piece of heaven. I was a bit reluctant to get in at first 28-32 degrees didn't really sound all that appealing but I am so glad I did - lying back in the water looking up through the palm trees was just beautiful with the water cascading over my feet - heaven !

It took a lot for us to move from our comfy rock but we were off to Emma gorge. Emma gorge is a 1.7km walk over - yes that's right - rocks but in this case it was so worth it. Once again I was dragging up the rear and when I finally arrived everybody was already out of the water. Turns out nobody had stayed in for more than a few minutes because the water was freezing. Thomas very kindly offered to swim out to the waterfall so I could get some photos of him. We have seen a number of waterfalls on this trip but I have to say this one would be up there as one of my favourites. It is a droplet waterfall and the colours of the rockface in the gorge were just spectacular. Not to mention all the lovely scenery on the walk in the best being the turquoise pool just before you get to the falls.

On the way back I twisted my bad ankle on a rock so was even slower going than I usually was but I made it out eventually and paul had lunch, a cold drink and an ice pack waiting for me.

All the kids have wanted to do for the last couple of days is fish so while the adults sat back and relaxed when we got back to camp the kids got out their rods and alternated between fishing i.e. Losing lures in trees and collecting firewood. Of course they all managed to come back soaking wet and covered in sand and mud so they were all packed off to have a shower while Paul and I got dinner ready ( a nice simple BBQ) with meat bought from the butcher in Kunanurra - this guy is fabulous really reminded me of my pops butcher shop when I was little.

After dinner Matt got the fire going and the kids all roasted marshmallows for desert although it took Sam a while to work out you needed to hold them over the fire not just eat them off the stick the minute they go on .

We eventually got the kids off to bed - Sam fell asleep in my arms watching the fire which was lovely it was just like he was a baby again, the adults sat around the fire. We alternated between watching the fire and looking up at the stars. The stars have to been seen to be believed here. I have seen stars in the country before but nothing like this - they a truly amazing.

Once again we are all being party animals and have gone to bed before 9 pm.

Just to give some stats to the people who care (you know who you are).
Distance travelled so far 7148 km
Total fuel cost $3144
25.9 L/100km