Charnley River Station

On the way out of Mornington we couldn't ignore a good photo opportunity with so many Boabs dottered around. They are huge and their girth is enormous. It was still a little chilly but the shorts came on soon after this photo. 

Black headed python

Charnley River Station was a lovely shady and grassy campground. There was no dust, and they had hot hot hot lovely fresh showers complete with frogs. The pressure out of the showers was .....oh so lovely.

The girls loved a frog they found in the shower..to death. We had a small burial for it, said a prayer and made sure that the girls didn't pick up a frog a hundred times again."Poor little fella" as Olive would say.

Charnley had quite a few waterholes but we only got to visit Donkey Springs. We were sitting down at dinner and went through our rough itinerary and realised that we can't stop 2 nights at every place so we only stayed the one night, when we would've loved to have stayed 3.

There were wallabies, lyrebirds, frogs, and monitors all around the campsite. We heard great reports about the other waterholes (Grevillea, Dilli and others) that were supposed to be beautiful but we will just have to come back and visit them. The hosts (Lorre and Chicka) were lovely friendly hosts and the girls loved the biscuits from them.

Donkey springs

Again we had the waterhole to ourselves. It was beautiful and clear and you can really smell the freshness.

I did get up before 6 at Mornington but didn't see the Gouldian Finch.

Mornington Wilderness Camp

We had heard from Mum,Dad and others that you need to get in early for Mornington Camp as they only take about 56 campers. So we set an alarm, yes we weren't quite sure what that buzzing noise was either, for 6am. We got the girls brekky and set them up in car with a movie, and had packed up by 6:40. We kind of think of our pack up like a time trial and try to better it each time. Michael thinks we can still perfect it further. As we drive out of each camp we slide the hand out and wait for the other to high five it whilst driving. We grin and nod our heads in agreement..."not bad"!

The drive to Mornington from Bell Gorge was about 50km and we arrived at their turn off to radio in to see if they had any vacancies.

Luckily they had vacancies, so we boiled the billy and had a cuppa. A snake rustled in the spinifex. It was Unidentifiable. The overnight temps at Bell were chilly but it warmed up quite quickly so by 8am you were back in shorts.

Scenery driving into Mornington

We were going to stay 2 nights here at Mornington and once we arrived at reception we had also booked a canoe along one of their gorges for the day. At Mornington you can book on several tours such as bird watching, slideshow talks, sunset colours tour, canoe tours as well as breakfast, dinner and lunch hampers. We gave the 2 course dinner a miss as we couldn't justify the $60 per person and $28 for the girls. There are several walks and drives that are well signposted and with mud map notes.

 We headed to Sir John Gorge for the afternoon and it was beautiful. It felt like we had it all to ourselves. The girls were pretty scared as there was no one swimming and there were fresh water "crocky's". I can't blame them. Once they were in they were happy to swim to the other side and explore the rocks. On the way back I think Rubes cried the whole way back and grabbed tight so she literally was siting on me like a camel. Olive also had  a free ride on Michael. We bribed them with biscuits and once we got on dry land they had forgotten about any "crocky's".

Sir John Gorge

Canoeing the next day was great. We had a lazy morning and Michael had cooked some damper on the Weber as no fires are allowed at Mornington. 

I spotted some Crimson Finches right next to our camp as well as some other Unidentifiable birds. The Crimson finches are like a shot of red flitting among the spinifex. Overnight we had some dingoes and roos grazing in the woodland next to us. We spotted some Bustards too. At Bell Gorge we spotted a bandicoot.

Canoeing on Dimond Gorge was fantastic. The girls loved wearing their life jackets and were happily swimming. I think they thought that if they were wearing them then they wouldn't be eaten?

Olive kept saying "let's go deeper"!

Boabs are prolific in the Kimberley and we have named them Boaz after our camel in Broome.

Typical scenery in Mornington but it changes all the time.

This photo shows the dingo and also the road conditions.You can see how the road changed in the next photo about 30m along.

This dingo looked like he hadn't eaten for days. At Mornington the Dingoes are not treated as pests as they keep away the feral cats. Imaginative Olive then told us that she once saw a dingo riding a bike!! I couldn't help myself and asked if it was wearing a dress? Yes, was the reply.

We had spoken to some of the scientists (they live here all year round) and I was all convinced about going on a bird watching tour the next morning at .....5:45am as I was keen to spot the infamous beautifully coloured Gouldian Finch. Unfortunately they were booked out so I hope that I may be so brave to get up in the chilly morning (it got down to 8c last night) and spot it for myself near the creek.

The thermals are on but the alarm is not. Surely Gouldian Finches don't need to be seen before 6am??

Bell Gorge

We had a late pack up from Windjana and said goodbye to Mum and Dad who were on their way to bitumen. We however were starting our driving adventure on the Gibb River Road. Although we had already travelled a little way along it already, it felt like the GRR started when you hit the waterholes/gorges.

Unidentifiable long snake crossing the few and far between spots of bitumen.

 

Luckily the girls were awake and saw it. The girls, especially Olive will often be lulled into sleep by the corrugations. The shakes can get so loud in the Troopy that I can't even hear Michael properly talking to me, let alone sleep.

GRR scenery.

We have a "driving playlist" on my phone which plays through the stereo and Dan Sultan is on high rotation, particularly with his song "Kimberley calling". JJJ hottest 100 is also a winner as is listening to podcasts of "conversations" from the ABC? We also have a "Ruby and Olive playlist" which covers anything from Play School, Gangnam, Jessica Mauboy, Katie Perry, Puff the magic dragon to 360. Some words in 360 are turned down at appropriate times.

When we were walking into Bell Gorge (a rocky, sometimes clambering over boulders walk) Olive was singing "and the ceiling can't hold us" (Ryan Macklemore) to the amusement of other walkers.

Some of the track leading into Bell Gorge is a "roll your ankle" type track and then it crosses creeks and then clambering down steep boulders. All very rewarding when you see the waterfall and pool below.

On the way down the first time we walked into Bell Gorge, the girls were a little catious but on the  return, they hopped up and down the rocks like wallabies. They soon tired of the rocky track and had to bribed with treats back at the car.

It was perfect for swimming although very refreshing. Beautiful fresh water.

Under a rock ledge just to the right of the waterfall.

Olive basking on Michaels tummy.

Up the top of the Gorge. The next day, as we spent 2 days camping nearby at Silent Grove, we swam down the river a little more and found a little waterfall where we could feel the pressure of the water and pretty much had that part of the Gorge to ourselves. Michael jumped off a ledge twice into the water. We took Olives wetsuit with us on day 2 as she would be able to swim for a bit longer. Rubes had no trouble swimming along with us but after warming herself on the rocks wasn't so keen to get back in again.

Pretty spectacular and safe swimming. Rubes had her goggles on up here in the upper pools and had a bit of a look under the water where it was shallow.

We headed in the afternoon to Imitji store to grab a pie, some icy poles and wifi. The chicken pie was all that was left and it was yummo. Lovely high top packed with chicken, corn and everything else that goes in a chicken pie. In the rush of writing the "Windjana " post we completely forgot to buy milk n bread. Oh well, we still have long life milk and wraps.

Windjana and Tunnel Creek

We met up with Mum and Dad at Derby and it was a brief overnighter there to do some washing, restock and see some sights. It was great to see Mum and Dad and we headed out to Windjana Gorge to camp the next morning. It was Poppy's birthday so we had a lamb roast that night. We gave Poppy some licqorice and a fisho hat, that he just added to his other 6 that he brought along on the trip.

The school was very informative and it was good to visit. We weren't allowed to see any "live" schooling but we watched a few videos and the Principal gave us a chat.

Derby wharf.

I found it hard to walk along as one side of the wharf had no guard rail, let alone drive a road train on it.

The Prison Boab tree whey kept prisoners.

Windjana Gorge.

It was the only narrow part of the walk then it opened out to walk along the river and through the gorge. There were a few freshwater crocs but they couldn't be sure that there weren't any estuarine crocs so no swimming.

I think the girls walked about 6km, and on the way back there was some carrying of little people.

About 4m away.

The campsite was shady and had flushing toilets and hot showers, but that depended on the time of day.

We stayed for 3 nights and in that time we had 2 roasts, fresh camp oven scones and a great time with Grandma and Poppy.

Tunnel Creek is a fantastic adventure for us and the girls. It involves head torches, bravery and getting wet. There are 4 resident freshies that are not territorial. It was a great day and the girls were so good and loved the adventure. It is so dark in the tunnel that headlights are the only way you can see and the only way to see the crocs is to watch for the 2 red eyes. We did see some eyes twice and then watched them slip back under the water, only for us to wade though the next water crossing !! 

We got wifi at Imitji Store so we were able to post. As I write this the girls are running and screaming around the store toilet block and grounds with the local kids. It looks like a lot of fun. Imitji has great fresh pies!