Day 19 – The Gibb River Road
Depart Lake Argyle and into Kununurra to stock up on food and
fuel. Wait 10 minutes while person in front of me at bowser does SHOPPING in Coles/Shell
and comes back with 3 big bags of shopping!!!! Thanks for your awareness of all
the other people in the world!!! Brumbys, attached to a BP servo is only Bakery in Kununurra. Hit them up for some pies...... haven't had a pie in ages!!!!!
Spot a “ Spot the Difference: One of these is not a Taxi” poster with a picture of a Taxi
and an Ambulance! According to the locals, the local indigenous population are fond of
calling the big Green and white Taxi (aka Ambulance, as the local ambulances
are….well….. Green and white) to get into town when they have no money for petrol!!!!!
Regardless of such trivialities, we head westward, and
towards the renowned Gibb River Road. Souvenirs in shops proclaim such things
as “I survived the Gibb River Road”, none of these are to be purchased until
Broome!
We are heading for El Questro Station. Loved by many and
loathed by some, it is a great start to the Gibb (known from here as either “The
Gibb” or the GRR). Although entirely commercial (the owners actually have
nothing to do with running cattle; they sublet the non tourist parts out to
Salerno Pastoral, who manage the pesky bovines.
Lobbing at El Questro in the later arvo (Late means after
3pm, as its dark by 5:30)
We secure a spot in the “general campground”. Its fairly
packed, but its peak season, so not so bad.
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| The Boys made Boab Nut Characters - From L to R "Alien" and "Nutter" |
Facilities are great, clean and plentiful. Saturday night
happens to be “all you can eat BBQ buffet” with endless Steaks, Barra, Chicken
and Snags, served with 7 salads and dessert! $38 per head (adults) kids eat
FREE! Sadly for El Questro, they hadn’t met our kids, or “Food Disposal Units”
as we often call them. The kids got our $38 worth!! Max wouldn’t stop eating
the various melons and fresh fruit after 4 bits of chicken, 3 of fish and a
snag!
Day 2 at El Questro, our first full day,
Kids are badgering us to ride a horse. 30 minutes lead rides
are available for those with no previous experience…..so we fork out the cash
and do it. Both boys seem to love the riding, with Max looking like he had been
riding for years. He is just relaxed, sitting up, and like most things, he
caught on really quick. As is turned out, the Horse Wrangler, Christian, who is
actually from Victoria, led Sam and another older boy, while leaving Max to
himself.
I suppose he knows his horses, but when Max’s horse was supposed to be
stopped and he started walking, Max just pulled the reigns back and he stopped.
Similarly, when he wanted to move, he kicked him or pulled the reigns the right
way…. He just got it….. smarty pants. Don’t get too attached to horses……they’re
too expensive
Arvo was a drive out to some of the scenic lookouts. Damn it
was impressive. The size, the Cockburn Ranges are beautiful. Crossed the
Chamberlain River which was pretty low, but you can see how high it gets in the
Wet Season. Hard to imagine, but amazing to contemplate.
Day 3 at El Questro
We head for Zebedee Springs, a natural thermal Rock pool
which is fed from water rising from the Deep subterrrainian Water Tables and is
a lovely 28-32 degrees. A short walk and we’re there. Amazing tropical
rainforest like area, with Livingtonia Palms and rock pools full of crystal
clear running water. Like a hot bath that never goes cold!!!!!
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