Final Days at Kununurra and back to Victoria River - 2nd-4th August 2011

Tonight, 4th August, we are at Victoria River on the way to Katherine.  How nice for us to be able to meet up with Mary and Howard who are on their way for do voluntary work at HCJB, so we will have to enclose a photo which was taken tonight on the old road bridge at Victoria River.

Meeting up with Mary & Howard (right) at Victoria River

Yesterday, 3rd August, we took a 4WD bus into El Questro.   It was a most enjoyable day and we were delighted to be in somebody else’s vehicle instead of our own on the Gibb River Road.   Graeme bravely strode up the gorge to visit Emma Gorge.  A few of us chickened out for one reason or another.  It was quite a climb. 

Emma Gorge

Emma Gorge

We saw one lady who apparently broke her arm trying to do the climb, but she was not in our group, poor soul.  We had fun at Zebedee Falls.  The ridge in the red, rocky mountains contained a very interesting surprise, with tall Livistonia  Palms sheltering a warm spring and everyone had to find their own little pool to take a dip in the springs.   The dressing sheds were non existent, so we were trying to change out on the trail without much cover.    

Then we had a lovely lunch at the café and a cruise on the Chamberlain Gorge in the afternoon and fed the “spitting fish”.  It was quite lovely.  El Questro staff served champagne juice and fresh fruit on the boat.  

At El Questro

  

Chamberlain Gorge in the afternoon

Chamberlain Gorge

Chamerlain Gorge

In the big wet, the water in the Pentecost River where the homestead sits, rose 21 metres and they were fortunate that when the foundations were being washed away, a huge Boab tree got wedged between the ground and the floor of the $2,000 per night suite and saved the day.  Now, I’d like to know the chances that a huge Boab tree could wedge itself in that position and save the homestead from washing away.    I reckon someone who was caretaking there at the time, was praying like mad for some divine help.

Friday we head for Mataranka for the weekend, then we begin travelling south on the way home.  We will be taking in a few of the National Parks as we travel.