17 Aug
Before we could leave Broome today we needed to get the front tyres checked as they now seem to have slow leaks. After breakfast (and packing up most of the camper), Graham went to Tyres Plus while Jacob and I went to the park around the corner for a quick play. When we got back Graham told us the tyres were not worth fixing so he was getting a new set at 10am so we finished off the packing and he dropped Jacob & I at the shopping centre so we could get some groceries while he got the tyres.
We got away just after lunch and got to Fitzroy Crossing late afternoon where we set up camp at the Crossing Inn.
18 Aug
The next morning after calling into the visitor centre, we drove out to Geikie Gorge to go on a boat tour up the gorge. There was a little souvenir stand there and as we waited to board the boat a lady behind the counter gave Jacob one of the crocodile straws they sell. He loves it. It’s one of the big curly ones with a crocodile hanging off the side of it. Unfortunately, in one of the washes since I nearly melted it (I use hot water straight from the boiled kettle to wash up) causing the curls to start to unwind; Jacob was devastated.
After the cruise we headed towards Purnululu National Park. We really needed to do some repairs as Graham was able to get everything he needed in Broome but he didn’t want to be welding etc in a Caravan Park. A lot of them have a policy of no mechanical repairs etc in their parks. We found a free camp beside the Little Panton River which was quite nice with a few pelicans swimming on the water in the creek.
19-20 Aug
The next morning we packed up then Graham welded the chassis on the trailer again and added some plates to reinforce it as this was the second time it had cracked this trip. This time it cracked beside the weld Graham did at Drysdale. He also welded up the broken chassis mounting bracket for the sway bar so it could be reattached.
It wasn’t that far to Purnululu National Park (Bungle Bungles) however the last 53km was a dirt road into the park and took over 1.5 hours. After paying our camping fees and getting some great advice/suggestions from a lovely lady in the office we unhooked the camper so we could make good use of the rest of the day and went to have a look at the southern section of the park which included a walk around the Domes and a walk into Cathedral Gorge. We then headed back to pick up the camper then set up camp in the northern camp ground. There is toilets at the camp grounds but no showers. We set up our shower and that’s when I found my necklace in my bra, my pendant was gone however, probably in Cathedral Gorge. The next day we had a look at the northern section of the park. Our favourite spot was Echidna Chasm which was caused by a fault in the sandstone. I felt like a real explorer walking through the narrow crack.
That afternoon we walked up to the nearby lookout to watch the sunset.
21 Aug
The next morning we headed north, stopping for fuel at Kununurra then camped at the Victoria River Road House.
22 Aug
An uneventful days travel today, stopping Katherine for supplies then camped at the Adelaide River Caravan Park for the night. Jacob and I went for a look at the pool after we got set up and Jacob ended up in the water in all his clothes. We then went to the pub next door for dinner. There had been a fund raiser on today and a party was happening nearby with live music that was so loud we felt like we were at the gig. The music went on until after 1.30am and there was the occasional drunk walking past; I wondered if every Saturday night in Adelaide River was like this or if this was a one off.
