The Gibb River Road

Now that we have the Pod, we are actually able to go camping.  I don't know how we thought we were going to fit everything in the car, but we jammed everything in the pod (and the car) and set off along the Gibb River Road towards Home Valley Station.  We were expecting the worst of the Gibb River as some fellow travellers had advised they had 7 punctures before they reached El Questro, but we found a dirt road (not for too much longer....they are going to seal the road to El Questro) which had corrogations and plenty of dust...but nothing the Nissan couldn't handle. 

We stopped at Emma Gorge on the way to Home Valley Station where we again had a hike in front of us.  It was certainly worth the effort (3.2km return - about an hour each way) as after Mel and Charlotte fought off a big brown snake, we found a beautiful waterfall with a big waterhole to cool off in.  We got a bit of local information that off to the side of the pool there was a thermal spring that somebody had tried to dam and we were able to squeeze into and have a dip.  Even Will thought it was warm enough for a swim!!

 
We finished the hike with a cool drink a some sandwiches before hitting the road again...now the only thing in our way was the Pentacost River  - once again full of crocodiles - which the car negotiated well over the rocky river bottom.  We made it to Home Valley and set up the tents - we had a girls tent and a boys tent, and I was lucky enough to end up in the Taj Mahal with Will - the downside was I got the lilo with the hole in it.  Mel and Charlotte were very cosy with just enough room in their tent to cram a double mattress in.

Mel got up the next morning and went on a Trail ride down to the Pentacost river on "Pistol" the horse.  Pistol was very cheeky and tried to take Mel under low hanging trees as much as possible.  The kids and I spent our time by the resort pool (pretty much for the whole day) before Charlotte got to have her turn on Pistol which she thoroughly enjoyed. 

We ended the night with our new friends Tim, Christine, Cameron and Jane at Dusty's Bar and Grill where we feasted on Crocodile, Emu, Buffalo and Kangaroo (washed down with a scotch fillet, some barramundi and a few beers).  A great feed where the kids had a ball.  Charlotte won the coloring competion and she was rewarded with her drawing being displayed on the pin up board (she may have been the only kid who entered...)

We expected the kids to get up bright and early the next day with how bright the tents were, which meant we could get to Zebedee springs before the crowds.  Of course, this ensured that they both slept in and we didn't get to the Springs at El Questro 9am.  I don't know how we did it, but nobody was there when we arrived (most people arrive at 7am to bags the best position in the hot springs) and we snaffled the best position with our own waterfall and huge pool all to ourselves.  Noisy kids sometimes pay off!!  We loved Zebedee Springs as even the walk in felt like you were in a rainforest rather than being in a dust bowl.

After our swim, we headed back to Kununurra where we stocked up on fuel, more groceries, picked up the van and we were off towards the Bungles.  Mel had to make one very important detour to Kimberley Fine diamonds where we invested in some Arglye diamonds.  We will now be eating bread and baked beans for the remaider of the trip!!  Within 2 1/2 minutes Mel had posted the photos of her new bling on Facebook for all to see!!  Back on the road towards the Bungles with Mel's facing beaming from the passenger seat!