Day 24 12/06/2013 Charnley River Station to Bell Gorge (Silent Grove campsite).
Well it certainly was warmer overnight! I don't think I have mentioned that since we left the Diamantina NP we have not had a problem with flies.......however mosquitos are quite another thing! They are present in droves from dusk to dawn, and sometimes in between as well. I seem to be a magnet for them, so I am covered in bites! Not a good look!
We were packed up early again and almost ready to leave when some fellow campers came over and asked if we had a tyre pressure gauge and/or pump. He was concerned about one of his tyres on his rental 4WD. They were a couple from Leicester in England, (Land Rover owners apparently!), who had picked up their rental in Darwin and had two weeks to drive from there, through the Kimberley region, and back to Darwin! A whistle-stop tour! He was hoping that if he had to use his spare tyre, then he could get a replacement at Imintji which was not too far away. The tyre was almost flat. Dave used our compressor to pump up the tyre, but suggested that changing it might be a good option!
So......I did the driving again.....even with the trailer on! We seemed to have a problem with the brake lights on the trailer.....but we left anyway, with plans for Dave to check for what the problem might be later today. It was 43 km back to the GRR.......a few roos to contend with, and also the most common traffic hazard out here.....cattle on the road......then another 25km to Inmintji community and roadhouse. We bought some apples and a cold drink there. The route was very scenic with views of the Isdell Range. Then it was 8km to the turn off to Bell Gorge and the Silent Grove campground, both of which are in the King Leopold Conservation Park. After self-registration at the campground and setting up camp, we drove a further 10km to the start of the walking track to Bell Falls and Gorge. The walk in was only 1.5 km but it was reasonably rugged. The first part was quite steep and rocky; then there was an easier section along the creek, although it was very stony. To get to the falls and plunge pool we had to cross over Bell Creek, (through water), walk up a rocky slope and then carefully climb down another rocky slope into the gorge. Boy was it worth it!! This will be the last gorge that we will visit along the GRR.....and in our opinion it was the best!! We had a great swim in the deep pool at the base of the falls. Very refreshing.
Once back at camp, Dave got to work to identify the brake light problem. It turned out to be a fuse, so fairly easily fixed. (Although we don't know what caused the fuse to blow in the first place!). The campsite is fairly busy....that's ok....it's a popular place......but we are still not as close to other campers as we would be in a caravan park, and there are flushing toilets and solar-heated showers!
A lovely family from Perth is camped near us.....they have two little girls aged 3 and 9 months......and the ubiquitous Ikea high chair!! You can imagine the colour of the knees on the baby! They are having fun though, on a 6 month camping holiday! We had a very relaxing afternoon. I have now lit three mosquito coils and put on personal
repellent spray. Hopefully that will keep the mozzies away!! Apparently there are sand flies as well, in Broome......something to look forward to!!!!!
It is another warm evening. Off to Derby tomorrow.......should be able to upload the blogs..........happy reading!!!