Early start to head 2.5hrs back to Mornington Wilderness Camp, radioed in at front gate just to make sure our canoe booking was sound before we headed in the 90km to get there. A real dingo ran across road (not half dog looking ones we’d seen so far) and a few bustards. We drove through a cattle station and a lot of creek crossings to get there, so a few gates to open and lots of stock to dodge. MWC is an old cattle station bought and and managed by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy and they had the best gate and fencing I’ve ever seen - 4 strands of barbed wire to keep those pesky cattle out, that would have cost a bomb. Some very fervent conservationist types manning the reception area and entertaining some wealthy looking visitors (who I’m sure didn’t come for the canoe experience we did). They were about to fly out from the property’s airstrip. I will agree the AWC are doing a great thing here, the place has been regenerated with better grasses and less weeds/ feral animals (cattle are included in the pest category) coaxing some very endangered species of wildlife back to life after European settlement has almost wiped them out.
Another 45min drive after we picked up our paddles and vests to get to Dimond Gorge - big driving day for daddy today. We picked up the whole paddling canoe thingy quite quickly and although we took the precaution of hiring a waterproof bag, it was not required - as we did not capsize or even lose a paddle! We pulled up at the sandy beach and jumped straight back in the water to bob around in our vests, not many others on the river so was absolutely quiet and a beautiful way to spend the day, an easy paddle 2km to get to a tiny waterfall feeding into the gorge for lunch and then a change of canoe personnel for the way home. Stu and Lil proved the best rowers. More swimming on the beach and reluctantly packed up to head back for a long drive home. 3 hours back as now dusk and all manner of wildlife on the road which made slow going. It did mean more Harry Potter though and we just finished the Goblet of Fire. Another glittering Kimberley Day.