Monday 03 July 2000

Stopped off at Drysdale River Station to top up on fuel and provide Fred with his pie fix.  GST (the new goods and services tax) has arrived since we’ve been away from civilisation, so most things are more expensive (at least pies and Drysdale fuel are!). 

Travelled back to the Gibb River Road.  Stopped for lunch at Campbell creek.  Pretty pool surrounded by gums and palm trees.  Called into Waterlily creek to suss it out as a campsite.  Pleasant enough but we decided to move on as it was still early.  Beautiful views over the Ranges and the Pentecoste River as we travelled towards Home Valley Station.  5km before the Pentecoste river crossing we came across a Combi van parked in the middle of the road.  Turns out that it had holed the fuel tank on a rock.  They had fortunately noticed and channelled the fuel into jerry cans.  They were waiting for the chemical metal to cure on the tank.  They reckoned that they were OK so we left them to it. 

The Pentecoste River did not present any problems.  It wasn’t even high enough to come in the doors.  Turned off the Gibb River Road onto Old Karunjie Track to Wyndham.  The 4WD track initially follows the river.  Several washouts and some interesting rocky patches.  Slow going in places.  Followed the track until it disappeared across a very boggy claypan.  Tried following alternative options but didn’t find anything very hopeful.  In the end we turned back.  Had a chat with a couple camped a few kilometres back.  They said that a couple of cars had come through from that direction today.  This gave us hope, so we turned around again and trundled up the river to find a campsite.  We’ll try our luck again tomorrow.  In fact, a car has just driven pas from that direction (and it is dark as I write this) so there must be a way!