Friday 23 June 2000

Back on the road again.  Called into Derby (that’s Derby not Darby because that’s the way it is spelt!).  Not a great deal of resemblance to the place in the UK.  On the way in we stopped to see the hollow Boab tree that had been used as an overnight cell for Aboriginal prisoners.  The tree is pretty big, still alive and in the region of 1000 years old. 

Called into the tourist information office to try and glean some info on the state of the Gibb River Road.  It is now open (at least to 4WD) the whole way through.  Unfortunately, the road to Bell Gorge and Silent Grove is still closed (potentially opening sometime in July).  Worse new was that the road to Mitchell Falls is impassable as the King Edward River is too high to cross (reports are of at least 4 feet of fast flowing water.  Estimates of 3-4 weeks until this has subsided.  Good news is that the road to Kalumburu is now fully open (at least to 4WD under 3 tonnes) so we can always go up to Theda Station and fly into Mitchell Falls area.  Oh well. 

Tootled out to the jetty to see what the tide was up to – pretty low, but coming in at a fair lick.  Derby has the biggest tides in Australia – in the region of 11m.  Didn’t see any crocodiles!  Found a ‘fold up, pop up’ self-supporting shower tent, so that we can now have hot showers in decency.  We must be going soft in our old age!  (we have a lilo style air mattress as well!). 

Travelled on to Fitzroy Crossing.  Ferbie danced most of the way there.  Woke him up by accident and the landrover was so noisy that he would not go back to sleep.  We passed through Fitzroy Crossing in the direction of Geikie Gorge National Park and camped on the banks of the Fitzroy River at “Push-ups”.  Enjoyed a private shower – no need really as there is noone else here.