Diary: Sunday 25 June

Sunday 25 June 2000

First day of travel on the Gibb River Road. The road is in excellent condition probably because it has only been open a short time following this years extremely wet ‘Wet’. The road passes through beautiful, varied and remote countryside. We detoured off the main road to visit Lennard Gorge and had an exellent walk and scramble around the gorge and river above the waterfall.

Arrived at Adcocks Gorge in the heat of the day – ideal for taking a dip in the picture-perfect waterhole. The waterfall provided built in shower, jaccuzzi and back massage! Pootled onto the next waterhole – Galvans Gorge. Pretty, but not quite as lovely as Adcocks Gorge.

Returning from the Gorge, we discovered that our fuel cap was missing! Assumed that it had been left at the last roadhouse some 80km back up the road. Radioed Derby Base on the National 4WD Radio Network and he rang the Imintji store – fortunately the cap was there (the guy at Derby base had a 130 Defender and advised us that a new fuel cap would set us back in the region of $145) We arranged that Imintji Store would hand it to someone to leave at the next Roadhouse – Mt Barnett.

Travelled on towards Manning Gorge and Mt Barnett Roadhouse. Hadn’t got far when something underneath gave up with a big clunk. Closer inspection revealed that one of the new front shock absorbers had been fitted incorrectly and the nut had pulled through the washer and was halfway through the bush. Fred put this to rights and I found the washer on the road! Fortunately, nothing was damaged and we were on our way again.

Arrived at the Roadhouse, explained the situation and then moved on to their camp ground. Spent a good evening sharing beers and swapping stories with a German couple who are cycling through the area (in fact, they have come up from Perth and are heading to Darwin, before going to Indonesia).