Day 8 & Day 9: Karijini National Park

Day One

Collis and Annie had a convoy going out to Joffre Gorge and then onto Fortesque Falls. It looked too steep for me to climb down to the falls swimming area so Collis and I stayed above while the boys climbed down. This sounds to have been a wise move as Gareth struggled with some of the climbs and the heights- he also has a fear of heights like myself. Annie and Jill left us there and took off to Weano Gorge down a dirt road.

From the Falls the boys were able to walk across to the Eco Lodge so Collis and I met then around there for lunch before going back to the visitors centre for a wonderful $2 shower. Collis tried using the disabled for free but once he stripped off his clothes he discovered there was no water in the shower.

We got back to camp around 3.30 pm. Tonight we are trying some freeze dried Thai green chicken curry and boiled potatoes followed by fruitcake and creamed vanilla rice. So no preparation required on my part.

The girls returned after dark and of course, like a worried mother, I was imagining all these dreadful things that could have happened to them. I sort of chastised them like they were naughty children but they really didn’t deserve it as it was actually only 6 pm. The trouble was I wasn’t sure how we would find them if they didn’t return and if they were in trouble. The girls came back on top of the world after having a lovely day of climbing cliffs and swimming in some beautiful waters.

Day Two

Collis and I had to drive over 200 kms into Newman to get my windscreen replaced. Once there we had to waste 2 to 3 hours in town (which consisted of a supermarket, a chemist, a newsagent, a bottleshop and a subway) whilst we waited for the car and then drive 200 plus kms back to Karijini. Newman is not a pleasant town and the correllas are tinted red from the dirt.

The riders amused themselves back at camp with bike rides and walks around the gorges. Tonight was another BBQ of steak and salad followed by a cheesecake. Four of us played cards until about 8 pm before heading to bed. The whole campground had gone quiet by then and we seemed to be the last off to bed.