Kununurra to Broome

CONTINUING GOSFORD TO BROOME 2009.

THIS ENTRY WAS SUPPOSED TO GO BEFORE THE "MISSING END'" DON'T ASK WHY, IT JUST DIDN'T !!!

We all spent 2 very busy days back in the big smoke Kununurra cleaning cars, running repairs to all sorts of equipment and of course the usual attack on Coles supermarket to renew supplies. The park there had a pool so that was our meeting place for evening drinks and dinner at the barby.
Then it was out on the Great Northern Hwy.(lovely smooth tar!!) and heading west. First night was free camp 594 opposite the turn-off to the Bungle Bungles where we left the vans again and went tenting in the Purnululu National Park. Alice and I had camped there 5 years ago but we were happy to return to one of our top list of must-see places. 52 K of rough but interesting ever turning road with several creek crossings and so many vehicles rushing in and out at break neck speeds, no wonder there are so many accidents.
First day we completed the walks at the northern end of the park Echidna Chasm and a lookout over a range dated at 1.6 billion years old. Day two we drove the 28K to Cathedral Gorge where you get up close and personal with beehive formations of the Bungles. The Cathedral was beautiful and we left just as a tour group arrived making noise that doesn’t go with the ambiance. Must admit though we did sing Happy Birthday to Lee as it was his day. Father O’shagitty (Lee)made an appearance and presented a short sermon. Driving back we made a detour to the airport where Sandy had arranged a surprise chopper flight over the Bungles for Lee which he thought was amazing. Alice was in charge of a three coarse fire-side dinner that night which she presented like she was at home in her kitchen. I wrote a poem for and about Lee that finished off his day. Next day it was back to the vans and on through Halls Creek to Camp 588, Mary Pool. Then Fitzroy Crossing and one more camp before making Derby on the west coast.



Derby had high tides over 11 metres that were worth seeing rise and fall at incredible rate .Alice and I stayed in Derby while the others flew out to the Horizontal Waterfalls for an overnight stay. They had nothing but praise for the whole operation and the accommodation was nothing but opulent. Alice and I went out there 5 years ago when overnights had just begun, it has certainly progressed.
After a night in Derby where Phil and I sadly watched Qld. win the State of Origin, sitting at a table with the four most fervent cane toads not in captivity. There is always next year, come on Blues!!

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