On our way to Derby

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July 25th 2013

Published: July 25th 2013

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billandJackie

free camping

About to cook dinner over the coals, have to let the fire die down first

Left Kununurra and headed onto the Great Northern Highway we stopped at a free camp called Leycesters Rest named after a boy who lost his life here.Again we arrived late afternoon only to find the main campground full so we settle for the top park,decided to light a fire and cook the Mackerel steak on the hotplate, life is hard.Next morning we head for Halls Creek a small town with an interesting history and an alcohol problem.Two camp sites one in town the other 10km out of town at the old town.We decided to go to the old town C/P what a choice, such a quirky place you have never seen,as you drive the 10 km on dirt road road we wonder what we are going to find. On approaching the site which is called Halls Creek Lodge you could be entering a scrap yard with all sorts of cars and machinery in various states of dilapidation.The caretaker or owner tells us it's $25 for a power site,however the power is only available from 1/30pm to 7/ 30am we can not use any electricity unit that has an element ie toaster,kettle as this trips the generator. We decide to stay. Having

Bar B Q

Supplied free at the campsite just bring wood

found a suitable site and settled in we set of to explore the area.We first go to Caroline's Pool a local waterhole and free camp, a beautiful spot but the water looked a bit murky so we decided not to swim from here we went to the China wall an exposed quartz vein sticking out of the ground with a resemblance to the great wall of China. This camp ground is situated at the old town which has it's own cemetery dating back to the early 1900's we have never slept so close to a cemetery only 200mts.

Next stop Fitzroy Crossing, we decide to stay at the Fitzroy River Lodge and camp ground, we stayed here 3yrs ago and found the park good value,not much going on here, it's main attraction is Geikie Gorge which is a limestone gorge which the Fitzroy River flows through, which we are told is a raging torrent in the wet season and ranks among the greatest. We took the river trip last time so we decide to walk the gorge this time ,surrounded by towering cliffs of limestone on one side and the river on the other side a good walk. The

Free camping

The camp ground

town itself is sparse with only one decent food outlet,however the information center is very good and helpful .

Tomorrow we head for Derby and hopefully the Gibb River road

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