Friday 2nd July - Gibb River Road - May River to Lennard River

We finally hit gravel about 80km along the Gibb River Road, but it wasn’t until after the turn off to Windjana National Park that the corrugations got bad.

So far nothing has fallen off, but we need to carefully check the vehicle at the end of each day’s driving.  The dust situation is better, but it’s still getting in so more work on the door seals is required.  We know we’ll never stop it fully, especially as our air conditioning consists of winding down the windows, but any reduction in the desert forming in the back of the Land Rover is good.

We found our first crocodiles of the trip, but luckily they were the smaller fresh water type sunning themselves alongside the water’s edge at the impressive Windjana Gorge, and are considered harmless to humans if left alone.

However, the larger salt water crocodiles (which despite their name can also be found in fresh water rivers) are a different story and they will quite happily snack on you if you venture close.  We’ll come across these at some of the other gorges in the Kimberley and will be giving them the utmost respect.

The walk along the 3.5km long Windjana gorge ended somewhat abruptly with the path taped off.

It was a bit disappointing for the hour’s effort to reach that far, but the walk was nice in the morning sun with fruit bats at roost chattering away

and the gorge walls reaching vertically 100m to the blue sky.

Just down the road are the remains of Lillimilura Police Station, used to hold Aboriginals during the 1890s when there was armed conflict between the white farmers trying to open up the area for cattle and the native Aboriginals.

The famous outlaw Jandamarra shot a police constable there in 1894, and he and other Aboriginal “freedom fighters” hid out at Tunnel Creek, 40km to the south east.

The walk through Tunnel Creek today requires getting wet above the knees, and you need to bring a torch to find your way along the 500m river bed which has cut a tunnel through the limestone range.

Halfway through the roof has collapsed letting in light, but for much of the way you are in the pitch black. SPOT

We must remember not to camp in long grass in future as there are bugs galore.  Most don’t bite, but they are a constant irritation and have forced us into the Land Rover to eat dinner.  It will be early to bed tonight. SPOT