We have been exceptionally fortunate with our timing so far and it seems that once again luck has held in relation to this. Word at Drysdale River campground was that the road in to Mitchell Falls had been recently graded.
We grabbed hot showers, boiled the billy and had breakfast and were heading on up the road before the rush.
As expected, the road wasn’t great, but it wasn’t as terrible as it might have been either. Corrugations we’re about as bad as the worst of the Tanami for about 50km of our first 100 or so- to the King Edward river crossing. There had been lots of burning done and on the sides of the road thousands of new trees of up to half a metre in height with their beautiful new growth glowed as the sunlight shone through their orange, pink, red and bright green leaves. A carpet of glowing vibrant health beneath a mixture of palms and eucalypts.
The dust was terrible. Fine, floating dust hung in the air and added a holy haze to the whole thing.
The water crossings were mostly beautiful. As we entered the water I glanced left and right to the clear, quiet pools reflecting the quiet beauty on either side of the noisy road.
Just after the crossing we pulled in to one of the famous aboriginal art sites here, with the Colwells arriving just a minute or two behind us. We wandered in and around the giant sandstone boulders, discovering many ancient paintings , including the famous Bradshaws which the area is known for. At one stage we lay on the smooth slab of rock on the ground , looking up at numerous paintings on the overhanging rock face above our heads- lying right where those ancient people must have, when they put them there 1000s of years ago.
We left that loop walk and drove on for a few km and in to the campsites of the King Edward River campground. Nice wide sites-most with room for more than 1. Then out to the day use area.
We had arrived here so early that we were all keen to try to make the Mitchell Plateau today. ( originally the plan had been to possibly camp the night here if the roads were bad). Even Al and Zita had heard enough good reports about the road ahead that they were confident to take the A Van onwards. Not something you would usually do. It was true. Most of the road from here was also pretty good.
Before we started that leg of the journey we had a bit of a dip in the river and admired some brolgas who were happily standing around.
The road up was more palms and more regrowth beauty. We stopped for lunch at Lawley Lookout, where you can look out to the view north.
Then on again to the Mitchell falls campground. The woman in the entry booth was very helpful, explaining the big walk to us, and how we could use the rest of our time. We have scribbles all over our map for all the little side trips.
We quickly found an excellent site for camping. We are in the generator area, but the generators have to go off by 7:00 pm so we will have a peaceful night.
We booked a helicopter ride for tomorrow morning to take us out to the falls after an 18 minute tour and walked out to the river walk lookout to see the sunset. ( this was not too spectacular)
- 201km
Luvapuzzle 