We were all packed up and ready to move out after delicious bacon and egg breakfast before 9.
As we dropped by the Colwells Evelyn was all ready for a walk and then swim so we decided to walk too. We were really glad that we did.
The rock features and the boabs were just amazing. In the unusual rock formations it was really easy to lose direction,especially since you had to keep on changing direction and look down to try to keep to rocks rather than spinifex. (it didn’t altogether work and I have “spinifex legs” at the moment.)
We were aiming to get to a path around the water that some of the other campers had told Ev about. Eventually we found our way to the path above the water after quite a bit of clambering and spinifex. The quarry went further than we had realised, and even from part way along there was no view of the ramp into the water that we had used to go swimming the night before.
The path took us to some wonderful views of the area, including a fascinating cave hidden in behind a big leafy tree.
After quite a walk we decided to have a swim after all before we left, so we enjoyed one more dip in this amazing spot.
Lots of the WikiCamps reviews of this spot say they found no water, so we assume that the quarry fills in the wet and slowly the water is used or evaporated until it is dry again. It would still be a great camp spot without the water but it is ideal with it.
We drove back out to the main highway and turned back on to the bitumen heading for Derby. There are lots of boabs along the road including some really huge ones.
We stopped in at Ellendale lake on the way past ( -17.931397, 124.783801) . Here we found a grassy area along a long billabong with many vans parked in under shady trees. It looked a lovely spot but wiki says there are crocs so probably no swimming. Heaps of birds and probably heaps of bugs.
We drove on, making the turn towards Derby and stopped in to see the Prison Boab tree. This huge Boab was used to hold prisoners before they got to jail as they were walked for days across here in chains (up to 48 km a day).
Derby was pretty underwhelming. We were hoping to catch up with Al and Zita and hear the news on the van but decided to see the wharf. The coast here is croc infested and muddy mangroves. Very uninviting. The tide was out, exposing the muddy flats and some quite large fish ( one bloke told us they are pop-eyed mullet) teemed in the shallow water.
We did a very quick shop before meeting Al and Zita. Sure enough there was extra damage found on their van and the workshop are having to make some of the parts required due to lack of availability but the axle itself was ok. Bolts, bearings and some other bits and pieces are being replaced. They have got hold of a new tyre to replace the shredded one and the wheel arch needs repairs where a hole has formed. Apparently an independent suspension is not a great idea on the GRR.
We headed out of town again and turned on to the very end of the GRR, doing the first 10km or so to get to Birdwood Downs station, where we were happy to find a quiet shady spot, hot solar showers (with lots of little brown frogs),a good camp kitchen and a warm welcome. Not bad for $35/ night. They are planning to add powered sites and a new shower block in the next year or so so it will become even better. To us it seemed a much better idea than staying in a caravan park in Derby.
Trev has received a voicemail from Horizontal Falls Seaplane adventures saying that our trip has been cancelled for Thursday and they will refund the money. We have tried to ring back to find out more but no joy getting through at this stage. We assume that this cancellation is COVID related as the whole country seems to be having COVID outbreaks. We heard late in the afternoon that SA is heading into more severe restrictions and sport is cancelled.
Luvapuzzle 