Thurs, 1st Sept, 2016 Meentheena Veterans Retreat, E of Marble Bar to Carawine Gorge on Oakover River, WA

7am 22.6 degrees, clear sky but still gusty wind. Had to keep the windows closed on the west last night.

Drove back along the track to check out the Fluourite mine. A big open pit. Fluorite was used to harden steel. A pretty purple looking quartz.

First day of spring and there were colourful flowers about. Though the purple one also had very nasty thorns – just like a rose I suppose!!

Headed back to the ‘Paperbarks’ for a paddle in the canoe and a cuppa by the water. Very tranquil. Not deep at the moment but the water is clear and we can see a few little fish.

The paperbarks reach across the river making it a lovely shady paddle. We could go down past the trees in the water and about the same distance again till it got too shallow.

Had a cuppa by the water and fed all the little fish. Back to camp and hooked up. Paid our $15 for the night and said goodbye. The flags are flying well in this wind.

Continued along the Ripon Hills Road, obviously through the Ripon Hills, rolling up and down. Crossed the Nullagine River.

Crossed the Oakover River which was wide and dry. Carawine Gorge is on this river further south which is where we are heading. Passed the turnoff to Telfer Gold Mine (110km further east) and onto Woodie Woodie Road (another mine). Now we are on more open country where the hills have little caps.

I spotted something moving and it was a camel. Steve pulled up so I could get a photo as this is the first wild one we had seen. This chap was happy to pose for a photo before meandering off to find more to eat.

Then I spotted 4 more nibbling on the trees green shoots.

A few kilometres on we turned off the bitumen onto dirt again – that’s the end of our clean van!! 13km down to Carawine Gorge. The first section had hundreds of huge anthills then there was none – must be the type of dirt.

A welcoming sign at a Y intersection. Left headed towards the gorge area so we followed it.

We came to a wide area to cross which is loose river rocks so we pulled up and went for a walk. We got to the water but think we will get bogged before we could get the van here. The other couple from the Vet Retreat were walking along. They had gone in the other track and said it was good surface.

On the Hema this is Carawine Pool on the Oakover River. Looks lovely.

Back to the truck and we turned the hubs in and backed up the track. There were only two other vehicles with camper-trailers so we didn’t want to chance it. Steve had to back a long way back to be able to turn around – thank goodness he can do it. Maybe they need a note on the sign – “heavy vehicles go right”. We then took the right turn and headed down to the river again but on firmer ground. There were two other vans and the other couple’s so we parked up and went for a walk. Walked all the way back to the end of the pool and found a nice spot. Even had a grassy area with a fireplace.

Though the neighbours might be a bit of a problem. Steve had a word with him and he moved on!!

I waited there while Steve walked back and drove the truck and van up. There are lots of birds on the water – even a pelican.

Very nice outlook.

Backed the van in between the trees.

Walked up to chat with the couple in the camper-trailer. They said there were 10 vans in the gravel this morning and 4 got bogged trying to get out. Glad we backed out – our spot is perfect. At last I got a photo of a kingfisher. There are lots here. Can’t get a photo of them in flight though, they are so pretty.

Very windy though so not game to open up the windows with the loose dirt around us – not since our van is nice and clean!! That won’t last for long.

Went for a drive to get some firewood. Followed a track around the edge of the loose rocks and it was difficult enough for the truck so glad we didn’t try it with the van on.

Got to the end of the track. On the Hema it shows the Gorge is a bit further done. If we had a canoe we could have found out if that is true.

We walked around the edge of the bank. You can see the water levels.

Steve pointing to the water level.

Whistling kites are souring above us.

When we got back to the main entrance a van was pulled up where we had stopped. We got out to say to turn back and take the other track. Steve offered to pull him backwards as we don’t think he could have got it going in reverse.

Got them onto the hard stuff again and left him to reverse up like we did and turn around. We drove back to the other end to find some timber in the creek bed.

In a little pool there were a heap of catfish trying to survive. A few carcasses on the edge showed that the hawks were picking them off one by one.

Back to camp for drinks on our grass patch. The cattle wander around us slowly but certainly aren’t worried about all the visitors. Further up the pool I spotted a black swan. They certainly go everywhere too.

Certainly a lovely spot and all the birds were busy singing as the sun started to set. It was just perfect except for the strong wind from the SE. As it started to darken there were ‘smack’ sounds like a barramundi. Scrap said they catch them here so we will get the rods out tomorrow and have a go.