Wed, 21st Aug, 2019 Bush camp near Hamersley Gorge, Karijini National Park to RIP Lookout, east of Tom Price, WA (exploring Hamersley Gorge)

7.30am 16 degrees, clear sky and the wind is still blowing.

Drove into the Hamersley Gorge Road which was very corrugated. Stopped at the Information Bay to read the notes. There is Wifi available here but you can’t camp here.

The road is now bitumen as it descends into the gorge – no signs about no caravans so down we go. There is flat area with car parks though the caravan parking spot is on the angle up the hill! We chose to back up onto the concrete island therefore only taking up two parking bays in case others arrive. At the moment we are the only ones here.

Lovely colours in the rocks where they have excavated to put in the road.

Read the walk sign and information about how the gorge was formed.

Walked out onto the lookout platform to check out the view below.

Now for the walk down the steps.

Fascinating looking at the rocks and how they have been shoved and twisted.

Halfway down we walked across to the edge to check out the water flowing from the top pool to the bottom one. Everything is on different angles around here making me feel very lopsided.

Time for a selfie – haven’t taken one for ages.

Looking up to the top pool.

More photos of the twisted slabs.

Looking over the bottom pool and further down the gorge.

Walked down to the bottom pool. The morning shadow is still on the wall but when I zoom in the colours come out.

They say it is a photographer’s delight – it will take me ages to sort through all the photos I am taking.

I checked out the temperature of the water – a bit chilly. I don’t think we will be going in for a dip today. It is lovely and clear. Spotted a couple of small fish.

More shots down the gorge.

Steve carried on over the big smooth rock around to the stairs to the top pool. They could have put in a rail over the smooth rock for me! My knees got the wobbles up on the smooth rock so I backed out and climbed back up to the first spot.

I walked further along for another picture of the pool.

Steve came back via another track that climbed up side of wall near the top pool. He took me further up the hill for a better look down on the pool, the spa pool and further on where the water flows out of the trees further up the gorge. Looks very inviting but as I won’t be going for a swim I don’t think I will bother going down there. Better view from up here.

Looking back up the steps to the lookout platform.

Further down the gorge.

Panned around from bottom to top.

Walked back up to the top then up the little track to the top of the hill. More people have arrived.

Looking over the surrounding hills then down over the carpark.

Steve dressed for the occasion – he still has one set of his old work clothes. They rest have slowly been burnt as they wear out.

Had a cuppa and chatted with some of the people as they pass by.

Back down to the bottom pool again. Getting our stair exercise again. I might have to get knee injections too!! As the sun was overhead I took another set of photos.

Steve wandered across the smooth rock then I walked out too.

Looking back up to the lookout platform – you can see why I feel lopsided.

Walked back to the wall and checked out the rocks. Fascinating.

Climbed back up to the top spot over the top pool – some have braved the cold water for a swim.

Walked a bit further up and zoomed in on where the water comes out of the trees.

Followed a little track around the top past a big ant hill. That saved the walk up the steps. The rocks have cracked making it look like someone has laid pavers – but on a slope.

Made some lunch and sat outside watching others go up and down the steps. The wind has settled. I did a stocktake as we will shop in Tom Price as there is a Coles there. Read for a bit then had a cuppa watching the mine workers enjoying their swim. The shadow has gone from the wall.

We headed off again – slow climb back out, glad there was bitumen. Back onto the dirt road – everything has a red tinge.

We turned onto the Mt Bruce Road and continued around the edge of the National Park enjoying the view of the range. We passed a set of yards with hay then noticed greenery and big travelling irrigators. Can’t quite see what they are growing there but they have plenty of water as it is very green. (Found out that Rio Tinto is making extra money selling lucerne etc using the water they are pumping out of the mine below Mt Bruce. A lady said when she was at the top of Mt Bruce she looked down and could see all these bright green circles - because of the circular irrigation arms.)

Fire has burnt the spinifex off this hill but not the next one.

Turned onto the bitumen and headed right as left goes into Karijini National Park and Mt Bruce. As we did that section three years ago and we aren’t too keen for the 10km hike up Mt Bruce, we continued on. Mt Bruce is 1235m – WA’s 2^nd highest peak. Mt Meharry at 1249m is the highest peak and can be accessed with permission from the Juna Downs Station on the east side of the park so we will skip that one too!

Across the ore rail line that comes from Marrandoo Mine, which is beside Mt Bruce and Karijini National Park. It goes to Dampier, meeting another line that comes up from Paraburdoo and through Tom Price. They are all owned by Rio Tinto.

Pulled off and up a track to the RIP Lookout. Named because people have left memorial plaques of loved one who have passed away around here. More people have written on rock slabs provided too. Very moving.

Nice view too. Zoomed in down the valley.

We decided it would be a good spot to stay for the night.

Had a drink and read then cooked dinner. The wind picked up again. A couple pulled in and set up their roof top tent – don’t think that will be fun to be in with this wind.

As we went to bed the wind was so strong it was shaking the van. Oh well at least we aren’t in a tent!