Tues, 7th June, 2022 Nackeroo Monument picnic area, west of Timber Creek to Saddle Creek Rest Area, 117km west of Timber Creek, NT (Old Police Station Museum and Gregory’s Boab)

Beautiful pre-sunrise colours through the bed end mesh. 

Packed up and headed back to town. Followed the heritage trail which starts near the van park - we can hear squealing flying foxes which wouldn’t be nice for the van park visitors.

Not exactly a heritage trail but we are getting some exercise. Down to Hickeys Beach - picnic area beside the creek which doesn’t look too inviting at the moment. Looks like the someone had a good party last night - the rest are on the ground near the creek bank.

Stopped at the bird hide but there were no birds about out here. Would love to see one of the Gouldian Finches - they are so colourful.

More beer cans and cartons left on the causeway over Watch Creek - very sad that whoever they are can’t carry their rubbish out since they could carry it in!

At last some history.

We continued along the track by the creek - not that you can see the creek for the shrubbery. Found another sign!

Reached the Police Station heritage area. No info about this building.

Further along is another board which is blank and the one at the graves can’t be read either. Checked out the two graves near Timber Creek which has water in it here.

Walked over to the museum - there is a caretaker here. The radio was playing the ABC news which said about how Howard Springs won’t be opening again this year.

Those Furphy water tanks are everywhere. Found some info inside about them too.

Lots of things to read etc.

Steve loves the first mobile toilet.

Met Bazza (Barry Burrowes). He asked if we wanted a job as he is trying to find a replacement. I commented on all the interesting info and said that I saw there were brochures for the Maryborough Military Museum. I said Erica’s cousin, John, owned it. Barry said he was friends with John and met him on a trip to Vietnam. What a small world. Took a photo and will send it to John later.

Barry took photos of us outside with the old police hats that were stiff and hard.

The other old building was the ‘newer’ police station built in 1930s.

Walked back via the main road where the turn off to the museum is marked with a boxing kangaroo flag. Further along we found the new police station.

An info board. A tree blocked my view of the lookout from here but I got one of the military trucks that don’t have a front windscreen etc in the photo.

Checked out the National Parks info centre. Jasper Gorge didn’t look like this - must have been taken during the wet.

Nearly back to the truck we saw this army 6x6 weaving back and forth across the road - might have an issue - luckily there were no other cars on the road at the time.

Back to the truck and we decided we deserved a treat from the bakery. Unfortunately there was fresh bread and pies but no home-made yummies. We chose a sausage roll then nearly died at the price $6.50, and it wasn’t very tasty either! Uploaded more of my blog and updated Facebook then rang John Meyers to say we had met Barry. John had great news too that his cancer has disappeared at the moment which is wonderful. I filled him in on Erica too.

A couple came over to chat about the truck and camper as they have a 6x6 truck but only a small camper and want to upgrade as its cooking is all outside and she wants an inside toilet and shower before they hit the road full-time.

Headed off west again. Passed the bridge and campground then 5km on turned off down a track to Gregory’s Boab Tree by the Victoria River.

Read all the info but nothing said whether this was the arrival or departure date.

Steve walked around the other side and found the other date which was earlier Oct 13^th, 1855 so that answered our question.

The river is close by and there is a gully to the side which might have been where the spring was.

We think this is the twin boabs mentioned which was the site of the forge.

Back to the highway and just along a bit is a cairn to Gregory and his crew. I looked back on the photos but saw the ‘letter in oven’ on the main tree and it looked like ‘letter in ?’ in the twin tree.

Continued on - Some workers were mowing the grass along the road and we listened to them as one advised the others when to stop as vehicles came by. The way the vans have been heading east and west it is amazing they get any work done, having to stop when a vehicle comes.

Across the East Baines River that we had seen earlier at Bullita Homestead. Only water upstream here - all dry on the other side. There is a community, Bulla, nearby.

A bit further on we stopped for a cuppa in the rest area. Nice spot but we decided to continue on to the next one 60km on.

About 20km further we spotted a chap walking along the side of the road. We pulled up to ask if he needed help (sad to say the car in front of us didn’t stop). He said he was ok but I noticed the water bottle he was carrying was empty. I asked where he was going - to Kununarra - I said that’s still another 190km. He was in very worn-out thongs, shorts, t-shirt and a bucket hat. The back of his neck and shoulders were very red. Unfortunately we couldn’t give him a lift but he was hoping to get one in a truck or something. Steve filled up his bottle and he had another in his pocket which he filled too. He was heading back to Broome and was walking because his car had been stolen and burnt out. We didn’t ask any more details and hope that he gets a lift but he smiled and waved as we left him to continue walking.

We continued on. Big mountain in the distance.

There are green shoots growing along the roadside and the cattle are nibbling as they wander.

We changed directions a few times before heading back to the mountain then around it. There is a point called Skinners Point which I just got a photo of.

The hill on the other side had lots of big rocks looking like they are nearly ready to fall over.

Around through Desmonds Passage (according to the Hema) which brings us around to the other side of the escarpment and Skinners Point.

Further along we pulled into Saddle Creek rest area which is below the escarpment - must have missed crossing Saddle Creek!!

Set up with a great view of the escarpment through our bedroom windows.

Will have two nights here so we can do our washing tomorrow. There are 5 other vehicles here already. Joined a couple from Melbourne doing a year trip (left in Jan) with their two kids in a pop-top van. They got out the WA map and I marked some highlights on it for them - thinking of things that the kids would enjoy too 

Another hot night - still 31 degrees at 10pm. At least we are saving on gas with not having to use the hot water system.