2 Geckos Travelling Australia: Fri, 1st July, 2022 Bush camp by Gibb River, Kalumburu Road to Mitchell Campground, Mitchell River National Park, WA (exploring)

7am 18 degrees, still a bit cloudy. Said farewell to the others - they are continuing west on the GRR.

We crossed the Gibb River for the 56km drive to Drysdale Station.

Across Plain Creek - in the GRR info book it says ‘day use’ but there isn’t anywhere to pull off to use.

Lots of travellers heading south. Some leave their vans at Drysdale River Station or King Edward River campgrounds and just drive in for the day. We will take the camper as the weight will be better for going over the corrugation etc.

The road was graded a week or so ago and is still good with just a few patches of light corrugation or rocky sections.

I got the gate opening job as we turned into the station.

Topped up with diesel - $2.95/l. Fuel costs will certainly be affecting travellers’ budgets. We paid $45 each for a Wunambal Gaambera visitor pass to be able to drive on the road.

Still overcast with a cold breeze. The open campground looks nice with green grass and tall trees.

Drove back out then into the ‘tip’ to drop off our rubbish in the big pit covered by a huge cage.

Continued north past the track into Miner’s Pool which is usually a day use/camping spot but it is closed at the moment. Next to the track is cattle yards with cattle in them so maybe it is closed because they were mustering.

Stopped at the crossing of the Drysdale River and made a cuppa. Beautiful spot. Obviously the water gets a bit high if you see how high the markers are on the tree.

Some chaps on motorbikes were on the other side. Two came back and one said ‘watch the rocks’. Steve thought he said ‘forgot my socks’.

The chaps came back and crossed the river which has old concrete or something on the base but there are a lot of holes now. We waited so they could get going but they didn’t seem to be in a rush so we headed across. One took a video of us crossing. We stopped and chatted with them. The chap that spoke to us was talking about rocks. He had hit one on the way across and fell braking his gear lever or something which is why they returned to Drysdale Station to get a bolt (we had seen lots of bits for sale in the shop). They were happy for us to be ahead of them so we headed off.

Crossed a small creek crossing. More vehicles and big tour buses heading out.

Lots of palms (livistona eastonii) around Doongan Station (that used to be King Edward River Station).

Across Crossland Creek which was small wet crossing - amazing these creeks are still running.

The road has been good still though this section is quite narrow.

Across a few more small wet crossings. We are running parallel to King Edward River.

A sign tells us we are entering Theda Station. Spotted a dingo in the grass.

Turned off the Kalumburu Road onto the Port Warrender Road where a sign informs us this is an ‘unmaintained road’. We had heard there was a grader working on it so we might be lucky.

It is a narrower road and curvy so you can’t get any speed up to get on top of the corrugations which aren’t too bad after the grader has skimmed over them but still worse than what we have been on so far on the GRR.

Reached the King Edward River where the tracks that lead into the old ‘free’ camps are now blocked off.

Across the river - just up to the side steps and rocky based. I can see the water height in the mirror.

Turned off to check out the first art site. Lots of tracks through grass around big boulders which have interesting shapes. Lots of small paintings under rock ledges etc though some are very faded now. Further around we found the main gallery. Wandered around a found some more. Most are exposed to the elements. Still windy, cool and overcast though the sun is trying to break through.

Had lunch there - all good in the camper, nothing has moved. Headed off again. Passed the turn off into Munurru (King Edward River) Campground. Will check it out on the way out.

Pulled into the second art site. Longer walk to it through the grass which is filled with tiny wild flowers - very pretty amongst the dry grass. Lots of fascinating rock shapes again and different art (Gwion - black thin figures & Wandjina - halo heads and unidentified unusual ones) throughout the rocks. Some are easy to work out, others are just weird. The ants have filled in the gaps between the rocks with their nests.

Back on the road through more palms making it look very tropical.

Some cattle are enjoying the green shoots coming up after the burn-off.

Steep drop down the hill then across the flat and then up the other side.

30km in we reached the grader sign but the grader had gone and so had the bit better road. We can definitely say the grader did make a difference as this next bit is a lot rougher so it is much slower going. One side of the road is the white rocks that you have to bounce over or the other side is the red dirt corrugation - hard to choose! Steve is doing a great job and the truck is comfortable.

Stopped at the Lawley Hill (Miyalayi) Lookout which looks north over to the Lawley River estuary where the salt and fresh water meet.

Met a few cars coming back from Mitchell Falls - a lot leave their campers and vans at the other campgrounds.

Up and down the hills. Nice smooth section of white soil but the red soil is just full of corrugations.

Down a still hill then across a flowing little creek and up the hill again.

Passed the turn off into Kandiwal Community - no access.

Over another little creek.

Passed the turn off into the APT Wilderness Lodge then the turn off to the Mitchell Plateau airfield.

An APT coach came zooming around the corner and luckily we had space to pull off as he wasn’t slowing down. The track isn’t that wide either and the rocks are piled up on the edge so you have to be careful where you pull off.

Another steep descent - glad we didn’t meet the coach on this section. Continued downwards then across another creek. We can see why it takes so long to open up after the wet season with all the red clay soil and creek crossings.

Into the Mitchell River National Park which was gazetted in 2000. Paid our camp fee - no online here thank goodness. There is a ranger on site.

Open camp areas so we chose one near another couple and backed in and set up. Lots of Rosella bushes here but with only the flowers left now and they are hard.

Chatted with the couple and their son from Port Hedland. I went for a walk and checked at the helicopter company but they are booked out with tours from the cruise boats and other campers so no flights for a few days. No problem as I have all the photos from the cruise when the others did the flights from the ship. As it is still overcast it mightn’t have been worth the money any case.