Fri, 8th July, 2022 Bush camp near Adcock Gorge turn off, Gibb River Road, to Silent Grove Camping Ground, King Leopold Ranges Conservation Park, WA (Dad’s bday, 11mths gone, Adcock & Bell Gorges)

6.30am 7.6 degrees so put heater on to get us out of bed!

Today is 11 months since Dad left us and it is the day of his birth too, he would have been 90 years old. It is also Ella’s birthday so will have to send her a belated birthday wish when we get to Derby.

Packed up, said bye to Sue and Ashley then headed down to Adcock Gorge. 5km over a rocky, partly washed out track but we had no problems. We stopped at the first carpark as the track does deteriorate a bit going down to the creek but Steve reckons he would have been fine!

Lots of big and small thin boabs here.

Walked down and around the creek crossing on the rocks in the grass. Someone has dealt with a cane toad which is good.

Not far along to the next smaller car park then we followed the track along to the creek. Nice walk with big boulders on one side then we crossed a rock bar and up the other side to the end of the gorge.

Unfortunately there is only a trickle coming down the falls and the water is quite green so we won’t be having a dip.

Walked to the end where we found a couple of bits of art. Might be more if you climbed under the ledges etc. A younger couple came in so we left them to explore the ledges.

Back to the camper for a cuppa and more damper. Lots of vehicles turning up now - glad we came in early. Chatted with a couple about the camper and they asked advice on tyre pressures etc as they are heading east. We filled them in on things to see and what the road was like for us.

Back out to the GRR passing more vehicles heading down to the gorge.

Turned westward again onto the bitumen till we got over the hill then we are back into the red dirt corrugations.

A bit of water over the road at Billy Goat Springs.

Mount House came into view to our left - stands out like a long mesa with its capped top.

Passed the turn off north to Charnley River Wilderness Lodge but we heard it was still closed.

Lots of vehicles heading east - school holidays! 12 vehicles passed us in a row.

Passed the turn off to Mount House which also goes down to the Mornington Wilderness Lodge - also closed. Might look into these for next year.

There are cattle around the water points near the road.

Smoother road here then a long bitumen section. More of the King Leopold Ranges appears as we cross Grave Creek.

Big bull-nosed hill on the other side of the escarpment.

Across Saddler Creek with a view up the escarpment behind the Bell Gorge APT camp.

Then we passed Imintji Community which has a store, fuel and then the rubbish dump further along which isn’t hard to miss as the rubbish is flying everywhere out of the big pit. They need a cage over it like at Drysdale to stop the wind and crows from scattering the loose rubbish everywhere.

Continued on with the range on our left. We entered the King Leopold (Miluwindi) Conservation Park. Turned right onto the road to Silent Grove Camping Area (19km) and Bell Gorge (11km further on). Crossed the March Fly Creek (not an inviting name).

Haven’t seen much wildlife so it was sad to see a dead wallaby in the middle of the road. Across a muddy creek.

Smaller hills of King Leopold Range.

Through Bell Creek and passed some huge anthills as we reach the Silent Grove Camping Area.

Stopped at the Info hut and paid our entrance and camping fees and checked out the information which was very informative. Found out where the name for the river and road came from - a geologist, Maitland Gibb, who in 1901 explored this area. Stockman, Frank Hann found a way through the King Leopold Range in 1898 after Alexander Forrest’s party failed to cross the escarpment. We saw a note about Frank Hann Boab up the road to Charnley River Wilderness Camp. The campground is situated on the site of an outcamp of Mount Hart Pastoral Lease which was taken up in 1919. Mt Hart Wilderness Lodge is on the site of the third and last homestead site. Another one we heard was closed. 1992 the pastoral lease was turned into a Conservation Park.

Continued on (11km) to have lunch at Bell Gorge. Another creek crossing. Narrower winding track.

Lots of vehicles here but we found a spot to park and backed in so I could get in the back of the camper and make lunch.

More information in the hut near the picnic table and toilets. Some poor lady has lost her engagement ring at Bell Gorge near the top of the falls.

Decided to take a noodle this time - saw how everyone else was carrying them so got my trusty chap to put it in the backpack.

It is a 1.5km return walk to the gorge and then another trail to get down to the bottom area to swim so we decided just to wear our sandals today. Down the hill then along the side of Bell Creek with high rock faces on one side.

Near the end a boab stands tall up on the rocks and a Kimberley Rose tree is further in the bush.

Along the creek then across onto the big rock slab. Great view of rocky hill upstream.

Up the big rock slope with the rock ledges on one side and Bell waterfall on the other and the swimmers having fun in the pool below.

Walked further up the slope. Selfie time - just.

Watched others make their way across the top of the falls to climb up the other side then down for a swim.

We headed across too. The water is freezing and you had to watch your step as the rocks were a bit slippery. Up the other side on the smooth rock surface so kept to the cracks to give us traction then the rocks were easy to walk on. Great view from up here.

Continued on over rocks and boulders to the other side. View down. Chatted with a couple who have just hiked around and downstream and around the bend. There is another long drop falls but I think we will skip that hike. Some kids had swum down too.

People are using another rock ledge to cross to the other side.

Now for the climb down. We made it.

Lots of worn holes in the smooth rock surface. We found a spot and got ready for a dip. Glad I had the noodle to fall onto as it was freezing.

I started swimming to warm up and made it to the middle of the two falls then went across to the bigger one and got washed out with the current. Swam back so I could take photos of Steve.

Steve played under the waterfalls which gave him a pounding.

We found two good seats on the edge and had our oranges while we warmed up in the sun. Lots of people are jumping of ledges across the other side and further downstream.

Another couple and their sons came down and we told them to use our ‘slope’ to get in. I offered the lady my noodle which she thought was great once she got in and felt how cold it was. They got out after their swim to the falls and we chatted for a while. They are from a town on the Murray River, NSW side.

The warmth is starting to go from the sun and the wind has picked up so we headed back up. Everyone else is out of the water now too. Last look as we climbed back up.

Up the top. We walked upstream keeping an eye out for the lost engagement ring. Bit tricky - the water is flowing out of the rock.

Crossed over there and then headed back along the track.

Back to the camper at 3pm so had a cuppa then headed back the 11km to the camping area. There are still lots of people driving in to do the walk now - bet they won’t be having a swim!

A wallaby darted across the road so there are some about. We drove around the camping area trying to find a spot but it was packed. Back to near the entrance and there was some space near a caravan just along from the tour group area. We stopped and checked with them then set up. The camp volunteer came and checked that we had paid our camping fees.

Chatted with our neighbours who are from Perth and joined them for drinks around the fire pit. Still chatting I made dinner and sat there chatting and eating our dinners. One of them pointed out a meteor shower going across the sky horizontal to the ground - like a big silver streak. Found young lads (13 to 16) asked if they could share the fire and were very chatty. From a rural town near Bendigo they were asking questions about what we have seen, our camper etc and were very nice lads. They are travelling with their families and eventually one of the dads came to round them up. They were going to Mt Hart Wilderness Lodge but it has closed for two weeks as someone has Covid. Apparently the pizzas are very good there and the boys were looking forward to them. They are also booked into Mt Elizabeth which we thought was closed.

It has cooled off again so into the camper by 8pm to play some cards.