Tues, 5th July, 2022 Bush camp by Gibb River, Kalumburu Road to Bush camp by Barnett River off the Gibb River Road, WA (exploring Barnett Gorge)

4am it was only 6.7 degrees - it isn’t supposed to get that cold up here. 6am up to 8 degrees hence we didn’t get up till 8 when it had made it to 12 degrees. Clear sky and cold breeze. I put the heater on to make sure it still worked - nice to warm up my clothes with too.

Packed up - very windy outside. Steve had the truck running to warm it up and heard a rattle and found one of the brackets on the exhaust had broken. Will fix it at the next stop.

On the road again by 9.15am and back down to the Gibb River Road to continue westward. The road is pretty good with patches of corrugation and then smoother base sections. Steve is maintaining about 70 to 80kph so the corrugations aren’t worrying us. Bit of traffic about but we aren’t following anyone so we don’t have to worry about being blind in the dust.

Got phone reception as we passed the turn off into Gibb River Station so some texts and facebook notices came through.

Mistake Creek had some water in it as we drove through.

Missed the track off to the left for camps along the high bank as we reached the Hann River so we drove through Hann River crossing which is concrete based. People are parked with their van right beside the river.

Up the other side we tried a track going past a dam and then down to the river. One vehicle was in there and it was a bit sandy. I jumped out to get a photo.

We went back across the river - photo upstream this time.

Turned into where the van was. I made a cuppa while Steve got things out to fix the exhaust bracket. Very windy and it is cold but the sun is warm which is nice. Very pretty but shallow.

All fixed so we can continue. Passed the turn off into Elizabeth Station which is closed to travellers. Barnett Range appears to our left and is running parallel to the road.

Turned onto a track to check out Barnett (Jignarrin) Gorge.

We passed a few campers that are parked up by the river - will check it out later. Found the walk parking area and had lunch then headed off. We went to where the sign was and followed the other footprints under the barbed wire fence and along the track. Strange as there is a road on the other side. We then came onto the road and followed it to a little creek where another ‘walk starts here’ sign was and a big information board. Very interesting history.

Crossed the creek - more rosella bushes. View back to the ‘prison’ boab tree which is full of leaves but the other ones near it have no leaves.

Nice walk to the river. The water is tumbling down through the plants and rocks.

Headed back to the turn off to go to the pool and lookout. The track is marked with rock cairns but they are not that easy to spot sometimes but my trusty tracker can find the way.

The walls grew on either side as we reached the gorge area.

A bit further on we found the ‘plunge pool’ where a family had just enjoyed a very cold swim. The wind is still blowing cold so we decided to do the rest of the walk first.

Steve found a track up the rocks and we worked our way along trying to follow the rock cairns. Found some pretty flowers. Nice view back to Barnett Range from up here.

Interesting rocks near the lookout area. Looking down on the plunge pool area then upstream towards the rapids.

Climbing over the rocks then further along to the ‘lookout’.

Steve saw a movement and spotted a rock wallaby. He posed for a photo then went around the rock.

Continued along the rocks to the top end of the pool.

Further along - nice view back over the river to the range then upstream where the water comes over the flat rocks and the walls of the gorge get lower. As it is cold we thought we might see a few fresh-water crocs sunning themselves but we haven’t.

Headed back but in further so we can walk over the flat rocks rather than the boulders.

Back to the camper for a cuppa. Maximum of 25 today even with the camper closed up. Decided to stay here for the night so moved to where some others are parked up near the bend in the river.

Chatted with family near us - from Perth. They are in a big tent and were freezing last night as they didn’t bring a lot of ‘winter’ stuff as they were heading to the warm north.

Steve rounded up some firewood to keep us warm while we had ‘drinkies’. I went for a walk down to the river. A chap said that people had built up the wall here and even had flat slabs for seats - bit chilly for a dip now though.

Looking downstream.

There is another bigger pool further downstream below another clearing that had an old demountable which is now falling to bits. Other campers have just pulled in and parked up there.

Drinks by the fire. Quite nice once the sun goes down and the wind stops.

Inside for dinner. Put the heater on to make sure it works - very nice. Feel for the family in the tent as it will be cold again tonight.