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Well here we are... pulling into the Kimberley Entrance Caravan Park gorgeous little man pointing at us.. kids excited "there's a boy our age" lady smiling waving.. pointing... I'm thinking I know that woman.. man sticks his head out of the camper.. BLOODY HELL... Gary Bickley!!!!!... all the time they are laughing because someone with the same car and camper is pulling in opposite them..
All this way from home.. everywhere we go there is someone that we know from home!!!!!!!!!!!! now it's a friggin WHARFIE!
We thought they would be well and truly ahead of us but not so!... so after gas bagging for 1/2 hour or more we finally got our camp set up dinner sorted etc then got some time after dinner for a few drinks and a good catch up... now this catch up started to cost both Mark & Gary $$$$$ as Gina and I started to compare some things...
Now Nadia Wanless!!... Gina was travelling with a Nespresso :) small, easy to use, pods easy to store!... added to shopping list (only good whilst in a park etc but I'm sure the inverter would work???)
Shopping item number 2... INNER SPRING MATTRESS.. turns out Jayco manufacture / import their very own inner spring mattress's for the pop ups.. after an invitation to come sit on their bed.. guess who's off to buy a new mattress when we get home MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE... if it's one thing that has been hard this trip it's the bed! literally
Gary is off to purchase a bbq after seeing ours which fits nicely in the front locker.. how ever I think Mark's bill might be slightly higher
The next morning we farewelled the Bickley's much to the boys disgust as they had grown very fond of Heath & Camryn even in such a very short time... they are off on the Gibb River Rd!.. lucky them..
A day spent touring the town, the must see Boab Gaol, old Gaol, Wharfingers House and tour of the Derby Jetty.. lots of history over load for the entire family, kids loved the Wharfingers house with it's old phones and switchboards and Pop's interactive explanation of how to weigh a baby in the good old days.
Now when we first decided to head to Derby it was supposed to only be for a couple of days to charge the batteries, do some washing and have a decent shower before heading out again to bush camping at Windjana Gorge but all of you that know Mark well enough will know he hates making plans!.. so much so that we are now staying in Derby and Windjana and Tunnel Creek became a day trip.. mostly though to appease Nan who was extremely worked up about the crocodiles even though they are all fresh water!
So out on the Gibb River Road we headed... out some rather corregated roads.. pull up on the side to wait for Pop to catch up and who should pull up next to us.. Yep.!.. The Bickley's. Turns out they are on their way out to Tunnel Creek as well so we all venture out there together.
Now talk about giggles... for my loving family.. picture this HUGE rocks, narrow crevaces, complete darkness, wading through water thigh deep and Nan with the cheapest dullest torch known to man! needless to say Mark sacrificed his torch and went blind now this was also a BIG mistake, Mark's torch was by far the best torch in the group and could light up the Narrows if required hence Nan blinded everyone waving it about and was then demoted to my head torch whilst I led the way with the good torch. All I can say is what an amazing place it is walking through complete darkness and all this water through a tunnel that opens up in the middle and allows the light in truly one of natures most magnificent accomplishments and please if you make it as far north as Broome you really do have to do the extra mile and get out to Tunnel Creek (just watch out for the crocs :)..)
It was from Tunnel Creek (after extracting Nan complete with falls - from the tunnel) back to the Windjana camp ground for a quick bite to eat and a final farewell to the Bickley's as they set off to their next stop and we ventured in to the gorge. Again an amazing peace of nature, with fresh water crocodiles sunning themselves within a few feet of us (insert screams from Nan)... heaps of photos and it was time to head back to town for a special birthday dinner for Poppy at the fish and chip restuarant on the jetty.. a great way to end his special day with the sunset and some yummy dinner!
Friday we ventured out to a local fishing spot (no luck with the fish) but we did acheive one thing.. complete with screams we got Pop to do his first ever creek crossing (all be it less than a foot deep and only a few metres wide lol) major victory!! Well Nan went on full crocodile watch as she had of course read every sign heading into the place that said the lovely critters were active in the area (btw we didn't see any)
Lets pack up and it's off to Cape Keraudren
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