We set up camp at Fitzroy Lodge Caravan Park. This is a very large and beautiful campground. We are all very excited to go to Winjana Gorge and Tunnel Creek. However, after much debate, map reading and listening to the locals, we realise this is better tackled from Derby. The road from Fitzroy Crossing to Windjana and Tunnel Creek is all dirt, 130kms of it, ' and BAD dirt' as the locals say. We are learning to trust the locals.This is compared to 124kms of black top with only 55kms of the bad dirt. Tunnel Creek will have to wait one more day. 
So instead we join the crew a for a boat cruise on the Geikie Gorge, in Geikie National Park. We learn that the flood waters of the Fitzroy River have carved the 30 metre deep Geikie Gorge through the limestone junction of the Oscar and Geikie Ranges. Amazingly, the Fitzroy River can rise aprox 16.5 metres, and fill the National Park with about 7 metres of water!! It is hard to fathom such numbers, for when we are there the gorge is a calm and still river. The proof for us is in the pics and flood markers at the rotunda in the national park which shows how high the water has risen over the years. To put it into perspective, in 2002, the Fitzroy River had 50 times as much water running through it as in Sydney Harbour.
The walls of the gorge are limestone. The wet seasons high water mark is at the top of the white stone, on the otherwise grey and orange limestone walls. The gorge is home to fresh water crocs, bird life and much more. |
| Showing you a different perspective of the high water mark. |
The park will close soon in preparation for the wet season. They experienced flooding this year in March, the level was a couple metres shy of the peak in 2002. They say that at the the beginning of the wet, they are often required to use excavators and other machinery in order to clear and recreate the paths that were washed away. 
After our leisurely cruise we continue on a little tour of the town, and head towards the Old Concrete Crossing. This bridge/crossing was built in 1935. During the wet season there was no way to cross for at least a few months at a time. The current bridge in town over the river was built in 1974. This spot here is a popular fishing and swimming spot during the dry season. Feeling a bit tentative at first, we park up the top and take a stroll down...
The signs at the top of the road say no swimming, but as we get closer we see locals fishing off the road and their kids having a ball in the water. It looks so inviting, and with pleading eyes the kids beg to jump in too.
The kids eventually win and get their swim!! This little boy in the picture took a real shine to Benj. He quietly crept up to him and started splashing water on him. When Benj would turn around, he sunk under the water like the crocs do. This little game continued until Benj splashed back. They then all played together for ages. He spoke very little English, but play is a universal language! He told Timna she has a white face, and he played a game of pointing at things to get the kids to say what is was, and would then parrot them. It was hard to break up the party, but with the sun setting it was time to go home. 
Just before we drive off, time to capture yet another beautiful sunset.
This sunst pic taken as we crossed the Old Concrete Crossing, our first true river crossing!!
N.B The sign of a dufus newbie caravaner - one who leaves their towing mirrors on even when not towing!!!!
We have mentioned many times already the benefits we are receiving as a result of travelling outside of the peak, and they are truly numerous. It must also be acknowledged that due to this, there are some sites that are all ready closed in preparation for the wet that we have missed out on. We were not prepared for how much we would love exporing the Kimberleys, and for how much there is to do here. This most certainly is on the list for places to return to in, hopefully, the not too distant future.
Next stop, Derby.
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