Friday, 10 October 2014

Russ creek to saddler springs ( Imintji )


The night was cooler than I thought it would be but crazy had warned this to be the case around Mt Elisabeth station , nevertheless it was welcome as was the shade we had chosen to camp in for a cooler packup.
We made our way back onto the gibb only a hundred metres down the track and within minutes I had pulled up after coming up the gibb range  as the passenger rear qtr window was popped out on a weird angle , hmmm more corrugations damage lol, plastic covers off I discovered the push clip had gone missing in action and no nut I had would fit it so I taped it up and made a makeshift clip which held fine .
A short time later we passed the Kalumbaru turnoff and a gazetted campsite with toilets there as well but owing to the lateness off the dry season and not carrying extra fuel to lighten the trailer and car weight I decided not to do this track at this time but definitely another time when there was more greener pastures around .
Then shortly after we crossed the mostly dry Gibb river for the first time and then over the Hann river which had us talking about our time in Cape York last June / July , a great time was had there !.
The Mt Elizabeth station turnoff came up on our right and the long start of the Munja track which was on my personal bucket list but after yarns with a few that had done it recently I thought the fee asked a little too pricey and saved the fuel anyway but again one day I would be back to make the corrugated journey to Walcott inlet and hopefully some big barra.
Isn't that what happens when you travel to do something , once you get there you just want to do something more especially when someone camped nearby tells you about this so called exclusive place or a photo that beckons you to check it out in reality .
We then took the turnoff to Barnett river gorge and bumped our way into the campgound and springs below but was a little dismayed at a donga being placed at the campground complete with bunks air con and power coupling for a small generator to power the shack , signs had been moved and I thought it odd and maybe that someone had tried to claim this spot as their own , anyway a drive down to the creek and back a snack all round with a cool drink and we continued on but all agreed it was a nice little location that would be great with more than the current spring fed trickle .
Next was Mt Barnett roadhouse and a short refreshment stoping ask about medical advice for dash which went unheaded  and a phone call we decided against fuel as it was 15 cents cheaper at the next community and I hoped the money would be put to a more beneficial cause .
The day was getting on so we stopped for lunch at Galvan gorge and helped out some travellers from Karratha who needed some battery terminals to fix their new battery they got down the road at " over the top tyre and mechanical " or "ol mate "as he was referred to , lol.


This worked out well as we got some Panadol for dashmans earache which had subsided but was still present as we had used nearly all of our neurogenic , Panadol and ear drops .
Off on the gorge walk we went spotting a multitude off birdlife which we ticked off then arrived at the waterfall and billabong but decided against a swim as we were unsure of croc activity here , pity because it looked pretty good to me and swing ropes had me half convinced it was safe till I remembered a few spots in Kakadu similar .
We drove past Adcock gorge owing to the afternoon sun and the longer walk in .
An hour or so later we arrive at Saddler creek springs next to Imintji and decided the water and ropes were to good to pass up here so we camped the night and swam for hours before dark and enjoyed another red Kimberly sunset and a hearty meal by head lamp light .



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