We made the late decision to get on our bikes and head for Daly Waters so we could see Butterfly Gorge. The Litchfield Daly River Road had opened on Thursday and knowing that we could easily make the first 8 or so kilometres with the camper on, we decided to give it athe last 35 k's a go, hell, isn't that what adventure is all about, heading into the unknown.
So with sorrow in our hearts we left our great spot at Wangi Falls at around 10 and hit the road. We got to the fork in the road marking where we hadn't been and an old fella came out of the track, we had a quick chat and asked him about the Reynolds River crossing. He said it was all good with a nice firm sand base. The track said 'No Caravans, Trailers Not Recommended.'
After 6 k of bumpy, dusty, dirt track we arrived at the Reynolds River Crossing, which is reportedly teaming with Saltwater Crocodiles. I jumped out and checked the crossing. You had to drive along the river for somewhere around 50 metres, it didn't look overly deep, the old fella said up to my hubs. We locked in low range and the diff lock and hit the water. It was quickly evident it was more than hub deep with a decent bow wave been created and the Prado chugging along 'DON'T STOP IN HERE, PLEASE,' and then we were through, what a relief.
Another 13 k of dusty dirt track and more termite magnetic terminate mounds than the viewing point on the main road we were at Surprise Creek where we planned to have lunch and a swim. After a short walk through soft sand we got to another fantastic swimming hole, although it could have done with some shade. There were two big plunge pools with cliffs up to 10 metres which you could jump off all around them. We had a great time swimming and jumping and as the local crowd started to build for the weekend we headed back to the car for lunch.
When we came out we had to jump start some other tourists in a Prado who had borrowed their friends car and some jumper leads, what foresight.
While having lunch another local turned up and we asked about the road south. He installed all sorts of fear into mine and Clare's minds, telling us no way could we get through the next arm of the Reynolds River, it was likely to be 800 mm deep and that he thought that end of the road was still closed.
Off we set, ready to turn around if the crossing looked too dangerous. As we got to the crossing another 4wd arrived, we let him go past us, I jumped out and followed him down to check his path and too my surplus it was little more than a puddle, what a relief.
The next 6 or so kilometres was pretty uneventful and before long we were airing up when we hit the bitumen. We got to our planned destination at Daly Waters Nature Reserve only to find it had been over run by campers and was full. Second choice the Daly Waters Tourist Park which was also chock o block. The lovely host at reception did manage to squeeze us onto a bit of grass and we are here for the night.
My UHF aerial which is a white fibreglass type seems to have wobbled loose over the corrugations and is trying to lift itself out of its holder so I have taped it up and my metal cutlery drawer bracket has fatigued and actually cracked, so I have a few running repairs to complete.
No comments:
Post a Comment