Ellenbrae - 5th July 2016

Well it looked like our rain god tendencies were with us again as we woke to overcast skies and as we did the long trek/walk of shame to the amenities block big fat drops of rain began to fall.  We weren't too concerned though as there was patches of blue sky around and, sure enough, by lunchtime it was back to clear blue skies. 

We packed up the van and Larry did some last minute checking of the Jeep and then we drove back to Mt Barnett roadhouse and bought some internet so we could check in with the news and get our footy tips done.  Unfortunately by the time our phones had finished trying to download hundreds of Facebook updates and emails we ran out of data so only had time to send a quick email to Helispirit to cancel our Mitchell Falls helicopter flight before it ran out.  Did get the exciting news on our Facebook feed that Ryan and Sophie had got engaged (Yay!) but not enough data to send a congratulatory message.  That will have to wait a few more days.  Got frustrated with our inability to reconnect to the Wifi with more data and the phone only took a phone card and so we decided to push on.  There was a long line of cars and caravans waiting to fuel up that had completely blocked the exit road (idiots!) but luckily just as we were trying to get out all the cars moved forward to the next available bowser and we were able to get through.

Continued on along the road and hit the worst section of road yet.  Lots of really deep corrugations and rocks which we crawled over.  We eventually made it to the Kalumburu Road turnoff and stopped to check over the van and have a toilet break.  Any thoughts we still had about tackling the Kalumburu Road up to Drysdale Station were then squashed and we compared notes with another van who had just come from there and taken 3 hours to do the 60km.  They reckoned the road had deteriorated further in the 3 days they'd been there.  Later on we ran into another family we'd chatted to in Silent Grove carpark who said they'd tackled it and only got another 10km or so on from Drysdale before they gave up and turned around.

Having made the decision we took the road to Wyndham and passed the grader so had some relatively smoother roads until we reached Ellenbrae.  Got there before the morning and afternoon tea tour groups so had a relaxed toasted sandwich and scone on the verandah and chilled for a while watching the little finches on the bird feeder.  Drove the van round to the Jackaroo campsite and found a spot for the car and van and did a minor set up.  It was pretty hot work so we changed into our bathers and headed down to Stringer's Water Hole for a mid afternoon soak.  At first we had to share it with Grandma and a couple of splashy kids but once they headed off it was very peaceful for a while.  Another couple arrived and we chatted to them for a while about the Kimberleys and their various trips on the Gibb River Road and then it turned out they'd lived in Wyndham so compared memories with Larry etc.

Headed back to the van and put the marinated roast beef in the Webber and then sat under a tree and read our books and relaxed.  After dinner we washed up and realised our water tanks were very low so Larry and Ben did some topping up using an improvised funnel from a soft drink bottle and then we went over to the donkey showers instead of using our own.  Lovely hot water and it was an experience showering inside an old rainwater tank.  Think they could invest in a couple of hooks for towels and clothes though??!!  Feeling refreshed, we sat outside the van with all the lights off and looked at the night sky and used the Skyview app on my phone to work out where the various planets were.  So easy to see so many stars with no light pollution and there doesn't seem to be much moon at the moment either.  Larry and Ben both now have colds and were feeling snuffly so, once again, an early night.