Hells Bells - 2nd July 2016

Although it was hot when we went to bed and we only needed a sheet,  by early morning it was chilly and doona time.  Slightly overcast when we woke up after a very good sleep and we were packed up and on the road before 8am.  A couple of minor catastrophes overcame us within the first 15 minutes unfortunately.  First Larry noticed one of the windows on the caravan flapping and when we tried to secure it, it was misaligned and had to be taped shut.  Another 5 minutes down the road we got to the rubbish deposit point at the intersection of the Windjana Road and Gibb River Roads and when Larry got out to empty the bin on the back of the van he noticed water leaking out the caravan door.  When we opened the door there was water all across the floor and we quickly discovered the kegs of water under the seat had bumped up and down against the gas tap and ruptured and sloshed about 3L of water around.  Lucky when we stopped when we did!  Quickly mopped up and salvaged as much as the ruptured water as we could into our personal water bottles and the Mt Franklin bottles in the Waeco  before turfing the ruptured container.  After that eventful start, we turned back onto the Gibb River Road and headed further east.   Headed towards the Leopold Ranges and past the rock formation called Queen Victoria's Head which actually looks like Queen Victoria's Head (sometimes you need a lot of imagination, in this case you don't).

We meandered through the ranges and the vegetation became a little more filled with groves of trees and palms.  Stopped at a 24 hour P stop for a toilet break but would probably have been better off going behind a bush as the toilet consisted of a small green shed with a concrete surrounded hole inside it.  Hmmm.   Continued on a turned up the road to Silent Grove campsite where a nice grey nomad couple acting as caretakers took our fee and directed us into the campground.  Unhitched and packed a picnic and then back in the car and 10km drive further on to the Bell Gorge carpark.  Much warmer by now so we were happy to head towards a swim although we earned it with a long rocky walk to the top pool and then a steep rocky climb down to the second pool.  Straight into the water which was clean and fresh and fairly invigorating.  Once we were suitably refreshed we climbed out and had our sandwiches and drinks and enjoyed the view of the waterfall.  Another couple of swims and then we braced ourselves for the steep rocky climb back out of the gorge.   A cool off in the upper pool and then the hot rocky climb up the path to the car.  

Headed back to the campsite and Jenny took advantage of the camp showers with solar hot water and washed her hair.  Nice to just have a few hours sitting a chilling next to the van and watching all the other people come back from their expeditions.  Nice happy crowd in the park around us although Larry did hear one barney between two sets of people squabbling about how much noise each had made.  Quiet around us though.  Nice chicken and cheese burgers for dinner and time to write up the blog and read.