Cold Showers

Monday 5 June 2023 – Ellenbrae – Munurru

We wanted to make a fairly early start today as it’s probably the longest driving day on the Gibb so the aim was for about a 7.30am start.

We made it successfully to the Kalumburu Road turn off after an hour or so and stopped for a cuppa and toilet stop.  The toilets are in the worst condition we have ever seen them – as someone said to Amanda “It looks like an abortion in there” and as the tanks are empty no water to wash away the carnage.

We continued on up the road and it was just as bad as we remember it being.  Huge corrugations and no way to avoid them so that there are spells where you are forced to do 5km/h along the edge.  We bumped our way into Drysdale Station just before 11am and filled the car with fuel and the van with water before heading over to the pub.  Phone reception here so after ordering beers and burgers, I rang the kids to see how everything is going as it is a public holiday today so they were all home and having chill days.  It is apparently very cold and wet in Perth which is crazy to hear when you are standing in shorts and a tank top in 33 degree heat and blue skies above.

Really yummy burgers and mango beers demolished it was back in the vans leaving the Adamsons to finish their lunch whilst we go a bit further up the road to fill the bags with firewood ready for our campfires at Munurru.  It was hot work but reasonably quick work with Shaun’s chain saw quickly converting tree trunks into logs. Lots of cockroaches came running out of them though – eughh!

We had heard that the grader had recently done the section of road north of Drysdale and it was certainly eons better than the section south but still with a few rough patches.  After one of these, Larry stopped to check the firewood bags hadn’t shifted and spilled and Shaun did the same only to discover he had a flat on one of his caravan wheels so, once again, all hands to the task of changing a tyre.  A little bit easier because the tyre was on the back of the van and didn’t involve much grovelling underneath anything.  A few cars tried to fly past but Jen’s job was to step out towards them as though to flag them down which meant they all did to see if we needed any help.  Of course we didn’t and all Jen did as successfully slow them down enough not cover us in dust as they flew past.  A couple of them were even told “No, but thanks for slowing down” so hopefully they get the message that going slowly past people standing on the side of the road so as not to cover them in dust is always the considerate thing to do.  Anyway, now the Adamsons call me the “Lollipop Lady”!

Tyre changed we continued on to Munurru.  L&J went across the King Edward river crossing first which is quite high and fast flowing this year and had Amanda a little worried.  We crossed and radioed back to the others that it was fine and that we would stay and talk them across as it did pay to stay a little left on the rocks.

All 3 vans safely across and by the time we found a site suitable for 3 vans and cars and reasonably close to the toilet block it was getting towards dusk.  Shaun got the campfire going and the jacket potatoes boiling ready for the coals.  They were then consumed with garlicky chicken parcels and broccolini.  Gee we eat well on these holidays.

After dinner and when Larry went to do the washing up it was discovered our hot water system had gone on the blink and Shaun and Larry spent some time trying to work out why to finally discover that all the capacitors had shaken loose from the circuit board.  Nothing for it but for cold showers before bed but there was still a little warm water in the pipes and, as it is so warm at night here and the van retains heat, it wasn’t as bad as it sounds.

Early to bed as we have another big day tomorrow.