HMAS Swampy

 

Saturday 2 June – El Questro

We were a bit undecided about what to do first this morning but did decide on an early start.  Hence we were all driving away from the vans just before 7.30am.  A few people had suggested that Zebedee Springs can be packed early and quieter later in the morning so we decided to go to El Questro Gorge first.

The water crossing in is particularly high at the moment and can only be attempted with a snorkel.  Swampy had very kindly offered to sacrifice his car to the cause hence the HMAS Swampy set sail across the river with only a few white knuckles on board.  The first time I have ever heard water lapping against the doors of the car and one little dip in the road caused the water to come up over the bonnet which was exciting also.  We made it safely across, though, and paused to let all the water drain out of the car and to inspect the car for water ingress.  Only a little bit inside on the rubber mats so not too bad and we were the first into the car park for the Gorge that morning so we had the place to ourselves once again.

The Gorge was a bit trickier a walk than other times we have done it with the path regularly involving rock hopping across streams.  Pretty much gave up and got my hiking boots and feet wet rather than risk slipping off a wet rock and falling and breaking something so it was a bit of a sloshy hike after that.  Made it to the Halfway Pool (or in J’s case, nearly there as my knees were over the wobbly rocks by then) and decided that was far enough and then made the return journey to the car just as the sun was threatening to make its way into the Gorge and make hiking hot and unpleasant.

We ploughed back across the creek crossing a bit faster than on the way in and hence made a bit more of a bow wave and a little bit more water inside the car including inside the cupholder on J’s door which was interesting.  We had met an El Questro guide and group coming into the Gorge as we were coming out who had told us how a tour bus had chewed the bottom up and made it slippy and I think Swampy was keen to get across before any such calamity occurred today.

We made it safely across, stopped once again to drain all the water out, then headed off to Zebedee Springs and got there just before 11am.  We were delighted to see cars leaving as we drove in and were able to get a parking space close to the entry point.  We were even more delighted to see numerous groups of people walking out as we walked in so that, for the 45 minutes or so that we were there, there were only a few different groups of people at the Springs and you could pretty much have an entire pool to your selves.  The Adamsons were still there and Amanda encouraged us to climb up a waterfall to a  lovely pool that they had found high up.  We were content, however, having done our fair share of rock scrambling earlier, to just soak in the pools closest to our towels and not exert ourselves any further.

We vacated the pool about 11.45am and hence were just back at the carpark as the El Questro staff were going in to kick out the riff raff so that the homestead guests can have their private soaks in the afternoon.  Back to the vans and a quick rinse under the shower and then we ate up the Kununurra loaf (still surpisingly fresh) with ham, cheese and tomato sandwiches.  We had turned the airconditioner on as the van had been in the sun all morning and so it was only a short journey from table to bed for an afternoon nap. 

The afternoon having been industriously spent examining the insides of our eyelids it was soon time to wander on up to the bar for afternoon drinkies followed by a nice meal from the Cantina.  Larry and Shaun were disappointed that they couldn’t have burgers but consoled themselves with pizza and Mexican snack boxes.  J also had the Mexican and it was very tasty with crisp tortillas and lashings of sour cream and guacamole with tasty chunks of beef and a fresh salad.  Very nice.

A couple of drinks at the bar and then back to the vans for nightcap or two as well as a game of Harry Potter Uno (has interesting cards like the 9 and ¾ card which enables you to swap your hand for any other person’s hand meaning you can go from only having one or two cards to suddenly a handful again.  We basically managed to prove that we are all competitive and ruthless souls before we realised that the CP had gone quiet around us and it was probably time for bed.