Day 14 Fitzroy Crossing to Halls Creek

This morning started with a lovely cruise up the Fitzroy River, to view Geikie Gorge (Soon to be renamed Darngu Gorge.)  We set out from the caravan park and I took an alternate route that the caravan park told me only to find that the road which appeared on both the map and the GPS was actually a set of ruts through tall grass.  This road deteriorated to low range 4WD'ing until I chickened out and turned around to go back and around on the sealed road.  Lisa frowned most of the way in the "I told you so" kind of way, but is far too lovely to actually take the piss out of my driving.  We got to see some Brolgas on the detour, so not all was lost.

 We got to the boat in the nick of time and enjoyed and hour of commentary whilst cruising gently up and down the river on a barge.  We saw a few Johnson's Crocodiles...Freshies whilst on the cruise, as well as some Finches, (Half Bottle) Swallows, Ibis, Darter and one cheeky wallaby that was hiding in the bushes.  It is amazing to think that the standard wet season tide line is the white marker on the cliff face, and only last year the wet brought so much water that it was lapping over the top of the gorge.  29000 cubic meters per second go through the gorge during the wet. 

 After the cruise, we made our way back to the caravan park and had a very efficient pack up and got on the road to Halls   Creek.  If you have ever been to HC, then I am sure you know the disappointment of the town...there is really not very much here.  We tried to book a flight over Wolfe Creek Crater and the Bungle Bungle, but at $495.00 per head (No concession) we decided against it.  Instead we went to see the China Wall and the old townsite. 

  

We got to the China Wall, a large quartz outcropping that the locals claim you can see from space...or the air or something like that.  I must say...I wasn't too impressed by it.  The gorge was pretty and looked like a safe haven for tiger snakes and with a subtle glance, both Lisa and I decided that we had been there long enough to take a photo and it was time to move on. 

We stopped to talk to a guy who had set up camp there who was prospecting.  He seemed a bit too sun baked for my liking and had the aura of my grade 7 PE teacher, but was friendly enough.  He showed Ashley a hand full of gold nuggets that he had found, the largest of which would have weighed in at 8 or 9 grams.  Other than his friendly nature though, I couldn't help but feel creeped out by this dude, and was happy to be off again.

 The old town site was...erm...old...run down...non existent.  The highlight of our evening in Halls Creek was the opportunity to do some minor maintenance on the van and mop the floors….ahhh.  Cleanliness.

Anyhow, Wolfe Creek Crater tomorrow...YAY!!!  Will post in a couple of days.