2geonomads

Monday 4th August 2014

Quite happy to get up early and get out of Nita Downs Holiday Camp ( also known as Stanley Camp) after our normal Weight Watchers breakfast .
As we had decided not to take a detour to the Eighty Mile Beach the long road up the Roebuck Plains Roadhouse was another nondescript stretch of highway. Although we settled just for a cup of coffee at the roadhouse we saw ample evidence of many truckies tucking into enormous breakfasts, not doubt much needed as they drive the huge road trains in this part of the world.

On this occasion we do not call into Broome as we will be calling in to see Keith and Sandra Yelverton who have a holiday apartment in the town on our way back to Perth in a few weeks time.

However, we do drive up to Derby to stock up on provisions before we hit the Gibb River Road.

The infamous Boab Prison Tree near Derby

Gail had worked at Derby Hospital as a radiographer in 1967 and seemingly not a great deal has changed from that time.
We saw evidence of this when we tried to buy some cask wine ( more practical to carry than bottles when camping ). The shop assistant explained that cask wine is prohibited in The Northern Territory, presumably because of drinking issues among the locals but we are amused to see a young aboriginal guy buy a carton of 10 bottles of wine without any questions being asked.

5 kms south of Derby we finally hit the Gibb River Road and after 124 kms we take our first side trip down to Windjana Gorge. As we arrive in late afternoon we only have time to set up camp and enjoy dinner under a beautiful night sky. We also meet up with Ron and Liz from Leura in the NSW Blue Mountains. As they had been driving the same model Toyota Prada as our own for 11 years and towing a similar camper trailer we were able to glean a lot of valuable information on the joys and the perils of off-road travel.

Just over 500 kms covered during the day so gradually racking up the kms.

Cheers
The Obese Ferret.