Bozo Across Australia

[Bozo]

I was at Windjana Gorge late in the afternoon having travelled up from Broome. The advantage was that there were very few people around and hardly any traffic on the roads. The shadows in the Gorge only added to the spectacular scenery



Bozo

[Bozo]

From Windjana Gorge I headed back to Derby for an overnight stay. There are a lot of impressive Boabs in and around Derby. The Dinner Tree is one where drovers used to camp with their stock just before loading the cattle or sheep on to ships. The tree is located on the mudflats halfway between Myalls Bore and the Derby Port.

Dinner Tree Derby



Bozo

[Bozo]

The next stop on the semi-lap of Australia was Fitzroy Crossing. I was keen to get out to Geikie Gorge as I had not been there for over 50 years. There is now a sealed road to travel the 20 kms north east of Fitzroy Crossing to get to the gorge and Danggu National Park. The rock formations are the same age and type as Windjana Gorge and are fossil rich and 350 million years old. The gorge has a similar feeling in parts to Windjana Gorge but is more like a river. Check the boat tour times before you arrive if you wish to travel on the water up the gorge.


Geikie Gorge





Bozo

[pspencer]

Thanks Bozo for sharing your adventures, appreciated.

[Bozo]

The light in Australia can be amazing. Dull spinifex becomes gleaming gold in the setting sun contrasting with the dark rocks in the background.

Spinifex on the way to Fitzroy Crossing from Geikie Gorge:




Bozo

[Bozo]

When I first went to Fitzroy Crossing over 50 years ago, the only river crossing was the narrow concrete structure near the bed level of the river. It did not take much flow to close the North West Highway. The climb out of the river bed was quite steep and it was not unusual for trucks to need assistance of a grader to navigate the exit. It is worth visiting the site that gave the town its name and that was the original site of the Great Northern Highway from the 1890's.

The "Old Crossing" as it is now known has been replaced by a high level bridge.






Bozo

[Bozo]

At Fitzroy Crossing there were hundreds of Agile Wallabies that grazed on the grass around the town.



Bozo

[Bozo]

It was a cold morning when I left Fitzroy Crossing before light for the 600km trip to Kununurra. The temperature rose 10 degrees in about ten minutes of travel after I climbed out of the Fitzroy Valley. Half way to Halls Creek is a popular, but very windy, camping spot at the top of the Ngumban Cliff. It is spectacular and the photos do not do it justice.



Bozo

[Bozo]

Headed to Halls Creek hoping to meet Digger and His Royal Griceness. They had just done the Tanami Track and were preparing for what would be an eventful trip down the Canning Stock Route. Poked my nose down the Tanami Track but pushed on to Halls Creek and managed to catch up with the Dynamic Duo.




Bozo

[pspencer]

Thanks Bozo for reviving your memories for our entertainment. With the picture of the Old Fitzroy Crossing it is marked as closed. Looks ok in the photos. Perhaps just to discourage use of this historical structure?

[Bozo]

Peter

The concrete looked in good nick. The "Old Crossing" heads the list of current roads closed in the West Kimberley. I think it was the condition of the cuttings through the river banks that had the "Old Crossing" closed when I was there in 2019.


There was quite a steep drop on the south bank (Halls Creek side) where the road had been eroded.


Bozo

[pspencer]

Fair enough, thanks Bozo, stay safe.