The Kimberley - Elquestro - Exploring the gorges (travels with Ranger Meg)

Friday, Jun 30, 2006 at 00:00

MickO

Friday 30th June
El Questro W.A.

I hate starting the day with a hangover. We had to be up at 5:45 a.m. to be showered and ready for our breakfast cruise on the Chamberlain Gorge. We duly arrived there at the appointed time of 6.45 a.m. feeling more than a little seedy. Amanda was the only bright spark but even she was feeling a bit wilted. At least breakfast was provided and much needed.

Ranger Meg loved a chat so she explained the history of the property and the resort as we cruised leisurely along. At the far end of the gorge we alighted and took a short walk to see several rock art sites containing both Wanjana and Bradshaw figures.Ranger Meg provided a lot of good information about both epochs. The Bradshaw’s were fascinating being totally different in style, content and quality compared with the more child like Wanjana. I also learnt that Wanjana are painted with no mouth as they are associated with the wet season and if they had a mouth and opened it, all the water would pour out flooding the land. That is also why Wanjana are always found near or overlooking water. At the back of the boat, tossed bread bought in the archerfish and some catfish. This profusion of fish also bought in the king of the rock hole, a Barramundi. A good sized fish of 45 cm that put a bit of fear into the scavenging archerfish. (The archers were made to work for their bread which they had to shoot out of your fingers with a well aimed jet of water.

Unfortunately all I could really think of was my bed waiting for me back at camp and I gladly fell into it on our return. I didn’t emerge until after noon for a spot of lunch. The afternoon was spent exploring a few gorges and 4x4 tracks to Explosion Hole, Branco’s pool and lookout and Pigeon Hole. The tracks were often rugged and steep but we just cautiously plodded on. The last 500 metres into Explosion was very interesting picking your way down the scree slopes of the gorge and then across big round river boulders. Some great scenery was had and a few photos’s taken.


''We knew from the experience of well-known travelers that the
trip would doubtless be attended with much hardship.''
Richard Maurice - 1903
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