El Questro and last days at HCJB

The weather has been really hot again.  I'm sitting here feeling very sticky and warm - in the 'Oasis Room'.  We will be leaving here tomorrow morning after morning tea.  So there is a bit to do in packing up the van and annex tonight and in the morning.

It has been good to be here and to get to know the people who are working here and those who have been volunteering.  A number are leaving around the same time as us, so the dry season program is winding down.

Sat and Sunday we have spent with the Jones on a lovely adventure to El Questro which is just a little way along the Gibb River Road.  We found the roads were not to hard to travel, the tough bits we drove slowly.  Yesterday we went first to Emma Gorge and did a long walk up a gorge, in very hot conditions, some areas were a bit of a clamber over rocks, but the path is clearly defined.  Meeting others on the way back to encourage us to continue to the lovely pool at the end.  Here we changed behind towels and went in the lovely pool for a very refreshing swim beneath a spray of water from a very high rocky cliff above us.  Hard to describe, but very beautiful.  We lingered a while to cool off and then down the path again back to the car.  By then we could hardly put one step in front of the other, but managed to get our picnic lunch to a table in the picnic area and revive ourselves a little.  We also bought an icecream from the Resort store.  Yes there is a very nice resort to stay in here.

However we then continued on the the Station at Elquestro which is about 30 ks further on and off the road.  We were allocated our tent accommodation and had time for a relaxing swim in the river just nearby - with no crocs in that part.  It was lovely to dine out in the open at the buffet meal which we enjoyed.

We brought our own breakfast basics and had that outside our tents after a comfortable sleep for the night.  We were pretty tired and went to bed early as usual.  Waking a 6 a.m. is not hard as the sun is up by then.  Today we've enjoyed seeing Zebedee Springs and soaking in the pools there for a while, a much easier walk to get to those.  There is much to see in this area.  The scenery is amazing.  We saw a little of Chamberlain Gorge, noted the Homestead in the distance where you can stay in luxury.  Drove up to a wonderful lookout on a 4wd track to see view all around us.  It's amazing wilderness country.

Now it is time almost for dinner and for packing up.  I think a cool shower would also be in order.