Betten On Bike: DAY 32 - 10TH MAY 2013 - KUNUNURRA

Day 31 - 10th May 2013 Kununurra – Emma Gorge

Up at 4.15am – its light so much earlier in W A and with the very hot temperatures it makes heaps of sense for Walter to start riding at first light which is around 5am here currently.

Cycling Stats: 78 km

Cycling Average: 29 km per hour

As this was indeed a smaller ride Walter decided to take it easier and he didn’t want to rush the experience of riding along the legendary Gibb River Road.

Dianna & I decided to explore the track behind the caravan park which led into Mirima National Park and we climbed a section of the walk and enjoyed walking between the tall strata layered red rocky mountain outcrops which rose above us on both sides. It was a lovely cool time and when we walked back we seemed to walk through areas where all of a sudden the temperature dropped and was almost cold before readjusting to what we had experienced just a minute before.

We filled the tank and headed out onto Victoria Highway and crossed the Ord River dam wall and enjoyed the spectacular sight of the Aud River stretching out wide and far in both directions.

The undulating road wove through the valley between and rocky outcrops / long ranges. Walter was excited to see a dingo running in front of him for around 200 metres before it ran into the grasslands.

We were a little concerned that we may have taken the wrong road as we hadn’t seen a sign for the El Questro / Gibb River Road and strangely enough just after we did see a sign for this turn-off we saw Walter in front of us and he stopped us and was also a little uncertain as to whether we were in the right place. I reassured him that we were and then only 500 metres or so further on we saw the turn-off to Gibb River Road.

As soon as we turned onto Gibb River Road we knew that this was indeed a special place. Birds birds birds in huge flocks circling low and following us and Walter – the huge green ranges on one side and on the other the tall rocky formations of red and vegetated cliffs were stunning. The early morning was a beautiful time to enter and travel through this area.

We were lucky because as soon as we arrived at 9am thanks to Debbie from The El Questro office at Kununurra we were able to check into our cabin so Walter could enjoy a shower. We decided to head out to The Station, another El Questro destination some 40kms or so up the road. The road from the turnoff was challenging as it was the corrugated gravel surface that most of The Gibb River Road is famous for so we needed to travel at a very sedate pace. However when we finally reached the famous Pentacost River we left the car to walk through the waters covering the road to The Station. Then back to Zebedee Springs which was another magic tranquil oasis where we enjoyed a swim, each in our own individual thermal spring pond – This is not one big spring but a whole series of small rocky pools where you can comfortably lie in all by yourself and enjoy the warm soothing thermal waters.

We headed back to Emma Gorge Resort and had afternoon tea at 12.30pm ( a peanut paste sandwich) – These early morning starts mean that crazily we eat lunch at 9am. (baguette with ham, cheese advocado & salad – home made of course !!) at 9am. Remember breakfast is at 4.30am, coffee was at 7am so lunch naturally follows a few hours later – big days !!!

Unfortunately Dianna was experiencing a slight sprain to her ankle which was somewhat painful so she was going to spend the next few hours resting by the resort pool. Walter & I were very keen to take on the walk to Emma Gorge which was rated medium to difficult. It was fabulous – the walk went through so many different landscape changes and we ended up walking through the middle of the gorge with towering cliff faces on either side. We had to scramble over rocks and up steep paths and it was remarkable when we reached the lower pool which was a bright bright aqua blue and so beautifully set in amongst large boulders and tropical vegetation. We had been told that the top pool in Emma Gorge was something special and when we reached it it was as if we had entered a magical place – sheer overhanging rocky cliff faces on three sides which leaned inwards – at least half of the tall cliff faces were covered in soft green ferns and the pool below was crystal clear – so much so that every single rock below the water was visible and all their different colours were bright and varied. Water fall droplets tinkled and fell from one side into this huge amazing pool and on the other side small waterfalls fell from the great height above. We swam & sat awestruck by this peaceful and almost spiritual place. It was so hard to leave…..

That night Dianna generously took us out to dinner at the resort & we enjoyed a wonderful meal on the deck. Thanks Di !!!