Betten On Bike: DAY 35 - 14TH MAY 2013 - MARY POOL TO FITZROY CROSSING

Day 35 - 14th May 2013 - Mary Pool to Fitzroy Crossing

Cycling stats 180km

Cycling Average: 36.5 km per hour

Have re-assessed start times and now getting up a bit later so up at 5am this morning which worked out well as this is the time the corellas begin their noisy dialogue – heaps of calling to screeching to each other – a very good alarm clock !

We had some birds (not sure what they were exactly – light creams / browns / a bit speckled and about the size of a pidgeon – maybe some sort of native dove) who were ever so tame come to visit us seeking out some breakfast morsels – Di and I were enjoying plums and throwing small pieces of the fruit in their direction which they expertly anticipated the flight paths of and caught each piece every time .

Didn’t catch Walter until the 80 km mark – the strong tail wind meant a ridiculously fast pace today with averages in the first part of the ride reaching over 40 kms per hour. We met Walter once more after around 35 km and he indicated that he had enough water and for us to go on to Fitzroy Crossing to try & book in early to our safari tent. Once we reached Fitzroy Crossing we filled up the water tank in the trusty campervan which was totally empty and found out the details of an afternoon Geikie Gorge Natural Park Boat Tour which we were interested in doing and waited until our tent was ready.

Walter arrived a half an hour later and unfortunately had had a crash. He had been waiting to turn into the road to where we were staying for the night and a four wheel drive vehicle had come up behind him and Walter was uncertain whether he would allow him to cross to the turn-off and so he decided to pull off the road. Sadly the red deep ruts on the side of the road were rock hard (almost like as if you were on tram tracks) and he fell – the worst thing was that they was a sign post and he landed heavily on the post and is now nursing a bruised and skinned shoulder as well as a grazed knee. The shoulder is painful but luckily it is not a broken collar bone which was Walter’s first fear.

Walter decided that yes he still wanted to do the Geikie Gorge Boat Tour so after a rest we drove the 18kms to The National Park and it was a little further than we had anticipated so we arrived only a few minutes before it departed.

This tour was run by the W A Department of Environment and was excellent – the boat was boarded via a floating pontoon and it was an electric flat bottomed boat so no motor noise – just a lovely quiet and relaxing trip. The commentary was informative and we were able to view the amazing limestone gorge cliff faces close up. The erosion over the years from the rushing wet season meant the bottom section of the cliff faces was pure white and seemed to be carved into amazing etched shapes and patterns. The colours were extraordinary and we also saw fresh water crocodiles, rock wallabies and wallaroos as well as some herons.

The area is an important Aboriginal site as well as this is where the traditional ceremonies for women are held and one area was pointed was designated for entry by women only.

The Fitzroy River is also one of the most fast flowing rivers in Australia and its catchment is over 1 and a half times the size of Tasmania.

We drove back and stopped to have a look at the old Crossing Inn and Tin Shed Cinema.

Barramundi chips & salad on the deck of the Fitzroy Lodge Bar & Restaurant with a nice glass of wine topped off a great day (except for Walter's mishap)