Monthly Archives: May 2015

Kimberley Carnage – dropping like flies – 22 May

Australia, Kimberley, WA, WA

When The Doc arrived at Drysdale River Station on 19 May the damaged trailers total was three. The tally started on 1 May. The bushfires had closed the road for a week, so the total was for 2 weeks only.

Drysdale River Station is located on the Kalumburu Road, off the Gibb River Road, on the way to Mitchell Falls and Kalumburu.

On returning from Mitchell Falls on 22 May the total dramatically increased that day. The day’s total included:

  • wheel fell off a Jayco Expanda caravan;
  • damaged wheel bearing on a camper trailer;
  • spring fell off another camper trailer;
  • a new Nissan Patrol had 2 tyres slashed on the side wall;
  • a Mitsubishi Triton came in with a bent chassis, too fast into a floodway towing a caravan;
  • sheared studs on another caravan;
  • a steering rack shaken loose on a Toyota Landcrusier; and
  • a camper trailer had been abandoned just before Drysdale River Station.

While the Kalumburu Road is not great, the Mitchell Plateau Track to the Mitchell Falls is a shocker, this is what did most of the damage. Some of the damage is preventable by not over loading the vehicle and driving slower. However, the road was so bad there will always be damage, even if you are prepared and cautious.

ASCII
Qoubba blow holes
Murchinson River, Kalbarri National Park

Be flexible on the road

Australia, Kimberley, WA

One of the lessons of the Excellent Adventure is to have a general overall plan and be flexible. It probably started out as have detailed plans and cover all your targets.

Another lesson: knowing how big Australia is, is not the same as travelling the vast areas. You often get a sensation of only scratching the surface, although the occasional flight helps address that. The Doc never got that sensation on the 4 day helicopter trip around Cape York.

The Purnululu (Bungle Bungle Range) trip was originally to be 4 nights but The Doc changed that after finding out about Mitchell Falls. If The Doc left 1 day earlier and returned to Kununurra to refuel and resupply The Doc could visit El Questro and Mitchell Falls along the Gibb River Road and still make it to Mornington, AWC’s Wilderness Camp by 4 May.

It was not to be. While at Purnululu The Doc felt moisture on his forehead, where the skin cancer had been removed. So he placed a bandage on the area, as it has been slow in healing. When returning to Kununurra it became clear it was infected. A quick fix on the road (having a good first aid kit is an essential), then to Kununurra Hospital to have it looked at and treated. The heat and humidity are not helping. The wound was opening in 2 places, so it was cleaned again, butterfly strips used to close the wound, re-bandaged and The Doc given anti-biotics. The Doc hired an air conditioned room at Lake Argyle for 3 nights to help the healing. It would be foolish to enter the remote Gibb River Road until the infection is clearing up.

A change of plans again, visit El Questro, then Mornington and head back to Mitchell Falls afterwards. The roadhouse where The Doc was refuelling is between Mornington and the Mitchell Falls turnoff. So only little back tracking is involved.

Next report Katherine to Kununurra.