We are on our way to the Kimberleys

OK I cannot resist.
Here I am sitting in the car outside the cop station in Kalumburu hearing techno from a house up the road. A cop just told me to move into the car park.

So we have driven down trhe GRR staying at El Questro and then Home valley Station, then Drysdale River Station, then King Edward river camping Ground , now Karumburu.
The GRR itself was really quite good, but the track into Mitchell River Falls was the worst road I have ever been on, taking 3.5 hours for 70 Km.

The toll on cars has been enormous. I personally spoke to 4 100 Cruiser owners who blew up one or both front shocks. There was an ironical one where a guy in a Navara ute came up beside us saying he was going slow to protect the car. One Km on there he was minus one rear wheel.


The cruisers all want to go 80Kmh on the road to drift over the corrugations, but these corrugations are doozys with a frequency of say 30-40CM and height of say 15CM. I stopped on one to take a photo and the car rolled into the valley .

The old girl is going well with no problems other than the fans. The tailgate now stays shut.
I have convinced myself that the 7 hour drive and 3 hour walk to see the falls was worth it.LOL.

Lots of people with tyre problems, often old tyres . Touch wood the BFG Long Trails are so far undamaged. I run them at about 22 front and 28 rear with the trailer at 20PSI. Dust is the biggest problem and we get a shower in every time the tailgate is opened. I have perfected a bit of tube and duct tape to seal the button assembly as this was sticking so badly it would not unlock. I bought a dust buster, and have a b rush which I use every time the tailgate is opened.

The Kalumburu road is a good in parts but terrible in others. Many river crossings that have to be taken at walking pace as you do not know what is down there. Sometimes smooth for 80 , then 200 mtres on degenerating to killer corrugations or protruding rocks.

Anyway I had better go as we are staying in the Catrholic Mission camping ground. Visited the two locally owned ones today and will give em a miss. One is honeymoon Bay, but unlike any Honeymoon I have seen. BUT a couple of those Nissan Patrol 6 wheelers in trhere with caravans!

Regards Philip A

I remember that road into Mitchell Falls, it was a horror. We were about four days in front of the grader. I met some people a year later and it turned out they did the road oafter the grader a week after we did - smooth as a baby's bottom :twisted:

The mechanic at Drysdale River said he makes his living replacing shockies and other suspension bits in Prados and Nissans. He had nothing against the vehicles but the drivers insist on going fast over the corrugations, it might be smoother in the cabin but the driving gear is getting a high speed thrashing..

This might start a debate but the theory he espoused is when you are going over corrugations - go slow and suffer - you'll eventually get there.

We eventully got to Mitchell Falls, at an average speed of about 22km/h - strewth it was awful but the Falls were beautiful, and the walk in tooks us past lot of rock art.

The bad roads were enough to put us off going all the way up to Kalumbaru. It was disturbing to see most of Drysdale River burnt out with skinny cattle looking for food.

The trip back down was bad but not as bad.

Was chatting to my mate Derby Dan last nite.
He works in the area for an earthmoving company.
He would DEARLY love to buy a grader as they cant get them up there when they need them.
Bank says no contracts no $$$$,contractors say no grader no contract.
My dearly departed mate FatBaz(who also was great mates with Derby Dan) always had a goal of buying a grader too.Im afraid after steering one for a few years MEE TOO:eek::eek::eek::eek:
I wouldnt mind being my own boss smoothing them roads out up there to keep the terrorists happy:cool::cool::cool::cool::cool:
Andrew

Just got back from dragging the van in to Mount Hart Wilderness Lodge (or should I say camping ground as the $600+/night at the lodge is certainly out of the budget) and must say we enjoyed a nice and relaxed time. The GRR at this (Derby) end is very good ATM. The section up to the Windjana turnoff is like a highway, with much of it now bitumen. They must have been busy last year as there wasn't any bitumen past the first 60ish k's the previous year. The next section through to the turnoff to Mt Hart is like a Victorian highway, a bit dodgy and in need of some maintenance, but overall still able to travel at some speed. They are also redoing quite a long section of road through past Lennard River which looks like it could become bitumen also. So much for this road being one of the iconic off road touring destinations of the future. The Fairfield Leopold Downs Rd deteriorates once you get past Windjana Gorge and continues to worsen the further you go. The last 40-50 k's before you get to the Great Northern Highway being the worst of the corrugations. Made the whole trek through with the van unscathed although a might bit dusty. If you do go in to Mt Hart make sure you wet a line because we pulled a few reasonable Sooty Grunters out of Barker River right at the camp ground. My 4 year old managed to pull a 42cm specimen from off the pontoon right at the camp ground itself. Enjoy yourself and will keep an eye out for you in the next bit as you come in to Derby.

OK update.
Here I am at the van park in Derby . Stayed at Bell Gorge for two nights, and before that at Manning gorge for 2 days, after driving through from Kalumburu.

Derby is a crowd scene because of school hols I guess. We came here to get some supplies including grog as a it was a bit galling at Manning Gorge to see 4 young locals come in with a slab of VB, with one of them drunk at 2PM.

We have had no car trouble except my water pump is now leaking a bit from old age. I have a spare so tomorrows job is to switch it in. Otherwise the car , me, our camper and clothes are just full of red dust.

We then plan to go out to Fitzroy crossing and go to Geike, Tunnel creek, Winjana etc. After that to Cape Leveque and the horizontal waterfalls ride.

I agree that the Gibb is currently a pussy with BITUMEN on the steep climbs and the road gangs completely rebuilding the road and bitumising about 100KM or so out oif Derby , just past the Winjana turnoff.

So there you go. We have done the Gibb and I am now getting a bit sick of red rocks.
Onward to Leveque and then down the coast.

Regards Philip A

Welcome to Derby! Not much of a town but the people are great. From what I hear, the road through to Cape Leveque is pretty good ATM aswell.

Thanks for the welcome Low Ranger.

I am currently staying in the big van park, and an old couple approached us tonight to see if we are actually going tomorrow as ours is the ONLY powered site available and their campervans batteries are flat.

Going to Fitzroy tomorrow then Tunnel Creek and Wyndjana and back but we will stay in the small park on Monday Night.

Derby is a great little place but who decided not to put any trees in the main street for shaded parking, and who decided to rebuild the pool NOW???? Although I suppose one could wade out a few kilos in the mud for a swim. Saw the local sight and drove out on the wharf.

The bloke at the Mitre Ten was great and gave me some hose to siphon the radiator for the water pump change. All done plus oil change in 3 hours. Old Landie owner. The shell servo was OUT OF OIL.

Great joke at Woolies when asked about where is the Servo. BROOME Tish Boom.
So back monday.
Regards Philip A

Depending on what oil you want try Derby Auto Parts - orange building on the corner of Clarendon street diagonally opposite the Hospital, next street down from the Shell. Otherwise Derby 4x4 and Marine - in the industrial estate on your way out of town. May see you on your way back in to town on Monday.

Cheers

Glen

Thanks mate. I had 5 litrs of Shell Helix plus and wanted the same but settled for some Valvoline semi synth from woolies.
I later found derby Auto parts and bought a bit of stuff.
Regard sPhilip A

Hey Glen
Do you know Dan Brandis???
Good mate of mine in Derby.Works for the Earthmoving mob with an Aboriginal sounding name,cant recall exactly how its pronounced/spelt.
Andrew