Karijini National Park

29/06/2011
Pilbara is the region, and the mountains that run through the Pilbara and into Karijini National park are called the Hammersley Range. Within the mountains there are several gorges all of which are difficult to get to, but today we managed to see five. Four we saw from a vantage point where they all come together, a more spectacular sight is hard to imagine. We have taken photos , only hope they do it justice. The lookout point where the gorges meet is called Oxer, which is at the end of 40K’s of the roughest track I’ve ever driven on and if I ever go there again it will be by helicopter!! It was so rough it shook the twist caps of the bottles of beer in the fridge and it’s a miracle that nothing was broken. From Oxer we could see Weano, Hancock, Wittenoon and Red Gorges, just an incredible scene. It is possible to climb into the bottom of these gorges, but unless you have mountain goat in your blood don’t bother! We did consider it---briefly.
On to Joffre Gorge, equally spectacular, before heading for the exit and a luxurious sealed road! The round trip was 250K’s, far too much for a day out, but worth it apart from the bone shaking, teeth rattling 90K’s off road.
Foolishly, Jane had done a little cleaning before we left. Big mistake as EVERYTHING (inside and out) was coated in red dust when we got back!

30/06/2011
Much the same as yesterday, visiting Karijini National Park, but this time ,to a part of it easy to get to by sealed road, though it is still a 200K round trip. Why did they build Tom Price so far away?!! To-days excursion was to Dales Gorge, another incredibly rugged beauty spot with lots of so called footpaths to scramble about on. Our morning walk/stumble was along the top of the gorge with good views down onto the bottom, where we could see inviting pools of crystal clear water. The down side of all this is that we are looking at these fabulous views from behind fly mesh! Flies numbering billions, and all determined to get up your nose, into your eyes and down your ears! We have to wear our hats with fly netting to keep the little buggers out!
After lunch we decide to bite the bullet and scramble down some 100 metres to one of the pools in the bottom of the gorge for a swim. Getting down to the pool was a bit tricky but getting into the water even more difficult. The rocks were very slippy and the water icy cold, meaning no way to ease yourself in, it’s all or nothing! Once in this very deep pool it’s a wonderful feeling, the pool being fed by a waterfall which starts off further up in the mountains. Even swimming around in this freezing water there is no escape from the blasted flies as they buzzed around our heads. This is what Australia is about, throwing yourself into pools with the flies!
Everything we have done in the last 2 days has seemed to after a lot of hard work but worth it, and we are here to see Australia.