1/7/14 – The place was pretty full last night. The sites on our top side were on a decent slope and because of that hadn’t been used much in the time we were there. We had gone for a walk while some people were setting up their campers on the sites. When we came back we were told their camper had gotten away from them and was literally heading towards our camper. It took several people to move it and secure it back in place. Not sure we would stay at ELQ again we felt the main camping and amenities let ELQ down. We were packed up and on the road by 7.30am.
The Pentecost River crossing was pretty easy and not that deep. It’s a pretty awesome site from the west side of the crossing looking back towards the Coburn Ranges. Afternoon would be the best time of day to get that magic photo of crossing the Pentecost with the ranges lit up by the afternoon sun.
A few Kms past the crossing is a lookout where you can actually get a weak Telstra phone reception. Great views as well.
Looks like there is plenty of free camping along the Durack River. So far the road is corrugated as expected, some pretty sharp rocks sticking up in places and loose gravel. We have seen 2 people with flat tyers, a rear tailgate on the road, a ute fiberglass canopy, a wreck and a stone has hit and split a John Guest water fitting on the trailer. Chris carries spares (which he will fix when we stop) we aren’t loosing any water unless we put the pump on. This is one of the reasons why we carry/have extra water tank in the ute.
The Kalumburu Rd to Drysdale Station was very rough in places, took 50mins to get the station turnoff. Just passed the station we came across a lovely creek that we stopped and had lunch at. It was just after that, that we noticed a small crack in the windscreen that had emanated from a tiny chip in the corner of the windscreen behind the GPS mount that we hadn’t seen. While we were stopped a car passed us at high speeds throwing rocks at us as he passed, mmm wonder how we got a crack windscreen. Chip we can fix, crack has to wait until we get home.
We came across a heap of black birds in some trees with 2 dead cow carcasses in the long grass. A couple of dingoes near by with one of them eating from one of the carcasses. I (Kate) got out to take some photos and the smell was overwhelming. After half a dozen or so shots I started dry reaching the smell was so bad, I quickly got back in the Ute. That’s nature for you.
We turned off the Kalumburu road towards the Mitchell River National Park. The road quickly got worst with large rocks sticking up out of the ground. The King Edward River crossing was a rocky crossing with a bend in it. A few kms later we turned in to the King Edward campground now called Munura. The sites are large mowed areas that could easily fit a couple of campers in them. Well spread out, with several toilets spread around the camping area. Lots of trees, very nice bush setting cost $10 A. There is a self registration hut, but if you don’t get chance to fill it in before setting up a caretaker comes around and will collect it.
We had planned to stay here one night then head to the Mitchell River National Park in the morning with the trailer and stay there a few nights. The caretaker advised leaving the camper here and doing a day trip as the road was so bad and she said the campground here was nicer. We walked around and chatted to a few other camping groups who had gone to the falls and asked them about the road etc. pretty well all of them said to leave the camper and yes here was much nicer and not as crowded. It was that here was a better campground that convinced us to do a run down in the ute and leave the camper here.