Sitting along the Pentecost River

 A calm morning on the Pentecost River between Wyndham and the Gibb River Road and the stress of waiting for the camper leg is long drifted with the changing

tide. We did finally get the leg in Kununurra and Matt went to work fixing the leg and putting the motor back on. He also did some fancy wood work on the base of the camper to keep it from sliding on the tray on some of our more adventurous tracks. He's quite the handy man indeed and I've been more than impressed with my man!

Well on our way now, we did stock up with fresh fruit and veg at the Saturday markets in Kununurra, meat from the butcher, essentials from the supermarket, and fuel from the petrol station, of course. We took the Parry Creek Road as a pass way off bitumen through to Wyndham and stayed overnight along the way at the Mambi Island Boat Ramp. Such a secluded spot was beautiful except for the one other camper that switched his generator on just in time for a peaceful sunset.

Wyndham is a sleepy port town on the top end with a wide open beautiful view from the Five Rivers Lookout where you have the intersection of the Ord, King, Forest, Durack, and Pentecost Rivers. What a view from on top of the world it seems! But we were on to our next track - Karunjie Track - which was clearly posted at the beginning that it was "not a gazetted road" so you're on your own! After passing the Boab Prison Tree which was actually used as a holding cell back in the 1800's,

we arrived at Diggers Rest Station where I decided we both needed a shower so we'd stay at the homestead. What a brilliant night chatting around the campfire with a group that was leaving the following day for a 7 day trail ride. The wife of the rancher was American and we figured out our mums went to university together at UNC Chapel Hill!

Clean and ready for the dust again, we hit the track moving through a variety of conditions, we drove through the salt flats, over dry ridges on the edge of the Cockburn Range, and through deep troughs of sand before arriving at our first camp on the Pentecost River. We had a mud map of the perfect fishing spot but every side track seemed like the right one and we decided to

try a spot for chance. The Pentecost is tidal and so we arrived at mud flats on the bank with only a small trickle that a few hours later rose 8 feet

within an hour. It was fascinating to watch the birds, fish, cows, and crocs all sort out their needs with the tide. Pelicans would coast the tide with their mouth open just to scoop up the fish. Crocs would take advantage of the tide to get in and out of the river before it was too late.

Moving on to our next camp, we found "the spot" from the mud map near the Killing Tree with a smaller stream feeding in and water all day (meaning fishing all day). Matt was in heaven and I was happy to sit and read the day away. Catfish did seem to be the only thing going for awhile and Matt created his own catch pond to hold them with our favourite, Jaws, who would stride through the pond with his top fin gliding out of the water. Although the elusive barramundi still escapes catch for now, we did feast on delicious jewfish cooked on the fire.

Sunsets are amazing with a full moon rising and bush fires in the distance that make the Cockburn Range glow in orange and red. Moving on today to Home Valley Station - another shower is in order and maybe some laundry. I also heard on the Kimberley Station that a gig is happening so we're keen for some live music (it has been 4 years since we met at Splendour and I know a few of you are at the festival now).