Here We Go Again - Chapter 47 - Gregory River Day 2

The call of the wild gets the better of us. While the others are heading, as planned, off to Adele’s Grove, we have succumbed to the “free camping” experience, happening 22 kilometres away. 

The congruence between a 200 kilometre round trip and a day sitting simply on the side of the Gregory River catching up with old friends and watching the world go by plays on us. 

The long drive loses. We ask Forbsy to take lots of pictures as we will while we take a day. Sitting with Johnno and Kim yesterday field our need to relax for a while. Not something you can do “on the move”. As much as we are on “holiday”, we are remaining at breakneck speed, adhering to “the plan”

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If we are going to do this, we cant simply turn up. We need to come prepared. We can go with muffins, thats a given. But what else? We will need to take lunch of course. There are 4 pork fillets in the freezer, in they go. Kim was lamenting the emptiness of her larder, especially in the areas of treat type provisions, and given their plan to head off shortly, no real propensity to fill it, so we throw in chocolate, cheese and bikkies and the like.

Two vehicles head out, heading in different directions, both with their individual purpose. Silver Leader pointing his Cruiser towards Adel’s Grove and our heading for Murray’s Place and then onto the river camp of our friends.

There is no phone or internet contact where Johnno and Kim are. We are doing this trusting they are just going to be there. If we had done this yesterday we would have missed them as they were in Gregory River at Murray’s Place. Today however we are pretty sure they are not succumbing to the call of the muffin. Yesterday had been a treat in their plan.

Turn right and head along the long straight road, today knowing the directions are prudent. Morning as with dusk are the more dangerous times to drive the country roads. We encounter no issues and at the sign turn down the “track” towards the river. Every vehicle we meet is checked in detail to ensure our friends do not get past us.

As we pull up to the van, they are finishing their breakfast. Perfect timing. We are yet to eat so they quickly fire the barbeque and we throw on some bacon and eggs, brought from the van. Soon we are settled in, eating breakfast in front of a babbling river and watching the world go by.

Not wanting to be held to any sedentary beliefs, we are ushered towards the bank of the river. Off on a walk we head down the river, speaking to other campers as we go. No clambering, just walking. We walk down to the fork in the road, checking out the number of campers in the proximity of our friends.

Taking pictures of vans on sites so I can send them to another friend who has looked to become a grey nomad earlier rather than later. Looking for the types of experience Johnno and Kim live. I will send them to Justin when I get decent internet, whenever that may be. Today though that is of no worry. The phone works as a camera and that is all that really matters.

Rather than walk down and back along the river, we head “into the bush”. It may sound like a journey into the unknown, bush bashing, but it simply means there is another track parallel to the main track about 50 metres away from the water. Away from the water, the full extent of the heat can be experienced. There is nothing to moderate it here. The dirt and the dust it permeates is powder like and with each step rises marginally into the air.

Where these tracks merge is as far as you can travel in this camp area. We pass the campsite of what were the problem campers last night evidently. Johnno tells of the hooping and hollering until the wee small hours. At one stage the demon drink had fueled some rivalries and the result was an altercation that resulted in one of their number leaving in a hail of dust around 11.00pm. There is talk of bricks being hurled at each other and a return, radio blasting at 3.00am.

Nothing that might not have happened in our area in town, in fact we had music blaring from the lower area of the compound until late.

As we pass this site, all is quiet and even though it is well into the morning now, nothing stirs. Johnno is of a mind to make lots of noise but thinks better of it. 

A little further along are a family of 9 (with one on the way). The wife is rinsing some of the younger ones in the cold water of the river and there are complaints – very loud complaints from one of the children. If it were mine I may have dunked him and suggested he might stay there  under the water, until the reminstrations ceased,  but then that would not pass muster would it??

They have stretched a rope across the river, I suspect hoping to capture any of the children as they float down the course of it. This part of the river is noted as part of a great canoe race which starts a little further up the river and finishes at the free camp in which we are parked. At this time though, the floating is left to blow up beds and tyre tubes.

The water is not particularly deep here, nor is it flowing at a great rate but it still needs care. There are various spots where ropes are strung into trees for “kids”, young and old to swing, plunging into the river. There is one across the river from our friend’s site.

Back at the camp, Johnno goes over his power setup with me. I can see where our installation is not being used to its best. There will be changes.

The Johnno Van has a much different layout to ours. Their bed is at the front but the water works, the ensuite, laundry etc are in the middle and the living area at the end. This gives them what seems to be a much larger seated area inside. What it does mean is that there is a need for 2 TV’s, one in the bedroom for those lay in mornings and late night shows and one in the living area. A small price to pay for the layout.

Lunch, and I make the suggestion they let me deal with it. There are pork medallion steaks to be cooked. Johnnon can deal with them on the barbeque. We brought round bread tortillas and we can slice the pork, add tomatoes, avocados and slap some dip as a coating. The wraps then can be consumed at the eater’s pleasure.

They don’t last long. Desert just has to be chocolate bikkies. Black Forest Monte Carlos no less, washed down with a cup of tea or a soft drink (as I don’t drink hot beverages).

Time for the hard work of “exercising off” the lunch. This is done by reclining back in our outdoor chairs and napping, moving from time to time to head to the river for a swim.

From time to time children wander by to use the rope over the river. I get motivated enough to go and take shots of the children. A father joins us exercising in the shade, working hard on the experience. I will be sending him slow motion videos of his daughter cascading into the water. He speaks of his motivation, watching his daughter do fish impressions in the water and marvelling at her abilities. 

They have to go home shortly but for now the father and daughter are spending time together in this wilderness paradise. 4 days 1600 kilometres plus. Long days ahead for them.

All too quickly the sun begins to lower in the west and we need to head back for dinner. There will be stories of their day as there will be of ours. The restless nature of simply “being” rather than “doing” creates conflict in us as we drive the straight line of bitumen back to the pub.

Dinner here at the congested hotel is in direct contrast to lunch on the river, only a few hours earlier. The ordering of dinner brings mirth as the lady taking the orders is unaware of all of the “specials”. I am trying to order a simple fish and chips and she is thinking I want the salmon option, which does not come with chips and argues why I want chips. She giggles with me as she invariably realises we are speaking at crossed purposes.

“Nice if someone had told me” is her eventual exclamation. 

As expected the others join us and we relate the stories of the day. We have ordered before them but they get their food first. 

Filled with the repast we wander back to the camp. 

During the night the power drains to nil and I all but lose the Cpap. There will be more investigations on this in the morning. I suspect we have failed to take a practical approach to setup, choosing the aesthetic option of near a tree and cool, rather than in full sun where the batteries can recharge, has done for us AGAIN.

We spend the night from about 3.00am listening to the chirping of the “low battery” alarm. We didn’t realise we could actually turn it off. We sleep, pillows over our heads as much as we can

We need to learn if we are to “fee camp” like our friends for any great length of time.