Torah the Explorer Season 4 Written By Torah Edited and Created by Torah’s mum (Lisa)

Episode 6

Day 66 & 67 – Sunday 31 May 2015 to Monday 1 June 2015

Travel: McGowens Beach Resort

Today my dad went fishing and got lots of red snapper. We patted the emu and we weaved and

went for a swim in the beach.

And mum would like to add.....We have really set up home at McGowens and have met some great people. We have been eating fish almost every night (courtesy of our new generous friends) and Steve was very lucky to have been taken out fishing in a boat for 2 days in a row. The first day not so successful, but a very successful second day. After Breeanna left Torah played with the local kids and had fun with the animals and weaving.

Day 68 – Tuesday 2 June 2015

Travel: McGowens Beach Resort to Gibb River (300 km)

Today we went to Kalumburu museum and did lots of driving, and then went for another swim.

And mum would like to add.....We didn’t end up leaving Kalumburu until lunch time, and drove all afternoon to get to the Gibb River free camp. It was a nice spot – free camps are hard to come by on the Gibb. Day 69 to 73 – Wednesday 3 June 2015 to Sunday 7 June 2015

Travel: Gibb River to Mt Elizabeth Station (103 km)

Mt Elizabeth Station -> Bachston camp -> Mt Elizabeth Station (290km)

Today we went on a bumpy road and went on a walk to a waterfall with a ladder. The next day we

met Helen and Peter and saw lots of waterfalls and bulls.

And mum would like to add.....So a 1 night stay over turned into a 5 night stay. We were packing up, and of course Steve got talking to Patrol (6.5 Ltr) owner (Peter/Helen), and they were about to tackle the Munja track. We were told not to travel this track alone so we decided to move on, anyway, Peter and Helen kindly offered to wait for us and so a new adventure began. It took us about 8 hours to travel 145 km – Steve was having a ball four wheel driving. We had an overnight bush camp, before we arrived at Bachston camp. Wow what a pleasant surprise in the middle of nowhere. Clean toilets, hot showers (donkey shower), wood provided for fires, sandy camps that had been raked, lights, sink, lovely hospitality – anyway it was lovely. We explored beautiful gorges and waterfalls and we had these places to ourselves. It was well worth the effort in getting there.

Wunnumurra Gorge ( Mt Elizabeth Station) it took us 50 mins to drive 10 kms, then following short walk was a spectacular waterfall.

Bachston Falls (Bachston Camp) was a short walk to falls that rivalled Mitchell Falls, and again we had the place to ourselves (well sharing it with our new found family members – Ptete/Helen).

Wren Gorge (Bachston Camp), another private and spectacular waterfall that we had to ourselves. We had fun swimming around, jumping off rocks and admiring the aboriginal rock art.

Munja Track

Wrens Gorge

Wrens Gorge Wrens Gorge

Wrens Gorge

Bachston Caves/Camp:

Bachston Falls

Day 74/75 – Monday 8 June 2015 and Tuesday 9 June 2015

Travel: Mt Elizabeth Station to Manning Gorge (81km)

Today we went to Manning Gorge waterfall and you had to go on a boat and I played with my

swan.

And mum would like to add.....On the way to Manning Gorge we stopped at Barnetts River Gorge – nice but not worth staying. However - I loved manning Gorge. There really hasn’t been many places that we can camp and swim without walking a few kms. Here you can camp and swim within a few hundred metres, and it is a lovely sandy clear swimming spot. To get to the gorge you need to either swim through this swimming hole, or jump in the boat that has a pullie system and pull yourself across. It had such a lovely feel. Then the gorge was a couple of km walk, which was a lovely waterfall you can swim up to. We are still travelling with Peter and Helen and having a ball.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRETT XOXOXOXO HAPPY BIRTHDAY BECKA XOXOXOXO Barnetts River Gorge

Manning Gorge

Day 76 – Wednesday 10 June 2015

Travel: Manning Gorge to Moll Gorge (Mt House Station) (115km)

Today we went to Moll Gorge and saw a crocodile and went swimming

And mum would like to add.....So there is this Station on the Gibb called Mt House and you can secure exclusive use of Moll Gorge. Pete was able to secure a booking so we tagged along. Well what can I say, I loved seeing a real working cattle station, but after paying $70 each, a 50 km trek, excessive bull dust, and getting bogged, we had exclusive use of sand patch where you had to decent into a croc infested river with a high cliff edge. It was nothing special but an experience. We did see a decent croc (freshie), but we went swimming to cool off and have a wash, while Pete was on croc watch. On the way to Moll Gorge we stopped and checked out Galvins Gorge – Torah was the only one that swam.

Galvins Gorge

Moll Gorge

Day 77/78 – Thursday 11 June 2015 to Friday 12 June 2015

Travel: Moll Gorge (Mt House Station) to Charnley River (207km)

Today we went swimming in a waterfall and saw two snakes and it was my dad’s birthday.

And mum would like to add.....We left Moll Gorge and back tracked to Mt Barnett Roadhouse (they were out of diesel so to we had to go back and they had a fresh food truck delivery). Oh and I did fail to mention that Pete and Steve ran out of alcohol, so we managed to secure a special delivery. Anyway back on track we were off to Charnley River. It was lovely camping on grass and seeing all the wildlife – but no fire. Steve was bitterly disappointed - no fire for his birthday and how was I going to bake a birthday cake. Crisis averted – I was allowed to use the oven at the homestead. Charnley was lovely, it was very cold at night with no fire, but we visited:

Lily Pool – very pretty but have seen better. And yes there was a snake coiled up in the rocks

Grevillea Gorge – this was lovely. Except on the decent down the waterfall, Peter was a split second away from standing on a snake. This had me on edge so I couldn’t really relax.

Dillie Gorge – We were exhausted, but this to me was the prettiest (no snakes). That night we had cake for Steve’s birthday.

Happy Birthday Steve XOXO Happy Birthday Sarah XOXO Lily Pool Grevillea Gorge

Dillie Gorge

Peter & Helen

Day 79 – Saturday 13 June 2015

Travel: Charnley River to Silent Grove (96km)

Today went to Donkey hole which was a tiny waterfall which was ok but you can go down a rock

slide and jump off a high ledge.

And mum would like to add.....Donkey was so much fun, we you could slide down the little waterfall and there were rocks to jump off. Pete and Torah also found a cave with bats. We then drove on to Silent Grove and realised how spoilt we had been. Up until now we have had so many of these places to ourselves, but Silent Grove (camping ground) was very busy.

Donkey Hole

Day 80 – Sunday 14 June 2015

Travel: Silent Grove to Windjana Gorge (194km)

Today we went to Bell Gorge which was much better than Donkey Hole. Then we went to Tunnel

Creek which is a cave and it was pitch black and we needed lots of torches.

And mum would like to add.....Back to chartered territory. We have been to most of these so it

isn’t as exciting. Torah was the only that swam in Bell gorge – the water was cold, and before we

knew it she was swimming off by herself to go under the waterfall. Other onlookers were

shocked. There was one guy that had a blow up crocodile head, that looked real, he would swim

over the people, let the croc head float to the top, and watch people freak out, it was terrible

but pretty funny.

We left Silent Grove and drove on to Windjana Gorge. After we set up we drove on to Tunnel

Creek. Tunnel Creek is a 750 meter tunnel with a creek passing through it that you walk through

with torches. The last time we did this I was too scared and couldn’t get to the end. This time I

had to be braver than an 8 yr old. I made it. It was absolutely awesome, and it really helped that

there were a few people around. But when we saw a fresh water crocodile (a small one) swimming

around in the water that we were wading through in the dark freaked me out a bit.

Bell Gorge

Tunnel Creek

Day 81 to 82 – Monday 15 June 2015 to Tuesday 16 June 2015

Travel: Windjana Gorge to Derby (149km)

Today we went to Windjana Gorge and we saw lots of crocodiles. Then we drove to Derby and I

played with Breeanna.

And mum would like to add....Windjana gorge is pretty spectacular with its high black cliffs, and

with plenty of crocodiles. You can get really close if your game. We left Windjana and

temporarily parted ways with Peter and Helen and went to Derby to catch up with the Corkill’s.

So in the car on the way to Derby I was typing up a message that we survived the Gibb River Rd,

and within 5 minutes the tyre on the camper blew out, with no kidding only about 5 kms of the

Gibb River Rd to go – UNBELIEVABLE!!!! Steve pulled over and changed the tyre, only to find out

that when the tyre rubber blew off, it took out parts of the van (all repairable). I then walked

back up the road to collect all the parts of van that the tyre blew off.

It was great catching up the Corkills again, but we were exhausted. 4 weeks of exploring,

driving, hiking, swimming had taken its toll. We have lots to do now; washing, repairs, restocking

of everything, blogging and then Torah gets sick!!

Day 83 to 87 – Wednesday 17 June 2015 to Monday 21 June 2015

Travel: Derby to Broome (200km)

Today we went to the pool and we had a lazy day and went to the beach.

And mum would like to add....Reunited with Pete and Helen again!! Broome is just beautiful. We have primarily spent our days doing very little. Torah was very sick, with her high temperatures (over 39), and inflamed throat, body aches and sore tummy. It was a rough few days, Torah was basically bed ridden and not eating. But Torah has improved now and we are thoroughly enjoying what Broome has to offer. The weather is a guaranteed 33 everyday. We basically run a few errands and either sit by the pool or the beach each day. We did manage to get out one night to Matso’s to celebrate Pete’s birthday (HAPPY BIRTHDAY PETE) and had a great night. 6 nights have just flown and we are about to embark on another adventure – the Dampier Peninsula (Cape Leveque etc), so now we are preparing for that. We will be back to Broome in a few weeks and I am looking forward to it. I am certainly not looking forward to heading south yet – it is too cold. Derby – Prison Boab Tree

Stay tuned for the next adventures......

I’m missing you all

Love Torah

XOXO