Wednesday 13th June 2018
Well we have had a mammoth day today. We got up reasonably early and readied ourselves to leave.

Plan A was to head up to Branco’s Lookout then do the Champagne Springs trail (10km return loop) then on to Emma Gorge. This was a fail. As we left the campsite David was having trouble with the clutch, we decided we would do the walk first and as we arrived at the start of the trail, he totally lost the clutch pedal. Oh no!! What to do, we are still 100km from Kununurra and still have to do at least 2 river crossings that we know of. How will we manage it. In DB style, he said “we may as well do the walk and worry about it later.” So off we went. The Champagne Springs trail was a class 5 walk. It started off on an easy trail along the Pentecost River with Pandanus and Livistona palms lining the riverbank. Then there was a little rock hopping and a couple of river and creek crossings. DB ever looking for a crocodile. As we walked further along it became quite sandy, then more rock hopping, then we climbed up higher and walked over the rocks, this section was really hot (we assume about 30-35°C as that is what it has been for weeks now) and there was minimal shade. The view now was quite spectacular, the escarpment was red rocks and beautiful. We kept walking and finally came to the springs first pool. We kept walking to the next pool which was called Champagne Springs which also had a waterfall. We had a lovely refreshing swim in the pool.

Then it was time to head back, it was by now 11.20am and very warm. We didn’t even dry ourselves after the swim, hoping our wet costumes and the wet clothes would keep us a little cool. This only lasted about 15 mins before our clothes were all dry. The sheet notes for this walk suggests you don’t start it after 11am and we can understand why. As we headed back the same way (something DB really doesn’t like) the day was getting hotter and we were very grateful to get back into the shade. I even took my shirt off and dunked it in the river and put it on dripping wet to cool me down. This worked a treat. Good suggestion DB. We finally made it to the end of the walk in about 1.5 hours, a little quicker than the 1.75 hours it took us to walk there. Although hot and long it was a good walk.

When we got back to the car DB started it and the clutch was working, so we headed back to the camp shop for an ice block and to investigate further. After getting under the car yet again, DB determined we needed to replace the Clutch Slave Cylinder. How are we going to get one for this old petrol beast in diesel country. He did his favourite thing and made some phone call enquiries and managed to get someone in Kununurra to order one in for us. Luckily they think they can have it in by Friday, so it will only hold us up a day. Woohoo!. So all we have to do is make it there. Hopefully we have some good karma after giving the guy at Home Valley Station our bottle of brake and clutch fluid. Surely that will help us. Hehehe!!

So it was only 2pm, so we continued on t=with our days plan, minus Branco’s lookout as this was a difficult 4WD track and with a dodgy clutch not a good option. SO on to Emma Gorge we went. This was another 5km return walk, a slight incline to start with, then lots of rock hopping. We are getting very good at this since being in the Kimberleys. The gorge was vey beautiful but the water was quite cool but very refreshing again. There was even a little thermal pool but you had to swim through the cold pool afterwards so was a little pointless. We had a lovely swim then headed back on our way as it was getting late. We finished the walk about 4.30pm.

Decision time. Head back 12km to El Questro for the night, headed forwards to a free camp on the side of the road on head 85km to Wyndham. We decided on the freebie camp as we could make it there in the light. We joined the other 20 cars and caravans at the rest area. Oh well, only time will tell if that was a good decision.

Wish us luck with the car tomorrow, hopefully we make it ok.