{"id":4136,"date":"2020-06-24T07:01:50","date_gmt":"2020-06-23T23:01:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/?p=4136"},"modified":"2020-10-31T07:29:15","modified_gmt":"2020-10-30T23:29:15","slug":"second-chances","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/index.php\/2020\/06\/24\/second-chances\/","title":{"rendered":"Second Chances"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The track into Winderabandi is legendary for its rough-as-guts,\ncorrugated track. We\u2019d heard all the horror stories from the travelling\ncircuit, so were interested to see what the reality was. After lowering the\ntyre pressures, we began our way. It was slow going, but nothing worse than\nsome other tracks we\u2019d been on. It took us about two hours to drive 75km, after\nstopping to take some footage with the drone and collecting firewood. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-1 wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/DJI_0881-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4141\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/DJI_0881-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/dji_0881\/\" class=\"wp-image-4141\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/DJI_0881-980x653.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/DJI_0881-480x320.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"498\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200624_162107-1024x498.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4087\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200624_162107-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200624_162107\/\" class=\"wp-image-4087\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200624_162107-980x476.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200624_162107-480x233.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Ningaloo Station Drive\" width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/H9WfUpaIrEM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>As we drove past the dunes, with vans all nestled away from\nonlookers, I felt a stab of envy as we pulled up to our spot on the beach, all\ncamps crammed next to each other \u2013 you know by now how unsociable we are! In\nhindsight, it was a great spot and we had the best neighbours for most of our\ntime there, it was probably the distant memory of having the beach to ourselves\n14 years ago that mudded the feelings. Once set up and reflecting again on this\nnew world, cut off from all the turmoil both on the East and across the world,\nI was just grateful to have a second chance at being here. This section of the\ncoast was supposed to have been done and dusted for us, yet here we were again,\nat the edge of an incredible beach we were to call home for the next 9 days. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-3 wp-block-gallery columns-1 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/DJI_0914-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4149\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/DJI_0914-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/dji_0914\/\" class=\"wp-image-4149\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/DJI_0914-980x653.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/DJI_0914-480x320.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/DJI_0927-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4148\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/DJI_0927-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/dji_0927\/\" class=\"wp-image-4148\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/DJI_0927-980x653.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/DJI_0927-480x320.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Dji_0989-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4130\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Dji_0989-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/dji_0989\/\" class=\"wp-image-4130\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Dji_0989-980x980.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Dji_0989-480x480.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We were ready to immerse ourselves back into beach living.\nI\u2019d suggested Lexi and Reo may like to do 2 days\u2019 worth of schoolwork in a day,\nso they could have the intermittent days off. They were eager initially, but\nafter the first page of English was completed, the suggestion was quickly\nrebuked. As Lexi &amp; Reo started making friends early in the week, I tired of\nfighting my three children on getting some sort of routine in place, so decided\nwe could all do with a holiday and I embraced the wild and free living \u2013\nschooling became a distant memory. If this place wasn\u2019t paradise before, it had\njust morphed into it!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-5 wp-block-gallery columns-1 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"498\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200626_174928-498x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4077\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200626_174928-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200626_174928\/\" class=\"wp-image-4077\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"498\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200626_181857-1024x498.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4078\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200626_181857-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200626_181857\/\" class=\"wp-image-4078\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200626_181857-980x476.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200626_181857-480x233.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"498\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200626_174832-1024x498.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4088\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200626_174832-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200626_174832\/\" class=\"wp-image-4088\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200626_174832-980x476.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200626_174832-480x233.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We met a couple of \u2018local\u2019 families (who lived just a 6-hour\ndrive away) and all the kids hit it off famously \u2013 fishing, kayaking, swimming,\nplaying in the dunes and running between camps. After leaving at brekkie, we\nmight see them intermittently, until they returned hungry again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-7 wp-block-gallery columns-3 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"498\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200628_1531540-498x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4082\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200628_1531540-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200628_1531540\/\" class=\"wp-image-4082\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"498\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200628_101240-498x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4079\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200628_101240-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200628_101240\/\" class=\"wp-image-4079\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"498\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200628_143359-498x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4081\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200628_143359-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200628_143359\/\" class=\"wp-image-4081\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"498\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200628_164820-1024x498.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4083\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200628_164820-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200628_164820\/\" class=\"wp-image-4083\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200628_164820-980x476.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200628_164820-480x233.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>One day we drove up to Cape Range NP, taking the track we\u2019d\nstarted a year ago and didn\u2019t get very far after the wheel fell off the car.\nThankfully, going the other way, all was well, and we returned to Turquoise Bay\nand Oyster Stacks for a snorkel. We had planned to take a couple of trips into\nthe NP, but we were so busy lounging at Winderabandi, we never made it back\nafter the first trip. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The beautiful Winderabandi Point\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/fIl994AlXvA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-9 wp-block-gallery columns-1 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_0485-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4143\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_0485-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/img_0485\/\" class=\"wp-image-4143\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_0485-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_0485-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Before long new neighbours rocked up, Charlie, Jenny and 3-year-old\nAvalon. Reo became very excited as he saw the tinny and began befriending\nCharlie immediately (clearly his father\u2019s son!). The days were lazy, but the\nwind picked up, so not ideal for taking the tinny out. As the week continued,\nthe wind died down a little and Charlie took Alex and Reo out for a fishing\ntrip. Much fun was had although there was no fish supper to be cooked! The boys\nwent out a couple of times fishing and we had heaps of fun with Lexi, Reo and\nAvalon pulling them along on the SUP behind the tinny. Charlie even trusted me\nto drive it and pull him along to have a go. It took a few practises to\nremember how to handle the thing, but before long I managed to pull Charlie\nalong the waves (OK, let\u2019s call them wobbles) for him to show off his surfing\nSUP prowess. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-11 wp-block-gallery columns-1 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"769\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_0501-1024x769.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4144\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_0501-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/img_0501\/\" class=\"wp-image-4144\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_0501-980x736.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_0501-480x361.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_0479-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4160\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_0479-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/img_0479\/\" class=\"wp-image-4160\"\/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-13 wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"498\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200628_135008-498x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4080\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200628_135008-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200628_135008\/\" class=\"wp-image-4080\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/GOPR4917-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4135\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/GOPR4917.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/dcim101goprogopr4917-jpg\/\" class=\"wp-image-4135\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/GOPR4917-980x980.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/GOPR4917-480x480.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/F7668079-23AF-422A-9575-0F3AFBD5F61D-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4116\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/F7668079-23AF-422A-9575-0F3AFBD5F61D.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/f7668079-23af-422a-9575-0f3afbd5f61d\/\" class=\"wp-image-4116\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/F7668079-23AF-422A-9575-0F3AFBD5F61D-980x980.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/F7668079-23AF-422A-9575-0F3AFBD5F61D-480x480.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The days were spent relaxed, strolling on the beach, chatting,\nwalking Avalon\u2019s dog, having a drink and fishing. Another family, Ritchie and\nMiranda with their two girls Iris and Gracie arrived, adding more playmates to\nthe mix. These guys were from Denmark, so we quickly shared our story of\nlockdown and how much we loved the area. Of course, the initial stories the\nkids blurted out were how we blew up a ute and got bogged at Parry\u2019s Beach (I\nthink I may have quickly skipped over the latter in previous blogs. &#x1f61c;)\nNever again can you have secrets once you have children!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-15 wp-block-gallery columns-1 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200630_175011-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4094\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200630_175011-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200630_175011\/\" class=\"wp-image-4094\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200630_175011-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200630_175011-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>On our penultimate day, Charlie very kindly lent us his\nboat. Clearly my boating skills had not gone unnoticed (although it was Alex\nwho quickly jumped to sit at the helm), and we tootled off to find Lexi around\nthe corner at the next beach playing with Iris and Gracie. I thought we were\njust going for a taz around and a bit of fun, but once we\u2019d navigated the coral\nbommies and clumps of seaweed through the very low tide, we anchored up and\nAlex and the kids began fishing. I was not prepared for this!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Taking boat for a spin\" width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/caYmyd5z26U?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Picture this: 4 of us in a small space, 3 rods \u2013 soon to\nbecome 2, a knife which Reo quite happily yielded around with no idea of how\nclose it was coming to any us of, in a tinny that rocked and moved every time\nyou stood to cast a line, or change weight. Alex quickly switched into his\n\u201cDirector\/Dictator\u201d mode, with \u2018sit down\u2019, \u2018I\u2019ll cast that\u2019, \u2018put that knife\ndown\u2019 being just a few of the lines delivered in this fun hour of fishing. It\nturned into a bit of a comedy sketch really, and after a few lines had been\nsnagged on the coral, more than a couple of fish reeled in and released back to\nthe sea, I was ready to return to land. All jesting aside, it was a fun\nadventure to be out in the boat with just the four of us, something we\u2019d not\nexperienced before and a massive thank you goes out to Charlie and Jenny for\ntheir confidence in us to return it safely to shore. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_0580-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4145\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_0580-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_0580-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The evenings were cool, but we had a warm, communal fire\nevery night to sit by and chat. What had been an intended dry period didn\u2019t\nlast long, as Jenny kindly shared her beers and wine as we swapped stories and\ntales of our lives and past travels. Being right on the tip of the peninsula,\nwe were rewarded with some stunning sunsets. The evening before we left was\nmagnificent and one of the best we\u2019ve seen \u2013 if that\u2019s possible, since we\u2019ve\nseen so many incredible ones. After a pretty windy week, Mother Nature wanted us\nto leave with a good impression; the yellows, orange, pinks, purples and indigo\nagainst the darkening sky created a dramatic backdrop to camp, unequivocally stamped\nin our memories forever. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-17 wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200702_172855-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4095\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200702_172855\/\" class=\"wp-image-4095\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200702_172855-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200702_172855-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/org_b3619e97e44e6765_1593683974000-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4155\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/org_b3619e97e44e6765_1593683974000-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/?attachment_id=4155\" class=\"wp-image-4155\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/org_b3619e97e44e6765_1593683974000-980x653.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/org_b3619e97e44e6765_1593683974000-480x320.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_0614-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4154\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_0614-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/?attachment_id=4154\" class=\"wp-image-4154\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_0614-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_0614-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"498\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200628_182138-1024x498.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4093\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200628_182138\/\" class=\"wp-image-4093\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200628_182138-980x476.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200628_182138-480x233.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Contrary to our normal Towns mantra of \u201cup and out\u201d, (i.e.\nready to leave just before lunch), engines were roaring at 6.40am \u2013 I know,\nshocking right! We woke Jenny, Charlie and Avalon <em>at their request<\/em>, to\nbid a fond farewell and began the eight-hour journey north to Karratha to the\nhouse sit we\u2019d organised. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This sit was for nine days, plenty of time to catch up on\nwashing, schoolwork, walk Carly the dog and squeeze in a few movies in the\ntheatre room. <em>Did someone say<\/em> <em>THEATRE ROOM?!?!?! <\/em>That was\ncertainly the priority for Lexi &amp; Reo, along with riding the hoverboards\nthat were patiently waiting for action in the garage. After waving safe travels\nto the family, the dedicated playroom was raided and dress-up began. This was\ngoing to be a fun stay. With so much time here, Alex and I thought we\u2019d be able\nto sneak a few movies in too, yet somehow the time in Karratha just\ndisappeared. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-19 wp-block-gallery columns-3 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200704_094617-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4098\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200704_094617-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200704_094617\/\" class=\"wp-image-4098\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200704_095405-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4099\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200704_095405-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200704_095405\/\" class=\"wp-image-4099\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200704_094517-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4097\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200704_094517-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200704_094517\/\" class=\"wp-image-4097\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200706_120437-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4105\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200706_120437.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200706_120437\/\" class=\"wp-image-4105\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200704_081720-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4096\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200704_081720-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200704_081720\/\" class=\"wp-image-4096\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200704_081720-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200704_081720-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We knew that \u2018Where\u2019s I going today?\u2019 (friends we\u2019d made near Coral Bay) were going to be here at the same time, so had arranged to meet with them to see \u2018Staircase to the Moon\u2019, the natural phenomenon causing an optical illusion, which occurs when a full moon rises over exposed mud flats to create a magical staircase reaching up to the moon. We\u2019d seen it a couple of times now, and it was still nearly as magical as the first time we saw it. The main difference being when we initially experienced it, we were on a deserted beach, enjoying the isolation, when the moon seemed to pop out of nowhere, shedding its light over the exposed sand flats of Shark Bay. Being none the wiser, we just thought, \u2018wow, how beautiful is this\u2019, not realising it was a \u2018thing\u2019 people plan religiously for, making sure they pick the prime spot for viewing. There are in fact, only a few places you can experience this wonder in north-west WA, and here we were now, fitting into that category of \u201cplanning\u201d, bustling among other travellers and locals to enjoy it anew. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/MG_4011-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4084\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/MG_4011-980x980.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/MG_4011-480x480.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Interspersed with all the baking and cooking Lexi and I\nensconced ourselves in, having an oven at our fingertips, we still found time\nto entertain. We invited Dan, Mandy, Neve, May &amp; Hazel over (\u2018Where\u2019s I going\ntoday?\u2019) for a BBQ one night, where the dress up box and movie theatre got a\ngood working out. The adults sat outside and basked in the warm winter air,\nenjoying a drink and chat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-21 wp-block-gallery columns-3 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200705_074654-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4089\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200705_074654-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200705_074654\/\" class=\"wp-image-4089\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200705_074654-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200705_074654-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200706_085258-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4091\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200706_085258-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200706_085258\/\" class=\"wp-image-4091\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200707_201943-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4106\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200707_201943-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200707_201943\/\" class=\"wp-image-4106\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200707_202242-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4107\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200707_202242.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200707_202242\/\" class=\"wp-image-4107\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200707_202242-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200707_202242-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The days seemed to hurtle by, a lot of the time with the\nhover-boards. This, of course was intermingled with popping inside to maximise\nthe use of the movie theatre. We did manage to fit in an afternoon of pampering\nwhen Lexi and Reo ventured into Mummy\u2019s hairdressing salon &#x1f61d;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-23 wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"750\" height=\"750\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_5844.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4132\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_5844.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/img_5844\/\" class=\"wp-image-4132\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_5844.jpg 750w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_5844-480x480.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 750px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/5427fd69-e09b-4b84-9bbe-e8599d4acbe8-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4086\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/5427fd69-e09b-4b84-9bbe-e8599d4acbe8.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/5427fd69-e09b-4b84-9bbe-e8599d4acbe8\/\" class=\"wp-image-4086\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/5427fd69-e09b-4b84-9bbe-e8599d4acbe8-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/5427fd69-e09b-4b84-9bbe-e8599d4acbe8-980x980.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/5427fd69-e09b-4b84-9bbe-e8599d4acbe8-480x480.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200712_094841-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4108\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200712_094841-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200712_094841\/\" class=\"wp-image-4108\"\/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The kids were keen to walk Carly by hoverboard, but I could\nforesee all sorts of things going awry with that scenario, so the kids pegged\nit along the streets on the boards, while Alex or I took charge of the dog.\nWe\u2019d been warned they were fast, and with Reo being slightly lighter that Lexi,\nI reckon her nearly reached breakneck speed! They raced down the street and were\nvery nimble on them, turning on a dime and spinning off again in the opposite\ndirection. Reo got a little too confident on our last night and unfortunately\nhad an accident, crashing into the curb, making a nice gash in his ankle, and bending\nthe arm of the kart in the process. &#x1f616; Tears flowed, bandaids\nstemmed bleeding and an apology letter to its owners ensued, offering to pay\nfor the damages. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-25 wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200712_101345-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4109\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200712_101345-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200712_101345\/\" class=\"wp-image-4109\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200706_114002-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4092\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200706_114002-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200706_114002\/\" class=\"wp-image-4092\"\/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Zoom zoom hover board\" width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/YKnGYiBasP0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>When we were here a year ago, we landed on a friend\u2019s,\ncousin\u2019s doorstep to say hi and literally camped on his curb! This year, we\ncould at least repay his kindness and invited Haydon, and his children Caleb\nand Teagan, over for dinner another night. Again, sat in the warmth, catching\nup on what we\u2019d all been up to over the last year, sharing a couple of bottles\nof wine, made for another fabulous evening. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-27 wp-block-gallery columns-1 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG-20200719-WA0018-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4133\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG-20200719-WA0018.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/img-20200719-wa0018\/\" class=\"wp-image-4133\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG-20200719-WA0018-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG-20200719-WA0018-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Haydon took us out on his boat the following day, the\nweather perfect for a sail around the Dampier Archipelago. As we passed the\niron ore plant and petroleum &amp; liquified natural gas monstrosities perched\nhigh on the horizon, dolphins chased our wake in our race to the islands. We\nneared the shore to find a picture-perfect beach, laced with its turquoise\nwaters, enticing us to dive in. We had a great day jumping off the anchored\nboat, lounging on the sand and playing in the surf, ending the day with a\nmassive burger at the boat club back on shore. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-29 wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Dji_0245-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4120\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Dji_0245-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/dji_0245\/\" class=\"wp-image-4120\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Dji_0245-980x653.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Dji_0245-480x320.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_5450-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4140\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_5450-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/img_5450\/\" class=\"wp-image-4140\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_5450-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_5450-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Marney Bay\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/FeEC4ytAqm0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Before we knew it, it was time to take Carly on her last\nwalk before securing the house and becoming Road Warriors once more. We\u2019ve\nreally enjoyed the house sits, assuaged by a little \u2018normality\u2019, interspersing our\nunparalleled wanderings. We continued up the coast, popped into Cape Keruadren\nfor a couple of nights and camped overlooking the sharp, craggy rocks,\nscattered over the bay. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Barred Creek Beach\" width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/3xRCI9T_i6E?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>It was then we returned to Barred Creek, just north of\nBroome. While the majority settle into Cable Beach Caravan Park, heading 30km\nnorth transports you from hustle and bustle to quiet shores. Instead of settling\non the cliffs, this time we took the less travelled sand track on to the beach.\nWe were now truly back into croc territory, so swimming was a no-no, always\nchallenging when the temps begin soaring. We did, however, get some other water\nactivity. It\u2019s the return of the humpbacks, and as we saw splashes close to shore,\nI got the drone up and was rewarded with five of them frolicking about! It was\namazing seeing them from the sky, so close, watching them do their thing. They\nwere in no rush, playing and cruising along the shores, slowly migrating up the\ncoast. Incredible to see.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Watching Whales\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/hJttj3gRUNs?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-31 wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/DJI_0475-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4121\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/DJI_0475.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/default\/\" class=\"wp-image-4121\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/DJI_0475-980x980.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/DJI_0475-480x480.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/DJI_0491-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4122\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/DJI_0491-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/default-2\/\" class=\"wp-image-4122\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/DJI_0491-980x980.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/DJI_0491-480x480.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>After a couple nights, we moved camp down the road to a\ncontrasting terrain; the stunning red Pindan cliffs of James Price Point. Like\na vision from Mars. Totally spectacular, vibrant and raw. The dust gets <em>EVERYWHERE<\/em>,\nand once down, impossible to remove! Just like the simple beauty of the\nKimberley, once experienced, it gets under your skin and into your soul. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-33 wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Dji_0607-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4125\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Dji_0607-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/dji_0607\/\" class=\"wp-image-4125\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Dji_0607-980x653.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Dji_0607-480x320.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Dji_0589-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4124\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Dji_0589-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/dji_0589\/\" class=\"wp-image-4124\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Dji_0589-980x653.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Dji_0589-480x320.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Dji_0553-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4123\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Dji_0553.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/dji_0553\/\" class=\"wp-image-4123\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Dji_0553-980x980.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Dji_0553-480x480.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200718_113856-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4111\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200718_113856-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200718_113856\/\" class=\"wp-image-4111\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200718_113856-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200718_113856-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We immersed ourselves in the dust but ventured out one\nafternoon to the hustle and bustle to see Dan, Mandy and girls who\u2019d already arrived\nhere and were treated to an afternoon in the swimming pool and a spectacular locally\ncaught fish dinner. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We returned to the Fitzroy River as we&#8217;d enjoyed it so much last year and spent a couple of days hanging out with the Freshies, fishing, swinging and making <em>BIG <\/em>fires to toast jaffles on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=_VUaMBGyJ7w\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-35 wp-block-gallery columns-1 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200720_121749-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4112\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200720_121749-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200720_121749\/\" class=\"wp-image-4112\"\/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Happy Kids\" width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/HVJlPnWutYk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Fitzroy river\" width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/T_GE6x5jecQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>It was soon time to prepare ourselves for another trip down\nmemory lane \u2013 our second chance at the great Gibb River Road. Later than\ninitially intended due to the pesky virus, but still a month earlier than when\nwe started last year, we had everything crossed for flowing water. We were\nexcited to return to this remote, former cattle route, through the beautiful\nrugged Kimberley, comprising of 660 kilometres of bouncing, bracing, bone\njarring, broken rocks and beautiful, big Boab trees. Oh, how I love Boab trees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are many guidebooks available to help prepare for the Gibb,\nbut really, the true enjoyment and highlights cannot be found in books. They\u2019re\nin the air, the dirt, the water. They\u2019re to be felt. What makes the experience\ntruly special are the new friends you make on the way, ones that you will\ncherish forever more. Last year had been amazing travelling with The Unlikely\nCamper, and we were expecting even more from the Gibb this time round. It did\nnot disappoint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG-20200721-WA0005.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4153\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG-20200721-WA0005.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG-20200721-WA0005-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG-20200721-WA0005-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The first thing we noticed was how much higher the water\nlevels were compared to last year. And the sun had not totally wrought its\nharsh heat on the land yet, with green shrubs and canopies, lingering evidence\nof the wet that had swept the land a few months prior. Our journey began, as we\nplanned to bump, jump and swim throughout the Gibb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-37 wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200722_061559-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4114\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200722_061559-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200722_061559\/\" class=\"wp-image-4114\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Dji_0723-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4126\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Dji_0723-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/dji_0723\/\" class=\"wp-image-4126\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Dji_0723-980x653.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Dji_0723-480x320.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Poultons Pool\" width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ha4yi1rw6QI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>First off, we returned to Poultons Pool. Both Alex and I\nwere up for sunrise, Alex in the hope to catch a Barra again, me to watch the\nmorning glow bounce off the Boab trees. I treasure these early mornings, when\nthe kids are still sleeping and calm is all around. We\u2019d decided to miss Tunnel\nCreek and Windjana Gorge this time round and high-tailed it to Mount Hart\nStation. Certainly busier than last year, but being 75% down in tourists, we\ncouldn\u2019t complain and still managed to snag a water-side camp. The highlight\nthis year were two pedal boats, initiating boy Vs girl battle of the ages, as\nthe gamesome groms waged war on each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-39 wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200724_073246-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4101\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200724_073246-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200724_073246\/\" class=\"wp-image-4101\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200724_073246-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200724_073246-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200723_172214-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4115\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200723_172214.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200723_172214\/\" class=\"wp-image-4115\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200723_172214-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200723_172214-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>That night over pizza and a few beverages, we met two other\nfamilies \u2013 Counting Stars 2020; Chris, Jo &amp; Zara (11) and The Beaches;\nAdrian, Anna, Charlotte (12) and Millie (9) \u2013 who were to become our travelling\nbuddies for the rest of the trip. We rebranded ourselves the \u201cGibb River Gang\u201d\nand loosely planned our route for the next week. Lexi even managed to thumb a\nlift with a private chauffeur, as she rode shotgun with Zara for the rest of\nthe trip! We returned to Dolomite Gorge, a meandering water park 5km from the\nStation, splashed in the cool waters, then flattened ourselves on the warm\nrocks to dry off and warm up again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200725_152613-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4102\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200725_152613-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200725_152613-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The next day was spent lazing on the smooth granite rocks of\nBells Gorge. After a hot winding walk, that felt longer than its 700 metres, a\nrefreshing dip in the oasis below was welcoming. The overhangs which we ate\nlunch under last year, were nearly underwater and the flowing waterfall showed\njust how much more water there was this year. In between dips and rock\nlounging, we slipped downstream to be rewarded with amazing views over the\nranges and down into another giant, but inaccessible pool. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-41 wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Dji_0821-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4127\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Dji_0821-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/dji_0821\/\" class=\"wp-image-4127\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Dji_0821-980x653.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Dji_0821-480x320.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/G0325162-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4134\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/G0325162.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/dcim100goprog0325162-jpg\/\" class=\"wp-image-4134\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/G0325162-980x980.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/G0325162-480x480.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Bell Gorge\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/YEo8xgevmhU?start=3&#038;feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The next couple of gorges we decided to do in a day, then\npress on to the subsequent camp for evening. Both only a short walk from the\ncar, we took a refreshing dip with a Freshie in Adhock Gorge, then had fun\nswinging from the rope swing at Galvin\u2019s Gorge. Adrian demonstrated the unique,\nadditional function of his drone as it turned into a submarine for a second or\ntwo at Galvin\u2019s &#x1f633;, so I took mine up to\nphoto the Boab, perched high above, to show him how drones should be flown! <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Adcock Gorge\" width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/v8vN36eqxfs?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Dji_0864-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4128\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Dji_0864-980x980.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Dji_0864-480x480.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Splash Down\" width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/HL0DqKfS2nY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The girls were now forming a break away satellite camp, all\nsqueezed in to the 4-man tent, with copious blankets to stave off the cold\nnight air. With warm, high twenty temperatures during the day, the single\nfigures at night, were a harsh contrast, although I reckon the amount of hot\nair coming out of the tent from giggles, screams and pre-teen banter, was\nenough to warm their coop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mount Barnett was our penultimate camp. A bit of a dust and\nburr pit, but a short walk to a glorious waterhole, with a mini beach, more\nrope swings and the remains of the pulley boat (minus pulley this year) to take\nyour gear \u2013 or Reo \u2013 across the water. Once across the water, a long trek and\nrock scramble takes you into a huge, deep gorge with multi-levelled rock jumps\nand cool waters below to swim in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Manning Hike\" width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Q4Vh-h6NMFI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-43 wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/GOPR5286-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4131\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/GOPR5286.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/dcim100goprogopr5286-jpg\/\" class=\"wp-image-4131\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/GOPR5286-980x980.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/GOPR5286-480x480.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200726_131618-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4117\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200726_131618-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200726_131618\/\" class=\"wp-image-4117\"\/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Manning Gorgeous\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ANaIKpdHH5k?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>As the day became longer, the jumps became bigger, as\neveryone playfully egged each other to go up a level. <em>\u2018Fear is only\ntemporary, regrets last forever\u2019<\/em>, and it was interesting to see how\neveryone conquered their fears \u2013 adults and children alike \u2013 as we perched on\nthe edge of the drop, contemplating the chances of survival. We were all very\nproud of our achievements, and rightly so, jumping 5 times (or more) your body\nlength is no mean feat! Manning Gorge certainly rocks as one of the faves of\nthe Gibb, for its lush beauty and adrenaline combined. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Wonder Woman\" width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/uwGELJ_FEQo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Superman\" width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/m-VNpbbZn5Y?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Our last nights were at Mt Elizabeth. The rough road in\nprepared us for some challenging 4wding into Wunnamurra gorge, which offered a\nfresh dip, a running waterfall (last year we were playing cards where water was\nnow splashing down) and some sensational 4000-year-old Aboriginal rock art&#8230;.they\nlook like aliens! That evening, leaving the children with a radio and a movie\n(don\u2019t worry we also fed them), the adults sat at the homestead for a superb\nmeal, cooked by a French chef, fittingly ending our time as the \u201cGibb river\nGang\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Fun 4WD\" width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/TD1Td91w0_E?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-45 wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200726_131517-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4104\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200726_131517-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200726_131517\/\" class=\"wp-image-4104\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200726_131517-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/20200726_131517-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/54EA2E14-9D58-456A-800F-3C0DB22C35C1-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4085\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/54EA2E14-9D58-456A-800F-3C0DB22C35C1.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/54ea2e14-9d58-456a-800f-3c0db22c35c1\/\" class=\"wp-image-4085\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/54EA2E14-9D58-456A-800F-3C0DB22C35C1-980x980.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/54EA2E14-9D58-456A-800F-3C0DB22C35C1-480x480.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_7375-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"4161\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_7375-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/img_7375\/\" class=\"wp-image-4161\"\/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Wunnamurra Gorge\" width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/hHPAcIFVTkU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The rest of The Gibb was closed, so with a tear in our eyes,\nwe said farewell to The Beaches as they backtracked to Derby to collect their\nvan and we continued to the Pentecost River with Chris, Jo and Zara. Just as Alex\ncongratulated Chris on how well he was going with the van, Chris radioed to say\nhe\u2019d had a tyre blowout. <em>Shredded<\/em> would be a better description of the\nstate of the tyre, and so a pitstop to first work out how to get the spare off\nthe car, then to change said tyre, unfortunately pushed us back nearly an hour\nand we just missed the sunset over the Pentecost Ranges. Pulling up to camp in\nthe dark (they were travelling with the Towns\u2019 after all!), we found that once\nagain a strut on Minty had broken and the roof couldn\u2019t be lifted (i.e. no bed\nfor Reo). Lexi and Zara immediately went into planning mode, concocting Lexi to\nsleep in the extra bunk in Zara\u2019s van, before Alex could turn around to say he\nhad a spare!! <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Pentecost River\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/zWLXRpNwaRg?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Once again, The Gibb delivered in spades. The red dust got\ninto our hair, nails, car and bed, and while we tried to wash it out, a little\nbit of it will remain there for years to come, just like the memories we\ncreated driving through it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Paulo-Coelho-Quote-If-you-re-brave-enough-to-say-goodbye-life-will-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4138\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Paulo-Coelho-Quote-If-you-re-brave-enough-to-say-goodbye-life-will-980x551.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Paulo-Coelho-Quote-If-you-re-brave-enough-to-say-goodbye-life-will-480x270.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The time had come. We had to be brave. With 19 months of\ntravel now under our tyres, 12 of those had been in Western Australia, the last\n4 providing our safe haven and parallel world amid Covid-19 chaos. We were now\nto say goodbye to WA and hello to the Northern Territory. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The track into Winderabandi is legendary for its rough-as-guts, corrugated track. We\u2019d heard all the horror stories from the travelling circuit, so were interested to see what the reality was. After lowering the tyre pressures, we began our way. It was slow going, but nothing worse than some other tracks we\u2019d been on.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":4142,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4136"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4136"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4136\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4169,"href":"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4136\/revisions\/4169"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4142"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4136"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4136"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4136"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}