July 3rd started early with checking emails. Once everyone else was awake we checked out what food we needed, planned our shopping day and took-off to town from the Crossing Inn. 1st stop was the local camping store for gas for Uwe stove and boxes for Steve to pack his bike. Yep Steve had told us last night he was returning to Broome/Perth on account of his knee not getting any better in the 5 days he was waiting in Fitzroy Crossing for us. Gas was not to be found in Fitzroy, anywhere! 3 shops latter it was decided we needed to take Steve's fuel stove with us.
Shopping at the best of times is confusing, but having been on the road away from shops for a few days, one is a bit like a rabbit in bright lights when you see all the things you can buy.. Taking a shopping list helps, but we still managed to buy things not on the list.
We managed to find some bubble wrap for Steve who was busy building a bike box for his trailer and bike out of packing tape and small boxes. Uwe, Briget & I road out to Geikie Gorge for a picnic lunch and boat tour. Its interesting in these part of the country our time of day can make a ride wonderful or hard work. the ride out was hard work, it felt way longer than the 21kms from town, uphill (imagined), into a headwind and on a rough sealed road. I was very happy to make the river. We relaxed, drank cups of tea, enjoyed lunch, went for a short walk and waited 2 hours for the boat tour.
Now the tour was wonderful. You walk down to a small boat that carries around 30 folk with a guild and under power moter out on to the river, spotting 'freshies', learning about the plants and the history of the gorge. The boat trip starts at around 3pm in the arvo, the afternoon light falls onto the colourful sandstone gorge walls, highlighting their features of curves, crags, caves and wildlife. Motionless croc's dot the sandy banks or rocks in the river. They look battery operated - plastic in fact. then they move, mostly just opening their jaws... Its about now that you think getting too close is not a great idea.
the boat lazily makes its way back to the boat ramp.. its now 4pm. the afternoon light is lightly filled with dust, the shadows long, the heat and dry of the day has gone along with the headwind, no wind at all, just a gentle warm air. The only downside, when you leave the boat you remember have been tied up to 4 such boats, like cattle along the road, you have been mustered, by the local 'ringer' or guild, down the boat ramp, removed of your $25 and transported along the river with your fellow 125 heads.
I enjoyed the trip.
I enjoyed the ride back to town better. this was one of the best rides I've ever done at 4.30pm. The air at this time of the day is thin, no resistance, the sun low on the horizon, long rays of light stream through the dusty air, paused and disbursed by the boabs and gums. As 3 riders we rolled along, taking our time to enjoy the afternoon, stopping to take photos and just being in outback Fitzroy Crossing.
We arrived back in town around 6pm and camp not much later. Its time for dinner, beer and packing. We have all decided to catch a bus. Steve is taking Greyhound to Broome at 2.10am and Briget, Uwe and I catching the Greyhound to Warmun (Turkey Creek) at 1.40am. Our plan goes well. WE all wake up at midnight ish, pack and walk out to highway to wait for bus. We wait, its cold, very cold, the bus is late, very late. Its around 2.45am before our bus arrives. The driver says "your not planning on taking those with you?" We wait, he thinks, he opens the bus underbelly, he mutters, he gets out his mobile, he calls and says "there are bike and man what do I charge them, where do I put them and you should see them! one looks like a spaceship" I'm guessing that he is referring to my bike. its soon decided that the bikes will cost $60 each to transport and will go into the trailer. By 3am we are all loaded and on the bus heading east. Steve sms me at 3.10am to ask if we have passed his bus... answer is yes.
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