Karijini National Park

Bea bea rest stop had a dried out creek bed, a few rubbish bins, and lots of rubbish blowing around.  We packed up as quick as we could and left.

Waiting at the nearest roadhouse while Grant topped up the fuel, we heard two truckies in conversation on the radio..."think we'll head off" " just going to finish my sandwich" "what kind of sandwich is it?" " it's a very good sandwich, very expensive, but very good, bacon and egg".  Made us all hungry.

We listened to a few focus on the family podcasts for Sunday.  They were very good.  About really living for Jesus and being intentional about what we do.  There were lots of things to think about.

It was only a few hours to Karijini National Park, so we arrived nice and early for a change.

Karijini has a great visitor centre and lovely gorges.  Everyone I meet, though, kept warning me about the slippery rocks, and saying to hold on to the kids and wear sneakers not thongs etc.  It was all very helpful, but felt a bit weird, until I read the note on the noticeboard that explained on 4 October this year, a man and his 7 year old son went over edge on one of the walks and the man died.  The staff are obviously feeling very cautious and it put me off walking a bit, but we spoke to a ranger and he said we should be fine, just to keep away from the edges and not to let the kids run ahead - the fences at the edge of the paths are not safety rails, just guides to show the path.

We had lunch then walked to Fortescue Falls, which is the walk the man and the boy fell on, and there are a few very new looking signs advising just what the ranger said - the fences are not to keep you safe and to hold on to your kids.  I feel very sad for that family.  However, it was a spectacular swimming hole with impressive rock layers.  My Dad would love it. 

We also walked a little bit further along to "fern pool" which was a lovely shady swimming hole with a waterfall down one end.  It was too deep for Cooper, though, so we watched  the others snorkel over to the waterfall and back.  The rock pools in these gorges are spring fed so have water in them all year round.  

On our way into the gorge we met the young couple we camped behind at Cable Beach caravan park.  They are traveling around Australia from Melbourne for six months using a camper trailer.  

It is very hot here and there are lots of flies.  We were going to stay for a week, but might not make it that long.  With the outside light on, the attracted bugs hitting the awning sound like spots of rain - but it doesn't look like rain any time soon.  Gusts of wind bring red dust in clouds and dump it all over you.
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Vicki