Day 18 - 16052015 - Ellenbrae Station to Gibb River Road, Kalamburu junction - 72 km

Day 18 - 16052015 - Ellenbrae Station to Gibb River Road, Kalamburu junction - 72 km

Early start and we battled the 5 km of red dust, corrugations and creek crossing to get out of Ellenbrae Station.

Good going once we were back on the Gibb, but had a steep climb after about 4 km.  Had lots of red dirt today which is fine powdery dust and is very hard to ride through and when you hit it at speed can easily slew the bike around.  You work twice as hard and get half as far.

We see the odd car body along the way where people have decided its not worth the expense of taking the car back.

We made good timing and had covered 40 km by about 10:00.  I thought we would easily cover what we thought was 60 km to the junction.  At about the 60 km mark I went up a big hill and as I reached the top a car pulled up and asked if I wanted some water, so I stopped and chatted with them.  

They said Joe was about 3 or 4 km back and was resting under a tree.  (I can understand that, he used to sleep under his desk at work.).  I had some water with the oldies and then after about a km pulled over to wait for Joe.  While I was waiting I checked the map and found that the junction was 75 km from Ellenbrae and we still had 15 km to go.  Bugger.

We rested for half an hour then got going.  The grader had been doing this next stretch so we made good time, although the surface was deceptive at times.

Got to the junction and a Kimberley Wild tour was having lunch near the shelter and table.  We hung around and spoke to the people and as they were leaving they gave us some chocolate cake and orange juice. Yum.  Good lunch.

A lady Yanni got us some mandarins, water and a muesli bar.  Good onya Yanni and Geoff.

The tour left and we set up camp.  Dinner finished by 5:30, when it was dark, so we hit the sack.

Listening to the sound of mosquitoes and insects trying to get into the tent at the moment.  Gotta love the bush.