GRR 7 - Manning Falls

Manning Falls - absolutely spectacular! Michael, Harry and Ollie climbed the cliff face next to the waterfall to get to the top of the falls and above. We all swam under the waterfall and the boys spent ages jumping off the rocks. Don't know what we would have done without will's floaties - they have been our saviour as he loves to do everything Harry and Ollie do!

The beginning and end of the walk consisted of a waterhole crossing - you had to put all your belongings in a styrofoam box to float them across!

Will about to launch himself into the waterhole at the campsite.

We spent 2 nights at Manning Gorge - another great spot! We had recovered from our crazy driving day and were ready to tackle more of the Gibb River road when the split head incident occurred! I was passing the torch to Harry in the middle of the night when he dropped it and the big dolpin torch cracked poor Ollie right on the head. What a way to wake up! He screamed, there was blood everywhere and we were 300km on dirt road away from the nearest town! Anyway it was a small neat cut above the eye and we managed to clean it up and calm him down. Morning came and Ollie was not well! Very pale and feeling sick - concussion perhaps? We managed to see the remote area nurse in the aboriginal community at Mt Barnett and she gave him the OK to travel to Derby (300km) so we could get him checked at the hospital. We packed up and set off to head to Derby, then Broome as most of the roads to the gorges were still closed. Coincidentally we passed the Curtis' (family from earlier on) on the road to Derby and were surprised to see them as they had gone north first to Drysdale River Station and were then heading west a couple of days after us. We had actually spent days being jealous that they were sitting in the beer garden while we thrashed it out in the mud only to find out that on the night we left them Rod (father) had been bitted by a snake and was airlifted to Derby Hospital! What a nightmare - he is OK but his poor wife had to drive the 2 kids and the camper trailer 500km on dirt roads by herself! Anyway Ollie was fine and we are now in Broome! We had an amazing time in the Kimberleys - they really are spectacular and we can't wait to go back!