GRR 5 - Mud, Mud, Mud

Welcome to the day from hell! It all started off remarkably well - the skies were pretty clear and we only had 160km to drive to reach our next destination, Manning Gorge. We said goodbye to the Curtis' who were heading 50km up the road to Drysdale River Station, a big cattle station with the most northerly beer garden in the Kimberleys and we were heading further west along the Gibb River Road. If only we had known! There had been much more rain further west that we had received and the roads had turned to mud. This would be the unseasonal rain as we are supposed to be in the dry season! Anyway we headed off and the road was horrendous. So muddy and the car was sliding all over the place and threatening to bog all the time. The windscreen was covered in mud and it was impossible to see. Which way to go was the constant decision Michael had to make! Unfortunately a big rock hit the underside of the car and then the metal grating sound began. There we were on the side of the road still a long way from civilisation with a car that was making a horrendous sound - do we drive on? After a quick call on the trusty satellite and some under car work from Michael we decide to try to make it to Mt Barnett Roadhouse. The noise was still there but the road was so slippery and muddy the sound from under the car was really the least of our worries. We just had to make it to the roadhouse! Then the dreaded creek crossing that was deeper than expected and the engine flooded. We were stuck in the creek crossing with still about 50km to go! The boys of course were totally oblivious to the state of affairs and occupied themselves in the mud on the edge of the creek. The boys thought it was the most exciting day ever and loved the car sliding everywhere - Ollie left his window open so we now have a lovely orange mud stained interior! I felt sick all day but Michael put in a champion performance behind the wheel. While we were waiting in the creek a couple of tour operators arrived and told us that all the gorges were closed due to the rain. There was not where to go - why didn't we go to the station with the beer garden?

Finally the engine dried out and we made it into Mt Barnett Roadhouse dragging some metal guard underneath the car and without our front number plate! This is buried somewhere in the mud on the Gibb River Road! I have never been so relieved to arrive somewhere in my life - civilisation, yippee!!! The roadhouse resembled a refugee camp with people camped all along the side of the road where ever they could find space as there was no where else to go.

The boys had a great time washing the car down at the creek - they had the most fantastic day ever!