DAY 17 - COBRA BENGEMALL INN – ROCKY POOL

16 March 2008

DAY 17 Pilbara – Kimberley Trip

COBRA BENGEMALL INN – ROCKY POOL

Couldn’t believe it but it did not hit the fourties today!!!!! Only 38 degrees. We went for a short walk to Mt Cobra, visited the grave site at the foot of the hill and then were on our way.

We had a ‘river crossing’ at Gifford Creek. I walked across to check its depth even though we knew we could drive straight across.

Not that far from Cobra the creeks were starting to get dry. Today we went through some desolate country. Dry creek beds, sparse vegetation, rocky terrain and hllly countryside. Although we were in what was known as pastoral country we saw no signs of cattle or sheep. Lots of crests today and as we approached each one we wandered what surprise was in store, what new vista will open up. We got some beautiful surprises. The Kennedy Ranges was one of them. It looked awesome at a distance.

The Kennedy Range is an eroded plateau and experiences a desert climate. It is a remnant of the earth’s surface that has eroded away every where else. It is about 75km long and between 12 and 25 km wide with red sand dunes on top according to the information we had. You cannot walk to the top but there are several walks into the gorges over a rough looking terrain. The photos in pamphlets, or the ones taken by us just don’t do it justice. It is awesome. Australia has such beautiful natural wanders but we just don’t appreciate what we have.

We came across the old cobbled road that was used on the mail runs. We drove a short distance on it and tried to imagine what it would have been like in early motorised vehicles let alone horse or camel drawn wagons.

We made our way past Gascoyne Junction to Rocky Pool as there were no campsites on the way. The Gascoyne River was flowing there at the junction and people were cooling off in it. The road to Carnavon was partly sealed – couldn’t believe it. Then we came to some road works – they were busy working on a Sunday. What a paradox – everything closes for the weekend but road works go ahead to seal another section of road.

There were clay pans along the road. Some had water, others were dry. Lots of wild goats along the way and occasional cattle.

Rocky Pool was another very beautiful spot that is listed in Camps 4. After a swim, dinner and a lovely sunset we went to bed.

So far we have camped in some very beautiful settings. Wander what it will be like as we keep going.

DAY16 - MT GOULD – COBRA BENGEMALL INN via MT AUGUSTUS

15 March 2008


DAY 16 Pilbara – Kimberley Trip

MT GOULD – COBRA BENGEMALL INN via MT AUGUSTUS

Damn flies, damn its hot
Now its bloody flies and bloody hot
What a morning at this spot
Flies, flies, flies
Swarms of flies
Ozzie salute wearing thin
As even more show up with a grin
Patience does wear thin
As chairs and tables don’t fit
In that special bag made for them to fit
Finally seated in the car
Windows opened so far
To send our guests on their way
But they like their hosts and decide to stay.
Flies like to travel wherever we go
They visit and visit and don’t want to go
Till dusk falls and they are gone
Leaving the space when the light is but gone.



This sums up our morning and every evening.






Hot so hot today
As we travel to Burringurrah today
Or might Mount Augustus as you might say
Mt Gould is now behind
The Gascoyne is now in front
That mail run now long gone
Carnavon to Bengamall
Then Meekatharra Bengamall
But for us so much to see
So far to go, many places to be
Tyranny of distance I say
But its so vast don’t you say



The mail must get through
No matter what weather might brew
Flying fox barrels
Bush ingenuity in barrels
Stood the test of time
When Gascoyne flooded every time



Waterless countryside here lies
Wajarri people know otherwise
Hidden water pools
Worn rocks from grinding tools
Along the Kingsford mail run
Hold water by the ton



Hot oranges, reds and green
Litter the countryside umpteen
Make you feel hot
Even when just seen
From the comfort of the limousine



As the asymmetrical anticline rock layers
Unfold arch like structures in layers
Of sandstone, quartz and granite layers
Burringurrah rises to tell the tale
And show us visually the tale
Too hot to walk
Too many flies to stalk
42 degree heat does us stalk
Car slid on the sand in two wheel drive
Too hot to lock hubs in for four wheel drive



Nowhere to go to escape the heat
But Cattle Pool provides that seat
Then we drive west again
Straight into the sun what a pain
25K Cobra Bangamall way
Then detour Edithadna Pool way
Clothes and all we all jump in
Hubby, Marguerite, yours truly and Jim
Then finally come to a place of rest
To battle the dust and get some rest

The local Aborigines refer to Mt Augustus as Burringurrah. The dreamtime story refers to a boy who runs away during initiation process, is caught, then speared through his right leg, falls to the ground and is hit with a fighting stick. He collapses and dies. His final resting pose with left leg bent up besides his body is seen as one approaches Mt Augustus from the south.

Our initial response to Mt Augustus was about how huge it was. It rises 715 meters out of the red sandplain and is 1105 m above sea level. It is a 49km drive around it. We intended to stay several days in Mt Augustus. It is just too hot, no shade and one can only camp at either Mt Augustus Resort or Cobra Bangamall Wayside Inn. So we went to Cobra where as we arrived we were invited by the lessee of the Bangamall Inn to go for a swim in a pool named for the three daughters of the earlier station family – Edith, Ada and Anna. After dinner we joined Jim and Marguerite for a glass of wine and heard tales of the area.