DAYS 39 - 41 – 28/05/16–30/05/16 KING EDWARD RIVER CAMP [MUNURRU]

DAY 39 - 28/05/16 -  Terry and Janelle attempt to head off are delayed with Tony finding a number of issues to be re-clarified by Terry before he leaves.
Domestic morning – 3 loads of washing, via generator power….chainsaw in action to cut firewood.
Collect 40 litres of water from river and transfer to van tanks
Morning swim at Day Area section ..encounter APT tour group going to Mitchell Falls… talk to some folks from Wales, Hampshire, Geelong and Traralgon.
Lunch
Siesta for next couple of hours  temperature in mid 30s and no breeze
Afternoon swim…very refreshing
Meet caretaker Neil who with his wife is the  Volunteer Camp Host [ May & June].   With Neil back after 4 days off, he controls the allocation of sites to incoming campers.   Tony is complaining that with all the space available at our section and many others, Neil keeps sending them down to our area… and on top of us….destroys the quietness and ambience of our spot.   Who is the first off the mark to go and talk to these new people and guess what,….Tony invites them to our camp location [fire or not] for a chat.   Even Jen, when Tony says lets go for a walk, is asking are you going to talk to people.



DAY 40 - 29/05/16    We are waking with the birds chorus at dawn or pre dawn most days..  The evenings in the van have been so warm, that the sheet/thin blanket is not going on till the early hours of the morning.  Most mornings we awake to a cloudless sky, only to see large white and grey clouds come in late morning and during the afternoon.  However the evening sky is clear giving us a great view of the stars.
Another lazy day…..morning swim….lunch……siesta…too hot!!!
Two new big QLD vans  [ Brian and Dennis]  arrive, mid afternoon, both being towed by big Ford F250 utes – one a stretched unit….They are off to do the Mitchell Falls the next day…..will be interesting to hear how their vehicles cope.  We provide some invaluable information on where we have come across the middle of Australia, via the Gary Junction Road and onto the Telfer Mine Road as one is considering returning that way    ……..(Tony continually refers to it as the Teflon Mine Road ( says because it was slippery) when talking to other interested or non interested travellers about our journeys thus far.) .
Dennis has the same make of van, and tells us about his initial problems and dealing with the Warranty Section.
Tony decides to cook outside, with the usual veggies in foil in the fire.
Post tea, Tony hears reports of a croc being sighted at the river…..so it is on with the flip-flops and getting the “powerful Torch” and military like he marches to the river to confirm the sighting……..red eyes appear in the river , so its back to camp, flip-flopping briskly to report presence of the croc “freshie” , only to find we have gone off to bed.,,,,,,results given through van window
 DAY 41 - 30/05/16    Very heavy dew overnight with lots of condensation on van windows and awning…..river area shrouded in mist.
We awake to the news that overnight Tony and Jen’s van’s batteries have dropped to a level that automatically shuts down to protect themselves……ramifications no lights, fridge motor not working, no pumps therefore no water for toilet/showers etc………..Shade is a blessing during the heat, but a bugger for the solar panels.    Recovery action taken is to run the generator throughout the day to recharge the batteries and re-start the fridge.  The topic of conversation for most of the morning was Michael or Dot…what is your voltage level and what input levels are you getting from the sun? 
Groups of Neighbours head off before 6:30 am to Mitchell Falls.
Morning swim below the campground, followed by Michael further topping up of water tanks and tightening of nuts around bash plates and bull bar.
We all go to the second cultural site nearby there are some skeletons here in a small hollow  one of the rocks. 
Lunch followed by usual do nothing as it is too hot.   Everyone emerges around 2:45pm to head for the river.
We encounter another couple who had a very uncomfortable night at Kalumbaru, after being intimidated to hand over alcohol to three aborigines in their tent, in exchange for a painting.  Police and Elder visit next morning wanting to know who passed on the alcohol to these men.
Late afternoon, Paul & Noelene, return from their couple of days at Mitchell Falls being hosted by fellow rangers.   They arrive with additional firewood for the purpose of a camp oven roast meat and vegetables.   It is very interesting watching the preparation and the cooking on coals outside the fire.  Noelene produces another lovely bottle of Swan Valley red to share, so Michael organises remaining cheese, biscuits and kangaroo/red wine salami for pre dinner nibbles {what are these?]     We have some very dark clouds overhead, but no rain!!!   Paul points out a rainbow in the sky, which is caused by the clouds raining but the rain evaporating before it hits the ground.
Our neighbours start coming in post dusk, absolutely over the state of the road……around 3 hours is the norm for the 76klm, with sore backs and necks from the corrugations and vehicles sliding everywhere.
We sit around talking, with Paul, Noelene and Tony under a cloudless sky.   Tony goes off to inspect the river for a croc sighting….no luck…..Paul & Noelene set up a double swag against their car and adjacent to the fire…….Tony will have to be careful when he steps out of the van in the middle of the night for his nightly pee.
A big lazy day and we are up late, yet in bed before 8:30am…..lying in the heat!!!!!. 

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