A Trifle Shirty...

Good morning from glorious Gascoyne Junction. We are sitting companionably together at our inside table, listening to the sounds of birds twittering and the occasional voice. At ten o'clock, the caravan park has emptied and we are enjoying the quiet and warm ambience. Having crossed the twenty-sixth parallel yesterday, we are loving the rise in temperature, the endless blue sky and bright sunshine.

Unfortunately, our day here at "the Junction" is not all fun and games. Michael is currently scouring all the available information we have concerning Digger. Right on dusk last evening, we discovered the leaking water tank issue. Further were four cupboards and drawer openers (push and press) had discombobulated from their mountings and had rolled all over the floor. The glass protective plate on the stovetop had also parted company with its brackets and the toilet blade hadn't quite prevented some contents from rising into the bowl. And we have yet to engage the car into 4WD. *sigh*

Needless to say, Michael will shortly be on the phone to the dealer to solve the most pressing problem of the leaking water tanks. We are only Day 7 into our trip and I am not going to miss my birthday treat at Karijini.

On a brighter note, the country has not disappointed. Yesterday's drive was just breathtaking. The Mullewa-Carnarvon Road is probably the best gravel road we have travelled. The only stop along the way was at Murchison Settlement, a thriving and very pretty community of not many...usually. However, with the Murchison Polocrosse weekend in full swing, there was a mix of caravans, tents and campers in shady and grassed sites, all with one goal - for their occupants to sit on the sidelines in their chairs and watch the action.

Wink, proprietor of the Settlement roadhouse, cafe, museum and caravan park was orchestrating a roaring trade. Jodhpured kids with their horses' names on their (wait for it) polo shirts were coming en-mass into the roadhouse to buy a variety of sugary treats to stave off hunger pangs.

The Murchison and Gascoyne country continued to surprise. We passed by changing landscapes all through the long lazy afternoon. Steep inclines to river crossings, stunning breakaway ridges with trees rising like lollipops along the top and fields of quartz. Low lying areas still boasted water and had turned lush and green. I was thrilled to see the patches of pink and yellow and purple that augered the beginning of the wildflower season.

So, I think we are reasonably lucky to have had to stop for an extra day in such a convenient and comfortable place. And Michael is tired after a full driving day. I'm just hoping we can sort out Digger's snags so we can return to the road into new and exciting territory.

A selection of yesterday's highlights...