Hancock Gorge, Spider Walk

Monday 19^th May 2008

We had some more enforced times table learning – Holly seems to have got it and Katie is trying because she desperately wants to see a movie when we get to Broome – this is the carrot we are offering them this time and seems to be a good motivator – shame there won’t be any more cinemas until we get to Darwin (I think, anyway).

The drive over to Hancock Gorge took us about 45 minutes during which time we tried to generate some enthusiasm for the Spider Walk. We checked out the Oxer and Junction lookouts but both girls were grumpy and not inclined to take any interest at all. Holly was distracted by a memorial to a SES guy who’d lost his life trying to save others in some floods – she is always interested in other people’s stories.

After some sandwiches and wafer biscuits they did revive somewhat and were almost keen to get down into the gorge. It started with a 6m ladder and yet more scrambling and soon came to a bit where the only way through was to wade in the freezing cold water. Paul had his Blundstone boots on because his crocs don’t protect him from sharp stones when rock climbing but the boots don’t go well in water. I handed over my crocs which almost fitted him and Holly did a relay with them so that I could get through while carrying Katie who had developed a tummy ache and wasn’t at all inclined to go any further. Holly thought she might then try and get to the other side by climbing the cliff but didn’t quite make it and soaked her jeans and half her t-shirt! We changed her into her bathers and left the clothes to dry on the hot rocks.

She and I did some reconnaissance of the next section because it involved either some deep wading through slippery black rocks or clinging tightly to the shelves of rocks at the side and we wanted to see if it was viable for Paul and Katie. Katie set herself up on a ledge with her towel over her and the bag for a pillow and wasn’t planning to move on but we did manage to cajole her into the next section which is called the Amphitheatre – with good reason.

After that there was the Spider Walk and there was NO WAY she was going in there, which was actually something of a relief because I don’t think her limbs were really long enough to reach across. Paul was sceptical but I pushed him and Holly on while I sat with Katie who was making a remarkable recovery now that she didn’t have to go anywhere!

Holly and Paul investigated Kermit’s Pool before Paul relieved me of the Katie-sitting duties and I had a turn at walking between rocks. It was a bit scarey because my arms aren’t really very strong (specially since I haven’t been doing my pilates since we left) and I couldn’t rely on them to keep me up above the chilly water and smooth as silk rocks below.

Beyond that bit is an amazing sort of cavern (with open top) that is solid dark, shiny rock with a passage gouged through it by the millennia of water. The rocks create weird reflections and strange light and there was a distinctly eerie feeling. Holly and I did a bit more investigating before heading on back to the sunny (and safe) amphitheatre.

On the way back we passed Paige and Cate with their family and also Lynsey who’d left the sleeping kids back in the car park while Richard tinkered with his dodgy alternator. We hung around for a while discussing future travel plans – a common thread with everyone! – before going to have a look at the Eco Retreat which we thought would probably also be a source of ice creams to supplement the dry and uninspiring biscuits which were all we had left in the car.

I cooked up what is fast becoming my favourite camp meal (being quick, only a few ingredients and eaten and enjoyed by everyone) of pasta with a bacon and sour cream sauce. The girls were hanging out for their friends to return but there was no sign until about 8pm. Richard and Lynsey had a blow-out of the very tyre that had been discussed earlier in the afternoon, had spent a while swapping it over and Brad and Denise had stopped to help out. They came round to tell us about it since they were off early into Tom Price and we’d be leaving for Marble Bar.