Day 6 - Carnarvon Gorge

I’ve been told not to bang on about the weather but I must tell you of a dramatic change overnight. It clouded over and got quite chilly. Chilly is a relative term but whereas the previous days had reached temperatures of 33 to 37°C, today it only managed to get to 12°C!

This sudden shift in the weather removed my major reason for not climbing up to Boolimba Bluff, so in the cool weather I set off to do just that. The start of the climb is down the main track but near to the camp. At the bottom there are warning signs about the severity of the track and how it should only be attempted by the physical fit and experienced. I decided that on the basis of my excess of experience I could ignore my lack of physical fitness and started off.

After a little bit of steep stuff there was a level section for a while and then I came to the real deal. Another sign warned me about how dreadful it was ahead, so I ignored it and carried on. They were right. It was even steeper than I remembered from my earlier visit. On the way I met some other teams coming down, including a couple of similar age to me and we agreed that although we recognised the need for gravity, why did there have to be so much of it?

Puffing and panting I reached the top where there is a flat walk to the view point. The view makes the puffing and panting worthwhile! As I was admiring the view and contemplating a sit down to enjoy it, I felt a few spots of rain. Now the weather forecast had predicted storms with 40 - 80mm of rain.

With the thought of slipping and sliding down the track in the wet in my mind I gave up the idea of a contemplative sit and think time, and headed off down. I was very slow on the way down and my knees - which are definitely past their use by date - complained the whole way. After the few spots, the rain had gone away and I made it safely but exhaustingly back to the camp. My neighbours on both sides at the camp site had decided to pack up a day early and leave before the storm hit. Wimps these Aussies!

The rain started at lunchtime and went on and on. Nothing dramatically heavy but steady and constant. I retreated to my tent and spent the afternoon in the restricted confines. Late I fitted my table in there as well and cooked and ate my dinner indoors! It reminded me of camping in my schooldays in Britain where the rain was almost guaranteed.