MEMBER TRIP REPORT
holes . We also did an exciting drive up a creek bed being rewarded with some impressive country before realizing you also have to drive back ! Back at camp in one piece but by this stage Noel had sustained an injury on one of our walks . After a difficult night ’ s sleep for him we decided to continue to Boorroloola to seek medical attention .
At Boorroloola Noel went for medical advice but as they were unable to X- ray a decision was made to drive to Mt Isa with a view to Noel catching a flight home . Being flexible and dealing with the issues the group face is an important quality for every expedition . Plans were made that afternoon and flights , accommodation booked . This still allowed us to see some of the remaining places on our trip despite the detour .
From Borrooloola we did many creek crossings on our way to Hell ’ s gate . Bruce decided that he liked creek crossings and was getting the hang of it . Not so for everyone . Two groups of young people we met : one of which had just purchased a new Hyundai 2WD were contemplating a very deep crossing . Our resident bush mechanics Alan and Noel talked them out of it and everyone lent a hand to help them change two tires which were damaged and let down their tyre pressure . We later saw 4 happy young people at both Hells Gate and Mt Isa who had ‘ made it through ’ and were getting mechanical help . A job well done !
From Hell ’ s gate we headed up to Lawn Hill national park . Camped at the gorge we were able to take out canoes and spent a few hours exploring this spectacular gorge which is lined with old remnant rainforest along it ’ s banks . The falls themselves were very unusual and were a series of small drops through ancient moss and palm covered banks . Bruce and I were so enthralled that we decided to get up at dawn the next morning to do the walk to the Upper gorge and lookout before moving on to the UNESCO Fossil site at Riversleigh . This was an ancient flood plain that has yielded a vast variety of Australian fossils and has enhanced our understanding of our prehistoric ancestors of many Australian animals .
At Riversleigh we met another couple who had 2 punctured tyres . Miles from any assistance it was lucky our bush mechanics were on the job . Bruce used his plugger set and two large holes were repaired . Over tea and cake in the parking lot at Riversleigh , preparation for outback travel , tyre pressures and outback safety were discussed with our new friends . We also ran into them at a pub in Mt Isa and they gratefully thanked us and showed us their facebook accounts and how happy they had been for the assistance rendered .