It is about 190 km to Mt Elizabeth Station (Mt E) from Ellenbrae, this includes the 30km along the track off the Gibb to the Station.

We decided to have a toastee and coffee, tea for Homealone, at the cafe before leaving. Also, picked up some take away scones for later on.

It had been a pleasant few days sitting around watching people and coming and going. All sorts of accommodation. Swags, camper trailers, small off road vans to very large combos with boats attached.

Hitting the road we found it quite good getting through to the Kalumburu Rd turnoff to Drysdale Station. This is the way we would have gone without the rain. Stopped here for lunch at the rest spot.

We later made the short detour down to the Gibb River where it crosses the Kalumburu Road. There were a few vans parked here at the free camp overlooking the river. Tempting to stay!

But onwards to Mt E. The road deteriorated somewhat from here on with a number of shallow creek or drainage crossings. Also, a few deeper corrugations and muddy wet patches that were drying out. Some wheel ruts in the drying mud showed just how much water had been on the road. Still rate it though at about 80%.

Navigated through the Hann River ok after passing a chap on a bicycle all by himself. A little further along some poor souls camper trailer was beside the road, axle broken and tyre trashed, loaded with gear. Probably there for good, cost a fortune to recover not to mention the repair costs.

We are starting to see increasing numbers of cattle beside the road. Some impressive looking beasts.

There is always room for an adventure on a road trip. We seem to have a share of them. What would it be like to go the whole length of the Gibb adventure free? We will never know because one of the very small almost road drainage type creeks across the road contained an unpleasant surprise. Allthego probably took it a little too quickly and whooshka a bad bump knocked a van tyre off the rim, we were on low tyre pressures as well which probably didn’t help in this case.

Fifty metres later we pulled up with the tyre hanging shredded from the rim, the rim with a piece broken off was of no further use!

To cut a long story short all was made good, thankfully we have two jacks which allowed us to get the spare on ok. Took a while though including cleaning the tyre remnants and steel wires off the hub. The parking and electric brake cables were undamaged.

The guy on the bike passed by and offered to help but he looked as though he needed more help than us. Other than for him, during the two and a half hours of getting it sorted out no one else came along the road.

We arrived at Mt E at about 7pm, having travelled the 30k up the access track in fading light and darkness. Settled in for the night after some noodles! Alls well that ends well, the first day of winter.

We woke to a nice sunny day a bit stiff in the hamstrings and shoulders.