Gregory Gorge

Spring has always been one of my favourite West Australian seasons (along with Autumn: in Perth they are climatically identical). Happily Spring continues to delight in the Pilbara, LAFE needed to get out and enjoy it. An opportunity to do just that came last weekend...

Dear Neighbour/Colleague/Friend and her children, A to Z, have forsaken the Pilbara for the bright lights of Perth. They are away for 6 weeks and we miss them a lot as, no doubt, does J.F. (husband and father). J.F. has been filling his time by working hard but last weekend it was time for him to cut loose and bust out of Tompers and LAFE were his willing accomplices.

Our destination was Gregory Gorge, a popular camping area just outside of Millstream-Chichester National Park and about half way between TP and Karratha. Gregory Gorge channels the Fortescue River. There is no camp kitchen, no playground, no powered sites, no toilets, showers or shop; what there is are the most beautiful gum trees and native millstream palms around clear, flowing waters, a rope swing, some great 4-wheel-driving, and some excellent camping companions. Our camping buddies were a family of ex-TP/current Karratha residents whom we hadn't met before but had heard all about (because they are excellent value and Tam is sorely missed at TP hospital). The Karratha crew were augmented by their own N/C/Fs who were just as delightful as ours. 

We only stayed one night but left with plans to go back.

Waiting for the Karratha crew

We were entirely respectful, but I was disappointed to see other visitors had littered. Grrr, littering :(

Collecting firewood on the way in

Finally there...Gregory Gorge! It is (sorry) gorgeous.

Freya holds on for dear life; heaven help the little poppet if her feet got wet

Floating down the lazy river in inner tubes

Esther: Splash down!

Safe landing

Riding the 'rapids'

Twisted fire-starters

I think this is the discussion about whether there'd be enough chips to last the afternoon

Camp Gregory

Love a campfire: Ging Gang Goolie!

Karratha N/C/Fs

Happy campers

Jonkers in the pink

Wandering back to camp after crazy rope-swinging

Landy gets a work out

The usual suspects (and a LandRover)

I'm sure Tam didn't intentionally snap this pic of Ade peeing on a tree...