Emma caught her first Barramundi 17.6.11





Emmas first Barra

 



Emmas lunchtime catch

After leaving Pormparaaw we were heading towards the Gulf via the aboriginal community Kowanyma to Normaton. This was about a 150km trek. We had been advised by main roads that there was a road to Kowanyma just not as well maintained as the more major roads. It was an interesting drive out there with a few creek crossing, which meant a few swims to cool us down. We passed a few locals along the way. At lunch time we reached the Alice River crossing. A sandy but shallow and wide crossing. We finally christened the Max Trax after getting bogged in the sand trying to get to the river.. We then further  prepared all the recovery gear, just incase we needed them in the river. Whilst this was all happening Emma grabed her fishing rod as she saw some  fish in a hole away from the main river and would you believe she caught a fish which she then released into the main river.  With Darrin's skillful driving we made the crossing with no problems at all. Once we got to the other side we had entered the Mitchell-Alice Rivers National Park and the road conditions suddenly declined and it became an overgrown track which was clearly not a well used track.

the track washed away

wheel tracks were only just visable thru overgrown spinnafex

There were no fresh wheel tracks visable so we believed that we may have been the first vehicle across the Alice River this season. But, with only about 10km to the Mitchell River crossing we decided to keep going to the crossing but did not hold much hope of being able to cross. With each kilometre our hope was slowly disappearing with huge washouts and fallen trees on the track. It was amazing how the tracks were still visable in the sections that the spinafex grass had been burnt. The cattle and wild pigs foot prints which were clearly made when the ground was wet made sections a rough and slow drive. As we arrived at Mitchell River we found a massive but beautiful river. Crocodile warning signs were displayed at the crossing and with the other side in the distance view we could see huge sand banks all along. With no way of walking the crossing due to crocs, the fast running water and huge sand banks we found the end of the road.


Mitchell river crossing



Alice River crossing



It was such a beautiful spot, and the camping options were beautiful - nice green flat camping back from the water, so we set up camp for the night. The next morning Darrin and the girls went fishing "we have driven 125km to get here, it would be nice to at least catch a Barra to make it worthwhile". I could not believe it when I walked down to the river and Emma had caught a 56cm Barramundi, now that was very exciting she had hooked it and reeled it in all by herself. Well done Emma.
We travelled about 300km that day and camped on the Coleman river only about 20km from Musgrave station. Just as we found a spot to camp two more campers pulled in, they were from Weipa and on their first day of their 4 week holiday heading to Darwin. They were planning on taking the road we had just come from as they were told by several sources that the road was open. We showed them our photos of the road and Mitchell river crossing and were grateful we had saved them a couple of days in travel and over 600km extra distance. I guess we are just one of the many travellers this year that will discover for themselves that the Mitchell river crossing is impassible.
It was amazing country to see, how quickly it can change, how remote it can be, but also how beautiful it can be. We loved the Mitchell River and would have loved to spend a few days there and put the boat in but because we were so remote we chose to keep moving.