Dust roads and starry nights

by Arnold
(Amsterdam)

Some tourists find cycling along Amsterdam canals difficult. And indeed it is much more difficult than driving on the Gibb River Road (we experienced in September 2017). As Dutchies who only drive a Volkswagen on broad concrete roads, a 4WD is quite something different. Thanks to Birgit, I was able to convince my wife of hiring a 4WD, and I am grateful for doing this.

We spent a week along the Gibb River Road, with Birgit's book of course. And it proved to be the best week of our six weeks holiday down under (although Kings Canyon and Daintree was lovely too). I must say, the last 100 m to Adcock Gorge was 'bumpy' but I managed!

On this spot, it looked only a little difficult, once on the other side (the water was not so deep) came a part with quite big rocks where it was not a good idea to stop, so I had to keep moving for some 30 meters…  We passed the point of no return. But it worked fine, and the gorge is (as described) like the garden Eden.
On the way back, we passed some Italian tourists who we could not convince to go the same way (by car), they decided to walk…
 
Coming from one of the most crowded, densely populated countries in the world, we loved the lonely dust roads (drivers waved their hands when meeting - we only do that when ice-skating on natural ice in the countryside in winter). Staying along the road, meeting nice people (Fred & Jenny in the shop / gas station near Bell Gorge Wilderness Camp), the nature, fantastic!

And of course the quietness and stars at night (as in the painting of our fellow countryman Vincent van Gogh).

Free after Oscar Wilde: We are all on the dust road, and all of us look at the stars.

Thanks Birgit, for your enthusiasm and all your advice - hope to come back one day.