Day 4 - Skull Springs to Carawine Gorge

: Skull Springs to Carawine Gorge Map.

: Morning briefing at Skull Springs before the road trip continues.

: Nearly ready for departure from Skull Springs.

For some, the ‘instant’ change/shower tent is the bane of their existence when camping. Depending on the variety they are extremely simple, virtually folding themselves, or so complicated as to be a source of great amusement for onlookers watching a hapless adventurer trying to control it back into its cover. We will convert this annoying feature to a competition in the future.

: Mike’s turn.

: Greg and Kim have a go.

Before leaving our campsite we took the opportunity to drive down to Skull Springs.

: Eugene takes his Surf through a pool at Skull Springs.

: Jeff and Micaela through water at Skull Springs.

: Joe takes the Y62 through a pool at Skull Springs.

: Scott and Helen in the Jimny.

Leaving Skull Springs we worked our way further along the Skull Springs Road. It eventually intersects the Woodie Woodie Road but nine kilometres before that we turned into Running Waters, also known as Eel Pool. This was our planned stop last night.

: Track into Running Waters.

: A different Mulla Mulla lines the track to Running Waters. This Mat Mulla Mulla (Ptilotus axillaris) is a very common creeping plant in the Pilbara.

Running Waters is one of a number of great swimming holes on the Oakover River. The track into the swimming hole was washed out – a challenge that Eugene couldn’t resist.

: Nick, Phil and Peter on the walk into the waterhole.

: The track into the Running Waters waterhole.

: The track into the Running Waters waterhole.

: The track into the Running Waters waterhole.

: The track into the Running Waters waterhole.

: The track into the Running Waters waterhole.

: The track into the Running Waters waterhole.

: The track into the Running Waters waterhole.

: Eugene in his Surf.

A short walk brought us to one of those wonders of the Outback – a permanent swimming hole.

: Lots of these at Running Waters.

: What’s a waterhole without a swing?

: Swimming at Running Waters.

: Running Waters

: Running Waters

: Running Waters

: Running Waters

: Running Waters

: Running Waters

: Scott getting out of the pool.

: Small unidentified fish in the waterhole.

: Egret

Time to head to Carawine Gorge.

From Running Waters, Skull Springs Road continues east to the bitumen Woodie Woodie Road but we chose to turn west (back along the track we had followed in) and then head north on the Upper Carawine Gorge track.

: Twisting track with lots of washouts and gutters.

: Peter takes his ‘Cruiser through a washaway.

: Kerry and Steve behind Kim.

: With Carawine Gorge reputed to be a popular spot we were fairly confident we needed to collect firewood before we got there.

: Collecting firewood just before the Upper Carawine Gorge turnoff.

: With so many people, collecting firewood didn’t take long.

There was nothing to see at Upper Carawine Gorge so we continued on, crossing the Oakover River.

: Looking downriver at the Oakover River crossing.

: Peter at Oakover Crossing.

: Kerry crosses the Oakover River in his Nissan Navara.

: Greg and Margot in the Colorado at Oakover Crossing.

: Kirk and Garry at Oakover Crossing.

: Looking upriver at the Oakover River crossing.

: Aaron takes his Nissan Ute through the Oakover Crossing.

: Nick and Carrie at Oakover Crossing.

: Exiting the river.

From the river crossing it is about eight kilometres to the sealed Woodie Woodie Road.

: Parts of the track were ok.

: Re-entrant typical of the area.

: Kim’s Patrol loaded with firewood.

: On the Upper Carawine Gorge track.

: Prominent feature among many.

: Along the Upper Carawine Gorge track.

: Upper Carawine Gorge track.

: Upper Carawine Gorge track.

: Flat top mesa.

: Along the Upper Carawine Gorge track.

: Along the Upper Carawine Gorge track.

: Along the Upper Carawine Gorge track.

: Along the Upper Carawine Gorge track.

: Along the Upper Carawine Gorge track.

The rough track and spectacular scenery continued.

: The track wound through an interesting valley through what could be considered as the southern extension of the Ripon Hills.

: Interesting drive through the mesas and hills.

: Through mesas and hills.

: The track was nothing if not interesting.

: Valley

: Greg and Margot at a unknown marker.

: Twisting, turning track.

: Valley

: Pinnacle

: The tracks leads through a picturesque valley.

: Picturesque valley.

Out of the valley the track is dotted with mesa and other spectacular formations as it winds its way across open plains between the Oakover River and the Gregory Range.

: Wedgetail eagle on the Upper Carawine Gorge track.

When contending with gutters, washouts, dips, sharp, flinty rock and other potentially vehicle-damaging challenges back in the dust of the convoy, I could not help but note the incongruity of the call over the radio of – “I’ve turned onto bitumen”.

The rough track we were on intersects with the sealed Woodie Woodie Road, near two distinctive hills known as Two Sisters.

: Greg and Margot in their Colorado in front of the Two Sisters.

It was then bitumen all the way to Carawine Gorge turnoff. Our road trip for the day finished at the Gorge – at the end of a 14 kilometre, twisting, turning track, with a few reverse camber bends.