You never know what a day may bring…..

Leaving Adel’s Grove bright and early to return to Boodjamulla National Park to canoe the middle and upper gorges, everyone was keen as mustard for a day of exercise and swimming…

We arrived at the carpark at about 815 – Gordie had not parked so well so Kerry asked him to straighten up the car – when he went to restart the Titan it was dead as a doornail!! No problem back at Adel’s…but a problem now! A look under the bonnet revealed a corroded terminal on the battery but after cleaning etc – still no reaction from the beast!

Macgyver had nothing…and it appeared we would just need to leave it as is – do the canoeing and then sort it out on our return. Rosie’s phone had reception (we left our back at the camp and Kerry’s was playing up…) so Gordie used it to call Eddie from SCD to get some advice – Eddie was very helpful and was going to get Chris the mechanic to contact Gordie….

We ventured out for our canoe – Gordie making a toilet stop which proved a near-fatal mistake as he ripped a hole in his forearm on the toilet roll dispenser!!! It was not Gordie’s day – and Branch was nowhere in sight having elected to stay at camp on guard duty.

The canoes were finally launched and we paddled up the middle gorge – marvelling at the sound of a myriad of birds in the quiet of the morning…..

The reflection of the gorge cliff face against the still water was mirror image perfect as we glided silently up the creek surrounded by water lilies opening in the early morning light.

We reached Indarri Falls and decided to have a swim on our return from the upper gorge. At the edge of the creek there was a pontoon and steps with a railing that you could slide the canoes up and over the bank – then carrying them along a short track past the falls and re-launching into the upper gorge creek.

The upper gorge was equally beautiful – still clear waters until you reached the end where the waters were rushing in from a hidden escape in the rocks further into the bush.

Fish abounded in the water and were very friendly – one even taking a bite of Kerry’s hand.

We canoed back to Indarri Falls and all jumped in for a much needed swim..it was such a hot day and the cool water was just what the doctor ordered…. Who needs a shower when you can float under a waterfall!!

Our time was almost up so we raced the canoes back to the hire place….and back to facing the music with the none-performing Titan…

Gordie had a missed call from Chris the mechanic – when he rang back Chris was fantastic – he figured out the issue almost immediately…

A malfunction with a safety switch had now caused the Titan to not detect Gordie’s foot on the brake when he went to start the vehicle…..the solution was a new switch – not possible In this neck of the woods… but a temporary solution was to bypass the switch using something that would conduct current…Chris suggested 2 paperclips – which Macgyver tried to source from the ranger’s office – no luck they were closed…

Macgyver then had the brilliant idea of 2 pen springs…they conducted all right nearly burning his fingers but alas not thick enough to carry enough current…

A bloke parked near us whose name was Phil came to the rescue – being, as his wife described, a hoarder – he had lots of bits and pieces in his car – including a piece of electrical wire that proved perfect.

After some awkward moments and positions Gordie and Trev finally hotwired past the switch and the Titan roared to life…

Back at camp Branch caught up with the action when Gordie received some first aid for his forearm….

and then another issue came to light the Hunter’s had kept quiet…Gordie’s new “Ring of Fire” had melted their table inadvertently – Branch could not help but investigate….

We spent the afternoon swimming again down at the creek – such a beautiful and serene place…..

Lo and behold Phil the hoarder and his wife were down for a swim!!! Such an awesome bloke!!