El Questro - Journey’s End!

18 May. Day 16. 5th and final day of The Gibb Challenge ride.

El Questro Station

0840/1300. 50 KM

The grande finale - fun day!

This day’s ride format was different - a free for all. With only 50 Km to be ridden. People ride together, get attired in fancy dress, whatever grabs your fancy. I did a bit of solo, but shared the balance by riding first with Chris then Juergen. Great mateship stuff to celebrate our adventure!

Only about 10 Km out from Home Valley we encountered the Pentecost River crossing. This is an iconic vista, claimed to be the most photographed spot in the Kimberleys.
The blue waters of the river, with some whitish sand on the banks, but particularly the backdrop of the Cockburn Ranges, make this rather a memorable place. It is tidally effected here as the Cambridge Gulf is not far away. There was some concern about what the water level would be, as it had been an exceptionally wet monsoon season this summer, plus the tidal effect with high tide about breakfast time. But it was a non event. Water was only up to the running boards on the LandCruiser. Easy as! The riverbed consists of rounded boulders about a quarter to half the size of a football. Great entertainment watching the cyclists wend their way across. About twenty percent don’t manage to stay upright and end up in the water. Everyone assumes that with the large amount of vehicular traffic the crocs will have shown discretion and stayed away.

It is bitumen from here thru to Kununurra which made riding somewhat easier especially as the Gibbsterly (the Easterly wind) had kicked in in the previous 24 hours or so. We had been particularly lucky as it is usually predominantly an Easterly headwind throughout the event. Can be relentlessly brutal.

Next pullover point was at the ELQ road sign. This is a must do photo shoot point for Gibbsters. We took plenty! 16 Km to go to El Questro Station stay. Last bit is gravel.

After a bit Chris decided to ride the last section. Jumped on the bike and headed off. Then pulled over when he realised he did not have his helmet on. Did the necessary and then about 300m further on he clipped an imbedded stone which skewed the handlebars and threw him straight over the bike. Very spectacular to watch. But very worrying. He did some ju-jitsu as a teenager and put it to great use doing a somersault landing. His helmet was grazed and dinted. A very lucky escape. A bit of rib bruising and minor grazes. Ironically, 13 km to go!

A final water crossing and we were thru the finish line! Everyone receives a medal. It is enscribed The Gibb Challenge - It’s Not A Race !

We had a cold beer or two, set up camp and went and had a swim at the Rockpool in the Pentecost in front of the restaurant, in that order.
A very pleasant surprise was bumping into my nephew Mitch and his partner Paisley. They had flown up from Perth for about 10 days with a few days In Kununurra and the balance at El Questro.

That evening we had the celebratory dinner on the lawn area of the property. A sit down 3 course meal. There was a choice of Barramundi or Beaf & Buffalo kebabs. How regionally appropriate. Plus a guy playing guitar and singing, doing a fine job.

And I think I recollect a port or two before a later than usual turn in.

So completed a very memorable adventure. Juergen and I first conceived the idea of doing it way back in 2016 if I recollect correctly, after I read an ABC News email about it. As I was retiring from Emirates and Dubai in 2018 we agreed I ( and Margot) would do a reconnoiter in 2019. Which we did as BHVs - Bloody Heroic Volunteers, acting as Camp Marshals under the tutorship of Blackie - Ken Blackhurst. 2020 was the onset of Covid and the event was cancelled. We planned on participating in 2021, but the WA border was still locked up good and proper. Early 2022 Chairman Premier McGowan flipped on his decision to finally open up the state borders, so we cancelled again. It all came together finally in 2023. Well worth the wait, the angst, the planning, the preparation and the execution.

What was so good about the ride? The participation factor. The team strategisation, camaraderie and fellowship and bonding made it so special. I can honestly say it is one of the 5 or 6 best things I have done during my tenure here on Mother Earth.

So let’s front up for next year? No way! Having said that, it may in fact be the last one in 2024, so might need to be done in some shape or form?!

El Questro Station Stay

A lovely set up, quite large, catering for all sorts. As part of the Challenge we were assigned sites in a large and very shady area. Can go very upmarket and in high season glamping is rather (very!) expensive.
Telstra Mbl reception: good
Wifi available. Cafe, restaurant and bar with firepit.Lue lisää