Burke

Arrive here -after doubting Andrea, wondering what in the world we're doing on reasonably rough gravel road, intermittently passing burnt out car bodies, seemingly on the way to nowhere (towards Gregory and Burketown), a Wiki Camp with 1 x 5star rating with no mention of caravans, doing coming along a 4WD track into a river bed area - stunning, our best free camp site yet I'll say at this early settling in stage !!
After working out our camp position, Roger does a long reverse with caravan to eventually decide to turn around and park so our door and awning faces the water. We have lunch, leftovers - sausage casserole and silverside. I also have some yoghurt with a banana. Roger has blown up the stand up paddleboard so he goes and uses it. I'm warm enough to go for a swim....but happy to sit and relax in this gorgeous setting. Once Rog back from his paddleboarding, we sit and enjoy a drink. Then we go for a walk together to check the extent of the camping area along the river. Beautiful 'hideaway' with maybe 1 km of camping choice - at least 15 other camping couples/groups here, but don't feel crowded. Ones we chatted to have been coming here for years and stay weeks (7+), they tell us they try and keep this spot a secret! I can see why! The serenity is magic.
We get back to our campsite, Roger jumps in the water again to cool off, then organises our campfire for the evening. We decide on cold silverside and salad for tea, followed by some fresh pineapple (we bought a large whole one for $3.50). Enjoy a few more drinks - beers, followed by Midori and sodas beside our fire pit. Beautiful, calm night. Roger heads into caravan to have his shower, I follow in and decide to leave dishes tonight (only a few) and we'll do them with breakie dishes in the morning. Now relaxing before heading to bed to read.
Thursday morning sees me happy to get up 6.50am to go for a shuffle. It's cool, but can tell it will be warm later...I enjoy checking out the camp area, discovering another track that leads to more riverside camping - beautiful too, no one there at present as not so suited for caravans to access. I get back to our caravan and discover while out with my mobile there's been enough service (none at our campsite) to get a message from Stacy that her Nan (Lorraine East) passed away this morning - sad news for our family. Roger is up and waiting to have breakfast with me - he's already eaten some toast, but made up porridge to share with me. While this happening, camping neighbours leave, this sends Roger into 'shift' mode as he'd prefer that camping site as we can get more sun for our solar set up. I manage to get our dishes done and get changed before we move. I felt sad to leave our original spot, but no longer, as our 'new' campsite is better all round! Settle here before we go driving - show Roger the other camping area before driving out to go check out town of Gregory.
Get back to our camp just after 1pm. I'm relaxing, writing this up while Roger is in the river. Swim time for me too. While in the water I have a nice chat to neighbours and meet their dogs Bear (kelpie X - young) and Wondron (Border Collie X - old). After this swim I stay in my bathers and get in our hammock and read my book, Michael Robotham 'Storm Child'. Roger sitting reading, while running the ute to charge batteries, he goes in and out of the water to stay 'refreshed'. Roger prepares our tea, mince, cabbage (from Steve and Jenny) , vegetables with bolognaise seasoning on the campfire. While this cooking we both have another dunk in the river - bliss! Little flying insects abit of a 'pill' this evening, so we eat inside (now dark), then I have a shower and Roger does our dishes. Roger decides he can manage without his shower, so we're both relaxing, reading before bedtime.
Friday morning 7am I head off for a walk - happy to check out 'off shoots' of the entrance track, none lead anywhere particular- just bush camp areas, people looking for wood etc. At entry gate, try my luck with mobile service (I want to get a bread & butter pudding recipe) - no go today (phew, lucky I got Stacy's message yesterday). Head back to camp, but detour to other camp area to chat with lovely lady I met yesterday morning walking her beautiful border collie Eddie. Yes they're at their camp, so enjoy meeting Matt (the husband), Vanessa and patting Eddie. They're from Tasmania and will be staying here 3 months ( until end Sept) before heading home back to work. Get back to camp 8.30am, Roger up and had breakfast, now reading in the hammock. I have my breakfast, tidy up (get quite a few dead bugs out of our bed) and vacuum up more little bugs. Fingers crossed these little bugs aren't about again tonight. Bathers day today, no plans to go anywhere. R&R, enjoying this fabulous camping spot. Lunch today is yoghurt and fresh pineapple for me, cold meat salad sandwiches for Rog. We both continue to read our books, I've claimed the hammock. This afternoon we get some new campers as close neighbours, Roger assures them we don't mind sharing our 'spot' as we'll be going tomorrow. Once they're settled - 2 Ute's with roof top tents, we all end up swimming in the river. Turns out to be a couple who have been coming to this area to holiday for 30 years, and a friend they have brought along for the 1st time. They are staying for 6 weeks - some of which other family and friends will come and join them. Roger and I have fun using our paddleboard - have offered to the others, but no takers. Back to reading and relaxing before we have our tea - reheated mince and vegetables done on the portable gas burner as we don't feel the need for our fire tonight.
Roger showers, we tidy up and stay in our caravan. Roger goes to bed, I'm sitting up reading - quite into my book Dean Koontz 'Devoted'. Soon be off to bed too.
Saturday morning - another beautiful day in paradise, so sad to be leaving today - will definitely have to return (preferably with family and friends). I get up around 7am to go for my shuffle. When I return I collect Roger for my cool down walk and we visit the Tassie camp so I can introduce Roger to Matt and Vanessa and their gorgeous dog Eddie. Return to our camp in time to greet on older man walking their 3 dachshunds Matilda, Rosie and Basil. Have a lovely chat too with our camping neighbours - they're giving us camping spot tips. We have breakfast beside the river - Roger has been preparing for us to leave. Next I have a swim before I shower, get organised and off we go around 10am.
We agree this is the nicest free camp spot yet!!Read more