Wed 27th August – Day 109: Manning Gorge – Silent Grove via Galvins Gorge

Awake with the dawn again, but snoozed till 6:30 when a cuppa called my name. By 7:30 the day was already heating up we are seeing 38 degree days now and it is bloody hot. When everyone was fed we were all keen for a swim so back into the Manning River we went. We all took tyre tubes and swum up the river for ½ hr or so, enjoying the coolness of the water and the early birdsongs.
The kids have elected to do schoolwork in the car this morning so we can pack up camp and be on the road before the heat really sets in. Stopped briefly at the Mt Barnett Roadhouse for a few staple supplies then headed west. We passed the grader soon after leaving and from then on the roads have been excellent.
Galvins Gorge was only 13km down the road and with the temperature already at 34°C we stopped for another dip – A 1km walking trail through dry forest led us to a large pool with waterfall, swing rope and aboriginal rock art lining the nearby rockface, we easily killed an hour or so there taking turns climbing the gum and swinging over the crystal waters. Once again a Water Monitor sat on the rock just beside us surveying the humans as they plunged under the falls.
80 odd km further down the dirt we came to the turn off to Bells Gorge. We stopped to collect firewood then travelled a further 20km of rough track to Silent Grove Campground where we find that Bells camp is closed due to bushfires destroying much of the infrastructure (toilets, showers, fire pits etc). We decide to set up at Silent Grove and spend an afternoon at leisure. For the first time in months I put up the hammock and sprawl out to read a book for the afternoon. Chloe, finding the heat just too oppressive collects the large shoe storage box and turns it into a swimming pool – there she sits in her underpants surrounded by water, writing in her journal – priceless. Toby takes himself off to explore the natural springs behind the campsite and promptly gets lost, he was gone for about 2hours and after an initial panic attack set about following the running water back to camp, where he promptly burst into tears (what a brave soul and so resourceful – our little man is growing up).
A great fire is made but it is just too hot to sit any where near it and we all eat outside under the stars. After dinner, while dad washed up the rest of us crashed out in the hammock with headlight torches and books to keep us entertained.
Silent Grove Campground (Bush $24/night)