We set off for an early morning hike up Emma Gorge. Were told that its only 1.6 kms each way, but that we should walk within our capability and not be too ashamed to crawl over rocks with our backsides on the ground. Hmmm. That doesnt sound too encouraging. It all starts off easily enough - what were they on about we ask each other; this is like a gentle Sunday morning stroll in the park. It seems we may have spoken just a tad too soon. The trail takes a sudden and unexpected turn for the worse. Were now scrambling over boulders on our hands and knees with no shame at all. We ask in the other direction what the rest is like. One woman has a look of terror in her eyes; it seems she turned back when it all became too horrific. We cross a stream and start to scramble up over yet more boulders. Issy says it might be alright for my long legs, but her dodgy hips are struggling to cope. She reluctantly surrenders and starts the slow crawl back to our lodgings. I reach a sign telling me that the trail is about
to get a lot worse, and that if Ive got any doubts I should turn back now. It then immediately gets a lot easier. The only explanation I up with for this is that someone with a particularly poor sense of humour has moved the sign when no one was looking. The easy bit doesnt last for long before its back to boulder scrambling. I pass a man with his arms covered in blood. The staff at the resort assured us in to carry us out if necessary, which seemed like a joke at the time. It doesnt seem quite so funny now. Issys not here to turn me around so I press bravely on.
The gorge scenery is spectacular, with massive sheer red rock walls on both sides of the trail. It ends at a large crystal clear pool surrounded on three sides by towering cliffs. Waters dripping into the pool from cracks in the rocks. I join others for a cooling dip. It seems that were not swimming alone. Were told that its more than likely that there are freshwater crocs in here down near the bottom, but apparently thats OK, because
I get back to find Issy with a fearful look on her face. I fear the worst. Shes tripped over a rock and broken her leg? No, worse! Theyve unearthed a COVID case in the Northern Territory and Darwins gone into lockdown. We were due to fly there the day after tomorrow, but the hotel weve booked into has now closed itself to guests. I dont think wed be allowed to sleep in the street during a lockdown, and even if we were wed still have to quarantine for two weeks at home afterwards. So it looks like its back to the drawing board with our itinerary. We feel like were being tossed around in a pinball machine thats getting forever smaller. If we want to keep holidaying in freedom it looks like weve got virtually no choice but to stay in Western Australia, so we resolve to go back to Broome. We spend a frustrating afternoon on the Google machine and on hold to the airlines trying to get flights, and car hire cancelled and Theres three or so hours of our lives that
We decide to cool off in the resorts pool. Cool offs right; it cant be this cold in Siberia. Why do they do this? Is it perhaps a feeble attempt to make sure that we stay awake for dinner.
We retreat to our tent for the night. S**t shrieks Issy from the bathroom. It seems that another giant frog has made its way in there and has now taken up residence in the toilet. It looks like its struggling to get out. We dont particularly want to flush it away, and anyway its probably too big and would just block everything up. We search for a lifeline; a toothbrush, that should do it. The giant monster grabs onto the end of it, but before weve got a chance to catch it it lets go and hops off into a dark corner. Where did it go? Hmmm. This isnt good. We close the toilet lid to stop it getting back in. A couple of hours later its my turn for an oh s**t moment. Its back in the toilet; either it or one of its cousins.
Characters
Write Comment
