09-Mar-2003 -- This was our second attempt to reach the confluence, this time being successful. Previously we had driven to within 5 kilometres - at that time in 46°C heat walking to it was out of the question. On this visit the weather was much more obliging being only around 35°C - although set up for a hike we actually found a very little used and overgrown track that took us to within 800 metres.

The area surrounding the confluence is normally heavily covered in spinifex grass (which is extremely prickly), but 2 years with only around 50 ml of rain and the occasional lightning strike bushfire sees the area much less dense. Still, we needed to pick our way through and opted in parts to take the dry creek bed.

We found signs of the drought taking its toll on the wildlife with kangaroo skeltons in the creek bed. The poor things must have sheltered there from the extreme heat that is unrelenting in this part of the world hoping that the afternoon cloud build up would bring them some rain and relief.

I wondered about our early explorers who had landed at Nickol Bay near what is now the town of Karratha and proceeded on horses and foot over this harsh land not knowing where next they might find water. Thank goodness for the airconditioned 4 wheel drive!