Day 53 Zebedee Springs

 Today was a very relaxed day of rest. We headed out from El Questro in the Trailways Clipper, through the deep river crossing and down the road to Zebedee Springs. The springs are thermal and a series of rockpools that are warm and clear but not too deep.  about waist deep on an average height human.  Groups of people are soaking as you climb up towards the waterfall in the distance. As you look up, you see the palm fronds high above our heads, and the shaded and muted orange cliff face. Laughter, chatter, squeals from children, and a very relaxed mood amongst all those soaking in the warm water, about 28-32 degrees apparently. Even I was able to sit and soak in the water, though I did find the rocks too slippery to stand on and climb over, so you sort of had to float around to the spot we found for the eight of us. Brenda and David's daughter Elise and partner Simon joined us late yesterday for this part of the trip. They are in a 4WD with a rooftop camper. They live and work in Darwin, so haven't travelled as far.

After our morning soak, we headed back to El Questro to relax and Matt did a bit of maintenance on the Clipper. We strolled around the El Questro site and walked through the art gallery, where the artist paints various versions of boab trees. There were a few rock pools of their own for guests to soak in (normal cold river temperatures), near the river as well. The helipad is fairly busy with scenic flights coming and going often, there was also horse trail rides for those inclined. We headed back to Bridget and have just rested up for the afternoon, as tomorrow we plan on an early start to do another gorge walk, before it gets too hot. We are making sure each day is different and there is rest happening.

I spent the afternoon also fending off bewildered 4WD owners who can’t work out how we got the busses in here , and German  tourists who can’t believe something that old can still drive let alone out be out here   

Matt and I ventured out to another river crossing and watched various types of 4WD vehicles drive across the river. At one point, a dingo was on the other side and we watched it get close to the waters edge, and I was wondering if it would swim across, but alas another car came along and spoiled that, and the dingo quickly disappeared into the bush. We returned to the campground to enjoy the sunset and prepare dinner. We sat with the group for dinner, and from the dark bushes behind us, there was a lot of rustling and crunching. Our neighbours shone a torch and there in the bushes were some cows and bulls, and they looked back towards us as if to say ‘what? What are you looking at? Nothing to see here!’ They seemed to be heading towards the campground, and about half an hour later, I spied their silhouette against the lights from the campground and soon there was crunching and rustling as they returned into the bushes from whence they had appeared from.