Tuesday, May 7

Escaping to Umbrawarra Gorge

Rather than sit at home for the May Day long weekend, we decided to runaway from the clutches of reality and escape to the picturesque Umbrawarra Gorge. A place where were were under the impression that was only known to a few. Previous visits to this natural beauty in the wilderness have seen us have this bush oasis almost exclusively to ourselves. Naturally we were kind of expecting the same again.

As we neared the campground we began to see a sea of car rooves. Our secret destination was apparently not so secret after all.

 Following this many cars out of town is very unusual for here. 
Since they all turned off well before us we were certain of solitude when we arrived.

After a three hour drive, the last of it on a rough 4WD dirt track, we had few options but to see if we were able to squeeze ourselves in somewhere. The remoteness of it all meant that we couldn't just see if there was somewhere else nearby. We had to make room or face more long hours in the car.

As fun as it was getting here, we were in no rush to do it again, at least not immediately.
Turns out not only were we able to squeeze ourselves in but also spread out quite comfortable. Luck would have it that there were some day campers leaving right next to the last patch of greenness that we had our eye on. Before long our new home for the next days was set up and it was time to check out the water levels.


Umbrawarra Gorge is a seasonal waterhole. Some years if there is not much rain then there is not enough water to dip your big toe in. Other years however it floods and you can stand with water over your head. While there might not have been much rain over my house this wet season just gone, there certainly seems to have been a lot out this way. 

In all our years of coming here this was by far the most water we have seen. Mind you it is the earliest in the year we have been there so that may have a little to do with it as well.

As disappointing as it was not to be the only ones to visit this special bush retreat this weekend I was determined to not let it spoil my time. In true Rhianna fashion it wasn't long before I found the inevitable bright side.

With so many people in such close proximity it was the perfect opportunity for some hard core people watching.

The first night saw us sharing our fire with two young couples. And when I say young I mean late twenties/early thirties. So perhaps what I am really saying is more about how old I feel but that is a post for another day I am sure. Regardless of this though to me they were highly entertaining.

The two women, let's call them Yvette and Shannon. Which may or may not be their actual names, and either way it doesn't really matter. Anyway it was beyond evident that Shannon and Yvette were not friends. They only reason they managed to be as civil to each other as what they were was due to their respective partners, Josh and Reece. Who were clearly long time bum chums and would never not have each other in their lives, regardless of what some bimbo girlfriend may or may not think of the other's partner.

Due to the proximity of our respective sites I could not help but hear and as such listen to their conversations. The snarly comments from Yvette to Shannon were hilarious. All kinds of entertaining I tell you. 

Well actually I can't tell you because I can't remember the specific one liners that made me giggle the most.Which bugs me endlessly. I spend so much energy if you will, enjoying the moment and really being in the moment, that the next day I can't actually remember the specifics of what made me tickled my fancy.

Which is exactly why I haven't written about how at DPCON13 I said something so funny that I made the very lovely Tina Gray snort. Not once but twice. I think though the second one was as a result of me saying I made Tina Gray snort, I am so blogging about that after the first rip roarer of a snort I managed to somehow induce.

For now though I must bid you adieu. The block of this post was written while we were away. Mr Awesome took the girls for a bit of a rock climbing adventure leaving me to pen this masterpiece. The next lines I have scribbled down go ... 

... Anyway I would love to sit and keep sharing the antics of our adventures but the tribe has returned from rock climbing and is in need of food. The description of the toiler will have to wait. Which I am sure you will just be on the edge of your sit with anticipation as you wait for that one.
The dunny pit, as my girls liked to call it, not that they actually used it mind you
Stay tuned for all the exciting details :)

It's Tuesday and I have blogged. 
You should too then you could join in with IBOT over at EssentiallyJess.

Do you like escaping to the wilderness?
Are you a people watcher?
Where you there when I made Tina snort?
If you were and can recall my humorous moment please drop me a line.


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23 comments:

  1. OMG! I was there! But I can't remember what it was you said! I do know though... Tina is going to be all embarrassed that TWO people have mentioned she snort laughs... I got away with it cause I snort laugh too... you don't lol

    I want to move to NT. Somehow I have to get OgreDad to go to NT for a trip so he will want to move too. It's so beautiful up there... although me and humidity *blah*

    Them loos are gross, I hate using them when camping or travelling. We used to have pit loos out west at the cricket ground and the church - being a Mum I knew where every toilet around town was. As you do! - I always had to go in and hold the kids because they would freak they were going to fall in!

    Have a fabulous day Rhi xx

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    1. I had a feeling you didn't remember because I think I actually asked you if you heard at the time, well not at the time but not that long after and you didn't. Oh and for the record, I am a snorter at times, thankfully those times have not been around fellow bloggers xx

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    2. "Oh and for the record, I am a snorter at times, thankfully those times have not been around fellow bloggers"... Yet lol

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  2. What a gorgeous spot! I wish I was there, well except for the loo part.. oh and the camping part. ;) I would have loved the people watching and listening though, bickering girlfriends.. you just can't buy entertainment like that! #teamIBOT

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    1. It really is so beautiful Sophie, you don't have to use the loo, there are plenty of trees to hide behind. Man these girls one of them was nark central, the other chick could not win a trick

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  3. Great pics! (tho the Dunny scares me)

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    1. Thanks and if the outside scares you wait till you see inside it

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  4. People watching is my favourite hobby!

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  5. That sounds wonderful, Rhianna. What a great break from it all!

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  6. Sounds like a great place to go to for a break !! I love people watching too and one liners are fantastic - no matter who says them !!
    Have the best day !
    Me

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  7. The wilderness? Never
    People watcher? Oh, yes, from hell! I would have loved to be listening to those two for sure.
    Tina Snorting? Wish I was there for that one :)
    Becc @ Take Charge Now

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  8. I wasn't there for the snort ;o(

    But I love that place! You're spoilt for choice up there!

    We go to a place that has a dunny pit too and quite seriously, I'd rather go nature style than hike up there to use the loo. It stinks, there are blow flies and I'm petrified that something will jump on me and I'll fall in.

    I know this probably sounds dumb to you being a NT local but how do you know there aren't crocs in that water? I'd be packing it.

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  9. That looks amazing. Love the photo through the wing mirror! I love to escape anyway rural, although usually to get away from my neighbours!! I bet the stars were amazing???

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  10. I'd rather escape to the beach, but lately, I'd escape anywhere, even the wilderness, if it just meant getting AWAAAAAY from it all! Glad you had a great time! You're going to have to start writing stuff down so you don't forget. BTW, I'm a snort laughter toO! xo Aroha

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  11. Wish I was there for the snort! Nothing like hearing other people talk honestly - it's quite amusing, especially for a socially-deprived MOT!
    I can't wait til our kids are older to do this xx

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  12. I have only been to Umbrawarra once, but I'd love to go again! Boatman would be super keen to I think, so maybe we will have to check it out. The only thing that bothers me is crocs...

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  13. Sometimes I think I should escape to the wilderness more often! But usually for me it is the beach. And I am not very good at camping. And no I never heard the snort either!

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  14. Beautiful pictures! I love escaping in the wilderness but I never camped, can you believe it!

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  15. Looks beautiful. Laughing at the rest xx

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  16. This is such a beautiful spot! And the entertainment would have been hilarious :) x

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  17. Looks like a beautiful spot... how dare the public know about such a place? Always disappointing when you realise a special spot has to be shared, by sooo many. I too love the people you come across whilst camping. Camping around others is definitely a brilliant time for people watching. People and their relationships are soooo interesting. The best kinda Days of Our Lives to watch that there is!

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  18. Wow! Looks absolutely amazing!
    I wish I knew what you had said to make Tina snort...twice! I'm sure it was a monumental moment!

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  19. Such a gorgeous location , sans the loo .
    I love that you made Tina snort x 2.

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