Pentecost River Crossing: Sunset Splendours and Spaghetti Avalanches

The Pentecost River Crossing is famed for the magic backdrop of the Cockburn ranges. We arrived just as the waters had dropped and were able to camp right on the edge of the river, but far enough back to avoid crocs. 

All day passing traffic forms our alternative TV and social interaction as drones fly, mobile phones and tablets snap the iconic Kimberly pic. 

Bizarre sight of the day was two elderly couples parking their cars on the near side of the river, then taking their shoes off to hold hands and wade across to the far side. There they stayed taking pictures until dusk fell and they waded back, clearly oblivious to the warnings that crocs patrol here regularly. Unbelievable.

A neighbour mentions the German gunman who in 1989 shot several tourists in NT then crossed into WA and shot a couple more on the other side of the river here at a place now called the Killing Tree.

Another passer-by mentioned the croc that attempted to drag two campers trapped in their tent at night into the river, but the campers cut their way out.

Meanwhile an unlucky young couple from Queensland with a trailer managed to burst two tyres on the sharp rocks, then get bogged on our riverside track.

Birds are abundant, including supremely elegant spinifex pigeons.

Evening falls with the twinkle of campfires and wood smoke drifting by. The morning sun rises majestically over the ranges in multicoloured streaks of cloud.

For a drone shot of the crossing, I drove to and fro over large, river stones. Midway the shaking burst open the pasta cupboard and spaghetti and rice avalanches rained down.

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Pentecost River Crossing, Gibb River Road, Western Australia