11/05/12 – Tubey tubey tubey tubey!

The good ol' rubber ring - guaranteed to assist in gorging out!

A slide, then a drop

Awesome reflections

A bit of a scramble

An early breakfast with dodgy milk meant we were concerned about illness, but before long we were in Club 56, home of good times and adventure. A bit of faffing to get kitted up in wetsuits, booties and harnesses then we were straight out into the heart of the Karijini gorge network. First canyonning related activities were a roped rock scramble, a natural water slide and drop off, then an abseil. This got the heart rates up, but it didn’t quite continue at that frenetic pace for the rest of the day – the next couple of hours were spent paddling through the various gorge pool systems and gaping in awe at the gorgeous red gorges.

Bouldering behind the
waterfall

Rocking out

Weathered by time 

Had a decent group as well – the hilarity provided by the two Germans (“If I was giving that a mark between 1 and 10 I’d give it a 20”, “If you want me to stop sticking my face in your ass stop sticking your ass in my face”- silly German accents required to get the proper effect here) offset the two annoyingly girly girls. During the afternoon we had a bit of bouldering action – trying to get through rocky obstacles without getting your feet in the water. It was at this point that the Tony fan group got initiated, due to my insane under-waterfall bouldering skills! Finally, a bit of rock climbing action to get out of the gorges, and that was the day done. We were spent, after an exhausting but extremely satisfying day. Even better that we had only got into trouble twice – Tony wasn’t paying attention at the abseiling briefing and Annaliza turned round during the rock climbing danger speech (“I’m talking about your life!”). Naughty naughty.

 Key Learnings:

Hang time

1.       Western Australians are Sandgropers, Queenslanders are Banana Benders, South Australians are Crow Eaters, New South Welshmen are Cockroaches, Victorians are Mexicans. It must be true – Pete at WestOz Active said so!

2. A bit of sweet talking can score you a free stubby cooler. Get in!