It was hard to leave manning gorge but we had to move on. We left just after 9am and drove towards Home Valley Station. The views along the way close to the Cockburn ranges and the Pentecost river were gorgeous. Made up for the corrugated road to get there. We had heard that we should camp on the banks of the river but when we got there there was not much shade and it was very dusty so we went back to the homestead camp ground and found a place on the grass under some trees.
We booked in for dinner that night at the bar and restaurant and had nice got showers with great water pressure to wash all the dust off.
Gaz ordered the full rack of ribs and I had the barramundi on a potato rosti. Sam had some hot chips but not many before he fell asleep and we put him down on the floor on a mattress with a blanket. We had a couple of bottles of wine with Frew and Candy great conversation with Malcolm Cindy and Alana. Live music and a great barn like restaurant with a whip cracking demonstration part way through the night. We could just walk the 200 metres to get back to our camp site and fall into a nice sleep.
The next morning Frew Candy and Alana drove back to a lookout just before the station where we got reception so they could catch up on emails etc. Gaz and Malcolm went to try their luck at catching is some more barramundi and Cindy, Sam and I did a walk around the station checking out the swimming pools,gorge, shop and the outdoor chess board.
Frew Candy and Alana came back and we went for coffee at the restaurant, then Sam and I went for a swim in the pool.
Candy and Alana were booked in for a sunset horse ride and had to be at the stables by 2.30pm we had decided we would all head out to the river for cheese and crackers and watch the sunset across the Cockburn ranges. Frew had gone out to fish with Gaz and Malcolm. Cindy Sam and I stayed at the pool and swam.
The girls went off for their ride, the boys came back with new ideas on fishing and combining it with our sunset. Gaz had been offered a spot on Malcolm and Frew Heli fishing trip but it would mean we would have to stay one more night but at the next campsite. It was quite expensive and we decided that we couldn't really do it if we had to pack up and set up camp again for one night. The boys started to get things ready to go fishing again such as preparing dinner and getting firewood so we would have everything ready to go when we got back from the sunset.
Meanwhile Cindy Sam and I went back to the pool. Cindy and I chatted and came up with a great plan. That we all stay at home valley station one more night and do the Heli fishing from here! It was cheaper and it would mean no packing up and setting up for just one night. The boys loved the idea! We immediately booked the trip for the next morning. We had to make the decision with out Candy and Alana but it all turned out good in the end.
Malcolm and Gaz went back out to try fishing off the banks of the Pentecost river. Frew came swimming then went back to camp to make a salad and do some dishes, Cindy helped but they were taking too long so I chucked Sam in the car and raced down to see the sunset, it was spectacular!
Gaz and Malcolm were on the banks of the river trying their luck with a bunch of other guys trying the same. They had no luck. But had fun trying.
Frew and Cindy came out but they missed the sunset, the girls had returned from their ride and didn't feel like coming out.
We headed back and cooked lamb and steaks over the coals with roast potatoes and sweet potatoes and a salad.
The next morning was exciting. The boys all getting ready for their trip of a lifetime. At 7.40am we started walking down to the Heli pad. Safety briefing and photos then off they went. Candy Alana and Cindy went and had a coffee whilst Sam and I stayed at the campsite. Then they came back and went off for a drive to the lookout where they could get internet again. Sam and I went for a swim and had ice cream.
The helicopter came back at 12 and Sam and I walked down to meet the boys. BEST DAY EVER!!
The smiles on their faces and 6 massive barramundi spoke for themselves.
That night we went out to watch the sunset then came back to cook the freshly caught barramundi. It was priceless to watch people driving into the station whilst the boys filleted the fish. The Heli fishing was suddenly booked out.
Sam got to have a ride around the campground with a pony and sulky cart.
Just seeing the smiles on their faces was good enough for me.
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