Julian & Ali Travels


Bella and Kalgan Pools		July 27 2025

		Another day, another move. Heading south from Eagle Rock (we never did find the rock, or the eagle). A reflection in the distance from some mine furniture.

		Big mullock heaps.

		Back through the small gap on Three Pools Road. Through the middle of Aboriginal Heritage.

		Somewhere down there is Bella Pool. We think we can see cliffs and creek. We can find very little information, apart from a camera icon and a visible track on a google satellite image. The track has been graded. It stops at a creek, with about 300m to walk to the pool.

		The vehicle track lasts a little longer than the satellite view suggests. It follows the creek bed. We have only about 100m to walk. The last bit through some reeds.

		But how disappointing.

		But wait. We are a little short of the coordinates copied from the satellite. So we persevere another 20m. A pool opens up. With no obvious way into or past. I had to walk along a fallen tree to a rock to take this pic.

		So I moved a little to the left and took another pic.

		Still not satisfied, we are still a little short of the coordinates. Someone had walked through the reeds, and there was a way to climb up and around. This is from the other end of the pool, looking back. The tree trunk just visible in the gap. The water flows towards me.

		Downstream. A gorge.

		Looking back at Ali and Margaret next to the first pool.

		Looking downstream at a second pool.

		And around the corner a third pool. This is looking north. The cliff face in the distance marks the west to east creek which flows to Three Pools, about 3.5km away.

		Ali and Margaret waiting patiently. They followed once a way forward explored. Its relatively easy.

		Fascinated by how different rock types join seamlessly.

		A bit of scrambling to return.

		The first difficult bit that we nearly didn't follow. But pleased we did.

		The trucks in the creek bed. Peter removing seeds from jacket.

		Tilted bedding planes on the way out. Part of what makes the land so tortured.

		A better view of Bella Pools.

		Back west a little, then south towards Kalgan Pool. The hillside in front reminded us of a grader driver training area.

		We followed a valley. On nicely graded, but still slow, track.

		Still broken ground to our north east.

		We begin to see the edge of Kalgan Creek.

		A lookout. Below us is Kalgan Pool. Out of sight. We are looking west, up the valley.

		The track down to the valley floor. A bit steep, similar to lots of tracks we've been on. With the added difficulty of loose, soft, gravel on a corner halfway down. We watched the Toyota reverse a little to re-align.

		We can just see the pool. Someone has a kayak.

		And looking downstream, east. Our way back to the rail line and Newman.

		Another look at the track down. We walked up it in 2018. Its easier when there are two vehicles if something goes wrong.

		We've walked a bit from the first lookout, and look back.

		Down at pool level. Before we set up camp we have to admire nature's artwork. The pool is behind the trucks.

		Camp set up. We can relax. Its Sunday. A couple of visitors, here for a picnic. And a Landcruiser with a broken half shaft in the rear axle. We offer moral support, the owner has already removed the broken axle, information on Toyota dealer in Newman, and phone use tomorrow. We are a pleasantly surprised Starlink is working, even for streaming tv.

		We heard it long before we saw it. A bit unexpected on a Sunday. An East Pilbara Council grader. Stops for 10 minutes then turns round and heads back whence it came. Taken from beside the truck. The kayak seems to have been left behind by someone. None of the visitors, including us, disturb it. We learn from one of the visitors that the water over the track is less than hub height. Hopefully an easier day tomorrow.

Towards Leonora / Gwalia		July 28 - 29 2025

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