We decided to take an alternative route to the Burrows Waterhole campground which happened to be the same route Google maps was telling me to take. The track quickly became very rough and tricky to navigate in parts. For a stretch of 2 or 3 kilometres we were reduced to walking pace and got out to check a couple deep looking puddles we had to drive through. We took a detour to check out Red Rock Gorge even though we didn't expect to be able to see anything due to the low cloud. We did see the muted colours of the gorge through breaks in the low cloud though.
On the drive back to the main track Google directed us down another side track so we went that way. This was another challenging track with one particularly nerve racking downhill section that required some serious thought about which line to take. We both made it down safely with the help of the other spotting for the driver. We stopped for lunch on the main track at the junction of a track where several members run into trouble on a previous trip. We weren't very far from our campground but still managed to find a couple more short side tracks that looped off the main track. We finally made it to the campground about 3 and a half hours after entering the park thanks to all those side tracks.
Once there came the arduous task of finding a decent spot to pitch our tents that had enough room for Dave & Don when they turned up the next day. All the best spots had already been taken but we found a nice spot next to the waterhole.
Later that night the sky cleared and the moon came out.
We woke up to a clear cold morning, Marks thermometer read -2°C.
The waterhole we were camped next to had mist rising from it when we woke up.
Mark and I decided to drive back along the main track and see if we would have time to do a big loop off the main track that we didn't have time for yesterday. Along the way we took any side track we missed yesterday and did a few of the ones we did do again but in the opposite direction. When we came to the really tricky downhill side track we did yesterday we decided to try going up it as we thought it would be quicker getting us to the big loop we wanted to do. We got up the first part fine but when Mark got to the tough part he tried a different path than we took on Friday but it was so loose he lost traction and decided it was safest to winch himself up the rest of the way using a convenient tree. When it came to my turn I tried going the way I went down but I got stuck as well and winched myself up the final part.
We found the loop we were looking for shortly after and started along it. We had no idea how long the loop would take though so we decided to leave it and carry on towards the entrance to meet Dave and his 3 boys and Don & Tracy. We waited for them at an intersection that turned off to Red Rock Gorge. They got there about noon and we all drove down to Red Rock Gorge. The weather was much nicer this time and so it was a nicer view than the previous day.
Next we started back towards the campground but taking the same alternative route Mark and I did on our first day. On the way we found 2 or 3 new tracks that weren't on any maps so we decided to leave them for the next trip in case they turned out to be long tracks and we had limited time as Dave, Don & co still needed to set up camp. After getting to the campground and having lunch and getting the others tents set up we headed off to Rats Castle to check it out. It was getting late when we got to the bottom of a difficult climb and if we did it we risked driving in the dark so we thought it best to leave it for the morning. We drove back to camp after a quick trip to the river. Back at camp we had a roaring fire going to keep the cold at bay. Before we went to bed Mark's thermometer read -4°C but it may not have been 100% accurate.
As it was our last day in Sundown and we hadn't got to do Rat's Castle yet we hit the tracks early-ish at 8am. Most of the Rat's Castle loop wasn't difficult and everyone made the steep hill with huge ruts look easy. Don & me had the advantage of watching Mark and Dave go up first and take two different lines.
The only other tricky part of the track was a very rocky river crossing that everyone got across safely thanks to good spotting by Don & Mark.
Mark took one for the team and got his feet wet in the freezing cold water so he could spot Don across safely.
Dave and 2 of his Mini Me's
On the way back to camp Mark suggested we check out a side track that ran along a dry river bed. The track kept going and going with diversions around any blocked parts of the river bed. Time was getting on so I decided to turn around and get back to camp so we could all pack up and get home at a decent hour. On the way out we did a few of the short side loops but stuck mostly to the main track all the way to the gate of the NP where we aired back up headed home with no flat tyres or damage to the vehicles.
Thanks to everyone who came along and made it a great weekend. There's still a few tracks to explore for our next visit, hopefully in warmer weather though.
Cheers,
Cos.
I just don't think Dave the old coach would have made some of those tracks let alone the passengers 
With all drivers hopefully back on deck next month I may have a better chance of joining in. Well done Cos on your trip write up. I could just imagine all those tracks you went along and the fun times navigating the many wombat holes. I have many fond memories of Sundown 
