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Python pool
First waterfall at Millstream National Park! I had envisioned sitting here in Darwin writing this blog with wonderful aerial photos of the Bungle Bungle range from out little 8 seater plane and raving about how awesome our scenic flight was. However, as many of you know, it was not meant to be and instead we ended up with an experience that we don’t wish upon anybody. However, between the last blog and this one, much has happened so I shall come back to the flight in due course (parents, you may want to skip that section!)
After leaving Exmouth, we headed across to Karratha where we experienced an unusual juddering in the van. Thinking that we had shot the suspension, bent the axel or done some other major injury, we called upon the trusty RAC from Karratha who did a sport check and after a few laps and some chin scratching identified the problem. We had a bold patch in a tire that had caused an egg shaped swelling. A quick 1 hour beer whist 4 brand spanking new tires were fitted (at not too much cost either) we were back on the road. On leaving Karratha, we made a last minute detour and
Salty!!
He's a big 'un headed south into Millstream National Park and check out some amazing cliffs and a waterfall. 60Km each way of dirt road and roaming cows helped us make the decision that we were going to avoid unsealed roads as much as possible. Thank god for the new tires. Back on the main road, we swiftly entered and exited Port Headland (nothing to see here), camped on the beach at Cape Keraudren where we thought we saw a Saltwater Croc lurking just off shore (though it could have been a sting ray, the water was murky) and into Broome! I quite like Broome though their Chinese takeaway prices are exorbitant and the mosquito population is far greater than I believed possible. We went to Malcolm Douglas Croc park to get up close and personal with some crocodiles and I’ll never swim the ocean or any rivers/watering holes if there is even a hint of crocs (namely a sign saying beware) as the salties are huge, vicious and mean. I think I fear them more than spiders. The Willie Creek Pearl farm was a great morning out where we learnt about the trials and tribulations of pearl farming, how to identify good quality
pearls and that if I really wanted to I could work 12 hours a day, 7 days a week for 3 months cleaning oyster shells on the back of a stinky boat for a whopping $1000 a week. Tom was all for me picking up some extra work but I wasn’t so keen. I must mention about Cable Beach Caravan Park where we stayed, has an awesome pool!!
Onto Kununurra. It’s quite amazing how diverse the landscape is when you’re driving these vast distances. We went from flat planes to beautiful red cliffs and tall trees. On this stretch of road we came across plenty of roadside bush fires, whirly gigs (willy willys) and drove head on into a fierce storm. You could see the wall of cloud get darker and denser the closer we got. All very exciting! And so, with the rain slashing down and the wind howling, we arrived at Kununurra on a Sunday evening. The plan was, explore, do a scenic flight on the Tuesday, a 3 day kayaking trip from weds to Friday and leave on the Saturday. Exploring we did though there wasn’t an awful lot to
see. We fought the rain through to Ivanhoe crossing (now very famous as it was featured in the movie Australia) where we did some fishing but without any luck. We checked out the Mirima National Park that boasted miniature Bungle Bungles, it was nice, and we pottered around town. A phone call that afternoon cancelled our first attempt of the scenic flight due to the bad weather. Oh, well, we’ll book in for the Saturday after our canoe trip and leave town after, no problems. Tuesday was a work day for Tom. Weds, Thurs, and Friday was an awesome 3 days of canoeing. It was a self guided tour (and we were the only ones on the river) so we were given equipment, tent, map and sent on our merry way. Yes, there were freshwater crocs in the river (they only eat fish and the occasional toe) but we were still very wary of the water. Plus, for the first day, it was over cast and actually quite cold. The 2
nd and 3
rd were much better and sunny and hot but still not enough to tempt us in. We did have one wash though at the bottom of a beautiful
isn't it obvious
fishing, fishing, fishing waterfall where were assured that there were no crocs. It was more of a quick dunk to be honest. We also used this spot to fill our water supply. It tasted very nice. We saw loads of wildlife and stunning scenery, 2000 year old aboriginal art, a few crocs and lots and lots of cliffs. Friday afternoon, we were collected and deposited back at our caravan park where a nice clean cool swimming pool.
(Mum, Dad, Peter, Penny, you may want to skip this part)
Saturday morning up at 5:30, eagerly awaiting our pick up to transport us to the airfield where our much awaited scenic flight was going to commence. There were 2 other couples and the pilot. We boarded flight 1, went through the safety checks, taxied out to the start of the run way went through more checks, and more checks and more checks and was then told that the engine had failed one of the tests and we couldn’t take off. Back at reception we waited anxiously until we were told that there was another plane available but it needed fuel so we waited some more. An hour later that
Not the Bungle Bungles
miniture versions at Mirima N.P Kununurra pilot, with thumbs up, announced we were ready to go. We boarded attempt number 2. Safety checks, engine checks “the plane is in perfect condition, all tests passed”. Some people had problems with their headsets and we wouldn’t be able to take off unless everybody could hear the pilot. We should have gotten off then ‘cos something was telling us we shouldn’t fly today but he got them all working so off we went.
As I haven’t been in a small plane before, I don’t know how planes are supposed to react but according to Tom (who has) it took a very long time for the plane to lift off. I admit that being nearly at the end of the runway should have hinted to me that something wasn’t right but hey, complete ignorance here. About 100 meters up in the air, alarms started buzzing and flashing and the plane tilted sharply to the left at a very steep angle heading back round to the airport, and descending, and then tilted again to the right so much so that I could see (I’m sitting on the right) the ground in fine detail out of the window. What
Canoe!
our transport for 3 splendid days I saw: a freshly ploughed muddy field which had left corrugation in the soil, the fields fence with barbed wire and wooden posts just a few meters away, and the wing tip about 1 foot off from said field with the plane at about 45 degree perpendicular to the ground. At this point there was some panic from the lady sitting behind me (though she did manage to film the whole thing. We’re trying to get a copy) and Tom was in the brace position. I however, was morbidly fascinated and couldn’t tear my eyes away. The plane eventually righted and then almost instantly touched down in a grassy field side on to the run way and we finally came to a stop. Now, I have to admit that writing this, it doesn’t sound too dramatic, however, if you think about what could have happened if that wing had dropped the last foot and hit the ground…
So there we have it, an experience to put us off small planes for quite a while and I didn’t get to see the Bungle Bungles after all! Anyway, we’re safely on the ground now. We got out of there
fast and are chilling out in Darwin. Tomorrow we start our epic journey across the rest of Australia hoping to reach Port Douglas in four days. That’s four days of nothing but driving. No waterfall in sight. Thank god for audio books. I think we’re up to King Kong!
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anonymous
non-member comment
Oh dear Anna. It could only happen to you. It all sounds so exciting though despite the dodgy airplane.How will you ever settle into normal life after this. Keep the emails comming. They are better than a good novel exept its not fiction. Love and hugs. Mum xxx