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Published: October 8th 2006
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Friendly animals!
Took this from inside the Krooza. Didn't move much, may have been injured, but didn't attempt to give it CPR! Think it was a Brown Snake and they are deadly! 27/07/06
Up just after 7-00 and left for Kununurra at 8-00. Went through the Western Australian Border and into town by 9-00am as clocks went back by 90 mins. Booked into Kona Lakeside Park for 2 nights in a cabin and booked a tour for tomorrow. Into town had a good look round after a coffee. Parked outside visitor centre and someone told us we had a flat tyre and sure enough we did. Went round the corner to Beaurepaires who advised us to have new, as tyres were not good at all. So 2 new tyres later and $548 poorer we filled up with diesel and went back to cabin at 2-00pm. Lovely room no ensuite but big and clean and cool. Unpacked a bit and went to Ivanhoe Crossing, Bim drove over I watched and took photos, Very lush countryside masses of water channelled to the fields, back to park for Bim to cook tea, dark very early, sat on balcony to eat.
28/07/06
Awake at 5-30 guess we are still on NT time, cold night even though we were inside, headed into town to see the rest of the shops before our tour. Picked up at reception
Bullita Stock Route
Not all smooth driving. Picked up a slow puncture here. So narrow that the track was designated as "One Way"!! at 11-30 and other pick-ups around town before driving up to homestead near Lake Argyle. Stopped at the dam to have a wander and onto the boat for the longest river cruise in Australia. Saw the huge turbines emitting 70,000 litres a second into the river Ord. The Dam holds enough water to fill Sydney Harbour 21 times! Excellent trip, Geoff one of the owners full of info, lots of wildlife to see, rock wallabies, crocodiles, loads of different birds. Stopped for afternoon tea at a picnic spot with tables, benches and toilets. Excellent spread, pumpkin scones muffins, fresh fruit tea, coffee, juice and soft drinks. Saw the sunset over the river before ending the tour at 5-45am back at our park, last ones on the boat as he moors the boat at Kona. Felt like it was bedtime as it was so dark, stayed up ‘til 8-30am.
29/07/06
Up and had breakfast by 7-00am, I guess you live by the sun up here. Text from Lisa all seems ok at home. Out by 7-45 and across the Ivanhoe river Crossing and into middle spring and black rock falls. Took the Old Hall Creek Road on to the Highway
Ivanhoe Crossing
Ivanhoe Crossing, Kununurra. Saltwater crocodiles are known to inhabit this area. Sandra wasn't too keen on coming across so had to drive over and then drive back for the photos. We drove across the next day together though (well you didn't expect me to make her paddle did you?) and up to Wyndham. Not a lot there so up the hill to the look out and amazing views. Back to Highway and across to Parry Lagoons and Marigu Billabong, lots of wildlife and Twitchers! Up Telegraph Hill and back on the Highway. Out to The Grotto, Bim went down 150 ft on the 140 steps to the pool below 150ft deep! Back on the highway to Kununurra and to Barra Barra for a smoothie. Got some diesel on the way back to the cabin via Coles for food. Started to pack and get ready to leave in the morning.
30/07/06
Up just after 6-00 and left 7-40am to go into the Bungle Bungles. Had a sandwich and into Echidna Gorge. An hour walk in very hot. Onto Palms Gorge supposed to be 2-3 hr walk but we did it in less than 2! So hot, hard to enjoy the spectacular scenery. Drove on to Campsite at Kurrajong and set up about 4-15pm, bit cooler but no showers!!!! Bed early after Bim had a yarn to some youngsters from Cheshire.
31/07/06
Bim up before 6-00 me just after 6-45am. Did the Cathedral Gorge walk, much better walking in
the early morning, onto Beehive Domes and out of the Bungles by 11-00am. Was beautiful but very busy. Text came in from Paul and Coralie as we came into Halls Creek a signal at last. Stopped for fuel and drove out to Old Halls Creek for lunch. Onto Fitzroy Crossing after 270 kms drive and stayed at The River Lodge, very pleasant and they have showers! Streetlights around the roads which were nice too as could see later in the evening. Had dinner in the bar and went on the internet for an hour to check the girls hadn’t spent all our money and update the blog a bit. Tried to phone mum and dad but not in and the girls not in either!! Sat outside for a bit before bed.
1/08/06
Up at 6-00 very noisy left at 7-00 and down to Geikie Gorge for a river cruise from 8-00 to 9-00am Very pleasant but not so wonderful as River Ord. Picked up supplies and fuel and on to Tunnel Creek. Didn’t go right in as dark and had to wade through water. Bim did it last time anyway. Carried onto Windjana Gorge, really pretty, though quite busy.
Ord River Dam and Lake Argylle
Such a small dam, so cleverly placed to give WA more water than they can handle. In the wet season, the river flows at a rate that can fill all of Perth's water resevoirs in 20 minutes. It took 2 years to fill the lake!! The amount of water would fill Sydney Harbour 8-13 times! Some reports say as much as 18 times. Walked down to the Gorge after setting up camp, lots of crocodiles basking in the sun, so no chance of a swim. Bim went on and came back to camp for a shower in the climatically controlled block and sit in the sun to read. Had tea about 5-30 almost dark by 6-00pm. Bed early again after a bit of Jack Johnson. Travelled 4000kms now.
2/08/06
Up just after 6-00am cold water shower now. Tow Truck came to pick up the vehicle that broke down yesterday. Left just before 7-30 and headed for Derby. Got onto Gibb River Road to find it really smooth and able to do 100kms easily, even saw buses using it. Arrived in Derby just before 9-00 went to visitor centre but not very helpful, and then woollies for supplies. Quite a nice town now, apparently was a bit rough in 98. Drove onto Broome arriving at 1-00pm, had a quick drive round and booked into Ocean Lodge for 2 nights. What luxury, a bed, bathroom, kitchenette, balcony and a laundry downstairs. Had our $3-50 roast chicken for lunch followed by our 20c lamington sponge courtesy of Coles in Derby!!! Went into town to look
Sunset after Triple J tour
You can see the Fruit bats flying off to feed. At this point, only Sandra and I were left on the boat as everyone else had been dropped off at the camps or for the bus. Triple J Tour is not cheap but can definitely recommend it. Jeff, the boat driver is the last remaining "J" in Triple J. round and Bim had a haircut. Watched films on the movie channel till 11-00 and read till nearly midnight.
3/08/06
Got up around 8-00am and into town for tourist bureau, no accommodation or campsites available. Up to Cable Beach for a walk and then drove up the beach had a bit of a sunbathe with all the nudists (not us) for ½ hour at 32c. Back to room feeling a bit off colour so had a sleep while Bim used the pool. Phoned home all is well and went back to Cable Beach to watch the subset, really busy. Saw the camel rides but didn’t participate. Back into town and into an Internet café for 2 hrs, but only updated blog up to 21/7!!!! Had a DVD burnt of all photos to date. Went to MacDonald’s for tea and drove down to look at Matso’s. Bed at 9-45pm.
4/8/06
Up just after 7-00am packing and ironing, left Broome at 10-45 after going into Coles for supplies. Stopped at Port Smith Caravan Park on 80-mile beach for the night. Had lunch and went down to the lagoon 600m down the road. Went straight into the water, as it was
The Bungles
Soooooooooo hot as it was enlosed and not much wind. In places, so quiet that you could hear the Fairies fart! so hot 32c. Water felt cold to start but then ok quite shallow in places. Swam across to a sandy beach, came back and led on the beach for a couple of hours. Drove back to park and had BBQ. Sat out for a while, quite noisy as 3 couples next door having a dinner party. Bed at 8-30am.
5/08/06
Up at 6-30 left at 7-30am and back onto Highway stopping at Sandfire Roadhouse for fuel and iced coffee. Drove out onto 80-mile beach, lovely so quiet and remote, sat there for an hour or so, had lunch and onto Pardoo Roadhouse for ice cream. Drove out to Pardoo Homestead for the night, quite basic but they have showers. Picked up a map of the tracks out to the sea and headed off only to pick up a nasty puncture on the farm tracks. Carried on after tyre change but couldn’t find Mt Blaze though. Back to homestead for tea and bed about 7-30pm.
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Lexy925
Alexis Stratton
Sunset
Beautiful sunset picture!