Whay ‘Aay WA

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“Welcome Abroad” (well that’s what it feels like at the border crossing) to “Western Australia” the state “Without Alcohol” (well cask wines) but “What Alternative” “Was Available” to two “Wandering Abnormals”?

The very nice man at checkpoint Charlie confiscates all our precious celery but doesn’t notice Kathy, Vicky and Wendy on the back seat (3 lovely QLD cane toads we had befriended).

Western Australia - how long did it take the boffins to come up with that name???

Anyway, this little blog is going to cover the very pretty Lake Argyle, the spectacular Bungle Bungles, and contrary to what we said in the last blog, is going to contain some technical info on both.

Lake Argyle turnoff is just 6km over the border and is the largest man made lake in Australia. It is very long and half as wide and is the result of building the Ord River Dam completed in 1972. It is classed as an inland sea and its sole purpose is to provide irrigation water for the flatland stretching north of Kununurra. One of the main crops is the Sandlewood tree used in cosmetics (it’s a pity they don’t sell them cheap to some of the locals). Whilst the only camp site at the Lake has a wonderful but cold infinity pool, it doesn’t have TV or internet coverage, but we still have 3 great days there, Saturday evening being the climax with a sunset cruise and swim in the lake.

We move on so we can re-stock the fridge so Kununurra is our home for the next 3 days. We decide to hell with the budget so we booked an excursion to the Bungle Bungles, the itinerary - fly from Kununurra following the Ord River to the dam, then continue the length of the Lake (75km long by the way) then over two vast homesteads, we circle the Bungle Bungles from the north before landing. Our 4 hour walk heads for Cathedral Gorge, where we have lunch, followed by a stroll down Piccaninny Creek (where the last part of the QANTAS advert ”I still call Australia home” was filmed). We had afternoon tea at the base camp before our flight back covering the rest of the Bungles and the Argyle Diamond Mine (lots of ways to see and do the Bungles but this was brill)

On our third day we drove to Wyndham via a beautiful billabong called Parry’s lookout which was a haven for birds, then have lunch at Five Rivers Lookout. Apart from that save yourselves the effort. We returned to Kununurra to visit the Hoochery Distillery, and a couple of galleries that do sculptures from Zebra rock. This rock is unique to the Kimberley Region and a very nice piece is purchased and now carefully wrapped and packed.
(For more technical info on Lake Argyle and the Bungle Bungles visit www.fullofbullshit.com.au)

This blog comes to you from a very nice camp site at Fitzroy Crossing, but Broome is calling us, well mainly Debby having heard several stories of well endowed males strutting their stuff at Cable Nudist Beach, however she will have to put up with Steve until next Saturday……

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Comments

[Wendy]

Brilliant photos as usual. Thanks for the update. It was great talking to you the other day.