Saturday 23 July – Joan's Birthday
I was up just after 6am so was able to
walk along and be first in the queue for the washing machine. Joan
and I had a full load between us and we were able to hang it all out
before breakfast and have it dry before lunch.
We spent time sorting out and catching
up before an early lunch at 11am.
After lunch the Triple J tour company
collected us all for our afternoon cruise. Our first stop was the
Durack homestead museum, a replica of the old home that is now
drowned in the waters of Lake Argyle. It was a lovely cool stone
house with verandahs all around and breezeways through every room.
On then to the Lake Argyle caravan park
for a quick look at the infinity pool then over the dam wall to a
boat on the downstream side of the dam, on the Ord River.
Our captain Geoff then gave us a
fantastic tour of the Ord River and Lake Kununurra back to our
caravan park. The boat was very manoeverable even though it was large
and could travel at speed or extremely slowly. Gill and I spent most
of the trip standing at the back and “water skiing” holding on to
the back of the seats.
The contrast in views whilst travelling
fast then slow was amazing. We were able to see details of plants
(including a Brachychiton in flower), jacana with chicks, and quite a few crocodiles,
flying foxes and bird species.
Three and a half hours and 50km later
we arrived back at the lodge to meet our BCA workers for this part of
the trip.
Sunday 24 July
This morning was an early rise – up
to be collected at 5:15 for our flight over the Bungle Bungles. Our
to the airport and onto a 14 seater plane I had much trepidation
about air sickness. I had taken 2 ginger tablets but because I had
not eaten I took a few of the free lollies at the airport to suck on
the way.
It was a beautifully still morning and
the flight was so interesting I did not have a second thought about
air sickness.
All along this Top End trip we have
seen so many things that defy description. The Bungles were
magnificent and I'd love to have the opportunity to walk amongst
them. Perhaps another day? I'd love to experience the acoustics in
Cathedral Gorge.
But the other vistas were equally
majestic – the huge expanse of water in Lake Argyle, the wide flat
flood plains and the tilted ranges. It was surprising just how much
of the land out here is held together by Triodia (spinifex). It is a
carpet of rounded clumps.
On the way back we circled the Argyle
Diamond mine which is a huge open cut mine and now is also
underground as well. Apparently it is to close by about 2020! I wonder
if there will be any restoration of the scar on the landscape?
We were provided with lunch at the
church then had an hour or so back at our rooms before getting back
on the bus for a drive out to Reach Beyond, a shortwave transmitting
station for christian radio broadcasts made for areas in other near
countries that do not have any such transmission possibilities;
countries like Indonesia, Japan, Thailand, Korea, China and India.
They cannot afford their own individual transmission stations for
their christian minorities so by having one centre in a relatively
'safe' country they can all have their programs broadcast.
Alan was even directed to drive us out
amongst the antennae in the middle of a paddock. As he later
exclaimed, he was quite worried, not about the rough terrain, but
about manoevering a huge bus between all the tie wires of the aerials
and towers. He had visions of the domino effect if he brushed just
one.
It was really hot (34C) and we were all
pleased at the decision to return to the resort for an hour or so to
cool down before dinner. I was so drained and tired after our early
rise and hot day that I went to bed at about 7:30pm.
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