NW WA Tour - Kununurra

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?

Back to the resort for a quick breakfast then off to church at St James Anglican. The service was low key but the band had a guitar, clarinet, flute, recorder and two excellent singers.

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.

NW WA Tour - Katherine

Wednesday 20 July

Up early this morning to have BBB and breakfast at 7am. After breakfast I had time to walk down to Home Billabong which was beautiful in the early morning light.

We headed south west towards Pine Creek passing some beautiful scenery and a few kapok trees. At Mary River roadhouse we had a stretch and at Pine Creek we found a park for a cuppa at the historic railway station museum.

On then to Katherine where we bought our own take away lunch to eat together under a shady tree. I found a twisty clothes line at a camping shop then went for a walk over the Katherine River footbridge.

Our afternoon entertainment was a dip in the Katherine Hot Springs. It was most refreshing as the water was in the shade and just warm enough to get straight into. We wallowed away the time whilst chatting together.

We arrived at the motel at about 4:30pm and had enough time to shower and rest before dinner.

I must be improving movement wise because I was able to cut my nails on both feet without pain in the hip or knee. My cold has gone and apart from being a bit stiff in the mornings I am able to walk well without using my stick.

Thursday 21 July

We had a more relaxed start to our day today with our first stop at the Katherine School of the Air just along the road. It is amazing how the technology has changed since Surrey and I visited the School of the Air in Alice Springs in 1975. The lady who presented (school holidays still) just make the whole process come alive.

Next stop was the Nitmiluk National Park and, after lunch at the cafe, our Katherine Gorge Cruise. It was really hot on land but quite a cool breeze was coming down along the gorge so as long as we were not in the sun for too long we were quite comfortable.

We saw a few fresh water crocodiles along the banks but the amazing part was the steepness of the cliffs on either side – almost vertical walls in many places.

Back to the motel by late afternoon and after resting our ankles vertically up the wall Joan and I went for a cool dunk in the pool. A shower completed our activities for the day before packing ready for tomorrow's early start and long drive.

Friday 22 July

An early start this morning with breakfast at 6:30 then off, heading west towards Kununurra. The kapok trees became more common in the savanah/woodland vegetation. There were some large mobs of grey cattle around the tanks. The termite mounds were plentiful but smallish and stood stark in the areas of blackened trunks and burnt grass.

We stopped at Victoria River roadhouse for morning tea with the day warming gradually.

Road trains of cattle and fuel and lots of grey nomad motor homes passed us heading east.

At Timber Creek we stopped for lunch. Sandwiches, cakes and fruit were all waiting in the dining room when we arrived with the temperature climbing ever higher. After this stop the boab trees became more numerous with a few quite big ones along side the road.

By the time we arrived at the border to eat our remaining bus fruit at the inspection station it was well into the mid 30s and we were all quite drained. The inspector was quite jovial telling us all to line up for a body search before we walked across the border to be picked up by Allan on the WA side.

On into Kununurra and the Lakeside resort. With the time change we had lots of time to relax, rehydrate and resalt before a delightful sunset over the lake and heading down to the dining area for pre-dinner drinks. Dinner was delicious – scotch fillet and prawns with vegies.

As Allan has a day off tomorrow we'll have plenty of time to wash and catch up on diaries before our afternoon activities begin.