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| Sunset on the Ord River at Kununurra |
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| me at Purnululu (Bungle Bungles) |
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| Geike Gorge |
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| A bull at the Bungle Bungle caravan park |
Tuesday, 21 August 2012
A few more pics
Monday, 20 August 2012
along the way
I ended up leaving Kununurra on Saturday afternoon. I had a lovely morning at the market in the park and bought some fresh vegies and a frozen mango puree thing in a cup. So nice. Also some spring rolls. I booked for a tour of the Bungle Bungles so I had to drive to 250 k from Kununurra to the caravan park at the Bungle Bungle's turn off. The park is at Mabel Downs station and they take you in on a 4WD bus and it takes 2 hours to do 50 k to the National Park and I can't remember how many river crossings. Then 2 hours walking (3 walks) then lunch and back on the bus for an hour's drive to the other end of the range and another 1 hour walk and back on the bus for 2 1/2 hours back to campground. The scenery is amazing but it was very hot and it was a long drive back and the road is so rough. Dinner (pea and ham soup and damper and beef stew and rice) that night was included so glad I didn't have to do anything! What sat by a fire and then had dinner in a big tent. This morning up early (as the sun gets ups early) and drove to Fitzroy Crossing. I have had a swim in the pool - very nice. Tomorrow off to Geike Gorge.
Friday, 17 August 2012
Kununurra
When I arrived yesterday afternoon I was so hot and tired and just wanted to sleep and leave. However after deciding I needed to do some laundry I booked into a site in the shade and did some washing (it only took a few hours to dry) then a swim (nobody in the pool as they think the water is too cold - it was so refreshing). In the afternoon I drove down the road to the "Hoochery" where they make rum and liquers and had a taste of rum and then a coffee and rum cake (it was delicious) then on to the sandalwood factory. They are growing Indian sandalwood here as stocks are being depleted in Indian and Asian. They haven't harvested yet (I don't know how long they have to wait) but are using Australian sandalwood to make products in the south of WA. I went to an art gallery down town and they had some amazing work there and the guy explained the difference with some paintings done in acrylics and other is sand and ochre. Sunset is early here so then off to a restaurant called The Pump House which is on the river and I had a beer and watched the sunset. I left by 5.20 and the sun had set. In Kakadu the sunset around 6.30 pm. I am feeling very relaxed but had better get dinner on. The locals are passionate about their community and have told me many places to go and how I must stay longer. So I might.
Thursday, 16 August 2012
So hot
I am in Kununurra and it is the hottest I have been since I left - I just hope it is a bit cooler when the sun goes down. Now on WA time. Staying here the night and will decide if I am going to do a Bungle Bungle tour.
Update - Myrtle had a fan belt replaced (bought three belts from Repco but only one was right and glad it was the belt that was stuffed!) We waited till 6 pm on the Monday to get it fixed. By the time we went to the supermarket to get food it was 7 pm and most of the campgrounds were closed but one woman took pity on us at the Boab Caravan Park and we got a spot in there so very lucky. A funny little camp ground but very neat and tidy as I think it has new owners and had a bit of a paint and fix up. Nothing cheap though as $25 a night unpowered. On Tuesday morning we headed off to Mataranka. I had been there on the way up north and loved it so it was only a 100k down the road. I wanted to try out my underwater camera. We got to Bitter Springs about lunch time and went twice around the float down the river to the bridge circuit. It is such a wonderful spot! I think the springs must have a health benefit as I felt like a kid! Then a drive down the road to the Mataranka homestead and then out to Kelsey National Park. The spot was Malumjarka (or something I am too hot to look it up) and a beautiful camp area right near the river and $6.60 pp pn. Hot showers and toilets and wood for fires. It was warm but once the sun went down it was nice to sit by the fire as it cooled off a bit. Next morning we went for a walk by the Roper River and it was stunning. I didn't swim (there are freshwater crocs which are supposed to be OK but a guy I met last night said someone told him there are bull sharks in the river - oooo!). We drove back to Katherine in the morning and Kathy got the greyhound bus back to Darwin. It was great having Kathy's company for a short time on my adventures. More fun than doing things on your own. I drove on to Victoria River Road House camp ground. A beautiful spot and only $10 pp powered site. I cooked up some sweet potato and a bit of barramundi I bought in Katherine. I drove to the WA border and had to give up any vegetables, fruit and honey. I had a banana, 3 mandarins and a kiwi fruit for lunch!
I drove into have a look at Lake Argyle which is huge and then on to Kununurra.
A great little campground at Hidden Valley. Very green with hills around.
Update - Myrtle had a fan belt replaced (bought three belts from Repco but only one was right and glad it was the belt that was stuffed!) We waited till 6 pm on the Monday to get it fixed. By the time we went to the supermarket to get food it was 7 pm and most of the campgrounds were closed but one woman took pity on us at the Boab Caravan Park and we got a spot in there so very lucky. A funny little camp ground but very neat and tidy as I think it has new owners and had a bit of a paint and fix up. Nothing cheap though as $25 a night unpowered. On Tuesday morning we headed off to Mataranka. I had been there on the way up north and loved it so it was only a 100k down the road. I wanted to try out my underwater camera. We got to Bitter Springs about lunch time and went twice around the float down the river to the bridge circuit. It is such a wonderful spot! I think the springs must have a health benefit as I felt like a kid! Then a drive down the road to the Mataranka homestead and then out to Kelsey National Park. The spot was Malumjarka (or something I am too hot to look it up) and a beautiful camp area right near the river and $6.60 pp pn. Hot showers and toilets and wood for fires. It was warm but once the sun went down it was nice to sit by the fire as it cooled off a bit. Next morning we went for a walk by the Roper River and it was stunning. I didn't swim (there are freshwater crocs which are supposed to be OK but a guy I met last night said someone told him there are bull sharks in the river - oooo!). We drove back to Katherine in the morning and Kathy got the greyhound bus back to Darwin. It was great having Kathy's company for a short time on my adventures. More fun than doing things on your own. I drove on to Victoria River Road House camp ground. A beautiful spot and only $10 pp powered site. I cooked up some sweet potato and a bit of barramundi I bought in Katherine. I drove to the WA border and had to give up any vegetables, fruit and honey. I had a banana, 3 mandarins and a kiwi fruit for lunch!
I drove into have a look at Lake Argyle which is huge and then on to Kununurra.
A great little campground at Hidden Valley. Very green with hills around.
more pics
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| I plucked a wild goose on the Animal Tracks tour in Kakadu (after Patsy showing us how to do it) |
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| Patsy and Rachel cooking the geese in bark and leaves while the sunsets. I thought I had straightened this one!!! |
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| I think I look pretty daggy! On my kayaking trip down Katherine Gorge with Kathy |
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| happy hour and dinner at Katherine Gorge with Kathy (and Myrtle) |
Monday, 13 August 2012
Katherine. Monday
I am sitting in the shade in the breeze waiting for Myrtle to have some belts changed. Hoping all goes well and won't be here for too long.
I found out by blog that Kathy Bailey (from Beechworth) was in Darwin so contacted her and she caught the greyhound bus down to Katherine on Saturday at lunch time for a few days. I picked her up and we went to the local market for some supplies then headed out to Katherine Gorge. We booked a kayak for the next morning and were lucky to get one as they were nearly booked out. We had a lovely meal - baramundi and salad and a few bubbles in a glass - cooked at the campground. And there was a guy singing around the swimming pool who we could hear from the van. Next morning down to the gorge and hired our kayak (along with many student teachers from Deakin at Warnambool who were up here to have a stint at teaching at some communities nearby). It was cool in the morning and a bit windy so we had a head wind so it was hard going paddling up the gorge. It was stunning with the layered rock cliff faces going up and looking out for crocs in the river. We got out at the end of the gorge and walked over to see the second gorge. We were very wet from sitting in the kayak and decided not to swim. Then as we had to have the kayak back by 12 we head back down the gorge which was so much easier as we had the wind behind up and leisurely paddled back admiring the beaches (and croc nests) along the way and the birdlife. There are freshwater crocs but also salties have made their way down here during the wet which is a bit of a worry. A wonderful adventure and something that I probably would not have done on my own so thank you Kathy. All the fellow campers are on for a chat and talk about where they have been and where they are going. We had another night at the Gorge and Kathy cooked up a storm with potatoes, onions, tomato and feta - delicious. This morning we came into town for a coffee and then out to Katherine Hot Springs for a dip - so relaxing and now sitting in the shade waiting for Myrtle and to see what the verdict is before planning the next phase of the journey.
I found out by blog that Kathy Bailey (from Beechworth) was in Darwin so contacted her and she caught the greyhound bus down to Katherine on Saturday at lunch time for a few days. I picked her up and we went to the local market for some supplies then headed out to Katherine Gorge. We booked a kayak for the next morning and were lucky to get one as they were nearly booked out. We had a lovely meal - baramundi and salad and a few bubbles in a glass - cooked at the campground. And there was a guy singing around the swimming pool who we could hear from the van. Next morning down to the gorge and hired our kayak (along with many student teachers from Deakin at Warnambool who were up here to have a stint at teaching at some communities nearby). It was cool in the morning and a bit windy so we had a head wind so it was hard going paddling up the gorge. It was stunning with the layered rock cliff faces going up and looking out for crocs in the river. We got out at the end of the gorge and walked over to see the second gorge. We were very wet from sitting in the kayak and decided not to swim. Then as we had to have the kayak back by 12 we head back down the gorge which was so much easier as we had the wind behind up and leisurely paddled back admiring the beaches (and croc nests) along the way and the birdlife. There are freshwater crocs but also salties have made their way down here during the wet which is a bit of a worry. A wonderful adventure and something that I probably would not have done on my own so thank you Kathy. All the fellow campers are on for a chat and talk about where they have been and where they are going. We had another night at the Gorge and Kathy cooked up a storm with potatoes, onions, tomato and feta - delicious. This morning we came into town for a coffee and then out to Katherine Hot Springs for a dip - so relaxing and now sitting in the shade waiting for Myrtle and to see what the verdict is before planning the next phase of the journey.
Saturday, 11 August 2012
Little challenges
Poor Myrtle. She has a squeaky aircon fan belt and thought I better get it fixed as I have been reluctant to use airconditioning. I was recommended a good aircon mechanic by lovely Ellen (who used to work at BHS and now in Katherine) who had a cuppa with me yesterday. He was very kind to offer to fix it today (Saturday) but after helping me eventually to get right fan belts at Repco he found one of the bolts seized and if he broke the bolt undoing it, it would mean I would be stuck in car park until Toyota opened on Monday as I would have to get part from them. Anyway I have the names of some guys with garages that will help me next week.
I am having a great time however sometimes I just get over the whole shower/toilet block with nowhere to put clothes and having to wear thongs, the small van with stuff everywhere, dirty camp kitchens that lazy backpackers don't clean (and who also make noises into the night). Having dirty and dusty feet. When having a unpowered site you have to find a power point in the laundry or camp kitchen to recharge phones, laptop etc and generally someone has 6 double adaptors plugged into all of them. Anyway I have had my vent! All is good.
I am having a great time however sometimes I just get over the whole shower/toilet block with nowhere to put clothes and having to wear thongs, the small van with stuff everywhere, dirty camp kitchens that lazy backpackers don't clean (and who also make noises into the night). Having dirty and dusty feet. When having a unpowered site you have to find a power point in the laundry or camp kitchen to recharge phones, laptop etc and generally someone has 6 double adaptors plugged into all of them. Anyway I have had my vent! All is good.
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