Enjoying the pool at Lake Argyle
The brave mermaids!
Wassa's sunset swim
Pool with a million dollar view!
Relaxing before sunset over Lake Argyle
Mitchell Falls
Some of our pristine northern coastline
Lunch at Drysdale River Stn
King Edward River
The church at Kalumburu Mission
Bob and our plane
More pristine coast
Durack or Pentecost River - not sure which!
View of the Cockburn Ranges16 August: On to Kununurra the boom town established in the 60s for the Ord River Irrigation Scheme. Travelled on to the very popular Lake Argyle Resort adjacent to the Ord Dam. This lake is 'ginormous'!! At present it is 1,200 sq km surface area and 40 x size of Sydney Harbour. Dravo built the earth/rockfill dam from 1969 - 71 and survived 2 wet season floods.
17 August: The resort pool is magic - perched on a gorge edge! Went for the Sunset Cruise - great experience - especially the sunset swim and champagne! The Ord Dam is 60m above river bed and excavated 30m below to get solid foundation. There's a Hydro Power Station and oodles of water which people down south would like to utilise.
18th August: Visited Durack 'Argyle Downs' Homestead Museum. The Irish Durack family established the first cattle station in the Kimberley in the late 1800s. Fay and Yvonne plunged into the cliff-top swimming pool - water quite chilly - very brave mermaids! Dined on fish (a giant cat fish that's only caught in Lake Argyle!) chips and salad in the resort restaurant. It was alright too! Rather windy tonight - big test for our tents!
19th August: packed up our tents and re-loaded the trailer and 'Rover' - getting quite expert at this! Headed off to Kununurra - stopped to view Spillway Creek which is still discharging surplus water from the lake following the wet season. Set up our tent city in Hidden Valley Caravan Park - many shady trees and palms here - weather continues to be sunny and warm. Early to bed tonight ready for big flight tomorrow.
20th August: Out of bed 4.45 am to get ready for pick up by Alligator Airways. Six passengers and we were on our way to Kalumburu. The Catholic Mission on the Kimberley coast established by Spanish Priests in 1908. On the ground for M/T and Museum visit - how did these pioneer missionaries do it? It's now a 'dry' Aboriginal community and looiks good. Next flew on to Drysdale River Station for a Kimberley Burger - humungous! Third leg of flight back to Kununurra crossing the Pentecost River and Cockburn Ranges and tracking along the Gibb River Road. We all travelled well - most with 'Kwell' pills. We were all ready for a siesta on our return to campsite but what an amazing experience it was!
That's it for today folks but never fear there'll be more tomorrow! :-)
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