Sunday, June 29, 2008

More of our Traveling Adventures


Monday 23rd June
Today hasn’t been a good day, with one thing and another... We have made it to Derby and had the back window fixed after lunch. Then Ray decided to stay the night here and get an early start onto the Gibb River Road in the morning. He was told about a great bush camp spot about 300ks out, so we’ll get at least that far tomorrow.
Tuesday 24th June
Got a very early start this morning... was good driving on the first part of the Gibb River Road. Lots of road work being done on the first 200ks, out to where the mines are being developed, (gold & iron ore) and then we hit the rough stuff. We didn’t find the campsite that Ray was told about so we kept driving to get to Silent Grove camp grounds. Pulled in there and decided to stay a couple of nights, as it is a great place to stay... Bell Gorge is also there about another 19ks further north. While we were setting up our camper, a fellow camper come over to our camp to ‘have-a-chat’, Ray got talking to him and asked where it was from (as you do). He said he was from Deni, and then Ray said “I bet you’re Bob Fisher?” He said with a very startled look on his face, “How do you know that?” After that, Nell was called over as well and intros went all round. Had a few drinks that night before tea, then the next night we had damper and beer for entre. Ray made a great Herb damper, and it turned out really good. Nellie wanted the recipe, but I told her she would have to get it out of his head... he just throw a bit of this and that into the pot and put it in the coals. On the Wednesday we went for a drive up to Bells Gorge, had to walk quite a way and it was pretty hard is some places, but it was well worth it. The falls were wonderful, we had a swim and the water was freezing, but so exhilarating and a ‘must’ when you have walked over rocky mountains to get there.
Thursday 26th June
Packed and off again, saying good bye to Bob & Nellie. They were going west and we were going east. More of the same, very bumpy, stony, corrugation, driving, as the previous day, but we are still enjoying it very much. Called into Mt. Barnett, to top up our fuel... $2.38 we only top up a bit to be certain we had plenty... We stayed at Ellenbrae station, it was bushing camping and they still wanted $10 pp, so we didn’t stay there any longer than the one night.
Friday 27th June
Arrived into Kununurra about 2.30pm, found this lovely caravan park called “Hidden Valley” and have booked in for a week. We have also caught up with Leonie and Leon Welsh, friends of mine from home, as some of you will know. They are staying here as well, we all went out to Lake Argyle yesterday and had a picnic lunch by the lower part of the dam.
Off to Wyndham today and did the tourist thing, had lunch at the Wyndham Hotel, (another feed of Burra) went up to the Five Rivers lookout, probably the best lookout we had ever seen, absolutely fantastic. We couldn’t get out to the wharf, as they have blocked it off from traffic, couldn’t get to where the old meat works were either as they are about to pull them down. It’s a real shame as it is one of the last of the frontier towns, lot of history. We saw a Boab tree this is supposed to be the largest still standing and it is over 2000 years old, we also saw the Boab Prison Tree, where they used to put up to 17 aboriginals in it over night, when they were taking them to be imprisoned somewhere else. All in all had a great day and good company, with Leonie & Leon. Off to bed now for us as we are very tired, after all our site seeing. So good night, hope all is well....

Monday, June 23, 2008

Good Weekend at Broome

Friday 20th June
We drove back to Broome today, to have a few days there with Helen & Daryl, before we go our separate ways. Helen & I had a great day on Saturday, wondered around “China Town” and checked out all the wonderful Pearl Shops. Picked out my favourite pearl; a beautiful 1cm golden pearl – guess how much? Just a little $15,000. But it was great to have a look at all the beautiful strands of pearls and the designer jewellery.
Saturday night we went out for dinner, decided to have Chinese for a change. You wouldn’t believe how much we paid for each dish... $30 – dearest Chinese I’ve ever had. After dinner we went out to the water edge of the town beach to see the “Stairway to the Moon”. Apparently this phenomenon happens each month, for only a few nights when the full moon rises and the tide goes out over the mud-flats and the reflection of the moon, just glistens. It only lasts for no more than about 15 minutes.
Sunday was another relaxing day for us all. Will be moving on tomorrow again, we are heading back to Derby to have the back window fixed. Ray got them to order it from Perth when we were there last week, so they will put it in while we wait. Helen & Daryl will be going south down to Port Headland, they are going to have a good look around the Pilbara area, and then go down south to Esperance then home across the Nullarbor.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Flying over The Horizontal Falls

The boys went fishing again this morning, they nearly got blown off the rocks though. It is very windy here today, so we really are having another very lazy day, I don't think I'll even go snorkeling, still hot though. Going back to Broome tomorrow for the weekend.
These pictures are of the Horizontal Falls, an amazing phenomena. The water ways and great ridges of rocks, are incredible. We also flew over Cockatoo Island, and the minning work going on there is huge.

Fishing At Cape Leveque


Helen caught a small Spotted Rock Cod, Daryl is helping her off the rocks with it. She was very disappointed that it had to go back... too small.

Ray's catch of the day was a small Blue Tusk fish, very pretty fish but he too had to go back... Daryl also caught one of these.
There were hundreds of these little creators on the beach, when Helen & I got sick of not catching fish we went rock walking, to see what we could find.
Such cute little Hermie crabs!!!

Windjana Gorge

Fresh Water Crocs at Windjana Gorge....



Some amazing colours is the cliffs of this gorge. Just take a look at the rock formation on top of this one... Great thumbs up, aye!!!
Here we have Helen Daryl & Ray walking out through the tunnel where we entered the gorge.

Cape Leveque

We have had a great day yesterday, Helen Ray & I went for a flight around the Buccaneer Archipelagos, over the Horizontal Falls, Cockatoo Island. It was just amazing... Then we went for a lovely walk around the rocks at low tide, I think I’ll have a go at snorkeling today.
Daryl, Helen & Ray have been fishing , they each caught some, but not big enough to keep for the frying pan unfortunately. They have a spectacular display of sunset here as well. The western cliff wall is all a glow of goldden/orange colour just before sunset...
This is the sunset...
This one is the sunrise the morning we went fishing of the rocks on the eastern side of the peninsula...
Will add more pictures after breakkie, please leave a comment when you're here, would love to know when you visit...

Friday, June 13, 2008

Wild Flowers on the Tanami Track





This a really small Ant Mound, there are thounds of them all around. These are some of the wild flowers on the Tanami...