T.V and Pumphouse

As our visit to Kununurra is starting to come to an end, today was the day for housework (takes me so long NOT!) washing and preparing for our next destination, which we are unsure where that will be yet. But it was also the day to tackle the satellite TV dish, I wasn't going to let it beat me. And I am happy to announce it didn't, it took a while and with the help off a fellow camper we now have TV. Not that we will watch much on it but it's nice to have it just to veg. out sometimes. Shane's glued to it at the moment watching The Ashes.

I wasn't going to let this dish beat me !!!

Yeah we have TV !!

A couple of people had recommended The Pumphouse Restaurant & Bar for dinner, so tonight was the night to actually do my hair and get dressed up just a little and go out for a nice meal. We decided to sit outside but after being there for 30 minutes we thought we had made a mistake. There were millions of little bugs flying around everywhere. They were so bad we were considering not staying for dinner. But the owners turned the lights out and with the yellow lights on the tables it all but got solved the bug situation. Our meals were quite good but the desert of Apple Pie, ice-cream, cream and fruit was to die for.

Yummy Desert

Sunset @ Pumphouse Restaurant

Wyndham

Today we went for the 100km drive to Wyndham. We had been told there isn't much to see there but as I say with everything - I would like to experience the nothingness for myself. Wyndham with a population of 800 is the oldest and northern most town in the Kimberley region. Established in 1886 as a result of a gold rush, it is now a port and services area for the East Kimberley region. The main export from Wyndham port is in live cattle to somewhere in the world and nickel to China. One location not to be missed is the Five Rivers Lookout. The Five Rivers Lookout is at the highest point of the Bastion Range (330m). The local Aboriginal name being Bahdarwi Range. The Five Rivers Lookout provides a spectacular view of the Gulf into which the rivers (Ord, Forrest, King, Durack and Pentecost) flow. I was fascinated how much salt lay in the areas where the water had receded in the dry season. I agree that there isn't a huge amount to see in Wyndham but its has a very interesting history.

Moving Nickel for export

Cattle waiting for export

Salt pans as far as you can see

These large bronze statues of an Aboriginal family and native animals are a proud reminder of the Aboriginal heritage of the Wyndham area. The family group of statues are known as the dreamtime statues. They were designed and built by Aboriginal families, traditional owners and descendants of the stolen generation.

 

Rum and Sandalwood

Today was another beautiful day in Kununurra, although I did have a minor hiccup in the morning (don't want to dribble on about it) that sort of set me back for a little while. But once I got things in perspective in my mind all was OK again. Anyway today was a day for a little bit of sight seeing. First it was off to the Hoochery - I know everyone thinks it has something to do with marijuana - but it is actually the Oldest Continually Operating Legal Still in Western Australia. They produce very high alcohol content rum. Shane had a taste and it nearly blew his head off. It was so strong (56.4% alcohol) his eyes started watering - ha ha it was pretty funny. Then it was off to Mt Romance - The Sandalwood Factory, which I was very interested in as years ago when my son Shane worked in Kununurra, he actually worked for this company (TFS - Tropical Foresty Services) on this Sandalwood Plantation. It was very interesting learning all about the Sandalwood, they also sell lots of products that contain the Sandalwood Oil - I bought a tube of hand and body lotion.
An interesting fact about these very slow growing trees is that they are a parasitic plant and require host trees next to them to provide extra water and nutrients by joining roots.
However, after the sandalwood is harvested, the host trees are useless, with new host trees being planted as new sandalwood is grown.


The Hoochery



Sandalwood Trees growing along with their host trees.



Backpackers enjoying Lake Kununurra -
don't think I would chance it here, could be Salties (Saltwater Crocodiles)!!

I also have to share my photo of the sunrise last Monday morning as we were leaving Lake Argyle. Pretty amazing hey?


Lake Argyle Sunrise

Katherine to W.A

Yeah I am back on the grid after having no Internet or mobile phone coverage for a while. I was actually nice not to have all the electronic stimulation for a while. We are in Kununurra, Western Australia until about next Sunday then probably without reception again for a while. But my past week has been very enjoyable indeed.

Wednesday, July 3rd

We headed off from Katherine at about 10.00am for our journey to Victoria River Roadhouse. The park where we set up was really only a big paddock with connections for our electricity, but it had a really good feel about it. I went for a little walk along the old road (before the Victoria River Bridge was built) at sunset and the reflections on the river were beautiful. Down on the base of the bridges pylons a Freshwater Crocodile lazed away the end of his day.

Beautiful reflections on Victoria River

Just Chillin !

Thursday, July 4th

Victoria River to Saddle Roadside stop. This stop is as it sounds just a roadside stop although it did have toilets - drop toilets but at least toilets. If anyone doesn't know what a drop toilet its a huge hole that has a toilet sitting on top of it. They don't smell very nice at all, but they serve the purpose.
I didn't have to many high expectations about our stop as it was only an overnight stop. But I was pleasantly surprised, the rock formations were really good.

Amazing Rock face

Shoe Tree!!

Friday, July 4th

Saddle Roadside stop to Lake Argyle. First of all I was pretty excited to be crossing the border in Western Australia as it's the only state in Australia I have never set foot in. W.A have very strict quarantine regulations and you cannot take fruit, vegetables, honey, plants, soil etc. into the state. They even had us open the van and have a look inside. Not that we had anything as we already knew about the regulations. Just over the border we turned of to our first destination in W.A. I knew nothing about Lake Argyle before getting there, I just thought it might be nice to stay near a lake for a few nights. Wow - was I surprised when we got there. We stayed at Lake Argyle Resort, which is a great caravan park with the most amazing Infinity Pool I have ever seen. Lake Argyle is Australia's largest artificial lake and was born when in 1971 the Ord River Dam was completed. The Ord River dams provide water to over 117 square kms of farmland. The Ord River also generates power for the local community of Kununurra. We had  a lovely few days there but our last day would have to have been the best. At 2.30pm we set sail out on the lake for a sunset cruise. We learnt lots about the lake and the building of the dam wall. Saw lots of different birds, fish and of course some freshwater crocs. But to top it all of at sunset the skipper tied the boat to a buoy and some of us had a sunset swim in the lake. The depth was about 17.5 mtrs and it was about 24.6c which is pretty nice to swim in.

Lake Argyle Resort Infinity Pool

Common Rock Wallaroo - Euro

Big smile from a Freshie -  Crocodylus johnsoni

He's keeping an eye on me!!

Champagne time while floating in Lake Argyle

Lake Argyle seen from Space - Wikepedia

Monday, July 8th

Lake Argyle to Kununurra. So now we are here in Kununurra for about 6 nights to do a bit of touristy stuff but to also have a few days without to much driving. I was anxious to see Kununurra as this is one of the first places my son Shane came to work after leaving University. Haven't really seen much yet just some beautiful sunsets.

 

Farewell Katherine

Today was a pretty laid back kinda day so I don't really have much news. As we are departing Katherine tomorrow morning I spent quite a bit of the day preparing for the next few days. We will probably be spending the next few nights where we won't have electricity or phone/Internet coverage. So I have to make sure we have food to eat and the van is prepared for the journey. On the nights prior to heading off from a location we have spent some time in we like to actually go out for dinner on our last night. 1. We can get organised for our departure without having dinner stuff to clean up and 2. Its just nice to go out somewhere. Although not all locations have somewhere to go. But Katherine does and we headed out to the Chinese Restaurant and had a very nice meal, although I think I ate to much!! I have really enjoyed staying in Katherine, the caravan park is very nice and clean and Katherine Gorge is spectacular. But in my opinion Katherine doesn't grab me as a place I must return to. But then that's only my opinion.

Territory Day - July 1st

On the 1st of July each year Territorians celebrate Territory Day, marking the commencement of Self Government in the Northern Territory. The day is celebrated across the Northern Territory in a number of ways, including the famous Territory Day fireworks. So needless to say the majority of shops in Katherine were selling fireworks today, which they cannot usually do as special permits are needed to sell, buy and use fireworks  throughout all of Australia. So I sit here writing this post with the popping of fireworks going off in all directions.
Today we checked out the surrounds of Katherine and went and bought a satellite decoder so we can set up our telly. Not that I am missing the TV, I am getting lots of reading done and we are actually having conversations without the idiot box going. But it will be nice to veg in front of the box occasionally.

Katherine River

Historic Springvale Homestead, built in 1879,
 is the oldest original homestead in the Northern Territory.

Raintree (Samanea saman)
These magnificant trees were planted in 1879 by Alfred Giles, manager of Sprinvale Station.Native of South America, Raintrees have short massive trunks that can support a canopy of greater than 30 metres. Fluffy pink and white flowers are produced early in the wet season. The dark brown seed pods contain an edible licorice flavoured pulp and the newly ripened pods are used as stock fodder in many countries. At night the leaves close and condensed moisture drips like rain when the leaves open again in the morning, hence the name raintree.

Katherine Hot Springs