Denise and Barry's Caravan Travels: June 9, 2013

Saturday, June 15, 2013

Spring Creek

We spent last night at the Lakeside Caravan Park at Kununurra, it was a lovely shady park in a scenic setting beside the lake. Unfortunately it was probably the most disturbed nights sleep that we have had since leaving home, due to the local dogs barking on one side of the town and the dogs from the other side of town would then need to respond. As well some of the towns people were enjoying a tinny or two to early hours of the morning.
We decided to move on today, but before we left town we had a wander around the local market where we were able to buy lovely fresh vegetables and also had a very quick look at some Argyle Diamonds, but their price tags had too many zero's.
Today we traveled approx. 260klms to Spring Creek, passing by Sandalwood Plantations after leaving Kununurra, then the country side became very rugged and picturesque with very rugged ridges lining either side of the highway, such a contrast to travelling up through Central Australia where it is just so flat. Spring Creek is approx. 100klms north east of Halls Creek and is a large free camping area which is conveniently located 500mtrs from the turn off into the Bungle Bungle National Park. Tomorrow we are going on a scenic helicopter flight over the Bungle Bungles, which leaves from the Bungle Bungle Caravan Park and it is only 1klm from the turn off. Hoping they get one more booking for our flight as it will save us $100 each. Did not expect to have mobile and internet out here.

Quiet drinks tonight enjoying the sunset

Lake Argyle - Kununnurra

WOW! Finally have mobile phone cover and internet! Will not even mention that we have not had TV! Mobile phones went crazy today when we came into range a few Klm’s west of Kununurra, especially as Tania had been worried as she had not had contact for four days, even checking on our savings account for activity.

Monday we retraced our steps back down the Stuart Hwy to Katherine then onto the Victoria Hwy finally pulling in for the night at Limestone Creek rest area, along with 18 other travellers. Bazz had to drag out the generator so we could run the air conditioner for an hour to bring the temp down in the van, then we had to resort to the little 12volt fan that only has one speed flat out.

Tuesday found us in the Victoria River Region & the Gregory National Park with its rugged scenery and land forms. We stopped for a break at the Victoria River Roadhouse the next stop being Timber Creek to fill up with diesel at $2.05 a litre. We pulled into the roadhouse and were waiting for a vehicle to move out of the way, when some moron thought he would jump the queue and pushing past us and performing a U turn in front of the bowsers, then even taking a toilet break while filling his vehicle, then once inside taking forever before returning to move his car. In the mean time about a dozen other vehicles had pulled in with another car and van pulling in behind the moron, it was really getting close to bowser rage as we were then nose to nose with that vehicle!! Eventually it was onto to our stop for the night at Big Horse Creek Campground, where we were lucky enough that it was the night the ranger came into the campground to give a talk on the Victoria River & the Gregory National Park. We were shown pictures of a Croc that had been caught in the river only two weeks previously measuring 4.85 metres.

Wednesday we crossed the NT/WA Border after passing through the Quarantine checkpoint and given the all clear after a thorough check of the car & van to make sure we were not taking any fruit, veggies, nuts or honey into WA. Just a few klms on from the border we turned off heading into spectacular Lake Argyle, which is the highlight of our trip so far. This magnificent lake, Australia’s largest body of fresh water, is classed as an inland sea covering over 1000 square klms. The lake is the reservoir for the irrigation scheme in Kununurra and has spectacular views from the lookouts and cruise boats. We decided to take the Sunset Cruise which incorporates a swim at sunset and drinks and nibbles it was truly magical, just the best. I managed to perform a great Belly Smacker when diving into the lake, I just had a little hesitation when looking down into the dark water that is also home for an estimated 30,000 freshwater crocodiles. While swimming around a man grabbed my leg and scared the life out of me, he thought it was a good joke, ha ha! Thursday morning we visited the Durack Homestead Museum, the home dated back to 1880’s relocated to it’s present site before the area was flooded to create the lake. After checking out the lookout’s it was back to the park to relax in the spectacular “Infinity Pool” which is surrounded by the stunning Carr Boyd ranges, and overlooks Lake Argyle. So many photo opportunities I will probably bore you with them.

We had an early start this morning leaving the park by 7.45am, we needed to be in Kununurra to find someone who would be able to check out the brake controller for the caravan. We found out on our way into Lake Argyle that we did not have any brakes happening on the caravan, luckily it was only a loose wire. It was then off to Wyndham to the Five Rivers Lookout, it is the vantage point to view the Ord, Forrest, King, Durack and Pentecost Rivers entering the Cambridge Gulf, spectacular views. We enjoyed lunch at the Wyndham Town Hotel along with a couple of cold beers, the publican came and sat at our table for a chat while we ate our lunch.

Big Horse Creek Campground

Boab Tree

Infinity Pool Lake Argyle Resort

Dam Wall Lake Argyle

Lake Argyle

Sunset Lake Argyle

Beautiful back drop from the boat

Doesn't get much better than this

View from lookout

Five River Lookout Wyndham

Sunday, June 9, 2013

Darwin

32 Degrees everyday since we arrived last Sunday, 23 or 24 degrees every night AC working overtime! During the day we have had a nice breeze but drops out early evening, would be nice to have the breeze of a night just to keep the air moving. Bazza thinks he is getting water logged as he has been going swimming with me in the pool every day, this is unusual for him, so it must be hot!
It has been a nice break here in Darwin, we have been feeling a bit guilty as we have not been running around doing all the tourist things, as when we were here in 2008 we covered all that we were interested in. Darwin is certainly a growing City plenty of building and new subdivisions happening. The tourist season is in full swing, most of the caravan parks are fully booked, especially from next week when the V8's will be in town. Often we have fellow campers that speak very little English, most hiring camper vans and are excited to be experiencing outback Australia. A few nights ago we had a Whiz-Bang van parked behind us, Bazza was up nice and early to empty our toilet cassette and was rewarded with a view of a naked young female (good body) appearing in the open doorway. No complaints that time, about having to empty the cassette!
Thursday we went for a drive out to Berry Springs Nature Park, which is a popular swimming and picnic area with several pools and a small waterfall that is fed by crystal clear spring water and surrounded by natural bush. I am always a bit wary when they have Crocodile signs displaying that there are no Salty's but there could be freshwater Crocks, if I was to see one I would certainly be walking on water!
Friday night we thought we would treat ourselves to an evening out, so spruced ourselves up and headed to the Bahn Thai for a meal, then afterwards thought we would check out the Skycity Casino. Unfortunately as Bazza was just about to enjoy his main course of Red Curry Duck, the waiter had a mishap with the drinks tray! Bazza ended up wearing the drinks, ending up with very wet shorts which put a dampener on the evening, it took all of his control to remain seated and to eat his meal. All they would offer us in compensation was to waive the drinks bill, a pity that we had only had Lemon Lime and Bitters!! Feeling a trifle sticky but shorts drying quickly in these temps, we still managed to check out the Casino. It blew our minds watching the hundreds of dollars that some gamblers pass over the tables and promptly loose, very few were lucky. Of course we lost our few dollars, no washing machine money from there.
Saturday found us off for some retail therapy at the Casuarina Shopping Centre making a quick stop at the Show Grounds where Billabong were having a clearance sale. New shorts for Bazz, then onto the Shopping Centre, where he found the RM Williams store & the Sun Glass Hut poor old me did not get a look in.
Saturday evening was spent here in the caravan park as Fats Thommo was back to entertain us with songs from the 70's & 80's it was a bit hard to take him seriously after earlier in the week when he conducted the Toad Races. Muggins me thought that I would have a bet and paid my $5 for #7 in the first race, only to find out that I had to actually handle the Toad and place him in the starting bucket. Yuk, Yuk!!! Once again my luck was not in, at least it did not come last.There has been some form of entertainment here in the park most nights, lucky for us we are just across from where it take place so do not have to move far or not at all.
Today is Sunday and our last day in Darwin, so it was an early rise this morning to get the washing done clean the van and pack up some of our gear ready to leave in the morning. I did check a couple of times during the day to make sure Bazz had not put the jacks up when I wasn't around, lucky for him they were still down. The Glenti Festival (Greek Festival) has been on this weekend along the Esplanade, hearing that there was a stall selling char grilled octopus, we battled the crowds to enjoy this delicacy, plus a Yiros and of course could not pass the Greek desserts. Feeling very over fed it was back to the park to enjoy our last afternoon lazing around the pool, only to see the newspaper headlines as I was making my way to the pool. TEENS FACE 3M CROC AT BERRY SPRINGS, well it was back to the van to get Bazz to go and buy the newspaper! Just glad we are still alive to read about it, may not have had the chance to walk on that water. The springs are now closed until they catch the SALTY that was sighted yesterday, looks like swimming holes are now out in the NT even if they have signs that it is safe to swim! Finally got my swim in at the pool, not before checking, just in case there was another stray.