The starting point

The starting point

Sunday, 28 August 2016

24/8/16 Mountains to the sea

 It was pack up day , time to leave Kununurra , there was no rush as we’re only going 70 klms down the road , but that didn’t stop our OCD neighbour from getting out and watering the dust and a small patch of grass right beside our bedroom window at 6am !!  Water was running down the slope into the gutter , there were sprinklers and a hand held hose !!
 It’s funny , whenever you are packing up , someone will start talking to you when you’re in the middle of everything !!
  We got finished and said our goodbyes to Kym & Caroline - we’ll meet up with them along the way somewhere !!
 Out and onto the highway again , the scenery was different from what we remembered - not familiar at all - it’s always different going the opposite direction . 
 There are many ridges , hills & mountains here , all mainly red rock with green spinifex grass growing happily and spiral pandanus grows quite well also .



 Kapok trees are flowering profusely , and most of those trees have many yellow flowers . They appear to grow in selective areas - one side of the road will have lots , while the other side of the road has none . Here is one with seed pods opening , revealing the new seed wrapped in fluff .



 The turn for Lake Argyle arrived and we turned off , the road wound it’s way through the hills & ridges and crossing Spillway Creek . The creek was flowing , which was a bit of a surprise , not that much , but it was flowing !!


 Further along the road , we got a glimpse of the lake through a gap in the ridge line , we came back down to get a photo for you after setting the van up and having lunch .


 From there we headed back to the dam to check out where we can put the kayak in tomorrow . Just before the boat ramp there is a Vista Point ( a lookout !!!! ) . The views from here are nothing short of amazing - you get to see the first part of the dam and small views of the inland sea stretching off into the distance .



 Back to the ute & across the dam wall and down to the picnic area - that’s where we came to on the river cruise we did 2 weeks ago . It really shows the gorge where the Ord River flows and how rugged the landscape is !!


 Stopping at the southern end of the dam wall , we discover Sir William McMahon officially opened the dam in 1972 . The views to the north to one of the ridges was pretty good !!

 The dam wall was placed here to take advantage of a low point in a ridge line that would be easiest to build the wall - it was also close to the quarry where they got all the rock for the wall . This photo is the southern end of that ridge .


 Back to the van , it was time for a swim in probably the most well known feature of the park - the infinity pool - it certainly is a stunning pool in the best setting !! It cooled us down quite nicely , as you tend to stop and just soak in the views .

 Before we had to chip the ice off , we got out - it wasn’t that cold , but ….
There is a Kimberley Rose tree about 25m from the pool , we saw one from a distance on the boat trip up & down the river , but we got up close & personal with this one . The new leaves look rather strange as they unfurl gradually as they grow . 



 We headed back to the van for some cheese & biscuits and a cold beer , another stressful day - hardly !!

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