First job was to wash some of the Kimberley off the ute - we're not silly enough to think we could get rid of it all in one wash !! We have a guard covering the fuel tank - I decided to put the hose in there - it ran red for about 2mins !!! It almost looked like it was bleeding hahaha .
We finished washing and headed to the pool to cool off before lunch . Cooled down , we then decided to do a 2klm return walk to the Ord River Gorge Lookout . Views as normal were awesome - we've seen it from river level in a boat , from several thousand feet in a plane , and now we are seeing it from the top of the ridge . As we walked we had many stops as views into the lake took precedence over walking .
The further we walked the better the view , sparkling blue water in the lake and emerald green waters of the river , only separated by the dam wall .
The river swung around left then right around the ridge we were on , before snaking it's way toward Kununurra through the Carr Boyd Range .
After enjoying the views we headed back for some lunch , the afternoon was also going to be busy - in a relaxed way though !!
Lunch done we packed a bag with our towels & camera's and went down to the bistro / bar and watched a video presentation on the dam construction . It was funny to see , not much OH&S back then - they did have hard hats & boots , no shirts though , working through the dry seasons to build the wall & spillways . They blasted all the rock for the wall from an outcrop of quartz not far from the wall - it was the 2 biggest blasts in Australian history - they called them Coyote Blasts - the 2nd one larger than the first - it was even recorded by seismologists in Sydney !!! There is still evidence of the extra blasted rock that was surplus to requirement's !!
After that presentation , we waited for the bus to take us down to the lake for our cruise . There was a crowd waiting to get on - we had a full boat load today - I think they have a full boat for every sunset cruise though . Finally we shuffled forward and got on the bus and were then taken for a view of the dam wall and down to where the quarry entry was , a few other bits & pieces explained - that we'd already done - we were now starting to wonder whether this was a smart move to do another lake cruise . Last years cruise was excellent , we were hoping this one would be as good !!
Down to the boat finally , and we take a seat down towards the back on the left hand side - not as much direct sun on that side .
Off we go out into the lake and around to the dam wall & hydro intake , Jack , our jovial guide was doing a good job informing everyone about all things Lake Argyle . Siobhan was doing an efficient job steering us around the lake to any feature she could see . The first diversion came , and we were shown the emergency spillway - it would erode away with any extra water over a certain height and flow straight down through the old quarry and into the river . Next we motored across the lake and were surprised by a couple of Jabiru's flying past having a little squabble .
Next we went to crocodile cove , and yes we found some very fat female crocs ready to lay their eggs in the near future .
It was at this point that we looked at each other , as everyone else in the boat was clambering to take a photo of the crocs , and everything else .
Then the cruise started to get interesting - we cut through between some islands and headed a different direction from the other cruise - it was turning into a delightful afternoon , we started to see other mountains in the distance .
The cruise headed east and through the bay of islands , one island we passed was covered in ripplestone !
Further around we pulled into a bay and stopped , they produced some fish feed and threw some out either side , catfish , archer fish and others came at a great speed , quickly gobbling up the pellets . The dominant fish here is the catfish / silver cobbler . As the story was told , catfish used to sell for about $3.50 a kilo - no-one wanted it , so they had a brainwave and called it silver cobbler - it now sells in Perth for $40 a kilo - clever marketing !!!
We kept going east , ranges disappeared into the horizon , as did the lake , we couldn't see the other side !!!
Another island came into view , it seemed to have huge grave stones attached to the hillside - not quite , they were termite mounds and looked good in the sunlight .
Back to the west we headed alongside one island bathed in sunlight , orange & green colours glowing in the sun .
On the opposite side was another island that we were going to . Harry Butler and another ecologist helped relocate a lot of Wallaroos and other animals to this island many years ago . A White Bellied Sea Eagle was sitting on a dead tree not far from us .
After seeing a few wallaroos and birds , it was getting down to the business end of the cruise . We rounded the island , and headed out into a vast area of water , a marker buoy the only thing different , we tied up to it and the engines were cut . The life ring from the boat was put out in the water and anyone interested was asked to go in for a swim .
Ice cold beers were also thrown in - you grabbed one as they floated to you - this is one hell of a way to enjoy sunset !!!!
And speaking of sunset . The sun was making the islands glow !!
After a few drinks and watching the sun set over the ridge , everyone got back onto the boat and we cruised back - what a STUNNING afternoon !!!!
We cruised back toward the resort in failing light , totally satisfied with our day . To top it right off , the boat stopped along the way to show us a mirror finish on the lake and the night sky starting to take over - perfect !!
And that's how our day ended , and in fact that's how this visit to WA has also ended - what a finish!!! Couldn't have written that script !!
So our initial worries were blown away and a very enjoyable day was had , hope you've enjoyed it half as much as we did !!
Beautiful photos Alan but then it's beautiful country isn't it, great wildlife shots
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