Bungle Bungles

2nd June Saturday

Another beautiful sunny start, watching the wildlife. Drove onwards along Parry Creek rd and stopped at Black Rock Falls,

 and as usual no water in the falls just a puddle at the base. Found road to Ivanhoe Crossing

 but the road to cross over is closed, just our luck,

 but the crossing is amazing. 

When arrived in Kununurra went straight to the visitor centre and got list of caravan parks, chose the cheapest, Hidden Valley C.P. and they have space. It is a lovely site situated next to the Mirima Nat Pk. You just camp wherever you like. After dinner walked to the office grass area where they have Movies Under The Stars, we watched Mama Mia, sat on the grass under the moon and stars, great evening. Could here music from tent, there is a concert on locally called Kimberley Moon, fell asleep no probs.

3rd June Sunday

Today sees the start of a new book to record our journey. Fantastic sleep, sun popping it's head out. Kununurra is an Abbo word meaning "the meeting of the big waters", the region was settled based on the cattle industry. The Ord River was dammed in 1971 to form the biggest man made lake in Oz, without which the agriculture could not be sustained. The Mirima Nat Pk which we can see from our camp 

are known as The Mini Bungle Bungle's. Sorted boxes this morning, Rose now has all her clothes in her own box. Colin repaired one of the food drawers. Went to office and booked ourselves on a flight over the Bungle Bungle's with Shoal Air tomorrow at 6am!!!! (supposed to be the best time of day- yeah) we had to give them our weights, which we had to guess as never weighed ourselves. Roses ticket cost $295 whilst Colin's only cost $280 cos he an old git. This is our treat on the trip. Had a walk into town in afternoon, only 20 mins, but only went to the IGA, the only place open. After dinner watched a bit of Avatar at the Movies Under The Stars, it was rubbish so set alarm clock for 5am and went to bed.

4th June Monday

Alarm worked, jumpers weather. Down at gate at 5.30am for pick up along with 8 others. We had the small plane with 5 seats with another couple,

 Rose had the back seat to herself and Colin got to be co-pilot. we flew out over the Ord River,

 the Diversion Dam

 and Ord Irrigation Area

then flew over Lake Argyle

 which is the biggest man made lake in Oz, it took 2 years to fill the lake and the islands you can see are the tops of mountains.

 We passed over 2 cattle stations

and the Osmond Ranges where the hills look like waves,

 then onto The Purnulu Nat Pk and The Bungle Bungles 

where you can see the sandstone beehive formations,

 then the return over the Argyle Diamond Mine

 which is owned by Rio Tinto, it is the biggest diamond producing mine in the world and has the most expensive plane runway in the southern hemisphere,

the surface has tiny diamonds in it which can't be separated out. We had a few bumps and the horizon was a bit hazy. Views were spectacular, well worth the early start. Back at camp by 8.15am, some campers are just getting up. Rose still got jumper on as wind has got up. Had a cuppa and breakfast before heading out to Ivanhoe Crossing

 to see it from the other side, it was flowing faster than a couple of days ago. 

We were told they had let water out of the dam, which is why the crossing is still closed.

 A bloke walked into the crossing to fish and his dog followed him and got washed over the weir,

 the owner was preparing to in on the end of a rope that Colin had given him when the dog finnally struggled out of the current and onto the bank,

 alls well that ends well. Drove back to town for fuel and shopping before heading back for lunch. Feels like we've been longer than we actually have, both if us feel tired. Used camp BBQ to cook dinner of pork steaks and chips, absolutely stuffed. Went to bed 6.30ish as tired.

5th June Tuesday

Warmer this morning, we are leaving Kununurra today, heading east along The Victoria HWay, crossing into the Northern Territory. Sitting having a cuppa before leaving we were watching the Kites (birds) circling overhead, fantastic sight. Left site at 9.30, visited library to upload photos, took an hour before heading onto the Victoria HWay, saw some great Boab Trees

 on the way. Stopped at the border for photos and lunch,

moved time forward 1.1/2 hours. Headed off for Saddle Creek Rest Area for the night. Bit disappointed with it not being suitable for tents, so sleeping in LRover tonight. It is situated in The Duncan Passage which is quite spectacular driving up to it. sat around picnic tables with fellow travellers, exchanging information, appears we are going the opposite way to the others, we have been given leaflets and brochures to help us with Katherine and the Nat Pks. Looks like plenty of free or very cheep camping ahead of us. as cooking dinner people kept bringing us fruit and veg as they can't take it over the border into WA with them, Colin had an apple for pudding, it was free. Got dark 6.45ish, what a change from WA when it is totally dark at 5.30pm. Ate dinner in daylight. Chatted with neighbours till bed.

6th June Wednesday

Colin said people were moving off really early this morning before daylight. We didn't get up till 8am and the site seemed empty, people already starting to come in. Rose had a look round an "A VAN" , it was amazingly spacious and the layout is very good. By the time we packed up and had more chats it was 10.45am really late. Off up The Victoria HWay towards Timber Creek. We have grass verges with cerice pink wildflowers growing. Condition of the bitumen not good in places. Stopped at Horse Creek Campground for lunch, parked by boat ramp overlooking the Victoria River, lovely spot so decided to stay for a couple of nights, just got tent set up when a Nissan Ute pulled in, it had decals on it making it look like a zebra,

reminded us of Daktari. They had loads of soft toys on the roof rack and Wonder Woman tied to the bull bar. The couple were expats from East Anglia and taken part in a Variety 4WD Challenge. Fantastic vehicle, they had various hats to wear during the Challenge, and Bill even had a monkey mask.

Great chat with them, they had moved out to Oz 6yrs ago, living in Brisbane for 5yrs then moving to Perth. Good evening.

7th June Thursday

Cold evening. Colin set to and checked out the LRover, topping oils and checking nuts and bolts, he replugged the tyre again and found a chunk missing out of the tread of another.

Quiet day, a young family came onto site who we originally met at Hamelin Pool, but most people are travelling West, we are going East. Decided to stay tomorrow night as well here, aiming to get to Katherine for monday.

8th June Friday

FRIDAY FACT:- THE LONGEST PLACE NAME IN OZ IS "MAMUNGKUKUMPURAKUNTJUNYA"

Got woken up at 6.30 this morning by some French campers slamming doors and leaving their engine running, Colin got up and told them to "either turn it off or f**k off" they turned it off then left soon after. Colin checked tyre,still up at the moment. Had a walk down to the river

and saw the jetty where the river cruise boats moor,

also saw croc footprints in the mud. Busy day doing nothing.