Lake Arrrr-gile as the Scots would say...actually the Duracks were Irish ;)

June 28, 2019

Lake Arrrr-gile as the Scots would say...actually the Duracks were Irish ;)

Monday 24 - Thurs 27 June 2019

Sensory overload yet again...this seems to happen wherever we go ! We had a great run across to Lake Argyle on Monday...the time windback of 90 mins was helpful too...Heading west from Katherine is entirely new territory for us all and super exciting !

Sunrise walk at Lake Argyle

In WA !

As we crossed the WA/NT boarder there were jackaroos and jillaroos about to move a huge mob of brahamans across the highway...big yellow chopper began to chase a few as they left the mob - holy cow...just ridiculous skill - I did film a bit of his moves - just left me dumbfounded that he was still in the air !!!! Having said this I know I can be captain risky with thoughts in my head going ....it's ok you have a PLB and Sat phone should he hit the deck !

Kick the dust up ! ;)

We passed this road train heading into the Zebra Mine just inside the NT border. A chap in Katherine was telling us about this extraordinary rock that is the only one of it's type found on the planet in about a 40km radius. This place was fabulous ! 10km off the road and into some really rocky outcrops. Fabulous place to take the kids and we arrived around the time of learning about polishing up the rock. Eves and Sash were given a great sample each. We picked up more sandpaper at Kununurra and they are still buffing them up with sandpaper and water. The theory is the area was highly magnetic thousands of years ago so that these incredible distinctive layers and patterns were createed this was. Otherwise it's actually hard to fathom the 'how' it was created ?

Zebra Rock ...just on the NT WA border.

Bougainvillea maybe ??

This is how we do evening drinkies ;)

First evening at Lake Argyle Resort - lovely spot. Peak tourism season and so yes there are a few people around. Here was very spacious and we, like lots of times snagged a great unpowered site with stunning easterly views towards the bluff. Listened to guy, Steve Case having a sing along up near the inifinity pool and then he sang one of his all time most popular songs.. he looked at me first and Stu with the kids there and gave us the heads up that it was a little bit of a raunchy kinda love story - the story of 'Double Dick Derek' ....yep this joint could possibly be wilder than the NT !!!

Good ole Outback Paddy ....all the way from Ireland a long time ago !

Infinity pool at Lake Argyle Resort

First full day we had a cracker at Lake Argyle. A super walk over to the bluff and then back via the replica Durack Homestead. Their story is amazing and hard to imagine the harshness of this country back in the late 1860's and early 70's. Still one of the biggest droves in Australia's history and the one man's idea to strategically dam a small section of the Carr Boyd Ranges - Michael Durack, son of Patsy Durack. So much history and such an interesting and mostly positive relationship they created with Aboriginal people in the area. I will add in a great article I read a few weeks ago. Stu and I met Ben Wyatt pre his MP days at our Best Man Nick Long's Wedding to the divine Josie. Fabulous bloke and he his doing great work in WA. My memories of that wedding was Benny and I carving up the dance floor .... oh what a night in County Wicklow....

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-06-17/traditional-owners-recognised-in-historic-argyle-homestead/11215010

Grevillea of some type...

Bluff walk with Random English dude - just lovely !

Fam pic thanks to new English mate - who of course was going out with a Bathurst girl - hilarious !!

Turkey Bush...

Durack Replica Homestead

Good morning Sunshine...

Stunning little Dragonfly friend on the Sunset Tour.

Amazing story - blow this up and read it. The power of intention and human love!

What a riot !

Stu holding noodles for kids and beer on Sunset Tour

Lake Argyle from the water...

Pick the croc in this pic...

Colours are incredible

Looks like a standing stone on Hagan Island.....

But no it's a termite mound!!

Stunning .....

The Sunset Tour on Lake Argyle was brilliant - incredibly informative and great hosts on board. Not too big a crowd on the boat either which is always lovely. Learn loads about the area and the how it all works. For something that has essentially been man made - the Lake itself...it is quite stunning. The Lake filled up quicker than expected and the Durack Homestead still lies about 20 metres below the surface essentially left untouched. Sam who was our Skipper on the tour has dived down there where saddles still sit on the rails and the Land Cruiser is parked next to the house. Instead of 5-7 years of wet seasons to fill it took 3 and whilst there holds about 9 Sydney Harbours worth. In 2011 when it filled to 202% it held 40 Sydney Harbours !!! Just extraordinary!

Early morning walk with the boyf!

Lake Argyle with wall in foreground

Kapok Flowers

On our return from the walk Bruce and Rozanne who were next to us found themselves in a wee bit of trouble. The door of their van had locked and they couldn't get out. Sure enough Huges had the show in hand and with and extra pair of hands from Stu they got them out ! Just as well they had an ensuite inside...they could not have picked a more lateral thinking and resourceful dude like Huges to give them a hand out.

We went for a spin into Kununurra this morning. Got some fresh fruit and vege and then went for a cruise around. Some lovely parks and trees here....the next morning we had booked a cruise back down the river towards Kununurra.

Boab Tree in Kununurra

A huge old soul friend....have always wanted to see these up close from when I was a kid.

How enormous are these incredible trees?? This one is particularly large and we have all loved reading up on some facts about Boabs. How they arrive in Australia is still a contested topic.... a info link is below should you wish to read more. They absolutely have a presence and are very important to Indigenous Spirituality and Culture.

http://www.boabsinthekimberley.com.au/geographical-distribution-of-the-boab/

Ivanhoe Plains irrigation

A spin out to the irrigation area north of Kununurra - this area is amazing! Long wide balck soil plains growing everything from Sorghum, Corn to Sandalwood. I did contrive a 10 min call into Mt Romance Sandalwood - brilliant! Great to learn more about Sandalwood and how it is being grown and produced in Australia - incredible tree that lives on a host.

Ord River cruise

We booked oursleves onto a mid morning cruise with Triple J tours heading back towards Kununurra. This was an exceptional few hours with Grant as he very passionately shared with us how the Ord River on this section is now a more diverse and secure 24/7 wetland area. The increases in biodiversity, with water security in this area and what species are now in the area on a regular basis. It's kinda like having ouyr cake and eating it too all year round. He went through how the whole system works and is all gravity fed from the dam wall at Lake Argyle through to the plains and farms north of Kununurra. Very interesting and fascinating. Spectacular scenery to boot !!