We packed the bags ready for a pickup late in the day then were collected by the tour bus. Our driver had only been in K for 5 weeks- he came on his way to the Whale Sharks and they desperately needed drivers,so he stayed. Says the sharks will still be there next year.
The first half was a drive up to Lake Argyle, via the Durack homestead.
The backyard. Several graves in the front yard. The original site is underwater but the house was salvaged prior to inundation. We popped in to a 'resort' to see their infinity pool .....somewhat smaller and older than we expected.
But on to the real business.
First view of the lake, but that wasn't our destination. Over the wall we went
The wall is constructed entirely of natural product. It holds back many Sydney Harbours of water.
Looking to the lake..
And the other side
There you see our next transport. A "fast" boat for 55km/ 3.5 hrs down the Ord River and the Kununurra Lake system.
Now I'm the one with 200 pics! It wasn't just a boat ride. Our driver was a local of 25 years. He gave, with pull down map and pointer, the best explanation of how, why, where and whom of the Ord River Scheme.
He was also an expert animal watcher. Lots of "freshies" hiding on the banks. We got a whole ecology lesson in between weaving his way down the rapids then quietly meandering up the side creeks. All in eye-watering scenery of deep ravines and everchanging geology
Without this we would not have the inside story of the flow, with all its diversions, right to the sea. More pics on FB, easier to post there.
Our "bag" plan worked. The tour bus,our morning driver, took us out to collect bags and then dropped us back in town. He was ex-navy (2019) from Nowra!
Then dinner at the pub. The suitcases prompted lots of comments:
Are you two eloping?
Are you running away?
Are you homeless, if so,you are the best dressed homeless I've seen!
Three women asked what we were doing
We told them, lots of questions and then one asked, "are you somebody famous?"
All lots of fun.
Only four passengers on the bus. One of the drivers was a young female. She took the first leg, 527 km to Katherine on the most dreadful road, the Victoria Highway. It seemed to be all floodways and causeways, all of which were broken up.
But little traffic and no strays. We hardly slept. Despite the dark there was plenty to see in the headlights! Am wondering how we ever rode up the Stuart Highway. But then again, lots has changed over time.
The 43rd day ended.....on a bus!
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