21st August

We left Fitzroy Crossing today to drive to the free camp called Mary's Pool.

Ross and I were spending some time playing Scrabble when a campervan pulled up right next to us and blew its horn. It was Ross's mate, Paddy from Port Hedland, whom we had visited while we were there. He and his brother in law had travelled from 3am to late afternoon to travel the 1200 kms from Port Hedland to here. He was pretty surprised to see Ross's car and decided to give him a surprise. They were on their way to have a "boys" adventure on the Gibb River Road which is a dirt road with river and creek crossings and consists of rough terrain for most of the trip. It apparently has some of the best scenery in Australia, but I think the draw card is the challenge of navigating the road and coming out the other end with a whole vehicle intact. Anyway they were looking forward to it and left the next day. We did see them again while we were stopped in Halls Creek. The start of the track was near there. So it was Ross's turn to give them a shock as he blew his horn while they were crossing the street.

We had to change an empty gas cylinder at the swap and go Halls Creek $55. Bit different to Bunnings!!!

From Mary's Pool we stayed at Spring Creek another free camp and then on to Kununurra.

It was an interesting drive along the Great Northern Highway and then the Victoria Highway. The landscape changed from pretty flat as far as the eye can see to mountain ranges and escarpments which are so rugged and beautiful. Totally different to the landscapes we had left behind.

We booked at Ivanhoe Caravan Park in Kununurra for three nights after deciding to go on a full day tour of Lake Argyle which included a 55km cruise on the magnificent Ord River back to Kununurra. It was a fabulous day which we both thoroughly enjoyed.

Lake Argyle was formed by the damming of the Ord River and was completed in 1971. It is the largest lake in area in the southern hemisphere and the second largest in volume. The largest in volume being the Lake Pedder/ Lake Gordon system in Tasmania but this is two dams connected by a canal. There are over 70 islands ranging from small rocky outcrops to the largest island - Hagan Island - approximately 7 km long, 3 km wide with the tallest peak (Mt Misery) rising over 200 metres above the lake. It is home to over 35000 freshwater crocodiles as well as many varieties of fish birds, and thousands of flying foxes. The islands are also home to short-eared rock wallabies who live with no predators except for the eagle which likes to feed on the young when mum is not around. There is so much water here, 22 Sydney harbor's when at full capacity. Most of which, during the wet season goes back out to sea. What a waste! Surely one day they will build a pipeline and the farmers, who are suffering at the moment, will then have all the water they need during a drought.

Tomorrow we reluctantly say goodbye to Western Australia and cross the border to the Northern Territory where the speed limit is a scary 130km per hour.