Kununarra....spectacular Kimberley Country!

It was a short drive for us from Spring Creek free camp to Kununarra, arriving at lunchtime.  We decided on staying in a caravan park, Kimberleyland, due to it being a flat rate of $43 a night for families.  The girls were really excited about having a pool to swim in, such deprived kids, anyone would have thought that they hadn't spent the last few months swimming in the glorious WA ocean along the coast.... We were greeted by a lovely and bubbly lady at reception who was so helpful with tourist attractions and must do's around town.

Love the view of the lake....

We ended up staying longer than expected due to future setbacks as you will find out later in the blog...

We set up in a great spot with lake views, even though it next to the dump point, and then got some school done to the girls disgust.  Thankfully school was completed by the time "Big Bertha" pulled in to stay a few nights too.  After catching up we took the kids to the pool were they had a blast cooling off and playing while we got to enjoy some adult conversation.  That night we headed off after dinner to the lake with our torches to try and see if the famous local freshie "Rodney" would come say hello.  As soon as the torches hit the lake we had double set of eyes reflecting back that were in amongst the kabungi, we also saw a small turtle swimming in the shallows and a few baby freshies too.  Marty was the first to notice a croc swimming up to the bank and we all thought this must be Rodney.  Marty lured him out of the water eventually when he 'accidentally' dropped a left over cooked hamburger on the ground near him.  Was funny to see, even though they are freshies and we know they are virtually harmless, how everyone got a little frightened at being so close to him.  On grabbing the hamburger we became less scared as we noticed he had no teeth!

Best shot we had of Rodney....

The next day we went out exploring the town, firstly stopping off at the markets, which unfortunately were finishing and most stalls were packing up.  Pity because it looked like a really cool market.  We headed off to 'The Hoochery' to check out the local rum distillery.  It was a really great decorated place, totally felt like we were in the middle of a western at the local pub.  You could smell the rum instantly on walking in thru the barn doors.  Marty and Duncan got their $5 testing paddle which had 3 shot glasses of different rums.  Marty chose the chocolate infused, aniseed infused and 76% distilled rum.  I had a nip of all and for someone who didn't like rum, it was nice.  Marty surprisingly enjoyed them too with the 76% blowing his socks off!!! Lucky the lady had warned him of the tingling mouth and ears that went with drinking it...lol. Saccha, the kids and l enjoyed our ice cream in cookies, which for $4 each was great value for the travelling family.

Dunc and Marty getting the low down before they order
there tasters!

Awesome art around the place....kids had a giggle!

Marty's testing plate....

Boo enjoying her ice cream sandwich....

...Meg could hardly fit it in her mouth!

Cheers big ears!

Next stop was the Sandlewood Factory which was interesting enough, showing what use can be made out of wood, being used in creams, candles, incense or house decorating sculptures.  For me, l wasn't that excited with the place, l found the smell of the sandlewood quite over powering and unpleasant in some their products.  It didn't stop the girls from trying all the tester products though, we could smell them a mile away.

We took a short drive up the road to Ivanshoe Crossing were l was left again, disappointed, as we got there and saw a huge rock boulder in the middle of the access road to stop people from crossing the water way.  I stopped and asked one of the locals why so, and they said that in there were too many cars being drifted downstream and they got sick of having to pull people out, so a few years back they put the boulder in place.  Even though we couldn't do the crossing, it was still a cool place.  The rush of the water going thru was amazing, the bird life spectacular and we watched plenty of people lining the banks having a fish.  Last stop for the day was Kelly's Knob Lookout where we drove up the hill and enjoyed panoramic views of Kununarra.  

Ivanhoe's crossing....

Lookout at Kelly's Knob over Kununarra...

Panoramic.....

Our view from behind Kelly's Knob.....

That night back at Kimberleyland we headed down to the grass area and enjoyed entertainment by a new local, Moose, who had recently moved up from Geraldton of all places.  He was pretty cool, strumming on his guitar and belting out some old and new songs.  He had a really cool persona and we especially enjoyed his song about Kununarra, totally awesome!  The kids were bored after a while but us oldies loved it....

Moose with his light stage....

 The following day we decided to make a day of it and explore the Wyndham area with the Goughs.  Always good to go out with other families as the kids are too distracted with one another to whinge about walks or not so stimulating places.  We made our way up the road, about an hour up the road, and stopped off to have a look at the "Big Croc" which was 20m in length and was made in 1988 with 6 cubic metres of cement!!!  Even though we pointed it out and made the girls read the 'no climbing' sign, we still had to constantly remind them to keep off!!!  

View of the country on the drive to Wyndham....

Camel country here!!

 

Hands that helped restore the croc!

Kids thought the croc was a good
spot to rest!

We set off back out of town and turned off to the mud flats to find the aboriginal rock art and Prison Boab Tree.  Marty and l had been up this way over 10 years ago and was so funny as it felt like the land hadn't changed a bit, was like driving down memory lane, literally!  The drive on the mud flats was so smooth, it was a shame we had to veer off it and get on the dirt road which was heavily corrugated.  The aboriginal rock art site was brilliant, the artwork so detailed and told the story of the animals and reptiles in the area. The cliff itself had little caves along it so you can see how years ago they would have spent some time using it for shelter, maybe in the wet?  We also came across a little fruit bat sleeping up in the nook of one of the caves which was really cool.

Mud flats we were driving next to....

Love the Kimberley country!!!

My favourite tree of all time....the impressive Boab!

One of the tunnels at the Aboriginal Rock Art site!

Love trying to figure out the stories!!!

 

Love these spiders....but from a distance!!!

 

Sleeping fruit bat...sshh 

Can't believe the life that grows
out of rocks!!!

Dried up creek bed near the caves....

Next stop was the Prison Boab Tree which looked exactly the same as when we were here last. Unfortunately more people had carved their initials into it, which is so disgusting, don't know why people see the need to do this to trees.  Last time we were here, for reasons l cant remember, Marty and l didn't go inside.  So this time it was a must.  After watching Duncan and the kids get in, it all looked easy enough. Only l would make it difficult for myself.  My bloody hip was paining badly from my latest runs which was impacting on my back l suppose and my lack of flexibility didn't help!  Eventually l got in, don't think the backside view would have been too good.  All 8 of us were in, and it was pretty warm and crowded, l couldn't imagine how horrible it would have been to be imprisoned in here packed like sardines. So interesting how they thought to carve out this tree and use it as a short term prison.  There was minimal light passing thru the small holes above, have no idea what the ventilation would have been like, frightening really. After a few selfies we got out, which was just as awkward as my entrance in, and headed into town for lunch.

Huge Prison Boab Tree....

In she goes.....

Great view Boo!

Light coming in from the top...

C'mon Saccha!!!!

Group pic....Angus looks a little freaked out! Lol

And yet another family pic...

We had had recommendations by Lyn at Kimberleyland to stop off at the Rusty Shed Cafe for a great reasonably priced meal.  The cafe was divine, so well designed with rusty tools lining the outdoor fence in the eating area and heaps of local artwork displayed on the inside shop.  Marty and l enjoyed the best Barra burger, and l was so surprised that the big fella ordered one over a normal beef burger.  We had a great experience which was topped off with awesome service, the kids even scored a humongous free choc chip muffin each.  The owner gave them to the kids saying she was only going to chuck them in the bin soon anyway....  Definitely recommend anyone to call in for a coffee, sweets or meal at this superb country cafe.

Good eyes spot a sun baking croc on the other side of the river!!

Witchetty grub....

Decided to drive on the mud flats this time....much quicker!

Rustic cafe with amazing food!!!

Ho in Marty!

Enjoying the freebies....

 With our bellies full we took a little longer than expected to find the Jetty as the mud map we had took us around in circles.  The Goughs headed to the big jetty while we pulled up just down the road to the little one. The tide was out and the mud was present, with some local indigenous kids rolling around in it, while their other family members were fishing off the jetty with hand lines.  I chatted with one of the women who told me that they caught heaps of good sized catfish off the jetty all the time.  On the walk off the jetty Meg noticed little movements in the mud, on closer inspection we saw that they were tiny crabs and there were thousands!!!

The Jetty we were meant to be on....whoops!

Having fun as all kids should be....simply!

Checking the crabs out!

On our way out of town we stopped off at the Pioneers Cemetery...quite sad how young they took to death back in the day...As we made our way around town we called in to Tribal Statue display which was amazing.  It looked all life like but on a bigger scale.  There was a tribal man, woman and child with other animals scattered around the area.  The photos tell the story of how amazing this artwork is......

Surrounding country....

So many young amongst the dead...

The 'cotton' seed pulled apart!

Cotton seed tree!

Wall art around town in Wyndham.

So huge!

Instant playground...

Just left us chilled....

Tribal Statues....place felt with emotions.....

This little kid looked so sad....

On making our way to the 'Five Rivers Lookout' the Goughs were hailed down by a slightly inebriated indigenous woman who was so helpful in giving Saccha a long winded and detailed recount of directions.  On driving off, with a wave from her friend, Saccha informed us on the UHF radio that she felt like she'd just walked into a pub and felt a little tipsy from the fumes!!!  The Five Rivers Lookout  was spectacular, the view was amazing.  

Five Rivers Lookout....

Don't jump boys!!!

Free as a bird!

Kids gone cookoo!!

 Our last stop for the day was off a back road to Kunna was at the Afghan Cemetery.  There were both normal sized grave sites with a longer one right beside it.  Story goes when an Afghan master died they would kill then bury their camels alongside them.  There were a couple of smaller grave sites, we wondered if they were little boys and their smaller baby camels?  Pretty interesting what history you find out in the middle of nowhere in this huge country of ours.....

See the camel grave (big one) and the smaller one is his masters!

Fire in the horizon on the way home!

Saccha found a 'Boot Tree'!

The long road back to Kunna....

When we arrived home after a bloody long day, the kids took to the pool as we refreshed over a few coldies.  I was feeling a little under the weather and had shooting pain in my L) hip that just wouldn't go...

The next morning l woke with a severe pain in my bottom back gum which l thought was maybe my wisdom tooth coming thru and might be why l had had continuous headaches over the last few weeks.  My hip, and now back, pain was worsening.  I took to the painkillers hoping that all would resolve as over the day we continued to get the car ready for the Gibb.  We planned on staying one more night and head off tomorrow. I wasn't really letting Marty know how bad all the pain was as l knew he wasn't overly keen on doing the Gibb in the first place and thought he might pull the pin.

Unfortunately the following morning l woke having had the worst nights sleep with both back pain and gum pain.  I looked inside my mouth to find my gum was severely swollen and pus was present.  So up the hospital l went were they gave me oral antibioticss for gingivitis and l headed to a dodgy Osteopath and gave him $110 for a 45 minute session to fix my back.  Even though the osteo bloke looked dodgy he did seem to know what he was doing and l walked out better than l have arrived.  We booked in for one more night, praying that l would be a little better the next day to head off.  Marty entertained the kids in the pool while l rested hoping and praying that l would be mended.
After doping myself up with painkillers and lying on the bed most of the day, l woke with a less painful mouth and back.  So after talking Marty into it, telling him l would be fine (while silently praying l would be) we packed up, said our farewells to 'Big Bertha' and stored the van up the back (which was going to cost us $35 per week- not bad) we were off to start our tenting adventure for hte next few weeks....

Bell Xxx