SUNDAY 2ND OCTOBER

Well hi to all, again sorry we left you half way through last Sunday the 25th but we wanted to get the blog posted, so you could read what has been happening and Caz was well enough to venture out for tea, so we had to get her ready. So this is what has happened since then. We went out that Sunday nite with the caravan park managers, Simon & Julie and her parents ( Grandpa/Ma), as well as the "Assistant Managers" Emma & Matina to the Kimberley Grand, for an all you can eat Baked Dinner, the food was good, esp the Roast Pork & Lamb, Rans liked the Yorkshire Pudd & Emma, Rans & Grandpa enjoyed the deserts. We had lots of good laughs, esp some at Rans's expense.....snakes!!       It was another hot night, so took a while to settle.   MONDAY.........Carol is feeling better than she did yesterday and has eased off on the tablets, so hopefully she will be well enough to do something tomorrow or Wednesday. It is another hot day here, got to 39deg, we took it easy, a few swims in the pool, a little bit of shopping and went over and had tea with Emma & Matina. TUESDAY..... We started to tidy up, washing the car & van, packing a few things away, went for a drive in the arvo out to a cafe and had a Mango smoothie, which was nice, then back for a swim and then we went over to Emmas for tea. Had an early nite as a big day tomorrow,  TOLD CAZ TO.... TOUGHEN UP PRINCESS & she said DON'T SHIT ME DARL. !!! ( plus a few other words we cant print!!)  WEDNESDAY......Up early and we wer picked up at 5.15am for our flight over the Bungle Bungles, there were another couple on the flight (the lady had to be Mark Browns mums twin !!!) and the pilot Trent, we had met at the pub previously through Emma.

 We were in the air by 5.40am with Carol feeling comfortable as possible, as we headed off over the plantations surrounding Kununurra, well we are so glad that we took the flight, as it is now on the top of the list of things that we have done, we travelled Sth following the Spillway creek & Carr Boyd Ranges to Lake Argyle (which had been the best thing we had seen on this trip so far) taking in the vast waterways of the lake, then having the sunrise over the lake and hilltops, hopefully the photos do it justice, as it was breathtaking with all 5 of us in awe

 Trent never gets tired of seeing it...what a job ..hey!) we then continued south passing over 2 cattle stations, which are divided by the Bow River, over mountain ranges, which look like huge long waves about ready to break and then coming to the Bungle Bungles, a sight not to be missed with their honey pot shaped rock formations, with dark & light rock rings formed around them, vast canyons, you could spend a week down their and not see 5% of the area.

We then landed at the Bungles as we had to pick up 3 passengers, who had camped overnite, this gave Carol a chance to  stretch a bit & toilet break, we then lifted off, doing another 2 sweeps of the Bungles, seeing the area in its grandeur, we then headed back, seeing a number of waterfalls with huge ponds/springs with palm trees (making you wonder if any person has very been there).

We then flew over the Argyle Diamond Mine (the biggest in the world) with its own airport, 5 star motel accom for staff & the place where the famous pink diamond was discovered and is still being found & sold today. There are some interesting facts about the mine, such as how they got the lease, how they do dummy flights when transporting diamonds etc etc but we won't bore you, we then came back over  Lake Argyle again, taking in the Carr Boyd Ranges, we followed the Ord River back to town, passing over the patchwork of crops and landing.( flight went for 2 & half hrs)

A great time, so magnificant.. JUST AMAZING. We were then transported to a local cafe, where we had a big breakie and then picked up and taken back to the park. Once back there we commenced to pack up, grabbed some groceries etc had one last swim, as it was 41deg and said our goodbyes to Emma & Matina ( no tears..) and headed off. We drove south west, taking our time stopping 4-5times so Carol could have a stretch, until we arrived at a free camp just near the Bungles turn off, (so many people have advised us that the road into the Bungles is shocking and not worth taking your vehicle, as it takes 2-3hrs to go 50kms, what a shame for a World Heritiage area). It was just on dark, which was good due to the heat, we had tea prepared, had a drink, spoke with a young french couple who were heading towards Darwin. We had fan early nite after such a long day but by far one of the most enjoyable. THURSDAY...We are up by 5.30am & headed off just after 6am, we drove for a while, stopping at a nice 24hr rest area(Springvale) where we had breakie & cuppa, we then continued on, stopping at Halls Creek for fuel (not much else going for the place !) and continued west, with us not seeing any vehicles for 50km's.

We then stopped at Marys Pool for morning tea, a nice large area, we stayed here for an hr & then headed off to Fiztroy Crossing, where we set up at the Lodge Caravan Pk, (it has a huge screen T.V. so we can watch the footy finals...GO MANLY!!) we then went for a drive into town & the info centre. Came back for a swim, (the camping/caravan area  floods, the lodge is built up off the ground and the pool is on top of a 10ft mound !) We had a nice tea out under the stars, as there are no mossies tonight.  

FRIDAY...We are up early and headed off by 6.15am to Geike Gorge, where we have breakie in the bush surroundings. We then went on a walk which follows the Western range for 2.5km, then we followed the Fitzroy River back, taking in the magnificant views, seeing a croc close by, where they lay their eggs &  how much water comes through during the wet season. It would be 200m from where the waters edge is now, to where the water laps the Western Range, (they say the amount of water that flows down the Fitzroy could fill up a dry Sydney Harbour in 12hrs), we then went back to ranger station & then went on a cruise up the river, which was very relaxing after our walk, seeing the rock formations, crocs etc. 

Where you puchase your ticket there is a hugh rotanta/gazebbo which the top of the roof is about 20ft up, they have markers where the water level has come up to, last year it was over the roof but in 2002 it was 2m over the roof!!! You just cant imagine that amount of water flowing through there... We then drove back over the Old River Crossing (don't know how they got across prior to the new bridge being built, as it wouldn't take much rain to make it unpassable.)

We then went to IGA..... now although the town looks dirty and run down, the IGA was clean and fresh. We then returned for lunch and a lazy arvo, with Caz doing some photos & then over for a swim, it was 39deg today (how is the sunny central coast going ???) Tea outside again and then a walk around the park where we met up with people we had met  from the Oasis C/P in Darwin. SATURDAY....Caz sleeps in.... 7am yee ha, we have an easy day today, do our computer stuff,photos & then went for a drive out to the INN which we stayed OUT of.  We then headed back to the Lodge where we watched the AFL G.F in air con comfort, late arvo caz spoke to Cathy about her experience with the dogs what a laugh(took them for a walk and they dragged Liam into the water & almost Cathy), we then sat outside for arvo drinks and watched 2 Brahama bulls walk past our site..something you do n't see every day!! We then had tea outside again under the stars..very nice. SUNDAY....Up early and went for a walk across the Fitzroy River Bridge. We then had a big breakie and started to tidy up, then had to take Rans to the hospital, as he has had a bad case of gout in his left foot, he hasn't slept in the past 2 nights and has been hobbling on one foot, by the time we got back from todays walk he could hardly walk..but like I said to him  " TOUGHEN UP PRINCESS"  anyway the Dr gave him some strong ani inflam's and we then returned to finish cleaning the car etc prior to heading down to the lounge of the Lodge to watch the footy......SO APPARENTLY MANLY SEA EAGLES WON.....YEAH !! the best footy side in the past 10yrs they say. It was a good arvo, only 8 others watching and all Manly supporters,

Carol even won $54 for picking Brett Stewart as 1st try scorer. We then made a few phone calls to non supporters and had some nice......yes they were nice text messages & calls back from about 15 people. So after the game which we enjoyed, we continued packing up as we head off tomorrow towards Derby, so to all,  its great to hear from you and as we hit the furthest distance from home,  all take care Love"Rans the Sea Eagle" & Mrs Ransxxxxxxxx