The Ivanhoe Crossing is a much fabled crossing of the Ord River, but high maintenance. Increasing flows due to irrigation and the odd person being consumed by a crocodile has meant that this crossing is now permanently closed. But is makes for a good planking opportunity!
While the boys were on their river trip, I visited the relocated Durack Homestead. This is the original house built in the valley that the dam now fills. The house was dismantled, stone by stone, and rebuilt above the dam. They have a great display of the pioneering days of this famous family.
It’s just near the camping ground here, which sits near the dam wall with a spectacular view across Lake Argyle. Is this Horizon Pool to die for, or what?
I sent this photo to our architect and asked if our pool would look like this when it’s finally built. He said it would – when the landscaping is finished.
John and the boys decided to paddle down the Ord River from below the dam wall at Lake Argyle. This is promoted as a two day paddle in the tourist blurb, but they plan to do it in 6-7 hours. That’s a Jacoby thing. We had an early start and drove up to the dam wall – about 70km. Being up there early made for the perfect light to see the enormous Lake Argyle.
We continued west along the Victoria Highway, through Timber Creek and over the mighty Victoria River which flows on out to the Timor Sea. Our early explorers from Europe would sail up as far as Timber Creek, but the river is not deep.
The view in the photo below is from just above the Timber Creek township.
We also stopped at the Gregory Tree. This is an old Boab where the explorer Augustus Gregory set up camp in 1855 for a year of two. As was the trend in the day, he carved the dates into the tree. It’s also a sacred site, and well fenced off – not a great photo.
BUT – there are some good lookers nearby that I’ll treat you to. (I hugged these ones of course)
We crossed the border into Western Australia and lost all our fruit and vegetables to the quarantine man again. We stayed right on a lagoon of Lake Kununurra and a nice breeze kept the mozzies at bay.
Well I’ve had a day or so of internet access and some time on my hands, so thought I’d upload some videos. They take a long time to put up, so some are not so new.
I’ve fixed the one of the Croc eating the wallaby:
The next one is from Alice Springs – in the rain. I think we were all going a little crazy this day.
And here’s the Todd River flowing –
More tomorrow. WiFi modem nearly flat, computer nearly flat, and I need a shower!