Hi all,

The drive from Broome to Halls Creek which was our next stop was probably one of the prettiest we have come across. Long stretches of road but really, really hilly. You could see these amazing purplish hills stretching for miles ahead and they looked pretty against the haze. Up close they were something else lol. Quite boring. Lots of granite and not much else. We stopped for a (forced) healthy lunch all the fruit and vegetables left in the caravan. You have to get rid of it because there are stops to check for fruit fly. So tuna salad it was with apples for after lol.

The hills in the background.....

...And up close

We arrived in Halls Creek about 1.30pm. If you ever want to see a real outback town where it's hot, dusty, dry and small, this is the one to go to.  Holy cow. After a long drive from Fitzroy Crossing we decided to stay here overnight as it was too much of a stretch to head straight to Kununurra. There was only one caravan park in the town, and what there was looked really awful at first sight. Lots of broken down dongers, and scrap lying around and it took us a few run ups to decide on which spindly tree to park under for the night. 

We did a minimal unpack - just chairs and table and left the rest of the things inside the van which we skirted around and then feeling restless, we decided to go out in the car for a drive. I had heard of a place which was supposed to be the bees knees - China Wall. Some sort of a natural formation where the rocks are white and they jut out of the rocky hills unchanged over thousands of years from the elements. They can't be worn down. After heading down a small track we came across them and to say it was disappointing is an understatement. I guess that's what happens when you listen to a person who raves about something only to build it up in your own mind and find they are nothing like it.

 It was about 39 degrees outside - really hot and well, this is China Wall. It carries up and over the hill but we were so hot and tired none of us felt like doing the walk so this is as good as it got. 

We got back to the caravan and immediately headed for the caravan pool (amazing, there was actually one - not a flash one by any standards but hey, who's going to argue when you have nothing else to do in the middle of nowhere.) So Riley, Jake and I trundled down for a swim, while Chris and Mason spent their time snoozing in the air-conditioned van. The pool actually turned into an okay afternoon - a good way to kill a few hours. We met two couples, John and Eileen from England who are making their way around Australia in the same directions as us and Jodie and Charmaine who are going in the opposite direction (Jodie and Charmaine are not 'together' - just two good friends making the trip together - thought I better clarify that lol.) Anyway, we were able to swap heaps of good information and the girls invited us all back for drinks after dinner. Great! Except we had nothing to drink in the caravan. So I headed down to the tiny little bottle shop surprised that they sold nothing but light beer - 2.7% and under lol. Apparently, according to the owner, the bottle shop used to sell dozens of different types of wine, mixers and well, anything you wanted. Now due to the problem of Aboriginals and drinking he has had to change the rules. In the end I just grabbed two bottles of light beer and shoving a piece of lemon down the neck and into the bottle, it hit the spot on a hot night (I can't remember the last time I had beer. I don't ever drink the stuff lol.)

Drinks with the girls turned into a fun night. We met another couple, Robbie and Gail, who stopped by for drinks also and like us, were heading into Kununarra and Lake Argyll over the next few days. 

 A terrible picture but that's Charmaine on the far left, Jodie standing behind Robbie (front and in the middle) and me to the left of Gail. Gail and Robbie actually live in Armadale, Perth not far from where we lived. Charmaine was brilliant, too. She made up this five page list for me of places to go, and people to see (re: work). It's my new bible. 

We arrived in Kununurra late Saturday afternoon. Kununarra is a really pretty place. We had a look around and decided to stay at the Kimberlies Caravan Park which according to the guys was a winner due to it being the only caravan park around with a boat ramp. It's a nice little caravan park actually, and the staff are friendly. Three dollars to do a load of wash with clean amenities and a really nice pool. 

I guess the only thing we don't like about being so far up north is the heat. Here is really really stinking hot. None of us wandered outside the caravan until about 8.30am and even then it was HOT! We all immediately hit the pool after breakfast and spent hours in there. 

The view from the boat ramp just outside the park.

These boab trees are everywhere up north. This one is in the park on the Ord river.

The caravan park pool - Mason and Jake trying to drown one another lol.

The guys took the boat out about 2pm today and gave up after about an hour. Too hot (and they were using oars and not the motor.)  Crazy if you ask me going out in the heat of the day. We mucked around in the pool for another hour or so then late afternoon went out for an explore once the worst of the heat had disappeared. The heat up here is very frustrating. It's topping 40 degrees and it's only spring so I would hate to be here in summer and it's stopping us from doing so much. It's uncomfortably warm to be out and so much of the stuff you want to see includes long walks.. ack. Anyway, we came across this place called Kelly's Nob Lookout and went up for a ... well a look. The scenery was beautiful across the town and the backdrop of hills.

The view of the town from Kellies Nob Lookout. Below is the view behind us from the top of the hill.

 

Moving on further we went to Ivanhoe's Crossing. The crossing was out of bounds to get a car across and one look told us why. There were rapids lol. It was the most amazing place. Big trees growing from the water with the water knee deep to stand in - with the rapids pulling at you. BUT there were people fishing there and while we were standing knee deep enjoying the cool, one guy pulled an enormous barramundi from the water. So that was that. We HAD to come back tomorrow and try our luck which means instead of leaving tomorrow, we are off now on Tuesday. I made a deal with the guys. If we are staying another day so they can fish - we have to go to Lake Argyle because I really want to see and swim in the infinity pool that they have at the caravan park there. It's supposed to be spectacular (and I hope this is not another China Wall experience lol.)

 The picture above and the ones below are of Ivanhoe's Crossing.

 Perfect spot for me to laze about tomorrow if we end up going when it's too hot.

The river runs behind our caravan park. Here our boat is tied up ready and waiting to go.

A houseboat parked on the river - she's called the Pink Diamond. Maybe spoils from working at Lake Argyle?

 A canoeist out on the water. What a backdrop.

I included a small video of the Ord river. Sitting here on a bench seat overlooking the river, I actually felt like I was in one of those Kimberly Adverts you see on television. It was spectacular. There were Kingfishers diving for their dinner and the noise in the background is a combination of birds and insects. I hope it gives you an idea of how beautiful it was.

So that's it for me now. Will let you know if they manage to catch 'the big one' tomorrow and will update soon. 
Carolyn xxx