Day 40 - Sunday 12 August - Argyle history lesson

Day 40

Sunday

12 August

Lake Argyle 

And here comes another day. I am getting good at being awake at 6am, this time I was happy to doze for a further 45min, eventually grabbing my book and finishing it off. I was keen to keep reading, but only had samples on the Ipad, so I picked one and read the first bit. I will have to wait until we go into Kununurra to download the remainder. 

We were both up shortly after, keen to get the washing on, only to discover the laundry was running full tilt, with no machines free. I got busy, changing sheets and making breakfast, returning to the laundry, where a man was unloading his washing and a young mum was busy stuffing laundry into another machine. I was glad to time it well, only to be told by the mum, that she was going to be using the old boys one as well! I was fuming, but bit my tongue and stood with my arms crossed giving off pissed off vibes.

I wasn’t prepared to move from the laundry, eager to get in next. Paul came to find me about 15min later and wasn’t impressed when I relayed the story. He took over the watch and I went off for a shower, knowing a shown down would be on the cards. 

I avoided the laundry, returning to the van to finish the clean-up and to sweep out the van. When I thought enough time had passed, I returned to Paul, who gleefully said he had put the mum in her place. Our washing finished shortly after and we hung it out on the ever-decreasing line space. 

With our job done, we jumped into the Getz and drove out to the Lake Argyle Homestead, once the home of the Durracks. The home has been moved, as it would now be under water had it remained siting on the plains. It was lovingly restored and is now houses interesting artefacts and the story of the plucky Irish family. What a life they must have had back in the 1850’s. 

After checking out the home, we continued down the road to a track we had seen on our return yesterday. We drove along the sandy track and parked at the edge of a small watering hole. A jabiru was fossicking around in the water and I was keen to get in close, unfortunately he wasn’t so keen and took flight. Thankfully I had the camera set and I managed to capture him, as he took to the sky. He circled above us for a while, using the thermals to rise up and over the hills. He was quite spectacular looking from the ground, wings spread. 

We then ventured further down the track, passing down a steep section, that Paul thought might be tricky to get back over. Hmm, there wasn’t much at the bottom and the track became boggy, so we reversed back, keen to get out. Unfortunately, the track had other ideas. Paul had reversed into a sand trap and the front wheel of the car dug into the dirt.

We emerged from the car to check how bad the situation was and found the front wheel buried to the start of the rim. I grabbed the esky lid and began digging and then we placed the car mats underneath the wheels, I jumped in the driver’s seat and gave it all I could, but all we got was a big cloud of dust and the other wheel caught up. 

We gave it one more attempt, without success, so I left Paul with it and made my way to the road. I flagged down a couple of backpackers, who kindly drove me to the Durrack homestead and then I asked the caretaker if he wouldn’t mind lending a hand. He was great, grabbing rope and taking me back to “Dead Horse Creek.”

Once there, we found Paul had already been rescued. Another couple had come down the track and yanked the Getz out. I bid farewell to the caretaker and then we were quick to exit the area and get back to the van. Another close call. 

We needed a hose down, on arrival. My feet were black, but Paul was in a far worse state and went off for a shower. We collected our washing and returned to eat lunch. At 1.15pm we wandered to reception to watch a video about the construction of the dam and at 2.15pm the bus arrived to take us on our tour. 

We did a drive across the dam, the driver giving a running commentary and then we were delivered at the boat ramp, where we boarded the Kimberley Durrack ready for our sunset cruise on Lake Argyle. 

Grant, our guide, also provided a run-down of the location, geology, dam, water volumes and the agriculture set up since the Ord River was permanently changed. It was all very interesting and it was great to get out on the water. 

We stopped at different spots, checking for some of the 30 000+ fresh water crocs. We watched dozens of fish come to the surface to chase down bread rolls being thrown in and we had two wallaroo follow the edge of the island and meet us at the shore, which was rather special. 

We eventually ended up at the sunset spot, where you were free to jump off the boat and have a swim in the lake. While I had been keen earlier, it was now cool and breezy, so I changed my mind. Paul was also staying out, but eventually couldn’t resist, joining a few others who had braved the chop to bob about on a pool noodle. 

We watched the sun disappear and with everyone back on board, we began the journey back to the boat ramp. By the time we got in the stars were out. The bus dropped us back at the resort and we dumped our bag at the van and returned to the beer garden for dinner, roast night. 

The meal didn’t last long and dessert was soon demolished. We had enough time to check our phones, but why we bother is beyond me and then we were ready to head back to the van and call it a night.