Day 19 Ord River Cruise

Day 19 Ord River Cruise

Although we had been a little taken aback by the prices for the Triple J Tours Ord River and Lake Argyle Cruise ($350 for the two of us) .... I have to report it was worth every cent! The word exhilarating best describes it. She had a big grin stitched to her face for some hours, and no, it wasn't always terror!

Our tour didn't start until 11.30 so we used the morning doing housework (washing clothes) and catching up this blog. Although it's a bit of a drag having to find $1 coins to feed the washing machines all the time, at least we haven't gone to the extremes of one fellow camper who is trailing a vehicle behind his motorhome, containing a twin tub washing machine and drier! I'm missing the economy here! And they must get full of red dust as they travel.

John boarding our bus for first leg of tour

We were picked up by the tour bus from our camp site and taken to the reconstructed Durack Homestead. This homestead was owned by one of the original cattle baron families of the district and was originally located in an area that was flooded by the building of the Ord River Dam. They took it down stone by stone and rebuilt it on higher ground for historical posterity. Even the grave headstones came with it. It was quite interesting reading about this pioneering family and seeing some of the memorabilia. It had always been intended to move the homestead and its outbuildings in this manner, but the dam filled much faster than anticipated. So fast, in fact, that the crew had to abandon the original site in very short order one morning - to be rescued by dinghy -  leaving everything where it was, including the Bedford truck loaded with bits of dismantled homestead. Divers have confirmed that the keys are still in the ignition.

Spillway creek which takes the overflow of the dam should it exceed 100% capacity

John outside the Durack homestead

Great chicken coup/bird aviary

memorabilia in the homestead

We then drove on to the Lake Argyle Resort in order to view the lake from a high point. It's incredibly BLUE! And BIG! (the lake that is, not the resort). We sighed over the incredible infinity pool and spa which surely must have some of the best views in the world. Note to self: stay here next time. Infinity pool? Pah! Walking down the slope a little revealed it to set back from the edge by 20 metres or more. Cheat! 

The Lake Argyle Resort spa

The infinity pool with views to die for

Barb wanted to jump right in

Yep the lake really is that blue

Black cockatoo

We were then bundled back into the bus and drove over (I think Barb might mean along) the dam wall. Wow! Wow! Wow! The dam wall is 68 metres high and built of rock and clay. No concrete. You look down over the hydroelectric power plant on the lower side which supplies power to 85% of this whole area (diesel generators supply the rest). Down down down we went in our expertly driven bus to board the power boat we were to ride on for the 55km trip back along the river.

The view from dam wall

Beat that for a view

John does love to read the signage and plaques

That's our boat arriving to pick us up

Gotta do a selfie

Barb woz here

The hydro electric plant at the base of the dam wall

Our young tour guide cum bus driver/boat driver, Dylan was an absolute gem, a real asset for his company. I hope they pay him a lot. His knowledge about the local flora and fauna, the geology and ecology of the area and his evident passion for his home (he grew up here) was inspiring. As he drove the boat along at exhilarating speeds, sometimes a shade over 30 knots, with a plume of water spray from its three jumbo sized outboards (350 hp each for those interested) spurting out behind us, his eagle eye would suddenly spot an animal or bird that he wanted to point out to us and give us a photo opportunity. Swish! .... suddenly we'd be within a few metres of a resting croc or a rock wallaby or right underneath a tree of roosting flying foxes. He knew the names of every bird, every plant and could answer any question thrown at him. This guy was good!

First freshwater croc spotted sunning himself

Under the shade of the paperbark trees

Australian darter drying its wings

Croc in the water

Weeeeeee!!!!! We're going FAST!

Exhilarated and so happy to be alive

John's thrilled too

Jacana on the lily pads

Water weeds on the lake

Two rock wallabies

Large flying foxes roosting

Dylan giving us a talk about the dam

Egret on the bank

Never smile at a crocodile

Serenity

Reflections

Rock strata

Boab tree

Just beautiful

We pulled in to an area beside the river which has been set up by the tour company for somewhere to feed the tourists, complete with bush toilets (there are toilets on board too). Out came a wonderful afternoon tea of fresh baked pumpkin scones with butter and a choice of jams, date cake and fresh melons as well as tea coffee juice or soft drink. These were the best scones we've had this trip (sorry Fran). Even Flo Bjelkie Peterson would've been proud of these ones. There was even enough for seconds or to take some home in a doggie bag.

Stopping for arvo tea

Natural sculpture

More reflections

Eagles protecting their nest

Cormorant

I'm lost for words

Where's my easel? I wanna paint this

bird silloette

forgot what sort of bird this is

The post-prandial, final leg of the trip just got better and better. The reflections of the trees and mountains on the mirror-like surface of the lake had the avid photographers in the group almost drooling with delight. And the piece de resistance ..... the sunset! Sublime!

Oh yeah !

We were delivered almost right to our tent flap when the boat pulled in to the boat ramp at the camp site (had we mentioned it's on Lake Kununurra?) just a few metres from where our camper trailer is set up. Now that's what I call service!

This really was a bucket list experience, well worth the mere several thousand kilometre drive to get here, terror moments included!

Two happy campers