traveling0z

Monday 30th November 2009

Finally (after spending the weekend packing up and washing van's and cars) we pull out of Kimberleyland around 11am, we make our way west heading towards Broome.  We stop over night at Spring Creek (camps 5 No: 644) its a nice big rest area with plenty of shade (no water in the creek as yet).  It was a LONG, HOT night for us because the brand new invertor decided to not work (We had an extra battery and an invertor installed at Kununurra, so we could at least run fans whilst free camping up here in the Tropics!!!!).  So that put any further plans of free camping on the way to Broome straight out the window, we will have it looked at when we get to Broome.

3 Rigs on the way to Broome:

Tuesday 1st December

We stop for lunch at the Mary River free camp, again nice, large, shady spot.  We get as far as Fitzroy River and decide to stay at the Fitzroy River Lodge CP - nice park with a really nice cool pool!!!!

Wednesday 2nd December

We leave Fitzroy River and head for Derby, we stop at Willare for fuel...............................  at first they had no power...................... Brad and Julie did not have enough fuel to continue so we went about counting the litres of fuel we had in jery cans ect!!! however the power came back on and all was well,  except we paid $1.81 per litre for diesel (thats the most we have paid so far).

Monday 2nd of November.

Well this time 12mths ago, we were sleeping on the floor (blow up mattress) in our very empty home that tomorrow would no longer be ours.  The house settled the 3rd November 2008 and we spent our first night (homeless!!) at the Caboolture river lake hotel.  We picked up our van on the very next day and the adventure began.   Well 12mths on we have NO regrets (only that we had done this sooner).  We have grown individually as well as a family, we have seen things most only dream of, or see on the TV, made some amazing friends, met some unsual characters and experienced a lifestyle that is awesome.  We currently have NO plans to settle down (perhaps we will keep going till we are grey nomads and just get a smaller van).

Well as most of you know, we travel for a few months, then work for a few months - we have been in Kununurra WA for 4mths now and we only have 28 days left till we leave (Yay, Kunna's great but we are so ready to leave now).  Matt and Brad finish up work on the 27th and we head off (in Convoy - 3 big rigs) on the 30th November.   We are heading towards Broome, the plan is to stay at a CP in Broome over the Christmas/New Year period, then move on further south (to escape any potential cyclones forecast for January)  the rest of the time we will free camp.

The kids are all excited as they only have 14 days left of school here, then back to schooling on the road (next year will be distance education).

The local wildlife is showing its face a lot more (the CP is rather empty now) so we see a lot of goanna's, Crocs, Tata's and Frilly's wandering around the park, I took this photo of a baby Tawny frog mouth the other day, there are 3 babies all up this little guy and what seems to be a set of twins - Cute

Sunday 13th September

Brad is kind enough to take Jacob along with him and Jackson  to a local event RecFish West - they are encouraging kids to fish for fun - they had a great day out and managed to catch a few fish.  And Jacob managed to get his picture in the paper (as only Jacob could do!!)

Saturday 12th September,

We head off really early 7am (yes that is early thank you!!!) we arrive at the Gibb River road and all let a few pounds out of the tyres, the road is quite rough and corrugated - we have a LOT of fun!!!!.:D

Gibb River Road:

We arrive at Emma Gorge and walk the 25 mins walk to the waterhole - Awesome!!  We are rewarded with a lovely cool swim (unfortunately there are others there. 

Emma Gorge:

A rewarding dip at Emma Gorge !! left to right: Julie, Laura, Tayla, Caroline, Matt, Jake & Jackson

 We walk back to the homestead and have morning tea, then it was off to Zebedee Springs (which they close every day at 12pm for private tours :mad:.  We had about half an hour to swim - beautiful place just magic.

Zebedee Springs:

Princess Racheal and her private pool

Boys will be boys - Jackson & Jake:

We then head off to El Questro for a picnic lunch - Didn't think much of El Questro - not really sure what we expected!!!, we drove all the way to the top of the lookout, then back down and headed for the Pentecost River!!!  We all crossed it, then headed up stream to "Wash" some lures - didn't catch any fish - saw a Saltie though.............

Crossing the Pentecost:

On top of the El Questro Lookout left to right: Brad, Tayla (holding Racheal), Julie, Jackson, Caroline, Matt, Jake, Laura, Narelle & David

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MATTHEW!!  We decided not to go out to dinner (once bitten, twice shy!!!) they charge a kings ransome here and because 70% of the population is the "travelling public" they don't go to a lot of trouble with the meals!!!

We buy some lovely seafood from Discovery and cook it up ourselves!! YUMMO.  We all had a really great night in, early start in the morning - we are going to "tackle" The Gibb River Road with Brad, Julie and their two kids Tayla and Jackson and Nan & Pop - David and Narelle - we met these guys back at Daly Waters (Narelle actually fixed Racheal's tooth) and they have caught up with us here at Kuna and will stay as they to have work here..

A Kimberleyland Holiday Park Local:

September 3rd

What a day for Caroline - as she works in the caravan park and on a daily basis books various tours for the tourists she was offered a free 2.5hr flight  (it was hard advising tourists on a popular flight she hadn't even been on!!).  It was TOTALLY AWESOME!!! and better still she got to sit in the front with the pilot (she did freak out a little as the plane was a single engine (not much bigger than our Landcruiser and could only seat 6 including the pilot!!! however all was ok).

We flew over the Diversion Dam, Lake Argyle, Lissadell Staion, Texas Station (both cattle stations), Osmond Ranges, Bow River, The Bungle Bungles, Piccaninny Gorge, Argyle Diamond mine, Carr Boyd Ranges, Cockburn & Pentecost Ranges - this is definately something she will remember forever!!!  What a GREAT experience.  Caroline learn't so much about the region.

The landscape was amazing, very dry and dusty, ever changing.  The 2 cattle stations are separated by the "Bow River" during the dry there is obviously no water and the cattle cross over the boundry - the station owners have a gentlemans agreement that the "wandering" cattle is either trucked back to respective owners or sold ot "China" (they get all our good beef) and monies are sent to the respective bank accounts - they also have what they call "clearskins" (no not wine!!) these are calves born in the wild - the agreement here is that the first station to brand/tag these calves are the "new" owners - hence the name "Clearskins!!". 

Caroline can not put in words the flight over the Bungle Bungles - have a look at the photo's and if you EVER get the chance to visit these amazing formations its a MUST DO!!!.

Lake Argyle from the air

Kimberley Country

Osmond Ranges - they look like 2 Separate waves about to break over a reef system

Purnululu National Park - The Bungle Bungles!!!

Kimberley Country

Argyle Diamond Mine

Saturday 22nd August

Finally Matt and I have a day off!! (Yay, after 6 weeks of working seven days a week its time to be "bloody tourist's" for one day).

We take the kids to Lake Argyle, Ivanhoe's Crossing and the pumphouse for a milk shake.  A great relaxing day was had by all.

Lake Argyle:

Ivanhoe's Crossing:

This photo was taken not too far from our caravan site!!!  A Freshwater Croc sunning itself, Racheal got a little to close for mum's comfort, she had to remind her that it was real, there's no fence and those teeth will hurt!!!

Thursday 13th August

Today Laura turns 9yrs old!!!!:D, she was up VERY early this morning to open her presents, including a baby born (swimmer), some books and some Beado's from Aunty Santa.

Tonight we are all going out to dinner.  Well another week has passed and we are now a family of five (again!!!) Jacob flew in last Friday and started in the "Propel" Yr 10 class at Kununurra District High School (same as the girls),  he is settling in very well and getting used to life in a caravan, a remote location, and his annoying sisters!!!  Matt and I are still working hard and last week Matt pulled an all-nighter, recovering another tow truck about 400 klm's west on the Gibb River Road (it had a broken axle). The kids school sports carnival is on tonight (they have it from 3.30pm till 7.30pm as its so hot here).  Keep tuned in for future updates on life in "Kunna".

We have had a good first week going to school and working hard (only 14 weeks to go - then off we go again, but hey who's counting :D).

Racheal has made a new friend here at the caravan park - her name is Mia, Mia is German and doesn't speak a word of english, Racheal doesn't speak a word of German!!!  however the two of them are about the same age and language is definately no barrier, they play happily together for hours each day (after Racheal gets home from school of course!!) its so hot here 37 deg yesterday, school is finished by 2pm, its then home into the bathers and into the pool for a few hours!!!.

Some other good news Jacob will be joining us shortly!!! Yay - we will fly him into Kuna within the next two weeks (he will go to the high school here) I think he realises just what he is missing out on, we are all excited.

The Sleeping Buddha at sunset: