tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54225855941602011322024-02-19T21:15:15.639+08:00Yacht Envy "HAPPENINGS"Reporting the travels and adventures of Bruce and Audrey, since escaping the work force in 1999 to become sea gypsies in retirement, aboard their blue-water cruising yacht 'ENVY'.Yacht Envyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296367569566410867noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5422585594160201132.post-45290093678249434352014-09-15T11:23:00.001+08:002014-09-15T11:23:18.926+08:00KKK No 12 - Homeward Bound<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 24.0pt;">“K K K”</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">No: 12</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Homeward bound via</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Inland SA and Western NSW</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Even though the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Nullarbor Plain</b> is loosely described as
stretching 1200km from Norseman
WA to Ceduna SA, its land types
and topography vary significantly along its lower highway route, encompassing
mature forest, semi-arid saltbush plains, hilly scrublands, open grazing
pastures and farmlands cultivated to grain. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL_s0yaNV0FaSGH20yVYnOtcQXeVa9yB63_o0GvqCQZ49AHNHOUccM0Fba1qz17U5yZGUVlaTeWJnCb-r4eOl71EzFESMOCEIBRQe1IzkKSrZx0cVfTAUIJ4__aXGuJtwX5yCmESjx5Q/s1600/P1060658.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL_s0yaNV0FaSGH20yVYnOtcQXeVa9yB63_o0GvqCQZ49AHNHOUccM0Fba1qz17U5yZGUVlaTeWJnCb-r4eOl71EzFESMOCEIBRQe1IzkKSrZx0cVfTAUIJ4__aXGuJtwX5yCmESjx5Q/s1600/P1060658.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtB0-0OT6QIzSGBoJM7rALhI0X0WMEFaCr15C6IUIispbaqIys53MLQ-lm5wBV4BBxugdQZxKc3B-Ms0AY2c3pRD7Aakdi5R_kRUKIoz1Bcto3gptn1VPXQmBTjHO2EQ8xixHyK-5GSg/s1600/P1060648.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtB0-0OT6QIzSGBoJM7rALhI0X0WMEFaCr15C6IUIispbaqIys53MLQ-lm5wBV4BBxugdQZxKc3B-Ms0AY2c3pRD7Aakdi5R_kRUKIoz1Bcto3gptn1VPXQmBTjHO2EQ8xixHyK-5GSg/s1600/P1060648.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Eastern Nullabor Plains</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The vast open Nullarbor
Plain lands (‘null arbour’ - no trees) lie farther north of the highway. We saw
no domestic livestock at all, only birds, 2 lizards, one snake and, sadly,
three dead (road-kill) Wombats. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We enjoyed the Nullarbor and
its changing scenery, from arid to grasslands, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>passing <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>thru 200km of grazing country, then the
western extremes of SA’s huge grain belt approaching <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ceduna,</b> with its Quarantine stop some 486km in from the WA border,
but only took a quick look around this busy coastal town with its charming old
stone architecture. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">After refuelling, continued
along the Eyre Highway
inland through continuous wheat farms, in to the grain-hub village of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Wirrulla</b>
with its large grain silos.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">All around Australia, town Councils vary in
their attitude to caravaners – some welcome, others shun – and tiny <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Wirrulla</b> is a shining example of the
former. A concrete pad with power, toilets and hot showers is provided for $10
per day, adjacent to the supermarket and pub, and you can’t get much better
than that!</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc6a-RRe6tjirgkYhN450ISj5nIb4-c69bptcM-LqjkX9wAfl-u3yc4nmLp2NHTmouwq2Zds9ut-PwjCqSdxTyh190NVuunmi5ME0IouSE-eWltqNCDgud5SdQeJwVW86AScl5Z863aA/s1600/P1060695.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc6a-RRe6tjirgkYhN450ISj5nIb4-c69bptcM-LqjkX9wAfl-u3yc4nmLp2NHTmouwq2Zds9ut-PwjCqSdxTyh190NVuunmi5ME0IouSE-eWltqNCDgud5SdQeJwVW86AScl5Z863aA/s1600/P1060695.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Wudinna Grain Silos</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Following a 7 degree cold
night at Wirrulla we drove 70 km through more wheat before arriving at <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Wudinna</b> with its huge grain storage
facilities, and a striking granite statue, which acknowledges the district’s
importance as a granite quarrying centre. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfc4HXMr3o5da3vN5LFElhV1DWZ2yEqy6ASgNPJiCGX3fO61-RncqUSHD9DL1R9h-qkbVO-Kc2P5J1CxyvKgvYyKDU7IZR5x4tyOhHGuBichbSi-6yx8bXD0JcWnOZu4kfCtamg9PChA/s1600/P1060691.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfc4HXMr3o5da3vN5LFElhV1DWZ2yEqy6ASgNPJiCGX3fO61-RncqUSHD9DL1R9h-qkbVO-Kc2P5J1CxyvKgvYyKDU7IZR5x4tyOhHGuBichbSi-6yx8bXD0JcWnOZu4kfCtamg9PChA/s1600/P1060691.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Granite Statue at Wudinna</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> We continued along the
highway through rolling ridges bordered either side with eucalyptus trees
concealing the now ubiquitous fields of wheat, but still no livestock to be
seen, just km after km of grain, then, as if to break the green monotony, a
bright blaze of yellow heralded the first canola crop in more than 1000km since
WA .</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCX_Ly0JbvVc5cPTIp726SJbu1LmojdHhyphenhyphenDstW3z6Eja7c-G6z2spOCteAltandN9kSLSrgGr_9NxjZ1EUXbSITpZzx-64hS3utEsX9TbVXc7v-pmbrvYryWeUazrFsiD8BFhrSfVnw/s1600/P1060704.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCX_Ly0JbvVc5cPTIp726SJbu1LmojdHhyphenhyphenDstW3z6Eja7c-G6z2spOCteAltandN9kSLSrgGr_9NxjZ1EUXbSITpZzx-64hS3utEsX9TbVXc7v-pmbrvYryWeUazrFsiD8BFhrSfVnw/s1600/P1060704.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Expansive Grain Growing</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> Our planned o/nite stop on
28/8 was for <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Kimba</b> in the central
north of the Eyre Peninsular, which we’d been told was RV friendly, a nice
public campground in town with internet connectivity. We ran our quiet Honda 240v
generator all afternoon to charge up phones and iPads etc, and power up the
laptop to make a start on writing this Blog. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Got an early start next
morning passing through fertile farmland again until Lake
Gilles Conservation
Park where the land changed to hilly
forest ridges, then flattened out to low saltbush scrub plains as we neared <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Iron Knob</b>, birthplace of Australia’s
iron ore and steel industry.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjiZavJY3maMeG1zTR5dmgSzQFms-PEJVVKMKo0sIdqoVdaEJ5xDPonwjgis7BF4-JzyoXtP4fvsf5YB86fTN8FAzdfO237qnymjCYv5dgPd4x04m4VOVGKQYmr3ABNO3JrbUDxpj1VQ/s1600/P1060717.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjiZavJY3maMeG1zTR5dmgSzQFms-PEJVVKMKo0sIdqoVdaEJ5xDPonwjgis7BF4-JzyoXtP4fvsf5YB86fTN8FAzdfO237qnymjCYv5dgPd4x04m4VOVGKQYmr3ABNO3JrbUDxpj1VQ/s1600/P1060717.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Iron Knob</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Iron Knob</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">
is almost a ghost town now with only a handful of residents, but the original two
mines of Iron Knob and Monarchs still operate on a “FIFO” basis, having produced
non-stop since the discovery of exceptional quality iron lodes in the 1890’s. </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYryyrZpcqPc25jlRLLD4FbTFaWNgxrE_mlmT4BYj45jxp0bajbeP3PGt7f51zi-pX1I4M8GuB8q_fq2iWl-5TYF1fRLva_SCh3hbaDPFfpP6dputj6rPGIPdINgWO4dWJo3h9m2AIyA/s1600/P1060719.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYryyrZpcqPc25jlRLLD4FbTFaWNgxrE_mlmT4BYj45jxp0bajbeP3PGt7f51zi-pX1I4M8GuB8q_fq2iWl-5TYF1fRLva_SCh3hbaDPFfpP6dputj6rPGIPdINgWO4dWJo3h9m2AIyA/s1600/P1060719.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Iron Knob Museum</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> Talk is that Iron Knob’s mineral
reserves will last only a further 25 years and the already unkempt empty houses
and buildings which dot its few streets will be joined by the rest of this tiny
village to become a ghost town. The modest, though informative local museum
details the mines’ history and rewards its few visitors with free coffee or tea
in appreciation! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgorf38Uh-GXFTxbnF8-mwmW7hvrtIvf_cxB8wwx50yFj0xgyZi807PIAPpwWGt0EDA4G0SDMty3IL0XFuEzFqfnQqPwJT_96DA-O3unWNy87qJWrY8Nh-ClHV1AOadGLQFWF_GyqNzQ/s1600/P1060741.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgorf38Uh-GXFTxbnF8-mwmW7hvrtIvf_cxB8wwx50yFj0xgyZi807PIAPpwWGt0EDA4G0SDMty3IL0XFuEzFqfnQqPwJT_96DA-O3unWNy87qJWrY8Nh-ClHV1AOadGLQFWF_GyqNzQ/s1600/P1060741.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Horricks Pass - Flinders Range</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Two hours later we’re back
on the road driving through poor country of saltbush and flat claypans and on
into <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Port Augusta</b> at the head of Spencer Gulf. Backed by the Flinders
Range, the town boasts early settlement history, but apart from
quick fuel and supermarket stops, we didn’t linger here.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFhc62eIsM2kywJf96HcLK7sNI30L_D3HJUqgILJYizt-fRqvZGdRYGhAGKTafX8t706Zd-x3ayMernse5Q3EgbAb38ZAIf8BGdGpC6M2JLezKvZl0FPPY76LUirFRfB85EvGwt8zgiQ/s1600/P1060749.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFhc62eIsM2kywJf96HcLK7sNI30L_D3HJUqgILJYizt-fRqvZGdRYGhAGKTafX8t706Zd-x3ayMernse5Q3EgbAb38ZAIf8BGdGpC6M2JLezKvZl0FPPY76LUirFRfB85EvGwt8zgiQ/s1600/P1060749.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Main Street Wilmington</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The country around Port
Augusta is influenced by the Flinders Range, which was presently quite green as
we drove up through scenic <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Horrocks Pass</b>
and on thru <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Wilmington</b>, after which
the grain belt returned all the way to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Orroroo,
</b>a pretty, well-kept prosperous looking town with lovely gardens down its
clean main street, and is a credit to its residents.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2JGF2xeEMfX9cZxN0GiGWlvBsIlZyLFja-_D129fiGrQKjBvDUhoCVAg7fkNJ4XoFBf959uCGJDmOzIMKjCnb7Ba9KbZ2AEyirYcXzXHmcqT3-RSpy5UZsVhwss2NmZWsC80AOPV0qg/s1600/P1060761.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2JGF2xeEMfX9cZxN0GiGWlvBsIlZyLFja-_D129fiGrQKjBvDUhoCVAg7fkNJ4XoFBf959uCGJDmOzIMKjCnb7Ba9KbZ2AEyirYcXzXHmcqT3-RSpy5UZsVhwss2NmZWsC80AOPV0qg/s1600/P1060761.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Massive Red Gum</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Open green farmlands, then we came upon a giant red gum tree, said to be over 500 years old, with a girth exceeding 10 metres. Then on through <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Peterborough</b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">, </b>noted<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>as a railway town being the intersection of the E-W (Port
Pirie-Broken Hill) and N-S (Alice Springs –Adelaide) railway lines. Its original name Petersburg was changed in
1917 due to anti German sentiments.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisD5k6ieAl-mZ0k8gx3YbcPsvgGV3v022Y5dMQd4WfkhbtAZf2scCqrVttip7dFYrJuJaKgxrosv7_hNjTk1Wygy48hM1nZ2B1_z0hL7WHm2hgDPHEh2WkadqzaFVO6OYjUfOORLrFgQ/s1600/P1060762.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisD5k6ieAl-mZ0k8gx3YbcPsvgGV3v022Y5dMQd4WfkhbtAZf2scCqrVttip7dFYrJuJaKgxrosv7_hNjTk1Wygy48hM1nZ2B1_z0hL7WHm2hgDPHEh2WkadqzaFVO6OYjUfOORLrFgQ/s1600/P1060762.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Welcome to Peterborough</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Here we joined the main Barrier Highway
connecting Adelaide
with Broken Hill, and open pastures grazing sheep replaced the grain belt, as
we continued on to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Yunta</b>, little
more than a roadhouse in this sparse outback of central South Australia. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">A further 35km brings us to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Manna Hill</b>, with its lovely old railway
station, perhaps ten houses and an old pub, whose front yard humorously
displays a “legal Pot tree”, and where we spent the night in their rest area,
sharing it with a young attractive Sydney girl, who arrived just after dark,
enroute to her work in Alice Springs, travelling and sleeping alone in her old
Volvo station wagon! </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEwWc5CZ__icvvsG27c2USAKSln3jkCKgHLkSqsJBgh-eOeIdMZDv78AjX_REG_KvVP7SweAUn1nPXUMNLf4RjRnUBkyzCTo2XM4Ysv9skNhCQM29vfWkSBu-TDr717gYucXV3-67Ukg/s1600/P1060778.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEwWc5CZ__icvvsG27c2USAKSln3jkCKgHLkSqsJBgh-eOeIdMZDv78AjX_REG_KvVP7SweAUn1nPXUMNLf4RjRnUBkyzCTo2XM4Ysv9skNhCQM29vfWkSBu-TDr717gYucXV3-67Ukg/s1600/P1060778.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Manna Hill Railway Station</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> Sat 30/8: day 147. We’re out
of Manna Hill by 8:20am and back into semi-arid and flat scrub plains as we
continue on, through the wee hamlet of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Olary</b>
comprising only three very old stone buildings; further down the highway we came
across another bit of Aussie roadside humour, a Hills Hoist clothes line on a
creek-bank mound, with all the washing pegged out, complete with laundry
basket, and not a house for miles around. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcJNnCh6watTQXvIxm9Mlt5GT8DCJAN_RLlPB2fG30Vb4qnGYqzRWvopADEr5U2uHNI4Z-bIhOq0q3ZQrZVc6_nC8rhdqTx7GulH2CtC6Lqy_6THiZilTPUc0Yw3sAJ3Wi_FInoGIihw/s1600/P1060780.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcJNnCh6watTQXvIxm9Mlt5GT8DCJAN_RLlPB2fG30Vb4qnGYqzRWvopADEr5U2uHNI4Z-bIhOq0q3ZQrZVc6_nC8rhdqTx7GulH2CtC6Lqy_6THiZilTPUc0Yw3sAJ3Wi_FInoGIihw/s1600/P1060780.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>In the middle of nowhere!!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">A little further along we
arrive at <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cockburn</b> on the SA–NSW
border and stop for a quick look and photo – nothing much to see here, so drive
on through more poor hilly scrublands; however, as we continued the country
improved, though still semi-arid red country, basically the bottom end of SA’s
Strzelecki Desert, all the way to Broken Hill. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Broken Hill, </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">“the<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>grand dame of the
outback” with a population of 33,000 is home to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">BHP Billiton</b>, the world’s largest mining company, and dates from
fairy-tale beginnings in 1883 when Charles Rasp, a station-hand boundary rider
pegged a 40 acre mining claim, thinking he might have discovered tin, thereby
sowing the seed that flourished to become this nations richest company and the
world’s richest source of silver, lead and zinc. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJwDC74hWyH_Fgzg4c5pMl6EEYphodwKVOodkYW_YkgyCF0GGVo2M0k6oVFMIFpFnYNs7UXQOEeOIddx6CoI8dkgmc_nJEEJeC_bsbKyHiQ4L1TuYdN-qo48AJPq6fVwS5U7NjSYLFjw/s1600/P1060807.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJwDC74hWyH_Fgzg4c5pMl6EEYphodwKVOodkYW_YkgyCF0GGVo2M0k6oVFMIFpFnYNs7UXQOEeOIddx6CoI8dkgmc_nJEEJeC_bsbKyHiQ4L1TuYdN-qo48AJPq6fVwS5U7NjSYLFjw/s1600/P1060807.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Overlooking Broken Hill</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">When Charles Rasp told his
boss George McCulloch, the station property owner about his find, McCulloch
suggested they form a syndicate, comprised of seven of the sheep station’s employees
to fund its development. Each invested £70 to form <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">BHP</b> in 1875 and the value of their original shares today would be
in excess of a billion dollars each.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">After more than 130 years
mining a 300 million tonne mineral system, both town and company are still going
strong. Broken Hill is a typical old mining town with many grand old, heritage
listed buildings, together with many, many small miner’s cottages all adding
their charm to the character of the place.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We toured the city, lunched
at the central lookout, then departed mid afternoon and drove 200km to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Wilcannia</b> where we spent three days in
Victory Van Park in nice grassy surrounds shaded by giant red river gums on the
bank of the mighty <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Darling
River</b>, the nations longest at 1472km. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Way out in the middle of
nowhere, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Wilcannia</b> in 1860 was Australia’s third largest port after Sydney and
Morpeth near Newcastle;
in 1887, 218 river barges arrived and left here. There were more than a dozen
hotels and a pop. of 13,000, and by 1880 there were 3000 people and 13 hotels.
Today’s pop is 600, of whom 500 identify as being aboriginal.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZe8ihdETJiFZDo23UJB9ZcP6qkYIaeOoeNFRMP3QvW4_PlHacvuRO56mg9yepq8J8a4LHEFCaJ9tFOTgALX9VlsEgT0j9J2pnVYErp3fg53aGLcBZ2LG0TbckkScIgtO8DPtClVdDQ/s1600/IMG_0469.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZe8ihdETJiFZDo23UJB9ZcP6qkYIaeOoeNFRMP3QvW4_PlHacvuRO56mg9yepq8J8a4LHEFCaJ9tFOTgALX9VlsEgT0j9J2pnVYErp3fg53aGLcBZ2LG0TbckkScIgtO8DPtClVdDQ/s1600/IMG_0469.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2rSdsVVCDBL4r-OBXwMlmADOcOjPsjxmrZWc7Xw2qQ7-hr6D6US3kdN84E5IfBUaBXzFQ0EUxKBORC3XcseS752e4lqr1uzzdtphrcL3-R3KiQcmhRKI0UFKnhyphenhyphenqYKZv4MUfTG-vjxw/s1600/IMG_0477.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2rSdsVVCDBL4r-OBXwMlmADOcOjPsjxmrZWc7Xw2qQ7-hr6D6US3kdN84E5IfBUaBXzFQ0EUxKBORC3XcseS752e4lqr1uzzdtphrcL3-R3KiQcmhRKI0UFKnhyphenhyphenqYKZv4MUfTG-vjxw/s1600/IMG_0477.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Wilcannia's</b> <b>Historic Buildings</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Wilcannia has for years been
known as a ‘trouble town’ and has the highest ratio of Police in all of NSW.
Sadly, Wilcannia now relies on government welfare to exist, having little local
economy, but its former legacy is apparent today on streets lined with historic
architecture.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">2 Sept, (day 150) we depart <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Wilcannia</b> after (rare) 5mm rainfall
overnight and drive through the 12km wide soft riparian soils that comprise the
Darling River flood plain; then climbed up into higher, hard red country of
timbered rolling ridges which in turn became red Mulga scrub before changing
again to open forest grasslands timbered with Box and similar eucalypts.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">250km bought us to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cobar</b>, a very progressive town of 5000
with a copper mining background from 1870. Had lunch and a look around then
took the Kidman Highway north
for approx 51km, to where we had read about a nice off-road free camp, well
back from road noise, on clean, flat red soil in open Mulga, with lots of
firewood – one of our best camp spots yet. We stayed there two nights all to
ourselves, ran the 240v generator for the computer and commenced this report. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz62al08w341gc7z8OUMb-O8CV-x7xyv1N2cUmRpseQAuJ69RkWu6yfzxbw781WHbMlAO29XPMo5lblR5OQDUZo_oS1H6fVYZbOM2O_WDLeq1dD7P7FP3YA5h1aqLeIcbN7CvkJKGO7A/s1600/P1060902.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz62al08w341gc7z8OUMb-O8CV-x7xyv1N2cUmRpseQAuJ69RkWu6yfzxbw781WHbMlAO29XPMo5lblR5OQDUZo_oS1H6fVYZbOM2O_WDLeq1dD7P7FP3YA5h1aqLeIcbN7CvkJKGO7A/s1600/P1060902.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Roaring log fire and wide open spaces!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">By now we were becoming like
an old horse that can ‘smell’ home and wanted to be there, so we stopped for a
quick look around <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bourke</b> with its
old wharf on the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Darling River</b> and
some lovely old well kept homes, then pressed on through more Mulga country,
seeing hundreds of wild goats grazing the sweet grass in the table-drains all along
the next 97km stretch. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9QdbmUKxSBVhcfbC8GnsoqKTSMoTBjP6O-3F19YIhBmQnswraCqcI9_iHnzQTvMixBg-u4aODxUgrUeS5raKpMrEygwInvVqBbxiT28n3vuHNh4pCoV3nwyDY40DiBxiOj_egHTg19Q/s1600/P1060927.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9QdbmUKxSBVhcfbC8GnsoqKTSMoTBjP6O-3F19YIhBmQnswraCqcI9_iHnzQTvMixBg-u4aODxUgrUeS5raKpMrEygwInvVqBbxiT28n3vuHNh4pCoV3nwyDY40DiBxiOj_egHTg19Q/s1600/P1060927.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Post Office - Bourke</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Next stop was the
traditional aboriginal town of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Brewarrina</b>, pop
2000, renowned for its aboriginal fish traps, said to be 40,000 years old and
thought to be the oldest man-made structure on earth. This elaborate network of
rock weirs and pools, built to catch fish as they swam upstream, stretches for
around 500 metres along the Darling riverbed at the back of town, and continues
to lure fish today.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We continued along the Kamilaroi
highway passing through productive black soil western plains grazing country
and much dry, fallow cultivation for the 132km run to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Walgett</b>, home to the largest temporary wheat storage (30000 +
tonnes) in the Southern Hemisphere. Walgett has a significant aboriginal
community, and an 8.5km levee bank which completely surrounds the town. We camped
the night there in the Rotary caravan park.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdIBMOzlXphK39dbN6paygvpK90rOFoln0l6K9GuHcfL9ppW5XkYkRCbk-9WNKkkmsJoZkwD0tDcE6sAPahG7h-c9BDu3-Zx-s8S5FM9PMeySYscPD9zgQAKhyphenhyphen0RQ2oAUmjsp-chr9EQ/s1600/P1060958.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdIBMOzlXphK39dbN6paygvpK90rOFoln0l6K9GuHcfL9ppW5XkYkRCbk-9WNKkkmsJoZkwD0tDcE6sAPahG7h-c9BDu3-Zx-s8S5FM9PMeySYscPD9zgQAKhyphenhyphen0RQ2oAUmjsp-chr9EQ/s1600/P1060958.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Highway scenery</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Friday 5 Sept (day153) we
departed <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Walgett</b> and took the Gwydir Highway 75km
(surely Australia’s
roughest bitumen road) thru <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Collarenebri</b>,
a sad looking, small run-down whistle-stop of a place and continued a further
140km to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Moree</b>; the farther east we
travelled the better the country became.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2F33CRJK_c8uJBIbEBM_44KOTmIbFR4DIirto4JFF32M9T2UuABGNrLn2xmrIBIDOUxf2OEYtIWSWE8oqmWkD1Jaz65I42ch30A_26K6jeQBXDkdWH1ywRN-rwXJoVo1z_8AX_fm1iw/s1600/P1060976.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2F33CRJK_c8uJBIbEBM_44KOTmIbFR4DIirto4JFF32M9T2UuABGNrLn2xmrIBIDOUxf2OEYtIWSWE8oqmWkD1Jaz65I42ch30A_26K6jeQBXDkdWH1ywRN-rwXJoVo1z_8AX_fm1iw/s1600/P1060976.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Droving cattle near Moree</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We thought <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Moree</b> was the prettiest, tidiest, best
presented country town we passed through in our ‘round Australia’ trip. Situated on the
black soil Moree Plains it is the centre of an expansive agricultural area
extending northwards to the Qld border, and is also Artesian Water country.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8b7qzsYtrvEKLmvKVEgx8hHT-5k-e3PIRE6_RjaWtiYhmkl7_5SEu9DGSmEL2E7WCwdd5UL-R4Iw7HdKaWIyfX6Su87TYUM-Xulod4iXRODV_BgDh-m-EW9cckIxT9q9beiop2uyEKg/s1600/P1070003.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8b7qzsYtrvEKLmvKVEgx8hHT-5k-e3PIRE6_RjaWtiYhmkl7_5SEu9DGSmEL2E7WCwdd5UL-R4Iw7HdKaWIyfX6Su87TYUM-Xulod4iXRODV_BgDh-m-EW9cckIxT9q9beiop2uyEKg/s1600/P1070003.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>We saw many different country Mail Boxes</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Following a good look around
we headed up the rough Newell Hwy
to cross the Queensland
border at <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Goondiwindi</b>, another well
kept attractive town. By now we were within easy distance of Brisbane, so
changed our plan for one last ‘country overnight’ stop, and after passing thru
dark rainy skies at <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Warwick</b> which
further influenced our decision, we arrived back <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">home at Cannon Hill</b> that evening, ever grateful for a fabulous 5
month around Australia touring experience loaded with many happy memories. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">153 days; from 6 April - 5
September 2014 <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Distance traveled 18,424km </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">3,900 litres Petrol cost
$6,694.35:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Price range; $1.39 - $2.50 /litre</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Avg: 21.17 litres per
100km.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">74 paid nights ($2030) and
79 free camping nights</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Farewell until our next
adventure</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Bruce and Audrey</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">9 Sept 2014</span></div>
Yacht Envyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296367569566410867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5422585594160201132.post-60541210012563227422014-08-28T16:21:00.001+08:002014-08-28T16:22:51.821+08:00KKK No 11 - The Nullarbor<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvtt6mtJcAYNS5vwa1xkEfJYvrt1n2PVqa8i1pfaeFnpMeRyWJMICYMvnYqit4ded4DRFxViI8mScHcrSKDgfKBrQWMT91qxuF9lgwagLzTvbelUKyhYMpDRJQZ8gZ9s8tRdoeE20Nrg/s1600/P1060380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 24.0pt;">“K K K”</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">No: 11</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">WA’s South-West Corner</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">and the Nullarbor </span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">A fine sunny morning at <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Baldivis</b> on 11 August, day128, marks
the end of our wonderful 11day visit to the ‘greater <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Perth</b> region’ as we take
the divided freeway southwards heading for the Margaret River
area.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We soon enter the Peel
Region and pass through emerald-green open pastures attractively shaded with
large trees, under which graze both beef cattle and merino sheep. Angus and
other British beef breeds dominate, no Brahmans here.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjytvoltd-RYLwXIsZiV6PfC4ymC9gEusXrx0edXw-mNk9COglDeKyRKCwrMbr-yIg6A89X7EFrjTNlysFZYIqR7bzH4QGp6acoFbyK6D3mCajB_rPE7x1YLZ-LeYKf_bxba7QXpRlmcA/s1600/P1060183.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjytvoltd-RYLwXIsZiV6PfC4ymC9gEusXrx0edXw-mNk9COglDeKyRKCwrMbr-yIg6A89X7EFrjTNlysFZYIqR7bzH4QGp6acoFbyK6D3mCajB_rPE7x1YLZ-LeYKf_bxba7QXpRlmcA/s1600/P1060183.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It <span style="font-family: Arial;">has recently occurred to
me, following weeks of fleeting casual observations, the reason, perhaps, why
Western Australians are affectionately nick-named “Sand Gropers” – virtually
everywhere we’ve been here the soil is so very sandy, far more so than the heavier
loams of the eastern states; yet it grows big trees, excellent crops, pastures
and gardens which in ignorance, I find quite interesting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Bypassing <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bunbury</b> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Busselton</b> we arrive at <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Margaret
River</b> with its tree-lined main street and touristy village atmosphere, as
you’d expect, being the centre of WA’s <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">famous
wine-growing region</b>. Since we’re coming here again on our return trip in 6
weeks’ time, we press on under dark skies to make camp asap before it rains. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggNlFF6LceXYDTpJHbzNXvdW5Sf7dkAodHraSZVfckJiuZpXLrmYsPGi0FDn_XeB1qX1WjWLs78jDXh8rDq7Ictt63CYVKKVlRNbK7d8Wxm8sB78BlEXFIhIHD8bGBhKVoHh73YkgHGA/s1600/IMG_0518.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggNlFF6LceXYDTpJHbzNXvdW5Sf7dkAodHraSZVfckJiuZpXLrmYsPGi0FDn_XeB1qX1WjWLs78jDXh8rDq7Ictt63CYVKKVlRNbK7d8Wxm8sB78BlEXFIhIHD8bGBhKVoHh73YkgHGA/s1600/IMG_0518.jpg" height="144" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Pruned Vines - Margaret River</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvc-bM1r64Fq9iVD57jfOOTCnQOEP8jWr0aFOPwOyr2U6O5cioIj0NiPp2-Xm-T0gGUoXmjvoRbMEyhdbpEBpMlpXgyC1shZQQLDXwWSSyfoBBV5UpDd70jippXfVQCH4cOf-0gbSKCA/s1600/P1060158.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvc-bM1r64Fq9iVD57jfOOTCnQOEP8jWr0aFOPwOyr2U6O5cioIj0NiPp2-Xm-T0gGUoXmjvoRbMEyhdbpEBpMlpXgyC1shZQQLDXwWSSyfoBBV5UpDd70jippXfVQCH4cOf-0gbSKCA/s1600/P1060158.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 24.0pt;"></span></b> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">But equally interesting is
the village of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cowaramup</b>
(ko-warra-mup) a little further south, affectionately known as “Cow Town”, a
once major dairying centre since starting as 160 acre “settlers’ selections” in1920,
supplying much of WA’s milk; however, during recent decades many of the dairy
farms have now become vineyards. Fibreglass cows now dot the village in keeping
with the “Cow Town” theme. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGle5tfUGSZcEmSB_Ion3Qc5F0smp-WPd19Sm4e8zVnSG2bhwHmW1kt980PN13iT7S7dst4ehe7ud4vGkBOWBfI4usCc1TO0uqn5Pibq9XiWqtapaDurgFY6tHY0Uyx0NTa3NTnfoWaw/s1600/P1060173.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGle5tfUGSZcEmSB_Ion3Qc5F0smp-WPd19Sm4e8zVnSG2bhwHmW1kt980PN13iT7S7dst4ehe7ud4vGkBOWBfI4usCc1TO0uqn5Pibq9XiWqtapaDurgFY6tHY0Uyx0NTa3NTnfoWaw/s1600/P1060173.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>One of many fibreglass Cowaramup Cows</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 24.0pt;"></span></b> </span>Just past Cowaramup we drove
25km inland to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rapids Conservation Park</b>
where we made camp beside lovely <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cane
Brake Pool, </b>clear freshwater approx 300mtrs long<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>on the upper Margaret River, a splendid campsite with the unusual
blessing of mountains of firewood provided, albeit green, sawmill offcuts. </div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl4O1Yl1CRTn0SsuAvClZ03uj6y5smkOIIlSt_PcZm-Gux49wCUQ2WMrE6Ra_AQqOqr132shmD6vYUDWA4tB9HHPu4YIuqoGaHztf-ZaGTTYgf00dOKkvgtKQCJ-Ayd-QToXvQoztr3A/s1600/P1060146.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl4O1Yl1CRTn0SsuAvClZ03uj6y5smkOIIlSt_PcZm-Gux49wCUQ2WMrE6Ra_AQqOqr132shmD6vYUDWA4tB9HHPu4YIuqoGaHztf-ZaGTTYgf00dOKkvgtKQCJ-Ayd-QToXvQoztr3A/s1600/P1060146.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Canebrake Pool - Margaret River</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0dROFxf2Vrdxk6aTxqXCtXt1q81BTUQhzIdSQ6oYBQiNjLlNxuTonAZVcjk_w3PcAQqqIAv5EBxDyKp3HN76bjgWelC2WU99R2kLNER8qgSglxo-Atc7bMvZ-yypq0qOpuEW2-K13zw/s1600/P1060141.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0dROFxf2Vrdxk6aTxqXCtXt1q81BTUQhzIdSQ6oYBQiNjLlNxuTonAZVcjk_w3PcAQqqIAv5EBxDyKp3HN76bjgWelC2WU99R2kLNER8qgSglxo-Atc7bMvZ-yypq0qOpuEW2-K13zw/s1600/P1060141.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Canebrake Pool Woodpile</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> We had it all to ourselves
other than for some day visitors, environmental scientists doing research into
the endangered Hairy Marron, a native freshwater crayfish being attacked by
another introduced species. They encouraged my inquisitiveness, making me an
‘authority’ on these matters and I can now identify the gender of crayfish. Smart,
eh?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">After two pleasant days
there, notwithstanding a few rain showers, we moved on through Witchcliffe to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park</b> where
we stopped overnight in the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Conto
campground</b>, which was equally appealing to both us and our fearless wallaby visitors.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkkTeG1NZ1G69AoQXbY7wkv-qboe9O2KDewBzJeFr0H9VGWHz6n4dcnxHNZqHzjTTdLaZas8AuNAoHE5_AfSrEUHEUP1hbcXyxUqQjxzU-lTPOa8wj9KxcebYBVbvXxg0Xuh0qiYEa3A/s1600/P1060218.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkkTeG1NZ1G69AoQXbY7wkv-qboe9O2KDewBzJeFr0H9VGWHz6n4dcnxHNZqHzjTTdLaZas8AuNAoHE5_AfSrEUHEUP1hbcXyxUqQjxzU-lTPOa8wj9KxcebYBVbvXxg0Xuh0qiYEa3A/s1600/P1060218.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Conto Wallaby</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
T<span style="font-family: Arial;">he following morning we
drove the short distance to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Augusta</b>,
to visit school-days friend Gil Goodwin, who welcomed us into his hillside home
with its great views over the Blackwood River, beside which Augusta was settled
in 1830, being WA’s third oldest European town (after Albany and the Swan River
Settlement) and today is a lovely small town loaded with history and charm.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We enjoyed this SW Cape area immensely with the three major highlights being:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOhxBms3kFkPhhdmeyqX44BjqeWrH5RZ-zC6SRy8BKIfD-HNwjKW93ECpvj5b11ZxSYy2G_5s_OKC90bBaDCpupQifAWTksbNGTa5x0b3Ppz8rNiWWw33pjMQm0BcmdwxIkdVQVoV_DA/s1600/P1060238.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOhxBms3kFkPhhdmeyqX44BjqeWrH5RZ-zC6SRy8BKIfD-HNwjKW93ECpvj5b11ZxSYy2G_5s_OKC90bBaDCpupQifAWTksbNGTa5x0b3Ppz8rNiWWw33pjMQm0BcmdwxIkdVQVoV_DA/s1600/P1060238.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">, mainland Australia’s tallest, built in 1895,
of which we took a guided tour and a memorable climb to the top of the 250
steps to the light platform with its superb views over the rugged coastline and
meeting point of the Southern and Indian Oceans. The light’s flash is visible
from over 47km away. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7WXXOGZRWsgKUa9wnYEJv44PPQIvX4C6hNDiufk0KLCB-p_CEfqGzlH3XeqyYw6DSWDNAudXbVoGvhr7uqr-VwetJjikQdB3xBJlL0Fgkouug9555fIaesHZWPjLQPvgfccK9ZYBF5Q/s1600/P1060254.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7WXXOGZRWsgKUa9wnYEJv44PPQIvX4C6hNDiufk0KLCB-p_CEfqGzlH3XeqyYw6DSWDNAudXbVoGvhr7uqr-VwetJjikQdB3xBJlL0Fgkouug9555fIaesHZWPjLQPvgfccK9ZYBF5Q/s1600/P1060254.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>We've come "up" in the World</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Augusta Museum</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> offers a wonderful insight into local history and, it’s said, many
visitors rate it the best small Museum they’ve seen, with which we totally
concur, being packed with some significant displays and pieces covering Matthew
Flinders circumnavigation, early coastal Shipwrecks, Whaling, the Timber
industry and early pioneers to name a few. Much local pride attaches to the
fact that Matthew Flinders 1802 circumnavigation of Australia
commenced and finished at Augusta.
</span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Jewel</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Cave</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> was the best by far. This SW corner comprises vast areas of limestone
and subsequently many underground caves. Jewel Cave
is a stunning crystal wonderland of timeless beauty and is home to one of the
longest straw stalactites found in any tourist cave in the world. Its glistening
array of formations left Audrey and me in awe! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYSKuUq1NYcadvCyiEnpIY_LL-Jv-3Y2Lcb6RWgI4PYem0o8RPr5t-Gj0W_SSnvOrrmGkh2TQH6vevC5UfUHgEkonawnOV_91jnOvGCZ6Ayps4CqjPASyaEN_1Z-B_t0onN1j34G02EA/s1600/P1060304.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYSKuUq1NYcadvCyiEnpIY_LL-Jv-3Y2Lcb6RWgI4PYem0o8RPr5t-Gj0W_SSnvOrrmGkh2TQH6vevC5UfUHgEkonawnOV_91jnOvGCZ6Ayps4CqjPASyaEN_1Z-B_t0onN1j34G02EA/s1600/P1060304.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0O3bWI3Fjmwg9ELYAKbZdhiRXsTqq9nzOM-MfAuFgrNGVqyCwJ256KB5sUMavn2lTDWiGMEp1iBTWw2y-gxGVghXC1V99oIR0he7p-RGSDXrav2X9utUr4zu5HwlpNys2TxvCko7t0w/s1600/P1060319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0O3bWI3Fjmwg9ELYAKbZdhiRXsTqq9nzOM-MfAuFgrNGVqyCwJ256KB5sUMavn2lTDWiGMEp1iBTWw2y-gxGVghXC1V99oIR0he7p-RGSDXrav2X9utUr4zu5HwlpNys2TxvCko7t0w/s1600/P1060319.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Jewel Cave Stalactites </b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
T<span style="font-family: Arial;">he flora of WA’s south-west
is famed for its diversity and one of this region’s major assets is its unique
and unusual <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">wildflowers</b>. As spring
approaches additional wildflowers will come into full bloom with all their
shapes and colours.</span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">However, the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">trees</b> of the south-west are the regions
well-known plants, dominated by the beauty and grandeur of the tall <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Karri, Marri, Jarrah and Tingle</b> hardwood
forests. The handsome multi-coloured Karri is WA’s tallest tree and one of the
tallest in the world, growing up to 90 metres high. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgObO_Lv_UDyGG6n_OTibBWsT0lojjfZrJTNXC2Qz8HJWaT6z0P1n5iLUSVNT74k1LfANbeKMOyg4FG1UxNEpAd3c2_vkONORJe16zJg_0m810ElU0BtYyQCr8NLr59SpPMkAYzJXPqTA/s1600/P1060189.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgObO_Lv_UDyGG6n_OTibBWsT0lojjfZrJTNXC2Qz8HJWaT6z0P1n5iLUSVNT74k1LfANbeKMOyg4FG1UxNEpAd3c2_vkONORJe16zJg_0m810ElU0BtYyQCr8NLr59SpPMkAYzJXPqTA/s1600/P1060189.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Hardwood Forest</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 24.0pt;"></span></b> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">We left pretty <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Augusta</b> on 17 August and drove the
320km directly back to Perth from where Audrey flew that night to Sydney on an
unexpected family matter, so Bruce and the KK checked into the Discovery
Caravan Park at Forrestfield near Perth Airport for a couple of totally
miserable days of strong windy rain.</span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Day 137, August 20 we depart
Perth via Roe Highway up through the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Perth
Hills</b> and nearby Mundaring Weir, the beginning of the 528km (300 miles) <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Golden</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Pipeline</b>, completed in 1903, that delivered 5 million gallons of
water daily to the thriving, thirsty gold mining towns of Coolgardie and
Kalgoorlie. The pipeline follows the highway for most of its length.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjepDNqSN6aRvXK-hR9cXSWdJFTkjs9q7-0kJUbCVn0CBtWWgC1WZZRBj0WoMdoNQZCqOBM1RhW3nvFo2l5As8NEj8VTOsH8Epk8vQ7yyXMplJeDwGwarK8GseOtjDuXZuEoKAYbpZNwA/s1600/P1060455.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjepDNqSN6aRvXK-hR9cXSWdJFTkjs9q7-0kJUbCVn0CBtWWgC1WZZRBj0WoMdoNQZCqOBM1RhW3nvFo2l5As8NEj8VTOsH8Epk8vQ7yyXMplJeDwGwarK8GseOtjDuXZuEoKAYbpZNwA/s1600/P1060455.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Golden Pipeline</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Nearby John Forrest
Nat Park
was very hilly and densely timbered but soon the countryside opened in to grassy
grazing lands upon which both cattle and sheep grazed. Continued on to the
lovely town of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">York</b>, settled in 1831, with its many old
stone 2 &3 story commercial buildings and verandahed hotels. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvtt6mtJcAYNS5vwa1xkEfJYvrt1n2PVqa8i1pfaeFnpMeRyWJMICYMvnYqit4ded4DRFxViI8mScHcrSKDgfKBrQWMT91qxuF9lgwagLzTvbelUKyhYMpDRJQZ8gZ9s8tRdoeE20Nrg/s1600/P1060380.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvtt6mtJcAYNS5vwa1xkEfJYvrt1n2PVqa8i1pfaeFnpMeRyWJMICYMvnYqit4ded4DRFxViI8mScHcrSKDgfKBrQWMT91qxuF9lgwagLzTvbelUKyhYMpDRJQZ8gZ9s8tRdoeE20Nrg/s1600/P1060380.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>York Town Hall</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span>By now Perth’s rainy weather
had gone and we continued on via a lovely country road through fields of wheat
and canola, intermingled with shaded park-like open forest grasslands, passing
the hamlets of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Greenhills</b> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Dangan</b>, on through the village of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Quairading</b> and past <b>Shackleton</b>, home of Australia's smallest bank, and in to the regional town
of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bruce Rock</b>, all part of the WA
wheatbelt.</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgdybQlNaoiUXccfSbN5L4nBPI3r6uxYPTc3fS_91WRDRQbT8mKimm9raoiyY0TerZR7sh7ba-eu7fD00-fvD3f8AM-LGy3q5caffBDQ_kf_Or-3nYGvtiXaUEgOxeExdtRLphb5uyiQ/s1600/P1060422.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgdybQlNaoiUXccfSbN5L4nBPI3r6uxYPTc3fS_91WRDRQbT8mKimm9raoiyY0TerZR7sh7ba-eu7fD00-fvD3f8AM-LGy3q5caffBDQ_kf_Or-3nYGvtiXaUEgOxeExdtRLphb5uyiQ/s1600/P1060422.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Bankwest Shackleton opens 2 hours every Friday</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">WA’s famous wildflowers were
all about and a small campground at <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Kwolyin</b>,
a newly constructed Shire Council free campground, was a perfect example of
that.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_sD_Nm-RsAYWkELvbe4uXv-03u9N36Wm6sXSeEDduoeLVQ-Y3tYPyqcf9vnwdZG53p2i1T2Ff1oZBBpCymrfTnUo7pAbW3dpn1-pMCblwzyTVtbyypqo1Oqb_JryWQV99Vux6XrPZPg/s1600/P1060418.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_sD_Nm-RsAYWkELvbe4uXv-03u9N36Wm6sXSeEDduoeLVQ-Y3tYPyqcf9vnwdZG53p2i1T2Ff1oZBBpCymrfTnUo7pAbW3dpn1-pMCblwzyTVtbyypqo1Oqb_JryWQV99Vux6XrPZPg/s1600/P1060418.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Wildflowers at Kwolyin Reserve</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">We had it all to ourselves
overnight but next morning finds us back on the road, passing through Bruce
Rock and on up to rejoin the Great Eastern Highway at the major centre of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Merredin</b>. Fortuitously found a garage
where we had the Land Cruiser serviced, and plenty of red dust came out of the
air filter! Camped that night in a noisy roadside rest area at Burracoppin -
you can’t win ‘em all.</span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">By the time we reached the
town of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Southern Cross</b> we were now out of the southern
farmlands grain belt, and by Yellowdine Roadhouse, low scrubby heath was
prevalent.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Another two hours’ drive
found us in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Coolgardie</b>, the 1892
birthplace of WA’s famous gold mining boom when Arthur Bayley and William Ford
collected 554 oz (16.8kg) of alluvial gold using nothing more than a tomahawk. Coolgardie
saw the biggest movement of people in Australian history when gold was found -
the rush was on!! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjvma4o8GW5CSidXQmttLi0mTYMfLeYwadbUU0HfOJ-IxuqZuPzlj_qSpVQPEpOt5lBeCfcbTDG-riz0Xd6rWBDpQyeey5CD_9m8WAtLtQmmIQxMXYpRvG0duuZKh7szzRNOB9HTk00w/s1600/P1060465.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjvma4o8GW5CSidXQmttLi0mTYMfLeYwadbUU0HfOJ-IxuqZuPzlj_qSpVQPEpOt5lBeCfcbTDG-riz0Xd6rWBDpQyeey5CD_9m8WAtLtQmmIQxMXYpRvG0duuZKh7szzRNOB9HTk00w/s1600/P1060465.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Coolgardie Old Grandeur</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">We stopped for lunch in this
town of barely 700 pop, a far cry from its mighty heydays as reflected in some magnificent
old buildings that remain from its rich past.</span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">A further 40km that
afternoon and we’re in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Kalgoorlie-Boulder</b>,
where in 1893, three down-on-their-luck Irishmen stumbled across 100 oz of
alluvial nuggets when forced to stop to replace a shoe on their horse. Paddy
Hannan is credited as being the discoverer, with the main street named for him.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The twin town
Kalgoorlie-Boulder is still one of the world’s biggest gold mining cities (pop
33,000), and both have beautiful examples of Goldrush architecture. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The gold mine’s open-cut <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“Super Pit”</b> is a man made wonder that
can be seen from space; a massive gouge carving into the red earth where trucks
the size of houses move hundreds of tonnes of rock in the hope of extracting a
few ounces of gold at a time.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0zfQ7z7666VAKKSmGywg3DDbvPHCd0yTSCkv8cda70_VtLqhUDjTbCsUrUT-cxFzGFoslpPjwHXDg4_DnueQeDt5_OAmbQOkNLP-C1upNOEnKBIy17o5nsiaMq77Xisv_feX8Zz4JXw/s1600/P1060481.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0zfQ7z7666VAKKSmGywg3DDbvPHCd0yTSCkv8cda70_VtLqhUDjTbCsUrUT-cxFzGFoslpPjwHXDg4_DnueQeDt5_OAmbQOkNLP-C1upNOEnKBIy17o5nsiaMq77Xisv_feX8Zz4JXw/s1600/P1060481.JPG" height="370" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Kalgoorlie Super Pit</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
N<span style="font-family: Arial;">ext stop was <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Norseman</b>, a historical gold mining
town, starting point of the E</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">yre
Highway and gateway to the Nullarbor. A tired
looking old gold mining town which has yielded over 5 million ounces making it
the second richest goldfield in WA. We stopped that night </span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">By late afternoon we reached
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Palms</b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> Lakes</b> rest area just past Fraser
Range Station where we camped 200mtrs back from the highway amid the trees and
a few other vans. Country is still open forest and some scrublands, but we’re
at the edge of the Nullarbor.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Next morning we topped
petrol at <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Balladonia</b> which made
world headlines in 1979 when space debris from Skylab landed 40km east on
Wooriba Sheep Station. The Roadhouse, on the western end of the Nullarbor Plain, has a small museum which included an
exterior section of the Skylab.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Just east of here is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“the 90 Mile Straight”,</b> from Balladonia
to Caiguna, the longest straight stretch of highway in Australia
(146.6 km). </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpPrbgNRxeMic2FifnlIU_i1awcWxFi4XN3bf4dm7fhknqFr_12jAbRUM3sDP3oznDTEtskb-pOdUYhb8kL8QEyoZnsmz8vyb-0DazGzbEDFbvsh0kV3N_d0bLOZROAZgGL53WSQulFA/s1600/P1060533.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpPrbgNRxeMic2FifnlIU_i1awcWxFi4XN3bf4dm7fhknqFr_12jAbRUM3sDP3oznDTEtskb-pOdUYhb8kL8QEyoZnsmz8vyb-0DazGzbEDFbvsh0kV3N_d0bLOZROAZgGL53WSQulFA/s1600/P1060533.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The 90 Mile Straight</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">We stopped at the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Caiguna Blowhole</b> with its strong
current of cold air from the underground limestone caverns; topped up fuel at <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cocklebiddy</b> then passed thru Madura,
the midway point between Perth and Adelaide; and enjoyed the elevated view of
the sprawling Roe Plains from <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Madura
Pass</b> Lookout, enroute to our next overnighter at <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Moodini Bluff, </b>where<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>we
camped well back from the road noise under shading trees.</span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">After an early start next
day we soon pass through the locality of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mundrabilla</b>
where Australia’s
biggest meteorite was found, weighing over 10 tonnes. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Continued on through low
scrubby country then up through scenic Eucla Pass - where the <b>Nullarbor Plain</b>
rises from 20 to 80 metres above sea level - into tiny <b>Eucla</b> village which, in
the early 1900’s was the busiest (Morse code) Telegraph Station in Australia
beyond the capital cities. The historic old station building now lies in ruins.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Just past Eucla lies the WA
- SA Border and the highway now runs along the high cliffs coastline of the <b>Great Australian Bight</b>, for about 100 km, with many
lookouts. We stopped and viewed them all, but the Sun’s northern trajectory
over this shaded southern coast makes it difficult to take bright photos. The
high cliffs are very attractive, but unfenced with sheer undercut drop-offs –
and quite scary to photograph from close to the edge.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_884pFs5EhsWW_csc2Er8neQtX4PzHY5miKow1ynRdvhgSxd7pUx5waIxaxttbHjGFW78vBN5bSsqv-69Q9rpsyZazIOtRJEuIBR3UIHsqL17L9GrsfeDeC0HZ8x7GKVcF1IfWP_bgQ/s1600/P1060602.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_884pFs5EhsWW_csc2Er8neQtX4PzHY5miKow1ynRdvhgSxd7pUx5waIxaxttbHjGFW78vBN5bSsqv-69Q9rpsyZazIOtRJEuIBR3UIHsqL17L9GrsfeDeC0HZ8x7GKVcF1IfWP_bgQ/s1600/P1060602.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw0takUDugqmZ0eBn06UzqHB2vi5DWsNrs5PnwgFgRb86FwXqvV9KUt3Yc8M9N36v8I_-eMXgXLhLnw0A-Y6CVJlDF3CNZQ-Tm9S3vo1d-EVUml6Il2EQZs2YFXHhNBzfnnDKazmQiiw/s1600/P1060637.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw0takUDugqmZ0eBn06UzqHB2vi5DWsNrs5PnwgFgRb86FwXqvV9KUt3Yc8M9N36v8I_-eMXgXLhLnw0A-Y6CVJlDF3CNZQ-Tm9S3vo1d-EVUml6Il2EQZs2YFXHhNBzfnnDKazmQiiw/s1600/P1060637.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Great Australian Bight</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Stopped that night at a rest
area identified as the<b> ‘81km peg’</b> about 100km west of Nullarbor hamlet. Like
many others across the ‘Plain’, a complex series of dirt tracks wind back
several hundred metres from the highway to minimise road noise and we always
went in a few hundred metres. Some were like a maze and challenging to pick the
main track back rather than driving around in lost circles!</span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Two days were spent here
alone at the ‘81 Peg’ running on 240v generator power to prepare this KKK # 11,
before heading off on 27/8, trip-day 144, towards the end of the Nullarbor.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVvFaEJHZt9ZQHICsL3siFGzj2jZ1cytd-XAvqtdrhivt8NKErfmwZacZPntsHkTsuzHz7B34xLo1yTejbeWUwwZz0NHBi-YGfqUeK12Qcx6NO_m2OPnGtFxeaErSFcc_NJd0adODpGQ/s1600/P1060615.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVvFaEJHZt9ZQHICsL3siFGzj2jZ1cytd-XAvqtdrhivt8NKErfmwZacZPntsHkTsuzHz7B34xLo1yTejbeWUwwZz0NHBi-YGfqUeK12Qcx6NO_m2OPnGtFxeaErSFcc_NJd0adODpGQ/s1600/P1060615.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>81 Peg Campsite</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">100km eastwards <b>Nullarbor</b>
Hotel/Motel and the Roadhouse pretty much comprised the total village and we
passed on by, entering the <b>Yalata</b> Aboriginal Community Lands, about 100 km of
heavily forested, high rolling ridges, not much driving fun pushing a two tonne
rig constantly up hill and down dale.</span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">But push we did and
eventually drove out of the hilly bushlands and into open green grazing land
and fields of wheat, just before arriving at <b>Nundroo</b>, marking the western edge
of SA’s vast grain belt which extended the 150km into <b>Ceduna</b>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Since the Nullarbor
Plain is loosely regarded as running from Norseman to Ceduna,
we’ll leave the rest ‘til the next instalment.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Bruce and Audrey</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Kimba<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>SA – 28/8/14</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjhrlQyIKIBo3-A_1vPD3ukuYxaUslFyNRb_AsDlIu7oVasGG_jRZ_eFkSFKOYX8kRb8X_NqCyOjbg5mlJnqP-1qxdWK2-V6RrSd8j6BSegd74KcMqkSY8I5M3_GYbrXMqa18jqa1vXw/s1600/IMG_0527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjhrlQyIKIBo3-A_1vPD3ukuYxaUslFyNRb_AsDlIu7oVasGG_jRZ_eFkSFKOYX8kRb8X_NqCyOjbg5mlJnqP-1qxdWK2-V6RrSd8j6BSegd74KcMqkSY8I5M3_GYbrXMqa18jqa1vXw/s1600/IMG_0527.jpg" height="478" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Bunda Cliffs - Perched on the Edge of Australia!!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjvma4o8GW5CSidXQmttLi0mTYMfLeYwadbUU0HfOJ-IxuqZuPzlj_qSpVQPEpOt5lBeCfcbTDG-riz0Xd6rWBDpQyeey5CD_9m8WAtLtQmmIQxMXYpRvG0duuZKh7szzRNOB9HTk00w/s1600/P1060465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim-U2gwULniy5ipMQ0BVXIZRbz6sDHbxvoCFRBnlGGYxPSGk1DTWzsjvdQi5RZaCd8OYsj0rS4dYvkIcmK4-geUOZto6W-k2PFEM6hXov5RDKhHbv8qnch0M5ix5l-lORmzcgWnqTDcA/s1600/P1060612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVvFaEJHZt9ZQHICsL3siFGzj2jZ1cytd-XAvqtdrhivt8NKErfmwZacZPntsHkTsuzHz7B34xLo1yTejbeWUwwZz0NHBi-YGfqUeK12Qcx6NO_m2OPnGtFxeaErSFcc_NJd0adODpGQ/s1600/P1060615.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw0takUDugqmZ0eBn06UzqHB2vi5DWsNrs5PnwgFgRb86FwXqvV9KUt3Yc8M9N36v8I_-eMXgXLhLnw0A-Y6CVJlDF3CNZQ-Tm9S3vo1d-EVUml6Il2EQZs2YFXHhNBzfnnDKazmQiiw/s1600/P1060637.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_884pFs5EhsWW_csc2Er8neQtX4PzHY5miKow1ynRdvhgSxd7pUx5waIxaxttbHjGFW78vBN5bSsqv-69Q9rpsyZazIOtRJEuIBR3UIHsqL17L9GrsfeDeC0HZ8x7GKVcF1IfWP_bgQ/s1600/P1060602.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Yacht Envyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296367569566410867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5422585594160201132.post-17871829044940795592014-08-09T18:37:00.000+08:002014-08-09T18:37:09.667+08:00KKK No. 10 - The Coral Coast to Perth<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 24.0pt;">“K K K”</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">No: 10</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">The Coral Coast
to Perth</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
WA’s <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Coral Coast </b>stretches
1100 kilometres from Exmouth down to just above Perth and boasts some of that
States major tourist attractions and natural scenic beauty, with Shark Bay,
Ningaloo Reef, Coral Bay and Point Quobba among its ‘hotspots’.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjauDPoaZq0LQKrLNomSs2slMkryBFcvZ-dWLpiuIK9xGYsEjByfbPpUa1wx5t2TSlNucDRa7mvjZkKEd9zqnxlTt6PlXsWGZD-wbteWsxZvvMscM-6zC-8KJW54eey3tb37DnKuldYA/s1600/P1050751.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjauDPoaZq0LQKrLNomSs2slMkryBFcvZ-dWLpiuIK9xGYsEjByfbPpUa1wx5t2TSlNucDRa7mvjZkKEd9zqnxlTt6PlXsWGZD-wbteWsxZvvMscM-6zC-8KJW54eey3tb37DnKuldYA/s1600/P1050751.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Old OTC Satellite Dish</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s our 111<sup>th</sup>. day away and we’re up early
packing for departure from <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Quobba
Station</b> and then revisit <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Carnarvon</b>
to inspect the old <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">OTC Satellite Dish</b>,
the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mile Long Jetty</b> and top up
provisions before continuing on southwards. Early Wildflowers are now coming into bloom.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7M3djzj0C8FNnI4BI_B1Q8FcUZBfj0ZkTo687t-B2wZC0tRKyt-XM7ex1tn5k9exz-uJC7Th9WoCHx6rNVQg6qDJyyloyFOKaKGn17quAG17imGSpGp8XA8DQJD4OEBD3B3LZyN-1tA/s1600/P1050967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7M3djzj0C8FNnI4BI_B1Q8FcUZBfj0ZkTo687t-B2wZC0tRKyt-XM7ex1tn5k9exz-uJC7Th9WoCHx6rNVQg6qDJyyloyFOKaKGn17quAG17imGSpGp8XA8DQJD4OEBD3B3LZyN-1tA/s1600/P1050967.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>WA Wildflowers</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We passed through km upon km of endlessly flat, red, open
Saltbush plains, seeing only a few cattle but many goats, and an Emu mother in
the table-drain, as we sped past so perilously close, was hopefully instructing
her 5 chicks about ‘road safety matters’.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our first overnight stop was at <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Gladstone Beach</b>, a Council-run campground 6km from <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Yaringa</b> on the eastern foreshore overlooking
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Shark Bay</b>, which became a World Heritage
Marine Park
in 1991, one of only a handful of places in the world to achieve that status. The
bay was discovered in 1616 by Dutch Captain Dirk Hartog, but named by English
buccaneer William Dampier on his visit in 1699, for its many Tiger Sharks,
before sailing on to Timor.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFYHStT4P2hyphenhyphennGXGLXPLL7sjWVDKjXrSCFukM67On80sFCeg777dXs7CdczGKy_jMgRngOEGCzen1w_HjL8F6vrXdz0Y37rHqpmlq7Zq4r-eQGPJ9HFlR48MOezqdZduKgvK23VFQiyg/s1600/P1050794.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFYHStT4P2hyphenhyphennGXGLXPLL7sjWVDKjXrSCFukM67On80sFCeg777dXs7CdczGKy_jMgRngOEGCzen1w_HjL8F6vrXdz0Y37rHqpmlq7Zq4r-eQGPJ9HFlR48MOezqdZduKgvK23VFQiyg/s1600/P1050794.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Whalebone Bay</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Next morning we passed through 65km more of red saltbush
scrub to the Overlander<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>Roadhouse<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>where we took the road to Denham. The
weather was overcast, with distant rain showers, but we managed a few photos of
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Goulet Bluff</b> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Whalebone</b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> Bay</b>
during sunny breaks enroute to the pretty seaside township
of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Denham</b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">, </b>Shark Bay’s
commercial centre.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After a coffee break and look around, we continued a further
28km on to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Monkey Mia</b>, world famous
for its friendly wild <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Dolphins</b> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Emus</b>, and booked in to the Caravan Park within the up-market Dolphin
Holiday Resort. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWx3iAvoJUMnSR9fvSR4MZniONoc63zWqa0Gw-pA_MwxNG0F8j7U2xCMIxoDCsQ1AbGBjx9PgpAOkCX2AQv3Qvz8y9Me4w7Vau0YYxpJZq5SL9FFglizyE363uaiOUzLbB2H7CAKNw5Q/s1600/P1050815.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWx3iAvoJUMnSR9fvSR4MZniONoc63zWqa0Gw-pA_MwxNG0F8j7U2xCMIxoDCsQ1AbGBjx9PgpAOkCX2AQv3Qvz8y9Me4w7Vau0YYxpJZq5SL9FFglizyE363uaiOUzLbB2H7CAKNw5Q/s1600/P1050815.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>One of the Locals</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The following morning at 8am is Dolphin feeding time; for
many years wild Dolphins have come in to the sandy-beach, calf-high shallows at <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Monkey Mia</b> to be fed by Park Rangers,
who pick 8 people to hand- feed fish to adult females only, and yours truly,
that’s me, <b>Bruce, was one of those chosen few!!</b> How good is that? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkVe8vSXPrMiKv6GmfcqbVGZlGXhuuy0rzu9716qwAIsBIA_w9VxTz2uFuLqmvKiSyeQ4kEu1-5Tztoc-ZC0PlHp4WyxQZ0mOKmsG_C3BDO7XlTWNmYY-F4Uc8Mhkhb6OC97DNUS4qfA/s1600/P1050850.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkVe8vSXPrMiKv6GmfcqbVGZlGXhuuy0rzu9716qwAIsBIA_w9VxTz2uFuLqmvKiSyeQ4kEu1-5Tztoc-ZC0PlHp4WyxQZ0mOKmsG_C3BDO7XlTWNmYY-F4Uc8Mhkhb6OC97DNUS4qfA/s1600/P1050850.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3PNHbGK1rSLD4OemikFH6QAdYLvg-uBTqd2CTXaHBp2JIfInvMVy9pSGduEsDBuHSd_hmepRoHnqBro70PKYSYyUdMKWGTfJZMgwRipdWC2SpgraYaGbLeBPNUr8d8emR0syuVJMWJA/s1600/P1050857.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3PNHbGK1rSLD4OemikFH6QAdYLvg-uBTqd2CTXaHBp2JIfInvMVy9pSGduEsDBuHSd_hmepRoHnqBro70PKYSYyUdMKWGTfJZMgwRipdWC2SpgraYaGbLeBPNUr8d8emR0syuVJMWJA/s1600/P1050857.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Thanks Bruce for the fish!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Having now achieved “celebrity status” just two hours
earlier that morning, we’re back on the road again retracing our route of
yesterday, but stopping to ‘smell the roses’ along the way.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
First stop was <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Shell Beach,
</b>an amazing pure white beach and one of only 2 such beaches in the world, created
entirely naturally from billions of tiny cockle sea shells layered up to ten
metres deep, stretching for over 120km!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOPqkk-2eZweridksaftKLdyU6MqxDlmidADusgLLGPgsX5JEWo2T4gs6VfzKgbUFdnFJfhyHXR3mvFDoQbhhYKJpqhtUkeF20pExDbsrL2Fqg6_YDt9io2w5JcgYxe1nH38HJKA5kfA/s1600/P1050888.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOPqkk-2eZweridksaftKLdyU6MqxDlmidADusgLLGPgsX5JEWo2T4gs6VfzKgbUFdnFJfhyHXR3mvFDoQbhhYKJpqhtUkeF20pExDbsrL2Fqg6_YDt9io2w5JcgYxe1nH38HJKA5kfA/s1600/P1050888.JPG" height="300" width="400" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheFpFfRWOT7VeiwHe5u_WxRdIrmXLUva4fKoQLNpmH17Rr29pUccuvVNl8wmcCy_P5UDSAoJQ4YSgrdgchrDjKaXClXUBDTo1moqSBiRPHUeZ159_NNM6YrQStVf9dqrVFJ9vjWi96zw/s1600/P1050883.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheFpFfRWOT7VeiwHe5u_WxRdIrmXLUva4fKoQLNpmH17Rr29pUccuvVNl8wmcCy_P5UDSAoJQ4YSgrdgchrDjKaXClXUBDTo1moqSBiRPHUeZ159_NNM6YrQStVf9dqrVFJ9vjWi96zw/s1600/P1050883.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Shell Beach - tiny, 5 to 10mm in size</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A little farther on is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hamelin
Pool</b>, one of the few places on earth where living microbes build marine <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Stromatolites</b> (strom/mat/toe/lites) .
These rocky looking lumps in the highly saline shallow waters are similar to the
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">oldest</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">simplest</i> forms of life on earth, dating back 3000 million years,
built by microbes of blue-green algae, and are incredibly slow growing at 0.3mm
a year. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJMRtDvwYgRgyKKLXjEZUzWlDWZW56eDFvTwTvcGa2GFC5wMaQnK7HpG_ys3Su-jBmup8vcYOseem_UmLN6l8Bvh_Y0G-DHOY_xMpC0K2wVsOZqgKYCvdzwrIPk_lQnUXPs3ep0gU56A/s1600/P1050910.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJMRtDvwYgRgyKKLXjEZUzWlDWZW56eDFvTwTvcGa2GFC5wMaQnK7HpG_ys3Su-jBmup8vcYOseem_UmLN6l8Bvh_Y0G-DHOY_xMpC0K2wVsOZqgKYCvdzwrIPk_lQnUXPs3ep0gU56A/s1600/P1050910.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Hamelin Pool Viewing Deck</b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx9SIY_VJpOZX_gG7n4M4PmUWbSSCS4O8v0rEDLWQ6I9AwoOVsEKC6JizPwMH9Em7XFm3k2CiY-l768S5JZZjvAiFdqYpw_bgfH5mlyEPJ3Gwu9Oj4Xff_BkOclnEV5D1AGHoh_F5Ojg/s1600/P1050907.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx9SIY_VJpOZX_gG7n4M4PmUWbSSCS4O8v0rEDLWQ6I9AwoOVsEKC6JizPwMH9Em7XFm3k2CiY-l768S5JZZjvAiFdqYpw_bgfH5mlyEPJ3Gwu9Oj4Xff_BkOclnEV5D1AGHoh_F5Ojg/s1600/P1050907.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Living </b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Stromatolites</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Continuing south on Hwy #1 we enter the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Batavia Coast </b>region where the ubiquitous red stony scrub country
turns to greener forest grassland and fields of young grain, then find an
excellent overnight camp spot on the north bank of the <b>Murchison River </b>beside
Galena Bridge, and warm ourselves with a welcome campfire. There’s no moon
tonight, and the Milky Way glows brightly in the dark heavens. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqyKAv0tHR_GpHe-iIPsCaG4j2sLtL-5idfgT1Q5j9mjrLnZsOnmLg6HVGAYEv7bKchpVqJyEaEEF4U8PFKwQOnFv0UqYr4RAEDpLBL5ExRUo48H_jgnARL-13teeTEcNSZ9-voHlcnw/s1600/P1050920.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqyKAv0tHR_GpHe-iIPsCaG4j2sLtL-5idfgT1Q5j9mjrLnZsOnmLg6HVGAYEv7bKchpVqJyEaEEF4U8PFKwQOnFv0UqYr4RAEDpLBL5ExRUo48H_jgnARL-13teeTEcNSZ9-voHlcnw/s1600/P1050920.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Murchison River Campsite</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We then leave the main highway and take the Kalbarri Road
toward the coast through <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Kalbarri
National Park</b>, where we deviate to see <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hawks
Head Gorge</b> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ross Graham Lookout</b>
overlooking the Murchison River, and just before Kalbarri township we enjoy the
panorama of the town, and river mouth entrance to the Indian Ocean, from the
limestone capped <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Meanarra Lookout</b>
behind the town, all of which are situated within the Kalbarri National Park.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfCKFTJlSovZ1Z6gN4EAjrz4vOacb7WVVqp7j5-QRKZdB_ddLBXyYI0_OaWz_yU5NLNywEFibQbKR75jvUgrbqiCrMsLuWnyXzI7oKZtltmxKdTzLYvdgF96awKcnr-gEQamkgj9EWiA/s1600/P1050937.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfCKFTJlSovZ1Z6gN4EAjrz4vOacb7WVVqp7j5-QRKZdB_ddLBXyYI0_OaWz_yU5NLNywEFibQbKR75jvUgrbqiCrMsLuWnyXzI7oKZtltmxKdTzLYvdgF96awKcnr-gEQamkgj9EWiA/s1600/P1050937.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Hawks Head Gorge - Kilbarri NP</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There’s nothing much to see in Kalbarri village so we head
off 25km southwards down the coastal road with its scenic ocean views and
decide to camp that night, with two others, at a roadside rest area with a
gazebo, and pleasant ocean views beyond an open grassy field. Excellent dry
fuel lay all around, so another warming campfire was enjoyed. Early next
morning an Ultralight Aircraft passed overhead which I was surprisingly able to
photograph on zoom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjumypKtx-58YzD1YD4E6p3yEbumhIJm7UUTCWrpcvMCXIkGNPoSYGMnDEgTjIVODydOjY5MuC8q9_nW9KBrkHek8_BHqTqkwepn9FLHAYOhbVNlGMpSxx1mlrnkFJIn24R6nenjqMz2Q/s1600/P1050988.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjumypKtx-58YzD1YD4E6p3yEbumhIJm7UUTCWrpcvMCXIkGNPoSYGMnDEgTjIVODydOjY5MuC8q9_nW9KBrkHek8_BHqTqkwepn9FLHAYOhbVNlGMpSxx1mlrnkFJIn24R6nenjqMz2Q/s1600/P1050988.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Ultralight</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Next was <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Port Gregory</b>
42km away, near the mouth of the Hutt
River, which is said to
be the windiest place in WA. A picturesque fishing village enclosed by 5km of
exposed coral reef, it is also bordered by Hutt Lagoon, also known as the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">‘Pink
Lake’</b>, due to its
pink colour created by the naturally occurring beta carotene. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmejFmOjIfSmP6WbeOatYy2IXagzgfbJ1xVVj_N7CsilEE6Qbt8kC40GWXtEvsW3cZdjis9GkWeFq6QRUBtcpIgvUmcaKVfrcd1R_POpznh_WTADq73kayOtc4TBE7eXTM2YXaPnBUuw/s1600/P1050994.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmejFmOjIfSmP6WbeOatYy2IXagzgfbJ1xVVj_N7CsilEE6Qbt8kC40GWXtEvsW3cZdjis9GkWeFq6QRUBtcpIgvUmcaKVfrcd1R_POpznh_WTADq73kayOtc4TBE7eXTM2YXaPnBUuw/s1600/P1050994.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A few kilometres long and all Pink</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Many of you may recall this region has another interesting
aside, in that it is home to the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“Hutt
River Principality”</b> a self proclaimed micronation established by wheat
farmer Leonard Casley, who succeeded from Australia in April 1970 in protest
against a newly introduced wheat quota system.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Assuming the title of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Prince
Leonard</b> with his wife <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Princess
Shirley</b> (who died last year), though not acknowledged by government (and he
still pays Council Land Rates), the province is open to visitors daily, issues
its own passport and postage stamps, and is a successful tourist attraction in
addition to its pastoral income.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A further 42km finds us in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Northampton</b>, one of the
oldest settlements (1864) in WA outside of Perth, and home to WA’s first public railway
in 1879. With many old historic buildings and cottages, and classified as a
historic town by the National Trust of Australia in 1993, it is an interesting mix
of history and charm.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
By now the countryside was changing to gently undulating
open grazing pasture being interspersed with fields of young green wheat, starkly
contrasting with fields of bright yellow maturing Canola, offering attractive
snapshots of rural scenery. <b>Canola</b>, an acronym of Canada Oil, is the ‘new’ name
for the “old’ Rape seed, whose burgeoning popularity occasioned the name change
to Canola.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK0wDh-RZ7PJ1dFnU-wvsnPWJpsfJgP3bqeeXLKNdFp_hjU5d61i03fC1BpHIPk1ZJFOgT6FTuSmVprYVpVu-p60bPpy_H9oxOa3jKkdmlK75cRJ5SjfW8ohILRppG11SvrWXqkruFnQ/s1600/P1060021.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK0wDh-RZ7PJ1dFnU-wvsnPWJpsfJgP3bqeeXLKNdFp_hjU5d61i03fC1BpHIPk1ZJFOgT6FTuSmVprYVpVu-p60bPpy_H9oxOa3jKkdmlK75cRJ5SjfW8ohILRppG11SvrWXqkruFnQ/s1600/P1060021.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Fields of Canola</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Intrigued by the mystique of ghosts, we decided to visit <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Okabella Homestead</b>, south of Northampton, which is said to be the most haunted house in
Western Australia.
The old white-washed stone homestead has, over its long history, witnessed the
mysterious deaths of a man and a boy, and is open for public inspection as a
paid attraction. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZF3G7QIXtetS6tzNApeKuD7o-zfr_XszyxXTZXEpT9_Safza7abpdsKptBrVtEhIWmtV6RWS2JarVD6OgCNpNVmDdicvWevi4ebFFqfTHoRWwFJADr38RYK2Ljy69QCsWk90uUyAk2Q/s1600/P1060030.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZF3G7QIXtetS6tzNApeKuD7o-zfr_XszyxXTZXEpT9_Safza7abpdsKptBrVtEhIWmtV6RWS2JarVD6OgCNpNVmDdicvWevi4ebFFqfTHoRWwFJADr38RYK2Ljy69QCsWk90uUyAk2Q/s1600/P1060030.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Haunted Oakabella Station</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj08sI67jpdtXkLDles3FCOaPG0UPJR5nKmRXXTiSREym0GxPkEsayOIKGxSwEh2WQUVv44IayNfuhod20yHRK2UfUqsqiN_xjTckuVl0l4CsGn8KAq4gymEAPMGSLQYFr9A0k3Barv-g/s1600/P1060041.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj08sI67jpdtXkLDles3FCOaPG0UPJR5nKmRXXTiSREym0GxPkEsayOIKGxSwEh2WQUVv44IayNfuhod20yHRK2UfUqsqiN_xjTckuVl0l4CsGn8KAq4gymEAPMGSLQYFr9A0k3Barv-g/s1600/P1060041.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Rub-a-dub-dub 3 Emus in a tub - Oakabella Stn rustic art</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We did a conducted tour of the homestead, fully furnished
with much of its original 130 y/o pieces, plus its several outbuildings,
culminating with a home baked Devonshire Tea, then stayed that night in their
open field Van Park with several others. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the morning we drove into <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Geraldton</b>, a bright, modern city with nice ocean beaches and a sizable
shipping harbour, and having a distinct holiday atmosphere. After a look at the
waterfront we toured the town and reprovisioned foodstuffs, then took the
coastal highway with its ocean views through ever green countryside dotted with
fields of green and yellow and, increasingly, flocks of sheep.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirsNW6WpX1FlSD-iLpc8Qh31Rp_twwCVBXK0yPffABROWS0qdPGocciGeGJhKjlN3QQDs1ToUInE0Rgz0AHYyKpIpll1_Pc1mfTfph5eTWD0hNNnYvG1QbIgBwjo2gvajASkMREeZQ8A/s1600/P1060003.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirsNW6WpX1FlSD-iLpc8Qh31Rp_twwCVBXK0yPffABROWS0qdPGocciGeGJhKjlN3QQDs1ToUInE0Rgz0AHYyKpIpll1_Pc1mfTfph5eTWD0hNNnYvG1QbIgBwjo2gvajASkMREeZQ8A/s1600/P1060003.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Near Geraldton</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Continuing on Hwy 1 through Dongara, we lunched at <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Eneabba</b> (E-nee-abba) Roadhouse then
continued on through Badgingarra and took the inland road at Moore River,
enjoying a very scenic drive through park-like shaded grasslands grazing sheep,
down to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Wannamal</b>, passing through a
few rain showers, a rare occurrence since departing Brisbane 116 days previously.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A cold night was spent in the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Wannamal Rest Area</b>, though not unexpected as we venture farther south. <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Wildflowers, Parrots and Grasstrees were a
feature here.</span> Dew,
almost the size of rain droplets, covers everything in the early morning, a
reminder that we’re free of the semi-arid climate of further northern regions.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7r5bXRADHi7zovv4oIWfyd3Cvuqq1mwtHlbNfa2-Pt1ASpJn5QIfUhN-vnDzcMxrVE8Ox5W68zjlyXNfMR6I6BL46EfqkJKSP5kJiXN4sSLThzbi7V7TPmlB4hGRtMJHhPrpuXyrw4Q/s1600/P1060058.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7r5bXRADHi7zovv4oIWfyd3Cvuqq1mwtHlbNfa2-Pt1ASpJn5QIfUhN-vnDzcMxrVE8Ox5W68zjlyXNfMR6I6BL46EfqkJKSP5kJiXN4sSLThzbi7V7TPmlB4hGRtMJHhPrpuXyrw4Q/s1600/P1060058.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Wannamal Rest Area</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGyvba-QT0C6WzozBjWA_670L0f2IENYmPGxKNZ7Y7LQqzYwV0s1kXoe2r4H7yYqVfQeucPBh-vPjSda1rsy0kTVR9rr9sWNOAPHz1JRLkIK2YA6ljU2N9zr5en-9QOiaqWR9Z5Uta_w/s1600/P1060052a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGyvba-QT0C6WzozBjWA_670L0f2IENYmPGxKNZ7Y7LQqzYwV0s1kXoe2r4H7yYqVfQeucPBh-vPjSda1rsy0kTVR9rr9sWNOAPHz1JRLkIK2YA6ljU2N9zr5en-9QOiaqWR9Z5Uta_w/s1600/P1060052a.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On July 31, day 118, we’re on our way to Perth, deviating
via the town of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Gingin</b> which shares
its name with Gin Gin in Queensland, a cattle grazing area where Bruce started
his Auctioneering career fifty years ago, so the namesake was a ‘must see’.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Before we knew it, Perth’s excellent freeway systems had
delivered us to the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Baldivis</b> home of
sailing friends Nic and Jen Devonport, on lovely rural acreage near Rockingham
about 45km south of Perth, where we spent the following ten days discovering
Perth, Fremantle and the local region. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhOlopRbnWgZFU_ON9E55ERJ8rawcA-Ffi0pJK4WGu1QrNbOObej0tN7bkAM3pntWM0UrqSYY4wQyilx4WRMQvZyY5lckvWMTsO-927BooWhy2jAdqtIqAyBwsyqRofPKXHlTI9BSNxQ/s1600/IMG_0402.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhOlopRbnWgZFU_ON9E55ERJ8rawcA-Ffi0pJK4WGu1QrNbOObej0tN7bkAM3pntWM0UrqSYY4wQyilx4WRMQvZyY5lckvWMTsO-927BooWhy2jAdqtIqAyBwsyqRofPKXHlTI9BSNxQ/s1600/IMG_0402.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Planting Australian Natives with Nic and Jen at Baldivis</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b></b> </div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Perth</b>
is a very vibrant city with its mixture of old and modern architecture
wonderfully situated beside the Swan River and all so attractively overlooked from Kings Park with its mix of huge trees;
the Perth CBD has grown noticeably since by last visit 10 years ago. Since we are returning
to Perth for a
family visit in late September, to celebrate Lavinia’s 90<sup>th</sup>, we will
report further on it then.<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1HxNM8OWPdLs_1iA6rkzUfaQ9RZ508QMmwh5PRcJ6Q6U_d2yguhIOOYSRvDTIk7G4E-HZxrgZxbiBZ6dxCF7ZaKxsGpBtz4bPgHd6wv-KRhu0InVGZn05GjaiX4PoHKeuwGQjLrU2BQ/s1600/P1060087.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1HxNM8OWPdLs_1iA6rkzUfaQ9RZ508QMmwh5PRcJ6Q6U_d2yguhIOOYSRvDTIk7G4E-HZxrgZxbiBZ6dxCF7ZaKxsGpBtz4bPgHd6wv-KRhu0InVGZn05GjaiX4PoHKeuwGQjLrU2BQ/s1600/P1060087.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Old Fremantle Market</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Fremantle</b> is surely
one of this nation's heritage treasures, with much historical interest amid its
well preserved old buildings, streets and parks. Bruce met his comeuppance in the old Round House Gaol when an attractive young Ranger locked him in The Stocks; then we particularly enjoyed seeing
the shipwreck museum which features the skeletal remains of the VOC trading
ship <b>‘Batavia’</b>,
wrecked on her maiden voyage as a result of munity in 1629.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjir4NLk0ahpDvNNoKN3vdcLRMSVRtpy4ge85djJxd7lhQyYDzhsip2N82qcgPnj9d8B8HDpp45lDC5Vd8Dz26ixgIlqCGpcsHi5WHcHYvy_HTaqcNWMU3z_ipNY7-CWmJet-ULqZ4vjA/s1600/P1060089.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjir4NLk0ahpDvNNoKN3vdcLRMSVRtpy4ge85djJxd7lhQyYDzhsip2N82qcgPnj9d8B8HDpp45lDC5Vd8Dz26ixgIlqCGpcsHi5WHcHYvy_HTaqcNWMU3z_ipNY7-CWmJet-ULqZ4vjA/s1600/P1060089.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Bruce in The Stocks!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Time has caught up with us and we need to keep moving, so on Monday we'll head off down to the Margaret River Wine growing region,then on to Augusta and Cape Leuwin, all of which will be delivered to you in due course.<br />
<br />
Stay safe,<br />
Bruce and Audrey<br />
9-8-2014<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1HxNM8OWPdLs_1iA6rkzUfaQ9RZ508QMmwh5PRcJ6Q6U_d2yguhIOOYSRvDTIk7G4E-HZxrgZxbiBZ6dxCF7ZaKxsGpBtz4bPgHd6wv-KRhu0InVGZn05GjaiX4PoHKeuwGQjLrU2BQ/s1600/P1060087.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
Yacht Envyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296367569566410867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5422585594160201132.post-73192790545686543282014-07-26T17:21:00.001+08:002014-07-26T17:21:41.874+08:00KKK No. 9 - The Pilbara<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 24.0pt;"></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 24.0pt;">“K K K”</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">K</b>imberley
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">K</b>aravan <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">K</b>apers’ - Bruce and Audrey)</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">No: 9</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">The Pilbara</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
15 July, day 101 finds us departing attractive, touristy
Broome and driving through the very extensive, treeless, grassy Roebuck Plains,
just about the only decent grazing country for the following 400km or more of
low, scrubby, treeless hard red terrain that marks the western extremity of
Western Australia’s vast Great Sandy Desert.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIJxJp0V9C2TACL2TNMFDFg6QerhSheKL1Mmj9KWi84mwsBMt3Mg2hF8ZwekLR1QDqYubudczohycMiT_1eJxJU94LEjzpe2a4dRIogONpbVaq291RanB8fsXpPkISVSCuQr2yu1JQtw/s1600/P1050316.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIJxJp0V9C2TACL2TNMFDFg6QerhSheKL1Mmj9KWi84mwsBMt3Mg2hF8ZwekLR1QDqYubudczohycMiT_1eJxJU94LEjzpe2a4dRIogONpbVaq291RanB8fsXpPkISVSCuQr2yu1JQtw/s1600/P1050316.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Great Northern Highway</b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This particular portion of the State’s countryside may be
ordinary, but WA’s Great Northern
Highway is amongst Australia’s best. Km after km of
consistently superb road.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPdQ0WAdrbIhKzup_Qzi8l5A11VGF1WtOcVxDkl6pk_XdieiEIV0UW7I7YHDqxpl79Tqm1CsFaQUk4VuCJRCY4nCg-F0olCx1zUvRP-lGcqd8iEI4ILYs4ffvWwiU8cLqS4GYhyphenhypheniOu2A/s1600/P1050351.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPdQ0WAdrbIhKzup_Qzi8l5A11VGF1WtOcVxDkl6pk_XdieiEIV0UW7I7YHDqxpl79Tqm1CsFaQUk4VuCJRCY4nCg-F0olCx1zUvRP-lGcqd8iEI4ILYs4ffvWwiU8cLqS4GYhyphenhypheniOu2A/s1600/P1050351.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Typical Pilbara Scenery</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We passed by ‘the Eighty Mile Beach’ and topped up fuel at
Sandfire Roadhouse at $1.96 per litre, traversing another 140km of arid, semi
desert country until arriving at De Grey Rest Area, where we camped beside Pear
Creek with a few others, in fine sunny weather</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh939EgCBTMvIAU4ut19fwZd-8vmND32Y7SHCP4KfFlV7-jBOXQnZ771hddwMeWu6FNyMteU9Aqzpyen_HG_VR32SpT-beD6fq_Xus1wCBsWqpbFkmXRH8-eUyPSjGWFjIN-EwxINlH4w/s1600/P1050308.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh939EgCBTMvIAU4ut19fwZd-8vmND32Y7SHCP4KfFlV7-jBOXQnZ771hddwMeWu6FNyMteU9Aqzpyen_HG_VR32SpT-beD6fq_Xus1wCBsWqpbFkmXRH8-eUyPSjGWFjIN-EwxINlH4w/s1600/P1050308.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Salt Mine - Port Hedland</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 24.0pt;"></span></b> </div>
Another brisk morning followed as we drive the 90km to Port
Hedland, a major iron ore port servicing the Pilbara mining region. We did our
customary sightseeing of this mainly industrial town, in which Rio Tinto have a
huge Salt Mining operation, and were back on the Great Northern Highway heading
towards Newman, deep into the Pilbara<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi2YElIFXylUyyb1Umhgt-VNcbwOJn-XgK0ukntmqHrMjT6OPBwuxm2XrUBtl5U1cIzQ_4SzOjCianBWfzEwjD1s9wFQR8SvZuRaT0nVO7kWGhiaASjB_ZxfngR-KYLQ3eVhLJgEGetw/s1600/P1050296.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi2YElIFXylUyyb1Umhgt-VNcbwOJn-XgK0ukntmqHrMjT6OPBwuxm2XrUBtl5U1cIzQ_4SzOjCianBWfzEwjD1s9wFQR8SvZuRaT0nVO7kWGhiaASjB_ZxfngR-KYLQ3eVhLJgEGetw/s1600/P1050296.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Loading Iron Ore</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Driving south from Port Hedland, the first 200km was mostly
flat to undulating grassy countryside running to distant hills, then the red
rocky nature of the Pilbara starts to dominate, becoming increasingly red,
rocky, hilly and harsh. After all, this is the heart of Australia’s
rich, quality iron ore deposits, so beneficially recognised by local grazier
Lang Hancock, flying his station aeroplane through these valleys in the early
1960’s. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinZZEGUw5km0VQ60Jq2EmPmMFlPyZLVYgb44MO_oOL1ZMjr0piQDgzlUUHpwU6xMMqSZh5dl-P0WoSoSf5IdadQs-QCupteGSHRxm8w_WrEGD5ixKSyfIoX1P6ztpxrnf049hFayQTPg/s1600/P1050312.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinZZEGUw5km0VQ60Jq2EmPmMFlPyZLVYgb44MO_oOL1ZMjr0piQDgzlUUHpwU6xMMqSZh5dl-P0WoSoSf5IdadQs-QCupteGSHRxm8w_WrEGD5ixKSyfIoX1P6ztpxrnf049hFayQTPg/s1600/P1050312.JPG" height="200" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>They just keep on coming!!!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The GN Highway
services many mines throughout the region and the number of Road Trains using
this road is truly remarkable. That day we passed, or were overtaken by scores
of Road Trains, mostly 4 units’ long, outnumbering motor cars 3 to 1. Then a
little nationalism was on display as we passed an isolated roadside hillock, in
the middle of ‘nowhere’, with an Aussie Flag proudly fluttering in the breeze
atop of it.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlthsKVvySCda5tQd7Q6KxCDonm9ItkHmWv3I6hwRXhap25SNquIsJ-KHKMTwbUFKz-1mZebgNdZCUB_qevKl4mMaBicwolxZDgJs8wFsgB0ldpbJtJE0FkEjUlcJq12ZRfS6NVW-VIg/s1600/P1050315.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlthsKVvySCda5tQd7Q6KxCDonm9ItkHmWv3I6hwRXhap25SNquIsJ-KHKMTwbUFKz-1mZebgNdZCUB_qevKl4mMaBicwolxZDgJs8wFsgB0ldpbJtJE0FkEjUlcJq12ZRfS6NVW-VIg/s1600/P1050315.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Go Aussie go!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That evening we discovered what is arguably one of our most
scenic, free camp spots ever, the Albert Tognolini Mountain Reserve. Winding up
the 2km track brings us to a high ridge overlooking picturesque rolling hills
and green valleys, with many suitable camp spots offering panoramic views and a
pretty sunset; though hard to leave such beauty next morning, plans to be at
Karijini National Park that weekend called us on. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUc5wQyQhQSVeH5eQUL-JZg3hj606d25QwC1VJvkMSBYePZDW-LB9tHL3QZhZ-kn_JykfFmmHfmWzmtzs0ds3qIgbcXOFmTwmQxPL78Q5lHQbBHrK9dw-Ma-ydk1GGCmvg7LvaGfq1xw/s1600/P1050367.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUc5wQyQhQSVeH5eQUL-JZg3hj606d25QwC1VJvkMSBYePZDW-LB9tHL3QZhZ-kn_JykfFmmHfmWzmtzs0ds3qIgbcXOFmTwmQxPL78Q5lHQbBHrK9dw-Ma-ydk1GGCmvg7LvaGfq1xw/s1600/P1050367.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Tognolini Mountain Reserve</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Situated in the Hamersley
Range in the heart of the Pilbara, the
Karijini National Park enjoys a reputation for
spectacular, rugged scenery and ancient geological formations; it is WA’s
second largest national park, and we were not disappointed. We spent two days there
and marvelled at the awesome scenery of Dales Gorge, including Fortescue Falls, Fern Pool, Circular Pool, and the
Rim Walk overlooking it all. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikfLT7033oRXaw_eELmX9LGdAjpkvJso4jgz9KhSeyWkOesf9E5MEiz3MhHf_Ns9WMIj7HM7JmZFAfWH7jgyDA-vmTpISA5UB94t8ZU_OpWCIZjFpb6wrjNuQ7TPyjavDHwCmHBAmitQ/s1600/P1050460.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikfLT7033oRXaw_eELmX9LGdAjpkvJso4jgz9KhSeyWkOesf9E5MEiz3MhHf_Ns9WMIj7HM7JmZFAfWH7jgyDA-vmTpISA5UB94t8ZU_OpWCIZjFpb6wrjNuQ7TPyjavDHwCmHBAmitQ/s1600/P1050460.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Dales Gorge - Karijini NP</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoUD3v7RJ4K4Bpk5KjDGfALDwnpMTz3dQCtfdeEt8hJyh8XBQ4ap3pXHuZSs2tFdWnaYa6pIc298OnKfQXmEL3L_BoLM3Kpi3h0Ej-ZRWyrC5r5p7I24mbHUt3VWA24Q9Dyv3ENV60lA/s1600/P1050430.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoUD3v7RJ4K4Bpk5KjDGfALDwnpMTz3dQCtfdeEt8hJyh8XBQ4ap3pXHuZSs2tFdWnaYa6pIc298OnKfQXmEL3L_BoLM3Kpi3h0Ej-ZRWyrC5r5p7I24mbHUt3VWA24Q9Dyv3ENV60lA/s1600/P1050430.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Fortescue Falls</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_pn_xDJtUNvHIWwMeRbXRZNBvXOQ0aHRCCyshhI05ZxPyToLmLu8w8A_KSpXGkibvE2liPGQj6pshlLQjDRGA50AYnse7qbXpmK7XqrAq1ROYBiiLavgWBKvyziyraEanblS_NcWzdg/s1600/P1050462.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_pn_xDJtUNvHIWwMeRbXRZNBvXOQ0aHRCCyshhI05ZxPyToLmLu8w8A_KSpXGkibvE2liPGQj6pshlLQjDRGA50AYnse7qbXpmK7XqrAq1ROYBiiLavgWBKvyziyraEanblS_NcWzdg/s1600/P1050462.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Lazy Gum on Rim Walk</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkNDKnCmCgCZ-i4gx9Zf1yVOx1n-DE9TcUtg2T8ASb0-vHzZIh9Q_JDsCm5p07YBEgB3E__ls4oIV4A90aYDv_6pfOLbx7ps8Ko4tAVsPWZGUnDXLYXrxDlxXqG3jY6b0AMhFcKV8hHw/s1600/P1050469.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkNDKnCmCgCZ-i4gx9Zf1yVOx1n-DE9TcUtg2T8ASb0-vHzZIh9Q_JDsCm5p07YBEgB3E__ls4oIV4A90aYDv_6pfOLbx7ps8Ko4tAVsPWZGUnDXLYXrxDlxXqG3jY6b0AMhFcKV8hHw/s1600/P1050469.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Circular Pool</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Next stop was the mining town, Tom Price, built by Rio Tinto
in 1965 to service their open-cut iron ore mine at Mt Tom Price, following the discovery
of iron ore there in 1962. The town was named for leading American geologist
Thomas Moore Price whose initial involvement and enthusiasm bought it all to
fruition.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdg2Lz6d1VPfrZsXZY3DfeqDeV0QA-JxsekWBzgNI9opMG_U6gRoCLK3v_B6s3FWxOkYc-WwZmQi6yjo2qnjgotRLF55vHM-w7EeNlBlgnS-Du7OzRDUrpNTJ3GqM40nGeZbcdVNJcpA/s1600/P1050512.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdg2Lz6d1VPfrZsXZY3DfeqDeV0QA-JxsekWBzgNI9opMG_U6gRoCLK3v_B6s3FWxOkYc-WwZmQi6yjo2qnjgotRLF55vHM-w7EeNlBlgnS-Du7OzRDUrpNTJ3GqM40nGeZbcdVNJcpA/s1600/P1050512.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Tom Price Open Cut Mine</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We did a guided tour of the Rio Tinto owned mine, whose
singular mining interest is iron ore only, with any other minerals being totally
disregarded. Rio Tinto operates 15 other mines within the Pilbara, which are
all serviced by Rio’s largest privately-owned and operated rail system in Australia,
totalling 1600km of track. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOLdi04-3Ir8CwymeILXc_5aqA6uy-xP_PmFQ3O-cTDeC_iuwHLtbkJSUIa5gQ4jeUVfK_NYWMRsk6iFhhN8jddW_w9bzdk6V5DtuImyTaXIh1VxGszEUpFPgGme5XCPm3t0_Z23_k7g/s1600/P1050501.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOLdi04-3Ir8CwymeILXc_5aqA6uy-xP_PmFQ3O-cTDeC_iuwHLtbkJSUIa5gQ4jeUVfK_NYWMRsk6iFhhN8jddW_w9bzdk6V5DtuImyTaXIh1VxGszEUpFPgGme5XCPm3t0_Z23_k7g/s1600/P1050501.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Quicker than a wheelbarrow!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The ore trains are 2.5km long and each hauls 27,376 tons of
ore worth $3.5 million ($130 p/t), with five trains being the daily average from
Tom Price mine alone. Little wonder their Shares are valued towards the top end
of the ASX market!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That afternoon we left Tom Price via the Munjina/Nanutarra
road, passing several mines but no trucks whatsoever on this lesser road, then
turned south on Highway No1, passed across ‘Capricornia’ from the tropics into
the temperate zone and camped at the Beasley River in company with newly made,
fellow Kimberley Karavaners Peter and Ellie from Brisbane. Another blazing
campfire, more stories, another bottle of red.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
An eggs and bacon breakfast tell us it’s Sunday (20 July)
and after a (big) 460km day towing the van at 80/90kph, Manberry Rest Area 90km
north of Carnarvon is our address for the night, and to our great surprise very
few trucks passed throughout the night.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The next morning we drove the 90km to Carnarvon, a modern,
attractive town of 7000 pop., situated on the seemingly dry Gascoyne River,
along whose rich river-bank soils are 16km of fruit and vegetable farms,
irrigated by water pumped from the underground stream which flows several
metres below the dry, sandy river bed. An amazing amount of water for so many
irrigators! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6JSxl_b26RL1_1_rOruny6bpKRzFp6QaiAbwVOichpvIyibYyphHYf4B_iUNJoYS8BLoOmWWwrzHt0t7xxSxI0AorExGrulEBMgHO0KUIJKU084zBZtIjkfXXO9-ri0pkGM6J5blTfw/s1600/P1050768.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6JSxl_b26RL1_1_rOruny6bpKRzFp6QaiAbwVOichpvIyibYyphHYf4B_iUNJoYS8BLoOmWWwrzHt0t7xxSxI0AorExGrulEBMgHO0KUIJKU084zBZtIjkfXXO9-ri0pkGM6J5blTfw/s1600/P1050768.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Mile Long Jetty</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Other attractions include its ‘Mile Long Jetty’ constructed
in 1897 and since restored, with its “Coffee Pot” train ferry service, and the
old OTC Dish one used by NASA as part of their space communication and tracking
station during the 60’s and 70’s space race, but since outdated and therefore decommissioned
after tracking Halley’s Comet in 1987.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5BCl14vdmw9MaT6ogS9igf_BYYPrjUwnD0hxcaJfj1OkQqw493trLrjImCXm3684qHoaNrklshfN7c3D9f4c-UNn1ZlKuTIwY81O8mAX9m1vfUK0GIJV_ENumAsLLPhs3Yxd7FmdCVg/s1600/P1050671.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5BCl14vdmw9MaT6ogS9igf_BYYPrjUwnD0hxcaJfj1OkQqw493trLrjImCXm3684qHoaNrklshfN7c3D9f4c-UNn1ZlKuTIwY81O8mAX9m1vfUK0GIJV_ENumAsLLPhs3Yxd7FmdCVg/s1600/P1050671.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Rugged Sandstone Coastline</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We topped fuel and food then drove 85km up the coast to
Quobba Station, a working pastoral property with 80km of harsh, unpredictable
and spectacular coastline bordering the Indian Ocean.
Between sandy beaches, there are large areas of rugged sandstone foreshore and,
with a strong on-shore breeze and powerful ocean swells, the Quobba Blowholes
were booming geyser like jets of water up to 20 mtrs into the air.
Spectacular!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBON3BVG0dvwMJjdzKUNO_8vjYBZ7NkVJju8Oqj687_y2yyVh_txl4hy5Im-7XANbsatAOYHz6TNKKA6CS8SgK3gZNHhQEch0V215i0bnUwRQWlp0oaxICe6MOfDp2havWGmkKvXvDnQ/s1600/P1050740.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBON3BVG0dvwMJjdzKUNO_8vjYBZ7NkVJju8Oqj687_y2yyVh_txl4hy5Im-7XANbsatAOYHz6TNKKA6CS8SgK3gZNHhQEch0V215i0bnUwRQWlp0oaxICe6MOfDp2havWGmkKvXvDnQ/s1600/P1050740.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Quobba Blowholes</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Quobba Station provides basic camping facilities behind
beachfront dunes, offering land based game fishing, isolated beaches, king-wave
surfing, crayfish snorkelling and whale watching, a few of which we’ve seen
passing close by. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIdYIehWkWZ2KUH0kUvdiAwVALeOQeW50zfwjPcnViYZHpQL1SVPhXEb8pXg3kBbKhxOKkbTdVYdxl0Oa1-GgBrEC0XQgfbwi893jh2HK_ozE-lRsUvzi4bbsERYtXISEmrbXUVuC7yQ/s1600/P1050642.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIdYIehWkWZ2KUH0kUvdiAwVALeOQeW50zfwjPcnViYZHpQL1SVPhXEb8pXg3kBbKhxOKkbTdVYdxl0Oa1-GgBrEC0XQgfbwi893jh2HK_ozE-lRsUvzi4bbsERYtXISEmrbXUVuC7yQ/s1600/P1050642.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Quobba Station Campsite</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Quobba lease was taken up in 1898, is approx 80km long
by 14km wide, comprises 187,000 acres and runs around 10,000 Damaras, South
African meat sheep, which grow hair rather than wool and therefore require no shearing.
The country here is dry, sandy, low Saltbush scrub, more suited to pasturing
the goat-like Damaras, occasioning the switch from Merinos some years ago. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVSaiHK-jjaxUyalA0yshpsAtAKQ9keApsO6meoU6JDbHI6XShGeiKPsko86H2YO6puRpI-IJbcBJQD0BfUahf9x0zRryhD31vFuq_eWjaK7ZmaL25IsGPkR-sKZBlF7kvOJ1l0dW1Xw/s1600/P1050748.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVSaiHK-jjaxUyalA0yshpsAtAKQ9keApsO6meoU6JDbHI6XShGeiKPsko86H2YO6puRpI-IJbcBJQD0BfUahf9x0zRryhD31vFuq_eWjaK7ZmaL25IsGPkR-sKZBlF7kvOJ1l0dW1Xw/s1600/P1050748.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Hairy Damaras Sheep</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We’ll leave here tomorrow after a 4 night stay, heading back
to see more of Carnarvon before continuing our adventures further southwards.</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyUafUzxhbiP3u24UJm6H76KCZMCW54_HBJh5_CBbzRlqnyvFNdlx4GOnBkJMJvsDCtnbvLo8h2LUKBdfbPbfCoEYSsl9kDis1XuG8fAAX1u1uB-ybP1KThJCtT3MxEsV8n8rqMHvOAA/s1600/P1050720.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyUafUzxhbiP3u24UJm6H76KCZMCW54_HBJh5_CBbzRlqnyvFNdlx4GOnBkJMJvsDCtnbvLo8h2LUKBdfbPbfCoEYSsl9kDis1XuG8fAAX1u1uB-ybP1KThJCtT3MxEsV8n8rqMHvOAA/s1600/P1050720.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Fully setup Campsite</b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Bruce and Audrey<br />
Quobba Station, Carnarvon<br />
July 2014<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVSaiHK-jjaxUyalA0yshpsAtAKQ9keApsO6meoU6JDbHI6XShGeiKPsko86H2YO6puRpI-IJbcBJQD0BfUahf9x0zRryhD31vFuq_eWjaK7ZmaL25IsGPkR-sKZBlF7kvOJ1l0dW1Xw/s1600/P1050748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Yacht Envyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296367569566410867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5422585594160201132.post-59328922918944346762014-07-14T20:19:00.002+08:002014-07-14T20:20:08.316+08:00KKK No 8 Kununurra - Derby - Broome<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 24.0pt;"></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 24.0pt;">“K K K”</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">K</b>imberley
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">K</b>aravan <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">K</b>apers’ - Bruce and Audrey)</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">No: 8</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Kununurra – Derby – Broome </span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">It’s
Wednesday 2 July, day 88, and we’re “back in the saddle again”, as they say,
heading off down the challenging <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Gibb
River Road</b> on our second attempt to traverse the heart of the Kimberley,
one of the Nation’s few remaining 4WD ‘frontier’ roads, apart from the sandy desert
tracks. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The
Gibb River Road
was originally constructed as a beef road to transport cattle from surrounding
stations to the ports of Derby
and Wyndham, and travels some 700km through the central <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Kimberley Plateau</b>, with its scenic beauty and grandeur, unusual
landscapes, many gorges, waterfalls, Boab trees and red dust. The ‘Wet’ forces the
Gibbs official closure for a few months and fines apply to travellers who
breach the Restrictions.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The
Gibb’s now had 18 more days of traffic and subsequent deterioration since our
previous attempt and, like a thrown rider, I’m a little spooked about getting
back on the horse, but determined to accomplish our goal. We soon discovered our
apprehension was well grounded once we ‘hit the dirt’, with kilometre upon
kilometre of dislodged sharp stones and corrugations noticeably worse in some
places than previously.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL8Hfum8liyB90qeqBzdwDq16NKXAKhFNlor0qx126QG79xYuJzNrKXv9b9HShCYo1Oj85sV8lFys0NMbAYqU-QZBF6u1fYcawAe40bjptnk7fC4G1ldXYvpaDbP06KVqNYmGw8DvmhA/s1600/P1040758.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL8Hfum8liyB90qeqBzdwDq16NKXAKhFNlor0qx126QG79xYuJzNrKXv9b9HShCYo1Oj85sV8lFys0NMbAYqU-QZBF6u1fYcawAe40bjptnk7fC4G1ldXYvpaDbP06KVqNYmGw8DvmhA/s1600/P1040758.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Emma Gorge</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Not
far along we reached <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">El Questro
Wilderness Park</b>, home to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Emma Gorge</b>
and did the 1.6km, hour long slog each way, quite a challenging walk, climb and
rock crawl into this marvellous natural wonder, but ever so much worth the
effort – simply stunning. Two waterfalls cascade 65mtrs (200 ft) down sheer red
cliffs into a large deep pool, its cool clear waters hosting several hardy
swimmers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Other
scenic rewards were there also as we once again enjoyed the grandeur of the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cockburn Range</b> with its stunning
plateau topped jump-up, plus the thrill of our third fording of the wide, stony
bed of the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Pentecost River</b>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Then
a “brief taste of Heaven” occurred with an all too short 20km of newly graded
road along which we raced at dizzying speed, up to 75kph, rather than our usual
50kph! Soon we arrived at our previously used, sheltered roadside gravel pit
where we enjoyed another quiet night. Th</span>e weather continues fine, with warm
days and cool nights. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Day
two finds us driving through km after km of recently burnt out, unremarkable
red rocky country with savage corrugations in places, through the now dry
Bindoola Creek bed, past the harsh, steep and rugged terrain of Gregories and
Rollies Jumpups, thru Mosquito Hills with ridge after ridge interspersed with
dry eroded floodways, and much hard sharp rock on the road. And all the while,
clouds of billowing red dust - and more dust – everywhere. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Two
abandoned 4WD’s and several tyre carcasses give testament to the harshness of
this 4WD shortcut, a saving of over 300km from the Great Northern Highway through Halls Creek
and Fitzroy Crossing, with a recommended top speed of 60kph.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYxx63FVvC-SiyROy8sl_tdWhpV4alPYLzVtxOIxxsuxyEbwzeQPml1Nt6r1WQrNdskEd8GPcAeFhKNGxNU7u7pHPVwOzbuwOcx2K2rIg56z_YuDGmbGZ6ABiIlvVBB6paXBTLpPebdQ/s1600/P1040874.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYxx63FVvC-SiyROy8sl_tdWhpV4alPYLzVtxOIxxsuxyEbwzeQPml1Nt6r1WQrNdskEd8GPcAeFhKNGxNU7u7pHPVwOzbuwOcx2K2rIg56z_YuDGmbGZ6ABiIlvVBB6paXBTLpPebdQ/s1600/P1040874.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Some of the better Grazing country</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Onwards
we continue past <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“Ellenbrae Station”</b>
turnoff, with no deviation for Devonshire Tea this time, and remark on how much
more traffic is on the road than 18 days earlier. The excessive speed that some
idiots drive at amazes us as we watch their suspensions hammering frighteningly
over the corrugations, especially in hired 4WD’s.</span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Past
Russ Creek
with its Lilly covered waterhole and prolific stand of red Rosella plants and
then we’re on the 1km strip of ‘black top’ than spans the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Gibb</b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> Range</b>,
up and over the second ridge where we stop at the bottom to revisit our “old
residential address” of four days, 2 weeks’ previously! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The
eucalypt suckers and dead grass remains flattened – proof of recent habitation,
but no tears are shed, and with a photo of the vacant lot for posterity, we’re
back on the road once more with anticipation of new scenery around every bend.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Eleven
kilometres on we take the far more infamous <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Kalumburu Road</b> northwards for a few km looking for a lakeside
camping spot, but unable to find it by Plain Creek, we returned part way and
freedom camped on the sandy bank at the Gibb River crossing, with several
others.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Two
cranky old Brahman Bulls passed through, loudly voicing their disapproval at
our trespass, but our Bower Bird neighbour close by was far less offended by
our presence; he continued to woo his ladybird, repeatedly bringing her through
his bower to reveal the cache of all things shiny – small white pebbles, clear
plastic, sparkling glass chips, blue plastic, silver foil, and 2 shinny coins, a
10c and a 5c. We can’t imagine how he got them, but we were so impressed we
decided to invest in his love life and added another 10 and two shiny 5c
pieces, and hope it adds to a successful outcome.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO0nNvxD3iUR4ckfnkbgVJy-gDaUMYgD_SyrWvveggGahFhau6xY-DWS9YPDIXf7uZjmflUal6IWKjNUU-0ShkaW0mNxUyc44GaMdy9kFJg3AHZJg-44zjUWsTV1Ovqr29Ao0ximxUGw/s1600/P1040840.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO0nNvxD3iUR4ckfnkbgVJy-gDaUMYgD_SyrWvveggGahFhau6xY-DWS9YPDIXf7uZjmflUal6IWKjNUU-0ShkaW0mNxUyc44GaMdy9kFJg3AHZJg-44zjUWsTV1Ovqr29Ao0ximxUGw/s1600/P1040840.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Bower Bird with his wealth</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Off
again in the morning on the 105km run through lovely open grasslands shaded
with various eucalypts, bauhinias and associated timbers and interspersed with
occasional water crossings. We forded Bryce and Mistake Creeks, followed by the
Hann River and Snake Creek, and then took a
very rough track for a very slow 3km into <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bartlett
River Gorge</b> where we had smoko beside a downstream pool.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlJtwlcK88H1cWJEqagfbVYPj1ta4jmCE0B0gfom32xL-FbrgvygrqoEVNdZrMDL4LNglzUv5SYhtazNhRTS97Ma5aWCwwpri0knQ57W_MrOPL6HbuCMb8mgH5zLn9Cthbt_kJu5Ra2g/s1600/P1040897.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlJtwlcK88H1cWJEqagfbVYPj1ta4jmCE0B0gfom32xL-FbrgvygrqoEVNdZrMDL4LNglzUv5SYhtazNhRTS97Ma5aWCwwpri0knQ57W_MrOPL6HbuCMb8mgH5zLn9Cthbt_kJu5Ra2g/s1600/P1040897.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>One of many Creek crossings</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Back
out on </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span>the GR Road, we followed the Barnett Range, an attractive red topped
jump-up for several kilometres before fording the Barnett River and shortly
thereafter arrived at the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mt Bartlett
Roadhouse</b>, approximately half way along ‘the Gibb’, where we filled up with
Petrol at $2.50/ltr. It is owned and run by the local aboriginal community. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The
Manning Gorge campground nestles beside the Manning River
7km out back from the Roadhouse and we set up there for the night. The river at
the camp has a lovely clear sandy and rock bottomed pool, which must be crossed
to view the lovely <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Manning Gorge</b>.
Not so long ago one had to swim the 60mtr waterhole to start the 2km trek but a
small aluminium punt allows a crossing by a pull-it-yourself rope and pulley
system.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMkocVONdn6Z-2-Wg1vwebOtw51OJyfp-pGSS-pGW-txrh7MSL3YHGbyh3sG_3VHNlQWnf58gWEwyQsMlNlLN8-bHv6xhAd1TPtq5yoXmo7b2XscK3HGBCEJE4tZk6PHbxNkWkALkYyg/s1600/P1040914.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMkocVONdn6Z-2-Wg1vwebOtw51OJyfp-pGSS-pGW-txrh7MSL3YHGbyh3sG_3VHNlQWnf58gWEwyQsMlNlLN8-bHv6xhAd1TPtq5yoXmo7b2XscK3HGBCEJE4tZk6PHbxNkWkALkYyg/s1600/P1040914.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">DIY Crossing</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAGq9HKwKmwqF5tGAGuja03v4GvsMC-hD1gWwtUgDliNkKFAgwmu8s0VMAmdy9BmR0NaRQxxRovljkwbo7mdjmRDMMxxULhCwk4B36gBUXTW102IVlJtnScb3mgO7yeaC4NHw2InwEQg/s1600/P1040921.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAGq9HKwKmwqF5tGAGuja03v4GvsMC-hD1gWwtUgDliNkKFAgwmu8s0VMAmdy9BmR0NaRQxxRovljkwbo7mdjmRDMMxxULhCwk4B36gBUXTW102IVlJtnScb3mgO7yeaC4NHw2InwEQg/s1600/P1040921.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Typical "easy" gorge walk!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">We
crossed the next morning, the first starters at 7am, for the 3 hour, strenuous
‘class 4’ return walk to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Manning Gorge</b>.
The walk, like most of the Gorge walks in the Kimberley, requires more effort than the
glossy tourist brochures elude, many with little scenic interest along the way,
but the reward comes at the end and Manning is certainly worth the effort. The
Gorge walls, waterfall, pristine rock pool, aboriginal art, the vibrant colours
and rock formations all make for a rewarding experience. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6pt; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbt6paZCjvswr43WSofnQdH83sX6e9HH6nd7zA0M0mpyp5FdHT6X8qikl93LRFn6LG7jPKayrhs-P2dJVVfipn5afYv-Qe8jKlpRYJwzXXx-Eg9UYdbr63x0dmxq1Ft5OeQ8wbkLqG4Q/s1600/P1040935.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbt6paZCjvswr43WSofnQdH83sX6e9HH6nd7zA0M0mpyp5FdHT6X8qikl93LRFn6LG7jPKayrhs-P2dJVVfipn5afYv-Qe8jKlpRYJwzXXx-Eg9UYdbr63x0dmxq1Ft5OeQ8wbkLqG4Q/s1600/P1040935.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Manning Gorge</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">It
was only mid morning following our return from the Gorge and having seen all of
interest we decided to be off. This next section was, in places, as roughly
corrugated and stony as any before, through only fair grazing country with very
low quality, inbred Brahman cross breeders, as was often the case in Aboriginal
Land Council controlled cattle stations.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Soon
after we reached the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Imintji</b> aboriginal
community whose BIG little store on the Gibb sells groceries and Diesel fuel,
but no petrol; we stopped for an Ice Cream before continuing on to the Mt Bell
Lookout, with its panoramic outlook over nothing particularly exciting, and a
little farther on is our next overnight stop, where we freedom camped beside
the creek at green and shady <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">March Fly
Glen</b>. (No March Flies or any insects).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">It
had been many days since our last campfire so ‘pyromaniacal Bruce’ went
scavenging firewood and, in company with our new caravanning ‘neighbours’,
Peter and Jane from Perth, shared a bonzer fire and good conversation over a
bottle of Red.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwg9gdVGTAyv_iLC7mCiSTmFpM15m5tiGl4zj3HhyphenhyphenZyGUQmn-sc1WeB45MiWiiXivyHVkDTDFMgs8_rNtfNwTkZ3sWQpy8Gh_LBGzogFpfIaMXOr2_Bl0hsXUpfZ6jcvVdDTPU83f-bg/s1600/P1040965.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwg9gdVGTAyv_iLC7mCiSTmFpM15m5tiGl4zj3HhyphenhyphenZyGUQmn-sc1WeB45MiWiiXivyHVkDTDFMgs8_rNtfNwTkZ3sWQpy8Gh_LBGzogFpfIaMXOr2_Bl0hsXUpfZ6jcvVdDTPU83f-bg/s1600/P1040965.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Firewood Scavenger</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Early
next morning finds us out on the road heading past Galvan’s Gorge – today we’ve
got a bigger gorge in mind, fording the Adcock River, on past Stumpy’s Jumpup
and through Napier Downs Station (Audrey never told me about that!) and soon
after crossing the Lennard River we take the Leopold Downs Road 21km in to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Windjana Gorge National Park.</b></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The
floodwaters of the Lennard River have carved a 3.5km long Gorge through the
limestone of the Napier Range, and for most of the year only pools of water are
found in the Gorge for the river only flows during the wet. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Geologists
regard the Gorge as one of the classic features of world geology, for nowhere
else are various deposits of an ancient reef complex so well exposed as they
are at Windjana. Fossils of shells and the creatures that lived in Devonian
times can be seen preserved in the 100 metre high limestone walls. Fresh water
Crocodiles are plentiful as is their diet of archer fish, cherabin and bream. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We
set up camp at Windjana together with over 150 other tourists and, after lunch,
leave the Karavan and drive a further 37km of rotten road on to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Tunnel Creek National Park</b>, a major
highlight of the trip so far. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlnrAKpyPBk5LvG_HPbGWDkVDmBo0z6WnV7kKo01794kQpbdSA2dhi8XeUuM-I9jHx4PjkZI9xBEQRInbpJmICPwr4Y9gaLIFUPn3JZzn5VD-Qx7Eq_E06_oqJYLAICHDmkt9mqc2-sQ/s1600/P1050036.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlnrAKpyPBk5LvG_HPbGWDkVDmBo0z6WnV7kKo01794kQpbdSA2dhi8XeUuM-I9jHx4PjkZI9xBEQRInbpJmICPwr4Y9gaLIFUPn3JZzn5VD-Qx7Eq_E06_oqJYLAICHDmkt9mqc2-sQ/s1600/P1050036.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Tunnel Creek Entrance</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Over
millennia <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Tunnel Creek</b> has carved
its way underground through the limestone, resulting in a 750 metre long
cavernous tunnel and during the dry season it is possible to walk through the
creek, which is cold and over knee deep. Armed with flashlights and camera, we
did the walk and marvelled at the ‘artistic complexity’ of the high eroded
ceilings and the giant stalactites that graced them. A further boon was two
pieces of aboriginal art on the rock face at the far entrance to the tunnel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMSSWqgPpiv8FYgT6xPAgR1LsD6n1DGwfYds5AnC6IYHS5ezTq3b9jeGO1UsGTLmRAoDwB1SitCgKYa8Q4ALQjBXthnBpSLrrmt24__OlmuXLLK-ideM23PMsXmJ6UR6FUjps99odM3A/s1600/P1040942.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMSSWqgPpiv8FYgT6xPAgR1LsD6n1DGwfYds5AnC6IYHS5ezTq3b9jeGO1UsGTLmRAoDwB1SitCgKYa8Q4ALQjBXthnBpSLrrmt24__OlmuXLLK-ideM23PMsXmJ6UR6FUjps99odM3A/s1600/P1040942.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Aboriginal Wall Art</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Next
morning we did the 7km return walk through <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Windjana
Gorge</b>, with its 180 million year old imposing sandstone cliffs overlooking
long waterholes in which freshwater Crocodiles were sunning themselves. A most
interesting and enjoyable three hour walk.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGUugpteZYrlM8RD86dRtHXxy0_jQmZY8uHxfS1hJFMmWBytwfwqrU60V9WnYZ9o1ybaEKKeN7tmCQQ-4FnJQmGftl6turVZReEo5agiN0A03VOy71q_jalqCLHZROzoGPQVX2CRZqYQ/s1600/P1050085.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGUugpteZYrlM8RD86dRtHXxy0_jQmZY8uHxfS1hJFMmWBytwfwqrU60V9WnYZ9o1ybaEKKeN7tmCQQ-4FnJQmGftl6turVZReEo5agiN0A03VOy71q_jalqCLHZROzoGPQVX2CRZqYQ/s1600/P1050085.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Windjana Gorge</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGCqanJdb6ZXLO568OAkT5TIVU5Cc6FWDjX1XemzHhC0j4CedbWergBfLyl0aM7-xmpadgsRU2xXWOho2KpwDvGQzli8GLPngOGeenBMz5iUdgfi9_RS_g8yvZIqep1NMJWdwSj3u-eg/s1600/P1050069.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGCqanJdb6ZXLO568OAkT5TIVU5Cc6FWDjX1XemzHhC0j4CedbWergBfLyl0aM7-xmpadgsRU2xXWOho2KpwDvGQzli8GLPngOGeenBMz5iUdgfi9_RS_g8yvZIqep1NMJWdwSj3u-eg/s1600/P1050069.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A couple of the locals!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We
departed Windjana early next morning, but 5 minutes too late to avoid being
caught up in the group of 55 Motorcyclists riding Postman’s small 110cc Hondas
on an annual Police fundraiser up the Gibb. Crazy – two riders were ‘thrown’ in
the first rough 20km back out to the Gibb Road junction, in addition to the WA
Police Commissioner who was unseated the previous day.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-QJV-jqt1DqeZiDE1-9pUbOrB4CKsAMbfx9qSNghi7zeoR54mcEog1voZr3CwM767CgcX0ej281osJnc9FHdAoTSULtLWSYbzfvQRbVRt4d0Gu7_p82lx_d2F2_lLOrKat7-dzItOQ/s1600/P1050093.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-QJV-jqt1DqeZiDE1-9pUbOrB4CKsAMbfx9qSNghi7zeoR54mcEog1voZr3CwM767CgcX0ej281osJnc9FHdAoTSULtLWSYbzfvQRbVRt4d0Gu7_p82lx_d2F2_lLOrKat7-dzItOQ/s1600/P1050093.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Motor Cyclists on Police Fundraiser</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Anyway,
we turned left for Derby and soon we were on the
‘black top’ with the horrors of the Gibb
River corrugations,
stones, river crossings, washouts and general ruggedness now behind us.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Derby</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">
is a pretty little place on King Sound, with wide shaded streets, but no
definable CBD, has a sizable aboriginal presence and many Boab trees. We booked
in, then went exploring the town, taking in a large art exhibition, the old
gaol, hollow Boab Prison Tree, and waterfront at the port jetty.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOjRmjWy4wu8ZG_W3jpNSxCXBBu7IZSWj9j3HULjVqXbflGNRSZ6TQ_G7WspI53o3cNBeno2rGThlhyDk8wsQQSzWi7X1pey4SC0WxGuCuvyEzz2wawamKfYLMIxJqfpYV5HMtLFBxyw/s1600/P1050117.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOjRmjWy4wu8ZG_W3jpNSxCXBBu7IZSWj9j3HULjVqXbflGNRSZ6TQ_G7WspI53o3cNBeno2rGThlhyDk8wsQQSzWi7X1pey4SC0WxGuCuvyEzz2wawamKfYLMIxJqfpYV5HMtLFBxyw/s1600/P1050117.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Old "Open' Derby Gaol</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwl9_FvIobwfjf-RU5CC4dhaUUyi5kq6SohfDrtxFZJDVBZxgJDUlwWGjZa_9N12NnIUYC_kRwKNUCp_N2USLd2yZ0WvSw1qJvJdn3c4AYyYOxK5Z_h416QTrOge2JQcRF10N65CShrg/s1600/P1050176.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwl9_FvIobwfjf-RU5CC4dhaUUyi5kq6SohfDrtxFZJDVBZxgJDUlwWGjZa_9N12NnIUYC_kRwKNUCp_N2USLd2yZ0WvSw1qJvJdn3c4AYyYOxK5Z_h416QTrOge2JQcRF10N65CShrg/s1600/P1050176.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Hollow Boab Prison Tree</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Derby</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> has the greatest tidal range of anywhere in Australia, up to 11.8 metres at HW
Springs. </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Nova Scotia's</span></span> Bay of Fundy in Canada
has </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">the world’s highest tidal range 15m.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Derby</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> plays host to Western Australia’s
largest Indigenous cultural event, the annual Mowanjum Festival which
highlights West Kimberley aboriginal culture, encompassing
their art, with fully costumed corroborees, song and dance, all open to the
general public. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The
famous Wandjana art featured in Sydney’s
2000 Olympic Games opening ceremony. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsJ_gPK4b9tQubvPKrjgQ4FEMLf-IKa1WIJRirrnCrXNUwHthjs2_jGoAVdWJ_TEutJvseQDS6el0aScssRqSUKd30LEWwozmqKd8_5j6-fueYdQIsjkMoadFeSIWt0Umew9QzqP_QJQ/s1600/P1050168.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsJ_gPK4b9tQubvPKrjgQ4FEMLf-IKa1WIJRirrnCrXNUwHthjs2_jGoAVdWJ_TEutJvseQDS6el0aScssRqSUKd30LEWwozmqKd8_5j6-fueYdQIsjkMoadFeSIWt0Umew9QzqP_QJQ/s1600/P1050168.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Wandjana Spirit - Mowanjum Art</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Word
had reached us that the Jetty Restaurant at the Port was the best in town -
fine seafood dining watching the Sunset over the water, which we thoroughly
enjoyed the next night prior to departure the following morning.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKgaoZDvNJD0M9kuWJCb_BGVutU6GXfmqe-NMHHnKZ9V7WSpfdjrl2ma_q2u3dyMzSEvyfNQ8hKiKNnziobsL_XuobcF1fPSQf1sHIi2nNfOs-JmjrAHnJImJQjfZdB9PFBtU7ajpVeg/s1600/P1050146.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKgaoZDvNJD0M9kuWJCb_BGVutU6GXfmqe-NMHHnKZ9V7WSpfdjrl2ma_q2u3dyMzSEvyfNQ8hKiKNnziobsL_XuobcF1fPSQf1sHIi2nNfOs-JmjrAHnJImJQjfZdB9PFBtU7ajpVeg/s1600/P1050146.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sunset at Jetty Restaurant, Derby</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">About
100km south we stopped at the Nillibubbica Rest Area, joining 35/40 others for
the night, and by 7:15 next morning we’re on the 105km leg into Broome, with
its grossly inflated ‘seasonal’ campsite fees up to $60/day, but we’d heard the
Pistol Club had powered sites for $35 so we stopped there.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Broome </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">was founded as a pearling port in the 1870’s and
remains steeped in the history of Pearls. Named for WA Governor Broome in 1883,
it is a colourful, welcoming touristy town based now on its cultured Pearl industry, since the 1950’s, and cattle grazing. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyf5TnvkHVfUuuZV0lPZlhkwsQDoGKE-MBa-BRILVjvmVivxEnlzdxHvJWi1WEfRujp68aWKa6cNjQHss8x7w9b6cJllmyIVanfP2YPAiu0pD3fLY8rkwFJWUO4Y8YnDZSy1WL-i-CoQ/s1600/P1050253.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyf5TnvkHVfUuuZV0lPZlhkwsQDoGKE-MBa-BRILVjvmVivxEnlzdxHvJWi1WEfRujp68aWKa6cNjQHss8x7w9b6cJllmyIVanfP2YPAiu0pD3fLY8rkwFJWUO4Y8YnDZSy1WL-i-CoQ/s1600/P1050253.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Roebuck Bay Foreshore</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The
town <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>has a fresh, modern appearance, and
the bright turquoise waters of Roebuck
Bay contrast appealingly
with the red rocky foreshores of this unique peninsular. </span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Dampier
Terrace, the Street of Pearls in ‘old’ Broome’s Chinatown
is as vibrant as Surfers Paradise, and Saturday’s Arts and Crafts Market a plethora
of stalls. A Chinese lady makes lovely high quality Doonas, filled with cocoons
of imported natural pure Silk, and one of these now covers our bed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNr6IF8JtqICOHE9gRPBW34Fx2e51kwHqFOwxXp4n8yjWH-Za20375plykXhGIVmh-rnMiZyB46N4hmsnGGqyXm2Nu-QakzbO73od1__1zIALibrUHxzd6cC6-dt7hC2f9YPCcmNBZ3w/s1600/P1050230.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNr6IF8JtqICOHE9gRPBW34Fx2e51kwHqFOwxXp4n8yjWH-Za20375plykXhGIVmh-rnMiZyB46N4hmsnGGqyXm2Nu-QakzbO73od1__1zIALibrUHxzd6cC6-dt7hC2f9YPCcmNBZ3w/s1600/P1050230.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Cable Beach at Sunset</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">A
must do in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Broome</b> is to join the
throngs of people who watch tourist Camel Rides along Cable Beach at Sunset,
while enjoying nibbles and champagne from the grassy hilltop, and we did just
that. Another is to see the ‘Stairway to the Moon’, a natural phenomenon which
occurs at low tide when the Full Moon rises above the Horizon to reflect a stairway
reflection across tidal flats back to the viewer, which we’ll do this evening.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJiCXWYG0io3ATjLzfYvWLKd8nGJmJVSt61WU0JwkPmhWItxAiPXfbr8V1pemlg5sXFrxnk4T_g8ZGIhU_klW_9NLOZvTVfxhCox82LHP5sAEOTiWbe_td2iTSlNOdTH58ivfsFgidNQ/s1600/P1050257a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJiCXWYG0io3ATjLzfYvWLKd8nGJmJVSt61WU0JwkPmhWItxAiPXfbr8V1pemlg5sXFrxnk4T_g8ZGIhU_klW_9NLOZvTVfxhCox82LHP5sAEOTiWbe_td2iTSlNOdTH58ivfsFgidNQ/s1600/P1050257a.jpg" height="400" width="155" /></a></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Tomorrow
we will depart Broome, destination ‘the 80 mile beach’ on our 100<sup>th</sup>.
day away. </span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We’ll
talk again soon</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Bruce
and Audrey</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">14
July 2014</span></div>
Yacht Envyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296367569566410867noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5422585594160201132.post-58217391441885883022014-07-01T12:03:00.001+08:002014-07-01T12:03:25.863+08:00KKK No 7 Kununurra and the Gibb River Road<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 24.0pt;">“K K K”</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">K</b>imberley
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">K</b>aravan <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">K</b>apers’ - Bruce and Audrey)</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">No: 7 Kununurra and
the Gibb River Road</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">Salvage and Sorrow</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s Saturday 14 June, day 70: we’re bathed in balmy
Kimberley sunshine at 7:45am as we top up petrol at $1.90/ltr and excitedly
depart Kununurra to commence our Kimberley adventure, bound for Wyndham, whose
establishment in 1885 opened up this vast region, with its main Port situated
on the broad, swiftly flowing upper reaches of Cambridge Gulf where tidal range
exceeds 8½ metres. Normal tidal ranges worldwide range 2 to 3 metres. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Wyndham’s a small disjointed town with the old section at
the Port, some 5 km distant from the ‘new’ town. Michael Durack (of ‘Kings in
Grass Castles’ fame) arrived here in 1882 and commenced his family’s extensive
cattle empire, the precursor to establishment in 1919 of the huge Wyndham
(Government) Meatworks, the then lifeblood of the entire Kimberley region. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWxQmzQ52jDLn4KykkyOO5muH-d0b0omR2355CB6vDwJ0k7KSIhwj7zAJtpNoFDNoOmQ1hfCoCMfAhAKCWtbV7K-tYM9QSHJmO9oeGhAGR9pd339klv80XXD-gjJSM8l12kXO9IUNCgQ/s1600/P1040454.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWxQmzQ52jDLn4KykkyOO5muH-d0b0omR2355CB6vDwJ0k7KSIhwj7zAJtpNoFDNoOmQ1hfCoCMfAhAKCWtbV7K-tYM9QSHJmO9oeGhAGR9pd339klv80XXD-gjJSM8l12kXO9IUNCgQ/s1600/P1040454.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Big Croc</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Home to perhaps the worlds biggest ‘Crocodile’, the 20metre sculpture in the main street was made by local TAFE students in 1988, contains
55 kilometres of steel rod, 10 rolls of chicken wire and six cubic metres of
concrete. In addition to its abundance of real saltwater Crocodiles, Wyndham is
also famous for its Prawns, so we bought a kilo of green ones for $20 from a
trawler at the Port wharf.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBZ1hBqQi3sZhbUTwU0GH_CTNUtw5_M5CEeUf2dlqnIXFtmQ1KlcQS70HV2fnZVycyZaOXkzrqs75BK9CYO2RsglJaDRubd32a-rlduFuVVakR9eXWe_8G_t5WBA77EbvWnL9oTUb8Eg/s1600/P1040469.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBZ1hBqQi3sZhbUTwU0GH_CTNUtw5_M5CEeUf2dlqnIXFtmQ1KlcQS70HV2fnZVycyZaOXkzrqs75BK9CYO2RsglJaDRubd32a-rlduFuVVakR9eXWe_8G_t5WBA77EbvWnL9oTUb8Eg/s1600/P1040469.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>"Our" Prawn Trawler at Wharf</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Then we hauled the ‘Karavan’ up the 4km long, continually
rising steep road up to the “Five Rivers Lookout” in the Bastion Range, 330
mtrs above Wyndham, to view where the King, Ord, Durack, Forrest and Pentecost
Rivers join together and flow into the gulf.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpwZqVuydVVi90bONr0sYlne0YAtSJ-2NA-qW62ov4hznyMCsg_SzDIYfw7VwoGjGwHRcN1Ne9_e0_7aMXwTbIbkL8R3Ji9E730PLeOOZeA2QZifIFcFONITEejfelYsyWaPdCbgUzPw/s1600/P1040460.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpwZqVuydVVi90bONr0sYlne0YAtSJ-2NA-qW62ov4hznyMCsg_SzDIYfw7VwoGjGwHRcN1Ne9_e0_7aMXwTbIbkL8R3Ji9E730PLeOOZeA2QZifIFcFONITEejfelYsyWaPdCbgUzPw/s1600/P1040460.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>View from Five Rivers Lookout</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Wyndham Township was proclaimed in 1886 and the local
Cemetery, predating the 1890’s, reflects the arrival of Afghan Cameleers into
the Kimberley, and from there throughout central
Australia.
Many of the Afghan graves are very large, due to the custom of the lead camel
often being buried with its Master.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
By early afternoon we’re retracing our path back to the
turnoff of the Gibb River Road,
stopping enroute to check out ‘The Grotto’, a steep descent of 140 steps to a
cavernous ravine of water 300 feet deep. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTI2GoBcRo6UwIZ5nrhXkRK6KJiLFW4a-pZOr7v__uX39FWaPLZ_VowCuI6xRjacN7Kyo8sI1vRRpAXSGs8Z6jXFOx6CjvO6n2TiZbA6NMUrntD_ltIVG57soysib_0wlkCTiObYfNdw/s1600/P1040448.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTI2GoBcRo6UwIZ5nrhXkRK6KJiLFW4a-pZOr7v__uX39FWaPLZ_VowCuI6xRjacN7Kyo8sI1vRRpAXSGs8Z6jXFOx6CjvO6n2TiZbA6NMUrntD_ltIVG57soysib_0wlkCTiObYfNdw/s1600/P1040448.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Grotto from above</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
Upon reaching the Gibb
River Road we stopped to deflate all the tyres for
better gravel road performance. A little further along we forded the 100mtr, over-knee-deep
Pentecost River, the first of several watercourses along this 600+ km of
challenging dirt road and then shortly after, we enjoyed the broad vista of the
Cockburn Range from the roadside lookout<b>.</b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqHi_s3vB36Keb6JzaKBgiMlw0A7vhKATrRl06lUEAvUOVfb2rI1zXqOjtNRo_SWsQBnXTthT-hCYyGGvUau99aee23ZN1xC0eRDV8odXXOvxTxIHp5u3S8Q1ap5DbcfWjmdudoE79Fw/s1600/P1040512.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqHi_s3vB36Keb6JzaKBgiMlw0A7vhKATrRl06lUEAvUOVfb2rI1zXqOjtNRo_SWsQBnXTthT-hCYyGGvUau99aee23ZN1xC0eRDV8odXXOvxTxIHp5u3S8Q1ap5DbcfWjmdudoE79Fw/s1600/P1040512.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Great Scenery along the Gibb River Road</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6SyBrNqc6jXMnTU3318XrVULCWOE9k68SCuRQVu2BFaW8gtWNydbhzA3nzZTips3SOjPiKH-EbVIBaDeCDchVfR4x6EgeWr3uzdWnt4u7XWPbI0W87H-oyglnr46UzrcK2ZQ1QDAv4Q/s1600/P1040507.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6SyBrNqc6jXMnTU3318XrVULCWOE9k68SCuRQVu2BFaW8gtWNydbhzA3nzZTips3SOjPiKH-EbVIBaDeCDchVfR4x6EgeWr3uzdWnt4u7XWPbI0W87H-oyglnr46UzrcK2ZQ1QDAv4Q/s1600/P1040507.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Much Rougher than it Looks!</b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU59rw_Q6PyHf3P1safRIp37bWjTPrI-6RjkMi4a7t1sM6UkoDbdP1WBDFrkSbyz-dv0j9SBIAPHKyFN2gVgY0jJQb-2ZsGGubncBJY7jcRnga5Qd_1reW7E3sWpac9bCVbJwVZssW8g/s1600/P1040510.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU59rw_Q6PyHf3P1safRIp37bWjTPrI-6RjkMi4a7t1sM6UkoDbdP1WBDFrkSbyz-dv0j9SBIAPHKyFN2gVgY0jJQb-2ZsGGubncBJY7jcRnga5Qd_1reW7E3sWpac9bCVbJwVZssW8g/s1600/P1040510.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Cockburn Range</b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpbwePvT8r1z8nlhFr6Y0derjzu2DKB9j1giTnF-MsK2VI4hp3fXULY4wIYp3VbP3xrpbibVOJE3QqfRcv6TX0dF1Wnl1wYItLu3CKYjRp-CSj5CjLNvvzvCIwxl8oBYtP9jLF0xRQ2A/s1600/P1040528.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpbwePvT8r1z8nlhFr6Y0derjzu2DKB9j1giTnF-MsK2VI4hp3fXULY4wIYp3VbP3xrpbibVOJE3QqfRcv6TX0dF1Wnl1wYItLu3CKYjRp-CSj5CjLNvvzvCIwxl8oBYtP9jLF0xRQ2A/s1600/P1040528.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Pentecost River Crossing</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAWD0zEK5NKqi1ngNv-cvb9w1z6mW58WzofTmdJ_K76Q36OWzXVj-mR_3DQQfw6k55R_Ksi6inIt8WgDGjNVUkixSX_36yCsJvvmYUXWJUJNHwKrDM-OTKnsTgiLZ23n1VsvHnNNj7LA/s1600/P1040525.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAWD0zEK5NKqi1ngNv-cvb9w1z6mW58WzofTmdJ_K76Q36OWzXVj-mR_3DQQfw6k55R_Ksi6inIt8WgDGjNVUkixSX_36yCsJvvmYUXWJUJNHwKrDM-OTKnsTgiLZ23n1VsvHnNNj7LA/s1600/P1040525.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Fording the Pentecost</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The road was rough and dusty, with many stretches of bad
corrugations, and occasional other travellers creating dust clouds, so we were
very pleased to call it a day by 4pm. We found a sheltered roadside spot 20km
past the Pentecost, after a Dingo ‘played chicken’ scampering across the road,
the only wildlife (except birds) we’ve seen in weeks. We enjoyed a top cuisine
dinner tonight of (Wyndham) sauté Garlic Prawns. Yum Yum!!</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRo2KB4zUa5mIofecT9sZJilkpQgyzAnDVIWKLSExVm804rgN38odA_q_DUnizQqEYvajlclyIpKv1eItO0MtYZJaEqHaY_w4amBiDI-K-TqS39BMm9XVKhq_fI-tBWjO0zP15Wr0nZA/s1600/P1040541.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRo2KB4zUa5mIofecT9sZJilkpQgyzAnDVIWKLSExVm804rgN38odA_q_DUnizQqEYvajlclyIpKv1eItO0MtYZJaEqHaY_w4amBiDI-K-TqS39BMm9XVKhq_fI-tBWjO0zP15Wr0nZA/s1600/P1040541.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>1kg of Yum Yum!!!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Next morning, Sunday 15 June, day 71, finds us passing
through reasonably open forest grazing on a not too bad, corrugated, stony road
(but still limited by road conditions to 50/70 kph) which brings us to our
second riparian thrill, fording the Durack River, then brief respites of
bitumen as we pass over Gregories, then Rollies Jump-Ups, and ford a deep,
rocky, short creek on the 5km sidetrack into “Ellenbrae Station” Campground,
lured there by the seductive roadside signage of Devonshire Teas.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE9BLc1PcgSwo_tGINEBrUxngzMhhwjsvSbY7aTk8MwjQvAeUlTW6pjOrjTLoQQXzAtJni3OJTQSj_pum0TDTK5AznXBvCrkk1BqAVEk_-so-Ax2RYBjZ3z5ZJfHIlK9q32Lieo8etOA/s1600/P1040601.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE9BLc1PcgSwo_tGINEBrUxngzMhhwjsvSbY7aTk8MwjQvAeUlTW6pjOrjTLoQQXzAtJni3OJTQSj_pum0TDTK5AznXBvCrkk1BqAVEk_-so-Ax2RYBjZ3z5ZJfHIlK9q32Lieo8etOA/s1600/P1040601.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Many hidden rocks in 'Ellenbrae' creek</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8a2DILWVgcxjLps3tLja2TkcTHxb0iGvZlsOe6oVtUDDzzxVJm6nHc9uw6W8_tw1i5cvB7t_eTlc2NwT2wYrFcbg31HcVouJD1_Mz3buCZJ6wGA3Fu8WhZn178_d69y05aG4P9SIpXg/s1600/P1040591.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8a2DILWVgcxjLps3tLja2TkcTHxb0iGvZlsOe6oVtUDDzzxVJm6nHc9uw6W8_tw1i5cvB7t_eTlc2NwT2wYrFcbg31HcVouJD1_Mz3buCZJ6wGA3Fu8WhZn178_d69y05aG4P9SIpXg/s1600/P1040591.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Devonshire Tea with 'Ellenbrae' wild Finches</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The stony road-table improved after “Ellenbrae” to a much
kinder surface and soon we were on another bitumen strip that overran the low
twin ridges that constitute the Gibb
Range where, upon
cresting the latter, we experienced a most explosive tyre blowout on the
Karavan, white smoke billowing everywhere in the external view mirror.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s 1pm, we’ve stopped right on the hill crest and soon two
roadworks men come by and help to change the spare wheel and we’re soon back on
the move – but not for long!! About 17 seconds and 150 metres later white smoke
is again pouring off the same right van wheel and we hastily come to a stop in
the table-drain, at the bottom of the hill, fortuitously about 200 mtrs before
the end of the clean, dust free bitumen, which ‘address’ was to become our
‘home’ for the next 4 days and 3 nights! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji5W4FEITWkPhq4JoqBnppFE312tpp8Ywvy28aeM6n387zIyEpbulfLrRqPlNMG-3fThRONNUEJogu9muUMKv8XPZLjRHAHOOS6pInZUtrZKI469BVEbShjfOOgOnVvr8m7acc8WyRNg/s1600/P1040631.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji5W4FEITWkPhq4JoqBnppFE312tpp8Ywvy28aeM6n387zIyEpbulfLrRqPlNMG-3fThRONNUEJogu9muUMKv8XPZLjRHAHOOS6pInZUtrZKI469BVEbShjfOOgOnVvr8m7acc8WyRNg/s1600/P1040631.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Home 'Address' for four days</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We are 10km east of the Kalumburu turnoff, 340km from
Kununurra, 420km east of Derby with nearest civilization 110km west at the Mt
Bartlett Roadhouse. Thank goodness Audrey had the presence of mind to buy a
Satellite Phone so we phoned RACQ in Brisbane,
3331km away as the crow flies, and rescue plans commenced immediately.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They phoned back shortly to advise a Derby truck was in the
area and would come later that day, but it didn’t arrive ‘til 10am the
following morning, and after a couple of hours it was apparent to me the
semi-trailer was unsuitable for the job and that our Karavan would be surely
damaged by his improvised sling arrangement, so I declined his services and
asked RACQ to arrange an appropriate Tilt Tray Truck recovery, which they said
would take another day.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQfuEOwKukJ7v3dVqxDOiJQJUfx65HhvM48GOlbIK8GhIMorv03ckM3XmeDKAqZ_mf2f32GzUFGCuw3yfTPrTm6nxriiD4YAtuf0kDqpC8KqK7BzWXtguxLs7HDiTeW5VlKQ0UZ3bfwg/s1600/P1040644.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQfuEOwKukJ7v3dVqxDOiJQJUfx65HhvM48GOlbIK8GhIMorv03ckM3XmeDKAqZ_mf2f32GzUFGCuw3yfTPrTm6nxriiD4YAtuf0kDqpC8KqK7BzWXtguxLs7HDiTeW5VlKQ0UZ3bfwg/s1600/P1040644.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The first recovery attempt, unsuccessful</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Perhaps ten to fifteen vehicles passed each day and though
we waved down no one, only a very few stopped to enquire of our plight. Of
course, we had plenty of food and water and books and our I-Pads, but there was
nothing they could do to help. So there we stayed, 1½ metres from the bitumen
for our second night, though thankfully, no traffic at all uses the Gibb River Road
after dark. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsfehQL2vRxEBTPU5QzCIcdQjlpFoxuDSUVoPWUj6NKZBPEYdCvZnFgy778WavKQ0mx7ooWHkmvU0BlkHwnj5iYk9oHqQs0PAmVnZ_Kg_SdbPthWdlwkzc9YgdM_8nYiy87Pb3y-38Rg/s1600/P1040666.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsfehQL2vRxEBTPU5QzCIcdQjlpFoxuDSUVoPWUj6NKZBPEYdCvZnFgy778WavKQ0mx7ooWHkmvU0BlkHwnj5iYk9oHqQs0PAmVnZ_Kg_SdbPthWdlwkzc9YgdM_8nYiy87Pb3y-38Rg/s1600/P1040666.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Waiting, waiting, waiting!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tuesday 17, day 3 shines hot and sunny and after several
more Sat Phone calls each way we’re told we’ll be collected the following morning
by a ‘Motor Workz’ Tow Truck from Kununurra. So we spend our third day waiting
– waiting, and again sleeping beside the road. During the day I jack up and
remove the van wheel and discover the problem – the swing arm independent
suspension is totally cracked/broken on 3 sides, allowing the wheel to roll
inwards at the top, slicing the tyre completely around its inner wall.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ntduENpi9WSO9xmFhX4UU37STn9mIL5ZkASeJV5uAKuoFP6Qp7a8noIj95ShJAMZz3pW4vkrgvdKfEOLdBBIWKPZwZwMVU-GYGet-4YGWJ0UYigLLYVgOcMimTMSBU5dmfVC3XWqMA/s1600/P1040630.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ntduENpi9WSO9xmFhX4UU37STn9mIL5ZkASeJV5uAKuoFP6Qp7a8noIj95ShJAMZz3pW4vkrgvdKfEOLdBBIWKPZwZwMVU-GYGet-4YGWJ0UYigLLYVgOcMimTMSBU5dmfVC3XWqMA/s1600/P1040630.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Broken Suspension and rubbing tyre</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then, next morning, as if we haven’t suffered enough stress
and concern, our hearts sink as we watch a Motor Workz rescue truck go racing
past us outbound before we knew it and assumed he must not be ‘ours’. With no
other Motor Workz truck in sight, a few hours later as he came back, we waved
him down and he discovered that we were in fact ‘his job’ so, into the table
drain he unceremoniously dumped the camper he had wrongly picked up and hauled
us aboard. If we hadn’t stopped him we’d have spent another tedious day and
night beside the road!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_ihs2qLNg78emAY8T7iLkcmvg0AITmKGv2tRon6C4226kkTjaVInm6IK5biVCwTedmV9dN2e_k7cM3k5a64qgodD2mKMqDoYUzTwuD36GzShnsR4P1UGvqOopovRVc-C0Eg_uG0dPg/s1600/P1040676.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_ihs2qLNg78emAY8T7iLkcmvg0AITmKGv2tRon6C4226kkTjaVInm6IK5biVCwTedmV9dN2e_k7cM3k5a64qgodD2mKMqDoYUzTwuD36GzShnsR4P1UGvqOopovRVc-C0Eg_uG0dPg/s1600/P1040676.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Unceremoniously dumped Camper Trailer</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-GYVIE9tqnHA1VGHTTRZcy6NAaYQFxzM61DhCmMP3HtR75FFCVLnXnundJBib9dCW_Bwoh0UyVuS55FDWvc0JPcOofGmPEkfsMPIu79WmAUN4x0OPvQv6huGCX_mWFq26RoqlOX-x-A/s1600/P1040671.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-GYVIE9tqnHA1VGHTTRZcy6NAaYQFxzM61DhCmMP3HtR75FFCVLnXnundJBib9dCW_Bwoh0UyVuS55FDWvc0JPcOofGmPEkfsMPIu79WmAUN4x0OPvQv6huGCX_mWFq26RoqlOX-x-A/s1600/P1040671.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Recovery at last</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3XhCIJLA7nC8FKohaiFzpEdpimJO4m3ogWewQyK44n5zxyweNNDX5j4PimbnEfNjQFhMaHCSkUUu0FGhfBFmeCIebjS-mj3l5WIbdQ19zEVUMzT7KHnAaWQRZHOUhtT5I6rPMxequSg/s1600/P1040725.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3XhCIJLA7nC8FKohaiFzpEdpimJO4m3ogWewQyK44n5zxyweNNDX5j4PimbnEfNjQFhMaHCSkUUu0FGhfBFmeCIebjS-mj3l5WIbdQ19zEVUMzT7KHnAaWQRZHOUhtT5I6rPMxequSg/s1600/P1040725.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Damaged swing arm suspension</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The sad news arrived about an hour earlier, by Satellite Phone
that my twin brother John had passed away the previous afternoon, ending his
battle with Alzheimer’s. Once again our Sat Phone proved its worth.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We arrived back in Kununurra mid afternoon and took up
residence in a Villa unit in the Town Caravan Park,
and over the next two days, the sizable Argyle Engineering Company welded up
the suspension; a further two days later on 22 June I was able catch a flight
to Brisbane via Perth, returning to our Cannon Hill house.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A few very busy days followed as brother Grahame and I made
arrangements for John’s cremation and Memorial Service, a most comforting and
memorable event that took place on Friday 27 June, attended by so many of his
friends and relatives.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisAZxnkmS5_aVG2ziR2Q7_ixN66gZH0DY9wTN8En1_UFBhFJZwdhuG29hyphenhyphendt-tuEO1-m6qRyae1ZqwsoHK0SABI88tlApqwVjlAY0UC1MyauyV16xatqN6lC82wL_juTYCxDgEJN_75Q/s1600/JNV+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisAZxnkmS5_aVG2ziR2Q7_ixN66gZH0DY9wTN8En1_UFBhFJZwdhuG29hyphenhyphendt-tuEO1-m6qRyae1ZqwsoHK0SABI88tlApqwVjlAY0UC1MyauyV16xatqN6lC82wL_juTYCxDgEJN_75Q/s1600/JNV+(1).jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Vale John Newton Vidgen - 1944-2014</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyiIIZjN1iPweUJVe2NAR0G7HRlxqy4vhTXDi8wOZGbW458toBuEkAVN-lzEnmcP_2W3HhAFATQii0MGvkbFyVm4dOqDeZuTRI8HrW0BLuglOnIs2XHG3JlVRZFTV5LnyMXAUGhafxOg/s1600/JNV+(47).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyiIIZjN1iPweUJVe2NAR0G7HRlxqy4vhTXDi8wOZGbW458toBuEkAVN-lzEnmcP_2W3HhAFATQii0MGvkbFyVm4dOqDeZuTRI8HrW0BLuglOnIs2XHG3JlVRZFTV5LnyMXAUGhafxOg/s1600/JNV+(47).jpg" height="278" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Remembering the good times</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sunday 29 June saw me fly back to Kununurra via Broome
direct, and we plan to depart Kununurra again in a couple of days to recommence
our adventure down the challenging Gibb
River Road. Let us hope we can give you a better story
in our next KKK Report. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Love and best wishes</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Bruce and Audrey.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kununurra</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
30 June 2014 </div>
Yacht Envyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296367569566410867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5422585594160201132.post-1306683730225006532014-06-13T13:44:00.000+08:002014-06-13T13:44:00.983+08:00KKK No 6 Alice Springs - Katherine - Kununurra<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 24.0pt;">“K K K”</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">K</b>imberley
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">K</b>aravan <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">K</b>apers’ - Bruce and Audrey)</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">No: 6 <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Alice Springs</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;"> - Katherine -
Kununurra</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Thursday 29 May 2014: Day
54. Alice Springs: We’re up early again in the dark to get packed for departure but decide to (finally)
visit the Araluen Cultural Precinct, the premier cultural experience in Alice Springs. An initiative of the NT government,
Araluen comprises an Arts Centre, the Museum of central Australia, an Aviation Museum
and Craft Displays.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWJCH0-z14tEXHdGgKPAtiZj7DA8bRElwObtq0QAHbZL_CvNR1gLrskxbxaLJnYdm3xHNsDQeOIfaKiBstimMUAHo5V-AaleCKygnKKUa3sqP-p87pAIQ-64HFXHgpjcgRmsHaZyc7JA/s1600/P1030683.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWJCH0-z14tEXHdGgKPAtiZj7DA8bRElwObtq0QAHbZL_CvNR1gLrskxbxaLJnYdm3xHNsDQeOIfaKiBstimMUAHo5V-AaleCKygnKKUa3sqP-p87pAIQ-64HFXHgpjcgRmsHaZyc7JA/s1600/P1030683.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Araluen Community Centre</span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHrBH7L3mRzWfjvZnVe-I76QOnIf7qn0Px_Nb-aS3Q30ZhxCMY7ctlofTNL70NFTL8szIMsUZaefLXRyg5N7-iTKyXwM2rfFBnK0MJBci_iyJq3RddldqkpyTdni3fWt-HE9Aa3-q-iQ/s1600/P1030684.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHrBH7L3mRzWfjvZnVe-I76QOnIf7qn0Px_Nb-aS3Q30ZhxCMY7ctlofTNL70NFTL8szIMsUZaefLXRyg5N7-iTKyXwM2rfFBnK0MJBci_iyJq3RddldqkpyTdni3fWt-HE9Aa3-q-iQ/s1600/P1030684.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">We did last minute shopping
then called on one of Bruce’s previous work colleagues, Jock McPherson ex
Primac, Roma, who set up his own successful rural agency business here, ‘Territory
Rural McPherson’, several years ago. His clientele are scattered in a radius
stretching many hundreds of kilometres out from AS. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">It’s 3pm when the ‘KKK’
combo depart, leaving ‘Alice’ as a diminishing spec in the rear view mirror,
heading northward up the Stuart Highway, and an hour later we pull in to our
previously visited abandoned roadworks gravel pit 2km up the Plenty Highway - a
restful night assured, though a few spots of rain awoke us around 4am. Heavy
noisy spots, but only very few. </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVr_j4dC11J3jyua-CVdcbc6RvgRI5CM9Lrfg9CVdTdho_-gZEm25Vl4dFsuGJS7WJnDYIYS9IRHEOmy_TksXot7n_97JrCxnsmWUA2iJvLx_iHLGVZnJWxi3HCoxFXPkyVAdp5G-36A/s1600/P1030829.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVr_j4dC11J3jyua-CVdcbc6RvgRI5CM9Lrfg9CVdTdho_-gZEm25Vl4dFsuGJS7WJnDYIYS9IRHEOmy_TksXot7n_97JrCxnsmWUA2iJvLx_iHLGVZnJWxi3HCoxFXPkyVAdp5G-36A/s1600/P1030829.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Hitchhiker!!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span>Back out to the main highway
by 8.30 next morning and drove north on the Stuart thru mile after mile of
monotonous Mulga scrublands until we reached <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Aileron Roadhouse</b>, where we inspected aboriginal paintings in the
local Art Shop, ‘cheap and touristy art’.<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF65Mmv8QTcpcXdE-jRhcKYUpWqe9WlKsl3AgRUDB0pCcfjh1oNqYm_bO8asIpN4Qt-VWX5VMu_cN_uYiIw_vZHugeAhFSfZOU2JrVB6ilC-okttoT-ZugSLSYryEQLqyxhbstxRD4bQ/s1600/P1030701.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF65Mmv8QTcpcXdE-jRhcKYUpWqe9WlKsl3AgRUDB0pCcfjh1oNqYm_bO8asIpN4Qt-VWX5VMu_cN_uYiIw_vZHugeAhFSfZOU2JrVB6ilC-okttoT-ZugSLSYryEQLqyxhbstxRD4bQ/s1600/P1030701.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Aileron Roadhouse</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Then on another 59km to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ti Tree Roadhouse</b> where we stopped for
smoko, and continued on thru more stunted flat Spinifex scrublands, fading to distant
hills, until we arrived at <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Barrow Creek</b>
with its restored Overland Telegraph Station, which we pulled in to inspect.
The Overland Telegraph Line with its series of Morse code repeater stations was
completed in 1872, spanning 3600km from Adelaide
to Darwin, and was Australia’s
first telegraphic link to Britain.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Another 92km and we passed through
tiny <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Wycliffe Well </b>with its UFO
Centre, the background of which we didn’t stop to discover, then a further 17
klicks bought us to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Wauchope</b>,
another whistlestop roadhouse. About 10km north of here is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">‘The Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve’</b>, an 1,800ha area of gigantic
rounded granite boulders of immense spiritual value to the 4 traditional local
aboriginal tribes, and discovered when surveying the overland telegraph line in
the 1860’s. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpsG6Ubj2F_hiTPNtegazxKXwNCOrrvcUCooOsW-T5u3NPsWpXUtDG5XLOw9VmOh62jIda_nm4NTZ3xmrtoDYNPor1urAt5YypnXqgV8b6ijNtZ-9utUqgSliip6DjT_lnzpgngrDqow/s1600/P1030750.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpsG6Ubj2F_hiTPNtegazxKXwNCOrrvcUCooOsW-T5u3NPsWpXUtDG5XLOw9VmOh62jIda_nm4NTZ3xmrtoDYNPor1urAt5YypnXqgV8b6ijNtZ-9utUqgSliip6DjT_lnzpgngrDqow/s1600/P1030750.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></b></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Devil's Marbles </b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcROgR9ba2L1e4qY22mRUu5SIVyzyASRJFMvw7XNbekST5dy0gOGh6gaJ4J98DNWVIWrJyL4VjCWyzppLv56YLzWkLscrU_wEJTn5bkSBxOKMQVLuAnKLLy1iowcCF3FNgCb_1PLBRzw/s1600/P1030787.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcROgR9ba2L1e4qY22mRUu5SIVyzyASRJFMvw7XNbekST5dy0gOGh6gaJ4J98DNWVIWrJyL4VjCWyzppLv56YLzWkLscrU_wEJTn5bkSBxOKMQVLuAnKLLy1iowcCF3FNgCb_1PLBRzw/s1600/P1030787.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">It’s a popular camping spot,
as attested by the 35/40 campers already there, and we joined them for the
night, after walking around photographing the sights.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The discovery<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>of gold by a O/T linesman in 1925
quickly led to the establishment of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Tennant
Creek, </b>(pop 3000)<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>which was the
morning’s destination, a regional town a further 105 km up the Stuart, famous for
its old Gold Mine just out of town, which we visited, with its now closed Battery,
though gold is said to still exist. We patronised the local Supermarket and
Butcher and were rewarded with the best beef sausages ever!! </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGRdV0y5ME0vfcdlGr4KmfrsYWVwRWjszuT6_MWFKk8DfGeOT1JKUFUN6Fogt9s4kVVNRxsYH7JStMJdIAkOV0ZjR5ub33DU-PqjF2x9twIjy-67SUwsWYg4nENEFf-07sZsE_3tLfRA/s1600/P1030835.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGRdV0y5ME0vfcdlGr4KmfrsYWVwRWjszuT6_MWFKk8DfGeOT1JKUFUN6Fogt9s4kVVNRxsYH7JStMJdIAkOV0ZjR5ub33DU-PqjF2x9twIjy-67SUwsWYg4nENEFf-07sZsE_3tLfRA/s1600/P1030835.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Aboriginal Art Tennant Creel</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Just north of town we
stopped to take a look at the old Tennant Creek Overland Telegraph Station,
again well restored, before heading 12km west up a dirt track to make overnight
camp at another sacred aboriginal site, ‘Kunjarra’, also known as <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">‘The Pebbles’</b>. A quite scenic area of
eroded granite spheres, though smaller than the Devils Marbles. Like most NT
Nat Parks it offers no water or power, only compositing Toilets. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-VqfNvWCZxcQ4MHMzB6oRT4tzPf1qh2u8VOd6sFzyuP8J4oIWDOqVHjztsGzNSfkfP7QEH47nVUn7mi8RImodfwGzFLKr3PsabTfT2d5pYXx3hgi2_shJsRvbgHg9ENYjOtONTPv4Vg/s1600/P1030841a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-VqfNvWCZxcQ4MHMzB6oRT4tzPf1qh2u8VOd6sFzyuP8J4oIWDOqVHjztsGzNSfkfP7QEH47nVUn7mi8RImodfwGzFLKr3PsabTfT2d5pYXx3hgi2_shJsRvbgHg9ENYjOtONTPv4Vg/s1600/P1030841a.jpg" height="204" width="640" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">From
midnight on, on 1<sup>st</sup> June, a very fresh breeze sprang up the
south-east, (which continued on for many days), quite gusty at times, causing
some concern regards our flapping sun awning, so I got up and checked it, which
bought back memories of windy nights on ‘Envy’ when I had to get out of bed to
check the anchor at 3am in the morning. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Following
our Sunday ‘religion’ of an eggs and bacon breakfast, we left ‘The Pebbles’,
soon passing the well known ‘Threeways Roadhouse’ where the Barkly Hwy to Mt
Isa joins the Stuart, continuing on a further 105km to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“Banka Banka Station”</b> campground, passing through much more
interesting grazing lands along the highway, a mix of moderately timbered open
forest, well grassed stony ridges and Mitchell grass Downs, well capable of
fattening cattle in this good season. Livestock look good everywhere.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Banka Banka”</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> was an important camp for both Aussie and American
soldiers building the Stuart
Highway during WW2. Owned by the American Nelson
Bunker Hunt for some years, it then became part of the huge AMP owned Stanbroke
Pastoral Co, and has since changed hands to indigenous ownership. </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1jVCgSec4GFSI_x849ab-FKO8I6VU-IvLU-zIpss9XidZ9pHOMse_Nef1KpexorifXJp-rSgMvBKwMLjjvfesmRObPrMy4xEl67VUA8IlUN5rVaBF-tmzVl-3LAkWhaMx8t2_YRT1UA/s1600/P1030895.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1jVCgSec4GFSI_x849ab-FKO8I6VU-IvLU-zIpss9XidZ9pHOMse_Nef1KpexorifXJp-rSgMvBKwMLjjvfesmRObPrMy4xEl67VUA8IlUN5rVaBF-tmzVl-3LAkWhaMx8t2_YRT1UA/s1600/P1030895.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Banka Banka Station</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Apart
from its nice green grassy campground, the original homestead built by the
Ambrose brothers, of mud bricks and bush timber in the 1920’s remains,
magnificently restored by Stanbroke in 2002, under the direction of John Cox (a
fellow BBC school-boy), during his time as CEO.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Just
the one night there and next morning, 2 June, day 58, bright, sunny and windy, we’re
on the move north again, passing through ‘Helen Springs Station’, part of the famous
Kidman pastoral empire when, in his heyday (1920/30’s) Sir Sidney Kidman was
the biggest private land owner in the world, with massive pastoral holdings,
mostly all situated in the arid or semi-arid areas of central Australia.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Elliott</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> is a tiny town, albeit the second largest town of
the Barkly Tableland, 155km from ‘Banka’, and an
important host to the great droving legends along the Barkly Stock Route over 100 years ago. We
filled up with petrol here before driving a very rough dirt track12km out of
town to our next campsite, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“Longreach
Waterhole”,</b> a picturesque 200 metre wide stretch of water covering a few kilometres
along Newcastle Creek, and currently home to perhaps 150/200 Pelicans, with
obviously sufficient fish stocks to sustain them. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiT1IRMIZUltCbM2zjCddd5GSj9a7rRKW4ygLP0i_tH3mdwrR2eVjGuzIX9enxHt5GOu3jjj_6NYnufTXcpbdEe2Mip9KRP4WzD8fcNX9JkrIFPjgfPxChpkF34jNaxYTBj90mNyURcg/s1600/P1030936.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiT1IRMIZUltCbM2zjCddd5GSj9a7rRKW4ygLP0i_tH3mdwrR2eVjGuzIX9enxHt5GOu3jjj_6NYnufTXcpbdEe2Mip9KRP4WzD8fcNX9JkrIFPjgfPxChpkF34jNaxYTBj90mNyURcg/s1600/P1030936.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo7sCDSa4BE0VoCF_ovteaaIwJa5HThWK4IURow7OZ3NpJQl0gYEaA6Vb9YebuzHlWINay7BBW1C47EUBgTV2sZnQ62H8zg-odfhBmwB0Xxuu9QQ8wNXqaCvK1nfNuXP_hfM9IzKBL6g/s1600/P1030941.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo7sCDSa4BE0VoCF_ovteaaIwJa5HThWK4IURow7OZ3NpJQl0gYEaA6Vb9YebuzHlWINay7BBW1C47EUBgTV2sZnQ62H8zg-odfhBmwB0Xxuu9QQ8wNXqaCvK1nfNuXP_hfM9IzKBL6g/s1600/P1030941.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We
set up camp just a few metres from the shady water’s edge, with wading birds in
an anabranch behind us, together with about a dozen or so others campers spread
over half a kilometre of foreshore, under still very windy skies. The Pelicans
provided much interest as they went about their never ending feeding routine most
of the day, a very graceful performance I’d not seen before. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhf6-1hZOQA1vey5wj9cnNycbbsh6dSNKmnKpLPEBPShvk2HpIb9QEfqlkJoSBhLISmODyBDFvxm9QJkrbtaxDVMlK8SQaK_661fp7mmggxJvQ_iSsrr3DfemK_dFfu8G4hSlhWqoz0g/s1600/P1030918.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhf6-1hZOQA1vey5wj9cnNycbbsh6dSNKmnKpLPEBPShvk2HpIb9QEfqlkJoSBhLISmODyBDFvxm9QJkrbtaxDVMlK8SQaK_661fp7mmggxJvQ_iSsrr3DfemK_dFfu8G4hSlhWqoz0g/s1600/P1030918.JPG" height="300" width="400" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSIMXtZLd-Z-bwsnlW6ShMAHupkjn5e4qlYbF1VIID5cViHIW35TIprf5_E1DQEUuu1H78NLiKjRXMDsvLafTW33yNoIf5o3r9t-TPqCgkpcT4sbxjb-O7uksnlPq_FAgC5LHvf-Oc5Q/s1600/P1030973.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSIMXtZLd-Z-bwsnlW6ShMAHupkjn5e4qlYbF1VIID5cViHIW35TIprf5_E1DQEUuu1H78NLiKjRXMDsvLafTW33yNoIf5o3r9t-TPqCgkpcT4sbxjb-O7uksnlPq_FAgC5LHvf-Oc5Q/s1600/P1030973.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The
Pelicans worked in groups of 10 to 20 paddling as a bunch then, like well
trained water ballerinas, they form a circle and, simultaneously, raise their
wings and tails upwards as they plunge their long necks and beaks underwater for
a period before resuming their normal position with raised beaks to swallow
their catch. A performance as well choreographed as the Bolshoi Ballet! Gracefully
amazing.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSOfbRT-1WmDUIbs-VYRXvRArsdihVltTNbuRUZTxhiU4oraosYwQfX2Fhov4iM_hIAvczOTTX-KS5L2LEmBlThoEaEGRsMl7n_D0wklq6bRZ2i_8tz1JqaYwPxyKJjF0n_8idojNVpg/s1600/P1030913.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSOfbRT-1WmDUIbs-VYRXvRArsdihVltTNbuRUZTxhiU4oraosYwQfX2Fhov4iM_hIAvczOTTX-KS5L2LEmBlThoEaEGRsMl7n_D0wklq6bRZ2i_8tz1JqaYwPxyKJjF0n_8idojNVpg/s1600/P1030913.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1NKk0B1kh3AhDm4fIO58PoKGf2p3u9KjjurzneB1Ol5CRjNIoQbjZN0BaVfAdFCk-bQ88SImNLq2Zj7EEoCejIe8BZL2fekIa-cWUMSJFcewo1kS_VHHjB0EhyVy3yvPircfjjpwoJw/s1600/P1030912.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1NKk0B1kh3AhDm4fIO58PoKGf2p3u9KjjurzneB1Ol5CRjNIoQbjZN0BaVfAdFCk-bQ88SImNLq2Zj7EEoCejIe8BZL2fekIa-cWUMSJFcewo1kS_VHHjB0EhyVy3yvPircfjjpwoJw/s1600/P1030912.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">After
three days of peaceful R&R we depart Longreach Waterhole at 8am June 5<sup>th</sup>
and continue 25km up the Stuart Hwy to visit the remnants of old <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Newcastle</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Waters</b> town, surrounded by the 10,353 sq km cattle station of the
same name, another of the famous “old name stations” of the Northern Territory,
now held by Consolidated Grazing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">A
highway hoarding farther on boasted the famous meat pies of Dunmarra Roadhouse
somewhere up ahead, so after a period of indulgent gastronomical anticipation, we
finally arrived only to discover there were no “world’s best” pies left, so we
left <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Dunmarra</b> in a mood between
sulking and sorrow. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Another
50km brings us to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Daly Waters</b> with
its famous old Pub that we’ve been hearing wonderful stories about since first
arriving in the Territory, with its ‘Beef and Barramundi’ BBQ Dinners a “must
do”, and by midday Campers and Vans were streaming into the Pub’s campground,
parked cheek to jowl.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMA6tSG8_0JdnhdJbBVpS0y1akLu8UuIOYY1XCSW7eZSW0APemEFHQKzJZ5zuwuYB1OAr5xDdQjuQeV-qBmOp9k3YfA3rJ0UTcyXFzvCu0Qo5ELKHPUtHm2MjkP5dwjZ0PvhRl5bHB2w/s1600/P1040026.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMA6tSG8_0JdnhdJbBVpS0y1akLu8UuIOYY1XCSW7eZSW0APemEFHQKzJZ5zuwuYB1OAr5xDdQjuQeV-qBmOp9k3YfA3rJ0UTcyXFzvCu0Qo5ELKHPUtHm2MjkP5dwjZ0PvhRl5bHB2w/s1600/P1040026.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Daly Waters Pub Campground</b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJQQNx7sU85u-x9kQrnRvArkhQIoKjOr0fMHtZamUGaKYkyh7b5Nso208RIS0P0_5Z43ZvVj6PyUQ9bYy_aBPtUk7v7VfZipVMi3T0DsbHp0sv1vk5QIjZVREmlH2UY4Cw767eUVZbPg/s1600/P1040028.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJQQNx7sU85u-x9kQrnRvArkhQIoKjOr0fMHtZamUGaKYkyh7b5Nso208RIS0P0_5Z43ZvVj6PyUQ9bYy_aBPtUk7v7VfZipVMi3T0DsbHp0sv1vk5QIjZVREmlH2UY4Cw767eUVZbPg/s1600/P1040028.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></b></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Ready for the 'Beef n Barra' Dinner</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The
Daly Waters Pub runs a one-man nightly dinner-show, a performance by “Chilli” of
‘outback song and bawdy humour’ and we fortuitously arrived at the right time
for a special treat. An Aussie film crew were shooting a movie “Last Cab to
Darwin”, live, and we were all ‘extras’ in this un-staged performance, which
we’ll look forward to seeing in Cinema perhaps later this year! A great night
of food and fun and laughter – the stuff memories are made of. </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmPV8V0wes0lSFxOoU2fZXJMqDhpd3bB2_3dgrCLm33jl7gK3Mvx5aDC-AYiU_A6aU5ZAZJ0Axp-NtHptt2L1cqvMwyYUNq5nLyG5F0qx5jGKg0KH7kGrp9UvsuB-Id0oN8p3wiOXnaQ/s1600/P1040029.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmPV8V0wes0lSFxOoU2fZXJMqDhpd3bB2_3dgrCLm33jl7gK3Mvx5aDC-AYiU_A6aU5ZAZJ0Axp-NtHptt2L1cqvMwyYUNq5nLyG5F0qx5jGKg0KH7kGrp9UvsuB-Id0oN8p3wiOXnaQ/s1600/P1040029.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>'Extras' Ready for the Floor Show</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6KpT03k_2Pv3kYf1zNDZLGSypwgkLJXEe4iLI7PJxe2gac0JEV0xRdKsDWWYZrZXkbXrsdcfqktXyL9ntLjNwy3hgd40fGqJsJfj5vh93bcbwWGG-kvgLLJt1qPZv1FYWhHIiuKtl_A/s1600/P1040034.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6KpT03k_2Pv3kYf1zNDZLGSypwgkLJXEe4iLI7PJxe2gac0JEV0xRdKsDWWYZrZXkbXrsdcfqktXyL9ntLjNwy3hgd40fGqJsJfj5vh93bcbwWGG-kvgLLJt1qPZv1FYWhHIiuKtl_A/s1600/P1040034.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Film Crew Working</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Both
days and nights continue very windy from the SE, but the weather’s still warm
when we depart next morning, ever northward, destination Katherine. The
countryside is loosing its semi-arid ‘red centre’ scrublands appearance as we
cruise at our usual 85/90 kph through open forest grasslands, but still the
ubiquitous red anthills, many of them cleverly dressed, by scallywag
travellers, with T shirts, skirts, knickers, bras and hats.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJJXEMYwIt6PaVnMzCsSPcTPxn0HRerkKDbZ9n-BHCryJgoyONdzORcfq_GUOJHXUkUwfaByOyE9wqVQQVS8BxpFWh8XBNKfMZKORSbfkxK1OocagVgn-EShfyZ3spMEp7iKahA6mb-w/s1600/P1030824.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJJXEMYwIt6PaVnMzCsSPcTPxn0HRerkKDbZ9n-BHCryJgoyONdzORcfq_GUOJHXUkUwfaByOyE9wqVQQVS8BxpFWh8XBNKfMZKORSbfkxK1OocagVgn-EShfyZ3spMEp7iKahA6mb-w/s1600/P1030824.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Anthill Models</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We
drove into <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Larrimah</b>, just another
whistlestop of perhaps 10 buildings whose only tourism feature is its Pink Panther
Hotel & C’van Park with most everything painted Pink.
How it survives I know not, a dot on the road map living its past glory as an
important WW2 army staging dump.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu6mItzcMt9XVL3N0GukbAjMBkghkZX4AlmRvp1K4rD1ctOoL5xakPXK0eT6hhQ74r1CchKKPnqeTo8UoSE2zEejbVGzrw8kYaGvebBxbmJvSd5ceFzUCWAviT6qHIB_GhGYUR8SeDyA/s1600/P1040039.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu6mItzcMt9XVL3N0GukbAjMBkghkZX4AlmRvp1K4rD1ctOoL5xakPXK0eT6hhQ74r1CchKKPnqeTo8UoSE2zEejbVGzrw8kYaGvebBxbmJvSd5ceFzUCWAviT6qHIB_GhGYUR8SeDyA/s1600/P1040039.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></b></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Larrimah's Pink Panther</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Just
out of Larrimah we stopped at “Fran’s Teahouse”, lured by several others
already there, and her signage of ‘homemade’ cakes and pies. ‘Old’ Fran came
and sat with us in a quiet moment, told us she’s been baking her roadside
treats for over 30 years, and inquired as to my enjoyment of the Buffalo meat pie I’d just
eaten. Actually, quite tasty!!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">About
an hour later we were at <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mataranka </b>where
we stopped for a picnic lunch at <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bitter
Springs</b>, one of several natural springs which this area is noted for. The
pure spring water flows underground for hundreds of kilometres from the Barkly
Tablelands before emerging here, clear as crystal, and so swimmingly inviting.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN1LVQI7WhjhjY9ZfeZfYk9lFdJRLtrXaPuRS1YjmDsU9JaJo47Jfhbdpoxx5V83rDYZxFx30Xji6cXhEaQck9is3XXT0AzCl8W4-TJ2Cbqqdgg9fbSE-qY6xCQNvVI9ySmDAF1YBKAA/s1600/P1040058.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN1LVQI7WhjhjY9ZfeZfYk9lFdJRLtrXaPuRS1YjmDsU9JaJo47Jfhbdpoxx5V83rDYZxFx30Xji6cXhEaQck9is3XXT0AzCl8W4-TJ2Cbqqdgg9fbSE-qY6xCQNvVI9ySmDAF1YBKAA/s1600/P1040058.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Bitter Springs Crystal Clear Waters</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> A
further 110 km into <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Katherine;</b> quite
a sizable regional centre of 8000+ with a large aboriginal presence. All four expected
articles were awaiting our collection at the Post Office but the only Honda repair
shop was too busy to service our sick Honda 240v generator - a major priority -
so with a long holiday weekend looming <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>we elected to forgo Katherine’s tourism
offerings and headed off for the NT/WA border.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Being
by now late afternoon, we pulled into the derelict WW2 <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Manbulloo Airstrip</b> beside the main Victoria Hwy 18km west of Katherine for
the night. A long airstrip for heavy Liberator Bombers, the strip remains quite
intact notwithstanding its long abandonment since 1944. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">A
recent bushfire had left the area black and dirty, so we parked on the concrete
floor of the long gone 72 year old Officers’ Mess building which, following a
little house-keeping, proved to be most acceptable overnight spot amongst these
historic ruins. A quiet and peaceful night under a canopy of bright blazing
stars. Ah, the joys of bush camping.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1XESXUpEDIEbTS36D3e5TkZL6Mfnx7l6BRDF7soKMM-wkzqPeoX6-ASifoPzzehOfTM_yas5xc4pbUAe838hHc7_a28Y9goWmyRwHsEY6_hqqF_OVr23R-SSaywCKOokW4emzhdhpuA/s1600/P1040073.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1XESXUpEDIEbTS36D3e5TkZL6Mfnx7l6BRDF7soKMM-wkzqPeoX6-ASifoPzzehOfTM_yas5xc4pbUAe838hHc7_a28Y9goWmyRwHsEY6_hqqF_OVr23R-SSaywCKOokW4emzhdhpuA/s1600/P1040073.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">WW2
Manbulloo Airstrip Ruins</span></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> </span></b><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]--></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizb_w3crV9upUkCVVV5HssxxFl4ArQZg7iGudwHWgFDU81TIryiPXxtd0ZgNlhQq8EKT-iD8nkUg-mwDyInieTudOX-PN9E7qdju6X4luSrnOyWeJCDceDxIP88g2knWsmO22ZxwGhKg/s1600/P1040158.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizb_w3crV9upUkCVVV5HssxxFl4ArQZg7iGudwHWgFDU81TIryiPXxtd0ZgNlhQq8EKT-iD8nkUg-mwDyInieTudOX-PN9E7qdju6X4luSrnOyWeJCDceDxIP88g2knWsmO22ZxwGhKg/s1600/P1040158.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>East Baines River</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We’ve
noticed that huge tracts of the Northern
Territory, all the way back from Renner Springs
northwards, have been controlled burnt, which we understand is an annual
occurrence here. Also of note is that there have been very few bush flies
through this same area, and we’ve seen almost no wildlife, or road kill,
anywhere in the Territory.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXlJCsj12gunZhZ1RRiPIdTcgOh-MPgJjPTChsvtWjOsE3AeP14Fk4KEjSUyJjSKsoA2Wb2_ZDARkeBJAQqkcx8TNxfAxi6EIxEkfJwFyZRcpLpD1BDqx9GzB_Qe3RWsIpRG-vxzyIGw/s1600/P1040153.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXlJCsj12gunZhZ1RRiPIdTcgOh-MPgJjPTChsvtWjOsE3AeP14Fk4KEjSUyJjSKsoA2Wb2_ZDARkeBJAQqkcx8TNxfAxi6EIxEkfJwFyZRcpLpD1BDqx9GzB_Qe3RWsIpRG-vxzyIGw/s1600/P1040153.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Keeping an Eye on us!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> The
265km drive west of Manbulloo Airstrip to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Timber
Springs</b> is a long drive with no towns and few points of interest, the main
one being the significant Victoria River which drains much of this area and in
whose upper reaches is located the iconic “VRD”, the ‘Victoria River Downs’
Cattle Station, a household name in the NT grazing fraternity. Lower downstream
the highway crosses the Victoria
River, on whose southern
bank is the popular fuel stop Roadhouse that bears the same name. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj511uF7BQH7qX3f9YLq403TP1XTMO_bINGnS6Va7FmzRzBKh94QMbIFil1eILHENLoS0Hg1GVG6Nm-8_UF4cRuLkC-vmS1zgVsV6OIe1Hnfwz-XjZBhyphenhyphenIR1SiiopknIPpyMF7P_VWOyg/s1600/P1040104.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj511uF7BQH7qX3f9YLq403TP1XTMO_bINGnS6Va7FmzRzBKh94QMbIFil1eILHENLoS0Hg1GVG6Nm-8_UF4cRuLkC-vmS1zgVsV6OIe1Hnfwz-XjZBhyphenhyphenIR1SiiopknIPpyMF7P_VWOyg/s1600/P1040104.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Victoria River</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Much
of the country dissected by the highway is open Savannah grasslands, presently enjoying
a good season, as reflected again in the condition of the many herds of
excellent quality Brahman cross cattle, with fat cows suckling big sappy
calves.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQF5rA3VsfjPEuUiqbtv-rRZtmNolSYCoU6NsgDld_rUTMQBG90XuStBH2690ZAnSuWkgb5EJtZo56tera085n8gl26nG__0oN_nN7tNa6BnmXP9zKoIuPNOW1rw3J1mo6fFUvU8MNA/s1600/P1040080.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQF5rA3VsfjPEuUiqbtv-rRZtmNolSYCoU6NsgDld_rUTMQBG90XuStBH2690ZAnSuWkgb5EJtZo56tera085n8gl26nG__0oN_nN7tNa6BnmXP9zKoIuPNOW1rw3J1mo6fFUvU8MNA/s1600/P1040080.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Quality Braham Cattle</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">After
the Victoria River we passed through more red stony
country with numerous flat topped eroded jump-ups and on through mostly aboriginal
owned land, as is about 70% of the entire NT.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Topped
up with fuel at the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Timber Springs</b>
Roadhouse then continued on 9km to the Big Horse Campground on the banks of the
crocodile infested Victoria
River, where we booked in
for two nights, luckily getting the last available site in this small NT Nat
Park. The adjacent boat ramp was popular with local fisherman going Barramundi
fishing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ7KInf5WM5ajscq-0xojDJKAjW_avsA_lK42vtAzp36INycu5lsJJ8cyBd1fX7m3VkkCGqPb0Rmo3BwyWasf8QN1ScFp3duJOn8-jsOsfN-IKyNk1zvJCRWgd3We2M-r8EPuA21DuZA/s1600/P1040121.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ7KInf5WM5ajscq-0xojDJKAjW_avsA_lK42vtAzp36INycu5lsJJ8cyBd1fX7m3VkkCGqPb0Rmo3BwyWasf8QN1ScFp3duJOn8-jsOsfN-IKyNk1zvJCRWgd3We2M-r8EPuA21DuZA/s1600/P1040121.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Big Horse Campground</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The
following morning we enjoyed the sights from nearby Mountain Lookout offering
panoramic views over Timber Springs village, the Victoria
River and southwards over the rolling
hills of Gregory National Park. </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0xToozSSBHzTouCDrDQw6vp1WQdJln-CDNQrglQveVW3BYMXm93BAnhWaFkKV6M1KQeh3zXwplU1DMW4b9y80Fc-ipskH2l3ejwBVRJPOBVyYehb1DvuUEhyjidvOjcVBdSyAaFe8GA/s1600/P1040147.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0xToozSSBHzTouCDrDQw6vp1WQdJln-CDNQrglQveVW3BYMXm93BAnhWaFkKV6M1KQeh3zXwplU1DMW4b9y80Fc-ipskH2l3ejwBVRJPOBVyYehb1DvuUEhyjidvOjcVBdSyAaFe8GA/s1600/P1040147.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Victoria River from Mountain Lookout</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Western Australia</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> enforces stringent Quarantine Control measures over
fresh fruit and vegetables so Audrey spent time here making up a huge Stew to
use up our supply of these, and by now our anticipation of WA adventures was
paramount.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">So
next morning, we drove the last 150km of the Northern Territory, through open
forest grazing country, had a trouble-free border crossing and arrived at the
Kununurra Showgrounds Campground late morning, setting our clocks back 1 ½
hours to WA time. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Kununurra </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Township was ‘born’ just 50 years ago, being the
service centre for the newly developing Ord River Irrigation Scheme in 1963,
has a population of around 7500, and is a well equipped modern town.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Australia’s
largest artificial lake was created in 1972 by the damming of the Ord River
across the southern end of Carlton Gorge, to provide water storage for the Ord River
Irrigation Area (ORIA), 14,000 hectares of irrigated crops, including melons,
mangoes, pumpkins, sandalwood, chia and seed crops, and with a further 13,000
hectares currently under development.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They’re big numbers in any agricultural language!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We
checked out the local tourist attractions of Kelly’s Knob Lookout - with its
scenic views over town and Ord Valley, Celebrity Tree Park – an arboretum
planted by visiting celebrities, Lily Creek Lagoon and the Kununurra Museum.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNJZXZZ_8jtJeFUzq4L_fh7GlnKS0oA9-r3RzklZUcfgzQQYCdw19YWlTBvC2TD_M1Qg-I-Tug_byUQOL9IK9dREzBuKHFH7I1s5062rnQ9tcVqxfWpBW8wJ2PyFWTI-VxhNOHBYzycw/s1600/P1040178.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNJZXZZ_8jtJeFUzq4L_fh7GlnKS0oA9-r3RzklZUcfgzQQYCdw19YWlTBvC2TD_M1Qg-I-Tug_byUQOL9IK9dREzBuKHFH7I1s5062rnQ9tcVqxfWpBW8wJ2PyFWTI-VxhNOHBYzycw/s1600/P1040178.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Kununurra from Kelly's Lookout</b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcAEI7VxaLmttb5glnl-_9kJvsIxCz2JrNNt-st0RBgqq4ofTtPh7Jf3E1l548bDBkBUOQZoTDeeMjE9ro17mKKGEuLjNSHGZYevuN9yAdpst8HQg7NgUpAuKK7rhmr93wcA7nn6BY5A/s1600/P1040196.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcAEI7VxaLmttb5glnl-_9kJvsIxCz2JrNNt-st0RBgqq4ofTtPh7Jf3E1l548bDBkBUOQZoTDeeMjE9ro17mKKGEuLjNSHGZYevuN9yAdpst8HQg7NgUpAuKK7rhmr93wcA7nn6BY5A/s1600/P1040196.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Boab Tree</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">A highlight of the entire trip occurred yesterday when, in perfect weather, we took a scenic Seaplane flight over the Bungle Bungle Range with a landing on Lake Argyle for afternoon tea. Bruce sat beside the Pilot snapping photos, but difficult shooting thru the windows. The following are a few snaps to give you an idea, in haste, since we want to send this off today before departing tomorrow, Sat 14 June, on the start of our real Kimberley adventure.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjExLocgIYuW0uyT9L-ukGqTGL9i6RBscTyljfnVKM_F07kl_Ifol1g4mwfmxiuQYm0ZyWYM8Wg1TYCWgr-fF04SBoareNMT963maMLKJ_dxzXlRvyss3pgLQTlnAwaJcHCH17rAk4wXA/s1600/P1040286.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjExLocgIYuW0uyT9L-ukGqTGL9i6RBscTyljfnVKM_F07kl_Ifol1g4mwfmxiuQYm0ZyWYM8Wg1TYCWgr-fF04SBoareNMT963maMLKJ_dxzXlRvyss3pgLQTlnAwaJcHCH17rAk4wXA/s1600/P1040286.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Bungle Bungle Range</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikjetbQRFiAbtR5-Qdlnju19gjbuGUgrGsKHPmAWhEooj_fjfy7KRC7lL6sp-qglliAkfow8mP6zpkSsSwKDnGxNfahRP6BERocdgvWt1R8xhFFxQMEgu4FS9JUrxaUyW5TqKi44YMFg/s1600/P1040287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikjetbQRFiAbtR5-Qdlnju19gjbuGUgrGsKHPmAWhEooj_fjfy7KRC7lL6sp-qglliAkfow8mP6zpkSsSwKDnGxNfahRP6BERocdgvWt1R8xhFFxQMEgu4FS9JUrxaUyW5TqKi44YMFg/s1600/P1040287.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6WbtuIsGBkQn0Zuswg8T1uhziCsWZowKIfHHNj1tU8zPBQaIEqwyWwvqLs1WnGBl2Q27JiZQYjP8glr_Q1e4RrkDY_CovxUJoyj58mttiAoJ-8y1wZ8scU6y03NHFbEOs95poDyvgA/s1600/P1040366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6WbtuIsGBkQn0Zuswg8T1uhziCsWZowKIfHHNj1tU8zPBQaIEqwyWwvqLs1WnGBl2Q27JiZQYjP8glr_Q1e4RrkDY_CovxUJoyj58mttiAoJ-8y1wZ8scU6y03NHFbEOs95poDyvgA/s1600/P1040366.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOcKCnaUZXdB1s9SeekwtGeB35ED9oLKghovgFTOCVlFu6vsLXrl-9Oj-mCQ2Rq2p_1gKbyQ22R0ULJAe4MJ9aU0RsrCuzlaKvAGmOtR3C7UkHpucZpllpVhYJvsW1jLa6KxdrZznQMA/s1600/P1040377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOcKCnaUZXdB1s9SeekwtGeB35ED9oLKghovgFTOCVlFu6vsLXrl-9Oj-mCQ2Rq2p_1gKbyQ22R0ULJAe4MJ9aU0RsrCuzlaKvAGmOtR3C7UkHpucZpllpVhYJvsW1jLa6KxdrZznQMA/s1600/P1040377.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Lake Argyle</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8OAd4hlHbzBeOVqxEM6FIVMVXwdw9fopr2cS5NUX0Zl9wfhOJSR0ogIBS9SCi3Z1nvjzUmZYVpFFFeRPpHFcQ61BgB1Zz5RmXvD19O-6mLaw8sCA_IXAPZ7mDQUJcKXT2AJoWelOJJw/s1600/P1040393.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8OAd4hlHbzBeOVqxEM6FIVMVXwdw9fopr2cS5NUX0Zl9wfhOJSR0ogIBS9SCi3Z1nvjzUmZYVpFFFeRPpHFcQ61BgB1Zz5RmXvD19O-6mLaw8sCA_IXAPZ7mDQUJcKXT2AJoWelOJJw/s1600/P1040393.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Ord River Irrigation Farms</b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Cheers 'til next time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Bruce and Audrey</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Kununurra 13/6/2014</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
Yacht Envyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296367569566410867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5422585594160201132.post-86547390860493948842014-06-11T15:16:00.000+08:002014-06-11T15:16:53.842+08:00KKK No 5 Kings Canyon and West MacDonnell Ranges<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 24.0pt;">“K K K”</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">K</b>imberley
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">K</b>aravan <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">K</b>apers’ - Bruce & Audrey)</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">No: 5 <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Kings</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;"> Canyon and West MacDonnell
Ranges</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Day
44; May 19. Today marks the 3<sup>rd</sup> anniversary of our first Bridge
lesson, but our story here today has no connection with playing cards – more of
a pictorial essay on some of The Red Centre’s stunning scenery.</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: -6.0pt; margin-right: -6.0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: -6.0pt; margin-right: -6.0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We
blast out of Curtin Springs at 8am</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">fuelled with excitement about the day ahead, taking
the Luritja Road, destination Watarrka Nat Park, home to Kings Canyon, 229
bitumen kilometres away, where we set up in the Resort’s up-market caravan park.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: -6.0pt; margin-right: -6.0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTMgpVTL_72fAukxUsldkpBYosRAiRTFutURNJ2oMLDKuMGmRvfILYeBzjd4o1wDOFJUUOasDCXguW2845poyVpO7XzKXLF-roc7XrC7H0dv1bGryqEtmLKVcbI69hRL2nexZVOXHDdw/s1600/P1030137.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTMgpVTL_72fAukxUsldkpBYosRAiRTFutURNJ2oMLDKuMGmRvfILYeBzjd4o1wDOFJUUOasDCXguW2845poyVpO7XzKXLF-roc7XrC7H0dv1bGryqEtmLKVcbI69hRL2nexZVOXHDdw/s1600/P1030137.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Kings Canyon Resort Caravan Park</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: -6.0pt; margin-right: -6.0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span>T<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">hat afternoon we did two different short (2km) walks
up Kings Creek and the Resort Ridge loop. Kings Creek was indeed a pretty walk,
as shown here. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: -6.0pt; margin-right: -6.0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTspCWqdEGP_O-emeRPoieDEAW05EKcg83j1WfAZAFtkaS0M7dcliz0POoheO8zHyxN3w-ZFWP2-_HNX-Y0dKfpNNuDRFXINa6BSPYRREp82lUEesyRFS49KMQXlHKf2b856j7ukxR5g/s1600/P1030085.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTspCWqdEGP_O-emeRPoieDEAW05EKcg83j1WfAZAFtkaS0M7dcliz0POoheO8zHyxN3w-ZFWP2-_HNX-Y0dKfpNNuDRFXINa6BSPYRREp82lUEesyRFS49KMQXlHKf2b856j7ukxR5g/s1600/P1030085.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ8kAb1f-CO6vgQzqWqBdV0N7KUhaf6g8DnSdZ7fTDsBXIf9XCw-zT6TARCtwKesbPOPSkW90V56xELhydb5Z4Fn0XY9sYAaRy0Su0o6C1H0AmMhXvzedEtU0ZdnmXNnupP3AvOAV_Uw/s1600/P1030096.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ8kAb1f-CO6vgQzqWqBdV0N7KUhaf6g8DnSdZ7fTDsBXIf9XCw-zT6TARCtwKesbPOPSkW90V56xELhydb5Z4Fn0XY9sYAaRy0Su0o6C1H0AmMhXvzedEtU0ZdnmXNnupP3AvOAV_Uw/s1600/P1030096.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Kings Creek Walk</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: -6.0pt; margin-right: -6.0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Noisy Dingoes in the campground awoke us at 5:30 am
with their howling close by. (Descendants of Asian wolves, as with all wolves
they are unable to bark, as dogs do, able only to howl and growl). So we were
up early and drove the 7km to the Canyon.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: -6.0pt; margin-right: -6.0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTG1sf20SELDxXjZ8T1mfIVB9nQiUeIucs2u-z0UMbzoQxVkvTRoO8FzMlpdNSVsgId4u58Sa2TbbVrCSS8PyN8fMnWk1C3Ce2GUf8ToVCGf343Kp5Dlu3eSV1XrprRQTNIKsaJpE7Jw/s1600/P1030062.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTG1sf20SELDxXjZ8T1mfIVB9nQiUeIucs2u-z0UMbzoQxVkvTRoO8FzMlpdNSVsgId4u58Sa2TbbVrCSS8PyN8fMnWk1C3Ce2GUf8ToVCGf343Kp5Dlu3eSV1XrprRQTNIKsaJpE7Jw/s1600/P1030062.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: -6.0pt; margin-right: -6.0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: -6.0pt; margin-right: -6.0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">After a short walk from the car park we climb 510
steep natural rock steps, pausing often!, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>from the base to the top of Kings Canyon to
commence the 6 km Rim Walk around the Canyon top, an unforgettable experience
of simply stunning scenic views. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: -6.0pt; margin-right: -6.0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvTMax2keweXS7An-QgjVaBGncyKLbRCi65q2ym5AAb_Khb_G1XwzMTKonskoWeLFLMuzpzWhA3wjPWWnjEmrH1JrH4FZ2EIaDTojggSzz79r3TX3hW7p5mbBfyTRSORCbUUQodamCaA/s1600/P1030066.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvTMax2keweXS7An-QgjVaBGncyKLbRCi65q2ym5AAb_Khb_G1XwzMTKonskoWeLFLMuzpzWhA3wjPWWnjEmrH1JrH4FZ2EIaDTojggSzz79r3TX3hW7p5mbBfyTRSORCbUUQodamCaA/s1600/P1030066.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>510 Steep Steps to the Canyon Rim</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZxtkvEYIHgSYeYqDVYlklnMUpWY5SIgwX1vw8CswM8r1L3Exz62M4Iz6t4ToDUL1zn3UIWOBQWNxXj90WJeQrZE7Ljs6-x2eOo8L1HgKl-Lfr7afP7q3pTOtg2Z7ZDS2ApUHjZcqa2w/s1600/P1030090.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZxtkvEYIHgSYeYqDVYlklnMUpWY5SIgwX1vw8CswM8r1L3Exz62M4Iz6t4ToDUL1zn3UIWOBQWNxXj90WJeQrZE7Ljs6-x2eOo8L1HgKl-Lfr7afP7q3pTOtg2Z7ZDS2ApUHjZcqa2w/s1600/P1030090.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: -6.0pt; margin-right: -6.0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: -6.0pt; margin-right: -6.0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">We explored all there was to see during our 3 ½ hour
trek, including side tracks to the Jack Cotterhill Lookout & the Garden of
Eden, and will never forget the beauty of it all. </span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: -6.0pt; margin-right: -6.0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO4eygOzls4GUPFb3cbCcXHD48ikTNYW2S8ZgTUwznJPQkfqC7aI6L5_qCvMXmq7-gTakHDLx-BJtm1Ze_GZwu2vaLqSF7HKljdeKOaQpb4q6jNH_-bZ1gu59pS9zB7R_JtCvMyBSvAg/s1600/P1030166.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO4eygOzls4GUPFb3cbCcXHD48ikTNYW2S8ZgTUwznJPQkfqC7aI6L5_qCvMXmq7-gTakHDLx-BJtm1Ze_GZwu2vaLqSF7HKljdeKOaQpb4q6jNH_-bZ1gu59pS9zB7R_JtCvMyBSvAg/s1600/P1030166.JPG" height="300" width="400" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAONYv02DFrRFPEjPbkpqrlmiidJkse417QAcJ3dfCvKBmQsKdyAvdTSx3hQ3dC6WKWTwt0vchFDYGqtsUfasRK-_aKvdnIvChehOitlxZSxjTcaXaiwmx3k0lkephSWJK2KGgp9t5Xw/s1600/P1030186.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAONYv02DFrRFPEjPbkpqrlmiidJkse417QAcJ3dfCvKBmQsKdyAvdTSx3hQ3dC6WKWTwt0vchFDYGqtsUfasRK-_aKvdnIvChehOitlxZSxjTcaXaiwmx3k0lkephSWJK2KGgp9t5Xw/s1600/P1030186.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf2ETQlYVBhfhxywr3rTcbDX3xRgYBiMf1ojg08F2IvdSc2_sPnM9sOZrt47vvFSGqpHvhBA-Vufd9QzpKcWPKLSPQ1-6rnouS8-S9UOBf7iCDmJ9u9VLDxuRSrO6mtba6gP9qnMo9kg/s1600/P1030198.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf2ETQlYVBhfhxywr3rTcbDX3xRgYBiMf1ojg08F2IvdSc2_sPnM9sOZrt47vvFSGqpHvhBA-Vufd9QzpKcWPKLSPQ1-6rnouS8-S9UOBf7iCDmJ9u9VLDxuRSrO6mtba6gP9qnMo9kg/s1600/P1030198.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgANjVaY1yZbRrJNZJheDzzFrbQdN2Ctw0_h7NUojOIVfrw0VFzCw4Ftn2OWaG9uo7RrGPYqlpBluWiYfDecydncyomAV5lqERI-cneRi52tbGC-ZvndkPMGMfCulXQjzYMdaxdIQUIVA/s1600/P1030170.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgANjVaY1yZbRrJNZJheDzzFrbQdN2Ctw0_h7NUojOIVfrw0VFzCw4Ftn2OWaG9uo7RrGPYqlpBluWiYfDecydncyomAV5lqERI-cneRi52tbGC-ZvndkPMGMfCulXQjzYMdaxdIQUIVA/s1600/P1030170.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: -6.0pt; margin-right: -6.0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: -6.0pt; margin-right: -6.0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: -6.0pt; margin-right: -6.0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">When you put your “bush eyes” in and look around,
many wild flowers are there to be seen and enjoyed, but no pictures or words by
me can adequately describe the Canyon’s colour, rock formations and patterned
textures as seen naturally through ones own eyes. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: -6.0pt; margin-right: -6.0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8E7SKES5HsLovaX7Z1d4CdjuvtwlIXaPSJ9z7ZL5Co3GQtD60xFuEXILm0cxZYp5f1RlrFzSUrPF1dVKPK_6idSy50gDH_BAirYi1ztjT9sEH64atOybsf_pyjnd49xbJsoZ-qQH08Q/s1600/P1030184.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8E7SKES5HsLovaX7Z1d4CdjuvtwlIXaPSJ9z7ZL5Co3GQtD60xFuEXILm0cxZYp5f1RlrFzSUrPF1dVKPK_6idSy50gDH_BAirYi1ztjT9sEH64atOybsf_pyjnd49xbJsoZ-qQH08Q/s1600/P1030184.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: -6.0pt; margin-right: -6.0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7q7WMWsUAJcBrjT_m1ZHjwg2RDcim80jTJjw61yA2ZJ1H35uD8DzyimHvm55gHP8PZSCQwBJet8n2KU3zGo1fAc9tMILgRuKYqzc91oJcgdb1WNh_BuQHzvXiVHvjk4_tqhpJIYQZZg/s1600/P1030251.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7q7WMWsUAJcBrjT_m1ZHjwg2RDcim80jTJjw61yA2ZJ1H35uD8DzyimHvm55gHP8PZSCQwBJet8n2KU3zGo1fAc9tMILgRuKYqzc91oJcgdb1WNh_BuQHzvXiVHvjk4_tqhpJIYQZZg/s1600/P1030251.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: -6.0pt; margin-right: -6.0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiklGEXtqYH4DKdBcuBFQThULNVZdBcLyVlkd7OsgyKQXtEBc4HRhGuxhU5mG8O9zaNgzXCFy2Y-Upol1r_362k86X88uuuFvDz56KiJmwBH_veNX5A0eNuymJtMkWnBXaAlSsuEQlQkw/s1600/P1030261.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiklGEXtqYH4DKdBcuBFQThULNVZdBcLyVlkd7OsgyKQXtEBc4HRhGuxhU5mG8O9zaNgzXCFy2Y-Upol1r_362k86X88uuuFvDz56KiJmwBH_veNX5A0eNuymJtMkWnBXaAlSsuEQlQkw/s1600/P1030261.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: -6.0pt; margin-right: -6.0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: -6.0pt; margin-right: -6.0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Two days later we’re off up the 155km unsealed Mereenie Loop Road,
a mixed blessing of rough corrugations and awesome scenery that saves around
500 km to reach the West MacDonnells’ via the
bitumen. We “celebrated” our first tyre puncture on the Land Cruiser (rear)
here, fortunately discovering it before wrecking the tyre! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: -6.0pt; margin-right: -6.0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPfB7MUEexOMh0CBHJlwLPxlXXHhQ5ILm4s72SSHYo2LoLQz_Wt-2RpRE4FgO-ayV_7b4C-UEkOsBCPIOo7Z4iaQzZk6KGd4vOZ1r88l-ZUyQ8Z95wOFh-xkZC-VSCZWZ_pOur_bUf7Q/s1600/P1030301.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPfB7MUEexOMh0CBHJlwLPxlXXHhQ5ILm4s72SSHYo2LoLQz_Wt-2RpRE4FgO-ayV_7b4C-UEkOsBCPIOo7Z4iaQzZk6KGd4vOZ1r88l-ZUyQ8Z95wOFh-xkZC-VSCZWZ_pOur_bUf7Q/s1600/P1030301.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: -6.0pt; margin-right: -6.0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwRWFmmgLFFUM2y1sxPiGTz2PDx0Z0U1ibHUcl-qItMM28Gn-UvhyphenhyphenreilXIDXYKPIGqs9FD9tKgiVxVhK1FSDWuolUph1wARJLY1LMtgrn8Ai4Aw2MRpc_svYt1zuLh3Yy3I4VzQ9T4w/s1600/P1030343.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwRWFmmgLFFUM2y1sxPiGTz2PDx0Z0U1ibHUcl-qItMM28Gn-UvhyphenhyphenreilXIDXYKPIGqs9FD9tKgiVxVhK1FSDWuolUph1wARJLY1LMtgrn8Ai4Aw2MRpc_svYt1zuLh3Yy3I4VzQ9T4w/s1600/P1030343.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: -6.0pt; margin-right: -6.0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7cTiPQn_nGI3lZkU5MmjJcec9rzlrKnvMk9vVwXKyqPO09pxL2uS1WAQPsvKKi9C7xm8P00XCS7iRGIGPZCkfqd3pvq40idhM6e1SlwQ9SmbqnSeN2M5M6lRQDPJT1WJg-I7UHhkbOA/s1600/P1030345.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7cTiPQn_nGI3lZkU5MmjJcec9rzlrKnvMk9vVwXKyqPO09pxL2uS1WAQPsvKKi9C7xm8P00XCS7iRGIGPZCkfqd3pvq40idhM6e1SlwQ9SmbqnSeN2M5M6lRQDPJT1WJg-I7UHhkbOA/s1600/P1030345.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: -6.0pt; margin-right: -6.0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: -6.0pt; margin-right: -6.0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">More scenic magic came our way all along Namatjira
Drive including Gosse Bluff, Tyler’s Park Lookout, Glen Helen Gorge, Ormiston
Gorge, the Ochre Pits, Serpentine George, Ellery Creek Bighole, and Simpson’s
Gap, all of which we visited.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: -6.0pt; margin-right: -6.0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnEZvuhWzQEOpyHgKrSsUKwZoVYckPwUtYZwSYm_AMfpYkRWbjDcniHQKDE9ToOjzA4hoNprVI8NqjMjqBDkvrguFmkZwLozO5OJ5_d270eu369MIljLypuEgE-GN6aisTReaXCQJJnA/s1600/P1030389.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnEZvuhWzQEOpyHgKrSsUKwZoVYckPwUtYZwSYm_AMfpYkRWbjDcniHQKDE9ToOjzA4hoNprVI8NqjMjqBDkvrguFmkZwLozO5OJ5_d270eu369MIljLypuEgE-GN6aisTReaXCQJJnA/s1600/P1030389.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: -6.0pt; margin-right: -6.0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmFoFUwv2cE0AxNXHYoi1UWXL5drMBy7Z1NDhsWiK0sJTchaekYA1t6G-ebaDy9RhsaZXECTWKeMZAc8aiYVjJgmRVzhCGbM9NsebBvGy4SQfeEwVuqj_ftTbzWJ8-rkawbySHulFbQ/s1600/P1030395.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmFoFUwv2cE0AxNXHYoi1UWXL5drMBy7Z1NDhsWiK0sJTchaekYA1t6G-ebaDy9RhsaZXECTWKeMZAc8aiYVjJgmRVzhCGbM9NsebBvGy4SQfeEwVuqj_ftTbzWJ8-rkawbySHulFbQ/s1600/P1030395.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: -6.0pt; margin-right: -6.0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: -6.0pt; margin-right: -6.0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">We stayed at beautiful Ormiston Gorge </span><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">camp ground 2
days and likewise at Ellery
Creek, and will let these
pictures do the talking. Highlights included a Howling Dingo at the van door
just after we went to bed and tremendous lightning & thunder at 5am next
morning, big heavy raindrops, but not so many of them!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: -6.0pt; margin-right: -6.0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimtO1uCr-zQuKpBRaTt7MBiO-bPNuKZEaTKvTR2N3xJeJPavdkUQn6yiCAmIPJ4FYPhI-DxlmIFUnMh4aHNT8CkjOo94j2VZwTvnuttR5TcuCuShQUiw4r5b3bzzeunMS8TaDVorn51g/s1600/P1030414.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimtO1uCr-zQuKpBRaTt7MBiO-bPNuKZEaTKvTR2N3xJeJPavdkUQn6yiCAmIPJ4FYPhI-DxlmIFUnMh4aHNT8CkjOo94j2VZwTvnuttR5TcuCuShQUiw4r5b3bzzeunMS8TaDVorn51g/s1600/P1030414.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: -6.0pt; margin-right: -6.0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpPiS-eYGiArjGxwdFQ4ruzr6LvG5J_LFvqrnXUdVtiKJCYDvdktdYcPzC2AtC9qwNXpyR_ZYW_JR8tbytfJfsMVMWiuCIhrF2Ga_u669tJBizx8IxW-xiyR94qjSLs7zJQ2t56XS9WA/s1600/P1030466.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpPiS-eYGiArjGxwdFQ4ruzr6LvG5J_LFvqrnXUdVtiKJCYDvdktdYcPzC2AtC9qwNXpyR_ZYW_JR8tbytfJfsMVMWiuCIhrF2Ga_u669tJBizx8IxW-xiyR94qjSLs7zJQ2t56XS9WA/s1600/P1030466.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: -6.0pt; margin-right: -6.0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyGc_5xUQ9J-NFof-FADe6obQu8Kw8t5MM9cMKSxsGm1LyBXQWi1DkpWv3G3F2ZfuyPne-J4BD8J8eM4DWvU1HSTBjz-uP6DcIhRViptpVbKKiiOjgnHXUmrxoAXxmIxHmmFha91kzfw/s1600/P1030471.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyGc_5xUQ9J-NFof-FADe6obQu8Kw8t5MM9cMKSxsGm1LyBXQWi1DkpWv3G3F2ZfuyPne-J4BD8J8eM4DWvU1HSTBjz-uP6DcIhRViptpVbKKiiOjgnHXUmrxoAXxmIxHmmFha91kzfw/s1600/P1030471.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: -6.0pt; margin-right: -6.0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: -6.0pt; margin-right: -6.0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Like all of the ‘Red Centre’, the West
MacDonnells are a palette of mixed red & verdant greens, and
have been the highlight so far. Should be on everyone’s bucket list. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: -6.0pt; margin-right: -6.0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_npHbSwBG378SgP3UmjLa1SzaAksiG0aeKTeSePH-23IsZWkjOsvGKN5Zemm4radVoEIKCP4e6f8zAX0kUBmYZcJkaheYAg1pGulos42qKMCtuPWCVj-QuergKL06KfHZPUdEHIWb2g/s1600/P1030499.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_npHbSwBG378SgP3UmjLa1SzaAksiG0aeKTeSePH-23IsZWkjOsvGKN5Zemm4radVoEIKCP4e6f8zAX0kUBmYZcJkaheYAg1pGulos42qKMCtuPWCVj-QuergKL06KfHZPUdEHIWb2g/s1600/P1030499.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: -6.0pt; margin-right: -6.0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdOmWc__FXQ_t7OFGIHsKcjCyJjFj4Iy8NkyMmxwDPyVmI6WUPOJXDzvuCzwPSGHsNMO1FTukbmWzaAbczfxL888eFoq_c-mdQSj2bZZH6N9AllLE_ae4CaONNOsypp5b7RlNAtZPbKA/s1600/P1030555.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdOmWc__FXQ_t7OFGIHsKcjCyJjFj4Iy8NkyMmxwDPyVmI6WUPOJXDzvuCzwPSGHsNMO1FTukbmWzaAbczfxL888eFoq_c-mdQSj2bZZH6N9AllLE_ae4CaONNOsypp5b7RlNAtZPbKA/s1600/P1030555.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Aboriginal Ochre Pits</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGbVa307hEID8QY3Wr8pdmCJtVi-nWK53M6M8-Rv2kH3V2fPoF1g830w84iu_yqyMRlWFPT3_kyQ9NY0yYz6RCjd_R5I3y76S67nHDjPwUr7VbkvfDozgkfrguQQBBmSIqSz_zz3ZDfA/s1600/P1030570.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGbVa307hEID8QY3Wr8pdmCJtVi-nWK53M6M8-Rv2kH3V2fPoF1g830w84iu_yqyMRlWFPT3_kyQ9NY0yYz6RCjd_R5I3y76S67nHDjPwUr7VbkvfDozgkfrguQQBBmSIqSz_zz3ZDfA/s1600/P1030570.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: -6.0pt; margin-right: -6.0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: -6.0pt; margin-right: -6.0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: -6.0pt; margin-right: -6.0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">We regret having missed going to Hermannsburg Lutheran
Mission, home to celebrated Aboriginal artist Albert Namatjira, who grew up and
received his art lessons in the old watercolour school at Hermannsburg.
Something left for the next trip. </span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: -6.0pt; margin-right: -6.0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: -6.0pt; margin-right: -6.0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Sunday 25 May saw our return to Alice Springs Caravan
Park, from where this is being sent today; tomorrow, 29 May, day 54, we leave
the ‘Alice’ heading north up the Stuart Highway, thirsting for new adventures
at destinations yet to be discovered.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: -6.0pt; margin-right: -6.0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: -6.0pt; margin-right: -6.0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">We’ll keep you posted.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: -6.0pt; margin-right: -6.0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: -6.0pt; margin-right: -6.0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Bruce and Audrey</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: -6.0pt; margin-right: -6.0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Alice Springs</span><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: -6.0pt; margin-right: -6.0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">28 May 2014. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: -6.0pt; margin-right: -6.0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
Yacht Envyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296367569566410867noreply@blogger.com0Kununurra WA 6743, Australia-15.7735463 128.739196-16.7523913 127.4483025 -14.7947013 130.0300895tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5422585594160201132.post-42937077765355265822014-05-28T19:56:00.000+08:002014-06-11T15:13:52.411+08:00KKK No 4 Alice Springs to the Red Centre<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 24.0pt;">“K K K”</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">K</b>imberley
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">K</b>aravan <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">K</b>apers’ - Bruce & Audrey)</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">No: 4<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Alice Springs
to the ‘Red Centre’</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicZQC-HNExzXy3HG_6435PfwXnUca8_lHmsf4_yvsVPBLPAVwdbGHECDnXjAp3MzrcvUDikydj4q42EE-8yb0god-h24uxS3ds5Le247QktrqBbcljFMeq0vRXVCFu7orD1iNY7I4cdg/s1600/P1020928.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Day 40: Thursday May 15
finds we “Triple ‘K’ Adventurers” up in the dark at 6:15am, a half-hour before
sunrise, doing final packing and heading out of Alice Springs on the Stuart
Highway bound for Erldunda, some 255km south, the turnoff for the Lasseter
Highway, nick-named the Red Centre Way.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Here in the centre of the
world’s (scientifically) oldest, flattest, driest and almost hottest continent
on earth, the countryside is so lush, so awash with green feed comprising prolific
Buffel Grass (introduced species) and other natural species, that it should be
renamed “The Green Centre”, rather than the Red Centre.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO_AXYB_oXiD9Q8jJ6S38Jem2SC3sBe-foOrdg1J6ntd_7Tv8NsIDf4p-lvjem4_SjW1kimPXEdRZnLrN8lhoM63DthlDbrYW2eAfY0Z8JoNAXpMsdOKgt-S1Tjb8wXuH_FI06SyJygw/s1600/P1020845.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO_AXYB_oXiD9Q8jJ6S38Jem2SC3sBe-foOrdg1J6ntd_7Tv8NsIDf4p-lvjem4_SjW1kimPXEdRZnLrN8lhoM63DthlDbrYW2eAfY0Z8JoNAXpMsdOKgt-S1Tjb8wXuH_FI06SyJygw/s1600/P1020845.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Lush Buffel Grass</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">In any case, the contrast
between the warm red hues and the bright green pasture is quite colourfully
striking as our 2 tonne rig glides effortlessly over the excellent bitumen of
Lasseter’s Highway which runs all the way to Uluru (Ayer’s Rock), and on to The
Olgas. . </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We stopped at Mt Ebenezer,
56km west of Erldunda turnoff to check out an Art Gallery there, featuring many
small works on canvass by local Aboriginal women artists, all very ‘touristy’ and
pricey, but now regret having not purchased the singularly only piece that I
liked of the entire gallery offering, and regrettably, we’re not returning that
way. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We
photographed distant Mt Conner from the roadside lookout, a flat topped
monolith of Uluru ilk and proceeded on to Curtin Springs Wayside Inn and cattle
station with a view to over-nighting in their well appointed free campground. Curtain
Springs was named for then Prime Minister John Curtin, and the water from its
namesake natural spring 6km distant is said to taste like Epsom Salts; one
wonders if there’s some political connotation? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTk-sACRb1mDTE0lI3luJ7_SkZdIXp0y2KXKHVgWtoiMtod0pKC9RSgM2Om8BFBhNHiR37tkyg0Q5slwYfHgn5Rr3iYl8GLDqIPvk4betpzhZFShGHG9kNFfBQFwBwMhQUsx2lu57PCw/s1600/P1020844.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTk-sACRb1mDTE0lI3luJ7_SkZdIXp0y2KXKHVgWtoiMtod0pKC9RSgM2Om8BFBhNHiR37tkyg0Q5slwYfHgn5Rr3iYl8GLDqIPvk4betpzhZFShGHG9kNFfBQFwBwMhQUsx2lu57PCw/s1600/P1020844.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Mt Connor</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">However our Camps Book
listed another roadside camp area much closer to Yulara, the service village
for Uluru, so we drove the 60km and were rewarded with the excellent (and
popular) Sandy Way Rest Area, up and over a low sand ridge, hidden from the
road and into the quiet, shaded area with 10 others already there in residence,
and only 28km from Yulara. </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHRBrqntDjuPxkvHziCX4t7QDwXQuo_B1gj1aR-PFzy9V80XxkHb_H3csg8G8-x_xC3hND0l67GUgbuAZGiP1gfO3srmesP_YnmFW6mQepPuUuG45JycKaoLswCwyON42QaG97y13yMA/s1600/P1020855.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHRBrqntDjuPxkvHziCX4t7QDwXQuo_B1gj1aR-PFzy9V80XxkHb_H3csg8G8-x_xC3hND0l67GUgbuAZGiP1gfO3srmesP_YnmFW6mQepPuUuG45JycKaoLswCwyON42QaG97y13yMA/s1600/P1020855.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sandy Way Campsite</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> We enjoyed a glass of
champagne and red wine under tonight’s full moon, in anticipation of tomorrow
big Uluru adventure, and our friendly camp-fire reminded us of our good fortune
in being here.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The Lasseter Highway
traverses open rolling red soil downs, interspersed with moderate height red
sandhills, lightly timbered, principally with Desert Oak, a member of the
Casuarina family, plus areas of Mulga, Beefwood, Gidyea and Desert Bloodwood. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Desert Oaks, by far the most
numerous, are an interesting species is as much as the juvenile trees grow in
thin pencil-like columns and depend on rain for survival until reaching
maturity, when they spill out into a spherical canopy, their root systems now
deep into the watertable, and they no longer depend on rainfall, hence their
prolific survival throughout the desert. </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE9188EcUCGEWU_NqFZXHKYlfp-M5Vm9y3eKXmiWtkJ_BqyDSiORM_mMssCUQU3_oew6vXkcEn8d4BBg8KGv6H9Sd25KZsSHg2JUMm48XxzM4BAtZWbv_KI0xND46n_QVGWJ2nKxIlvw/s1600/P1030044.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE9188EcUCGEWU_NqFZXHKYlfp-M5Vm9y3eKXmiWtkJ_BqyDSiORM_mMssCUQU3_oew6vXkcEn8d4BBg8KGv6H9Sd25KZsSHg2JUMm48XxzM4BAtZWbv_KI0xND46n_QVGWJ2nKxIlvw/s1600/P1030044.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Low Red Sandhills</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0LPERfWlplYig1SX7mEi4rrMfNMhIrhikuxSWerTx7j1u4VVFEvlOv_8boFV3fr474bdt4vl6mZhs_DFBVNC-Vsaiu1wp6KFYI7eKJroX_FAu_7GkdRwZW9-FlYNejJ5Efzmvrsts9g/s1600/P1020971.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0LPERfWlplYig1SX7mEi4rrMfNMhIrhikuxSWerTx7j1u4VVFEvlOv_8boFV3fr474bdt4vl6mZhs_DFBVNC-Vsaiu1wp6KFYI7eKJroX_FAu_7GkdRwZW9-FlYNejJ5Efzmvrsts9g/s1600/P1020971.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Ubiquitous Desert Oak</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Up again next morning at
6:30am in the dark to a fine but cloudy day; we leave the K K’van at the Sandy
Way campground in safe company with several others and drive off<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to the service village, Yulara, with its
Airstrip, up-market Resort, Campground and Shell Service Station, our
destination “Uluru/Kata Tjuta National Park”, the latter being the local name
for The Olgas. </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOdZIZ1C-2R7R10Y1e37NmE2jRF01int5DvnLhjQ5Xns1l07Pwy4rXlosfRYyEqBPS4vfUUv0u_H8omnsQK4gu4MQC-6AXVBpqv1R_OtLZDK3FIZ3j_DJaETYxo3c2_GqKw6k6C26nvg/s1600/P1020891.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOdZIZ1C-2R7R10Y1e37NmE2jRF01int5DvnLhjQ5Xns1l07Pwy4rXlosfRYyEqBPS4vfUUv0u_H8omnsQK4gu4MQC-6AXVBpqv1R_OtLZDK3FIZ3j_DJaETYxo3c2_GqKw6k6C26nvg/s1600/P1020891.JPG" height="248" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Olga's</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> There is a singular entry
point to the NP where a fee of $25 per person is collected for a three-day
multiple-entry pass. We decided to see The Olgas first, a 48km sealed road drive
farther on past Yulara, stopping enroute at the Kata Tjuta dune viewing site
before arriving at the Olgas themselves. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDvvZgL_KglGOpQ5uQjNVqejV0_f-rt9JARQsELF-B-7QjK1kaMv_arxgVCHz7Ts7An7aP7xFRQWW_E-C0qDteUnhV7FqlpTWJK3_C3AJcxDkMjB4ocgc82rUjWyvl18UpiPq0o0eGtA/s1600/P1020927.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDvvZgL_KglGOpQ5uQjNVqejV0_f-rt9JARQsELF-B-7QjK1kaMv_arxgVCHz7Ts7An7aP7xFRQWW_E-C0qDteUnhV7FqlpTWJK3_C3AJcxDkMjB4ocgc82rUjWyvl18UpiPq0o0eGtA/s1600/P1020927.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Valley of the Winds</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7i0dfwaz3tw6xkB9Zp6qHL11KxCgUpMvYk_mZCeg6oL2vdKQ6uQPZ5M9OwbzgfsCddQljOL7xvty3Qode0o9AjM6GCZYNnfi1MX9c4R0fGq1yX-7ENRJYqfMNsSedIdUJQhOIMVBaCA/s1600/P1020940.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7i0dfwaz3tw6xkB9Zp6qHL11KxCgUpMvYk_mZCeg6oL2vdKQ6uQPZ5M9OwbzgfsCddQljOL7xvty3Qode0o9AjM6GCZYNnfi1MX9c4R0fGq1yX-7ENRJYqfMNsSedIdUJQhOIMVBaCA/s1600/P1020940.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtLJdOLL93eGInAR4Psg6JCCllsK164H781KfP5_i71t9UGuHKve2opLftUjHXfOmjNpGpw4uPuYBs0Ct1qavijxi9x0CxH0seR-Km4i88wyMFaGX5VV0Jokvgugg6yNKQoLf5tn4NaQ/s1600/P1020960.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtLJdOLL93eGInAR4Psg6JCCllsK164H781KfP5_i71t9UGuHKve2opLftUjHXfOmjNpGpw4uPuYBs0Ct1qavijxi9x0CxH0seR-Km4i88wyMFaGX5VV0Jokvgugg6yNKQoLf5tn4NaQ/s1600/P1020960.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Walpa Gorge Viewing Platform</b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> Kata Tjuta (the Olgas) is a
contiguous formation of several large monoliths, having a much larger footprint
than Ayers Rock. There are three different short walks which we did,
particularly enjoying the “Valley of the Winds” and; “Walpa Gorge” scenery,
snapping off digital photos by the score (as you do) as we went. We also met a Melbourne based Sri-Lanka
couple, Amos and Mary, whose all too short company we enjoyed.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgMDQi4yoe9yIqgURLOI8uOGppy-5gfMzoPU8m94gtU9_JS7wfyfYEb7e3pWSJWFIzKzH8DTcOhzTHhsE_lujxqF2RefmTnhkYWWJPAF907mMJTI4F1n1jrUruB6LX3rmHskGOgUyD-Q/s1600/P1020961.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgMDQi4yoe9yIqgURLOI8uOGppy-5gfMzoPU8m94gtU9_JS7wfyfYEb7e3pWSJWFIzKzH8DTcOhzTHhsE_lujxqF2RefmTnhkYWWJPAF907mMJTI4F1n1jrUruB6LX3rmHskGOgUyD-Q/s1600/P1020961.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Olgas</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicZQC-HNExzXy3HG_6435PfwXnUca8_lHmsf4_yvsVPBLPAVwdbGHECDnXjAp3MzrcvUDikydj4q42EE-8yb0god-h24uxS3ds5Le247QktrqBbcljFMeq0vRXVCFu7orD1iNY7I4cdg/s1600/P1020928.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicZQC-HNExzXy3HG_6435PfwXnUca8_lHmsf4_yvsVPBLPAVwdbGHECDnXjAp3MzrcvUDikydj4q42EE-8yb0god-h24uxS3ds5Le247QktrqBbcljFMeq0vRXVCFu7orD1iNY7I4cdg/s1600/P1020928.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Having lunched here on our
usual fare </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">of picnic sandwiches, it was time for the big one, Uluru, where we
visited the Cultural Centre, a ‘walk-thru’ display featuring all aspects of local
cultural and historical information on well documented displays, and a
colourful video presentation as well; as you might expect, all very well done,
and included in the Park entry fee.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">It was mid afternoon and
becoming increasingly overcast as we did the 10.6km drive around the base of
Uluru, which while softly lit by the high thin cloud, did not distract from its
stunning appearance, though did suggest its sunset viewing would not be as
spectacular as it otherwise might be.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-wp02UYSIntGrVjcBNIIdVdtUk-d5-4g4e066qAmGu4YElQ47xndC8xDrUxrXpV1npSoKuA4q80-RMBp53eurWCPa9rO94uugNnghcfwgjuTDTRa8C8pc48MXE14-fkbGrfEfFY7F1w/s1600/P1020879.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-wp02UYSIntGrVjcBNIIdVdtUk-d5-4g4e066qAmGu4YElQ47xndC8xDrUxrXpV1npSoKuA4q80-RMBp53eurWCPa9rO94uugNnghcfwgjuTDTRa8C8pc48MXE14-fkbGrfEfFY7F1w/s1600/P1020879.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Uluru</b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDNBOWcGaEpnBXEzeiq5POw8-s390xzBMrZWsiFnyRrn9iHVSjmonE4cV6DEFAmC117KuoTijlqT0rxaQxYoZTSAeF7REc84Giiyfveo8-HQNIosEsrj5ufB83fvnBFx5BfwGX1BVHTA/s1600/P1020968.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDNBOWcGaEpnBXEzeiq5POw8-s390xzBMrZWsiFnyRrn9iHVSjmonE4cV6DEFAmC117KuoTijlqT0rxaQxYoZTSAeF7REc84Giiyfveo8-HQNIosEsrj5ufB83fvnBFx5BfwGX1BVHTA/s1600/P1020968.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> We stopped to see all
Uluru’s features i.e., the Mutitjulu Waterhole, the adjacent Kuniya aboriginal
rock art, Kantju Gorge and the climbers ascending the famous, if not steep Mala
Puta walk up to the top of Ayers Rock, which incidentally has resulted in 35
fatalities from various causes over the years. The local Anangu owners now
request that people refrain from scaling the rock for spiritual reasons, though
it is not (yet) illegal, and many climbers were scaling it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm2vV3zgC2imsOlOLK4zUpZZ7iIgSPXXHbxgEMf98hTDpEmHlvz3rR_rgQCTRrNAk3RynbXRmo8YLbaBHCQtkOMY_hUPssQsj9BFscTjmtLBGV7IUzHQOUD1ks93-oHIVf7Y9rqSYGkw/s1600/P1030011.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm2vV3zgC2imsOlOLK4zUpZZ7iIgSPXXHbxgEMf98hTDpEmHlvz3rR_rgQCTRrNAk3RynbXRmo8YLbaBHCQtkOMY_hUPssQsj9BFscTjmtLBGV7IUzHQOUD1ks93-oHIVf7Y9rqSYGkw/s1600/P1030011.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Mala Puta Walk up Uluru</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">There were lots of tourists
everywhere, many foreigners included, and we were totally thrilled and excited
to at last see such a national icon, but pretty tired after our walks on uneven
stony tracks at The Olgas, going non-stop all day. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">So with smiles on our faces
and contented hearts we drove back to our van at Sandy Way, hitched it up
quickly then drove the 60km back to the free campground at Curtin Springs, where
we stayed an extra day to write this report, before departing in the morning
for our next adventure – Kings Canyon, in the West MacDonnell Ranges, and no
doubt a full on week ahead. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We’ve now been 43 days on
the road and travelled 4356km.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Bruce and Audrey</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Curtin Springs</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">18/5/14</span></div>
Yacht Envyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296367569566410867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5422585594160201132.post-27492833579619377772014-05-26T18:31:00.000+08:002014-05-26T18:31:55.403+08:00KKK No 3 Boulia to Alice Springs<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 24.0pt;">“K K K”</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">K</b>imberley
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">K</b>aravan <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">K</b>apers’ - Bruce & Audrey)</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">No: 3<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Boulia to Alice
Springs</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Boulia is a tiny town, only a few blocks in size, with a population of maybe 100 plus and offers only limited interest to tourism. It owes its origins to being an important resting point through the Channel Country Stock Route, with Burke and Wills the first Europeans to pass through, and the Burke River beside which it’s sited was named for its explorer, Robert O’Hara Burke. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRS4mRFLcAMEYoRW779PbatZXjA6UeysbnDa3KUQ6J2AjtaV9fIgoYc2qYrCCq7ZrkOiv4fd4M7rtGubRKJOvIVQy7KyLIm9PhXTi6b4s8MY7fL7hNag2F1oreaXFyGWXADrpLQ9QVbQ/s1600/P1020634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9dsOCuhHb38k5RmnFy0ZzjnIYFtr_7enAbR0B5UtoFiI7z0mYwUV9PvvY-Pf_m3HM_Yw8y99WQJJfVHSWPwZt6hBqOLvHRjCBIJqHoMkLy59aOBc87Gb6gjvMKYFxSUI03yz7Zca1TQ/s1600/P1020642.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9dsOCuhHb38k5RmnFy0ZzjnIYFtr_7enAbR0B5UtoFiI7z0mYwUV9PvvY-Pf_m3HM_Yw8y99WQJJfVHSWPwZt6hBqOLvHRjCBIJqHoMkLy59aOBc87Gb6gjvMKYFxSUI03yz7Zca1TQ/s1600/P1020642.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /> We availed ourselves, as did others, of the riverside campground 6km out of town, and it was enroute here we sighted our first Camels.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXU3tG7yCOuRMMjWKrytP2x7RzPS2Py2dosSKzN8yaL1T8GZCLYIbTaW5S_NRbCK3Qnb4Y7yDAx_iOvFS1-hcKtw6259ZlT26KZxGGdmr6CeSOjJLCQilYAWzJN_zAXTxifC46jxyYZw/s1600/P1020640a.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXU3tG7yCOuRMMjWKrytP2x7RzPS2Py2dosSKzN8yaL1T8GZCLYIbTaW5S_NRbCK3Qnb4Y7yDAx_iOvFS1-hcKtw6259ZlT26KZxGGdmr6CeSOjJLCQilYAWzJN_zAXTxifC46jxyYZw/s1600/P1020640a.jpg" height="315" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRS4mRFLcAMEYoRW779PbatZXjA6UeysbnDa3KUQ6J2AjtaV9fIgoYc2qYrCCq7ZrkOiv4fd4M7rtGubRKJOvIVQy7KyLIm9PhXTi6b4s8MY7fL7hNag2F1oreaXFyGWXADrpLQ9QVbQ/s1600/P1020634.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>One of its earliest settlers was a storekeeper from Armadale, NSW, who had a stone residence made, the construction of which took 3 years, and incorporated a 3 metre deep room size underground cellar, famously the coolest place in Boulia and a popular refuge for mothers with young babies during severe heatwaves.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRS4mRFLcAMEYoRW779PbatZXjA6UeysbnDa3KUQ6J2AjtaV9fIgoYc2qYrCCq7ZrkOiv4fd4M7rtGubRKJOvIVQy7KyLIm9PhXTi6b4s8MY7fL7hNag2F1oreaXFyGWXADrpLQ9QVbQ/s1600/P1020634.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRS4mRFLcAMEYoRW779PbatZXjA6UeysbnDa3KUQ6J2AjtaV9fIgoYc2qYrCCq7ZrkOiv4fd4M7rtGubRKJOvIVQy7KyLIm9PhXTi6b4s8MY7fL7hNag2F1oreaXFyGWXADrpLQ9QVbQ/s1600/P1020634.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /> Today the town’s fame largely rests with the Min Min Light, a strange spectral light that can appear, hover, disappear and reappear with an eerie will of its own, and which remains scientifically unexplained. There is quite a good high tech sound & light show about the Min Min Light, which runs for 40 minutes, which we saw. So that’s Boulia.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsKQJFIdFPaBA9W8n0cPu_9zOfu1jfNNJ2aJKrxmfgxUdvIWv_5hy2e1XfmU6zqzH6H1xPaObk5POiY3oPo13Lz6Qki3nvYQGtjG2txtCOa-VZ8L2-BGjASGMsFjsb_5J9_bdhHpGZag/s1600/P1020620.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsKQJFIdFPaBA9W8n0cPu_9zOfu1jfNNJ2aJKrxmfgxUdvIWv_5hy2e1XfmU6zqzH6H1xPaObk5POiY3oPo13Lz6Qki3nvYQGtjG2txtCOa-VZ8L2-BGjASGMsFjsb_5J9_bdhHpGZag/s1600/P1020620.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scenes from the Min Min Light Tourist attracton</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia2YmKt1virkf3LgvyyIVWFEe72KLGbsC7xjbUJdg06jPV7UkK9_yTbJpJzMtxbhve1vTza0tvaKa3YpYqQuMahzOcdu64lKF1WY0BKVy4we4PUJu_PQaEJfX6XGL9t26qiTYFKJ4CfA/s1600/P1020624.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia2YmKt1virkf3LgvyyIVWFEe72KLGbsC7xjbUJdg06jPV7UkK9_yTbJpJzMtxbhve1vTza0tvaKa3YpYqQuMahzOcdu64lKF1WY0BKVy4we4PUJu_PQaEJfX6XGL9t26qiTYFKJ4CfA/s1600/P1020624.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
True to our previous word, Sat 10th May 2014, day 35, we departed Boulia heading for the Northern Territory border some 257 km westward on the Donohue Highway, with 67km of bitumen before the dirt road began.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJmFnMnIkRbXpqycICHOplTt7VjRJ4oimwlRweeBCWofPgNqFfKshB0YOh1SeIfXa7u92mqYrTmoIjMQiL4jW7PUH09KPo1_BPJTLobpYyp0qSGhlsoL0mXGSziFLaX-XEplWd-EaDFw/s1600/P1020646.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJmFnMnIkRbXpqycICHOplTt7VjRJ4oimwlRweeBCWofPgNqFfKshB0YOh1SeIfXa7u92mqYrTmoIjMQiL4jW7PUH09KPo1_BPJTLobpYyp0qSGhlsoL0mXGSziFLaX-XEplWd-EaDFw/s1600/P1020646.JPG" height="300" width="400" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR5R_xkb0n3DhS2GrlnTBdQIamvkd154gHWPF01OqFxOob8AhqlteoCWNZ5r0GYeeHuXSdtsPN1j5tj8rg3pYngPLkYdR-uvdtim-_OkEFhWTiqfywNLY0N1uU_rJkPbtrvsUdglG8Yg/s1600/P1020647.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR5R_xkb0n3DhS2GrlnTBdQIamvkd154gHWPF01OqFxOob8AhqlteoCWNZ5r0GYeeHuXSdtsPN1j5tj8rg3pYngPLkYdR-uvdtim-_OkEFhWTiqfywNLY0N1uU_rJkPbtrvsUdglG8Yg/s1600/P1020647.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUbhbUnZXJyuQBPB2wbyj8ys_3E2JqXU8XdNT36-QXZ7cJNzQUvPkm1sXduFJOcdNXqi5aJlivvy3IVZLdrAToX2QB-HoUmz_Q9PecY8IdIVOCgoi0YFywwp-2sZhm1kwxntxVQPJj8w/s1600/P1020653.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUbhbUnZXJyuQBPB2wbyj8ys_3E2JqXU8XdNT36-QXZ7cJNzQUvPkm1sXduFJOcdNXqi5aJlivvy3IVZLdrAToX2QB-HoUmz_Q9PecY8IdIVOCgoi0YFywwp-2sZhm1kwxntxVQPJj8w/s1600/P1020653.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The first 60km of open Mitchell grass downs looked good following a welcome season and we passed by the remnants of the long abandoned old Dingo Barrier netted fence 56k out, government-erected early last century to keep western Dingoes out of the State’s central grazing lands. Despite 1080 poison baiting, graziers everywhere will tell you there are more “dogs” today than ever before. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUbhbUnZXJyuQBPB2wbyj8ys_3E2JqXU8XdNT36-QXZ7cJNzQUvPkm1sXduFJOcdNXqi5aJlivvy3IVZLdrAToX2QB-HoUmz_Q9PecY8IdIVOCgoi0YFywwp-2sZhm1kwxntxVQPJj8w/s1600/P1020653.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkFVQYRzyxNeTB7jxpohnsK5fRbiB8Gwi_eYbNbSON9Nlb67cL9v-Y7HUtr71qg3YehbWMMj4QvV83PvkLWtuiyo3KGdErlSEOSfnZXgS2lcpUvNk_v-wIRnln1RIr_o59FidZ6Xkgdw/s1600/P1020658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkFVQYRzyxNeTB7jxpohnsK5fRbiB8Gwi_eYbNbSON9Nlb67cL9v-Y7HUtr71qg3YehbWMMj4QvV83PvkLWtuiyo3KGdErlSEOSfnZXgS2lcpUvNk_v-wIRnln1RIr_o59FidZ6Xkgdw/s1600/P1020658.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Old Dingo Fence</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4e9YFhnmvzx0PurppW4UnEmG3-9qOrwi2r8vGT7Vm3AVq8cM4_7zdyev4Iu9W1_DVz1bOStHJvmy6gsHWfEwrqeCs_ORZ0DKryvCBCXUJ5YcKob2p0zsLg4EjtslgIEVGv3VSDL3Pgg/s1600/P1020677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4e9YFhnmvzx0PurppW4UnEmG3-9qOrwi2r8vGT7Vm3AVq8cM4_7zdyev4Iu9W1_DVz1bOStHJvmy6gsHWfEwrqeCs_ORZ0DKryvCBCXUJ5YcKob2p0zsLg4EjtslgIEVGv3VSDL3Pgg/s1600/P1020677.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>New Steel Cattle Yards</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Dry, sandy river channels with occasional shallow waterholes became more prevalent as we approached the major Georgina River system 134km out, driving through the large (Napco owned) “Glenormiston” run with its herd of good quality cattle. Then on past another quality property, “Roxborough Downs” with its superior black soil channels, which Bruce visited during his Primac days and put to Auction some 25 years ago. <br /><br /> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLWIbHfJXRbb-BeYNId3oZtRM-wrvjAwSHrWRbEKYCzz1cva9XUxpaVnGME6YfGoWSdVLz1cOOJ29s8cvwEg72P_HID1Xv4fmYePn4bgN33uyIOTrW6cyfBTEwiWUBB4003VyhDPYjSw/s1600/P1020670.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLWIbHfJXRbb-BeYNId3oZtRM-wrvjAwSHrWRbEKYCzz1cva9XUxpaVnGME6YfGoWSdVLz1cOOJ29s8cvwEg72P_HID1Xv4fmYePn4bgN33uyIOTrW6cyfBTEwiWUBB4003VyhDPYjSw/s1600/P1020670.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Glenormiston Turn-off</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN12XXmO2gb-kAIGSMXM7wqloxzJuNHjxmXGdNHFf0MWEpI4fLJnuNH7Y0WuxWuyVibkIhgFkaXPpHSsiOW6Lm8hB2t8v6vqPNYUylobZ0EZcnaGgVbImQKZqPom6n3qgL44-zBzjngw/s1600/P1020703.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
Driving this dirt highway was scenic and pleasurable, passing treeless open plains country and the occasional Artesian Bore and steel-built cattle trucking yards. With road graders working all along it, the road-table surface was excellent, the pasture was excellent, the cattle were excellent with shiny fat cows suckling adorable, blooming calves- such a contrast to the sad, drought stricken Central West. Days are mostly sunny and quite hot. <br /><br /> Welcome to the ‘Nature Territory’ read the sign at the grid on the Queensland/Northern Territory border, and the good dirt road turned poorly right from that border grid mostly for the next almost 500km! Welcome to NT’s ‘Plenty Highway’, nominated as a ‘4WD- only’ road, and named for the river of the same calling located about 220km further along. <br /><br /> <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS9k5DAE-mh5UuweJEWsN9pHVfK3dBjU0T1kQQ-UOjkcZZChhurFbtV3VxTFW5vDMwgMwjOLPmZ21qoEMLYrX5-IISHbblldC_vzosaEzMChofLvLh7cUDFsN1Q_ujNIjY4_Q9oVaSMg/s1600/P1020686.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS9k5DAE-mh5UuweJEWsN9pHVfK3dBjU0T1kQQ-UOjkcZZChhurFbtV3VxTFW5vDMwgMwjOLPmZ21qoEMLYrX5-IISHbblldC_vzosaEzMChofLvLh7cUDFsN1Q_ujNIjY4_Q9oVaSMg/s1600/P1020686.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
To be fair, the Plenty Highway does have many fair/good stretches, but also plenty of bulldust, plenty of rough corrugations and plenty stony patches. Nevertheless, it saves 100’s of kilometres from the sealed alternative via Mt Isa and adds a degree of rugged adventure and varying outback scenery to the trip!<br />
<br />
Just 4 km across the NT border is “Tobermorey’ homestead, a fuel stop with a green, inviting, watered grassy campground; ‘Tobermorey’ is a 1.5 million acre family owned cattle station that welcomes paying visitors, but our arrival there being only early afternoon, we decided to top up with Petrol at $2.27/ltr and get back on the road again.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtwZ81a5ghepifULs2LUMdBW5HIQPH4qReRXPyPgD5BB94fuQxP3_ZBZGczK0vUV76l8RnH1Wldmsakf1y3oCYE3fjPT8O0om7ESZ3dqh_ltw-fb3VtPBBp_Re3YlZWf6J0iO9pvEBEg/s1600/P1020693.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtwZ81a5ghepifULs2LUMdBW5HIQPH4qReRXPyPgD5BB94fuQxP3_ZBZGczK0vUV76l8RnH1Wldmsakf1y3oCYE3fjPT8O0om7ESZ3dqh_ltw-fb3VtPBBp_Re3YlZWf6J0iO9pvEBEg/s1600/P1020693.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Tobermorey Campground</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We’ve now entered Central Time Zone and wound the clock back 30 minutes. The first 100km or so into the NT was well grassed dark soil grazing lands but then the sandy, red semi-desert country started, with its stunted shrubby growth and clumpy Spinifex grass, and the sunken road with its high table-drains deteriorated to corrugations, bulldust holes, and long tracks of gripping bulldust furrows. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4MrK08HhSDd_-ekBUdKu41NP4hYJro-UtZ6SUjuFa233xh9xqAYxPDJPjakpPrd9iWlShv5ClOxDqQLYEVnkZVOKlAg_VvQGdo0jonoIt86eSxmrWvHoFF3Z8SbmI7WxUMCkr0jnvA/s1600/P1020720.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4MrK08HhSDd_-ekBUdKu41NP4hYJro-UtZ6SUjuFa233xh9xqAYxPDJPjakpPrd9iWlShv5ClOxDqQLYEVnkZVOKlAg_VvQGdo0jonoIt86eSxmrWvHoFF3Z8SbmI7WxUMCkr0jnvA/s1600/P1020720.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Corrugations with red bull dust</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6dRqNrZ0ljGRSoVQQjuPhWIjOPGYjVumQi-eIo-BhKs7wFyTAEjxZ9ehJxD4fz3ovLuy0-VGfrzeMVdxyI0pQRkKsqZ2A9rf34D6QGs6hTBmX0Plbk3vcUe8KkbFrHPljAdYy9xfwKw/s1600/P1020756.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>The next settlement was ‘Jervois Station’ a further 219km mix of poor to good dirt road where we arrived beside the dry Marshall River in the late afternoon. We stopped here overnight in company with 3 others (having seen barely a few cars all day) in the dusty, un-grassed red soil campground, our first stop at a “dedicated retail” Caravan Park (this one absolutely only bare basics) since leaving Brisbane 35 days ago, and a welcome stop after the day’s 465km bumpy, taxing drive. Fuel was available here but we chose not to top up, hoping for cheaper pricing further down the track.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6dRqNrZ0ljGRSoVQQjuPhWIjOPGYjVumQi-eIo-BhKs7wFyTAEjxZ9ehJxD4fz3ovLuy0-VGfrzeMVdxyI0pQRkKsqZ2A9rf34D6QGs6hTBmX0Plbk3vcUe8KkbFrHPljAdYy9xfwKw/s1600/P1020756.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6dRqNrZ0ljGRSoVQQjuPhWIjOPGYjVumQi-eIo-BhKs7wFyTAEjxZ9ehJxD4fz3ovLuy0-VGfrzeMVdxyI0pQRkKsqZ2A9rf34D6QGs6hTBmX0Plbk3vcUe8KkbFrHPljAdYy9xfwKw/s1600/P1020756.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Jervois Camp Site</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The days have been quite warm but early mornings are becoming quite fresh, but certainly not down to winter temperatures yet, but the one constant is flies; the small ‘bush flies’ are a constant menace, no matter where one stops, flies in your eyes, ears, up your nose, and sometimes down your throat when you’re eating, from sun up to sun set; thankfully we have hat fly veils, and mercifully the flies disappear at sundown. <br /><br /> After our Sunday ‘religion’ of an Eggs & Bacon breakfast, the intrepid KK travellers depart “Jervois Station” on the next 202km leg, ever westward. About 5km out we cross the very expansive Plenty River, with its wide, attractive, dry sandy bed, artistically peppered with big river gums, but showing evidence of its flowing torrent in flood, and the biggest river by far draining this entire region. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJCUEytLFbwitiP82LFPNX64lSZgr2sds65FjoB9x3mjYH1gfcSoNWpJ0VNrIHddD5RBWcf2IAa2rxBdY6ixpaYRKwnRyZiW3RPz3Oxg2h6yWK0KK9eyEj6FfRbpE4E72cw8Q1zaYJXg/s1600/P1020741.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJCUEytLFbwitiP82LFPNX64lSZgr2sds65FjoB9x3mjYH1gfcSoNWpJ0VNrIHddD5RBWcf2IAa2rxBdY6ixpaYRKwnRyZiW3RPz3Oxg2h6yWK0KK9eyEj6FfRbpE4E72cw8Q1zaYJXg/s1600/P1020741.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /> At Harts Range 120km further along we came to the Atitjere Aboriginal Community, a small settlement of perhaps 40 basic modern houses and a few shops 185km east of Alice Springs, clearly government provided, and typical of other such settlements we’ve seen. It was Sunday, so there wasn’t much activity, but the general untidiness, old discarded cars, malnourished dogs and unkempt litter-strewn house grounds sadly reflect the lack of any community pride, something which seems regularly synomonous with aboriginal welfare.<br />
<br />
The next stop was Gemtree Campground, gateway to the gemfields, a Fuel stop where we bought Petrol for $2.30/ltr, with a shop and accommodation, and the centre of a fossicking area for semi precious gemstones. The previous 150km travelled this day was over the roughest and least interesting desert terrain along the Plenty, with its bad corrugations, bulldust holes and areas of hard clay road table, sending clouds of dust billowing high into the sky, where the dust cloud from oncoming vehicles can be seen from a few kilometres away. <br /><br /> All this semi arid desert country is red soil having occasional outcrops of big Anthills and we passed many such areas, with the biggest one right beside the road, which is shown here. A feature which struck us was the virtually non existence of native wildlife with not a single sighting of a Kangaroo or Emu, and little birdlife since leaving Queensland, where kangaroos especially were in plague proportions, as evidenced by the large numbers of road-kill along the highways. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN12XXmO2gb-kAIGSMXM7wqloxzJuNHjxmXGdNHFf0MWEpI4fLJnuNH7Y0WuxWuyVibkIhgFkaXPpHSsiOW6Lm8hB2t8v6vqPNYUylobZ0EZcnaGgVbImQKZqPom6n3qgL44-zBzjngw/s1600/P1020703.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN12XXmO2gb-kAIGSMXM7wqloxzJuNHjxmXGdNHFf0MWEpI4fLJnuNH7Y0WuxWuyVibkIhgFkaXPpHSsiOW6Lm8hB2t8v6vqPNYUylobZ0EZcnaGgVbImQKZqPom6n3qgL44-zBzjngw/s1600/P1020703.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>4 metre Anthill</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
By now it was late afternoon, we were back on the black tarmac so all eyes were scouting for a overnight camp spot, preferably up any track off the road, and 2km before the junction of the Plenty & Stuart Highways we followed a road side-track to an abandoned road works quarry which proved to be a wonderful overnight camp spot.<br />
<br />
Here we discovered that our 12v ‘Engel’ drinks fridge in the Land Cruiser was not running today after its Plenty Hwy shake-up, so that’s repair job #1 in Alice Springs. <br /><br />Next morning, with the Plenty’s dust behind us and sweet bitumen under the tyres, we cruised the 70km into Australia’s iconic centre, our first ever visit to Alice Springs. Ever since I read Neville Shute’s novel “A Town Like Alice” and saw the movie of the same name, ‘Alice’ has held a special attraction for me and we were not disappointed. <br /><br /> A bright, clean, modern city of 25,000+ people including many aboriginals, Alice Springs nestles prettily amongst the red rocky hills of the MacDonnell Ranges with its wide divided streets lined with mature Gumtrees; it’s an oasis in the desert on the banks on the dry Todd River, and is so unexpectedly green and lush following good recent rains.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9G1pKTWYUBvyW67u78BwOjEF5TieblguOACbyCbsjU8qtmlv9TH3oJG78FSCd4OqDHuh5R2Bi3t4qtGRXPHRAV-pI5Pn9lQSdk_aULXfXFZQzduoen8e8ww5m9SmeRC9Q98IXstxYdQ/s1600/P1020800.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9G1pKTWYUBvyW67u78BwOjEF5TieblguOACbyCbsjU8qtmlv9TH3oJG78FSCd4OqDHuh5R2Bi3t4qtGRXPHRAV-pI5Pn9lQSdk_aULXfXFZQzduoen8e8ww5m9SmeRC9Q98IXstxYdQ/s1600/P1020800.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
(By way of interest, the Northern Territory has had such a good “wet” this year that Kakadu National Park remains presently closed to tourists, being considered too wet). <br /><br />The annual gathering of the national Ulysses Motorcycle Club is currently being held here in Alice Springs, with 2600 motorcycles converging on the town. There are bikes everywhere, a never-ending procession of bikes and 3 wheeler trikes, many towing mini camper trailers, here around Alice and on the highways since back at Roma. Their Showground’s venue is literally a ‘sea of tents’ and a blaze of multi coloured motorbikes.<br />
<br />
We found the ‘Engel’ fridge dealer and a Auto Electrician next door, and had our fridge problem solved before we even reached downtown Alice, where we booked in at the central Stuart Caravan Park whilst exploring ‘Alice’ for the next 3 days. A visit to the Post Office found our ‘Fiamma’ awning spare part awaiting collection, to repair the swivel joint broken by the “willy willy” whirlwind back in Winton. So we’re now 100% again. <br /><br /> We’re enjoying the luxury of Van Park living, especially having 240v power to run and charge all our systems, and the opportunity to meet and share touring information and experiences with like minded travellers. We spent a day checking out the downtown Alice Mall, the view from central Anzac Hill, visiting a great Camping Gear Shop, and general sightseeing around Alice. <br /><br /> But the desire to see The Red Centre’s jewel in the crown was growing stronger by the day as Uluru and The Olgas willed our coming, so we departed Alice after three full days and headed for the Rock, which we’ll share with you in KKK #4, coming your way soon. <br /><br />
Bruce and Audrey<br />
Curtin Springs<br />
18/5/14 <br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> Yacht Envyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296367569566410867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5422585594160201132.post-69342381315506915742014-05-10T05:59:00.000+08:002014-05-10T05:59:47.683+08:00KKK No. 2 Adavale to Boulia<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 24.0pt;">“K K K”</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">K</b>imberley
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">K</b>aravan <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">K</b>apers’ - Bruce and Audrey)</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">No: 2<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Adavale to Boulia</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">April
15, day 10, finds us departing Adavale on the 224km unsealed road to Blackall.
The first half is hard red Mulga country, although the road surface was mostly
fair, and we saw a live 2 metre deadly “Western Brown" Snake on the
roadside; then we came out of the red country, across a rocky escarpment, ‘The
Jump-up’, and down into the fertile Listowel Valley seeing a few Kangaroos and
several Emus on the last 100km of soft well grassed Black Soil country into
Blackall, where we arrived at the Barcoo River Campground behind the town at
lunchtime.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6sEf_xZWCr1skzF9_0bhRAiURKi-rloYj0EjfkS2gtGn7PkTl7hWZfQ7pwdNVtGSo-GHTTee8F2F599RJA01j-8qi56Xw7SJyBwna_mdzDyho73vmdWY27N_OtenC6-dfumRMqmsN5w/s1600/P1020249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6sEf_xZWCr1skzF9_0bhRAiURKi-rloYj0EjfkS2gtGn7PkTl7hWZfQ7pwdNVtGSo-GHTTee8F2F599RJA01j-8qi56Xw7SJyBwna_mdzDyho73vmdWY27N_OtenC6-dfumRMqmsN5w/s1600/P1020249.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Blackall
(pop 1588) occupies black-soil flats along the Barcoo River , with the main
street comprising three blocks, and like most western towns has a water supply
from the Great Artesian Basin but, it’s different in that the town supply here <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is pure drinkable water straight from the tap
with no bore taste or smell.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbGwbf2rdx4wsIAtmdttwDhKdVirCIheI_BBCPBNogofdYmVzaIk6d5GEvxpzVfuBRPzYE2X5pYVlH_9F7LnhqJEC17hRjWPhuAsnc3f-aMXwsuUJJMeuDlnP3a99bMxJ1A_iMql2W2w/s1600/P1020267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbGwbf2rdx4wsIAtmdttwDhKdVirCIheI_BBCPBNogofdYmVzaIk6d5GEvxpzVfuBRPzYE2X5pYVlH_9F7LnhqJEC17hRjWPhuAsnc3f-aMXwsuUJJMeuDlnP3a99bMxJ1A_iMql2W2w/s1600/P1020267.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Blackall’s
other claims to fame include “The Black Stump”, which was used as a base in
1887 to rest a huge theodolite while the government was surveying the far west,
and anything West of it was referred to as “being beyond the Black Stump”. The
Big Ram Museum, honouring legendary Shearer Jack Howe who shore a record 321
Sheep in 7 hours here; the Blackall Woolscour is the only fully intact steam
powered plant left in Australia, and in 1885 Blackall became the first town in
Queensland to sink an artesian bore. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpFq44yh5H5SMOJB8c71w8Wt6NV6EP-KD2Bw9Ge2IPcMU28J2-0sTJEigun04L1XaXC9J-m8NwF4JCspjHLCX7tQxU1vcW62ppKXmvJ5T7zPoRQYQLVPIlgk-o3I-xZaeh9By_tsvIXg/s1600/P1020269.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpFq44yh5H5SMOJB8c71w8Wt6NV6EP-KD2Bw9Ge2IPcMU28J2-0sTJEigun04L1XaXC9J-m8NwF4JCspjHLCX7tQxU1vcW62ppKXmvJ5T7zPoRQYQLVPIlgk-o3I-xZaeh9By_tsvIXg/s1600/P1020269.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We
spent 4 nights in Blackall, and spent our time walking around the town looking
at the attractions, with a few millimetres of rain making the campground black
soil very sticky under foot. Met some nice people here and enjoyed Sundowners
under a rising Full Moon.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Best
advice was to head west to Isisford which we did on Good Friday and spent
Easter camped on the shady riverbank beside the weir on the (Outer) Barcoo River
right at the edge of this nice little outback town. Nearby “Isis Downs” boasted
a 100 Stand Shearing Shed at the turn of the 20<sup>th</sup> century. That’s
BIG!! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">There’s
not much to Isisford town and what’s there was closed for Easter, so we had a
quite time socializing with more new friends and eating Red Claw Yabbies caught
fresh out of the Barcoo a few metres away. Yum! Just like lobster.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7IBovU3b2PJL9yzxwtDLMJ4gUuANaj_RD8Hq5OPueXnZo_yWQbRKDaUS7ftXw3DXw6j63_a_joyA-ovTAAUjtKVP5xnzbxZhlGdMYFYFtPkWm8wwi-R_YD40Fh3TuBFmY-y1lsVJO6A/s1600/P1020289.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7IBovU3b2PJL9yzxwtDLMJ4gUuANaj_RD8Hq5OPueXnZo_yWQbRKDaUS7ftXw3DXw6j63_a_joyA-ovTAAUjtKVP5xnzbxZhlGdMYFYFtPkWm8wwi-R_YD40Fh3TuBFmY-y1lsVJO6A/s1600/P1020289.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Isisford's well known "Clancys Overflow Hotel"</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><i><b> </b></i>After
4 days of quiet pleasure at Isisford Weir we were off to the Big Smoke …..
Longreach, armed with shopping lists a mile long, since by now we were aware of
things that we’d overlooked from Brisbane
or subsequently discovered a need for.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We
settled in at the Apex campground beside the ‘long reach’ of the Thomson River
4km out of Longreach (origin of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the
name) on 22 April; The countryside for 100’s of sq miles around Longreach is
all rolling Mitchell & Flinders grass open downs, drained by the Thompson
River, and in Season, superb grazing lands. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Further
south, between Jundah and Windorah, the Thomson
River joins the Barcoo
River to form Cooper
Creek, the only place in Australia
where 2 rivers join to become a creek. (Thus endeth today’s geography lesson!)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">By
now Audrey had decided to fly back to Brisbane
the next day to attend niece Krystyna and Pete’s Sat 26 wedding, leaving poor
“Cinderella” to look after our travelling home, and do the catch-up shopping. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Longreach
(pop < 5000) is a regional centre which has pretty much everything, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and where tourism is a major economic player including;
the Stockman’s Hall of Fame, the Qantas Museum, Paddleboats on the Thomson
River, authentic Stage Coach Rides, and Joy Flights, Campfire Tucker & Bush
poetry, etc ad- infinitem.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4s11wQFLgbyau32mMOb4pOWD9AlkNJCzBmWPG15q6uqIufZbAnfcKwyXPogCA2JwXqSkFdsj__n19ln0xaK5c-tzu6ea1unSd6VcH2JOt7MV_zH1RuFwCjsEj9ROjFvBDRY7ZaXbHmw/s1600/P1020363.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4s11wQFLgbyau32mMOb4pOWD9AlkNJCzBmWPG15q6uqIufZbAnfcKwyXPogCA2JwXqSkFdsj__n19ln0xaK5c-tzu6ea1unSd6VcH2JOt7MV_zH1RuFwCjsEj9ROjFvBDRY7ZaXbHmw/s1600/P1020363.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM6km7M3QrLBLyTZfY8Y7GLtQoYto6o4LLo5CNJlJ3ezyw8iA4Av64Q3rp5kOT1z52LWnTwh4-Lqlhw9s90-YJeMiFeSPdNCRU9Hx_dTk33_pVqrvL-AEJOodlfSvlRtS087jTs3ZJLg/s1600/P1020357.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM6km7M3QrLBLyTZfY8Y7GLtQoYto6o4LLo5CNJlJ3ezyw8iA4Av64Q3rp5kOT1z52LWnTwh4-Lqlhw9s90-YJeMiFeSPdNCRU9Hx_dTk33_pVqrvL-AEJOodlfSvlRtS087jTs3ZJLg/s1600/P1020357.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">News
arrived that our good sailing friends Dave and Pattie Bowden (ex NSW) were
visiting Dave’s brother Stuart’s “Penlan Downs Station” at Muttaburra, 150km north,
so an invitation to visit was accepted after departing Longreach, a deviation
enroute to Winton.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Another
pleasant interlude was catching up with Bruce’s old work colleague, retired
Primac Longreach Manager, George Vinson and wife Jan, who invited me home for a
BBQ, to regale tales of our mutual lifelong involvement in the rural agency field,
pre-dating our friendship from 1968 during our Clermont days.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Staying
with the Vinson’s was George’s brother-in-law Don Rayment the manager of “Adria
Downs Station” 130km NW of Birdsville, where they run up to 18,500 quality
Hereford cattle on 3.2 million acres on several conjoining holdings along Eyre
Creek in the western Channels. (The adjoining run contains 6.6 million acres)!!
We’ve been invited to visit “Adria Stn” during next year’s outback travels.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Audrey
returned following 5 days in Brisbane, so we toured the ‘Stockman’s Hall of
Fame’ together, then drove 150 km to Stuart Bowden’s “Penlan Downs” Sheep
Station, 85km being dirt road, west of Muttaburra. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">‘Penlan’
comprises about 56 Sq miles of Open Downs country, has good waters and
improvements, beautifully sweet bore water, and is principally a sheep run, as
well as being home to scores of western red kangaroos. The pasture is parched
dry, with little rain this season, so stock are being off-loaded. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcGBRwPTpkJZ5ig01pEROp2QKoSTAz6fj5N4J90NaaegGglzd3zUzdr2zzW2IiMD8yKtO4zo99Oa7vaYgnU9wX3wEuQ5h6ssM2bXQiImCyRDfWg-XaZSSLi4kRsHdT_1KnqSm65BnAIA/s1600/P1020403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcGBRwPTpkJZ5ig01pEROp2QKoSTAz6fj5N4J90NaaegGglzd3zUzdr2zzW2IiMD8yKtO4zo99Oa7vaYgnU9wX3wEuQ5h6ssM2bXQiImCyRDfWg-XaZSSLi4kRsHdT_1KnqSm65BnAIA/s1600/P1020403.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8glIlqPBx-63XU_93TgsF7Yp1DqRh-vkdL7TaPScmfSjBxdsDggtVsrzzoOa8u4MIPURPaxNQZ95cZ7ZNXYbwnIJ3ZxfdY1IXLwc6iTdXuxK7Z0OAWkuB7QKIu3YCBdnLfx0cdyq-kg/s1600/P1020410.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8glIlqPBx-63XU_93TgsF7Yp1DqRh-vkdL7TaPScmfSjBxdsDggtVsrzzoOa8u4MIPURPaxNQZ95cZ7ZNXYbwnIJ3ZxfdY1IXLwc6iTdXuxK7Z0OAWkuB7QKIu3YCBdnLfx0cdyq-kg/s1600/P1020410.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHv06cHq_Z7PIcSRObWugh0v0bKk0K_bEhFqAkPoj1yE-WdRv2NEFzFFNQYZgbBOkIIbUCfDLhir9frHxYxsyz1_oTxPfxMTdbt_h30_wLidtvk26QxqM6p2rAcoznmdpfGOjpuFbzgQ/s1600/P1020413.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHv06cHq_Z7PIcSRObWugh0v0bKk0K_bEhFqAkPoj1yE-WdRv2NEFzFFNQYZgbBOkIIbUCfDLhir9frHxYxsyz1_oTxPfxMTdbt_h30_wLidtvk26QxqM6p2rAcoznmdpfGOjpuFbzgQ/s1600/P1020413.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We
worked from sun-up til after dark helping draft off ‘sale’ wethers the first
two days, followed by a social day at nearby “Llorac Stn” where there was a Sheep
Shearing competition amongst a few locals. Audrey skirted the big wethers’ fleeces
while I swept up the loose wool around the shearers’ stands. No such thing as a
free lunch out here, and the BBQ lunch was superb.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Hc9f133p4lcA1EYWitOBRdZaO43Y1Oo9c2a-Vt0AhRXhWRDxr4g2A40W8R9GpPWja-emHNbJbuut7E9AWvyFB4g6xBucgqxwHrxUta2TfoarnUO5hHOYlvGsC0q_s9SELQxQAHl7FQ/s1600/P1020441.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Hc9f133p4lcA1EYWitOBRdZaO43Y1Oo9c2a-Vt0AhRXhWRDxr4g2A40W8R9GpPWja-emHNbJbuut7E9AWvyFB4g6xBucgqxwHrxUta2TfoarnUO5hHOYlvGsC0q_s9SELQxQAHl7FQ/s1600/P1020441.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMglRGg3DwygS31U-zm1xgDG0-k0Ol-N_G_XK_8fE3w-F1082FHbX_FQX1I6u4RNBUuGwtK0MVJuVjHp0Rk21USxhSvT95W-N3erEHVDzF3Tqu-rMetaj2FkMBzGgDr29F1hDC2-dEGA/s1600/P1020447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMglRGg3DwygS31U-zm1xgDG0-k0Ol-N_G_XK_8fE3w-F1082FHbX_FQX1I6u4RNBUuGwtK0MVJuVjHp0Rk21USxhSvT95W-N3erEHVDzF3Tqu-rMetaj2FkMBzGgDr29F1hDC2-dEGA/s1600/P1020447.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Then
Audrey and I did a round trip back in to Longreach to collect Stuart’s buggy
from repairs, so another day gone. The next two days were spent making concrete
water troughs, plus we killed and butchered a sheep for home supplies, and fed
calf pellets to young weaners who’d squeeze you away to get to the feed trough.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnuPM8ZAApKsLqIxBn9cfkzwflobxmaspLWYS9OO3qyEstJOOLGPgJuJQBdpngDpEiraufG3oOt9vaxBGnJV0_3Mtf5HN-ys9h58pXHJn0286SCjtatgd1cDJwBFIcCxJGwUYjeCFSKg/s1600/P1020459.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnuPM8ZAApKsLqIxBn9cfkzwflobxmaspLWYS9OO3qyEstJOOLGPgJuJQBdpngDpEiraufG3oOt9vaxBGnJV0_3Mtf5HN-ys9h58pXHJn0286SCjtatgd1cDJwBFIcCxJGwUYjeCFSKg/s1600/P1020459.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Stuart’s
sheep dog ‘Buddy’ is a white kelpie whom the sheep often ignored because he was
white like them, so ‘Buddy’ under-went a colour change, being dyed with brown
patches to make him more visible, and the Sheep now do as ‘Buddy’ wills them. His
markings resemble those of an African Hyena! </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9203IDLTmc91l1z5K8N0wsAD9P06jH8_nFckyW6UpAvj7sGQTEYH5avipnHlW4k8qsMH9EiQIHkZSiFfJef6sz0GdsctpL49DIs0eTti8jEVYpWQjScGG25gWJtVZAjbe8feTWS_kjA/s1600/P1020482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9203IDLTmc91l1z5K8N0wsAD9P06jH8_nFckyW6UpAvj7sGQTEYH5avipnHlW4k8qsMH9EiQIHkZSiFfJef6sz0GdsctpL49DIs0eTti8jEVYpWQjScGG25gWJtVZAjbe8feTWS_kjA/s1600/P1020482.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">A
week later we’re back on the road again heading 170km west, including 100km of
dirt road with rough cattle grids, through very dry black soil downs to Winton,
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the town that gave us Qantas and
Waltzing Matilda, and a lovely friendly town it proved to be.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCby-lJ7Y3BZ8zT4WHUab2wlO8FDtDhMV1Gj4se0pC6RbEVgrMv20GkFf874P0wpsQkbYlam5FMaqa9ONKmKYB83NgUq3ZuyMgU0_0xHskEHjEI9lg_pzn-O3mTUTIp8w37oJCv1hs9g/s1600/P1020511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCby-lJ7Y3BZ8zT4WHUab2wlO8FDtDhMV1Gj4se0pC6RbEVgrMv20GkFf874P0wpsQkbYlam5FMaqa9ONKmKYB83NgUq3ZuyMgU0_0xHskEHjEI9lg_pzn-O3mTUTIp8w37oJCv1hs9g/s1600/P1020511.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We
camped at the ‘Long Waterhole’ 4km south of town with several other fellow
caravaners, and returned from town to find a freak “willy willy” whirlwind had
blown our Awning across the top of the Van and broken part of it, so we’ve
arranged to have a replacement part posted to Alice Springs, where we hope to
arrive in a few days’ time.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBa18SBIRFQWxXjY38QevWipUUmmq3c4feMXfK1xp8ricjKI4O4LICqdHuYMg3FwS9PR3V7bKRcvtruypk9UCdNkwCBtS-8VsqWXncrFKQubqoia0EQA2zIpkWakcwMrVWYDcgolx7pg/s1600/P1020517.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBa18SBIRFQWxXjY38QevWipUUmmq3c4feMXfK1xp8ricjKI4O4LICqdHuYMg3FwS9PR3V7bKRcvtruypk9UCdNkwCBtS-8VsqWXncrFKQubqoia0EQA2zIpkWakcwMrVWYDcgolx7pg/s1600/P1020517.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Most
small western country towns look similar, having a wide divided main street,
with trees or grass up the centre and the usual array of shops and pubs along
either side. Each has their speciality tourist attraction and in Winton it is
the “Waltzing Matilda” centre. Comprising an Art
Gallery with some very nice works, the
story of Australia’s
most recognized song is presented in life-size working dioramas of light and
sound as well as static displays, and it’s all very good.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">In
1999, a Winton grazier noticed a huge fossilized bone protruding from beneath
the black soil in a sheep paddock, which bought about the beginning of
Australia’s pre-eminent dinosaur science centre, the ‘Australian Age Of
Dinosaurs’, sited 24km from Winton, where 100+ million y/o skeletal remains are
being retrieved from under 1 to 3 metres of black soil. They tell us Winton is
the only place in the world where original dinosaur bones can be seen in open
displays, rather than in closed museum displays. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBa18SBIRFQWxXjY38QevWipUUmmq3c4feMXfK1xp8ricjKI4O4LICqdHuYMg3FwS9PR3V7bKRcvtruypk9UCdNkwCBtS-8VsqWXncrFKQubqoia0EQA2zIpkWakcwMrVWYDcgolx7pg/s1600/P1020517.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQemq0pZ1U9isVVH5iCOZVGtCo9lrPv1dr99EWcpKAM_30KwNxwroG_XaW1qjs_qyNGsgprpXKmMk7l4wsZYBIV3QsWsYd1E6pC9G2OOUMbDnj_wMklc11gRRPAXtwPce9Zm9vEzl_uQ/s1600/P1020530.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQemq0pZ1U9isVVH5iCOZVGtCo9lrPv1dr99EWcpKAM_30KwNxwroG_XaW1qjs_qyNGsgprpXKmMk7l4wsZYBIV3QsWsYd1E6pC9G2OOUMbDnj_wMklc11gRRPAXtwPce9Zm9vEzl_uQ/s1600/P1020530.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD4GScXaZKmNQANX6mlQRYlNOYgL1sFHJa0FBB0cVXA0_YlnhOuOHOyk_MYvyHmS_TxDw2KiQbBppzT8jne1ipeFwznLWDMFQqU-pEjlZB81834sPk3oh4qKnOmYE7z7SVz2xD43s4QQ/s1600/P1020551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD4GScXaZKmNQANX6mlQRYlNOYgL1sFHJa0FBB0cVXA0_YlnhOuOHOyk_MYvyHmS_TxDw2KiQbBppzT8jne1ipeFwznLWDMFQqU-pEjlZB81834sPk3oh4qKnOmYE7z7SVz2xD43s4QQ/s1600/P1020551.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">After
an exciting, touristy 2 days in Winton, we headed off west again on the 377km
bitumen road to Boulia, passing through some of the most scenic areas we’ve so
far seen. The further west we travelled the better the country looked, clearly
having more rainfall than the central west. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">But
then, after Middleton – a lone solitary outback pub beside the highway, the
mile after mile of flat open grassy downs country gave way to rugged red soil
and fascinating ‘jump-ups’, solitary sentinels, the result of million of years
of erosion, when vast inland seas covered much of western Queensland. Cawnpore
Lookout offers outstanding views of these features.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmOaF6cobif1Y9gLM725DBk5nnkNnwe2ER95_MlqSMgKItWAX8Yh1c4JzrwYZjktKp38vRtCJ4ibFvAmQ9XI2fLhFOgIzqFsyaYCGuiIp9PQVHxinBbcI_6aNhBTOGOXaU5pULlVbZ3Q/s1600/P1020562.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmOaF6cobif1Y9gLM725DBk5nnkNnwe2ER95_MlqSMgKItWAX8Yh1c4JzrwYZjktKp38vRtCJ4ibFvAmQ9XI2fLhFOgIzqFsyaYCGuiIp9PQVHxinBbcI_6aNhBTOGOXaU5pULlVbZ3Q/s1600/P1020562.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuxQt0nIUw79Syc0cWJTYwwfzjEBfCjjTnEaKUo3D81vLsz-BGm0cH7P1oM1G9ES4iz05fhbsmIV6US5ViZKsirr5jG20T7faqtxd_55SRTPGwLUDMVq5AXj7ZLoIMT1vFvCl1aDGT9Q/s1600/P1020578.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuxQt0nIUw79Syc0cWJTYwwfzjEBfCjjTnEaKUo3D81vLsz-BGm0cH7P1oM1G9ES4iz05fhbsmIV6US5ViZKsirr5jG20T7faqtxd_55SRTPGwLUDMVq5AXj7ZLoIMT1vFvCl1aDGT9Q/s1600/P1020578.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">It’s
now 33 days and 2766km since we left Brisbane; today finds us camped on the
banks of the Burke River behind the Racecourse Reserve 5km out of Boulia town.
We’ve delayed here an extra day to get this KKK #2 report off into cyber space
and plan to depart tomorrow on the 800+ km dirt road through ‘Tobermorey Station’
just over the Northern Territory border, and on into Alice Springs. The
changing countryside is really starting to look and feel like The Outback now.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Cheers
til the Alice,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Bruce
and Audrey </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Boulia
– Friday 9<sup>th</sup> May 2014 </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br /></div>
Yacht Envyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296367569566410867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5422585594160201132.post-26350675435050409642014-05-04T16:52:00.000+08:002014-05-10T06:01:03.372+08:00Kimberley Karavan Kapers<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">As
a result of kind, indulgent friends and family who generously, if not
foolishly, offered words of encouragement, interest and praise in receiving our
‘Happenings’ reports during “Envy’s” cruising years – well, for your sins,
you’ll now have to suffer our new KKK report “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">K</b>imberley <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">K</b>aravan <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">K</b>apers” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(not Klu Klux Klan) regaling tales of our days
of adventurous wanderings around Outback Oz.</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We
left Brisbane on
a bright April Sunday morning, and already we’re pondering the Big Question <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">To Be - or Not To Be</b>.... QUICK, that is?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean, just how long is six months and how
far is 15,000km – should we be going slower, or moving on more quickly? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjye7wFAfAx8Hvi4c3x3twLG6SH1GTHcWMJ5SxR4u5bb8uodWixS6HFRD8QHMQm9nhWf8YI5cOF0a5f4Gj3yJ_rjK6HqOutoBrS5qhBgwEx14JUBPHoUksaceBYoTntu71DiuD930PZqg/s1600/IMG_0239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjye7wFAfAx8Hvi4c3x3twLG6SH1GTHcWMJ5SxR4u5bb8uodWixS6HFRD8QHMQm9nhWf8YI5cOF0a5f4Gj3yJ_rjK6HqOutoBrS5qhBgwEx14JUBPHoUksaceBYoTntu71DiuD930PZqg/s1600/IMG_0239.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>All loaded and ready to go!</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">This
is our main concern as we rest in welcome Air-Conditioned comfort in the middle
of a grassy red clay-pan at Adavale in Queensland’s central southwest, only
about 108 km from (blink and you’ll miss it) Eromanga, the town furtherest from
the ocean of anywhere in Australia – so I guess you could say we’ve now reached
‘The Outback’.</span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">But
we need to get this back into perspective and start our story at the beginning.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We
departed our Cannon Hill home in excited haste 11am on Sunday 6<sup>th</sup>
April 2014 and drove off leaving the electric Garage door wide open allowing total
entrée to the house, which a kindly neighbour’s phone text alerted us to the
next morning, together with their prior remedial action. Door now closed!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Our
Toyota Land Cruiser GXL pulled the 2+ tonne rig valiantly up the Range into Toowoomba,
driving through heavy storm rain across the Darling Downs enroute to Dalby
(fuel stop) and then on to Tara where we free camped on a side road 20km out,
before heading into town next morning. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikCjqOWYVOIGflGXq9oQ1gHiASJL37cWXobzdxY_K3X4PKCwVUVU9A2I0y_lJmIKXDpfnI7-j1hcLByYZWA2lkPRc_twu6F3tEnkNf4saP_xENbtVYSrCSMnTLuJw1MXz2JUigjsITMQ/s1600/P1020038a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikCjqOWYVOIGflGXq9oQ1gHiASJL37cWXobzdxY_K3X4PKCwVUVU9A2I0y_lJmIKXDpfnI7-j1hcLByYZWA2lkPRc_twu6F3tEnkNf4saP_xENbtVYSrCSMnTLuJw1MXz2JUigjsITMQ/s1600/P1020038a.jpg" height="230" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>1st Overnight stop outside Tara</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span>T<span style="font-family: Arial;">ara</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">’s a typical smallish country town which has been transformed by the
Natural Gas Industry. Its Bakery basks in well deserved praise, and I’ll always
remember Tara as my first managerial
appointment as Relieving Branch Manager for a short period early in 1968.</span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Next
morning we headed west through soft Brigalow Scrub country, stopping at
Meandarra, presently a rural ‘Garden of Eden’ having received eleven inches
(275mm) of drought breaking RAIN recently, resulting in abundant grazing feed,
fence-high in places, assuring much needed economic relief for its pastoral
industry.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meandarra boasts a small WW1/WW2 ANZAC Museum,
which we visited, comprising mostly Tanks, light armoured vehicles, various
field ordinance and war memorabilia, originating from an ex local collector.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Then
on to the tiny village of Glenmorgan (only a café & a few houses) for lunch
at the old Railway Station and a visit to nearby ‘Myall Park’, a privately
owned grazing property Internationally acclaimed for its native Grevillea
plants, research and propagation. Several new species of Grevillea have been
bred and established here since the 1940’s.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-H8IAEE8OTmfGfKwgVhMFzGcBERKbX8eBA4Q7wGiAUSFeonQrGDfpSWZmUQhrvCDV77NOPF8LIvvfwjZxEIEQkgr-E1O2tRNtNf-80TOlLxBKovHTuEYb5M2tONU0FQ2hNOWroBSXA/s1600/P1020047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-H8IAEE8OTmfGfKwgVhMFzGcBERKbX8eBA4Q7wGiAUSFeonQrGDfpSWZmUQhrvCDV77NOPF8LIvvfwjZxEIEQkgr-E1O2tRNtNf-80TOlLxBKovHTuEYb5M2tONU0FQ2hNOWroBSXA/s1600/P1020047.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Monty's Garage in Glenmorgan</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The
highlight to date was another visit to good friend Margaret Neill (Bruce’s
1980’s work colleague) at her “Newstead Station” Surat cattle property for a couple of days,
with Bruce helping with weed spraying then fencing off the poisoned area. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqACewJoKqgGZY_HHeCSBgxspkYpVbXo1SCZIHk1mZnKEcU5zP2XDr1krSvykXPnN69ApfRA9Q0cIPPTfojmO2iIS6-eiyXvxj8eKibYsa5t8JSsTuwCcjtDkGd2GTH4ymS3KsPdD4dQ/s1600/P1020062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqACewJoKqgGZY_HHeCSBgxspkYpVbXo1SCZIHk1mZnKEcU5zP2XDr1krSvykXPnN69ApfRA9Q0cIPPTfojmO2iIS6-eiyXvxj8eKibYsa5t8JSsTuwCcjtDkGd2GTH4ymS3KsPdD4dQ/s1600/P1020062.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Bruce and Keith Fencing</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl_plqLFgjDwO4lIdoEqzSUBrtZIHXKSW1FUmIHwsHgnrV5QuiaxinFNbwnhftYMYZwJzo-4Y5fJhbojihCLW5xftdS8HZZgc5PPPoMXs-w8OegNFH_mu1OlYxjgUqcKvDG3G1KtZU_Q/s1600/P1020071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl_plqLFgjDwO4lIdoEqzSUBrtZIHXKSW1FUmIHwsHgnrV5QuiaxinFNbwnhftYMYZwJzo-4Y5fJhbojihCLW5xftdS8HZZgc5PPPoMXs-w8OegNFH_mu1OlYxjgUqcKvDG3G1KtZU_Q/s1600/P1020071.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Cattle close to the Homestead</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">The
property and its cattle both looking excellent after 4” of recent rain, but
both Bush-flies and Sandflies gave us curry; some smoky fires were lit to
protect ‘man and beast’, and it works! Buffel Grass, introduced for grazing
pasture improvement in the 1970’s, is now beneficially prolific, if not
somewhat invasive. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEKh_lm_6S9zqzikmrNmSyu9U6ApQ_cBG8hsxAbTzfPe_Zv-n_i80TWuBJtr0k0sWss7b7f9lJ-RCmyam3_ET8HfV1M63ThMhK7F46cZSyAJFHJBkJnYRIN-9WTOqOxXsxRB5r6efF5Q/s1600/P1020055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEKh_lm_6S9zqzikmrNmSyu9U6ApQ_cBG8hsxAbTzfPe_Zv-n_i80TWuBJtr0k0sWss7b7f9lJ-RCmyam3_ET8HfV1M63ThMhK7F46cZSyAJFHJBkJnYRIN-9WTOqOxXsxRB5r6efF5Q/s1600/P1020055.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Burning cow dung to ward off the sandflies!</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Wednesday
9/4, we departed our Surat station-life adventures and drove to Roma, the
largest town in the South West, where Oil, Gas and Grazing drive a thriving rural
economy. Roma Cattle Saleyards are possibly Queensland’s largest, and the town centre is
very busy. The packed Airport car park reflects the trend of ‘Fly In – Fly Out
employment, with scores of 4wd’s crowding every space. </span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">After
some shopping and a Pub lunch in Roma, and we were back on the road again early
arvo, passing through lovely open Downs grazing country, on via Muckadilla to
Mitchell, where we enjoyed an attractive, pest free grassy camp spot on the
bank of the Maranoa River, at the Neil Turner Weir a couple of kilometres
behind town. The weir is terribly silted up with flooded sand, and its capacity
seriously depleted by maybe 90%!! A lovely cool breeze blew, no flies, a special
bottle of Moet Bubbles, and a Full Moon rising. Great spot!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOc5rHnC9HtGWzk6oTQi8XSOsYR5ucOVnR2o4sdSB5Ag5AkXCp-j8paZGwJUk8ZLVRQ3f85paHufCiQJ1ahs80IldhU5eFMW8_QR6u3yT7QXbfhfuJ76wURcgRZ__38O_USx1-Zqk_kw/s1600/P1020084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOc5rHnC9HtGWzk6oTQi8XSOsYR5ucOVnR2o4sdSB5Ag5AkXCp-j8paZGwJUk8ZLVRQ3f85paHufCiQJ1ahs80IldhU5eFMW8_QR6u3yT7QXbfhfuJ76wURcgRZ__38O_USx1-Zqk_kw/s1600/P1020084.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Neil Turner Weir</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqnvH-DxAO28HLWYDxvEUqB-SNCVzF0AJ5Gl1Vsvj0VF4X1Gk-k_P7aA5c7Rs0hITQIyTg3Uxm61EjB-Sx3hZtfhW0kVLqxTgWO03TBMjHUNF4NYWa0xD4SDyaWacWiuvIglzbfwQp2g/s1600/P1020081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqnvH-DxAO28HLWYDxvEUqB-SNCVzF0AJ5Gl1Vsvj0VF4X1Gk-k_P7aA5c7Rs0hITQIyTg3Uxm61EjB-Sx3hZtfhW0kVLqxTgWO03TBMjHUNF4NYWa0xD4SDyaWacWiuvIglzbfwQp2g/s1600/P1020081.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Moet Bubbles to cheer our adventures on</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Day
5: Only the one night in Mitchell and, after a quick look around town next
morning, Charleville – gateway to the far West, was in our sights. Initially the
land was well grassed open Downs, and there
were several roadworks stops before Morven (a coffee stop)</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">where we inspected the “Kerosene” Tin Shed made
out of flattened kerosene drums, a common sight during the 1920/30’s recession</span>. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyHH-8BaaCCgCmw4IsPcXktU4WgLO0oqU0OltOZ5kFMtl8MuTAyHEMmLDqGxOimfFAjoxPmBJywmN7PQ7_Y5ZwcsIhGAU0w2rfOXH73QgBQn3252RzgZeoN5j3QmGxdLQsQkYkh0VOdw/s1600/P1020090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyHH-8BaaCCgCmw4IsPcXktU4WgLO0oqU0OltOZ5kFMtl8MuTAyHEMmLDqGxOimfFAjoxPmBJywmN7PQ7_Y5ZwcsIhGAU0w2rfOXH73QgBQn3252RzgZeoN5j3QmGxdLQsQkYkh0VOdw/s1600/P1020090.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Early Settlers Kerosene Tin Hut</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The country then
started to change to hard sandy red soil ridges with Box flats offering sparse
grazing, and now the start of the scented Gidgee and Mulga Scrub country. Huge
triple-rig Road Trains thundered past us all along the Warrego Highway. </span>
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">12
km east of town are Charleville’s “Rock Holes” Bush Camp; a hard red rocky area
with large water filled holes, where we spent a pleasant quiet night camped in
Mulga Scrub, and lit our first camp fire. The West’s notorious bush flies
smothered us again, but thankfully disappear once the Sun goes down. Moon
continues waxing, now about 2/3 full.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGzd3U2930dwdqPv_bFZVtBwadnU0Jk-m6AZ3327b_bSnIRtA98nddqQPxlWj0A8RJEaH3nFfU0zSAciuRxIjdQczA_TIXzq634HfBp0paiX52YXjksOTpjDR3Kqh3iknn73gdB6MhpA/s1600/P1020099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGzd3U2930dwdqPv_bFZVtBwadnU0Jk-m6AZ3327b_bSnIRtA98nddqQPxlWj0A8RJEaH3nFfU0zSAciuRxIjdQczA_TIXzq634HfBp0paiX52YXjksOTpjDR3Kqh3iknn73gdB6MhpA/s1600/P1020099.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Charleville Rock Holes Camp</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYeacGa07p3FWxYKMRcgFISuBhoUAQ6RUEdP6U8LtODkcPUgZFpGX3fGf4b5cOAo8KH9aylEstKzQuzXiIhmY4cxJ3hmbVROrnRh_9zRdnGVVTXT7OtCTP22GNy5ydlpekvR54e7V5Yg/s1600/P1020101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYeacGa07p3FWxYKMRcgFISuBhoUAQ6RUEdP6U8LtODkcPUgZFpGX3fGf4b5cOAo8KH9aylEstKzQuzXiIhmY4cxJ3hmbVROrnRh_9zRdnGVVTXT7OtCTP22GNy5ydlpekvR54e7V5Yg/s1600/P1020101.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Dingo Carcasses left on the Roadside</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Friday
- Day 6: Another peaceful sleep and off into Charleville by 8:30am. First call
to the Camp Shop to buy 2 Hat Fly Nets – now we’re
true ‘bushies’!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By 10am we are on our
way to Adavale, with 48km bitumen then 140km dirt, our first this trip. Up
til now it had been all bitumen roads, which we’d meandered along at 80kph, but
we ‘smelt more roses’ along the unsealed dirt going at a leisurely 70kph, with
a lunch stop beside (usually dry) Lake Dartmouth at Ambathala Creek Rest Area
where our new Fly Vales were put to use warding off 7 trillion Flies!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><i><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmD4Pt1kg-BvYcQMCuV2-K2BELcWnog4m09ClBGLy8KK9_MnoWjtwdBEyiy5Z7V-BWeXicehjTQtbR-4J5GGnFcKs01o_98MfnSYRMCWKFrY4cbf_9DmR5QxT5GO1lRanblTN4Q9fq3Q/s1600/P1020114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmD4Pt1kg-BvYcQMCuV2-K2BELcWnog4m09ClBGLy8KK9_MnoWjtwdBEyiy5Z7V-BWeXicehjTQtbR-4J5GGnFcKs01o_98MfnSYRMCWKFrY4cbf_9DmR5QxT5GO1lRanblTN4Q9fq3Q/s1600/P1020114.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></b></i></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Fly Veils to the rescue at Ambathala Creek</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6AX-5XJ9X2PBhXjuq8W5IwzRBeNl8iC9K1cxV5oXN1Z3XeYeU2iBTlZIaq0avbhLcSGAZ9wr8Dt477e9ikRWowsNZhcBP9x6dzBW9rDNUfkSStCOe-8uxc-yeRHDqhAaU7KoSet6VXQ/s1600/P1020125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6AX-5XJ9X2PBhXjuq8W5IwzRBeNl8iC9K1cxV5oXN1Z3XeYeU2iBTlZIaq0avbhLcSGAZ9wr8Dt477e9ikRWowsNZhcBP9x6dzBW9rDNUfkSStCOe-8uxc-yeRHDqhAaU7KoSet6VXQ/s1600/P1020125.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Charleville-Adavale Road</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">We
trundled in to Adavale mid arvo, across the historical causeway at Blackwater
Creek, and called on “Coss” at the Adavale Pub-cum-Store seeking directions for
camp sites and, after checking out the Creek waterholes nearby, settled in the yard
behind the old Community Hall to enjoy all their ‘home comforts’ on offer: Free
Camping, Hot Showers, Toilets, new electric BBQ - and wait for it… free
electricity, courtesy Quilpie Shire. Everything’s free in this real Outback Town.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghFeXqnDfXRjkSwC4MFz8fOPmzon_qRxTE8lZNr0NT51qnc9iBOieijSnhRlkFfOuKnCTgUl7edBlT9jjRY5Y8WX7Fa98IT8DTPut76KjhxIYjCxWGKMUdl5Zf8aJ3OMR-ZcxexLZ3DQ/s1600/P1020174b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghFeXqnDfXRjkSwC4MFz8fOPmzon_qRxTE8lZNr0NT51qnc9iBOieijSnhRlkFfOuKnCTgUl7edBlT9jjRY5Y8WX7Fa98IT8DTPut76KjhxIYjCxWGKMUdl5Zf8aJ3OMR-ZcxexLZ3DQ/s1600/P1020174b.jpg" height="161" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Right to Left - Adavale Pub, Old disused post Office & Police Station</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">I
must confess to a long love affair with tiny, isolated, desolate Adavale (Pop:
20) these past 25 years. Imagine a very large, flat, treeless, red stony,
gibber-strewn Moonscape with a few shanty houses on it – that’s how Adavale
looked on my first visit back then. Now the town common even has some grass
since the rain. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKyER_AHbT2s_3uFV2ktljTInKqu7PSGubQ7lfhFvANH5YjJLmhkYCrpvk2lax-6xVjguGZkmsSqZWq8rnAMFYW55irCWccee2h71Y-VRmODpaP3duKVngSE7aATjn7rh2phjM-6JTgg/s1600/P1020145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKyER_AHbT2s_3uFV2ktljTInKqu7PSGubQ7lfhFvANH5YjJLmhkYCrpvk2lax-6xVjguGZkmsSqZWq8rnAMFYW55irCWccee2h71Y-VRmODpaP3duKVngSE7aATjn7rh2phjM-6JTgg/s1600/P1020145.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Adavale landscape</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Back
then there was the ‘Bottle House’, an old iron shanty on the town common with
maybe 800/1000 or more brown glass beer bottles thrown out the window, over
many years, forming a pyramid up higher than the window sill, together with
some old rusty truck bodies and a dilapidated windmill all adding to the
desolation and charm of the Adavale claypan Common. Now it’s all gone - and
with it a part of the town’s uniqueness. Indeed, the same period has presented a
few new cottages in town plus rural power and two street lights. VALE old
Adavale.</span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We
had a BBQ that first night and just before sundown, Audrey almost stepped on a
Snake slithering slowly by the BBQ slab, which caused much excitement even
though it was only a small harmless ‘Children’s Python’.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The
following night we were invited to the monthly “town & country get-together
night” a free social evening including Dinner, where we dined with Adavale’s
Policeman, Chris, a most unusual cop whose arms, neck and legs are totally
covered with large colourful tattoos. Perhaps that’s why they posted him to
tiny, remote Adavale; in any case he was very friendly and drove us home,
having walked 250m to the Hall in fear of him and drink driving. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Then
we met Glen and his son, a professional Beekeeper who has many Hives around
Adavale and Toompine, which he tends monthly coming all the way from Warwick with two big
trucks. Almost the best Honey we’ve ever tasted.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Next
we met one of Adavale’s largest graziers, 74 yo Keith Shepherd who invited us
to one of his cattle stations only 12km from town to watch them load cattle
onto a road train. There by 7am we watched the helicopter muster the Brahman
cross cattle into the all-steel yards, following which we returned to the
nearby homestead for a cuppa Tea. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The
‘sale cattle’ had to be drafted off from the mob of 200+ head and my offer to
help and was quickly accepted. The mob comprised some fractious cows and cranky
wild bulls, which kept the adrenalin going as we drafted them through the Pound
and ear- tagged them up the Race.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRY5i8LhgxckrSn2JPRJpWn5zsU9saH0jkONy5jMa1SCutiyxqzKRaW6sazr4dqvinSWen22bdA_ZLHgDTlP44N8wzKaRPxEmf5BgFabjYZOENRLoS1wyRUrEpabB2slE72YgPMc9gDA/s1600/P1020227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRY5i8LhgxckrSn2JPRJpWn5zsU9saH0jkONy5jMa1SCutiyxqzKRaW6sazr4dqvinSWen22bdA_ZLHgDTlP44N8wzKaRPxEmf5BgFabjYZOENRLoS1wyRUrEpabB2slE72YgPMc9gDA/s1600/P1020227.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWAZP2vpiBAAGBxvCeRYP7kYByCp_CLzfT9ZNEgY5jagxd_NfU_TfywcvLKeVgyUXBTV6LmGJ57JBiSeG0Fxoh9b6hHcLgOu7hcbRKND16S-iL3EPurrnQtMb7VaI0qh6-OZPAZT7QBg/s1600/P1020235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWAZP2vpiBAAGBxvCeRYP7kYByCp_CLzfT9ZNEgY5jagxd_NfU_TfywcvLKeVgyUXBTV6LmGJ57JBiSeG0Fxoh9b6hHcLgOu7hcbRKND16S-iL3EPurrnQtMb7VaI0qh6-OZPAZT7QBg/s1600/P1020235.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Bruce Drafting</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>It was 2pm by the time the fattest 90 head
were loaded, destined for Dalby Saleyards. We enjoyed a late lunch with Keith,
Margaret and son Steve and headed back to Adavale tired and very dusty after a
very memorable day. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs5m8pzDE0T8K-heDBZcFKfECruflJYk6dbo38wCMJUaUmct2jI-EVMotQjsMXR8nVNiRNU77wafuD_ja9h6r4gk2eaF-44nNvgIHUBJSJ1ErNvoTf-H_2uhlw6flkRgCSqCoAEF6wLw/s1600/P1020233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs5m8pzDE0T8K-heDBZcFKfECruflJYk6dbo38wCMJUaUmct2jI-EVMotQjsMXR8nVNiRNU77wafuD_ja9h6r4gk2eaF-44nNvgIHUBJSJ1ErNvoTf-H_2uhlw6flkRgCSqCoAEF6wLw/s1600/P1020233.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLIzllMTVHmaZnJc4Q3CDJE8rGTzSJEAnJsyiASq7wrexBv0T6NMnMNFhWDMVxfVQxG2ajuB5MO-DHSEauwB3mG0JgPRAe748zKHR14xIpSDYFbeJTKi0gZ6mTEFGTPGDbaZlIcD_-iQ/s1600/P1020237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLIzllMTVHmaZnJc4Q3CDJE8rGTzSJEAnJsyiASq7wrexBv0T6NMnMNFhWDMVxfVQxG2ajuB5MO-DHSEauwB3mG0JgPRAe748zKHR14xIpSDYFbeJTKi0gZ6mTEFGTPGDbaZlIcD_-iQ/s1600/P1020237.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Road Train loading cattle for the Dalby Saleyards</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We
spent 5 nights in Adavale and saw maybe 3 or 4 travelling vehicles per day, and
very few stopped at the Pub-cum-Store; one wonders how Adavale survives.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We’ve
enjoyed our adventures so far and will continue the story in “KKK No 2” coming
to you shortly, from the ‘Outback Wanderers’.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Cheers
till then,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Bruce
and Audrey</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -5.7pt;">
<br /></div>
Yacht Envyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296367569566410867noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5422585594160201132.post-57199289932439868742010-08-03T12:53:00.000+08:002010-08-03T12:53:02.228+08:00Happenings 2010 Number 18<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<b style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Farewell Rebak - Langkawi</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>and</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Sail Malaysia "Passage to the East"</span></b></div><br />
<br />
As I sit and write, all around me is deep cobalt blue, glassy smooth in all directions for 360 degrees as far as the eye can see, as ‘Envy’ motors across a vast, windless South China Sea from Terengganu in north-eastern peninsular Malaysia to Malaysian North Borneo. The only threat at the moment is to avoid hitting floating tree trunks and logs and other things that go ‘bong’ in the middle of the night.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYKFOV11OuonCmxr1zESjJ5EOuibCB2QVh7z0C2DJd4M4GR9GHgjMvx-NfWEBTa9xUYCV50FbIcYpnTfinM8EgpPb1tP5fnDGg0KASL2_m9jMp7LB8wQpK66aMqWFP20tJrTL1b_9d7w/s1600/IMG_9740.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYKFOV11OuonCmxr1zESjJ5EOuibCB2QVh7z0C2DJd4M4GR9GHgjMvx-NfWEBTa9xUYCV50FbIcYpnTfinM8EgpPb1tP5fnDGg0KASL2_m9jMp7LB8wQpK66aMqWFP20tJrTL1b_9d7w/s400/IMG_9740.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>'Court Jester' on the glassy South China Sea</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcI8MsbSNbHH17m-KguJE6p8DYXlHL3BdhzTUqExNqFtM6JqaaEeZkgr2Ou_RsiNlaTbqDqUiAoeKNBOYE8fTq4As0zaCk-ZOmqxRGb4xxoAPAhVWlx4xlvxK-QUCBx5ueX8FzBNbudA/s1600/IMG_9765aa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcI8MsbSNbHH17m-KguJE6p8DYXlHL3BdhzTUqExNqFtM6JqaaEeZkgr2Ou_RsiNlaTbqDqUiAoeKNBOYE8fTq4As0zaCk-ZOmqxRGb4xxoAPAhVWlx4xlvxK-QUCBx5ueX8FzBNbudA/s400/IMG_9765aa.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Many large logs like this to dodge!</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>With mostly tranquil light airs prevailing, the motor has been running non-stop day and night, together with all sails up, for the past five days of our six day 668 nautical mile (1,237 km) crossing to Miri in Sarawak, in company with our friends Wayne and Sue on ‘Court Jester’, with whom we’ve done much sailing these past four years.<br />
<br />
The weather has not always been as benign as at the moment, having endured two scary nights of multiple storm cell activity with lightning, thunder and rain all around us. Hour after hour all night long we relied on Radar as our eyes in the dark, seeking safe passage through shipping lanes plied by huge ships, and the ever present hazard of dimly lit fishing boats hundreds of kilometres offshore.<br />
<br />
But I’m getting a little ahead of myself here. <br />
<br />
In an endeavour to bolster tourism in general and boating in particular within the far flung states of Sarawak and Sabah, the Malaysian Government sponsors an annual ‘Passage to the East’ yacht rally to encourage sailors to undertake the South China Sea crossing to Malaysian Borneo, so we’ve joined the rally once again for our second Borneo experience. <br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV-_8BoFUuFZfQxDiolXTUK9HYypZMzboDrkJiIGo-rKtqFvVqlqzqy1Y4-rNz0kXhzc_syWOcSFOyd89QFGAResgEezqm8KCgfXJAEOTvgk62VY2d0KeOTuMbhyh8FGWjVj4yHWsrLg/s1600/malaysia_map_1-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV-_8BoFUuFZfQxDiolXTUK9HYypZMzboDrkJiIGo-rKtqFvVqlqzqy1Y4-rNz0kXhzc_syWOcSFOyd89QFGAResgEezqm8KCgfXJAEOTvgk62VY2d0KeOTuMbhyh8FGWjVj4yHWsrLg/s400/malaysia_map_1-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Langkawi to Miri, Borneo route</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Commencing in Langkawi at the end of April, (finally leaving ‘home base’ Rebak Marina after a wonderful four year association) the rally hopped from venue to venue down the west Malaysian coast, collecting more participants along the way, totalling some forty yachts by the time we reached the southern tip of the country in Johor State, just across the strait from Singapore.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-y54dnVajU-kdn1_3qQZ5o8Vub5upynXIzoGP6pU_AtdXqRDebwlgSWzNPWez4_jyERmTO0KGGDajxGjs16pkYhpY519AUxMlzGCx1RTxMTN-92HFk1UP8EOcuJGeexa4FYgRnY5_nA/s1600/IMG_8784.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-y54dnVajU-kdn1_3qQZ5o8Vub5upynXIzoGP6pU_AtdXqRDebwlgSWzNPWez4_jyERmTO0KGGDajxGjs16pkYhpY519AUxMlzGCx1RTxMTN-92HFk1UP8EOcuJGeexa4FYgRnY5_nA/s400/IMG_8784.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Sea Eagle - symbol of Langkawi</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbWem9s9PiyN_2-UeCe4fdqgMvjVqjsRH_dj_S85RFDz18r1pNlz-57O_KhNG85SSS0xIPLf61Fw_agNVFm3PwrTDIgKTT72BBtH2losKSU2phGvvO-BCAuGTg37qqTilXMdS4hXcXg/s1600/IMG_8946.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbWem9s9PiyN_2-UeCe4fdqgMvjVqjsRH_dj_S85RFDz18r1pNlz-57O_KhNG85SSS0xIPLf61Fw_agNVFm3PwrTDIgKTT72BBtH2losKSU2phGvvO-BCAuGTg37qqTilXMdS4hXcXg/s640/IMG_8946.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Rebak Swimming Pool</b></i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqs5TX_tFlHkC6qAapmHE2uT3C7cbtksjAxaF2zEZUGTE1uonhk8g6NvE72f15ZwmBrmaQLNCezg7e9LIahy9akR5QBqdwP5JVcTMqDM_7kK0udjjHz2xdMfAM1knDAHJOMNRmFBOOuA/s1600/IMG_8883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqs5TX_tFlHkC6qAapmHE2uT3C7cbtksjAxaF2zEZUGTE1uonhk8g6NvE72f15ZwmBrmaQLNCezg7e9LIahy9akR5QBqdwP5JVcTMqDM_7kK0udjjHz2xdMfAM1knDAHJOMNRmFBOOuA/s400/IMG_8883.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Rebak Marina and facilities</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh0BNUzDdSgoF8w8ifoN9ciINma07rrWNPFzD_MukAhOgOZyqVAnta6wbaTSoaChlh9gaImEJwOGcZUY3aiS3eWmg8ZJlEXJBDI7Y25_w2iiOnPFQTEsSDu9q535scfa74-i2P1VQOwQ/s1600/IMG_8859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh0BNUzDdSgoF8w8ifoN9ciINma07rrWNPFzD_MukAhOgOZyqVAnta6wbaTSoaChlh9gaImEJwOGcZUY3aiS3eWmg8ZJlEXJBDI7Y25_w2iiOnPFQTEsSDu9q535scfa74-i2P1VQOwQ/s400/IMG_8859.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Kuah, Langkawi streetscape</b></i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Since this was to be our final jaunt down the west coast we made the most of our last visit to favourite places including Georgetown-Penang, Pangkor-Lumut, Port Klang, Port Dickson, Malacca, and Danga Bay – Johor Bahru, most of which were official Rally destinations. During our nine day stopover at Danga Bay Marina we made a final visit across to Singapore, this great shopping magnet of SE Asia, where it seems one can buy almost anything. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZBPHZe7wj1AEKx7_S8aWENKsNgdQTx8ucKULE6U_Fsj_UvTnfUtNciqr_2PpAuu5Tks6UP4rNUspTx5ma5f4khVEi4i2q7vB3nsZgBbYFHyzWh-7xsrN_Y_SWJaWMAxXG0_A0ErK05Q/s1600/IMG_8990.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZBPHZe7wj1AEKx7_S8aWENKsNgdQTx8ucKULE6U_Fsj_UvTnfUtNciqr_2PpAuu5Tks6UP4rNUspTx5ma5f4khVEi4i2q7vB3nsZgBbYFHyzWh-7xsrN_Y_SWJaWMAxXG0_A0ErK05Q/s640/IMG_8990.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>The new Pangkor Marina at Lumut</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijjwjf-eWvBTETvD1aLct6KjPnrb6Pqt2YesYLQ3oKwAFz95ka0Jz-jAQf34MQTibsNb67Pe8bcpMP3-CBdgJzY6J2ZrZa1uVqNSKOKaNd5MIMM3wDLAAQVVXHMUm-rYRFfKLZgCeDJg/s1600/IMG_9084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijjwjf-eWvBTETvD1aLct6KjPnrb6Pqt2YesYLQ3oKwAFz95ka0Jz-jAQf34MQTibsNb67Pe8bcpMP3-CBdgJzY6J2ZrZa1uVqNSKOKaNd5MIMM3wDLAAQVVXHMUm-rYRFfKLZgCeDJg/s400/IMG_9084.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Rally Welcome at Malacca (Meleka Malaysia spelling)</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yf3WQiSpi2I/TFdWnzfDRrI/AAAAAAAAGxg/zZESSJnIW4o/s1600/IMG_9109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yf3WQiSpi2I/TFdWnzfDRrI/AAAAAAAAGxg/zZESSJnIW4o/s400/IMG_9109.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Group photo (Sail Malaysia Rally) at the new Malacca Marina</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>The rally fleet then sailed up the east side of the peninsular, again going from venue to venue enjoying more official welcome functions, with bus tours, gala dinners, entertainment and cultural displays etc enroute, until the final north-east coast destination of Terengganu, from where the “real” Passage to the East commenced, heading off on our six day crossing of the South China Sea. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFSuCGr6I6R7V5iboKoseeYUTq4Q0b2xRKan268XVA5i2a-shABvDd7iuLKC_jt9fYqWrbBC4EQnttBNGhWZ1Ac8CBjUvkKhFoTQ4Clw70Uj36n2DnW_T1MpCcVSkzc13Y2eh0YmrNdQ/s1600/IMG_9170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFSuCGr6I6R7V5iboKoseeYUTq4Q0b2xRKan268XVA5i2a-shABvDd7iuLKC_jt9fYqWrbBC4EQnttBNGhWZ1Ac8CBjUvkKhFoTQ4Clw70Uj36n2DnW_T1MpCcVSkzc13Y2eh0YmrNdQ/s400/IMG_9170.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>1753 Dutch Church, Malacca</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2eyWvtRZmoC3pMpwLE_jfgRLg2ZrHgnv9oIGFq1iZ2KQDC6zLOvdf3obS-D9Gh4asgZHKo8XxSTt2qTik8jsXVtsvld6PU3DuUlgbRzwl8uA16rJRqQvxm_yaTlf22H2PLHmPQ3dI7A/s1600/IMG_9168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2eyWvtRZmoC3pMpwLE_jfgRLg2ZrHgnv9oIGFq1iZ2KQDC6zLOvdf3obS-D9Gh4asgZHKo8XxSTt2qTik8jsXVtsvld6PU3DuUlgbRzwl8uA16rJRqQvxm_yaTlf22H2PLHmPQ3dI7A/s400/IMG_9168.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Colouful Malacca Trishaws</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIGCCDVDLsrf_Wg9oz_mMESQw6_tj6FNOGQuLpEDhhK7UPXodM-WR1UEiRdrf5ubV3B4qCs6C8Ag0-HkO83285PgN9PYOREDoHTxc2pls3HbZ4g3rzBSIM3l7sz8wqZrZQa-MTkqKKBw/s1600/IMG_9135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIGCCDVDLsrf_Wg9oz_mMESQw6_tj6FNOGQuLpEDhhK7UPXodM-WR1UEiRdrf5ubV3B4qCs6C8Ag0-HkO83285PgN9PYOREDoHTxc2pls3HbZ4g3rzBSIM3l7sz8wqZrZQa-MTkqKKBw/s400/IMG_9135.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Old buildings Malacca riverside</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN7Xk8MgRQmf0iKtlcpLzxB2rT5GPdv6guMBg7K5_HquL8M_Z5rGMUmD0__NTLMQfVc-SlZTQo7m9bMMlxrr2BA7h9wFDBYD5bONnwc8OXeYeLjbIAp7KVQXnuvNwIVcSWuahDg2jksw/s1600/IMG_9207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN7Xk8MgRQmf0iKtlcpLzxB2rT5GPdv6guMBg7K5_HquL8M_Z5rGMUmD0__NTLMQfVc-SlZTQo7m9bMMlxrr2BA7h9wFDBYD5bONnwc8OXeYeLjbIAp7KVQXnuvNwIVcSWuahDg2jksw/s400/IMG_9207.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Welcome dinner at Danga Bay</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe8TRYcL4t8lTpt42yOOasOrp7wjhrujhu_sEoJ7OIDu3U6wUfyKECisK4jyx83e83-3YLokwJY-KyD0JMD2GcXtEF-RrZfPWQ6MHBxKh24Ye_7M_qBxASkOcKr_9eAZ6LacipOR1syg/s1600/IMG_9234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe8TRYcL4t8lTpt42yOOasOrp7wjhrujhu_sEoJ7OIDu3U6wUfyKECisK4jyx83e83-3YLokwJY-KyD0JMD2GcXtEF-RrZfPWQ6MHBxKh24Ye_7M_qBxASkOcKr_9eAZ6LacipOR1syg/s400/IMG_9234.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Wayne (Court Jester), Joy and John (Touche)</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Peninsular Malaysia’s East coast is quite different than the West being much more ‘touristy’ with many Resorts backing mile upon mile of sandy beaches; its clearer waters are home to many coral reefs offering hours of diving or snorkelling enjoyment, whilst sea breezes bring some respite from the heat and humidity that is Malaysia. <br />
<br />
Some of the cosy bay anchorages, with their coconut rimmed silica sand beaches and clear shallow sandy bottoms, were as good as we’ve seen in SE Asia, and many had fringing coral gardens as well. We spent much time snorkelling or diving, often followed with a beach BBQ at sundown. Paradise! <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW7HNVdTCDfm7wq6IkVv8-XBm-kknKVdNBfUfCku0ssOizwOur9EuH6y0MdxNQL5PvxcoN_37Ge-coGUtqg-00JanSGyQsds8U01RHJnInLZv7uv0tbolpeepAP3Xj5YtRsHhjV0-C4A/s1600/IMG_9538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW7HNVdTCDfm7wq6IkVv8-XBm-kknKVdNBfUfCku0ssOizwOur9EuH6y0MdxNQL5PvxcoN_37Ge-coGUtqg-00JanSGyQsds8U01RHJnInLZv7uv0tbolpeepAP3Xj5YtRsHhjV0-C4A/s400/IMG_9538.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Beach cricket (Chris from China Grove) and BBQ at Kapas Island</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt7oHP030mVGYiJf1HPgz39y8aZAaNwNhj1DfEd1SFSEm5I5elGzlEGJY0ws_YmAy-g9FamxPCjFU1mvcL8qv1kb3FVLm_ilrjv0hIK1BYWygIn3-i8WI2IXvOZdNhzEvuNcAiPaPDxQ/s1600/IMG_9389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt7oHP030mVGYiJf1HPgz39y8aZAaNwNhj1DfEd1SFSEm5I5elGzlEGJY0ws_YmAy-g9FamxPCjFU1mvcL8qv1kb3FVLm_ilrjv0hIK1BYWygIn3-i8WI2IXvOZdNhzEvuNcAiPaPDxQ/s400/IMG_9389.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Unlit fishing platform in 30mtr water</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>However, some less protected anchorages were not at all pleasant, as all boats rolled uncomfortably - sleepless throughout the night, but, in similarity to the weather, the good times outdid the bad ones a hundred fold. <br />
<br />
With an entrance fee of only about A$140 (for this fixture), sailing rallies are extremely good value. In addition to making new acquaintances, plus the camaraderie, comfort and security of sailing in a group, the ‘all inclusive’ tours and entertainment along the way offers great variety, and the food at the various dinner functions is simply superb, as the venues do their upmost to excel and thereby hope for re-selection the following year.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1pNbt2potij8qRToTilULREeRBSwVdo6fIR6wpYtoG4Py6M_ifj-l3JiWt4MHskesgaXv1H33GcT2M5J1xrYWJDZvf_TqhJosbog2kpwpmW2TUjSU1QSw3VAwTAdboXtg9xuvQe8Tqg/s1600/IMG_9319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1pNbt2potij8qRToTilULREeRBSwVdo6fIR6wpYtoG4Py6M_ifj-l3JiWt4MHskesgaXv1H33GcT2M5J1xrYWJDZvf_TqhJosbog2kpwpmW2TUjSU1QSw3VAwTAdboXtg9xuvQe8Tqg/s400/IMG_9319.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Danga Bay, Johor Bahru welcome and dinner</b></i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJRYZ3padAjuJ84k4aBlCeiICLMckLt82U6DjSV7DCiQ6LJWLXgSLIqJ3EeLHeK-c7RX-0qak9eU6S4fszHT193UNbNTQKZmVkHWIfsdroOzrwKR72Fkxopg3iEAShTkZhTcrvaQ0teg/s1600/IMG_9649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJRYZ3padAjuJ84k4aBlCeiICLMckLt82U6DjSV7DCiQ6LJWLXgSLIqJ3EeLHeK-c7RX-0qak9eU6S4fszHT193UNbNTQKZmVkHWIfsdroOzrwKR72Fkxopg3iEAShTkZhTcrvaQ0teg/s400/IMG_9649.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Official Table</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG3n8TWJeKs51QV7IJxITAb2JCPsPY94-s3d6igGSRon3IkQT5Wp07-b5PHMwpWHsok2foTZ1NIwQH4ZkLIgI8m_HO6V_v-WXG3SMKWQeOSsB7IuKaXqPVuZthWMNJjcMUlJWJ9fZr3g/s1600/IMG_9361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG3n8TWJeKs51QV7IJxITAb2JCPsPY94-s3d6igGSRon3IkQT5Wp07-b5PHMwpWHsok2foTZ1NIwQH4ZkLIgI8m_HO6V_v-WXG3SMKWQeOSsB7IuKaXqPVuZthWMNJjcMUlJWJ9fZr3g/s400/IMG_9361.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Danga Bay Welcome</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvD_fjfRlFsRaS147OQJIswXGFj0F6lg-tuWlq1-VXdLon_7W2Uz_6PMD1cioiRxIEdqZYhwtdBODcWmCvzne1u_tu0ZJuDY548VQ7gFFC35NNS3zViaoEO7Ho4GbsXiiOBxrbBX1Fng/s1600/IMG_9687.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvD_fjfRlFsRaS147OQJIswXGFj0F6lg-tuWlq1-VXdLon_7W2Uz_6PMD1cioiRxIEdqZYhwtdBODcWmCvzne1u_tu0ZJuDY548VQ7gFFC35NNS3zViaoEO7Ho4GbsXiiOBxrbBX1Fng/s400/IMG_9687.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Terengganu Banner</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3QQw7W4R8g55HD71u7yoENdT_HlgpfabddTKQ4LfhSEdjSSRTvQscPQJ19_R-j4zrVCOKxDad0QxHU0zBWS7fcMHtQPtCciWnRKFocik5hhGonBDjO_eqOKt5TTAeAat_5S7YVVyWQQ/s1600/IMG_9705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3QQw7W4R8g55HD71u7yoENdT_HlgpfabddTKQ4LfhSEdjSSRTvQscPQJ19_R-j4zrVCOKxDad0QxHU0zBWS7fcMHtQPtCciWnRKFocik5hhGonBDjO_eqOKt5TTAeAat_5S7YVVyWQQ/s400/IMG_9705.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Crystal Mosque, Terengganu</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsgL_Kgj0blyOVjTK1I4YuraD8dON2FGCAVc5imwGYBVkQi_4S8sLiY1sXsS4Im_BkTtC_sUI3mGUaP24kusjjAk5f62P9HSlffkSXKwEtd1HHdi7O0bODCYPuahNQ_3C_7_BHXQqu7w/s1600/IMG_9704.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsgL_Kgj0blyOVjTK1I4YuraD8dON2FGCAVc5imwGYBVkQi_4S8sLiY1sXsS4Im_BkTtC_sUI3mGUaP24kusjjAk5f62P9HSlffkSXKwEtd1HHdi7O0bODCYPuahNQ_3C_7_BHXQqu7w/s400/IMG_9704.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Could this pair be new converts?</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj62O29vwxF1YvfKumLSB-__Eqhi5Jpso09Ekg3Cd-CvQUdZGv6ymD2fZ9iyGTyQs1TgyZovFb95YnsBu0a8am-xhXyK_nVcjgQ2x5YaYikKbyVebCFnS1dKIu-zBahBxU4SDTjA4V04A/s1600/IMG_9707.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj62O29vwxF1YvfKumLSB-__Eqhi5Jpso09Ekg3Cd-CvQUdZGv6ymD2fZ9iyGTyQs1TgyZovFb95YnsBu0a8am-xhXyK_nVcjgQ2x5YaYikKbyVebCFnS1dKIu-zBahBxU4SDTjA4V04A/s400/IMG_9707.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Scale model Mosque - Islam Theme Park, Terengganu</b></i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVLEAcRdF8Wc_CR7_PC29qzReVYz92igIp9trSUYq4kGBHsZdXH7-NrFA4KuOpSnGJ2MlvIH_DitQrrgfGlukJ_h5w1RNtmZPGU4n1rEnFtUvlDvwHGeJQnfjCdEX15bfE8eT9F_P44w/s1600/P7063532.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVLEAcRdF8Wc_CR7_PC29qzReVYz92igIp9trSUYq4kGBHsZdXH7-NrFA4KuOpSnGJ2MlvIH_DitQrrgfGlukJ_h5w1RNtmZPGU4n1rEnFtUvlDvwHGeJQnfjCdEX15bfE8eT9F_P44w/s400/P7063532.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Beach at the Coral Resort - Redang Island (last stop before Borneo)</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Midway between peninsular Malaysia and North Borneo lie Indonesia’s Anambas and Natuna Islands’ groups which were the site of some maritime piracy activity just this past May/June, when three large ocean going ships were boarded and robbed under way at night. Since these islands lie enroute, we’ve all had to divert our courses to give the area a wide berth, with most yachts traveling in groups. Yesterday “Envy’ passed about 40nm to the North of the Natuna’s, and twice during the day we two yachts were approached close-by by fishing boats which made us uneasy until their inquisitiveness was satisfied and they steamed away. Relief! <br />
<br />
While sailing in company with us, just below Singapore Island on 28 May, our friends Trevor and Joan on “Been-A-Long’, in whose company we’ve planned to sail back to Brisbane, suffered the expensive misfortune of their engine ‘blowing up’ and the boat had to be towed 150nm up the east coast to a shipyard at Endau for new engine replacement, which was flown in from Sydney. With the new diesel engine installed they departed, but were forced to return the following day with steering failure, and they are as yet uncertain whether they’ll be able to join us for the return to Oz. <br />
<br />
Mid morning on our last (sixth) day of passage ‘Huey’- the weather god - (as he’s irreverently referred to by yachties) decided to have a bit of sport with us about 50n/miles offshore and for an hour we were belted by a full gale of 40+ knots with black rainy skies and big seas, plus the odd ship to dodge thrown in to add to our misery. Some days are diamonds, some days are stones! <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGeGcY2VzJwBS6UPn_Q2kPPL4nB2iX0WRXqo9sIIB-kWXop_G7eWTCT5drM0rU9Ny2HDh3x-W6ee30A3Q8XWRYFk191H7wYTMe2x-ySA9QN__YswNd9CTQYGq-SJDu5geAH9qfrCs1zA/s1600/IMG_9757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGeGcY2VzJwBS6UPn_Q2kPPL4nB2iX0WRXqo9sIIB-kWXop_G7eWTCT5drM0rU9Ny2HDh3x-W6ee30A3Q8XWRYFk191H7wYTMe2x-ySA9QN__YswNd9CTQYGq-SJDu5geAH9qfrCs1zA/s400/IMG_9757.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Approaching storm 1000hrs, last day of Passage</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKA6qavlwllqdy4w8Syezlchh3p6H7VXZuToqkIVatTVqA85NeosyE_1XtLHd8Cf2lt2cjnuxrsHitPfZYpSHN7oO6Qs8GeJMTlUiFQLoVXUL1hxvvtF0eAPFWPODtj69qCXZyUZD45Q/s1600/IMG_9762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKA6qavlwllqdy4w8Syezlchh3p6H7VXZuToqkIVatTVqA85NeosyE_1XtLHd8Cf2lt2cjnuxrsHitPfZYpSHN7oO6Qs8GeJMTlUiFQLoVXUL1hxvvtF0eAPFWPODtj69qCXZyUZD45Q/s400/IMG_9762.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Radar at 1030hrs - in the thick of the storm!</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>But that’s all behind us now, tied up safely as we are here in Miri City Marina, awaiting the start of our next indulgence, the Borneo International Yachting Challenge (BIYC), a series of low key, fun yacht races for which all entrants get paid 600 Ringgits (A$ 200) appearance money to encourage participation, a total reversal from everywhere else where one has to pay entrance fees to compete!!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8N5hGG9QvVl82OiLsDdmJdSTMmbWc7OUph6RPzWSMyuU9h363WRmL0ey5Uwd31XUCAs9LWRq8Pozp5a5cv8jK_ylKQ_Fc1KnpPAcnSlFrsqRiYJh1Eeifv9xLTDfPySNKmKWnT78QhQ/s1600/logo2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8N5hGG9QvVl82OiLsDdmJdSTMmbWc7OUph6RPzWSMyuU9h363WRmL0ey5Uwd31XUCAs9LWRq8Pozp5a5cv8jK_ylKQ_Fc1KnpPAcnSlFrsqRiYJh1Eeifv9xLTDfPySNKmKWnT78QhQ/s1600/logo2.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>http://www.borneorace.com/ </b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>The BIYC regatta finishes early August in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, approx 160 nm (300km) north of Miri, then the ‘Passage to the East’ rally continues on over the top of Borneo through Sandakan to finish in Tawau. <br />
<br />
From Tawau we’re really at the start of our long 3500 nautical mile (6400 km) passage back to Australia, often with adverse current and little wind through Iran Jaya and over the top of PNG. Then it’s down through the Louisiade Archipelago and 900 km across the Coral Sea into Cairns, then mosey on to Brisbane, hopefully avoiding the cyclone season to be home by early December.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
You can follow our progress on ‘YOTREPS’ accessed via the following link, which we endeavour to update daily. <a href="http://www.pangolin.co.nz/yotreps/tracker.php?ident=VL3733">http://www.pangolin.co.nz/yotreps/tracker.php?ident=VL3733</a> <br />
<br />
Cheers til next time<br />
Bruce and Audrey<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4itaAmmSTGPpgbkcM16dr6u7YaPWL5eXGrASZBaBb-PBg9wWBQjDSdG_DEe-4y-aJEXcfgvWqYI01TD4qrJisYqwvf7ZYvFfkl2eih20IYI05Uft-KyMaM3SpiSNXX1twlKwNVxWHFA/s1600/IMG_8882.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4itaAmmSTGPpgbkcM16dr6u7YaPWL5eXGrASZBaBb-PBg9wWBQjDSdG_DEe-4y-aJEXcfgvWqYI01TD4qrJisYqwvf7ZYvFfkl2eih20IYI05Uft-KyMaM3SpiSNXX1twlKwNVxWHFA/s400/IMG_8882.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Envy in Rebak - aptly renamed "Yachties Retirement Village"</b></i><br />
<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiORxAmNpNfq5Ra92Yrp7pLrOvaB4L3uGsjza5JUQudhqQ2bTfffa0BT1QMTILga03vz33lhleGAJ_L6Z3nPE2S_PkIeGlSkBvQqVi9GC_YIRLD3TgnDU_N69EyEmgSrtrnxUuzMorHgQ/s1600/P6133480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiORxAmNpNfq5Ra92Yrp7pLrOvaB4L3uGsjza5JUQudhqQ2bTfffa0BT1QMTILga03vz33lhleGAJ_L6Z3nPE2S_PkIeGlSkBvQqVi9GC_YIRLD3TgnDU_N69EyEmgSrtrnxUuzMorHgQ/s400/P6133480.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>End of the day - farewell Peninsular Malaysia</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Yacht Envyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296367569566410867noreply@blogger.com0Malaysia5.3863356895205357 103.183593754.0192371895205357 101.31591775 6.7534341895205356 105.05126975tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5422585594160201132.post-75064824851947773622010-04-12T10:40:00.002+08:002010-04-12T10:47:25.764+08:00Happenings 2010 Number 17<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="color: red;"></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="color: red;"><br />
</b></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="color: red;">Thailand Revisited</b></span></div><br />
<br />
2010 – A new year and a new decade - seems like only yesterday since the new millennium began! And on reflection, I can’t help but recall the wisdom and truth of the sobering old adage;<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b>“Time’s a precious thing, and the Years teach much that the Days never knew”</b></div><br />
We left you last at Happenings -16 as ‘Envy’ departed Langkawi, Malaysia mid December 2009 for a three months’ return visit to Phuket Island, Thailand.<br />
<br />
It’s around 135 nautical miles (250 km) up to Phuket and we sailed it in four easy day-hops through southern Thailand’s numerous inshore islands, anchoring each afternoon in shallow sheltered bays. During the passage Envy’s water lock exhaust (‘pong box’) cracked and sprung a leak which we discovered by chance just as the bilge was about to flood the engine room floor with seawater, and managed to effect temporary repairs under way.<br />
<br />
After ‘Clearing’ Thai Customs and Immigration we purchased a new ‘pong box’ and moved to a more sheltered anchorage at nearby Panwa Bali Beach. But all of a sudden things went terribly wrong. The following day, a week before Christmas, while trying to fit the new ‘pong box’ at anchor, Bruce accidentally broke off a thru-hull ball valve beneath an un-braced strainer in the engine room and sea water was flooding into the boat like a Kiwi geyser. Pretty scary stuff!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3W459XmRTvAVUmcFbfV-ehD5iiaUuZjo7MenNqaGA1bfYUClxOqSB-h45e3W2W4q53Drm3-CpHMwqblau7booWdgCpMZVkLloEDeOHUKt-Xk-L9QlgEoOpm_4fnFZx0ShzDhpj31JGA/s1600/IMG_8412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3W459XmRTvAVUmcFbfV-ehD5iiaUuZjo7MenNqaGA1bfYUClxOqSB-h45e3W2W4q53Drm3-CpHMwqblau7booWdgCpMZVkLloEDeOHUKt-Xk-L9QlgEoOpm_4fnFZx0ShzDhpj31JGA/s400/IMG_8412.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Broken thru-hull strainer valve</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Fortunately our long-term cruising friends, Trevor and Joan Long, (‘Been-a-Long’) were anchored beside us and, as I sat there like the little Dutch boy covering the hole with my hands, Audrey summoned Trevor’s help and, after what seemed like hours, we managed to smother the opening with quick drying marine putty, after which Bruce dived under the hull and jammed a wooden bung into the inlet hole. The heartbeat rate was fairly racing there for a while - I’ll give you the drum!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbH7nZHlxuzgDBKbRiYTtl3UhLpUFA3TlNTJC8Umdf1GchXgYVQj47HXOIVTUIHfJuqD4F-M35M3VmbLnf4zERU_GLkmyN1XnNapsfhE0BL3dqBlj-irI-2xwwfuCQki7L_i3l7-07og/s1600/P4073286.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbH7nZHlxuzgDBKbRiYTtl3UhLpUFA3TlNTJC8Umdf1GchXgYVQj47HXOIVTUIHfJuqD4F-M35M3VmbLnf4zERU_GLkmyN1XnNapsfhE0BL3dqBlj-irI-2xwwfuCQki7L_i3l7-07og/s400/P4073286.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>New red 'pong box' and strainer bracket</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>We were able to motor-sail in strong headwinds to Boat Lagoon Marina, midway up Phuket’s east coast, where “Envy” was hauled out into a cradle on the hardstand, and where this and several other repair and installation jobs were arranged with local professionals over the following few weeks. <br />
<br />
Fortunately we had both Air Conditioning and our electric Engel Fridge/Freezer to provide some respite to the horrors of living in a boat on the hard in tropical heat, accessed only by a ladder. <br />
<br />
Meanwhile we hired a Suzuki Jeep for three weeks and joined 28 yachtie friends for a Beach BBQ lunch on Christmas Day at the foreshore of a National Park overlooking the turquoise waters of pretty Nai Yang Bay on the NW side of Phuket. So all was not lost, and we thoroughly enjoyed a Christmas with a difference plus all the excitement of Secret Santa with gift wrapped ‘Treasures from the Bilge’. A telephone call home by both of us to our respective celebrating families added to that special feeling of Christmas.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghdbJQPpMFcJ3lmmhVFm6JUhaEryTnmBsDm-TRBolAybxSqN0Y7-WHMkvt3fuAK-y5vTSyWOVHDn173cJTTwhJq1Dxc4Ywe6Yj_ANrl10XPiKfznIq0ZIo49EDh1wU7W06b7r4EzjA8g/s1600/IMG_8389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghdbJQPpMFcJ3lmmhVFm6JUhaEryTnmBsDm-TRBolAybxSqN0Y7-WHMkvt3fuAK-y5vTSyWOVHDn173cJTTwhJq1Dxc4Ywe6Yj_ANrl10XPiKfznIq0ZIo49EDh1wU7W06b7r4EzjA8g/s400/IMG_8389.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Christmas Day BBQ and Secret Santa</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Once Christmas was over it was ‘full on’ with an array of boatyard professionals working on ‘Envy’ including marine engineers, stainless steel fabricators, and various tradesmen doing new canvass work, fibreglass repairs, a carpenter making teak shelving, marine electrician, a yacht rigger and hull antifouling painters and polishers who, together with yours truly, spent one month to the day getting the boat back into shape.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile our rented Suzuki jeep was put to good use as we made the most of non-work days to explore further afield. We treated ourselves to an outing on New Year’s Day driving 80km north to visit, lunch and indulge both culture and scenery of the small inland provincial town of Phang Nga, (”Fang Nar”) from which Phang Nga Bay, the area’s famous aquatic playground derives its name.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigyhI_KsZOBqenR5-rRygbtWIZkbJMAb4GVn_Dr11ij_cZKvIX2gaARnfVxKt2ZgY__aqZ2hQISRtyucJghUqyqSN_lh6ZU8VeWZIDSGjukPSkO9sTBkpXzgaZMoxLtq-OsNHaALraSA/s1600/IMG_8488.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigyhI_KsZOBqenR5-rRygbtWIZkbJMAb4GVn_Dr11ij_cZKvIX2gaARnfVxKt2ZgY__aqZ2hQISRtyucJghUqyqSN_lh6ZU8VeWZIDSGjukPSkO9sTBkpXzgaZMoxLtq-OsNHaALraSA/s400/IMG_8488.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Bruce and and new Thai friend!</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>The generally flat topography is dotted with steep karst limestone outcrops, like giant needles rising several hundred feet above the ground, for which the province and its namesake bay are most famous. This small town is also somewhat unique in that it stretches for nearly four kilometres along either side of the main road, but mostly only one block deep, and with a jumbled up mixture of residential, commercial, and industrial buildings all together – most unusual for a smallish town. <br />
<br />
Other motoring outings took us sightseeing along Phuket’s scenic west coast, with its bays of clear sparkling water and splendid white sand. Nov-March is the tourist ‘high season’ here with the prevailing dry NE monsoon providing (cooler) hot days with almost no rain.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicJSRB41L_aGDOrkqWMJ24QHC5w7cG3JlkePWgOq89yHmWKycNXod8ScrYCAJZd8UwVeiMrluU_7KCktbt7jFulptiGrxT6c-wzbG2jvP-mi93bEddxnSAxvoUCz7PbK5Hf0iRx9UH8g/s1600/IMG_8546.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicJSRB41L_aGDOrkqWMJ24QHC5w7cG3JlkePWgOq89yHmWKycNXod8ScrYCAJZd8UwVeiMrluU_7KCktbt7jFulptiGrxT6c-wzbG2jvP-mi93bEddxnSAxvoUCz7PbK5Hf0iRx9UH8g/s400/IMG_8546.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Beach BBQs - always delightful</b></i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiv-kRDxfjLwpTn6xcHrFSp_DT7bw8aUPHEWMCpMcCtr5tH8rSHLW_YP82H22U_4IGXswrYa8V2vEWLRZVeiMBA75c2C8wr3nL8uAdZopmESoZFQPZzKun6EgiKgByVvuVa_hcBE0z0w/s1600/P2022992.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiv-kRDxfjLwpTn6xcHrFSp_DT7bw8aUPHEWMCpMcCtr5tH8rSHLW_YP82H22U_4IGXswrYa8V2vEWLRZVeiMBA75c2C8wr3nL8uAdZopmESoZFQPZzKun6EgiKgByVvuVa_hcBE0z0w/s400/P2022992.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Green Prawns - always good value</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
What a joyous feeling to splash back into the water off ‘the hard’ in mid January, and even better still to finally depart the marina a few days later and be back at sea swinging on the anchor once more. <br />
<br />
Australia Day was a real hoot; Australian flags, decorations and ‘boxing kangaroos’ fluttering in the gentle breeze in southern Phuket’s popular Nai Harn Bay as more than twenty Aussie yachts, including some newer arrivals we’d not met before, gathered on a large catamaran to celebrate the day in true style with a BBQ on board, with all things ‘Aussie’ including singing and bush verse. A great fun day – the stuff memories are made of.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjzoC0Qyc5yrexQWP-TTmQ28pmsc_r0uUTvjAvhRBygMXO5AYoLxkyzAViKsUxKK4mhTmcev9z9MuyHb8wpmB_OdH_hCdJzkSQqfF9tTXoXuhuxSr9aQKwfMtNM0IZkkDu4_gge_i2cQ/s1600/Aust%20Day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjzoC0Qyc5yrexQWP-TTmQ28pmsc_r0uUTvjAvhRBygMXO5AYoLxkyzAViKsUxKK4mhTmcev9z9MuyHb8wpmB_OdH_hCdJzkSQqfF9tTXoXuhuxSr9aQKwfMtNM0IZkkDu4_gge_i2cQ/s400/Aust%20Day.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Australia Day with 28 'True Blue' yachties </b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>We wasted little time getting back into cruising mode and set our sights on sailing up Phuket’s scenic west coast, comprising bay after bay of excellent white sandy beaches and endless high-rise holiday accommodation, patronised predominantly by older central and northern Europeans, especially Scandinavians, who lounge about in their thousands on plastic deck chairs, many women topless, as they fry their milky-white arctic skins under the tropical sun.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMXfv_F-Au0XaGlsQIhx06iCllDWq1kwaBnclnb9a4hUbPZgUNLVX3W9hMce7n-K0yI38GHaHXQHNsIUNLnugenu35cXwgVpcOgBybKKE1af_Ve4GfAhmmiSTSyrKGI47FZLAVaa1nQQ/s1600/IMG_8473.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMXfv_F-Au0XaGlsQIhx06iCllDWq1kwaBnclnb9a4hUbPZgUNLVX3W9hMce7n-K0yI38GHaHXQHNsIUNLnugenu35cXwgVpcOgBybKKE1af_Ve4GfAhmmiSTSyrKGI47FZLAVaa1nQQ/s400/IMG_8473.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Sun worshippers - Patong Beach</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI_wlhxuks-vNZ3KxSZqhc2BZQOO42YsVrKBeQLzmpzLst6u7AmC2rji1eA9zTMcd7YTf7o9t_NuD28hVHJ0Ae_cFgh-wWo12U2NbikIrrtZWOErFay4nTZG2wDTZmkuCG518Ts_7Eqw/s1600/P2033003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI_wlhxuks-vNZ3KxSZqhc2BZQOO42YsVrKBeQLzmpzLst6u7AmC2rji1eA9zTMcd7YTf7o9t_NuD28hVHJ0Ae_cFgh-wWo12U2NbikIrrtZWOErFay4nTZG2wDTZmkuCG518Ts_7Eqw/s400/P2033003.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Pad Thai Noodles with Seafood - a favourite at $2</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
So we sat at anchor out front of the sandy beaches of Nai Harn, Kata, Patong, Surin, Bang Tao and Nai Yang, spending time with friends, swimming and reading, eating ashore at cheap beach cafes (whose meal prices were about one quarter of Oz costs), and catching up with our ‘Happenings’ reports and emails. <br />
<br />
An interesting anomaly relating to the 2004 Tsunami is that Phuket’s Surin Beach had barely a 2 metre surf wave while similar beaches either side of it and indeed all beaches up and down the west coast suffered huge waves causing extensive damage and much loss of life.<br />
<br />
Having been right up to the Myanmar (Burmese) border in previous seasons, this is as far north as we went before returning southwards back into Phang Nga Bay for a month cruising there. <br />
<br />
To the east of Phuket is picturesque Phang Nga Bay with its many sheer-sided sea mountains of karst limestone that rise vertically out of the bay, providing stunning scenery, occasionally used for motion picture locations.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFoRAyqXUQ5ygt7o8JuKvQ841TF1f13HkS7BQNaQYjhDY7tHCigwty7zWLDH37zgKeaZS1f227xydDvBs9jdcyc_NSRhuEohcw3qWAje3xKy-Jj0MyKPoZV23TdZj8F9eTy8DrqyRgJA/s1600/P2213089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFoRAyqXUQ5ygt7o8JuKvQ841TF1f13HkS7BQNaQYjhDY7tHCigwty7zWLDH37zgKeaZS1f227xydDvBs9jdcyc_NSRhuEohcw3qWAje3xKy-Jj0MyKPoZV23TdZj8F9eTy8DrqyRgJA/s400/P2213089.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Karst Limestone Outcrops - Phang Nga Bay</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnNhI5oUCttwrjtqVFmE4MDJXLK5arI7A2W5NFn3-AVQttXzUlOAp3nP_2UEsnUS5CEcrvtmdRVUZyNswip-0hKOOKnE3ezIGaUf37HDUu18PeYxSfcfPJsvmI8cUooFjL8zpTjvhHiQ/s1600/P3163240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnNhI5oUCttwrjtqVFmE4MDJXLK5arI7A2W5NFn3-AVQttXzUlOAp3nP_2UEsnUS5CEcrvtmdRVUZyNswip-0hKOOKnE3ezIGaUf37HDUu18PeYxSfcfPJsvmI8cUooFjL8zpTjvhHiQ/s400/P3163240.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>There are numerous quiet Bays like this</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
These great sailing grounds are home to many individual fishermen who net the shallow waters of the northern bay and regularly stop by in their small ‘long-tail’ boats to offer fresh green prawns, fish and crabs, often finding a willing prawn buyer in us. One young fisherman – who spoke little English - took me to his village, Laemsak, and then on his motorbike for 13km to the supermarket. <br />
<br />
We ran out of petrol enroute and a passing friend, on his motorbike, “foot” pushed us three km to get fuel. Upon return to Laemsak village the tide was out, so he summoned several locals to drag his boat through the mud to the water, and I paid him generously for his kindness.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ET3bttcptpMVe8mzHtd4OviFZF8fxsfv4i4w7FosJpcmcUoowbPmdz7uxtVS41abSWMHdzT7TvyfF3DIs_UDO9Mnzlp3S-Kgg5nVZEI1268sQE9jWgLwLzPgze7924QTHLyaOBSufw/s1600/P2253101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ET3bttcptpMVe8mzHtd4OviFZF8fxsfv4i4w7FosJpcmcUoowbPmdz7uxtVS41abSWMHdzT7TvyfF3DIs_UDO9Mnzlp3S-Kgg5nVZEI1268sQE9jWgLwLzPgze7924QTHLyaOBSufw/s400/P2253101.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>200 metre push along mud into the water</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwOfI8ynIRoTas-Q_VmfXc6F-YIPhM1rfSjZw3JDJtVMdIp02l8109kHYk7mu92z24BVvyJJuQk1hqY-A3l3-7cWriboV0pVZlPuqhzeeNMWRrZi_HybCZyQRKbU0AmVPrahdXUhUaIw/s1600/P3063135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwOfI8ynIRoTas-Q_VmfXc6F-YIPhM1rfSjZw3JDJtVMdIp02l8109kHYk7mu92z24BVvyJJuQk1hqY-A3l3-7cWriboV0pVZlPuqhzeeNMWRrZi_HybCZyQRKbU0AmVPrahdXUhUaIw/s400/P3063135.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Fisherman loading their pots</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9BeSeibCYPnqhIyolfF-mNsJcTPvYD5yEi4A3PgG4YWnDucfLWfEt020mGPE_HxIkIpN01dEN7XVc-ZOjQtQ29hIiBwv2A92S6VxISDCHkMu0hhG_ScbNPQvBWO2Ba0_AHh8zOeH9NA/s1600/IMG_8651.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9BeSeibCYPnqhIyolfF-mNsJcTPvYD5yEi4A3PgG4YWnDucfLWfEt020mGPE_HxIkIpN01dEN7XVc-ZOjQtQ29hIiBwv2A92S6VxISDCHkMu0hhG_ScbNPQvBWO2Ba0_AHh8zOeH9NA/s400/IMG_8651.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Heading out to set the pots</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table> Three unchartered small rivers drain into northern Phang Nga Bay and the good ship ‘Envy’ carefully explored one of them, the Marui River, for a few miles upstream, eyes glued to the Depth Sounder as we cautiously zigzagged our way searching for navigable depths in the mangrove lined channels of murky brown water. <br />
<br />
We anchored beside a mid-stream ‘postage stamp’ sized rocky outcrop where “Wilma’s Place”, a recently abandoned food kiosk nestled on the rocks in the middle of nowhere, piqued our imagination as to the commercial feasibility of its location in the first place – there’s no habitation within sight! At dusk ‘Envy’ hosted the entire local mosquito population, but fortunately 4 smoking ‘mozzie’ coils held them in check. One night was enough to whet our explorer’s appetites – we departed the next day! <br />
<br />
Audrey and I have again enjoyed this part of the world, pretty much planning our travels to avoid previously visited haunts in favour of discovering places new to us. We particularly enjoyed our first visit to the Krabi area in the Bay’s northeast, which is both pretty and touristy, and boasts some of the most spectacular karst limestone of the area.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8N7wsSv5lcbnVhjGV8Z36cP2tjibODnxliGvbjqvzHR9SoYfDYmnOP5uVvdKUmk4IwDG00d_tb5QhSTkJGpMAGCN3yGWBV4kkUXIciB9nAUyOwPxoQekLUn1MvehyphenhyphenV45mtn3-O4Ie2g/s1600/P2273106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8N7wsSv5lcbnVhjGV8Z36cP2tjibODnxliGvbjqvzHR9SoYfDYmnOP5uVvdKUmk4IwDG00d_tb5QhSTkJGpMAGCN3yGWBV4kkUXIciB9nAUyOwPxoQekLUn1MvehyphenhyphenV45mtn3-O4Ie2g/s400/P2273106.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Abandoned 'Wilmas' Restaurant</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI8soz5p86Tk0NKEHBpxoaG96FnoSqNFg2pZ0ji9cr8287hYIVId42L3USo7i17x9GoybSgunm4-SUTLt0hjk3Nh0P-X6EYZipbkrFo9kXe2CHucJmc7ZQH_zi-uT9Cm91slY4NA8tdQ/s1600/IMG_8611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI8soz5p86Tk0NKEHBpxoaG96FnoSqNFg2pZ0ji9cr8287hYIVId42L3USo7i17x9GoybSgunm4-SUTLt0hjk3Nh0P-X6EYZipbkrFo9kXe2CHucJmc7ZQH_zi-uT9Cm91slY4NA8tdQ/s400/IMG_8611.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Eroded Limestone cliffs - Krabi Coast</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Our next interesting stop was at Ko Yao Yai (South Yao Island) where Bruce, ever the explorer, went ashore to check out Ban Lam Lan, a tiny isolated Muslim fishing village where very few westerners would venture. Everyone was just so friendly and wanted to know all about this ‘Farang’ (foreigner), so, aided by my Thai-English phrase book, there was much laughter and ‘carrying-on’.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk1N7SkZFiWyXUYlH8VA8hmAflzvLF6xbWON63uNnrAaxq-dw62MM3YuXi2nOznJ5JAZV5XYHp_KlpEkjqJIblNoLCF9JLS4lswJ_o7FEC5Rj6mJrdSgqf2vVXUoJib4Yi4VPnf_cqGw/s1600/P3063164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk1N7SkZFiWyXUYlH8VA8hmAflzvLF6xbWON63uNnrAaxq-dw62MM3YuXi2nOznJ5JAZV5XYHp_KlpEkjqJIblNoLCF9JLS4lswJ_o7FEC5Rj6mJrdSgqf2vVXUoJib4Yi4VPnf_cqGw/s400/P3063164.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Ban Lam Lan Muslin Village</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAIiV1E76fG9TKNypdnSDioFhfJ7vjq0jztaBMx3OYp-8P1Z8C15dfdKXbUrg_gPBSqdjbOepk3tCSgzOIKEMDDGPv1B7iKhkdv-yNnHh05v1HaH4VDOIbd_X-XFhmkJeCOvENOXei5Q/s1600/P3063151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAIiV1E76fG9TKNypdnSDioFhfJ7vjq0jztaBMx3OYp-8P1Z8C15dfdKXbUrg_gPBSqdjbOepk3tCSgzOIKEMDDGPv1B7iKhkdv-yNnHh05v1HaH4VDOIbd_X-XFhmkJeCOvENOXei5Q/s400/P3063151.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Local Storekeeper with my Phrase book</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Enroute back to Langkawi we again visited the “Emerald Cave” on Muk Island, the must-see highlight of the region. The entrance is an 80-metre pitch dark winding passageway, with just enough headroom and width for a small dinghy to paddle in, and the reverberating sound of booming seawater resonating in ones ears likened it to a spooky ‘Disneyland’ ride. <br />
<br />
This dark passageway leads to a completely enclosed circular, cathedral-like Hong (room), with a diameter of 60 metres, open to the sky. The high, sheer walls are draped in lush foliage above a tiny patch of silica sand beach and an ethereal glow makes it seem as if you were encased inside an emerald, looking out. It’s an awesome experience, never to be forgotten!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE5S8XBMiwiTwHlDW1HOGo4CyMiEWmOKMnx42hKN92txWVMwC47cLeHDpO5ruLhRO8yjXUzATATg13THJk-24kv7C5xeAfmtnAqgAW1L6UpJ2CHWGPo4VsEBMsk64_YCW_MZ8J09B3hA/s1600/P3163189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE5S8XBMiwiTwHlDW1HOGo4CyMiEWmOKMnx42hKN92txWVMwC47cLeHDpO5ruLhRO8yjXUzATATg13THJk-24kv7C5xeAfmtnAqgAW1L6UpJ2CHWGPo4VsEBMsk64_YCW_MZ8J09B3hA/s640/P3163189.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Inside the Emerald Cave Hong</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>The main fishing village on the relatively small island of Ko Muk, which was swept away by the tsunami, has been rebuilt with foreign aid. The 130 new dwellings are a vast improvement over their modest pre-tsunami homes. The complex sits on concrete pillars over tidal mudflats that are exposed at low tide; all houses are inter-connected with walkways and incorporate a septic waste system which few enjoyed previously. Not the most salubrious location but at least there’s no grass to mow!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-OgEaF2JwRemInpWBjpFJpkZV9AkFhQkXC6OVFH_q5X3eNBafdIFbCIuac-Gdfu6FpFacByi2R0rRpW3NYvD9zfxLeLEFz2JUWmsmeHGsWVrgEpjmZoT58KV3k0r9BJPhX566uyu32A/s1600/IMG_8757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-OgEaF2JwRemInpWBjpFJpkZV9AkFhQkXC6OVFH_q5X3eNBafdIFbCIuac-Gdfu6FpFacByi2R0rRpW3NYvD9zfxLeLEFz2JUWmsmeHGsWVrgEpjmZoT58KV3k0r9BJPhX566uyu32A/s400/IMG_8757.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Rebuilt housing - Koh Muk fishing village</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgahWNJrHopavfZSTu0zej9dD6lu-Yff6LrsyswIid8hCb5O76y1sq-hfPCynPHS_LyTO307iJfukV_v_WcZBDOkSwYwwWOwe5Qh9fcWOmyw-3Nwis9Xo3HMZSloBJCgdh7B0NJkGkuVQ/s1600/IMG_8743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgahWNJrHopavfZSTu0zej9dD6lu-Yff6LrsyswIid8hCb5O76y1sq-hfPCynPHS_LyTO307iJfukV_v_WcZBDOkSwYwwWOwe5Qh9fcWOmyw-3Nwis9Xo3HMZSloBJCgdh7B0NJkGkuVQ/s400/IMG_8743.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>School children on Koh Muk</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
There is a tourist resort at the bottom end of Koh Muk, with a restaurant nestled into the headland, providing wonderful elevated views overlooking the beach and bay; it has long been a favourite of ours so we made a point of savouring it one last time to enjoy ‘Sundowners’ at sunset followed by an excellent seafood dinner.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEdl2B4vsBuGOGIJWeX-5CPdLaYFmHMRGAWyXpaadyuu-in1f-3OGDCuaQRMiAjXycHiqN4PpPDgeHGeH9AMum8pWpU3tnqKa9SqSbsrkI1AUpj1sbpp8dgh0rYvwNGSR6nWjhS_trpQ/s1600/IMG_8701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEdl2B4vsBuGOGIJWeX-5CPdLaYFmHMRGAWyXpaadyuu-in1f-3OGDCuaQRMiAjXycHiqN4PpPDgeHGeH9AMum8pWpU3tnqKa9SqSbsrkI1AUpj1sbpp8dgh0rYvwNGSR6nWjhS_trpQ/s400/IMG_8701.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Million dollar view - and a one dollar floor!</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Cre33NDUkfFR9HOmdYeiNyIfUnEIwDuoSHgOooVARji92ZKBpUUtEwUC63aoJ2Ef0_6_9UntCYmJWIGvjvUPF4dz-ghOK5qAS8GMhyphenhyphenVrKj_87_aQrNdweYvrXBA4PLjV05p7tNiawA/s1600/IMG_8710.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Cre33NDUkfFR9HOmdYeiNyIfUnEIwDuoSHgOooVARji92ZKBpUUtEwUC63aoJ2Ef0_6_9UntCYmJWIGvjvUPF4dz-ghOK5qAS8GMhyphenhyphenVrKj_87_aQrNdweYvrXBA4PLjV05p7tNiawA/s400/IMG_8710.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Sundowners at Sunset from the same position</b></i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><br />
</b></i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><br />
</b></i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><br />
</b></i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><br />
</b></i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><br />
</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b>And a great farewell to Thailand</b></i></span></div><br />
Having accumulatively spent several months during our Thai cruising these past three years, there is not much of Thailand’s popular cruising grounds – from Malaysia to Myanmar - that’s accessible and/or of interest to us - which we’ve now not seen.<br />
<br />
Our 90 day visa to Thailand expired mid March when we departed Phuket and made a leisurely return to ‘home base’ in Langkawi over the following 10 days. <br />
<br />
‘Envy’ now lies in Rebak Marina being prepared for our participation in ‘The Rally to the East’ at the end of April, destination North Borneo. <br />
<br />
We have made the decision to abort our Philippines cruising plans and sail ‘Envy” back to OZ a couple of years earlier, and hopefully to arrive in Brisbane by the end of this year; it’s far more difficult returning southwards and we need to wait for more appropriate seasonal conditions later in the year. <br />
<br />
We are still researching the most favourable route, either backtracking through Indonesia or returning over the top of Papua New Guinea. We’ll keep you posted.<br />
<br />
Bruce and Audrey<br />
April 2010Yacht Envyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296367569566410867noreply@blogger.com0Phuket, Thailand7.9843109 98.33074687.6443173999999994 97.8638278 8.324304399999999 98.7976658tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5422585594160201132.post-60004744399998153312010-02-04T13:47:00.000+08:002010-02-04T13:47:47.310+08:00Happenings 2009 Number 16<div style="text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div style="color: black; text-align: center;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Australia<br />
An unexpected return</span></b></div><div style="color: black; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Six days after our arrival back on “Envy” at Rebak Marina, Langkawi, Malaysia, following the most wonderful holiday visit to Britain, we are again in the air on a flight to Brisbane to attend a problem at our ‘down the bay’ house on Karragarra Island.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhydDG6su6HWCyETUByEHQcrPuAeWSLHRrdYutLHJWIpLHSqfGZeVj18E3EyWnqsD9KDtJrWpdgHIHbAAgtFidKoBS4xPoNc2vM00hySuaiq35QsiqI5YCvMKRyq-rxNXJDoTangVwWtQ/s1600-h/IMG_8181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhydDG6su6HWCyETUByEHQcrPuAeWSLHRrdYutLHJWIpLHSqfGZeVj18E3EyWnqsD9KDtJrWpdgHIHbAAgtFidKoBS4xPoNc2vM00hySuaiq35QsiqI5YCvMKRyq-rxNXJDoTangVwWtQ/s400/IMG_8181.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Karragarra (Karra) Island Jetty</span></b></i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo3P7XSzjuTl5vcI72DaizognUW5mhsNIQ1LgQFmPnt3lY_WnjIDkDIomqmL6_tAzfAVBt8NC1Q2hRkO-EipdgnZPLyPucCW4GetTYcMy94rfD158dUCaWEq-kmFvQQf4on9q44mfoSA/s1600-h/IMG_8185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo3P7XSzjuTl5vcI72DaizognUW5mhsNIQ1LgQFmPnt3lY_WnjIDkDIomqmL6_tAzfAVBt8NC1Q2hRkO-EipdgnZPLyPucCW4GetTYcMy94rfD158dUCaWEq-kmFvQQf4on9q44mfoSA/s400/IMG_8185.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Pretty Karra Beachfront</span></b></i> </div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></b></i></div>Having been alerted by non payment of several weeks’ rent, enquiries led to the unhappy discovery that our tenant had fled without notice, albeit understandably, as a result of the total failure of the septic toilet system. The local Council authority was talking mega- bucks’ figures for its replacement so we high-tailed it home to sort out the problem.<br />
<br />
Most of the following two months are consumed having the entire septic system replaced, re-establishing the ruined lawn, having house painting done and getting the house and grounds spruced up ready for sale. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Fgam2nL1FE5KsVt-j_SUDmLFF-TmFQuzMBgirCZO_cjE03gyxxi5VYEB2Ei7OW7DB0VLvchYqt0g6SXECNopVHHQoizgEpJm-yE_UTutpqnyop3lfLfSaGACJoivHq0yU7EjN_L03g/s1600-h/IMG_7946.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Fgam2nL1FE5KsVt-j_SUDmLFF-TmFQuzMBgirCZO_cjE03gyxxi5VYEB2Ei7OW7DB0VLvchYqt0g6SXECNopVHHQoizgEpJm-yE_UTutpqnyop3lfLfSaGACJoivHq0yU7EjN_L03g/s400/IMG_7946.JPG" width="400" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Trenches for the new Septic System</span></b></i> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgthr-bqC-W60q2TioSRpN5G-vhUVKHaSDbK55SORaACG5Cl40rZzP4qMIRJbk_bh0F8a20sVV0ERSreLxEDi8ksqepKCQxnZdV0VvKoexpipPKZKqeCVuVSWWOPlcOMMJU7udDy4hyphenhyphenUg/s1600-h/IMG_8004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgthr-bqC-W60q2TioSRpN5G-vhUVKHaSDbK55SORaACG5Cl40rZzP4qMIRJbk_bh0F8a20sVV0ERSreLxEDi8ksqepKCQxnZdV0VvKoexpipPKZKqeCVuVSWWOPlcOMMJU7udDy4hyphenhyphenUg/s400/IMG_8004.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Job completed, but no grass, just the red soil of Redland Bay!!</span></b></i> </div><br />
We have owned this property since 2002, have done well capital gains wise, and with a dearth of good tenants choosing to live on this tiny island, we took the decision to sell and invest elsewhere.<br />
<br />
See it at: <a href="http://www.tbarclayrealestate.com/property/204.htm">http://www.tbarclayrealestate.com/property/204.htm</a><br />
<br />
Karragarra is widely acknowledged as the pick of the southern Moreton Bay islands with its sandy swimming/picnic area with free electric BBQ’s & facilities and quiet lifestyle. It also boasts some very colourful birdlife with many brightly hued parrots and lorikeets around, and Kookaburras plus other birds lining up on the deck rails to be fed. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwi6KUP-vJG3c9AvcJn3oge3Y6HNn4Hi6uL5t9S6ENIXjByIszKJsBmJZ6twlz8PbQcIToGip5_Lw-nucfFiXf-NiJA6odXpbltLOUaNhwwRFWaUQMf3WBwYreM_Wj2UZuPluMKBS_hg/s1600-h/IMG_8198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwi6KUP-vJG3c9AvcJn3oge3Y6HNn4Hi6uL5t9S6ENIXjByIszKJsBmJZ6twlz8PbQcIToGip5_Lw-nucfFiXf-NiJA6odXpbltLOUaNhwwRFWaUQMf3WBwYreM_Wj2UZuPluMKBS_hg/s400/IMG_8198.JPG" width="400" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Karra swimming enclosure and BBQ picnic area</span></b></i> </div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIkCgS_gwghv2vg9UELDzQWYwOBmNnIyXz6o4fI5_VatODv48d4k5cQ-hx9OpJRa9GSFFnSIiJrIJ_nsxl3CmOhPb-E4PPU-td3octTNGBTmlMxmgmaQTHozgkEAaun37gkaghSBgRLg/s1600-h/IMG_8067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIkCgS_gwghv2vg9UELDzQWYwOBmNnIyXz6o4fI5_VatODv48d4k5cQ-hx9OpJRa9GSFFnSIiJrIJ_nsxl3CmOhPb-E4PPU-td3octTNGBTmlMxmgmaQTHozgkEAaun37gkaghSBgRLg/s400/IMG_8067.JPG" width="400" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Backyard at high tide</span></b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></b></i> <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg27oarNfrnNtdfCQAMXutjqlPsRZLh-BkhpElkamr5Y-5ww1XHY7ugVji8czIpdfVGaZ037c8k9CY2HndoU4aI9y-Ke8YVOj9ORgE1or2kujG4Sioz6F_N3OyOcCtwh1l5sytr0otHaQ/s1600-h/IMG_8100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg27oarNfrnNtdfCQAMXutjqlPsRZLh-BkhpElkamr5Y-5ww1XHY7ugVji8czIpdfVGaZ037c8k9CY2HndoU4aI9y-Ke8YVOj9ORgE1or2kujG4Sioz6F_N3OyOcCtwh1l5sytr0otHaQ/s400/IMG_8100.JPG" width="400" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Rear view of Karra House</span></b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></b></i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIth4-u8Rh45-ILRTgwBB0cij6GGvLghe0vlWNirUwj7rL1SU7TotWEDhmd1TxIJrYCA0RFgAWklRc5eY_DRED5l5sCEsWz3rHDxZ34_kO0zHRrfDalOrtU6SikrGToxHgakYGMFuxZw/s1600-h/IMG_8153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIth4-u8Rh45-ILRTgwBB0cij6GGvLghe0vlWNirUwj7rL1SU7TotWEDhmd1TxIJrYCA0RFgAWklRc5eY_DRED5l5sCEsWz3rHDxZ34_kO0zHRrfDalOrtU6SikrGToxHgakYGMFuxZw/s400/IMG_8153.JPG" width="400" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Air conditioned open plan interior</span></b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></b></i> <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAv0lElj6u3U6HCBdrEBbT2KI8x4P-80J2i1nbAYv42QctC6ONqXJNeRRTPKFvnWGQ31VVzMpun_WafwxADfyxOh46g6p-4gNyEVIpJ6nSKVIYdzH_x4vQrAOD5EFx8trecnLIW2JwuA/s1600-h/IMG_8077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAv0lElj6u3U6HCBdrEBbT2KI8x4P-80J2i1nbAYv42QctC6ONqXJNeRRTPKFvnWGQ31VVzMpun_WafwxADfyxOh46g6p-4gNyEVIpJ6nSKVIYdzH_x4vQrAOD5EFx8trecnLIW2JwuA/s400/IMG_8077.JPG" width="400" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">View from back deck</span></b></i> </div></div><br />
The days quickly spread into weeks as we worked to get the property ready for sale plus packing up and moving much of the house contents into storage beneath our suburban Brisbane home, which is also tenanted.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgox88cZXsT34fIhnbrA1yIJr5iJoycT7qCB4TONhibNeBhO3FHTu5eNxi_NEG8qQfftyMH1HgCjhY1b2-drwtisuNziixV8aewQaigf9iFOYjQDYXzepmzaKLaFoNj5dF7hsnC0l9G1Q/s1600-h/IMG_8170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgox88cZXsT34fIhnbrA1yIJr5iJoycT7qCB4TONhibNeBhO3FHTu5eNxi_NEG8qQfftyMH1HgCjhY1b2-drwtisuNziixV8aewQaigf9iFOYjQDYXzepmzaKLaFoNj5dF7hsnC0l9G1Q/s400/IMG_8170.JPG" width="400" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Moving out</span></b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></b></i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8t-8iTUUWq_qm1NW9yBobeoX8DbcLK_QbL6V50ksctNwdwupATz-F_y62ohe4eA55UqcMTu_sXR8L_wfimHoQoCx5-YiAxCsSbz5T3eS8aQ8L71oTizEqwfM75X7-nU-1yMwjBNY9bQ/s1600-h/IMG_8203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8t-8iTUUWq_qm1NW9yBobeoX8DbcLK_QbL6V50ksctNwdwupATz-F_y62ohe4eA55UqcMTu_sXR8L_wfimHoQoCx5-YiAxCsSbz5T3eS8aQ8L71oTizEqwfM75X7-nU-1yMwjBNY9bQ/s400/IMG_8203.JPG" width="400" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Departing Karragarra Island</span></b></i> </div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br />
Interspersed with this was attending the needs of twin brother John who is slowly succumbing to the vagaries of early Alzheimer’s Disease, in his independent living unit at Brookfield Retirement Village. <br />
<br />
Our return to Oz turned out to be a very busy working visit, mostly spent on 'Karra' and, with the island’s ‘bridge-less’ relative isolation, we were unable to catch up with many friends, for which we beg your understanding.<br />
<br />
We returned to Malaysia on 1st. December, from where, ten days later “Envy” threw off her lines and sailed up to Phuket, Thailand for Christmas and the following 3 months.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ILer0TIWhPwLQad_xgkLG24zSwb-xO9bLohKk_jA-hicy6BjgpPFXTLxKhqCoOx7vMTGDRbpg8S8h642hKH7ieRb55pVgH3nYewjLdBbk8QpbH8VP7oJGSNx2NqFPM2Z-YK9T12nAQ/s1600-h/H15+the+end.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430893613390263282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ILer0TIWhPwLQad_xgkLG24zSwb-xO9bLohKk_jA-hicy6BjgpPFXTLxKhqCoOx7vMTGDRbpg8S8h642hKH7ieRb55pVgH3nYewjLdBbk8QpbH8VP7oJGSNx2NqFPM2Z-YK9T12nAQ/s320/H15+the+end.jpg" style="display: block; height: 281px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 375px;" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b>Happy 2010 - from Bruce and Audrey</b></i></span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>See you soon in H-17</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
</div>Yacht Envyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296367569566410867noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5422585594160201132.post-19315552276393422162010-01-28T10:26:00.002+08:002014-05-26T18:33:14.992+08:00Happenings 2020 Number 17<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thailand Revisited</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1zwfkEOG1pBvBqBF20C9X0u-gou1QTZWMIZV7qjKjVXI9QMhxHe6BrtXabEdS2UKSkTqtjwqO-zdiRm6ctjOaaq9N0Zjvxv94oGeo2Zmv9MGbkjA_SqKI7yDoQ1CyZhBP4KU0Mjrfw/s1600-h/Thailand.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1zwfkEOG1pBvBqBF20C9X0u-gou1QTZWMIZV7qjKjVXI9QMhxHe6BrtXabEdS2UKSkTqtjwqO-zdiRm6ctjOaaq9N0Zjvxv94oGeo2Zmv9MGbkjA_SqKI7yDoQ1CyZhBP4KU0Mjrfw/s200/Thailand.gif" width="200" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <br />
</span></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span></span>We returned to Malaysia on 1st. December, from where, ten days later “Envy” threw off her lines and sailed up to Phuket, Thailand for Christmas and the next 3 months.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXsKiD_s-IE-aHieq27mIzqiH1Q6BOfFyXCtvBym6IHAKNk35A2ss72jtIfm88bBQbd26yOml8aaTh0EIo8I6fjknU13GAe4MfisYH_UIG8guQtaTOtsMfPaH8VTIRIhbt4XZf2uV8uA/s1600-h/PC012939.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXsKiD_s-IE-aHieq27mIzqiH1Q6BOfFyXCtvBym6IHAKNk35A2ss72jtIfm88bBQbd26yOml8aaTh0EIo8I6fjknU13GAe4MfisYH_UIG8guQtaTOtsMfPaH8VTIRIhbt4XZf2uV8uA/s400/PC012939.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b>Returning to Rebak</b></i></span></span><br />
</div><br />
<br />
But all of a sudden things went terribly wrong. On day three in Chalong, Phuket while doing engine room maintenance, at anchor, Bruce accidentally broke off a thru-hull ball valve and sea water was flooding into the boat.<br />
<br />
Fortunately friends were anchored nearby and, as Bruce sat there covering the hole with his hands, Audrey summoned help and we managed to smother the opening with quick drying marine putty, after which Bruce dived under the hull and jammed a wooden bung into the hole. The heartbeat rate was fairly racing there for a while!!<br />
<br />
We were able to motor-sail up in strong headwinds to Phuket’s Boat Lagoon Marina where “Envy” now safely sits in a cradle on the hardstand awaiting this and several other maintenance jobs when the trades people return after New Year.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile we’ve hired a Suzuki Jeep and will join yachtie friends for a beach BBQ Christmas Lunch in a pretty little bay on the other side of Phuket Island. So all is not lost by any means.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span><br />
</div></div>Yacht Envyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296367569566410867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5422585594160201132.post-5768567325638603102010-01-26T11:51:00.037+08:002010-01-27T12:23:02.600+08:00Happenings 2009 Number 15<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">“The Quiet Year?!”</span></span><br /></div><br /><br />Wow; for what was planned as a quiet year, all of a sudden 2009 became quite different!<br /><br />It’s been another full year for the ‘Envy’ crew with mostly land travel and much less sailing. So here’s our story for 2009.<br /><br />Having spent Christmas 2008 in Australia, January 2009 finds Bruce and Audrey visiting friends in QLD, NSW and VIC, then across to New Zealand before returning to the boat in Langkawi, Malaysia early March, as reported in “Happenings 14”.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></span></span><div style="text-align: left;">Three weeks later we’re sailing, with very little wind, through Thailand’s southern islands up to Phuket, where we’ll spend just one short month mixing maintenance with leisure. Phuket boatyards offer the best marine services by far within this SE Asian area, so we had ‘Envy’s’ parquetry flooring totally refurbished to look like new.<br /></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjaPQyfE56cQC5QTxHiKRIrTcL1cr-Zp1DcjQ6uI6nxKJUDEVBtjfsZsRBzrXzNFrlcTlmCdB5PpYXIymna5B_FEChz72rehkukS993hqN9Dafq3ko2HX_p1N7mudL6rllx00q2tCy5Q/s1600-h/H15+01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 313px; height: 406px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjaPQyfE56cQC5QTxHiKRIrTcL1cr-Zp1DcjQ6uI6nxKJUDEVBtjfsZsRBzrXzNFrlcTlmCdB5PpYXIymna5B_FEChz72rehkukS993hqN9Dafq3ko2HX_p1N7mudL6rllx00q2tCy5Q/s320/H15+01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430893606166396610" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >‘Envy’ enroute to Thailand</span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><br /></span></div><br />We then take a ten day island hopping cruise back to Rebak Marina, Langkawi where, following a similar period layover, “Envy” moves on 70nm down to Penang.<br /><br />Bruce had designed a new ‘NV’ boat logo and Penang offered the opportunity to have it drawn up professionally. For those who don’t know, ‘Envy’ derives from our names Napier (N) & Vidgen (V) – NV, with no connection to one of the “7 Cardinal Sins”.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxKSFnXH63FSbfZklDWC63iySj4gB2VM3vpjt5CXpHY7ihBhnoXeOQaAH1XJTeUbGBd6E8LJlrenZB_eRTutBKJ7p75z6xfBF_GKVTV6OFOXEERp0wteCvntPsEhDO2Rk40L4WWpYsg/s1600-h/Envy+Boat+Card.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 202px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxKSFnXH63FSbfZklDWC63iySj4gB2VM3vpjt5CXpHY7ihBhnoXeOQaAH1XJTeUbGBd6E8LJlrenZB_eRTutBKJ7p75z6xfBF_GKVTV6OFOXEERp0wteCvntPsEhDO2Rk40L4WWpYsg/s320/Envy+Boat+Card.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430893591932452274" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;">New 'Envy' Logo and Boat Card</span></span></span><br /><br /></div>Exotic Penang offers much to tourists and is a favourite destination with its colourful cultural mix of Chinese, Indians and Malays, its excellent food and fine old architecture. Here we hire a car and stay in a friend’s vacant hillside unit with its sea views for three weeks while our Queensland expat author friend is away visiting Cambodia. His bright, airy unit is a welcome change from our less spacious boat, safely moored in the marina.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiltPw1v_vZnGASlgweFJEbMZrKU5yCDFn1-XAxmcifyXAtq-yMNwXzxF1J2BAz9Tr21bMrZeaMBWu-UnPlYEGn1PM4ewMocOaFtO-18QLTVh6sqTxu-ddHiOOhU-DrqRQ11O1Aln4jTA/s1600-h/Tai+Tong+Rest.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 429px; height: 322px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiltPw1v_vZnGASlgweFJEbMZrKU5yCDFn1-XAxmcifyXAtq-yMNwXzxF1J2BAz9Tr21bMrZeaMBWu-UnPlYEGn1PM4ewMocOaFtO-18QLTVh6sqTxu-ddHiOOhU-DrqRQ11O1Aln4jTA/s320/Tai+Tong+Rest.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430899360191465538" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">‘Yum Cha’ in Penang with Neil & Ley</span></span><br /></div><br />Back in home-base Rebak Marina again we decide to circumnavigate Langkawi Island and spend time with yachtie friends in the lovely sandy northern anchorage at Tanjung Rhu, with its small fish farm incorporating a modest floating seafood restaurant. From here we went by dinghy for an exploratory day trip through the narrow tidal channels to the ‘Hole-in-the-Wall’, a protected ‘mangrove alley’ anchorage some 10 km distant.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjeoJzMw3QbyFk_F_VrFJMffQJg4HcAvfQbZS_ueHuZkGgHTo-PXtQgaMXMK-NPGnwwIBElslPSUcNv6I-oLuLMcIMKTc9-WrXZIV72nL89L9RSkynVXU-1I_0ilOxWvRqpM53ZH9FFQ/s1600-h/P7022341.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 434px; height: 325px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjeoJzMw3QbyFk_F_VrFJMffQJg4HcAvfQbZS_ueHuZkGgHTo-PXtQgaMXMK-NPGnwwIBElslPSUcNv6I-oLuLMcIMKTc9-WrXZIV72nL89L9RSkynVXU-1I_0ilOxWvRqpM53ZH9FFQ/s320/P7022341.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430899372309159698" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Exploring ‘Hole in the Wall’<br /></span></div><br />By now it’s July and the stormy SW monsoon ‘wet season’ is starting and we’re back in the marina for a quiet off-season, with no travel plans. But plans are prone to change.<br /><br />We made a spur-of-the-moment decision to make a two month’s visit to Great Britain and departed Malaysia with Emirates on Sunday 26 July to Newcastle, England, via Dubai. We spent 52 wonderful days touring extensively through much of England and Scotland visiting relatives, friends, and attending Audrey’s cousin’s wedding in Gloucestershire.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5DZgOD0RLsZsERz6s_y54tDxMfyufqiDIe1LFdCrfBo9nvvli3ABYEWeoASJZrgvr7RyphdT3ntJPfVdWq-cQLpKvztt0M87LAF8ckJqJR2qnJ8yLcs2bCCz_5XDgvNZ04EWTljZFOw/s1600-h/IMG_6411_1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 248px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5DZgOD0RLsZsERz6s_y54tDxMfyufqiDIe1LFdCrfBo9nvvli3ABYEWeoASJZrgvr7RyphdT3ntJPfVdWq-cQLpKvztt0M87LAF8ckJqJR2qnJ8yLcs2bCCz_5XDgvNZ04EWTljZFOw/s320/IMG_6411_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430904760740443026" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Audrey hadn’t seen her aunt & uncle (Elspeth &Denbigh) and cousins in over 40 years and it was the “highlight of the decade” to catch up at last with these wonderfully lovely ‘rellies’; the whole clan had gathered together to celebrate Phoebe’s 21st birthday and Alex & Susannah’s wedding.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ASl_FlzYSeadSSTFjKTgqAswn8FgYnmk0IfQE2Cc0aavo-TSiiVmKuFh4ozr7b05gb1ovVUkdJoNU4N6RYWIw-opu-z2py_LOtPYmDu2RJaVlFmx7xEzS9FNnvh-IVvGoSr5rwQ6eA/s1600-h/IMG_6195.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 365px; height: 232px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ASl_FlzYSeadSSTFjKTgqAswn8FgYnmk0IfQE2Cc0aavo-TSiiVmKuFh4ozr7b05gb1ovVUkdJoNU4N6RYWIw-opu-z2py_LOtPYmDu2RJaVlFmx7xEzS9FNnvh-IVvGoSr5rwQ6eA/s320/IMG_6195.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430904759557154818" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >With Elspeth & Denbigh at the Wedding</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR283-nGVz19n0bnVMgRNjeMsUEhtnx7B5m8PYebO2LEDyZ5EytOW2W-rlMVOVd6CFJY3oZKYsZ0bDXG_uQIS72vrVKg_8IbOeED0C3TFzMxMaKlvPhumbMTvw2UsXEJ6vdOColV2VEw/s1600-h/IMG_6174_1.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 340px; height: 325px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR283-nGVz19n0bnVMgRNjeMsUEhtnx7B5m8PYebO2LEDyZ5EytOW2W-rlMVOVd6CFJY3oZKYsZ0bDXG_uQIS72vrVKg_8IbOeED0C3TFzMxMaKlvPhumbMTvw2UsXEJ6vdOColV2VEw/s320/IMG_6174_1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430904750654245058" border="0" /></a><br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ></span> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Alex and Susannah</span><br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5do10mTJ-13xi8VjVLP5K14YQYKqGQ1XkTfEUGpVSHsxgLAPEanrQVzxSRiiatnO_YrswqJLwOlAnSN-obLejNnLqu6Kbd0AGHiCtZcUwclivxEl3xRF0Nc678Q2cuJ7xONvZ8U-jIg/s1600-h/IMG_0390.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 445px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5do10mTJ-13xi8VjVLP5K14YQYKqGQ1XkTfEUGpVSHsxgLAPEanrQVzxSRiiatnO_YrswqJLwOlAnSN-obLejNnLqu6Kbd0AGHiCtZcUwclivxEl3xRF0Nc678Q2cuJ7xONvZ8U-jIg/s320/IMG_0390.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430904742103666450" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" > </span></div><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">the Wright family – our hosts for the Wedding<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div>During our seven weeks’ visit we enjoyed the luxury of having 3 vacant cottages/units to ourselves, all in superb tourist locations. Derek Brittain’s lovely cottage in Stockton, North Yorkshire (Captain Cook country), the Gregson’s hilltop ‘Rose Cottage’ in scenic Bradwell, Derbyshire and the Scott’s cosy unit overlooking a golf course in Edinburgh, in addition to staying with relatives and friends for the balance of our 51 nights, spending only a single night’s stay in a sea-front B&B in Kent; our total accommodation cost being ₤52 (A$ 104) for the entire seven weeks holiday.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn-uUsqGm4uK0tjpCKh6af1yeWdFg9AG-gTzyokJQT18RsuIAdmG_wrskDl7lf-3DcQEqN2bsF-Ag63NPlnq2pmiPPSH2RggkClP2o1BFv_YM45GBe5zTtUtlPSb4x0tVLSNg6yCtDLQ/s1600-h/Roman+Baths+Bath.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 429px; height: 323px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn-uUsqGm4uK0tjpCKh6af1yeWdFg9AG-gTzyokJQT18RsuIAdmG_wrskDl7lf-3DcQEqN2bsF-Ag63NPlnq2pmiPPSH2RggkClP2o1BFv_YM45GBe5zTtUtlPSb4x0tVLSNg6yCtDLQ/s320/Roman+Baths+Bath.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430909821644683762" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Roman Baths – Bath</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzvuUjYU-YxkFrkNPtsGgc0ejHP7b5GuJOj4PSDlMy9E_W-sdRYgfsjYfk2i_qCe0tGNTwxQVUlqseWRDP1KgV8HbvMP79whRw1vBBikXIfmKiKfNTWAEUvzFriAtRbIFS2KFfC_NdWg/s1600-h/Bradwell+Hillside.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 438px; height: 329px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzvuUjYU-YxkFrkNPtsGgc0ejHP7b5GuJOj4PSDlMy9E_W-sdRYgfsjYfk2i_qCe0tGNTwxQVUlqseWRDP1KgV8HbvMP79whRw1vBBikXIfmKiKfNTWAEUvzFriAtRbIFS2KFfC_NdWg/s320/Bradwell+Hillside.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430909837031509330" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" > and View from ‘Rose Cottage’</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi1WGdoeCU0B1y8dO0_mzBQDC6tnJiXeB7S6wE5YtcGUV7zuoEGXE-5ooob1VdDCJJxmjfSfacXbH8hTp_yAbnvVrowWqFvuIBqWoO8CxMynSq2MmgOtTNeDQrKuqllNDoWm9kF0THsQ/s1600-h/Derbyshire.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 404px; height: 302px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi1WGdoeCU0B1y8dO0_mzBQDC6tnJiXeB7S6wE5YtcGUV7zuoEGXE-5ooob1VdDCJJxmjfSfacXbH8hTp_yAbnvVrowWqFvuIBqWoO8CxMynSq2MmgOtTNeDQrKuqllNDoWm9kF0THsQ/s320/Derbyshire.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430909843117968674" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Derbyshire Countryside</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCq34Xj1Ch7j7OfMgrD1tFYsnQe73C3KnFTLzLimThq6tyLrOg186nhNDd29LGtaeelZJibwYWeGFiRWyLPODMgozKwO-9LFCiVd8tB2t7_32O6yHk76swKss3UW29Cg1MYvmMWoKz3A/s1600-h/Hayfield.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 412px; height: 309px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCq34Xj1Ch7j7OfMgrD1tFYsnQe73C3KnFTLzLimThq6tyLrOg186nhNDd29LGtaeelZJibwYWeGFiRWyLPODMgozKwO-9LFCiVd8tB2t7_32O6yHk76swKss3UW29Cg1MYvmMWoKz3A/s320/Hayfield.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430909858537689938" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" > South-West England Farmaland</span><br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeigUObSDH-A8egWDW9jWCFcSFwFgflXgllufeHMRu7oN7gS_0DqMDvk1pXohnhTIim95jzahfVD72ycxY756lqKv-r9Jvpht9sicbhuKi4WhHxOvvDRtGP_tqVwjtGWcezeFQ_60OtA/s1600-h/I+see+you.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 413px; height: 310px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeigUObSDH-A8egWDW9jWCFcSFwFgflXgllufeHMRu7oN7gS_0DqMDvk1pXohnhTIim95jzahfVD72ycxY756lqKv-r9Jvpht9sicbhuKi4WhHxOvvDRtGP_tqVwjtGWcezeFQ_60OtA/s320/I+see+you.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430909874686371010" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;">I can see you!!<br /><br /></span></span></span></div>Our new little red rented Nissan took us 4441mls (7400km) from the English Channel up through much of southern, western and northern England, including the Lakes District, and on up to the Isle of Skye off Scotland’s west coast; the Edinburgh unit was a great base, from which we both retraced our Scottish lowlands heritage as well as touring up the east coast for some distance, including a visit to famous St. Andrews Golf Club.<br /><br />Highlights were multiple; they included the charm of old towns, thatched-roofed villages, picturesque country lanes, the history of Oxford and Bath, the English canal systems with their boats, the absolute splendour of the Derbyshire countryside, the scenic Cumbrian Lakes and Yorkshire moors, traditional fish and chips, visiting Capt Cook country, and the grandeur of the Scottish highlands to name a few.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiPCA31cnlyI_7va2JHknPTnLYzt5cIs3OsF2J2ohmLDlZ7Ru3cJT5kPktvnWnpfADYXlp0UwzynVywOlMFbSN0O_js9zDR7yBCEz9ME6fj4ChKzWcee-3-4_HJIq21W_wFLzpWsUmVQ/s1600-h/IMG_5743.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 279px; height: 209px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiPCA31cnlyI_7va2JHknPTnLYzt5cIs3OsF2J2ohmLDlZ7Ru3cJT5kPktvnWnpfADYXlp0UwzynVywOlMFbSN0O_js9zDR7yBCEz9ME6fj4ChKzWcee-3-4_HJIq21W_wFLzpWsUmVQ/s320/IMG_5743.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430923230440710642" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuKMS4c9y_-L8Gr5BKymemSZ992k3bpL7rMfr5hUpwlxE3sEEvg00atTuKnl_pS4mEtrI8qEKK2RvxGvJ1jItzXb5pqxQ1uCBimhG76dgyC7P127rpWl1NgN13Gr-aO7sdlZmQORh6HQ/s1600-h/Whitby+Harbour.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 276px; height: 207px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuKMS4c9y_-L8Gr5BKymemSZ992k3bpL7rMfr5hUpwlxE3sEEvg00atTuKnl_pS4mEtrI8qEKK2RvxGvJ1jItzXb5pqxQ1uCBimhG76dgyC7P127rpWl1NgN13Gr-aO7sdlZmQORh6HQ/s320/Whitby+Harbour.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430923246508671586" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Built 1434 - almost 600 years old and Whitby Harbour of Capt. Cook fame</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ2jZwZxqngqwNtDU4pn8wWC1yIR-lsFEY92Tze1l7uycrebyKqoEn2ListAz5sjA80KRORkCOBEMCfYURMvWjm5gAWybBPrEfDE8mtLx-mm4w_98_fJWDVVXe2ut9jYCOmqoIZwvfCw/s1600-h/IMG_6289.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 279px; height: 209px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ2jZwZxqngqwNtDU4pn8wWC1yIR-lsFEY92Tze1l7uycrebyKqoEn2ListAz5sjA80KRORkCOBEMCfYURMvWjm5gAWybBPrEfDE8mtLx-mm4w_98_fJWDVVXe2ut9jYCOmqoIZwvfCw/s320/IMG_6289.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430923239095582434" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCNcbMOzqYon4XJrnRDB6v9-Oi-0zRu6oHLklqSk7qWmdZE2mW-2N6Rzd0rpD6W-_EHe1eTHqVd-0HclgX7oyXDPuTO4Ig5eSh80oBp7pc7qPTsF2FviZqZOwVXIrgjgqtV_AeLZFfXQ/s1600-h/Heather+in+bloom+Yorkshire+Moors.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 280px; height: 209px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCNcbMOzqYon4XJrnRDB6v9-Oi-0zRu6oHLklqSk7qWmdZE2mW-2N6Rzd0rpD6W-_EHe1eTHqVd-0HclgX7oyXDPuTO4Ig5eSh80oBp7pc7qPTsF2FviZqZOwVXIrgjgqtV_AeLZFfXQ/s320/Heather+in+bloom+Yorkshire+Moors.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430915495853211442" border="0" /></a></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Nelson’s Victory- Portsmouth</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;"> and Heather in Bloom, Yorkshire Moors</span></span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVxygfes6C5HivKKQB7Pw8IziG_xL1LvuB8AxHD_4SW5XQSQnfTLiouDefTlmgBP2zGliSVC0XrOHIw7c6sb7x9lX3aoN7N_iQIBrJ2n0meYwP2-LMQibe7yyopAouiErWiSAdSszRuQ/s1600-h/West+Yorkshire.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 206px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVxygfes6C5HivKKQB7Pw8IziG_xL1LvuB8AxHD_4SW5XQSQnfTLiouDefTlmgBP2zGliSVC0XrOHIw7c6sb7x9lX3aoN7N_iQIBrJ2n0meYwP2-LMQibe7yyopAouiErWiSAdSszRuQ/s320/West+Yorkshire.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430915505634946066" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrj0RXnfvS4lTOwul7GP9fDNFwplE98JQQCKYZc266zthkqzElLbpug8js7DWqWBYUhwPp93_RUs_BnT0T7iBsdAz65pSfK_z3ReTYYV4565yL1SFqIldAqxrraUCX3m3mFUV6_KgIug/s1600-h/IMG_5721.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 279px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrj0RXnfvS4lTOwul7GP9fDNFwplE98JQQCKYZc266zthkqzElLbpug8js7DWqWBYUhwPp93_RUs_BnT0T7iBsdAz65pSfK_z3ReTYYV4565yL1SFqIldAqxrraUCX3m3mFUV6_KgIug/s320/IMG_5721.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431240899568212306" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Stunning Cumbrian Farmland</span></span></span> <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >and York minster Cathedral<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlDHnpHd1x9G-Q7aoRN32ZICigHm4boWhgTMen3-HvHJwcCmL0J4xGRbToslXR3tr_XcJ_YhMuf_iHEPu-WVtvimjQyUjywHD_0uNgMGa_eZNAM5CgGIR25LaGD_yphN-p1PeamqlMIA/s1600-h/James+Vidgen.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 369px; height: 277px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlDHnpHd1x9G-Q7aoRN32ZICigHm4boWhgTMen3-HvHJwcCmL0J4xGRbToslXR3tr_XcJ_YhMuf_iHEPu-WVtvimjQyUjywHD_0uNgMGa_eZNAM5CgGIR25LaGD_yphN-p1PeamqlMIA/s320/James+Vidgen.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431240920808226498" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;">one of several Vidgen Tombstones in New Romney</span></span></span><br /></div><br />We visited “Kerfield” in Peebles, the splendid estate previously owned by Audrey’s Napier grandparents, the huge house since divided into two and both the lovely owners welcomed us in, showing us through this grand house. Everywhere we went the people we met made it all so very special.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdrui3HfgKX4oWDwS5TQ70XfAFiJXQ6wC3QMEOBkWXV6iVRZzYphqIymNI7v8KCo7ogGa-lHddwUBhLQkTbW3OPLwA3_BDCV1rmIhV7FnRnzZcxeGyuDZTg8qiteljW_jfczyTeZBepA/s1600-h/'Kerfield+House%27+Peebles.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 480px; height: 360px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdrui3HfgKX4oWDwS5TQ70XfAFiJXQ6wC3QMEOBkWXV6iVRZzYphqIymNI7v8KCo7ogGa-lHddwUBhLQkTbW3OPLwA3_BDCV1rmIhV7FnRnzZcxeGyuDZTg8qiteljW_jfczyTeZBepA/s320/'Kerfield+House%27+Peebles.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430915467502710642" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;">"Kerfield", Peebles</span></span></span><br /></div><br />Both the Napiers and Vidgens share interesting Scottish/English ancestry. Audrey’s great -great maternal grandfather, John Houlding, owned a Liverpool Brewery and played a leading role in establishing both the now famous Everton and Liverpool Football Clubs, and we were both treated like royalty when we visited the Liverpool Club and its great Museum. Audrey was the first descendent of their revered founder they had ever met!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWsv_PXaXhu4EapmOppD4AKtvzfJj6EJqj8sSeegi4M4PAmaPUnmTD8BSXrwWrBaz9AtHt19IV6clf3WsAnKcjQ9fT4VjpOmEhsbFbAt_nOQ09-Bv8hHrJV76J6Bu7VZ3g4lDjjmYVtQ/s1600-h/Audrey+with+GG+Grandfather+John+Houlding.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 366px; height: 274px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWsv_PXaXhu4EapmOppD4AKtvzfJj6EJqj8sSeegi4M4PAmaPUnmTD8BSXrwWrBaz9AtHt19IV6clf3WsAnKcjQ9fT4VjpOmEhsbFbAt_nOQ09-Bv8hHrJV76J6Bu7VZ3g4lDjjmYVtQ/s320/Audrey+with+GG+Grandfather+John+Houlding.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430915472373274418" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;">At the Liverpool Football Club's Museum, John Houlding</span></span></span><br /></div><br />We also had the pleasure of an overnight stay once again with my Jardine relatives, the newly appointed Clan Chief, young Sir William and his mother Lady Mary Jardine, and also visited two Jardine ancestral castles in their Lockerbie homelands.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3kbRH9RnTXmLqj-Tn493E_Zi9iGwQsJQzoDf1CMzaZPrZQxZUSBL3nxmsUhi0QtZjivqVjFRM1_dWpyPRNP68CacAsDoB_wKbm7NbDu6PEgsBfvJYTOHt0snECzgKk68K8ip9BI26XA/s1600-h/Spedlins+Tower+Lockerbie.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 533px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3kbRH9RnTXmLqj-Tn493E_Zi9iGwQsJQzoDf1CMzaZPrZQxZUSBL3nxmsUhi0QtZjivqVjFRM1_dWpyPRNP68CacAsDoB_wKbm7NbDu6PEgsBfvJYTOHt0snECzgKk68K8ip9BI26XA/s320/Spedlins+Tower+Lockerbie.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430915481373807858" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Jardine’s ancestoral 'Spedlins Castle'</span></div><br />A special highlight was our trip driving up through the marvelously scenic Scottish highlands to visit our long-standing dear friend Sheena Scott at Kylerhea on the Isle of Skye, whom we hadn't seen in years, and in whose cosy Edinburgh unit we stayed; we've known Sheena since she and Audrey worked together in Brisbane 30 years ago.<br /><br />Sadly, her author/photographer husband Alastair was away sailing back from Iceland, but we had four fabulous days of both recounting and making memories. A month more would still have been too short a visit.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCsytAt3pulBL34nJ0wOQxrRgIevTPGNvAVrt47L6RbYMEYkDVMikcOd0k9bWG2hXxmpPSbWjHPVb-hAsUdF2aloLzVLYxg4dDcapu72Gfn5zyTBDcan9Zl04qs2FBz6ZyQPiRdrMLMg/s1600-h/Sheena+Scott+%26+Audrey.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 283px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCsytAt3pulBL34nJ0wOQxrRgIevTPGNvAVrt47L6RbYMEYkDVMikcOd0k9bWG2hXxmpPSbWjHPVb-hAsUdF2aloLzVLYxg4dDcapu72Gfn5zyTBDcan9Zl04qs2FBz6ZyQPiRdrMLMg/s320/Sheena+Scott+%26+Audrey.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430923265491700610" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisAcm9mPTusX1vRYX8ZNDh0i8x608HZwp-Z-O1FLVgN0wz-4rgsfzN1CK2RAau-ANHPa2yXFDwfWuBFa4RH01c48hkoS_h6FlmRL40PCJZuO8MMqv86mv0RrWIkEDYPyIrimY0cgNk_A/s1600-h/Midge+protection_1.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 282px; height: 211px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisAcm9mPTusX1vRYX8ZNDh0i8x608HZwp-Z-O1FLVgN0wz-4rgsfzN1CK2RAau-ANHPa2yXFDwfWuBFa4RH01c48hkoS_h6FlmRL40PCJZuO8MMqv86mv0RrWIkEDYPyIrimY0cgNk_A/s320/Midge+protection_1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430923261116579826" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">with Sheena at Arroch Cottage, Kylerhea and</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> Midge season in Skye<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjotvXuIf_RihqVBnWWw_9ABeN0wyf-1bMxvSkOwlv7V4_QTtGjiqZaJlRfBaUsFaVyBh3uoNKGMKNEkp-bPRelWFQ6OrUjWS2gdr8T63e-cSQMwUd9YmetKOtsgg7b_Ya2S3Z2eKWwlQ/s1600-h/IMG_7827.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 381px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjotvXuIf_RihqVBnWWw_9ABeN0wyf-1bMxvSkOwlv7V4_QTtGjiqZaJlRfBaUsFaVyBh3uoNKGMKNEkp-bPRelWFQ6OrUjWS2gdr8T63e-cSQMwUd9YmetKOtsgg7b_Ya2S3Z2eKWwlQ/s320/IMG_7827.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431240912025519986" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">view from Arroch overlooking Sound of Sleat<br /><br /></span></div>The UK summer weather was quite good and all too soon we find ourselves returning to Langkawi, Malaysia, where we arrived back on “Envy” late at night on 17 September, ever grateful to Derek Brittain and Edith whose invitation to use his North Yorkshire cottage to visit "Capt. Cook country" was the catalyst that caused this most memorable and joyous event.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5cOqeQoRtRQyCglJ-i_9qYAhbzPgoM3LD56AUokASv-EB2YO4QbFe_rvzXTr1T_y_fWe8unH8wEylJWJJOJzeumzTrKbQKVJtazJ5Bq7K0TEWPSzavPEjmy2nUZ6mwA4amXF-qkFMHw/s1600-h/P9162851.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 282px; height: 211px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5cOqeQoRtRQyCglJ-i_9qYAhbzPgoM3LD56AUokASv-EB2YO4QbFe_rvzXTr1T_y_fWe8unH8wEylJWJJOJzeumzTrKbQKVJtazJ5Bq7K0TEWPSzavPEjmy2nUZ6mwA4amXF-qkFMHw/s320/P9162851.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431240884089000834" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6PVbFDL-TAbk1LAQsgjZxFVdUZswoweB0TUQRVOjI3eM_3famHt4MBXbNm4dMMTcjQSV0me0t0YHvX4gl8YPbTBoMbhBMc2HqZnAKXCbR07gdS5alnLfeZptumOzfJSRrEaPvtrYbWg/s1600-h/P9162849.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 282px; height: 211px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6PVbFDL-TAbk1LAQsgjZxFVdUZswoweB0TUQRVOjI3eM_3famHt4MBXbNm4dMMTcjQSV0me0t0YHvX4gl8YPbTBoMbhBMc2HqZnAKXCbR07gdS5alnLfeZptumOzfJSRrEaPvtrYbWg/s320/P9162849.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431240891971560034" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Farewell to Derek and Edith<br />our generous hosts for our ‘home base’ in Nth Yorkshire<br /></span></div>Yacht Envyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296367569566410867noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5422585594160201132.post-91712590734512199172009-05-18T13:18:00.026+08:002009-05-19T18:26:05.203+08:00Happening 14 - 2008/09 December to March<span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"></span></span><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:180%;"><br />Australian Holiday<br /></span></div><br /><br />Audrey hadn’t been back home in over a year and we were both chomping at the bit, keen to be back with family and friends, and the thought of a cooler climate, a large comfortable bed, western food plus plans for interstate travel all heightened our impatience. We needed a holiday from our job; the daily grind of simply messing about in boats.<br /><br />December 1st 2008 finally arrived and early next morning our Air Asia flight landed at Coolangatta. Audrey’s mother Lavinia met us for we were staying at her suburban Kenmore, Brisbane house.<br /><br />Back home again. Roast Lamb tonight!<br /><br />Our little Pontiac ‘Fiero’ came out of storage and like headless chooks we raced about seeing friends, doing business, shopping, checked out our two rented houses at Karragarra Island and Cannon Hill, and the days raced by. But wherever we are our early morning daily walking exercise routine still continues, now for over fifteen years.<br /><br />It was time to catch up with friends, so we drove to Yandaran just north of Bundaberg to spend a few days with fellow Rally cruising friends Wal and Robyn who, in their yacht ‘Annwn’, have since returned to Oz. They have five acres of lovely shaded parkland where bird life abounds and we marvelled at the brilliant red and green hues of the Australian Parrots and the blaze of colour of the Rainbow Lorikeets that came to the feeding station at their rear patio.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1fSeChT3vnbAPuH9WCvvfFpOfdH0wEeldkgeoA_DwJQ9bMwALKubOBOLzJxQYjvXxSGwudWRLiwGbuioPiGEQGICmHN4S78FYN5j6vYTYvnvOrwSNSE6zwAdfkM0y6stekDly9zIvCA/s1600-h/IMG_5186.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 459px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1fSeChT3vnbAPuH9WCvvfFpOfdH0wEeldkgeoA_DwJQ9bMwALKubOBOLzJxQYjvXxSGwudWRLiwGbuioPiGEQGICmHN4S78FYN5j6vYTYvnvOrwSNSE6zwAdfkM0y6stekDly9zIvCA/s320/IMG_5186.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337411740892026722" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Rainbow Lorikeets</span></span></span></span><br /><br /></div>Wal recently bought a top-of-the-range zero turn ‘Fastrak Hustler’ ride-on mower for their five acres of lawn – told Bruce to give it a try; it was so much fun he spent the entire day mowing the whole property. Bruce is still puzzled how the ‘little boy’ in him got conned into a full day’s work!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB87A_U35fNpO5Zeuit-nvRkgkh988airwIUQ36-XF7G3IUp6khgZ88Fg_YvcxUaetQStnfyiHMx9viIOgd5OX9Q9SCPXsTAxtAZ2HBCgfBhmIR-24NtWEgnFFRl146H8adicaFj6SVA/s1600-h/IMG_5201.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 465px; height: 321px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB87A_U35fNpO5Zeuit-nvRkgkh988airwIUQ36-XF7G3IUp6khgZ88Fg_YvcxUaetQStnfyiHMx9viIOgd5OX9Q9SCPXsTAxtAZ2HBCgfBhmIR-24NtWEgnFFRl146H8adicaFj6SVA/s320/IMG_5201.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337411747105813442" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;">The 'little boy' mowing<br /><br /></span></span></span></span></div>Worse still, Yandaran was suffering a caterpillar plague, as reported in the national media at the time, and for my joyful sins I spent the next week covered in itchy red rashes, removing invisible hairs from the pores of my bare arms and legs. Bugger!<br /><br />Enroute home we called on Bruce’s Brisbane Boys College schooldays’ friend Ian MacLennan who, with wife Pam developed an old Burnett River cane farm at Wallaville, inland from Bundaberg, into one of Queensland’s bigger state-of-the-art Citrus Orchards, principally producing Mandarins and Oranges. It was a real treat to see them again after a few years, to reminisce the past and catch up on all that has happened since.<br /><br />Before we knew it Christmas was upon us. Christmas Eve we feasted on seafood at Lavinia’s, the Napier clan joined us for breakfast next morning, followed by a traditional Christmas lunch with the Vidgen tribe at the Gold Coast.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOkQaDhRmBmXhDZ0ciw_H92V4z9xqUOxW22cGQStlfb-wT6HZePKLTyeCGEQ18d_dbNDO9QNSjHqmsVtvBUA9KEpzY0clgSTdd84kju3BToIRy0gQIwp7J5UChyphenhyphenp3k_Sk_hyphenhyphenMcbjWIyQ/s1600-h/IMG_5223.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 448px; height: 336px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOkQaDhRmBmXhDZ0ciw_H92V4z9xqUOxW22cGQStlfb-wT6HZePKLTyeCGEQ18d_dbNDO9QNSjHqmsVtvBUA9KEpzY0clgSTdd84kju3BToIRy0gQIwp7J5UChyphenhyphenp3k_Sk_hyphenhyphenMcbjWIyQ/s320/IMG_5223.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337411750658824818" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Christmas Breakfast in Kenmore</span></span></span></span><br /><br /></div>During the week after Christmas, we had an overnight visit with long-time friends Ron and Margot Finney at their lovely Noosa Beach canal-front home, almost an annual occurrence which we greatly anticipate. New Year’s Eve was shared with old schooldays friends Peter and Barbara Eldred at their picturesque property adjacent to the scenic rim of Springbrook National Park, through part of which we enjoyed an early morning 4km trek that took us up hill, down dale and under waterfalls.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8r3_kavDxLdfRorQx6Ui0RGAF85J0bWM0Z1bAcZKlUXArYYFZBohlSjp00fkOjYRPsm4EALZ0mNe685SW_G8XApr6KNIGGVsV_2C4NV9Hlsj04o9iCVIMkmf4nCqj_usE8qxpyx7hjQ/s1600-h/PC311858.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 466px; height: 350px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8r3_kavDxLdfRorQx6Ui0RGAF85J0bWM0Z1bAcZKlUXArYYFZBohlSjp00fkOjYRPsm4EALZ0mNe685SW_G8XApr6KNIGGVsV_2C4NV9Hlsj04o9iCVIMkmf4nCqj_usE8qxpyx7hjQ/s320/PC311858.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337411744869002066" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Trekking with the Eldreds - Springbrook National Park</span><br /></span></div><br />Located high in the Gold Coast hinterland, with a clear mountain stream and fish ponds gurgling through it, their large acreage, in addition to natural bushland, comprises a productive well represented orchard and the grounds and gardens present as ‘open- house standard’; the stuff of many peoples dreams. Even the resident ‘vermin control’ officer, a robust carpet snake is a welcome guest sunning itself in the vegetable garden!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-LnZABNtArPJw8w0Xa0XLwih_0jT8LrQmHWvXNM2_1JxBV0_1avumdN9rAU5ad0EzwXhUmw_RcbYQpnL3Xu6Bf7Qp1McWD-T8TUm2Qi4MvUlMpMwBXWkIz-iRA828wYnVaxF-y5nzag/s1600-h/P1011874.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 640px; height: 136px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-LnZABNtArPJw8w0Xa0XLwih_0jT8LrQmHWvXNM2_1JxBV0_1avumdN9rAU5ad0EzwXhUmw_RcbYQpnL3Xu6Bf7Qp1McWD-T8TUm2Qi4MvUlMpMwBXWkIz-iRA828wYnVaxF-y5nzag/s320/P1011874.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337411751464178130" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;">2 metres of 'vermin control'</span></span></span></span><br /></div><br />Enroute home on New Year’s Day we lunched with other lifelong friends Anthony and Denise Goodwin at their brand new home in the newly developing, internationally acclaimed Currumbin Valley ‘<a href="http://theecovillage.com.au/site/index.php/village/8/">Eco Village</a>’ . Perhaps the largest house in the Village, it is attractively and intelligently designed - a beautifully built home with a difference, just so liveable, & no doubt the envy of many.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXQrXj71gw2wypaNp3KsW814wQeyW3X_O-RtuIyZk1wEdC9oBc0gYkpxQ69TltwEsEC5itzXUMrsjiGT6PtGKO1D9KuvyL7qVX-QfyJtZ75YSDWdKqYQqEu7mMv05I5RjdYp1VF287QQ/s1600-h/P1011884.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 470px; height: 353px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXQrXj71gw2wypaNp3KsW814wQeyW3X_O-RtuIyZk1wEdC9oBc0gYkpxQ69TltwEsEC5itzXUMrsjiGT6PtGKO1D9KuvyL7qVX-QfyJtZ75YSDWdKqYQqEu7mMv05I5RjdYp1VF287QQ/s320/P1011884.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337425629144162642" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;">The Goodwins fantastic eco-house (we look forward to seeing it after landscapping)</span></span></span></span><br /></div><br />Thus ended a truly marvellous whirlwind week that saw out the 2008 Festive Season.<br /><br />We spent the next few days relaxing at Kenmore watching the South Africans whop the ‘invincible’ Aussies at Test Cricket, saw the movie ‘Australia’ at the cinema, mowed the lawn and other exciting things like that, and now it was time to travel farther afield.<br /><br />So on 5 January 2009 Audrey and I headed out west on a six hour drive to visit my long time work colleague and our dear friend Margaret Neill at her ‘Newstead’, Surat cattle property. Our previous visit in June ’07 was during a serious drought but now the property was green following good rains, the river waterholes were full and running, the cattle were in good condition and the young calves were just superb. Following a working life career associated with it, ‘going bush’ nourishes my soul.<br /><br />Marg then took us down to St. George to her sister Jo and husband John Knights’ huge Cotton farm. Cotton requires a lot of water and the extensive earthworks development in constructing above ground ring tanks, that hold 5000 mega-litres (five thousand million litres) of irrigation water, is quite mind-blowing (not to mention mega-bucks expensive).<br /><br />Most people associate Pelicans with the seaside, and quite so. But many Pelicans fly to the outback to breed before returning to the coast. Here in the shallow backwaters of one of John Knights extensive dams we counted over 300 Pelicans in a single flock. Amazing! (Grab a book on early Australian verse and read Mary Hannah Foote’s poem ‘Where the Pelican Builds its Nest).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtjbvxuNxHIqPHKRs9DQ1rsLpKrdEn7S8_GSiUvpbQssgUG9osHXnagNwdM5TNmdpNQYkuqwtHG0Eu9OEpLJj-38jceZY1qG8EEnpghAHxQrRsiMFX7avylwCMXF3fSPeN25wQawMnVA/s1600-h/IMG_5244_1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 571px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtjbvxuNxHIqPHKRs9DQ1rsLpKrdEn7S8_GSiUvpbQssgUG9osHXnagNwdM5TNmdpNQYkuqwtHG0Eu9OEpLJj-38jceZY1qG8EEnpghAHxQrRsiMFX7avylwCMXF3fSPeN25wQawMnVA/s320/IMG_5244_1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337427303341012770" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;">About one-third of the flock, St George, SW Qld</span></span></span></span><br /></div><br />Four days later we were back on the road again, on a 1060 km run from Surat, SW Queensland to the old distinguished town of Bowral in the New South Wales southern highlands. We departed ‘Newstead’ at 4am, cautiously on the lookout for kangaroos ‘til daylight, travelling via St George, Moree, Scone, Putty and Penrith, arriving late afternoon at Audrey’s aunt June’s ‘Culreuch Cottage’ in Bowral. We spent four ever pleasant days with June, enjoying dinner parties there and with retired naval warship commander David Farthing and wife Judy in their nearby Mittagong home. Bruce also made a short day trip to Canberra for lunch with PNG days’ friend Roz Murray and Hector.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDPhn8eAsQs_DtF-KAiRhOIo7RVD_g1f6qYY8SsuO4xXOo9oz7y6YLU71dx2q9G83hAbGHkZpP0_c7ktW2iRQAmhPVPutwTQYukD8FDKYF0vlE8JroarmWhLTs6xubMkl9T3g9aEG7sg/s1600-h/IMG_5260.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 443px; height: 333px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDPhn8eAsQs_DtF-KAiRhOIo7RVD_g1f6qYY8SsuO4xXOo9oz7y6YLU71dx2q9G83hAbGHkZpP0_c7ktW2iRQAmhPVPutwTQYukD8FDKYF0vlE8JroarmWhLTs6xubMkl9T3g9aEG7sg/s320/IMG_5260.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337422904262128866" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-size:85%;" >Aunt June's (2nd from left) Dinner Party</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><br />There’s not much fun having a seriously nippy sports car if you don’t give it a run occasionally, so on a quiet, flat, secondary road between Quirindi and Scone in central NSW I asked my Pontiac ‘Fiero’ to show me its stuff, which it did for a couple of kilometres – flying smoothly at 166 k/hr and still more squirt left in the tank. No doubt about it, the aero-dynamic rear spoiler keeps the car firmly on the road.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixzD6s1DuV6MMdenFlLKkbI14lbTKsFWJRa7aTGg3F2aMHnqY4UYyTO6tg5HXG5Ec5UvZbM_FY2_a0AzCSFymF3QSdSJPbrvbTn4BcfNzuUQsQv9EgqQFiaZTO_Ld8mY0kmwFC7PmGuw/s1600-h/IMG_5292.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 468px; height: 351px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixzD6s1DuV6MMdenFlLKkbI14lbTKsFWJRa7aTGg3F2aMHnqY4UYyTO6tg5HXG5Ec5UvZbM_FY2_a0AzCSFymF3QSdSJPbrvbTn4BcfNzuUQsQv9EgqQFiaZTO_Ld8mY0kmwFC7PmGuw/s320/IMG_5292.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337429980877082050" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;">The Pontiac Fiero - our Lunch spot at Bermagui, NSW<br /></span></span></span></span></div><br />Departing Bowral we took the scenic route through Kangaroo Valley down to Nowra, then along the New South Wales southern coast through the stunningly picturesque towns of Ulladulla, Bateman’s Bay, Moruya, beautiful Narooma and Bermagui, where they filmed that delightfully funny movie, ‘The Man Who Sued God’, and where we ate lunch on the knoll above the river mouth. On through Merimbula and stayed the night in Eden. As a parochial Banana-bender I readily accept the beauty of this southern coast.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU4m-Xq_4LXLVyxNEiDzBOjS2gK1jMZDsc-DR-PqHQqpvofMvcssym1NlasZiHhlO79d6R-micjQS9PUbqPBtUHIwPCHhNNYrd3WA8Llwf8LD3uEoqj2bmBLl7ij4iqjQwx-ChvsV2rg/s1600-h/IMG_5275.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 480px; height: 360px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU4m-Xq_4LXLVyxNEiDzBOjS2gK1jMZDsc-DR-PqHQqpvofMvcssym1NlasZiHhlO79d6R-micjQS9PUbqPBtUHIwPCHhNNYrd3WA8Llwf8LD3uEoqj2bmBLl7ij4iqjQwx-ChvsV2rg/s320/IMG_5275.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337422909704148770" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-size:85%;" >Bermagui River - Scene of lightening strike in Film 'The Man Who Sued God'</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></span></div>An early start next morning finds us in Victoria travelling the Prince’s Highway through Cann River, Lakes Entrance, Sale, Leongatha, and into the Mornington Peninsular arriving at our new friends Geoff and Sandra Spinks’ lovely Mt Martha home, where we enjoyed four days of wonderful hospitality with them. They showed us all the local sights including the high peak of ‘Arthur’s Seat’, then we spent one day sight-seeing in Melbourne where we enjoyed the 88th floor view from the Eureka Tower, the highest viewing level in the Southern Hemisphere.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI8zlqMwyg_dQNmQmwSg4_VzzJzUeZYmVw5hzugoHgXVqELr-CTraGAATvta5uHA8lSxdkn1nHPXGidSFp-BcVV8v56DUaEXlBpCE2JtV_ABn2bke3RU4RN8mjUfhsQLmMSoUUs3jjUw/s1600-h/IMG_5312.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 486px; height: 365px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI8zlqMwyg_dQNmQmwSg4_VzzJzUeZYmVw5hzugoHgXVqELr-CTraGAATvta5uHA8lSxdkn1nHPXGidSFp-BcVV8v56DUaEXlBpCE2JtV_ABn2bke3RU4RN8mjUfhsQLmMSoUUs3jjUw/s320/IMG_5312.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337434535934152290" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;">The Spink's lovely home and garden - Mt Martha<br /></span></span></span></span></div><br />We farewell Mt Martha mid January and head for Sorrento to take the Car Ferry across Port Phillip Heads to historic Queenscliffe, from where we travel the coast road through Torquay to Lorne, then veered inland via quaint tiny Birregurra, (where we had a super hamburger lunch for $6), continuing on via Colac, Camperdown and Warrnambool, arriving at Port Fairy, south western Victoria, at 5pm. Along much of the way from the NSW/VIC border we remarked how dry the countryside was, not the usual lush green pastures one associates with Victoria, but very dry drought-stricken forests and grasslands.<br /><br />We’d been invited to visit fellow 2006 Sail Indonesia Rally participants John and Joy Marwood, owners of the swift yacht ‘Touché’, by now good friends with whom we’ve cruised SE Asian waters, at their Port Fairy home. Named after an old sailing ship named ‘The Fairy’, this very pretty river-port town is bathed in both history and charm and the local hostellery, “The Stump”, boasts to being the longest continually licensed hotel in Australia, which was reason good enough for us to breast the Bar.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqGPBmRBqssqa9ErwR3YmcMy7OnBxljAaOTLm4bSzb6ahPhYk-nGTzqutOqsOrMYItSILNWHq6bA16cWDhB3JJOc7W0LRp2seo3PWkFkzflp_cZnmMXVfnL9038XcyYKZqRDKVb0NIGg/s1600-h/P1171952-1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 475px; height: 257px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqGPBmRBqssqa9ErwR3YmcMy7OnBxljAaOTLm4bSzb6ahPhYk-nGTzqutOqsOrMYItSILNWHq6bA16cWDhB3JJOc7W0LRp2seo3PWkFkzflp_cZnmMXVfnL9038XcyYKZqRDKVb0NIGg/s320/P1171952-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337433064126653650" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Charming Port Fairy - SW Victoria<br /></span></span></span></span></div><br />The surrounding districts around Koroit were settled by Irish immigrants and still reflect their distinctive character, with much local industry centred on dairying. The area’s colourful history includes stories of bushrangers and illicit whiskey stills, and the Marwood’s son Tim, who makes high quality boutique ice cream, also runs a legal whiskey distillery in his nearby Timboon village restaurant. Fascinating!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAzZGboNl0JNFl43OZA_7LbSTTDaEl7THDKgqSewneoeI0O1fAgoCCyfGooGm-q5_Xd6acVUFY-Q3K3_3B6K0P04d7yVRAi8cslz6F2u9dKKlLYdh7G4jRbO1cszoI4Ck9sp9zn2W2cA/s1600-h/IMG_5369.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 407px; height: 304px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAzZGboNl0JNFl43OZA_7LbSTTDaEl7THDKgqSewneoeI0O1fAgoCCyfGooGm-q5_Xd6acVUFY-Q3K3_3B6K0P04d7yVRAi8cslz6F2u9dKKlLYdh7G4jRbO1cszoI4Ck9sp9zn2W2cA/s320/IMG_5369.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337433068901608482" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMs6rXHkd2yFhv-5vcngbg279Ei6T9pa8G2qHXJjGga8dJZ7Stz3V-PR261ULIiI0wEfIsCnxEhgRtWScgPS7EddiOot3cOIKx0SYQkgjDXTarD6e33P8QC94SrR8Nyil3PEqqbe5CQw/s1600-h/IMG_5371.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 407px; height: 304px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMs6rXHkd2yFhv-5vcngbg279Ei6T9pa8G2qHXJjGga8dJZ7Stz3V-PR261ULIiI0wEfIsCnxEhgRtWScgPS7EddiOot3cOIKx0SYQkgjDXTarD6e33P8QC94SrR8Nyil3PEqqbe5CQw/s320/IMG_5371.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337433066034791970" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;">With John and Joy Marwood in son Tim's Restuarant/Distillery, Timboon</span></span></span></span><br /><br /></div>Not far from Port Fairy is the western end of the well known scenic wonder, ‘The Great Ocean Road’. We’d purposely bypassed it coming down since John, who grew up there on a dairy farm quite close to the ocean frontage, suggested they accompany us on our return to point out all the best spots, which is exactly what happened --- spectacular picture postcard ocean coast scenery, culminating in the famous ‘Twelve Apostles’, spectacular limestone rock stacks that rise up to seventy metres from the sea.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY5HM1TdTj1Lj2mzCkeEYisyTC96ajttrAjDsIHVXaMFF1_BcrUr8427yX5XF1MZR8aFA-iTk3bYDhSYoGV7LcAFNCX8GZPlxTDMe6cZ8ukYCnUS_0feZJZNWRsdfHLcPxk3L38lEecw/s1600-h/IMG_5449.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 453px; height: 340px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY5HM1TdTj1Lj2mzCkeEYisyTC96ajttrAjDsIHVXaMFF1_BcrUr8427yX5XF1MZR8aFA-iTk3bYDhSYoGV7LcAFNCX8GZPlxTDMe6cZ8ukYCnUS_0feZJZNWRsdfHLcPxk3L38lEecw/s320/IMG_5449.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337433070057591394" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtJc7dV1D6xST3oRSSGLoTnKhyphenhyphenvZxYJN01eSIbs1O2omCxq_rmuFTCHXOdpmte_a4r60JnUWM0mSq0Bl2U__r33hnIjLnXGmYqZ0hTTSHe8iIFIGgKVf-xFq70cLb3IpOOc3EpbBxNOA/s1600-h/IMG_5422.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 456px; height: 342px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtJc7dV1D6xST3oRSSGLoTnKhyphenhyphenvZxYJN01eSIbs1O2omCxq_rmuFTCHXOdpmte_a4r60JnUWM0mSq0Bl2U__r33hnIjLnXGmYqZ0hTTSHe8iIFIGgKVf-xFq70cLb3IpOOc3EpbBxNOA/s320/IMG_5422.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337444180496466370" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_9lFKMluv0FcGf1Rh_dH0CXKMqAR44WXHmWmdM6OWEX0vmOKmE5PPUY4cH4w0mWxif2LpvNrB0GdtnCU-_HbXANTieh4h8LLlslwsdPaqRTWCt1tPBVm9EO4-Pmd3yuWDofaFLxIgVw/s1600-h/IMG_5460.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 459px; height: 344px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_9lFKMluv0FcGf1Rh_dH0CXKMqAR44WXHmWmdM6OWEX0vmOKmE5PPUY4cH4w0mWxif2LpvNrB0GdtnCU-_HbXANTieh4h8LLlslwsdPaqRTWCt1tPBVm9EO4-Pmd3yuWDofaFLxIgVw/s320/IMG_5460.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337444180723390818" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Spectacular scenery along the Great Ocean Road<br /><br /></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtmZCWh831KFd1B3BvF1FcFPnMGuTza7D27BGQ-ONvaMw8c8ywVNkTxUGJJ1srW-6fUu6KJrTNwHy-aGNDEmjmFALL1toRjJph5BgkElD2YmkMA1HFIonF5dg2PHAoTaYPXlswH5LszA/s1600-h/IMG_5468.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 462px; height: 346px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtmZCWh831KFd1B3BvF1FcFPnMGuTza7D27BGQ-ONvaMw8c8ywVNkTxUGJJ1srW-6fUu6KJrTNwHy-aGNDEmjmFALL1toRjJph5BgkElD2YmkMA1HFIonF5dg2PHAoTaYPXlswH5LszA/s320/IMG_5468.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337444183833554498" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;">By the time we got to what is left of the 'Twelve Apostles', there was a southerly change and the mist rolled in from the Great Southern Ocean</span></span></span></span><br /></div><br />We said farewell to John and Joy at Lavers Hill near Apollo Bay, then skirted around Melbourne and continued on up to the Yarra Valley to visit Gary and Sue Richmond, whom we met in 2006 on the Rally in Indonesia. They have a lovely hilltop home at Launching Place, were great company and generous hosts. The following day Susie took us sightseeing around much of the upper Yarra Valley, including the tranquil ‘Cement Creek’ Air Walk, a high boardwalk through the forest canopy with the clear running creek below, and we lunched at the upmarket Tokar Winery with its fine Rose Gardens.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho9w4XesFuwmQIXEQHbSUlMr-RJh5M9EN9fMRd9JnHED8nhFVQU6tOJIqnx8IBNBxK9IrEOnVPgSONKmPPPdmWwxM8-XHmekPAPqmh6hRIiGKDja4RH3PKTfxwq7Lje1ugONkGc6svlA/s1600-h/IMG_5492.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 462px; height: 347px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho9w4XesFuwmQIXEQHbSUlMr-RJh5M9EN9fMRd9JnHED8nhFVQU6tOJIqnx8IBNBxK9IrEOnVPgSONKmPPPdmWwxM8-XHmekPAPqmh6hRIiGKDja4RH3PKTfxwq7Lje1ugONkGc6svlA/s320/IMG_5492.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337444187629331106" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-size:85%;">Bruce with Sue Richmond, Yarra Valley<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDaL-KqU2-7C-BdZGso38pdmjQY-dLteRT9JKXmWP5M8MSRVPqm9PQgk2HmnKwue5tDMpjvoyVI9t1jDxCTn-twHspgKrmT6uMn2SNdkcZPJMtnB-EMohvuijbPXEg1-PKXzLaVbdzFQ/s1600-h/IMG_5510.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 460px; height: 345px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDaL-KqU2-7C-BdZGso38pdmjQY-dLteRT9JKXmWP5M8MSRVPqm9PQgk2HmnKwue5tDMpjvoyVI9t1jDxCTn-twHspgKrmT6uMn2SNdkcZPJMtnB-EMohvuijbPXEg1-PKXzLaVbdzFQ/s320/IMG_5510.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337444185231490338" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Tokar Vineyards and Rose Gardens<br /></span></span></span></span></div><br />Like millions of others around the world, that evening we watched President Barack Obama’s inauguration ceremony, and wondered how Martin Luther King Jr. would have felt to be there!<br /><br />Early next morning we bid the Richmond’s farewell and headed north for Bowral, driving through Healesville and other areas that two weeks later were to become the horrific scenes of this nation’s worst ever natural disaster, the February 7 ‘Black Saturday’ bushfires which claimed over 200 lives.<br /><br />Three nights were spent in the garden town of Bowral with its leafy avenues and many stately old homes. Built on what was originally the grazing property of surveyor and explorer John Oxley until 1863, it is more readily identified through its most famous son. Though born in Cootamundra, (Sir) Donald Bradman spent most of his youth and played his first cricket here as a boy, and a visit to the local ‘Bradman Museum’ reveals a surprisingly in-depth history of the game of Cricket in Australia and England, together with fascinating memorabilia, and honours ‘The Don’s’ amazing career as the world’s greatest ever cricketer.<br /><br />Vineyards and their Boutique Wineries are prevalent throughout the southern highlands, many with restaurants, so we lunched once more at Mittagong’s Buusaada Winery. My experience with many fledgling wineries is that their wine is both over rated and over priced.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyaEbrVV1msmyNm6LyNKtsF9DbGXsJmfq32ZMxFuZZf59d9fvTHwCUaOA4MsAUxzO1opy_tqFDOWxIEgqEg64JNhNNZ6hyphenhyphen1c663lfqUoG8Kthn33VnTDkZbP95aSOKpvSF4pX9XFazpQ/s1600-h/P1241991.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 456px; height: 343px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyaEbrVV1msmyNm6LyNKtsF9DbGXsJmfq32ZMxFuZZf59d9fvTHwCUaOA4MsAUxzO1opy_tqFDOWxIEgqEg64JNhNNZ6hyphenhyphen1c663lfqUoG8Kthn33VnTDkZbP95aSOKpvSF4pX9XFazpQ/s320/P1241991.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337449161953354338" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Bruce with June and Lavinia - Buusaada Winery, Mittagong<br /><br /></span></span></span></span><div style="text-align: left;">Departed Aunt June’s Bowral home in the dark at 5am on Sunday 25 January and driving slowly through built-up nearby Mittagong in the early morning dewy mist, veered to avoid a kangaroo sitting on the street-lit road, which decided to about turn my way and subsequently bowled him over at about 2kph, fortuitously leaving neither party damaged.<br /></div></div><br />We took the New England Highway back to Kenmore, Brisbane where we arrived late afternoon to conclude a most enjoyable 21 day three State tour.<br /><br />The following three weeks were spent doing nothing in particular apart from visiting friends at Mooloolaba Beach for lunch, researching what government benefits I could expect upon turning 65 on 13 February, and celebrating that significant event with a dinner party at Kenmore with twin brother John (who attained this milestone 20 minutes before me) and twenty two close friends, mostly all from childhood days. Audrey and Lavinia catered magnificently and a great night was enjoyed by all!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIm7dDTwCvhY2sPR7o-cC_5z-qEWdWYAEVqJ4CbW7aW7hSZ5gHgT5XxbhNP5B96RYHcGjZn0bVgY6LnpJiP0AeZF8OgopekQwgAZOWrM4IoLl1AkyIYcxQj7ffVCBSHrLIHoGtsFSwKw/s1600-h/BSV+JV.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 339px; height: 452px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIm7dDTwCvhY2sPR7o-cC_5z-qEWdWYAEVqJ4CbW7aW7hSZ5gHgT5XxbhNP5B96RYHcGjZn0bVgY6LnpJiP0AeZF8OgopekQwgAZOWrM4IoLl1AkyIYcxQj7ffVCBSHrLIHoGtsFSwKw/s320/BSV+JV.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337449166595345746" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;">65th Birthday Boys</span></span></span></span><br /></div><br />A quick day trip across to Karragarra Island to leave my car (with Alan “Mr Fiero” McClelland who imports them from USA) for service during our impending absence in New Zealand, to where we flew on 18 February to visit our good friends Ralph and Yvonne de Gruyter, sailing friends whom we met in Brisbane on their world circumnavigation some years ago.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjvN8udESkNnae0uf2urncsFd3UXZkNSnPUrXk1egEZbcOPcN9ErLt7mFRWRAW6RYcCpyUE-f7ByP3QGe8NXriFBsKCW9mvW7a91j-WLotEVdMkUOahx518JGMOkD9zNmOJ6FuJ-c3WQ/s1600-h/P2192038.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 474px; height: 356px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjvN8udESkNnae0uf2urncsFd3UXZkNSnPUrXk1egEZbcOPcN9ErLt7mFRWRAW6RYcCpyUE-f7ByP3QGe8NXriFBsKCW9mvW7a91j-WLotEVdMkUOahx518JGMOkD9zNmOJ6FuJ-c3WQ/s320/P2192038.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337449170484139794" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-size:85%;" >Ralph and Yvonne with dinner on the super-yacht<br /></span></div><br />Ralph was there to meet our mid afternoon Qantas flight and, after collecting Yvonne from her office we went for cocktails on the luxury yacht of which Ralph is paid skipper. It is reputedly the second largest mega-yacht in Auckland and Ralph’s job as Master is to cruise her with owner and guests around the Pacific. We had the privilege of meeting the (local) owner who joined us for Sundowners. This USA built beauty is luxury plus, with large cabins and all the trimmings, and the engine room is awesome – appliances of every sort everywhere, a million wires, pipes and tubes, and so clinically clean you could eat your food off the floor.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRADHwe_eGJWxgKXzjjycq1DfBf_o86DpZNbHcV3eRW0nSJtg6zNbsAEVHSBuEpOK00tUc2VU_ZpE56v2GfRAhQje2HbgU77CEmCNkUX3vWxpsf-d5g_b0uFjr5S-r_Qe6xEbdK16ivg/s1600-h/P2212057.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 305px; height: 407px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRADHwe_eGJWxgKXzjjycq1DfBf_o86DpZNbHcV3eRW0nSJtg6zNbsAEVHSBuEpOK00tUc2VU_ZpE56v2GfRAhQje2HbgU77CEmCNkUX3vWxpsf-d5g_b0uFjr5S-r_Qe6xEbdK16ivg/s320/P2212057.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337449169489445378" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Caught 6 Snapper<br /><br /></span></span></span></span></div>We spent only one week in New Zealand but packed each day full, including a weekend ‘down the Bay’ on Ralph and Yvonne’s sailing yacht “Aureo”, where we caught and ate Snapper fish and met up with another kiwi couple, Bill and Josia Whall, with whom we cruised the Pacific in 2003. Some days we took Ralph’s car and drove all around Auckland, recalling memories from our stay there in 2002, and revisited the Australian Gannet colony at Muriwai Beach on the west coast from Auckland.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE_pg1uN1020ljaFn4tZLzVxa4xGjIEmf48jLxlWVWg2IHRE4KVqvEkn8jaSAK4QnxEJcQdo6mPiuV8yg1EXN1EA-uZFPkvJEMpZUVrcYeWguS-4JEUFUUId7k4lQrx3RmrzktTYZwdA/s1600-h/P2212061.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 448px; height: 336px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE_pg1uN1020ljaFn4tZLzVxa4xGjIEmf48jLxlWVWg2IHRE4KVqvEkn8jaSAK4QnxEJcQdo6mPiuV8yg1EXN1EA-uZFPkvJEMpZUVrcYeWguS-4JEUFUUId7k4lQrx3RmrzktTYZwdA/s320/P2212061.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337449171678761314" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;">From left: Bill, Josie, Ralph, Yvonne and Audrey<br /><br /></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb807tkkG7iFrjwiXkXNSJaqJ92vV0TbJrxyug5r2LqvpjvtkCbvcBNOxWe0pobC1pDQuYWjCEjjLLBMFyonp5DdL4dGHkavCSwCwfHvLu_2jvxO7TDet6w74yETXTiqQQu7s-kEEWXA/s1600-h/P2232078.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 447px; height: 335px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb807tkkG7iFrjwiXkXNSJaqJ92vV0TbJrxyug5r2LqvpjvtkCbvcBNOxWe0pobC1pDQuYWjCEjjLLBMFyonp5DdL4dGHkavCSwCwfHvLu_2jvxO7TDet6w74yETXTiqQQu7s-kEEWXA/s320/P2232078.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337460108572135890" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Gannet Colony, Muriwai Beach, NZ</span></span></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>Most nights we ate out at restaurants or with their families, other than when we cooked BBQ’s on the deck of their superb hilltop home with its commanding views overlooking Maraetai Beach and Waitemata Harbour. Since this home was undergoing extensive renovations Audrey and I stayed in their other Maraetai house nearby, having it all to ourselves, just as we did back in 2002/03.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl5C2r4a7MgQV9bcyiFvRjj4XYsol4_0y0RjNtRkpxS-m7MSFrjAURtEc9U7Jb8ySmLUd8Jnl8rsm6YKqVARTOoMUkout-k4ynFdhW99Q1jReFqqX131JBr8GpwakwdtXtbmIa02OvsQ/s1600-h/P2232091.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 449px; height: 337px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl5C2r4a7MgQV9bcyiFvRjj4XYsol4_0y0RjNtRkpxS-m7MSFrjAURtEc9U7Jb8ySmLUd8Jnl8rsm6YKqVARTOoMUkout-k4ynFdhW99Q1jReFqqX131JBr8GpwakwdtXtbmIa02OvsQ/s320/P2232091.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337460112053223042" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Maraetai Beach and Waiheke Island - view from Deck<br /></span></span></span></span></div><br />The New Zealand week was over in a flash and we were back at Kenmore where we spent the next ten days leisurely preparing for our return to ‘Envy’.<br /><br />After 14 weeks back in Australia, on Friday 6 March we spent a happy last night with Anthony and Denise Goodwin in their modern spacious and airy Currumbin Eco-Village home, and they drove us to Coolangatta Airport for our 9am Air Asia return flight to Langkawi, Malaysia next morning.<br /><br />We now have our cruising hats on once again, living our other life, and working hard at losing the extra weight we put on Down Under.<br /><br />(PS: We have each lost over 10kg since returning here 10 weeks ago!!)<br /><br />Cheers til we meet again in ‘H-15’.Yacht Envyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296367569566410867noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5422585594160201132.post-21822574400253270192009-05-16T09:37:00.045+08:002009-05-19T08:07:15.449+08:00Happenings 13 - 2008 June to December<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBfUbUGTUgAfzE_BmVaDVBlfrtq4VumRdW0HavjSU935nNgbPI8iO0RfaDTpxJ3b0s81z8i6EcwhiNHRia8uONaZejmWc0XchEgwlYGIbW6okKM0Hx9AEW_DEaMWcvrVkaN31-YctMmw/s1600-h/H13+17.JPG"><br /></a> <div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"> </div><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Australia, Borneo & South China Seas<br /></span></span></span></div><br /><br />Mid June 2008, only five days after our return to Sebana Cove Marina from land travels in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia (reported in ‘H-12’), Bruce flies out of Singapore for Thursday Island to help twin brother John pack and relocate back to Brisbane.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTpv-SdK37dtVUbSc0G5CONl6TQKg8vzg6FX7SgGn9D7DICvPUy7SHMZWtJzdILNaPvlh6_i0wmIp7Sf67kelgNKfBUveLrwDihgtz6vHEgNR_SjGKK3zgAuDgHpo5og1sWk2tJXbmzw/s1600-h/H13+01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 580px; height: 187px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTpv-SdK37dtVUbSc0G5CONl6TQKg8vzg6FX7SgGn9D7DICvPUy7SHMZWtJzdILNaPvlh6_i0wmIp7Sf67kelgNKfBUveLrwDihgtz6vHEgNR_SjGKK3zgAuDgHpo5og1sWk2tJXbmzw/s320/H13+01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336339420548113298" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-size:85%;" >Thursday Island Panorama</span><br /></div><br />John’s career with Q’ld Health had been medically terminated following assessment of his suffering early Alzheimer’s, so I went to help out. Six days later we departed this beautiful little island which was home to my parents during their earlier life, and flew to Brisbane, where it took a further five weeks to find suitable accommodation for John in a retirement village, and unpack his 270 cartons!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizoDFA7GxBYAIVxDPZyljxjg5ZmMLOfna9zrsZjWneh9X2q_f5_2uA0bTxvJzr2Fdm_wekThxUaIzVeSpd5jtbQV_vFBHxqDmMFb47HjoMfzQZ3jxjZMdnJZnu0wLr6el-v7PkciRGEg/s1600-h/H13+02.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 159px; height: 206px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizoDFA7GxBYAIVxDPZyljxjg5ZmMLOfna9zrsZjWneh9X2q_f5_2uA0bTxvJzr2Fdm_wekThxUaIzVeSpd5jtbQV_vFBHxqDmMFb47HjoMfzQZ3jxjZMdnJZnu0wLr6el-v7PkciRGEg/s320/H13+02.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336665638601765730" border="0" /></a>Meanwhile Audrey sailed with other cruising friends to Kuching in Sarawak, Borneo to attend the annual ‘Rain Forrest Music Festival’, which we’d planned and prepaid weeks before. ‘Muso’s’ from all around the globe are invited to perform their unique ‘ethno-music’ over this popular three day outdoor event. Audrey then flew back to ‘Envy’ at Sebana Cove Marina in Malaysia, just across the strait from Singapore, to where I returned on 3 August 2008.<br /><br /><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;">On the foredeck of Muscat, Audrey, Sue from Court Jester and Alison from Muscat on the Santabong River, Kuching, Sarawak.</span></span></span></span><br /></div></div><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></span></span></span>One week later ‘Envy’ departs on our 640 n/mile non-stop South China Sea passage to Borneo and that first afternoon we got caught in a so-called “Sumatra”, gale-force winds of 30/45 kts (mostly above 40kts) and totally unrelenting for half an hour. Then on day three, just about half way across this vast sea, we copped another belting where it howled a strong gale to 46 kts for an hour, and bucketed down rain as well. On both occasions we just held ‘Envy’ head to wind and rode it out – some days at sea are just soooo much fun!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Et2dqdxRaHhpalB68rUm3F4BhDsVBeY6U6HzfymrXYFoAPAwpLNvRqzrei3tKmBPMJeF9HGTjyhyphenhyphenTYLGUTUl3UhklttmhE-W1H1wKM_3PDMnrxSf60wvEjRajGIZH2w0vwLoAyDPTw/s1600-h/H13+03.JPG"><img style="width: 444px; height: 333px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Et2dqdxRaHhpalB68rUm3F4BhDsVBeY6U6HzfymrXYFoAPAwpLNvRqzrei3tKmBPMJeF9HGTjyhyphenhyphenTYLGUTUl3UhklttmhE-W1H1wKM_3PDMnrxSf60wvEjRajGIZH2w0vwLoAyDPTw/s320/H13+03.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">We quickly prepare Envy for the storm coming from behind</span></span></span><br /></div><br />Then shortly after midnight on day four, sailing under a waxing three-quarter moon, a huge flying fish (alias - missile) landed in the cockpit narrowly missing Audrey who was standing watch, and by daylight the wind had died so we were motoring on an oily smooth sea. Passed downwind of two very smelly fishing boats during the morning and that afternoon had a pod of nine playful Dolphins frolicking at the bow; and for as long as we stayed and watched, they continued their skylarking performance of dives, rolls and flips.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHVG3c0yVFN3e2s7zYf6wpVYKlXxKMPc5ipMxyauKHr775pVKlFZyJbVPAzofKV0PPWOD9Ndtq5yNc-N95uGZbtATbhbNolN-u-dbCkUM8Xxx77ehz28hj5gkNVSBB8_7nqyyj1oi5Gg/s1600-h/H13+04.jpg"><img style="width: 292px; height: 331px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHVG3c0yVFN3e2s7zYf6wpVYKlXxKMPc5ipMxyauKHr775pVKlFZyJbVPAzofKV0PPWOD9Ndtq5yNc-N95uGZbtATbhbNolN-u-dbCkUM8Xxx77ehz28hj5gkNVSBB8_7nqyyj1oi5Gg/s160/H13+04.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">One of the playful dolphins</span></span></span><br /></div></div>The sea was a lovely mid blue colour and as clear as crystal, though we did have close shaves with two large floating logs and a truly huge tree root-bulb floating close by; we shudder to think of what goes silently floating by unseen in the darkness, though on more than one occasion we have felt a bump in the middle of the night, and ‘Envy’s’ bow has a few waterline chips as testament to this. Borneo waters are notorious for large logs that flow down jungle streams into the open sea, and navigating log strewn inland rivers is a daytime job - not for the feint hearted.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjIXXCYICf09DM1H7nmF4IM7XPAouEORBRNi7HvFNW149g2MSFy_06txANZtIJtDjP2LH-ySSi9eyC7kB99pY_QVLy-8HxXXxutcCbliD0_JtoAJGlj4u3uSsYYP9Nrv5l_Q6iK8b98Q/s1600-h/H13+05.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 461px; height: 319px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjIXXCYICf09DM1H7nmF4IM7XPAouEORBRNi7HvFNW149g2MSFy_06txANZtIJtDjP2LH-ySSi9eyC7kB99pY_QVLy-8HxXXxutcCbliD0_JtoAJGlj4u3uSsYYP9Nrv5l_Q6iK8b98Q/s320/H13+05.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337005134458773298" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Floating log off the Borneo Coast</span></span></span></span><br /></div><br />At 0800 hrs on day six we arrive at our destination, Miri Marina in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo, after 120 hours non-stop at sea, having averaged 5.3kts. Many of our close cruising friends were already there and we celebrated our arrival with a get-together that evening in a carnival spirit that extended for the next ten days.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXYFNqk-KE1kKkTAlO-YolKCXIUcbxvGV3bfQW80G_RWymKg9Z-UQS4nRE_RmEkp1dXjTnsTlo-yPwXm4sTAxjLXgcuVAuZKnmZBnpZLzVFMlMrftQE0PUw5NMfwQGx3c3N99BVIHMyg/s1600-h/H13+06.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 494px; height: 371px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXYFNqk-KE1kKkTAlO-YolKCXIUcbxvGV3bfQW80G_RWymKg9Z-UQS4nRE_RmEkp1dXjTnsTlo-yPwXm4sTAxjLXgcuVAuZKnmZBnpZLzVFMlMrftQE0PUw5NMfwQGx3c3N99BVIHMyg/s320/H13+06.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336667557017460498" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Cruisers 'get-together' at Miri Marina</span></span></span></span>, <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-size:85%;" >Sarawak </span><br /></div></div><br />A couple of days later we were off again, heading north to Labuan Island, to participate in the 5th annual Borneo International Yachting Challenge, http://www.borneorace.com/ a regatta series of sailboat races held both at Labuan in Sabah state and Miri in adjoining Sarawak state. There is an additional 110 nm overnight passage race between the two cities, which are separated by the tiny, fabulously oil-rich nation/state of Brunei, with its many brightly lit oil-rig platforms which clutter its coastal seas, together with those of neighbouring Sarawak.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJNJ0urXgMIxDXiR8IG6MjkJT_5YaZGdBVWbKmImvxYHdzlYJkgfu9_3NPp7wJqOmH6u_WSTxhrGxnxvoj0kVofzshIdGtsZawi3x5kxWH2UvUi48tbZ3g9Yv7AkfNMI-c1DWa7cWPaA/s1600-h/H13+11a.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 460px; height: 251px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJNJ0urXgMIxDXiR8IG6MjkJT_5YaZGdBVWbKmImvxYHdzlYJkgfu9_3NPp7wJqOmH6u_WSTxhrGxnxvoj0kVofzshIdGtsZawi3x5kxWH2UvUi48tbZ3g9Yv7AkfNMI-c1DWa7cWPaA/s320/H13+11a.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336594227670524914" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-size:85%;" >We were happy to pass this Oil Rig Platform during the day</span><br /></div></div>Since Brunei's sandy coastline is about 120km of straight exposed beach, the Sultan spent $millions building a protected artificial harbour large enough for multi-qquatic activities, complete with 'Disneyland' type entertainment claimed to be the biggest in the world, as a gift to his people. The Facility is called Jerudong Park, and we stopped there in perfectly calm conditions enroute to Labuan, but didn't see any aquatic or on-shore activity whatever. The sandy beach of its island entrance was a perfect spot to relax and share 'sundowners' watching the colourful sunset.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDWcBEcc8O9IrZ_Hxm8RW_KcFn4WXuJL2tIAkAiqjCWoXpRWuI_pmfuOn-1_Lo5vB5p8mbIwOdxJ17CrYtSS-5h56xEsiTvUJQqB-PB6Jo0qJbFZPD6FJmDbriT1P6pv80w1Qua3fdMA/s1600-h/H13+07.JPG"><img style="width: 405px; height: 305px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDWcBEcc8O9IrZ_Hxm8RW_KcFn4WXuJL2tIAkAiqjCWoXpRWuI_pmfuOn-1_Lo5vB5p8mbIwOdxJ17CrYtSS-5h56xEsiTvUJQqB-PB6Jo0qJbFZPD6FJmDbriT1P6pv80w1Qua3fdMA/s160/H13+07.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Sunset at Jerudong Park</span></span></span><br /></div></div><br />But not everything is beer and skittles in wealthy Brunei. We've heard talk, some visiting Aussie yachts have recently got a hard time from Brunei officials when entering. The story has it that the Sultan’s brother Prince Geoffrey, who owns a large cattle station in the NT, was in the habit of casually jetting in and out of Oz in his private plane without clearing Customs or Quarantine, and took exception to having this practice stopped. So it’s official ‘un-official’ payback for Aussies.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh65uAsEOrhnQ2LOkN03hUHJiMIjsVldpZd4F5Q0-rHOlbpE5JCoekyVBncFYRX1f3ZMQUDL3LdjzDsF0IejqRESBwp-4tYCoduhViVRN-KDqYPbGoHKJnKbJz9M4gyKoiY9dsTRmS5WA/s1600-h/H13+13.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 409px; height: 306px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh65uAsEOrhnQ2LOkN03hUHJiMIjsVldpZd4F5Q0-rHOlbpE5JCoekyVBncFYRX1f3ZMQUDL3LdjzDsF0IejqRESBwp-4tYCoduhViVRN-KDqYPbGoHKJnKbJz9M4gyKoiY9dsTRmS5WA/s320/H13+13.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336974899012996386" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Another Gala Dinner<br /><br /></span></span></span></span></div>To boost participation and massage tourism, all competitors are paid US$400 and given two nights’ free accommodation at 5 star hotels in both Labuan and Miri, plus gala dinners and entertainment at no cost; it is certainly an incentive to lure cruising yachties away from peninsular Malaysia to out-of-the-way Borneo.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZtOC8w-XUnWh27NKHn7e7h2Kp9U0nEjgm46dE0GVvMwmm23HtaHa-A2t0JN-MuBWnCeM6ZtMAzonGzN8Xa3H1bxU_gs3h21XB3DO_PNl1spiYBWvd9eR59jLA_WtQ4i8B-gcGxG-fHA/s1600-h/H13+08.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 441px; height: 330px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZtOC8w-XUnWh27NKHn7e7h2Kp9U0nEjgm46dE0GVvMwmm23HtaHa-A2t0JN-MuBWnCeM6ZtMAzonGzN8Xa3H1bxU_gs3h21XB3DO_PNl1spiYBWvd9eR59jLA_WtQ4i8B-gcGxG-fHA/s320/H13+08.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336976027731220082" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Welcome to the Labuan Gala Dinner<br /><br /></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9oB3gpi-EkYQlQGbT-tqfFOyc3O2_GWuSJiFfpqz4SJz7ad4o-jBNnzAqxy5fNpYPf9Rx8qFWbrAZTCWN04lgY3GHEn1Fbn7Pkm4wOqXdHDTw7-pZEIJ4eaWyM4MHv-wZ7b6cwD1eoA/s1600-h/H13+09.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 450px; height: 338px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9oB3gpi-EkYQlQGbT-tqfFOyc3O2_GWuSJiFfpqz4SJz7ad4o-jBNnzAqxy5fNpYPf9Rx8qFWbrAZTCWN04lgY3GHEn1Fbn7Pkm4wOqXdHDTw7-pZEIJ4eaWyM4MHv-wZ7b6cwD1eoA/s320/H13+09.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336979254683116498" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Traditional Dancer at the Labuan Welcome</span></span></span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMab-xs04_jux7EdqxgKtR30vkiky3eJ145riiddML2jX3yl3rzqguCzxHmYSSAbEHt6aUG6AohCTfucbwzFYgSTpi44SzZ3q6D918Efl4MQZm2jDDmDMHuYLMAfkZxXbRxeIoKofSMQ/s1600-h/H13+10.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 441px; height: 337px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMab-xs04_jux7EdqxgKtR30vkiky3eJ145riiddML2jX3yl3rzqguCzxHmYSSAbEHt6aUG6AohCTfucbwzFYgSTpi44SzZ3q6D918Efl4MQZm2jDDmDMHuYLMAfkZxXbRxeIoKofSMQ/s320/H13+10.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336979258798191554" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Trophy Presentation at Labuan</span></span></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>About 25 cruising yachties were competing and we were delighted to get a 2nd and two 3rd placings in our division for the three events. Aud's mum Lavinia was on board as crew, having flown in from Brisbane to join us for a two weeks’ visit, and we spread the ‘word’ that we had imported a special octogenarian international racing tactician from Australia!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA5PnrVZ7qpWw48s4CTVUx1AZL2COCyK1Igr-l97W5NDetbouvS25wyj_QUdi8hC1zo5wa56zpPup2V6a3D4YveVQ4I4CnTutwvYpfth326GkRgY2IRrYE8U_BjdrO2k5eI7bSCjj96Q/s1600-h/H13+11.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 423px; height: 317px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA5PnrVZ7qpWw48s4CTVUx1AZL2COCyK1Igr-l97W5NDetbouvS25wyj_QUdi8hC1zo5wa56zpPup2V6a3D4YveVQ4I4CnTutwvYpfth326GkRgY2IRrYE8U_BjdrO2k5eI7bSCjj96Q/s320/H13+11.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336979262943765442" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-size:85%;" >Start of the Overnight Race from Labuan to Miri</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">At the trophy Presentation Dinner upon conclusion of the Regatta in Miri, I was asked, with little forewarning, to offer official thanks to the Minister for Tourism and his delegates, Trophy Sponsors and Race Officials, as spokensman on behalf of the competitors. The total surprise of this got my heartbeat going, my blood alcohol count plummeting and my meal abandoned as I scribbled thoughts on my table napkin, but miraculously it all went off OK, with a standing ovation to the officials.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJbqPFPqcuWP_A7J6JDyhrK5BQGDnZgFHc2WxoDM0Dbe20-VFxUPpCaKHrPXwZyhTAC2PWOK_pXW3ncBsHVj5tMXjNp4EjiHMH6WsDTkqw5UT9S_ZrZhblYPIe8ZE5Vfa6-PR8uLXfGw/s1600-h/H13+14a.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 461px; height: 346px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJbqPFPqcuWP_A7J6JDyhrK5BQGDnZgFHc2WxoDM0Dbe20-VFxUPpCaKHrPXwZyhTAC2PWOK_pXW3ncBsHVj5tMXjNp4EjiHMH6WsDTkqw5UT9S_ZrZhblYPIe8ZE5Vfa6-PR8uLXfGw/s320/H13+14a.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336988936920910002" border="0" /></a> </div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Bruce thanking the Officials and Sponsors on behalf of the Competitors</span></span></span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4A31MFYD2mgMRWNz4oBBMW19PviHFFXktnI__9YlYj4KPzT72yaYvgtzhxqTaR3BImSQLpQvHXffyYEsv2llFs_ZG50fzoUhTlf-qxUYUNsr2vPk7MT5L3KJFse7ohz98MQikwkECug/s1600-h/H13+14.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 459px; height: 344px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4A31MFYD2mgMRWNz4oBBMW19PviHFFXktnI__9YlYj4KPzT72yaYvgtzhxqTaR3BImSQLpQvHXffyYEsv2llFs_ZG50fzoUhTlf-qxUYUNsr2vPk7MT5L3KJFse7ohz98MQikwkECug/s320/H13+14.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336988936420172994" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Trophy Presentation at Miri<br /><br /></span></span></span></span></div>Now that the Regatta was over, Lavinia, Audrey and I left 'Envy' at Miri Marina and flew down to Kuching, (Chinese for Cat) the capital of Malaysian Sarawak and widely considered ‘the pearl of the Orient’ with its well kept commons and general parkland appearance.<br /></div></div><br />During our six days there we stayed in a very comfortable riverside high-rise hotel and visited every-thing worthwhile seeing around town, including their famous 'Cat Museum', entirely devoted to any-thing and everything feline. We even had another close encounter with Orangutans in the wild at a small reserve not far from the city. The red-haired residents were quite used to humans and would pass us very closely by with scarcely a second glance. By their standards, no doubt, they probably considered us quite ugly.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFYUADd54QX7ORSfynU4xKqe5adaLb2cUvRQskwsqzvMSrgB7Ueq_cjS7pdTtWJcY4KDwTP2lzOyl68nr4aVhZISFbnuD3EOGJT3yNDc7ic_f9u2NuS5PpwHuo5k1xykENw62XPGpDfA/s1600-h/H13+15.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 357px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFYUADd54QX7ORSfynU4xKqe5adaLb2cUvRQskwsqzvMSrgB7Ueq_cjS7pdTtWJcY4KDwTP2lzOyl68nr4aVhZISFbnuD3EOGJT3yNDc7ic_f9u2NuS5PpwHuo5k1xykENw62XPGpDfA/s320/H13+15.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336988942285980306" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Cat Museum, Kuching<br /><br /></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimW9sHTMfxqxyWQlK46dRDk4VsGggJqZ7aEit9b9s-ybhrHqUGl0dk4CnXbwP24iVI48RwuJjMMOGQYQXutKEjqKuh7xPlhCakaWyhTRJGgddWoAYixFRDVUPr1J6-0qVTvhxUObzWzw/s1600-h/P9041496.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 425px; height: 319px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimW9sHTMfxqxyWQlK46dRDk4VsGggJqZ7aEit9b9s-ybhrHqUGl0dk4CnXbwP24iVI48RwuJjMMOGQYQXutKEjqKuh7xPlhCakaWyhTRJGgddWoAYixFRDVUPr1J6-0qVTvhxUObzWzw/s320/P9041496.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336988943067164674" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Who are all these people bothering me?!!!<br /><br /></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwqNypYrgOKWQOL4n7I13pmLYg8cUTKyG5brxjg2-GDTl979fqSbGtt_GTlQ3VlpbOxWhw57N2cTKRrEGMBeMVvuyznRmdiMWASTr7eJ5eJKjBtJomcY-xo2iz7XXNPVwnu0_UkuhjQA/s1600-h/H13+17.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 419px; height: 314px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwqNypYrgOKWQOL4n7I13pmLYg8cUTKyG5brxjg2-GDTl979fqSbGtt_GTlQ3VlpbOxWhw57N2cTKRrEGMBeMVvuyznRmdiMWASTr7eJ5eJKjBtJomcY-xo2iz7XXNPVwnu0_UkuhjQA/s320/H13+17.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336988946155852466" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Audrey and Lavinia, Riverfront Esplanade, Kuching<br /><br /></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXsE7lSDwp6TPFmGyBMjdxdIsouA0C_7s930i2xq431WuvYkk73vF6XgyXYbCY5ApJrJUBpDjwkXhI8uv289lerNk4F_9l_YlChIxLiSb731HlQkJ7me5kkyuFjbfPVd5BowMT1wBg4g/s1600-h/H13+18.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 419px; height: 313px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXsE7lSDwp6TPFmGyBMjdxdIsouA0C_7s930i2xq431WuvYkk73vF6XgyXYbCY5ApJrJUBpDjwkXhI8uv289lerNk4F_9l_YlChIxLiSb731HlQkJ7me5kkyuFjbfPVd5BowMT1wBg4g/s320/H13+18.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336997801438771810" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Streetscape, Kuching</span></span></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></span></span></span><div style="text-align: left;">Lavinia departed for Australia and we flew back to Miri on 5 September from where, a few days later, we commenced the 600nm passage back to 'duty free' Tioman Island off eastern peninsular Malaysia. The night sky, under a fine full moon, was ablaze with light from the many offshore oil-rig platforms, and the following day (#2) several large copper banded sea snakes, two logs and three dolphins passed us closely by.<br /></div></div><br />A strange phenomenon also occurred that same day about 200 km offshore; four Swallows paid us a visit, circling the boat then stopping for a rest. Two birds sat on the radar tower for several hours, but one Swallow sat on Bruce’s shoulder and another in Audrey’s lap where they remained for some minutes before seeking quieter refuge elsewhere. They appeared exhausted and beyond fear or caring.<br /><br />Our theory is they hitch-hike a ride out to sea on fishing boats and then for whatever reason decide to return to land but find the distance too much for their small wings; they are unable to rest in the water as sea birds do, so continually fly til they’re worn out. Two were missing next morning and two were found dead on the boat.<br /><br />Half way across the South China Sea drama began when ‘Envy’s’ alternator died and with it our electrical generating capacity, which meant no power for lights, ship’s radio, radar, electronic navigational and other safety equipment, so for the next three days our 2kva Honda auxiliary petrol generator sat strapped to the deck providing the essential power requirements.<br /><br />We made landfall after a five day passage just after midnight in a small bay at Aur Island where our cruising companions ‘Court Jester’ and ‘Jaraman’ had arrived two hours earlier. Noted for its good diving, we spent two days at Aur Island snorkelling and recovering from our sleep deprived crossing, then moved on the 35nm to Tioman Island.<br /><br />Can’t imagine why Tioman Island is ‘duty free’ – it’s a tiny little unremarkable island with a small new marina; it boasts little more than modest backpacker accommodation and a handful of very basic cafes and souvenir shops. But it’s a pretty little place, with a good marina, and a two hour ($25 return) ferry service to the reasonable sized mainland town of Mersing for shopping, supplies and spare parts. There were very few tourists to be seen on Tioman, and its ‘duty free’ shopping was not very cheap.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMCNAPf317brlS2cb9bv8NbSI5j7I7SOtPFdZMw_f7hCk1eZgiA7YrtBniducvd2etmNXXdQtq3rjWHgrQAiHUUVz39vddHN2tVY364L18H58ekuBtzg4OQTXHw4wxEBeWZMUvC7InIg/s1600-h/IMG_0242.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 445px; height: 334px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMCNAPf317brlS2cb9bv8NbSI5j7I7SOtPFdZMw_f7hCk1eZgiA7YrtBniducvd2etmNXXdQtq3rjWHgrQAiHUUVz39vddHN2tVY364L18H58ekuBtzg4OQTXHw4wxEBeWZMUvC7InIg/s320/IMG_0242.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336997811386071218" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2sejpHof0PBdTqaPsWeVQ0_XYtqtuRS-bQ5O9qmn0z5dMMvVvJ_G6SF04_E7dmcdF46gIlo2z_vF504nbFINxsakLKhCu96CVZ5zQCS71xSJJ1Sdd4lPCZlOylfd9RSEDKdS74-tM7A/s1600-h/H13+19.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 438px; height: 326px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2sejpHof0PBdTqaPsWeVQ0_XYtqtuRS-bQ5O9qmn0z5dMMvVvJ_G6SF04_E7dmcdF46gIlo2z_vF504nbFINxsakLKhCu96CVZ5zQCS71xSJJ1Sdd4lPCZlOylfd9RSEDKdS74-tM7A/s320/H13+19.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336997802742302274" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-size:85%;" >Quiet Main Street of Tioman Island</span><br /><br /></div>After one week at Tioman Island, which included two visits to Mersing for alternator repairs, ‘Envy’ then island hopped in company with ‘Court Jester’ and ‘Muscat’. On the way we were puzzled by some dark spots coming over the horizon ahead, which looked like distant tiny islands but none were shown on our chart and upon closer approach turned out to be buildings sitting on posts, many kilometres off the coast, in seas of 15/20 metres depth. We think they are fishing holiday complexes.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGm_sqOahl4i_y62ubzf_YelqDZ-ukbRC2H5wPVrgzYJ0vRTcdN5swNMKzFr3MPlyB6uQt54XOIi6FhU8PUxNYKlpuxsYZK7Pb3ELU6At9c2wEcVX0EzRVkRimCRKQ3vHf9F6WSCAYyw/s1600-h/H13+23a-1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 487px; height: 294px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGm_sqOahl4i_y62ubzf_YelqDZ-ukbRC2H5wPVrgzYJ0vRTcdN5swNMKzFr3MPlyB6uQt54XOIi6FhU8PUxNYKlpuxsYZK7Pb3ELU6At9c2wEcVX0EzRVkRimCRKQ3vHf9F6WSCAYyw/s320/H13+23a-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337005134776528274" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;">'Sea Building' off the East Coast of Malaysia</span><br /></span></span></span></div><br />For seven days we headed southwards through the Tioman group, visiting North Sribuat, Tingi, and the Rimba Resort on Sibu Island, plus an overnight stop at Lompat Point enroute back to Sebana Cove Marina where we stayed for only a short three day stopover. On this passage one of our group suffered engine problems and, with the little breeze to sail, was towed for much of the way.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf3M0jO2A3ysbvNnEMokqYhWF4vYLfdxExQ12pnZw6VeIwg9hVzG7MU0mK24-oTOc56pBr52xmrOgV10WH44HZqqfGRHbli1nxc_wLzh3vMdhqk3ft58IZ2v-FDFL653ttYAJYG0m4Qw/s1600-h/H13+20-1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 455px; height: 344px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf3M0jO2A3ysbvNnEMokqYhWF4vYLfdxExQ12pnZw6VeIwg9hVzG7MU0mK24-oTOc56pBr52xmrOgV10WH44HZqqfGRHbli1nxc_wLzh3vMdhqk3ft58IZ2v-FDFL653ttYAJYG0m4Qw/s320/H13+20-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337005139939980962" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;">'Court Jester' preparing to tow 'Muscat'<br /></span></span></span></span></div><br />Then we went upmarket, moving ‘Envy’ across to the flash ‘Oneº 15’ Marina at Singapore’s exclusive Sentosa Island where we spent two weeks doing maintenance and shopped til we dropped! After several visits over two plus years, we’re getting to know our way around the island pretty well.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5WTyj7KSQsGt9V8w3N7KnBHir914nI4FykxBhVdwSNgmUyQTuEcn9XeT0gZN5ffBrmtbXHLworPdF0263vFIFNIkSkbfKEd28bTNixkCz8KQVtizzq-iiPGtPzMp9GB3Y163UY14EqA/s1600-h/H13+21-1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 472px; height: 354px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5WTyj7KSQsGt9V8w3N7KnBHir914nI4FykxBhVdwSNgmUyQTuEcn9XeT0gZN5ffBrmtbXHLworPdF0263vFIFNIkSkbfKEd28bTNixkCz8KQVtizzq-iiPGtPzMp9GB3Y163UY14EqA/s320/H13+21-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337005137518142514" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;">One Degree 15 Marina - Behind 'Envy' the new Residential Towers on Sentosa Island<br /></span></span></span></span></div><br />A further 14 days were spent sailing easy day-hops up Malaysia’s now familiar west coast to Penang, where we purchased a new air-conditioner for the boat. In this climate you can’t live without it. Bruce is having dental ‘implant’ work done here for less than half the cost back home.<br /><br />Ten days later we departed exciting Penang, the ‘culinary capital’ of Malaysia, for the final two day hop back up to our Rebak Marina 'home base' at Langkawi. Audrey’s birthday was celebrated enroute with a swim and beach BBQ at our favourite, small and cosy Lovers Bay, in company with our two cruising yacht friends.<br /><br />We spent two weeks in Rebak Marina preparing ‘Envy’ and ourselves for our imminent departure back to Australia for three months holiday, where we arrived on an Air Asia flight at Coolangatta early morning on December 2nd 2008.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg59VDYbnM_JX37iFgFK5kUUBICQc_cjxlkVHsByGne2_O96x6XWkMgSaG-aC5wfnRIHSnE8GpgO5RexVT8W0k9Fui7uDlcQ6en6L8c7KnlYlGd0LCR6QkbZ0fWKPZnmcOJSdBy620UtA/s1600-h/H13+22.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 477px; height: 358px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg59VDYbnM_JX37iFgFK5kUUBICQc_cjxlkVHsByGne2_O96x6XWkMgSaG-aC5wfnRIHSnE8GpgO5RexVT8W0k9Fui7uDlcQ6en6L8c7KnlYlGd0LCR6QkbZ0fWKPZnmcOJSdBy620UtA/s320/H13+22.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337005140650478882" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;">'Envy' de-commissioned at Rebak Marina for our return to Australia<br /></span></span></span></span></div><br />Like Jekyll & Hyde, we’d left one lifestyle behind in SE Asia and were returning to our other in Oz.<br /><br />The adventure continues soon in ‘H-14’.Yacht Envyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296367569566410867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5422585594160201132.post-84024522665043543192009-02-12T15:55:00.094+08:002009-02-17T08:25:34.782+08:00Happenings 12 - 2008 March to July<div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"><span style="font-size:180%;">Land and Sea Gypsies<br /></span></div><br /><br />Many months ago around last Easter, the ongoing odyssey of the retirement sailing explorer “Envy” finds us island hopping south from Thailand, (where ‘Envy’ spent the past three months as reported in ‘H-11”), back to Langkawi Island, our wonderful inexpensive and duty-free paradise off the top western coast of Malaysia.<br /><br />We’d suffered a worrying passage of recurring engine alarms and burning smells, which took yours truly some time to pinpoint as an electrical problem caused by continuing demand on the ship’s electrical supply - too many new gadgets were overloading the system. It is now eight years since “Envy” was totally refurbished so system failures and breakdowns can be expected.<br /><br />We cleared back ‘in’ at Telaga Harbour Park, one of the area’s three marinas, then on to our ‘home base’ at nearby Rebak Island Resort Marina a couple of kilometres away where we spent two weeks doing reprovisioning and maintenance, preparing for the continuing voyage south to Sebana Cove Marina at the bottom end of Malaysia across from Singapore.<br /><br />That passage took three weeks in the mostly light airs, motor-sailing in day hops, with several stopovers enroute at Penang and Port Dickson marinas, which are always a welcome haven after sitting in the cockpit on ‘anchor watch’ in the middle of the night as wild thunderstorms and lightning rage about, or dodging seriously dangerous waterspouts too close for comfort.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yf3WQiSpi2I/SZdMevuoW8I/AAAAAAAADfA/vECbfRt-8r0/s1600-h/H01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 503px; height: 358px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yf3WQiSpi2I/SZdMevuoW8I/AAAAAAAADfA/vECbfRt-8r0/s320/H01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302791177343884226" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The tail end of a dangerous much larger water-spout</span></span><br /></div><br />Landlocked in the middle of nowhere five miles up a muddy river, Sebana Marina is hot, still and humid, causing everything to turn green after a while. But a saving grace is that it's safe, secure, inexpensive, and provides a daily passenger ferry service to nearby Singapore, mecca for spare parts and shopping, of which we regularly partook during our two weeks there.<br /><br />By mid May the ‘Envy’ sea gypsies become land gypsies with full backpacks at Singapore Airport headed for Bangkok to join our good cruising friends Trevor and Joan, off Brisbane yacht 'Been-a-long', for 32 days of land travel through Thailand, Laos and Cambodia.<br /><br />After an interesting day and night in Sukumvit, Bangkok’s seedy and colourful nightclub district, we took a 2 hour bus trip to Kanchanaburi, a busy tourist village of WW2 history where we stayed for 3 days, and that afternoon we walked across the famous Bridge on the River Kwai.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yf3WQiSpi2I/SZdMeynYEbI/AAAAAAAADfI/kdZolSXd_eY/s1600-h/H1a.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 440px; height: 329px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yf3WQiSpi2I/SZdMeynYEbI/AAAAAAAADfI/kdZolSXd_eY/s320/H1a.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302791178118762930" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The Bridge on the River Kwai</span><br /></div><br />The next day we visited the ‘Tiger Temple’, started by a Monk who took in an orphaned cub a few years back, where the same Monk plus helpers walk fully grown tigers around like leashed pussycats. For an additional fee you can have photos taken nursing one in your lap. Wow!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yf3WQiSpi2I/SZdMfFfh8AI/AAAAAAAADfQ/IPgRGCkpruM/s1600-h/H02a.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 483px; height: 366px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yf3WQiSpi2I/SZdMfFfh8AI/AAAAAAAADfQ/IPgRGCkpruM/s320/H02a.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302791183186128898" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Our favourite Cat at the Tiger Temple</span><br /></div><br />Kanchanaburi - day 3 finds us in a small air-conditioned van doing a day tourist trip as follows. First stop was to a waterfall, then 1½ km down a shallow winding stream on a Bamboo raft, followed by an Elephant ride thru the countryside, saw basket weaving, and on to Hellfire Pass.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yf3WQiSpi2I/SZdMfWyiN6I/AAAAAAAADfY/rZQpAmRI1mU/s1600-h/H04.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 437px; height: 328px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yf3WQiSpi2I/SZdMfWyiN6I/AAAAAAAADfY/rZQpAmRI1mU/s320/H04.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302791187829241762" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Basket Weaving</span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yf3WQiSpi2I/SZdOthnb-WI/AAAAAAAADfo/tT7Y7Ekqk0g/s1600-h/H05.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 436px; height: 327px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yf3WQiSpi2I/SZdOthnb-WI/AAAAAAAADfo/tT7Y7Ekqk0g/s320/H05.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302793630276909410" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Preparing for our Elephant ride</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkJYIOa2kfouk_QJC7mlaChUYh5XlQzOFSCf00xdMCvh7oaa43AdwYs8Wgd-fUpCw3hOShkZQSJ7ZEo2UWjgDEzDEwsHmTZxWWvAFhWg7w2_kC87Pl4fKbB5cpYOj1JWDds3YXSGxksQ/s1600-h/H06.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 434px; height: 326px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkJYIOa2kfouk_QJC7mlaChUYh5XlQzOFSCf00xdMCvh7oaa43AdwYs8Wgd-fUpCw3hOShkZQSJ7ZEo2UWjgDEzDEwsHmTZxWWvAFhWg7w2_kC87Pl4fKbB5cpYOj1JWDds3YXSGxksQ/s320/H06.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302915426773606706" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Hellfire Pass</span><br /></div><br />‘Hellfire Pass’ is the name given to the Konyu Cutting where allied POW’s hand dug a railway pass through a solid rock ridge on the infamous Burma Railway, resulting in many deaths. We then took a 25km train ride on an old ‘rattler’- together with scores of uniformed school kids, from nearby Krasee Railway Station (Where Lt.Col. ‘Weary’ Dunlop had his hospital and operating theatre in a cave beside the tracks) back to our waiting van further down the line.<br /><br />Next morning we take a mini-bus from Kanchanaburi northwards to the old royal capital of Ayutthaya, travelling firstly through semi open cattle grazing country, past many sugar cane plantations and then quite extensive rice paddies, (Thailand is a significant exporter of high quality rice) arriving at historically scenic Ayutthaya at 1pm. Later that afternoon we booked train tickets for our trip to Chang Mai the following day, then took a ‘longtail’ boat ride down the river to explore three ancient WATS, one of which was quite superb.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQm4RqbCVXVkE9vbLrz2i50B_SXfgvA-Q-CqnBv7sUVkcC1-JXnVVuAe4vsHE_0BX5d0GGlLqAeOpoA3OtmrYnbplTHWNufRtg19IxIuWGvWMiFuQWpiz0GMwW2u5TTm8UE_uX_L_VTw/s1600-h/H07.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 577px; height: 177px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQm4RqbCVXVkE9vbLrz2i50B_SXfgvA-Q-CqnBv7sUVkcC1-JXnVVuAe4vsHE_0BX5d0GGlLqAeOpoA3OtmrYnbplTHWNufRtg19IxIuWGvWMiFuQWpiz0GMwW2u5TTm8UE_uX_L_VTw/s320/H07.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302915430459519218" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Wat ruins in the old royal capital of Ayutthaya</span><br /></div><br />At 10am next morning we board the air-conditioned express train, not nearly as flash as it sounds, and were unfortunately seated directly above the bogie wheels which made for a noisy, uncomfortable trip, arriving Chang Mai at 8:15pm. The countryside comprised mostly flat agricultural land cropped to rice, sugar and smallcrops, though we did encounter two slow winding, high-country passes, a pleasant change from the monotonous plain lands.<br /><br />Almost all our Thai accommodation was in ‘Guest Houses’, whose rooms are similar to ground level motel units; clean, not always air conditioned, though often nicely landscaped but minus the car park out front. Cost was usually around Aust $20 per night.<br /><br />The next day we arranged for a tour guide to drive us around Chang Mai’s several tourist spots, one of the highlights being the hilltop Buddhist Temple – Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, both architecturally and historically interesting, dating back to 1355 AD. The National Museum featured early history artefacts and art, with little variety, and we found it uninteresting.<br /><br />After five days exploring Chang Mai, mostly in Songthaews (pronounced song-tau) pick-up trucks with bench seats, we headed further north to Chang Rai, stopping enroute at the superb ‘White Temple’- nearing completion and absolutely awesome, featuring stunning meticulously fine craftsmanship - then on into the Golden Triangle, the infamous opium poppy growing area, where Thailand, Laos, Myanmar and China converge, hence the name Golden Triangle.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifArzk95UAU419dAAnuhBBooTmdMWyqbTpiq6xtsUdAgOi7g9n-wYKxnlfQaCpbkqv7vO5o3av6brlhU6SD-eio4HwpscoAHC_FB0ZkGWRGIMjclMdH1wEzgHtf2a02xlASGaW9f-Orw/s1600-h/H08.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 472px; height: 354px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifArzk95UAU419dAAnuhBBooTmdMWyqbTpiq6xtsUdAgOi7g9n-wYKxnlfQaCpbkqv7vO5o3av6brlhU6SD-eio4HwpscoAHC_FB0ZkGWRGIMjclMdH1wEzgHtf2a02xlASGaW9f-Orw/s320/H08.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302915431789817570" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The White Temple</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhNWnn4YZCO4uZljXDGlFP_WZEI9dG1UkT01gElNjpryUC9liuYPwRNt6paHQbXtb6B48gyNHZmX2ZNFnCxtStCJMlJPZm7iUq62eB_yivq_kNZWH11B0bNCcCn9dWflJYUPA28AU3xg/s1600-h/H08a.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 462px; height: 347px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhNWnn4YZCO4uZljXDGlFP_WZEI9dG1UkT01gElNjpryUC9liuYPwRNt6paHQbXtb6B48gyNHZmX2ZNFnCxtStCJMlJPZm7iUq62eB_yivq_kNZWH11B0bNCcCn9dWflJYUPA28AU3xg/s320/H08a.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302915436846503026" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Village elder from Chiang Rai area</span><br /></div><br />Next morning we took a local bus along a sealed but horribly pot-holed road to Thailand’s border town of Chiang Khong, situated beside the Mekong River, where we had to walk down through the sandy riverbank silt to board a small longtail ferry-boat to cross over to Laos.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTs-0Tk5o0zbdONFb2umeAgc-nzFyB_sy43EQOppRAWAHP5hLo0S4ehQpsH-N3T0ZY85eOf1hD2ivY7ftvE7an1mN6uYr767DRF9aYwYxmIPtvKDjueSoNs_7Wn-8GFu3_yDy49m-drg/s1600-h/H09.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 422px; height: 317px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTs-0Tk5o0zbdONFb2umeAgc-nzFyB_sy43EQOppRAWAHP5hLo0S4ehQpsH-N3T0ZY85eOf1hD2ivY7ftvE7an1mN6uYr767DRF9aYwYxmIPtvKDjueSoNs_7Wn-8GFu3_yDy49m-drg/s320/H09.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302915445717367474" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Mekong River at Chiang Khong</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvukMwLSmbQBz0ywktI29twpCJA2IGiIcapTEY3TqM7ixsFnurKm1GEAS4bEjowAJQd4S-B-FGEdSyT10RB6iGn_rO8FFDQ3EpN3zvsVfnMV8zrnHoSkcAyequRVG9tZAqgxvOZYnMyg/s1600-h/H12.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 428px; height: 321px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvukMwLSmbQBz0ywktI29twpCJA2IGiIcapTEY3TqM7ixsFnurKm1GEAS4bEjowAJQd4S-B-FGEdSyT10RB6iGn_rO8FFDQ3EpN3zvsVfnMV8zrnHoSkcAyequRVG9tZAqgxvOZYnMyg/s320/H12.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302936598080536402" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Long tail ferry-boat across to Laos</span><br /></div><br />Laos - poor, clean, friendly and a single-party communist state, achieved independence from France in 1949, only to be overthrown by the communist Pathet Lao in 1975. With a population of around 6.5 million, it is our first visit to this Socialist Republic.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">A new country – another adventure. We loved it!</span><br /><br />The people are Lao - the culture is Lao - and the language is Lao, but during the 1870’s, as a newly fledged French colony, some bureaucrat in Paris tacked an ‘s’ on the end, hence its adopted name Laos. (Pronounced ‘louse’ – not ‘layos’). Lao currency unit is called Kip, but US dollars are widely used and preferred. The mid 2008 exchange rate was 8650 Kip=US $1.<br /><br />It was here in Houei Sai that we boarded our river boat for a two day, thrilling 200km one way ride down the fast-flowing mighty Mekong River, which was low and running at a brisk 5kts (about 8km/hr); we were on the very last scheduled run at the end of the season, when the river is too shallow in places to safely navigate, so they stop for a few months til the rains come.<br /><br />This was to our benefit since there were only eight passengers on board and we were treated like royalty. Up here in Northern Laos, the Mekong traverses flat country for just a few kilometres where it forms the border with Thailand, then runs canyon-like through predominantly mountainous terrain for most of the two day journey to Luang Prabang.<br /><br />The sensation of doing 25kts (40km/hr) through the many narrow channels of rock-bordered, white-water rapids was quite exhilarating, seated at the open bow as the 100ft-long narrow wooden boat sent the bow spray flying as it knifed through the murky brown waters.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWJCX4zmNqUJjynwT7rDLP70tncoA1IbQCmQG7C_aVmDbtbotqFtkqON1Uiompe-3Itu0EPUfL90AK3wIdTZ10uYjHpiTeHMxjv3a8JrCg88rMubl8HcB6S-EX5TOFiQwEz2jvQh0iYA/s1600-h/H13.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 442px; height: 332px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWJCX4zmNqUJjynwT7rDLP70tncoA1IbQCmQG7C_aVmDbtbotqFtkqON1Uiompe-3Itu0EPUfL90AK3wIdTZ10uYjHpiTeHMxjv3a8JrCg88rMubl8HcB6S-EX5TOFiQwEz2jvQh0iYA/s320/H13.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302936603851451410" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Scooting down the Mekong at 25kt</span><br /></div><br />We had a tourist stop at a ‘Hill Tribes’ mountain village of the Hmong people, who live in relative isolation with no roads through these inaccessible mountains, and only the river as their contact to the outside world. They live a life of mere subsistence, eating (dryland) ‘sticky rice’, scrawny half-starved poultry and whatever vegetables they are able to grow. A heavy rain shower whilst we were there made for a most difficult descent down the steep and very slippery firm-mud track back to the boat; something like walking on ice!!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_st9BYM0YLt6R2hTWfVPssyzT57Jqc0TvZ9636bX5CgSpg0q5chF8EH1CFi0h1vyUv_4tH1kw9OGuJAuVozlzUEWkpBZ4ZQC5UXGmCi4I-tQbuCnJlMqVjifRN-i47IpA4NyVLVF30w/s1600-h/H14.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 472px; height: 353px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_st9BYM0YLt6R2hTWfVPssyzT57Jqc0TvZ9636bX5CgSpg0q5chF8EH1CFi0h1vyUv_4tH1kw9OGuJAuVozlzUEWkpBZ4ZQC5UXGmCi4I-tQbuCnJlMqVjifRN-i47IpA4NyVLVF30w/s320/H14.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302936607342582642" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Hmong hill tribes children</span><br /></div><br />The overnight stop was near the village of Pak Beng, at the Luang Say Lodge, a collection of bungalows with thatched Bamboo Roofs, nestled 200 metres high above the Mekong, offering panoramic views both up and down the river and surrounding hills. Dinner was excellent Lao cuisine, the local brew was US$2 per can, we slept with open shutters and whirring fans, under mosquito nets, whilst it rained most of the night.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoFTkB_r10dybV_w7N0UJOk9XBd74-HII9mYoIGNeVZgJKomSHoRZ1K-uyyy_Jbe3pzs6hesCFKd3Vkrg_R4fNcglwKRwnf8v4uioK7PcT1A7FBhNt8Shw12whwn1Udqe98NpxRuvb-Q/s1600-h/H16.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 452px; height: 339px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoFTkB_r10dybV_w7N0UJOk9XBd74-HII9mYoIGNeVZgJKomSHoRZ1K-uyyy_Jbe3pzs6hesCFKd3Vkrg_R4fNcglwKRwnf8v4uioK7PcT1A7FBhNt8Shw12whwn1Udqe98NpxRuvb-Q/s320/H16.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302936617442713522" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Welcome to Luang Say Lodge</span><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHnEf3jWmCUfSQ7kaWYlK5h6u5bo3m2eIiLUqDTb_YlHlL9uawRdcDKIYhwQD0mKozMcFbdT6qUwwaT9sj2JBWobV9dIy-gx27XN6mOmfIdz7Na90FjHfV-axd-5vxe7gbZJZoaxAGfw/s1600-h/H15.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 464px; height: 348px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHnEf3jWmCUfSQ7kaWYlK5h6u5bo3m2eIiLUqDTb_YlHlL9uawRdcDKIYhwQD0mKozMcFbdT6qUwwaT9sj2JBWobV9dIy-gx27XN6mOmfIdz7Na90FjHfV-axd-5vxe7gbZJZoaxAGfw/s320/H15.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302936613447851602" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The river boat viewed from our bungalow</span><br /></div><br />Departed at 8am with rain all next morning, so opted not to stop at another slippery hillside village; we continued our race down the Mekong all day, occasionally passing other boats, a few riverside villages, and sped through more thrilling rapids, saw a few fishermen, other river tributaries that joined the Mekong, and enjoyed another good lunch underway.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYnfR8CbutvMLZBesEmfb9-9k6bHn95lR_8Lv97sX_NccBcrrrZQR5Cj2N1VX1-Bd4NlO3yOVDWehrxBhgDSWP8NwWb3m8oicV8GmKmtJMI6s-k_GJKr0mBKxx1kreNp3BaeXoCdMqw/s1600-h/H17.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 461px; height: 346px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYnfR8CbutvMLZBesEmfb9-9k6bHn95lR_8Lv97sX_NccBcrrrZQR5Cj2N1VX1-Bd4NlO3yOVDWehrxBhgDSWP8NwWb3m8oicV8GmKmtJMI6s-k_GJKr0mBKxx1kreNp3BaeXoCdMqw/s320/H17.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302941854399373858" border="0" /></a>Mekong River trading post<br /><br /></div>That afternoon we stopped at Tham Thing to visit ‘The Caves of 1000 Buddhas’ (which are right on the bank of the river and so named for the thousands of Buddha statues/ettes, of every size and type deposited there over the years), before arriving at our destination, the old royal city of Luang Prabang at 4pm after a most memorable and enjoyable two day Mekong River experience.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOXOCP8G4aniTet3ntQC3cq9nghaAmlXVJ-hOwZkrX3Z-KdH3qteQN40gC6kXhL_LokezA7OP6oiAJEEtLzE1uISROS4b7SBgAlG6K0x5q9T2PCGXtn1l9BozkjvHXfpD8EpZJ9jDkhA/s1600-h/H18.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 478px; height: 359px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOXOCP8G4aniTet3ntQC3cq9nghaAmlXVJ-hOwZkrX3Z-KdH3qteQN40gC6kXhL_LokezA7OP6oiAJEEtLzE1uISROS4b7SBgAlG6K0x5q9T2PCGXtn1l9BozkjvHXfpD8EpZJ9jDkhA/s320/H18.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302941864204638850" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The Caves of 1000 Buddhas</span><br /><br /></div>Luang Prabang is World Heritage listed; a biggish country town with many of its old buildings historically valuable, two-story wooden structures with a decidedly French architectural style. The main two streets reflect an ambience of past grandeur, as does the wide tiered stairway down to the Mekong River. We stayed a kilometre out of town at the Haysoke Hotel (a two star guest house costing US$ 28 p/day including breakfast), with a scenic view over rice paddies.<br /><br />In past history Luang Prabang was, for a period of time, the royal capital of Laos and the old Palace with its colourful though modest décor is now unoccupied and open to the public. It is located in the main street of this touristy town, around which we did a 3.5km walking tour, including the steep 400 step assent to the temple on Phou Si ‘mountain’, directly opposite the Palace, offering splendid panoramic views of Luang Prabang. Each night, the main street becomes a very colourful market offering a great variety of quality local arts, crafts, apparel and food, albeit expensively priced compared to the local economy.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqOs_Z415UZehLOmZP1UQq8mqaXR5Off1qk1mdQB3X0EPs_U-4BZ1cDUI9l1oV618eruNRXsJGUeOXOVQFWkQ4vF3g6wArskr3G3ESinIBd3HvTPH_i1H-tl6DmBS_1lJsfEa_4RUtow/s1600-h/H19.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 469px; height: 352px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqOs_Z415UZehLOmZP1UQq8mqaXR5Off1qk1mdQB3X0EPs_U-4BZ1cDUI9l1oV618eruNRXsJGUeOXOVQFWkQ4vF3g6wArskr3G3ESinIBd3HvTPH_i1H-tl6DmBS_1lJsfEa_4RUtow/s320/H19.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302941867745238802" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Luang Prabang, Laos</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijRm5enQVXR55e4-4Ah0poriP6SJii-Itr4ciIjSjrkeoMX560miD5de22ZzVDOMrklOji6Mea9C5CSW_7jwALsTBOwlc63MFLeErMMqt-5ttxRFrR2mevW7rSVY7MtnPdRfWxPZuZwQ/s1600-h/H20.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 463px; height: 348px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijRm5enQVXR55e4-4Ah0poriP6SJii-Itr4ciIjSjrkeoMX560miD5de22ZzVDOMrklOji6Mea9C5CSW_7jwALsTBOwlc63MFLeErMMqt-5ttxRFrR2mevW7rSVY7MtnPdRfWxPZuZwQ/s320/H20.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302941870719499234" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Old Luang Prabang</span><br /></div><br />Following our three day visit, we hired a private air-con mini-bus and departed southwards next morning for the small town of Phonsavan, a six hour drive in heavy rain through very mountainous country with deep valleys, on narrow winding roads. After a slow 4 hours we had a welcome stop at the tiny cross-roads village of Phou Khoun for lunch - chicken noodle soup was all they offered. Dinner that night in Phonsavan was the opposite; a truly huge meal for 15,000 Kip (A$1.90), then we walked the 1km back to our room at the Banna Guest House.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2puCO86IsBIJ28GcHuVznVgE_4iSdludMcbMHeW3sgzK_i9b_KmdY0LU9nVfkChsNnWzuAPB9NPO9Furs0AhdWRg6ggjlrWNY_7QRDGJtH2ixQCOVS9-opsLONoyPbfmLAsaAimalzw/s1600-h/H21.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 469px; height: 352px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2puCO86IsBIJ28GcHuVznVgE_4iSdludMcbMHeW3sgzK_i9b_KmdY0LU9nVfkChsNnWzuAPB9NPO9Furs0AhdWRg6ggjlrWNY_7QRDGJtH2ixQCOVS9-opsLONoyPbfmLAsaAimalzw/s320/H21.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302941875198833330" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Planting new season rice</span><br /></div><br />Our two day visit to Phonsavan was to see the mysterious ‘Plain of Jars’ where, at three separate locations, many ancient rock-hewn stone jars of varying sizes lay in small clusters in open fields, miles away from where they were quarried. Reputedly used for the storage of grain and liquids in times long passed. It continued to rain as we miserably visited all three sites, with one of them being accessed via a slippery track through rice paddies. The ‘on-site’ café again offered only chicken noodle soup at A$1.15 for the meal.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNvl15JQMH1ZznoiK9y-8kjnaaORk4Y3g_13ADIeUeMmWqrfosjGH6zK87YtP9N2UbfPjNNxCL2hxI2n9rNfvihLvfGHO-iGXltl06rFFQqEP15OE5ESGV0J7mMvdH_9ZCPZPvnrBLzA/s1600-h/H22.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 484px; height: 364px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNvl15JQMH1ZznoiK9y-8kjnaaORk4Y3g_13ADIeUeMmWqrfosjGH6zK87YtP9N2UbfPjNNxCL2hxI2n9rNfvihLvfGHO-iGXltl06rFFQqEP15OE5ESGV0J7mMvdH_9ZCPZPvnrBLzA/s320/H22.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302956905995561218" border="0" /></a>Our guide explains ‘The Plain of Jars’<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIcDMZkIKrEfD3_7XnHCUgyLqiDruAEUH-DdjAEIkoqZWLCw8wz04wg5qphKLzoQFFOrRrbPdagic3Sr8UmhgOI9c6TTwLHcsZHkT3J287HTHWI4WXlLD3n0eZ4m8C2m9uou1Y7rMCwA/s1600-h/H23.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 486px; height: 365px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIcDMZkIKrEfD3_7XnHCUgyLqiDruAEUH-DdjAEIkoqZWLCw8wz04wg5qphKLzoQFFOrRrbPdagic3Sr8UmhgOI9c6TTwLHcsZHkT3J287HTHWI4WXlLD3n0eZ4m8C2m9uou1Y7rMCwA/s320/H23.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302956914947882114" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Farm cultivator-cum-transport</span><br /></div><br />The next day at 4pm we arrived in our private mini-bus at Vientiane, the largest and capital city of Laos, whose mix of old French and traditional Lao architecture makes for some very interesting streetscapes. Nestled on the eastern bank of the now much wider and shallow Mekong River, (most of which is dry sand channels until the wet comes) and which is the border with Thailand, Vientiane’s charming river boulevard is shaded by tall Teak trees, whose leafy canopies offer cooling shade from the tropical heat.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJJshXBcmCGLelW_g81_VAVfOk35tzP7Lk05tq7KIYV6hP_x3wpYexmEGOEYkRk4VmTrYRSWf5lgWHS0QUwmT53EiOjioSdyMNCpRVQa6rVeHTg7eCpAYzoxVyXnpi-JhGCsepXKxu8w/s1600-h/H24.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 369px; height: 492px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJJshXBcmCGLelW_g81_VAVfOk35tzP7Lk05tq7KIYV6hP_x3wpYexmEGOEYkRk4VmTrYRSWf5lgWHS0QUwmT53EiOjioSdyMNCpRVQa6rVeHTg7eCpAYzoxVyXnpi-JhGCsepXKxu8w/s320/H24.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302956920960513490" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Old Teak Trees Vientiane</span><br /><br /></div>The city is clean, the people are friendly, the food is good, and the scenery is interesting - and we became instant ‘Laotian millionaires’ as the bank’s ATM handed over 1,000,000 Kip, approx A$116! We took the local currency to pay for meals and accommodation to conserve our dwindling reserve of US dollars.<br /><br />Our room at the downtown Asian Pavilion Hotel was very good value at US25 p/day, and within walking distance of all the things to do and see. We had no trouble buying antibiotics, prescription free, at the pharmacy for our deep chest colds, and so inexpensive!<br /><br />Vientiane offers the usual run of touristy things including museums, monuments, architecture, and all things cultural etc., including the Patuxay Monument, an Arc de Triomphe look-alike affectionately referred to as the ‘Vertical Concrete Runway’, so named after being built with USAID that was granted to fund construction of a new airport runway in the 1960’s.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguCXWwd72Sw3BDv_xzkWWZyWSf4XGbuWLT3kOkMyxIq72h7PJVZKR4eb5Zw12WknzlmrHlXR7dw5IGl5LGPd0Z5IYSd6thwsh_SnHUiM_QGx5qGG32w514moObwOiZDN9C83ZlMM86Pw/s1600-h/H25.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 391px; height: 521px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguCXWwd72Sw3BDv_xzkWWZyWSf4XGbuWLT3kOkMyxIq72h7PJVZKR4eb5Zw12WknzlmrHlXR7dw5IGl5LGPd0Z5IYSd6thwsh_SnHUiM_QGx5qGG32w514moObwOiZDN9C83ZlMM86Pw/s320/H25.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302956931327000786" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">“The vertical concrete runway”</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6e4gY2SH9R9qlRE7NK63U4feWCNlALKnrIwVp_NKn8sXSBioaXrLWuOMccgmoxLQQ0Ufqitv_CZadHpZV4c2_HvGnj1QVsllt2cSufD-nmocxiwQh0xgjiwLHNdpEHxco8kP0PyWpaA/s1600-h/H26.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 489px; height: 367px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6e4gY2SH9R9qlRE7NK63U4feWCNlALKnrIwVp_NKn8sXSBioaXrLWuOMccgmoxLQQ0Ufqitv_CZadHpZV4c2_HvGnj1QVsllt2cSufD-nmocxiwQh0xgjiwLHNdpEHxco8kP0PyWpaA/s320/H26.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302956938349234114" border="0" /></a>Farewell to Laos - and to Trevor and Joan<br /></div><br />After twelve busy days in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, six of them in lovely, tidy Vientiane, we farewelled Trevor and Joan and flew on a Vietnam Airlines A320 jet to Phnom Penh, capital of the Kingdom of Cambodia. It is a constitutional monarchy with parliamentary representative democracy. Our preferred Paragon Riverside Hotel was booked out so we took an excellent room at The Asia Hotel downtown, good value at US $22 incl breakfast.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAzhkV-mjfPbSsoOP2ndlXEqBplm5ESbniGsA-CqoyZ6Vzep7rEr5n2tl-hxJ4qbilqkoXJDZRv5pabFKR9aZ3Q314X3pdk-PRHp_AiLOH7ly51s0zmCKQ2leFzGSmI8fySWrRYzz1bw/s1600-h/H27.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 478px; height: 359px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAzhkV-mjfPbSsoOP2ndlXEqBplm5ESbniGsA-CqoyZ6Vzep7rEr5n2tl-hxJ4qbilqkoXJDZRv5pabFKR9aZ3Q314X3pdk-PRHp_AiLOH7ly51s0zmCKQ2leFzGSmI8fySWrRYzz1bw/s320/H27.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302961549142053074" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Our hotel Phnom Penh - Cambodia</span><br /></div><br />Having arrived before midday afforded us time to go exploring around Phnom Penh. We walked a few kilometres around this bustling city that afternoon, and more again the following day and decided it was the filthiest town in SE Asia with litter everywhere; traffic was totally bizarre with mad drivers out of control. It was generally more expensive than socialist Laos, though the big yellow-domed market close to our hotel offered many good bargains via barter.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAR5TYIT4UMidbsS7Y8LGi9Hp_SptN7nliQ7reIiETifDBtwk4O_mpUnOACdhX5xoSheqrhKq0gHCmJC-IqVEqI6kvrHHpgnQMZFmc2Z7VxjmkWh8_T3kurawacXTnL4vm59oAqEYl-Q/s1600-h/H30.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 478px; height: 359px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAR5TYIT4UMidbsS7Y8LGi9Hp_SptN7nliQ7reIiETifDBtwk4O_mpUnOACdhX5xoSheqrhKq0gHCmJC-IqVEqI6kvrHHpgnQMZFmc2Z7VxjmkWh8_T3kurawacXTnL4vm59oAqEYl-Q/s320/H30.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302961554444028962" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">View from Hotel</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfpbsW-lyJAMUP7NgHPTGCzv37jumhM0wOJ9SkgXvipN4E5hfCPJYTur1s2Fak62gvN8YctO1-EOfd2Azm8H5CumYVarMQivrsIa9w_MsV9I6lBs8WoLrDpYgCXJRcQ8zHRpK42NZ-8g/s1600-h/H31.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 378px; height: 505px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfpbsW-lyJAMUP7NgHPTGCzv37jumhM0wOJ9SkgXvipN4E5hfCPJYTur1s2Fak62gvN8YctO1-EOfd2Azm8H5CumYVarMQivrsIa9w_MsV9I6lBs8WoLrDpYgCXJRcQ8zHRpK42NZ-8g/s320/H31.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302961554754947570" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Street litter</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLLl0E96BGypM3afTQ3FPZN4Jm91N1XttdUOR-tA_ZWJbcoRMY8TnL-ZG9MB7yg-f5GSJrpgnAgHLgnjEnI7ciacEikngcrjBKdhvL7yFtUVFOkkVVUwgIhfZZeiA3UtphD3JdoFKlUg/s1600-h/H32.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 473px; height: 355px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLLl0E96BGypM3afTQ3FPZN4Jm91N1XttdUOR-tA_ZWJbcoRMY8TnL-ZG9MB7yg-f5GSJrpgnAgHLgnjEnI7ciacEikngcrjBKdhvL7yFtUVFOkkVVUwgIhfZZeiA3UtphD3JdoFKlUg/s320/H32.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302961562467482658" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Scrounging thru rubbish</span><br /></div><br />Sadly, there were lots of street beggars, with missing limbs, ‘UXO’ victims - (UneXploded Ordinance) – the land mine legacy from the murderous Pol Pot regime. We took a city tour which included the infamous Khmer Rouge ‘Killing Fields’ where thousands of human skulls are on display at the Choeung Ek Memorial , then to Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, previously a school where Pol Pot incarcerated their mostly political victims prior to their deaths.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuFXriWPgO3q9RxwdXKD7mVsRvYcJYgcgcPr8UwArhNu69aEqGOz2xWfLMBHP3fKJl5o18eoTAjuu33iu_tf1c5Ie31T8jYOtXDnRbmLgBnblMG0nmsqfyK9Lc9lYgjSGLMpggGos8IQ/s1600-h/H34.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 470px; height: 353px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuFXriWPgO3q9RxwdXKD7mVsRvYcJYgcgcPr8UwArhNu69aEqGOz2xWfLMBHP3fKJl5o18eoTAjuu33iu_tf1c5Ie31T8jYOtXDnRbmLgBnblMG0nmsqfyK9Lc9lYgjSGLMpggGos8IQ/s320/H34.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302965066783829058" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">“The Killing Fields”</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFqpi1PztjWL3uQ8l7ujI8n5DdazLenf5Gch4pxVwecYucfRDAr88-5d1Q6YYx-Z0BbPIOg1DCiDItrotwA5SaiGdBjGW1l0B8zDD8EzLF328YRvXvKUp4Hf1iyvg5NdpamNyJg1Gh_A/s1600-h/H33.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 478px; height: 359px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFqpi1PztjWL3uQ8l7ujI8n5DdazLenf5Gch4pxVwecYucfRDAr88-5d1Q6YYx-Z0BbPIOg1DCiDItrotwA5SaiGdBjGW1l0B8zDD8EzLF328YRvXvKUp4Hf1iyvg5NdpamNyJg1Gh_A/s320/H33.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302961564077404066" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Pol Pot victims Memorial</span><br /><br /></div>One soon tires of the ubiquitous Wats, Temples, Museums and Markets ‘ad nauseam’, but we did enjoy our visit to the Silver Pagoda within the Royal Palace to view a magnificent 90 kg Solid Gold Buddha emblazoned with 2086 diamonds and precious gems, sculptured in 1902.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-H-YWxbqDREg8OFh9WdcnSIpBw0vH2YS-wmxectzRFiZlkAPbCO1dYPdW-48MwxFKdpFFiBbjF6fm2mWKlcrcW5S4MNgE2f8qC-R4PL1wG2bFDGSO-OxVeRQ4a7MRPyPxMpgb-3ekUA/s1600-h/H34a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 600px; height: 154px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-H-YWxbqDREg8OFh9WdcnSIpBw0vH2YS-wmxectzRFiZlkAPbCO1dYPdW-48MwxFKdpFFiBbjF6fm2mWKlcrcW5S4MNgE2f8qC-R4PL1wG2bFDGSO-OxVeRQ4a7MRPyPxMpgb-3ekUA/s320/H34a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302965071752518242" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The Royal Palace, Phnom Penh, Cambodia</span><br /></div><br />Another memorable Cambodian event was having a haircut. I sat down in the chair at this modern Barber’s Shop in Phnom Penh and a grey haired barber gave me a haircut (what little I’ve got) with antique Hand Clippers – just blew me away! It is 55 years since my previous hand shearing; Ron the local Chinese Barber at Graceville had electric clippers 50+ years ago!<br /><br />Then it was off to Siem Reap, a 6 hour bus ride away through all flat country with long straight roads where we had to negotiate a huge tree fallen across the highway, and plenty of mad, dangerous drivers in the very heavy rain.<br /><br />At the roadside stop, on offer were large fried insects resembling crickets and even larger tarantula spiders!!!! Apparently a delicacy in rural Cambodia.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilrDeRTk4mJ79FaupLcDVMkNRNw15-t8EF0DaUqirQm__DL8fIgPJzQy0cWmnbDbwRNHuBODC8Y8t2xVdrGMT6QIv5j-ceqfmgC9vFyhkC2Tuq-UsEc7R5yB7sHL0DE8doqPZKVnHXog/s1600-h/Copy+%281%29+of+IMG_5178.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 469px; height: 351px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilrDeRTk4mJ79FaupLcDVMkNRNw15-t8EF0DaUqirQm__DL8fIgPJzQy0cWmnbDbwRNHuBODC8Y8t2xVdrGMT6QIv5j-ceqfmgC9vFyhkC2Tuq-UsEc7R5yB7sHL0DE8doqPZKVnHXog/s320/Copy+%281%29+of+IMG_5178.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302965086852667426" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXMrW7OWZot-WuKa_5_w4ycRD-D3nuIlvPBkWkHWNaNdEVbrjttjEMicIXQPgsbuzcl4hWc5EAHGX9JzHFeJsVBmJaCWt0_enJo1ktfsU1H9_V2EscXqr5hE2ZJyZvNuq4ssn8pCS0sA/s1600-h/Copy+%281%29+of+P6140957.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 482px; height: 361px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXMrW7OWZot-WuKa_5_w4ycRD-D3nuIlvPBkWkHWNaNdEVbrjttjEMicIXQPgsbuzcl4hWc5EAHGX9JzHFeJsVBmJaCWt0_enJo1ktfsU1H9_V2EscXqr5hE2ZJyZvNuq4ssn8pCS0sA/s320/Copy+%281%29+of+P6140957.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302967521924318114" border="0" /></a><br /></div>We spent the next day discovering Angkor Wat, the most famous and best preserved religious temple in Cambodia, and the nation’s leading drawcard attracting over 4 million visitors in 2007; these ancient ruins cover several hectares, surrounded by a man-made moat. The numerous buildings and passageways featured many superbly detailed reliefs depicting ancient Khmer culture and history, with much of it remaining originally intact. Our long day included visits to Angkor Thom, Bayon Temple, the Elephant Terrace and Royal Palace. Though ‘off season’, there were scores of tourists everywhere; very tiring but a worthwhile excellent day.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH4iel_xZs_qZYsUvlHT4vcUYqW3YYNykKBGf0mbZmoMNBHEiKJwsn5z9Ui0eKCFH__1w3aP1Yk5AcXoHqrBWPpcSFjAwW3zv15O7kRkZKTY6ivcBgxkqkVG0nDDLQ6f5a20HQKhTiRw/s1600-h/H35.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 499px; height: 374px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH4iel_xZs_qZYsUvlHT4vcUYqW3YYNykKBGf0mbZmoMNBHEiKJwsn5z9Ui0eKCFH__1w3aP1Yk5AcXoHqrBWPpcSFjAwW3zv15O7kRkZKTY6ivcBgxkqkVG0nDDLQ6f5a20HQKhTiRw/s320/H35.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302965072792026338" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The Temples of Angkor Wat</span> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKXykBOJ9pC697vd8xbAIUhhXGDM6hvUgP6FudV1bTO5weq_S_g2niStaiaCs1L5drQ3sXKY3heSJwM_oa-1Z0e_bI5ihmYJMeQiUOfSrzyh5xSHfhNTz_GFQCk32v3XOg5_Dp_qFIbQ/s1600-h/H35a.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 482px; height: 362px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKXykBOJ9pC697vd8xbAIUhhXGDM6hvUgP6FudV1bTO5weq_S_g2niStaiaCs1L5drQ3sXKY3heSJwM_oa-1Z0e_bI5ihmYJMeQiUOfSrzyh5xSHfhNTz_GFQCk32v3XOg5_Dp_qFIbQ/s320/H35a.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302965079057137602" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Temple Gallery Reliefs</span><br /></div><br />Our final day was spent souvenir shopping in Siem Reap for (near) pure silver ornaments, for which local silversmiths are renowned. We flew back to Singapore next morning then caught the ferry across to Sebana Cove Marina, where “Envy” opened up well following our 32 day absence. All in all it was a wonderful experience and next year – who knows where?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Do you think you’d get away with this in Australia? </span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">These are everyday scenes in SE Asia</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJkQt-IQqyt4DtS-ajHYF-4o6yfQmLWng3Nw-M20NGB3bJwh7UubsHtj14kxpVMmUbhPyPyX29qxNdbz2rpir4WlDZOlOP787L9c9hyphenhyphen6cK4EtdQE87DDG-Ymc4dYySDUC17lQ3_KS9_A/s1600-h/Cambodia+%284%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 422px; height: 316px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJkQt-IQqyt4DtS-ajHYF-4o6yfQmLWng3Nw-M20NGB3bJwh7UubsHtj14kxpVMmUbhPyPyX29qxNdbz2rpir4WlDZOlOP787L9c9hyphenhyphen6cK4EtdQE87DDG-Ymc4dYySDUC17lQ3_KS9_A/s320/Cambodia+%284%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303202225969478834" border="0" /></a>Van<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBsE-GZDpgTVCMoNSfRfGA3lqYo8rC4Z97UFfHkjFUAThK0SjKDQRCRlKoAtoaRJTu4ywQ6CrtnfIvTPRcmn5o0SsYWtdHI-_RTXBo0BgF6097ZYUDBCPmaDjJ9Qq_YTKA19oYlGaYyw/s1600-h/Cambodia+%283%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 429px; height: 322px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBsE-GZDpgTVCMoNSfRfGA3lqYo8rC4Z97UFfHkjFUAThK0SjKDQRCRlKoAtoaRJTu4ywQ6CrtnfIvTPRcmn5o0SsYWtdHI-_RTXBo0BgF6097ZYUDBCPmaDjJ9Qq_YTKA19oYlGaYyw/s320/Cambodia+%283%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303202220179436002" border="0" /></a><br />Motorbike<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkXedEPQjB4seTT6ND8yjAtW5NmQgSViU8iaOeQG2V1DqeOXLj6FaKlk00Z2gVP9EMIqqqfomLwS6EytlgIcYYhiK-ThThWQD2uIr-EE_qTGsRiNE3wSN4IvpVz-TTvy4dr2AuVmnG_w/s1600-h/Cambodia+%282%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 428px; height: 321px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkXedEPQjB4seTT6ND8yjAtW5NmQgSViU8iaOeQG2V1DqeOXLj6FaKlk00Z2gVP9EMIqqqfomLwS6EytlgIcYYhiK-ThThWQD2uIr-EE_qTGsRiNE3wSN4IvpVz-TTvy4dr2AuVmnG_w/s320/Cambodia+%282%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303196382952541410" border="0" /></a>Truck<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7QCLOvyhL6Mwav25GPFVMYHMU4gb3yHAZipNcfsJCvSRCHxNNqO_McWQJEo8UF1Ku5_6kSZDtKs_SFFokhYdoof0OL1CzMh5eIoIrkPEJp4RgeZv13NThUoP4QT3uqKNUpZbWQimMKA/s1600-h/Cambodia+%281%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 425px; height: 319px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7QCLOvyhL6Mwav25GPFVMYHMU4gb3yHAZipNcfsJCvSRCHxNNqO_McWQJEo8UF1Ku5_6kSZDtKs_SFFokhYdoof0OL1CzMh5eIoIrkPEJp4RgeZv13NThUoP4QT3uqKNUpZbWQimMKA/s320/Cambodia+%281%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303196379700832258" border="0" /></a>Utility<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXjXeADlhPypgP4ffxIvMU4HV5-1NutpkyyzOY0Nsl3iJytCE_8_EPmQAZOMNsKQHiPNZzgZKftB_6nFFieMG5vZwXxg5DEwUnvFd8d0EtLhzsHKI4E07q-pB-sejbaJ1ub8_RH0fkcg/s1600-h/Cambodia+%285%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 422px; height: 316px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXjXeADlhPypgP4ffxIvMU4HV5-1NutpkyyzOY0Nsl3iJytCE_8_EPmQAZOMNsKQHiPNZzgZKftB_6nFFieMG5vZwXxg5DEwUnvFd8d0EtLhzsHKI4E07q-pB-sejbaJ1ub8_RH0fkcg/s320/Cambodia+%285%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303202235370293266" border="0" /></a>Bicycles<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFJLUkGhYJ0kWJOGVK1rEjK_qDxD7bxyZa7746wmx4JTeSNQDcZWf0IvXMHH9rBCKuU3lU0zeS_5l-lA04IEjQjr8ebsuDtUQPLuaqiKWz5Pj9d3PMYYVzTmDDXalFeQvKYEWOo8OL0w/s1600-h/Cambodia.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 417px; height: 313px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFJLUkGhYJ0kWJOGVK1rEjK_qDxD7bxyZa7746wmx4JTeSNQDcZWf0IvXMHH9rBCKuU3lU0zeS_5l-lA04IEjQjr8ebsuDtUQPLuaqiKWz5Pj9d3PMYYVzTmDDXalFeQvKYEWOo8OL0w/s320/Cambodia.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303196376877919442" border="0" /></a>Four on a Motor Bike<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">Cheers ‘til Happenings 13 – Borneo and the South China Sea, coming soon.<br />Bruce and Audrey<br /></div><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style=""> </span></span></p>Yacht Envyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296367569566410867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5422585594160201132.post-4575995960621209852008-11-18T11:45:00.010+08:002008-11-28T14:40:09.134+08:00Happenings in Brief<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><br />Penang</span> to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Langkawi</span> Island<br />November, 2008<br /><br /></span></span></span><div style="text-align: left;">This our last visit to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Penang</span> for 2008. Georgetown is now on the World Heritage Listing, and every time we visit we see more and more of the old buildings being renovated. This was only a short visit on our way through to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Langkawi</span>. We went to the movies and saw the latest James Bond movie "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Quantom</span>" lots of fast and furious action and very very loud, its been so long since we've been to the movies, that we're not sure if the loudness is Malaysian cinemas or the same everywhere, but even with the noise, a very enjoyable movie. We also hoped to see the Masters Tennis with McEnroe, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Sampras</span> etc being held in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Penang</span>, but time was against us. <div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br />So again our main enjoyment here was the food. We joined a couple of other cruisers for a buffet breakfast at the famously up-market E&O Hotel at a cost of $Rm35.00 well worth it with a great selection of food.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVDcL1gTveLpubL4EqaPUIfo8qJ4ubDi7ZuGJXhe0F0MilBlfZH8XmMf5LrcmWrkA4OeovmUdWrd3IPEhU5BtQjLrBEbcmmvzSQwPEypDrnAJUBkLP8RgEIueJGvEijGGjEKeWGF56kA/s1600-h/PB111763.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 425px; height: 318px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVDcL1gTveLpubL4EqaPUIfo8qJ4ubDi7ZuGJXhe0F0MilBlfZH8XmMf5LrcmWrkA4OeovmUdWrd3IPEhU5BtQjLrBEbcmmvzSQwPEypDrnAJUBkLP8RgEIueJGvEijGGjEKeWGF56kA/s320/PB111763.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269848248745470466" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Breakfast at the E&O Hotel with Graham and Isabel 'Quiet </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Achiever'</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZx_od722UNnaRRraYhNtiOZhcYAg_PKhH6oTwWv8_mmWBne4DA7VXHey1BEM7x0p_p6rmzkKniX5_m2XohIjK2MZswofjQDJnkjqgS4S9oT_Vy5E1KhajUa6q5O7uLN_jGqTDYYegYw/s1600-h/PB111762.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 422px; height: 317px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZx_od722UNnaRRraYhNtiOZhcYAg_PKhH6oTwWv8_mmWBne4DA7VXHey1BEM7x0p_p6rmzkKniX5_m2XohIjK2MZswofjQDJnkjqgS4S9oT_Vy5E1KhajUa6q5O7uLN_jGqTDYYegYw/s320/PB111762.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269848255653332882" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Audrey's favourite - <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Japanese</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;">Also enjoyed a couple of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">chinese</span> breakfasts of 'Dim Sum' and not to be forgotten our favourite Tandoori Chicken at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Kapitans</span>, a highly considered Indian restaurant just a short walk from the Marina, where a Tandoori Set costs about $Rm7.50 ($<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Aus</span>3.00).</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIY32RYqZ0g6JgNTmFmnk10dLwyPvLn888Z9aDaHKikyiXJ6MHqp-W-RmC9CPVJJ6YXvf6Bgp4QR9EH-XrWvm4ZYiCCnoC9_-JQVqfEbEJ9acAvVNSbZsykNYW6sLcYILu1WueWprs_A/s1600-h/PB081738_r1.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 327px; height: 436px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIY32RYqZ0g6JgNTmFmnk10dLwyPvLn888Z9aDaHKikyiXJ6MHqp-W-RmC9CPVJJ6YXvf6Bgp4QR9EH-XrWvm4ZYiCCnoC9_-JQVqfEbEJ9acAvVNSbZsykNYW6sLcYILu1WueWprs_A/s320/PB081738_r1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269882885738833330" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Dim Sum, long lazy breakfasts</span></span></span><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPhgse5OoA8ZZYS4zT4GfvTzfElbwKjRGC4OydDoxY1bcWnjItV9H8Xg1otHyUHkgRb8EHqHLH5qIR_XnKcnex_clHPPuPWoWcAUfNUGO-eeHZGV5XtRReCt1OM4e4AOXsRKwTyEoaDA/s1600-h/IMG_4998a.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 231px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPhgse5OoA8ZZYS4zT4GfvTzfElbwKjRGC4OydDoxY1bcWnjItV9H8Xg1otHyUHkgRb8EHqHLH5qIR_XnKcnex_clHPPuPWoWcAUfNUGO-eeHZGV5XtRReCt1OM4e4AOXsRKwTyEoaDA/s320/IMG_4998a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269882885095722546" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">This is a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Tikka</span> Tandoori set</span></span></span>,<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"> it is chicken breast only cooked kebab style</span></span><br /></div><br />We are now back at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Rebak</span> Marina, bedding down 'Envy' for our 3 month visit back home. The Marina and Hardstand are as full as we've ever seen them, but still 'wet' births available as cruisers leave for Thailand and points west for the 2008/09 cruising season.<br /><br /></div> <span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></div></div>Yacht Envyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296367569566410867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5422585594160201132.post-62962574895757168412008-11-06T11:32:00.013+08:002008-11-09T11:10:53.018+08:00Happenings in Brief<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:180%;">Port Dickson to Penang<br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Left Port Dickson at 0730 hrs and motored all day to Port Klang, with current assistance after a couple of hours. Had a quiet night opposite the shipping wharves. Next day motor sailed to Burnham River, anchored at 1815 hrs, the three cruising yachts causing great interest with the local fishing fleet.<br /></span> <br /> <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6YX6DXbvWPSajV2in9EU23RC1Tq6QZM2w3IqEHmo0-zh7Pn6ijryjpCE3l9bOPG0vzStDsOcxRX3N0SzKEFgyVALIea1EKaYM6MR5Va65_9dHjLR67eDItRtSUufk5k_eTxwVjdeu6g/s1600-h/IMG_4977.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 375px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6YX6DXbvWPSajV2in9EU23RC1Tq6QZM2w3IqEHmo0-zh7Pn6ijryjpCE3l9bOPG0vzStDsOcxRX3N0SzKEFgyVALIea1EKaYM6MR5Va65_9dHjLR67eDItRtSUufk5k_eTxwVjdeu6g/s320/IMG_4977.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265391789994656626" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-size:85%;">Port Klang - very busy Port for Kuala Lumpur</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQhOhXkSfhbRP9f1T7eli_TE8pV6foU7toP6GK5iFC3bB-mQdbUaL_3QCFej9IWvA3xNL8dJTHbZa3APA6U2BT5Erl2qyrK5wgvUjikGkRDK-8S2hPPguT1yinRYjfrkpmYqeaeK-chQ/s1600-h/IMG_4981.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 388px; height: 291px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQhOhXkSfhbRP9f1T7eli_TE8pV6foU7toP6GK5iFC3bB-mQdbUaL_3QCFej9IWvA3xNL8dJTHbZa3APA6U2BT5Erl2qyrK5wgvUjikGkRDK-8S2hPPguT1yinRYjfrkpmYqeaeK-chQ/s320/IMG_4981.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265389416835547298" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaDbLzcybyMCWZ25rJVmzRs7lgAeHzIXdM9i_iBJq2YTBd9Jstc_b81DbuSumzqz6OL5RBYB_vNMnFbnQ3JBIZ0O4wKnnc26kgcm_Sc7XRJP9RceONPWi_Zp17yBVyYKLaP3DNFT_TSw/s1600-h/IMG_4978.JPG"> </a><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-size:85%;">Fishing boat having a close look at Court Jester<br /></span><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;">Next day we again motor sailed into head winds, arriving at Pangkor Island we went into the unfinished Marina at Mentangor Island, at this stage no staff or facilities available. The Marina fingers are very low and the surge coming in made the outside berths vey rolly (not well designed). We had a security guard come over later in the evening, stating 'no parking, no parking' although other yachts did not see anyone.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiINQ5u3ML_arpODo6WcUGmtZQ3rJILR8cLzABgOcFMFLrkP8A13ofI0k6_x8vh4Yd2jWLVcoaw8g22Pi9vD0eTxH4tgqLHwY2JpRtlvm8Ocj_6AG6bQk7V-JX1QtTKwzFO519-0OfzMQ/s1600-h/IMG_4983.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 392px; height: 294px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiINQ5u3ML_arpODo6WcUGmtZQ3rJILR8cLzABgOcFMFLrkP8A13ofI0k6_x8vh4Yd2jWLVcoaw8g22Pi9vD0eTxH4tgqLHwY2JpRtlvm8Ocj_6AG6bQk7V-JX1QtTKwzFO519-0OfzMQ/s320/IMG_4983.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265389437806135666" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Court Jester in front of the yet to be opened Marina off Pangkor island<br /><br /></span></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Envy departed at daybreak for Rimau Island, just south of Penang, arriving just on dark. We had a good night and after breakfast departed for Tanjung City Marina, Penang.<br /><br />The marina is beside the ferry terminal and does not have a breakwater to protect it from the river traffic so it is beginning to deteriorate. It is at present being dredged in preparation for the Rally 2008 late in November and the Raja Muda Race arriving here 17th November.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg10MHBfppzeqrCxYjvqX7dZ3lEqkweD1xi4LEWfCJET-U7BYYhyZThCnrD82F7eRqal8ZM7bFRJTclunl3YI34d4zRVq_ZppHPaiEN9Wu2jg-nuTOmknn9oWF7y1w72_VbNdKzzFHsdA/s1600-h/PB051717.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 388px; height: 291px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg10MHBfppzeqrCxYjvqX7dZ3lEqkweD1xi4LEWfCJET-U7BYYhyZThCnrD82F7eRqal8ZM7bFRJTclunl3YI34d4zRVq_ZppHPaiEN9Wu2jg-nuTOmknn9oWF7y1w72_VbNdKzzFHsdA/s320/PB051717.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265715312860233954" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Broken pontoons at the Ferry end of the Marina<br /><br /></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzBPCAWLDrsLirPRSvaeRdlIK68fS-0Z-T8pDoXgTkxCMnLaKVmPILWR1inqad0BpE04yeS1GKX45TlJoiHC8woJ1rntrqZFGQb0Ri7BRKy4sCp2UL6IwnBqDEVpynCMzXTgu7PFE4CA/s1600-h/PB051723.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 388px; height: 291px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzBPCAWLDrsLirPRSvaeRdlIK68fS-0Z-T8pDoXgTkxCMnLaKVmPILWR1inqad0BpE04yeS1GKX45TlJoiHC8woJ1rntrqZFGQb0Ri7BRKy4sCp2UL6IwnBqDEVpynCMzXTgu7PFE4CA/s320/PB051723.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265718982589092066" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Another of our favourite occupations in Penang,<br />is trying all the different eating places,<br />above is a Tandoori Set<br /><br /></span></span></span></div></div></div><br /><br /><br /> <br /></div></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></div><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></span></div>Yacht Envyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296367569566410867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5422585594160201132.post-67129771820648706432008-10-26T18:33:00.020+08:002008-10-27T12:23:30.865+08:00Happenings in Brief<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:180%;" >Admiral Marina, Port Dickson. Malaysia</span><br />Contact Marina Office VHF14<br /></div><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">October 26th, 2008; </span>Envy has arrived at Admiral Marina, Port Dickson, after a very difficult passage from Pisang to the Water Islands taking over 20 hours to do a 70 nm passage, finally dropping anchor, wet and tired at 11.30pm. We had gale force head winds gusting over 40kt and a very short sharp 2 to 3 mtr swell with surf breaking on top.<br /><br />Nothing life threatening, but very, very exhausting and uncomfortable.<br /><br />And you guessed it, the weather forecast was for a benign 5 kts.<br /><br />Our misery was further exacerbated through a hatch being left open half an inch through which buckets of sea water poured in. Bugger !!!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpptQW7CUrKz-smrjukmFVLA7wsxMIacQXPM9JyvIz8zuiAkc0Ps0gOwYnQhYuTCplPlVH4xwf0lX7YnhxT49Ol5i6_-PDgmMQbJuVzqFCxlwZj1QjMT1hkUTTErWTgMeaq2SIw5S16Q/s1600-h/PA261691.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpptQW7CUrKz-smrjukmFVLA7wsxMIacQXPM9JyvIz8zuiAkc0Ps0gOwYnQhYuTCplPlVH4xwf0lX7YnhxT49Ol5i6_-PDgmMQbJuVzqFCxlwZj1QjMT1hkUTTErWTgMeaq2SIw5S16Q/s320/PA261691.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261437596850947186" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Admiral Marina at Port Dickson</span></span><br /></div><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span>We were invited by the Port Dickson Hotels Association and the Ports Authority to celebrate with them 'Deepa Valli' in a Village just outside Port Dickson. 'Deepa Valli' in brief is the Hindu 'Coming of the Light' their annual festival, like our Christmas.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKUh5eypxMIAlTmVPqonZQoTNiPqoH7NvshX2asKDUmxyHpQaYeM6aML73IHjwb78Ywr3KqX883M4gy05RS1Z0DZtl_OE-j51QJkwSNoUUwIgJfvAILesb77Ue9VNT13ORYN1D86lWqA/s1600-h/PA261698.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKUh5eypxMIAlTmVPqonZQoTNiPqoH7NvshX2asKDUmxyHpQaYeM6aML73IHjwb78Ywr3KqX883M4gy05RS1Z0DZtl_OE-j51QJkwSNoUUwIgJfvAILesb77Ue9VNT13ORYN1D86lWqA/s320/PA261698.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261650718641413234" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Welcome Dance</span> </span></div><br />We were collected in an air conditioned bus and shared with us local food, a couple of short speeches and some dancing, we were then shown through a couple of homes. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming, a delightful afternoon.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yf3WQiSpi2I/SQUjdZMdtNI/AAAAAAAACP0/ohgtCiaFoaU/s1600-h/PA261708.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 348px; height: 261px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yf3WQiSpi2I/SQUjdZMdtNI/AAAAAAAACP0/ohgtCiaFoaU/s320/PA261708.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261650727538635986" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >S</span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >ome 'Cruisers' joining the dancing</span><br /><br /></div><br /> <div style="text-align: left; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yf3WQiSpi2I/SQUjd1cpA1I/AAAAAAAACP8/J3fNnp87tWE/s1600-h/PA261707.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 352px; height: 263px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yf3WQiSpi2I/SQUjd1cpA1I/AAAAAAAACP8/J3fNnp87tWE/s320/PA261707.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261650735122678610" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Colourful local children</span><br /></div></div>Yacht Envyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296367569566410867noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5422585594160201132.post-76925762724346807822008-04-19T15:43:00.000+08:002008-10-20T09:31:38.908+08:00Happenings 2008 Number 11<div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:180%;" >Thailand</span><br /></div><br /><br />“Envy’s” riding at anchor 200 metres offshore in a broad inlet that forms the mouth of the Pakchan River, which itself delineates Myanmar’s southern boundary with Thailand, 137 n/mls from Phuket. This is the extreme northern limit of Thailand’s west coast – the narrowest point of the Thai/Malaysian peninsular where the Isthmus of Kra narrows to a slim 32 km separating east from west - the Andaman Sea from the Gulf of Thailand.<br /><br />Myanmar’s border town of Kawthoung is clearly visible across the inlet at the tip of Victoria Point; we’re intrigued with the huge volume of traffic- the never ending procession of un-muffled engines of longtail boats that ply their noisy way back and forth across the 3 km wide river mouth, all day long, never fewer than ten or more in any one window, doing whatever their business is with ‘old Burma’ – now the Socialist Republic of Myanmar.<br /><br />Up a narrow channel, 1km behind our little facing island anchorage, lies the small but extremely busy port of Ranong, home to a huge fishing fleet, and we’ve just discovered the filthiest and smelliest place on earth! The stench is almost unbearable --- unbelievable!<br /><br />Crowded along several hundred metres of old wharves with decaying buildings, a mix of more than 100 large and small fishing boats are rafted side-by-side several deep, intruding out into the narrow 100 mtr wide channel, which itself is the colour of dark chocolate and, my guess, the most toxic water on earth.<br /><br />The port is alive with activity; people everywhere milling around talking, or watching the labours of bare chested lithe young men manually loading or unloading last night’s seafood catch, plastic barrels of ice, food stores, general cargo etc; the cacophony of the shouting workers blending deafeningly with the constant noise of the ubiquitous longtails speeding menacingly in the narrow channel. We live in fear of being splashed with this unctuously poisonous cocktail as our dinghies weave between them, bobbing up and down as we negotiate their threatening bow wash. The smell!!<br /><br />We’ve come here in the company of two other yachts, in search of a restaurant to celebrate Bruce’s 64th birthday, amongst other things, but notwithstanding the prevalence of suitable venues, the Port stench sends us scurrying the 5 km into Ranong township where we enjoy a lovely birthday lunch, buy fresh stores at the open street market and search out an Internet Café.<br /><br />By mid-afternoon we’re all back on our boats and making the most of the favourable current as the ebb tide carries us swiftly back the 22n/m to our sheltered anchorage off the sandy beach of tiny Luk Kam Klang Island, where we take a late afternoon swim to wash away the last smelly vestiges of Ranong, and enjoy a cool ‘Sundowner’ as another day in paradise slips away.<br /><br />But this is February 2008 and we need to account for the passage of time since our last Happenings report (#10) many months ago back in 2007, following our return from India’s Andaman Islands, the principal topic of that report.<br /><br />Not much cruising travel happened during the period in question, and since old news is stale news and boring, I shall quickly paint a broad brush account of events.<br /><br />Clearing back into Thailand on March 1st 2007 upon our return from the Andaman Islands, “Envy” took a berth in Yacht Haven Marina at the top end of Phuket Island. We hired a car for a week and set out daily to discover this very touristy island, with its numerous bays, beaches, resorts, and thousands of tourists – mainly European, only now returning after two very quiet years following the devastating ’04 Boxing Day Tsunami.<br /><br />At that time we met a lovely Aussie couple, Peter and Dorothy Hermit, ‘weekending’ aboard their yacht in the marina, who live and work in Bangkok. We ‘hit it off’ immediately so they invited us to visit and stay with them in their unit in the colourful suburb of Sukhumvit.<br /><br />A few days later we took a V.I.P bus for the day-long trip up to ‘Bangers’, sight-seeing Thailand out the window along the way, then spent five action packed days and nights discovering this modern bustling city. Sukhumvit itself is one of Bangkok’s highlights being central to everything including its seedy nightlife.<br /><br />Dorothy was our daily guide, taking us to all the most interesting sights, going by tuk-tuk, skyrail, river or canals, and we never wasted an hour deciding where to go or getting lost. It seems like we visited every palace, temple, shrine, museum, and open market in lively Bangkok.<br /><br />The rest of March was spent cruising the sheltered waters of famous Phang Nga Bay, east of Phuket. Dotted with scores of tiny islands with their walls of interstitial limestone and sheer cliffs towering above caves, caverns and open ‘hongs’, this shallow protected area is itself a natural wonderland.<br /><br />Karstic waterline caverns with their galleries of eroded limestone having a Stalactite appearance are a feature of this geologically karst area. It is simply exhilarating to dinghy into these large ‘open rooms’ through a cave-like entrance and marvel at nature’s handicraft within.<br /><br />April Fools’ Day finds us checking back into Malaysia where we spent the next two weeks making ‘fun while the Sun shone’, visiting our favourite anchorages at Kuah town, Telaga pond and Lover’s Bay, before the onset of the imminent south-west monsoon season which arrived, predictively mid-month, bringing April showers almost every day. The ‘wet’ season is not pleasant for cruising with storm winds and rain, so by mid April “Envy” is snugly tucked up in Rebak Marina at Langkawi.<br /><br />However, a few of us are determined to revisit exciting Penang Island before the monsoon really sets in, so in early May we sail the 65 nm south to the new Tanjung City Marina in Georgetown, Penang, where we spent the following three weeks indulging ourselves in the food, sights and culture of this wonderfully historic English birthplace of old Malaya, with its homogeneous mix of Chinese, Indian and Malays. One of its greatest attributes is that old Georgetown remains architecturally intact, and has escaped the downtown ‘modernization’ that raged through the rest of Malaysia in the booming 1980’s.<br /><br />Street after street is lined with old two storey shophouses within this mainly Chinese commercial enclave, though colourful and noisy “Little India” shares several downtown blocks within this same area, much of which has been saved for posterity through Heritage legislation. And Penang is a gourmet’s paradise – excellent and inexpensive Malay, Indian and Chinese food, renowned throughout Malaysia. We never cook dinner on the boat.<br /><br />The weather was becoming increasingly hot, steamy and wet, so a small air conditioner was purchased for the boat which significantly improved our daily comforts and sleeping at night. We also made some new friends who live there, their acquaintance being passed on by another yachtie. Colin is a retired Aussie married to Jacky, a Penang Chinese lady, and they took us to everything worth seeing, and to all the best local non-tourist eating places, all over the island. Magnificent!<br /><br />However, not all Penang’s attributes are rosy; the Marina, which is so ideally located just a few minutes walk from the middle of town, has as its unfriendly neighbour the main ferry terminal, and the wash from those large vehicle ferries that ply to and fro from Butterworth has us rolling in our marina berths both day and night.<br /><br />So after three wonderful weeks in Penang, and with the wet season building daily, early June finds ‘Envy’ returning to Rebak Marina in Langkawi, far northern Malaysia, where, on 20 June, we had her hauled out onto the hardstand for maintenance and a sparkling new paint job, whilst we returned to Australia for a visit (by air, of course – since nothing goes to windward like a 747!).<br /><br />With its relative isolation, travel to or from Rebak Island Marina (off Langkawi Island), necessitates a little juggling, so we caught the water taxi across to nearby Langkasuka Beach Resort on Langkawi for the first overnighter, and took a small regional airline to Penang early next morning, where it was necessary to again stay overnight to catch the next day’s flight to Kuala Lumpur. Next morning, after a 1½ hour wait couped up in the 747 on the tarmac while engineers fixed its problem, we departed KL on our flight to Brisbane, via Sydney, arriving at midnight to be doubly greeted by Audrey’s mum and my lifelong friends Anthony and Denise Goodwin.<br /><br />Looking out of the aircraft window about eight kilometres up, we saw wave after wave of endless sandhills, bathed in gold by the setting sun as we flew over the central Australian desert, and Sydney’s cool June night air was a pleasant change to the constant 30°+C of the tropics over the past 14 months.<br /><br />During our nine weeks back in Australia, we spent much of that time away from Brisbane. Our rented home had just been vacated so time was devoted to its presentation, between catching up with family and friends around town, and also in the Sunshine and Gold Coast hinterlands. Bruce’s little Pontiac coupe had been thoroughly overhauled in preparation for this visit, so we were looking forward to giving its new engine a good run.<br /><br />Another of the highlights of our return was to visit our dear friend Margaret Neill at her cattle property “Newstead Station” in the Surat district of south western Queensland. The overnight mid winter temperatures there dropped to well below freezing, as they often do ‘out west’, but it felt so good being back in the ‘bush’. With Audrey’s roots going back to farming and grazing in both Kenya and central Queensland, and Bruce’s lifetime career in rural marketing, we both enjoyed it all immensely.<br /><br />Then it was off for a visit with our favourite Aunt June at Bowral in the southern highlands of NSW, which is something we always enjoy, and with it, a short trip to visit our long standing special friend Roz Murray in Canberra.<br /><br />A visit to Sydney’s International Boat Show had been planned months before, to coincide with our time in Sydney, where we spent ten days visiting relatives and friends. We purchased an inflatable dinghy at the Boat Show and shipped it back to Malaysia, where we bought a new outboard motor for it much cheaper than in Oz.<br /><br />6am one mid August morning found us departing Sydney to avoid the morning peak hour traffic as we drove to Lake Macquarie to drop in on friends there, enroute to Brisbane, where we arrived at 8pm. With so many jobs to do the following two weeks flew by and before we hardly knew it, we were on a September 2 flight back to Malaysia where we were reunited with “Envy” back at Rebak Marina in Langkawi.<br />It was still very much the ‘wet season’ there, but during non showery breaks over the next six weeks we managed to complete much of “Envy’s” work list. Then a quick 4 day trip by high speed ferry to Penang to collect the dinghy shipped up from Sydney, before returning to more maintenance on “Envy”. (The old saying is that cruising is really only about doing maintenance in exotic locations.)<br /><br />During mid November Bruce returned to Brisbane for a 50 year School Reunion and at the same time Audrey’s mum Lavinia paid Audrey a surprise visit at Rebak, where they both ‘swaned it up’ in a deluxe luxury suite at the Resort that attaches to the Marina.<br /><br />By late November the SW Monsoon season had pretty much petered out and with our Malaysian Visas also coming to an end, the week before Christmas “Envy” set sail for Thailand and we day-hopped via the islands of Khao Yai, Muk and Phi Phi Le the 140 n/miles to Chalong Bay at the bottom of Phuket Island where we cleared Customs & Immigration formalities on 22 December, for our 3 months visit.<br /><br />The following day we motor-sailed the few miles around the bottom of the island to Nai Harn Bay with its picturesque sandy beach and joined a bunch of yachty friends there for a Christmas Eve buffet dinner at ‘Jungle Jims’, a basic waterfront restaurant right on the beach. Christmas Day was spent on our friends yacht ‘Jaraman’, and was an all-day affair! It started with ‘Bloody Mary’s’, smoked salmon and prawns, and BBQ vegetables with roast pork loin. … and the party continued for a few days at different anchorages.<br /><br />New Year’s Eve was a wonderful experience for a group of us on the large foredeck of ‘Muscat’, a friend’s catamaran anchored 500 mtr offshore in Phuket’s popular Patong Bay, where many hundreds of candle lanterns floated seawards overhead, all night long, to commemorate those killed by the Tsunami. Simultaneously, (as if in serious competition with each other - as they probably were), most of the large expensive waterfront resorts put on spectacular fireworks displays of a most elaborate quality and quantity, for indeed not a single minute passed between 8pm and 1am that the sky wasn’t lit with fireworks, and for a half hour period either side of midnight, the 2km long stretch of Patong Beach was ablaze of pyrotechnic splendour, the extent of which I’ve almost never seen elsewhere.Yacht Envyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296367569566410867noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5422585594160201132.post-92035672899423593852007-04-19T15:40:00.000+08:002008-10-20T09:30:33.807+08:00Happenings 2007 Number 10<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:180%;" ><br />Thailand Glimpses & </span><span style="font-size:180%;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:180%;" >India’s Andaman Islands</span><span style="font-size:180%;"><br /></span><br /></div><br />We’d been told that India’s Andaman Islands, isolated in the Bay of Bengal some 400+ nautical miles N/W from Phuket, enjoyed a reputation for world-class beaches, coral and fishing, so with our ‘Rally’ cruising companions ‘Court Jester’ and ‘Jaraman’, we decided to see for ourselves.<br /><br />Getting entry Visas in our Passports via post from the Indian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur was a week-long exercise that took a very, very frustrating 34 days as we waited their return in Langkawi, and which messed up our plan to spend New Year’s Eve in Thailand where, at Phuket’s Patong Beach, an awesome spectacle unfolds as thousands of balloon candles are released to slowly float skywards commemorating those lost in the 2004 Tsunami. Incidentally, the Passports/Visas finally returned on 8th January and, chomping at the bit, we cleared Customs ‘Out’ of Malaysia that same day.<br /><br />Meanwhile, for those of you who wonder about the effects to this hard hit region, allow me a few words about that terrible event, partially quoting here from a Tsunami article I read. “It arrived unstoppable and unannounced just after 10:00 a.m. on Boxing Day when a series of ocean surges thrashed the west coasts of Malaysia and Thailand. About an hour earlier, one of the largest ocean-floor earthquakes ever recorded, off Sumatra’s N/W coast, shunted up over a thousand kilometres of fault line, dislodging billions of cubic tons of seawater at the surface”.<br /><br />“This displaced energy sent a swift silent pulse through the deeper water that, at sea, went completely unnoticed, moving faster than a commercial aircraft. Approaching the coastline the swell crests slowed, drawing in unprecedented water volumes from the tidal shores; the ocean waters receded hundreds of metres out, then a few minutes later the boiling sea returned and just kept on coming and, within an hour miles and miles of ocean advanced ashore, getting deeper and more powerful as it spilled over the land.”<br /><br />There were varying amounts of Tsunami destruction along the west coasts of Malaysia, Thailand and in the Andamans, but most of the structural damage has now been repaired, the remaining evidence being some scarred beaches where severe sand and soil erosion has left huge trees with their artistic skeletal root systems lying dead at the water’s edge. At least one entire Marina complex was washed off the top of its piles with all the boats still tied to their mooring fingers - a huge swirling, crushing ‘washing machine’ effect, with many boats lost as the three successive tidal waves raged their powerful havoc surging in and out through the narrow marina Foreshore Tsunami damage – Andaman Island entrance.<br /><br />The following two seasons, 2005/6 saw mostly empty resorts and deserted beaches throughout Thailand and Malaysia’s affected areas, but the magnetism of Phuket’s superb beaches and Phang Nga (pronounced Fang Nar) Bay’s fame and appeal as a world-class holiday destination - with its more than 100 islands and spectacular karst outcrops - has seen tourist numbers booming back again this year, most of whom come from Europe.<br /><br />Thailand’s southern Islands lie only a short distance north of Langkawi, Malaysia, so our first stop was a visit to Koh Lipe, the only inhabited island in the Butang group, a casual 25 nm sail away. Lipe Island is inexpensive and very scenic with clear water and white sand beaches, in perpetual holiday mode, since it is a popular haven for Backpackers and has a reasonably rare, large Sea Gypsy village, where these fishermen and their families live their entire lives on the water. The anchorage was deep at 70ft (23 mtrs) with little swinging room between the boats, so we stayed only overnight, keen to make up lost time.<br /><br />Timing our month’s visit to the Andaman Islands during January/February, while the N/E monsoon season still prevailed was paramount, so we spent just two weeks cruising southern Thailand, with short overnight stops at Rok Nok (island), and Maya Bay at Phi Phi Le (island) enroute to Phuket. Maya Bay was the location for the 1999 blockbuster cult film “The Beach” and is a spectacularly scenic lagoon, surrounded by soaring limestone cliffs, and harbours three sandy beaches. Scores of passenger ferries and fast noisy speed-boats start arriving around 10am ever day and disgorge tourists in their thousands until around 4pm when it finally quietens down for the night. Peace - perfect peace at last!<br /><br />The next day we sailed up to Ao Chalong (bay) at the bottom of Phuket Island, where we cleared ‘In’ to Thailand, and enjoyed the culinary tastes of Thai food at the inexpensive shoreline restaurants of this very touristy village. Here we caught up with our Pacific cruising friends off ‘Crystal Blues’ at the Lighthouse Restaurant, who shared their local cruising experience with us.<br /><br />Much to Chalong’s credit however is its open-air Sunday market – by far the biggest and best we’ve yet seen, with a simply superb array of the fresh vegetables, fruit, meats, seafood and poultry at very reasonable prices; it’s so popular and jam-packed full, with barely standing room around some stalls and crowded laneways, seemed like a pick-pocket’s paradise to us – though we’re not aware of any cases.<br /><br />‘Envy’ then enjoyed visiting a few of Phang Nga Bay’s more popular islands with their sheer cliffs towering above caves, caverns and open ‘hongs’ (enclosed roofless hollows) with their walls of interstitial limestone, that are a feature of this geologically karst area. It was a great experience to dinghy into these large ‘open rooms’ through a cave-like entrance and marvel at nature’s handicraft within.<br /><br />Each morning local fishermen would come by the boat to sell us freshly caught prawns and fish, so we ate several meals of beautiful big prawns, but gone are the days of bargain price seafood in this touristy area.<br /><br />But we were keen to depart for distant shores so after quick one day visits to Koh (island) Yao Yai, Koh Hong, Koh Roi, Koh Chong Lat and Koh Wa Yai, we returned to Chalong Bay to top up diesel and water, clear Customs ‘Out’, and in company with fellow Australians ‘Court Jester’ and ‘Jaraman’ we departed Phuket’s Nai Harn Bay on 24 January bound for Koh Miang in the Similan Islands group some 60 nm distant, where we overnighted, being the first leg of our 420nm Andaman Sea crossing.<br /><br />We departed the Similans next morning for the non-stop 3 day passage to the Andamans, running wing-to-wing before a light N/E breeze which freshened to 20kts throughout the night, giving us good sailing. Next morning we had dolphins at the bow and lots of startled Flying Fish doing their 100 mtr dashes, but no seabirds whatsoever. There were also many areas of tidal races and overfalls where strong surface currents converge in a whirlpool effect making the sea mildly rough and very confused.<br /><br />Then just after daybreak on our fourth morning out from Koh Miang, having sighted only one ship enroute, the hazy hills of South Andaman Island climbed up over the horizon to reveal the solitary beam of the Port Blair Lighthouse, beckoning us onwards to our next cultural adventure – a step back in time - welcome to Port Blair, principal town and entry port of India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands.<br /><br />The Andamans are very bureaucratic and even the simplest thing requires reams of paperwork with multiple carbon-paper copies. We were lucky to have taken only two days to ‘clear in’, some yachts take up to a week, and India allows only a 30 day visit. Security is a big issue here. All visiting yachts are inspected by the Navy when clearing in, have to submit their planned cruising itinerary for approval, and are required to report their location twice daily. We were occasionally overflown by naval coastguard helicopters verifying our locations.<br /><br />This is not a general tourist destination, with few tourists and fewer yachts, and the Nicobar Islands to their south are closed to all but a few Indian nationals, supposedly to protect the culture and lifestyle of some primitive hunter–gatherer tribes said to still exist there in relative isolation.<br /><br />The Andamans comprise literally hundreds of uninhabited islands, most of which are quite hilly and heavily wooded, with some magnificently pristine beaches, a live volcano and supposedly some of the best diving and fishing in the world, though on this latter score we were sadly disappointed. The Andamans were badly hit by the Tsunami, with many deaths in some parts. The maritime landscape was mostly hazy during our month-long visit which somewhat took the shine off it all (if you’ll forgive the pun), but being ashore opened up a whole new world full of fascinating experiences.<br /><br />Port Blair is a quaint, dirty, crowded and friendly Indian town that looks as though it has been ripped out of the colonial 1930’s and dropped into the 21st century. Both vehicular and pedestrian traffic is chaotic, mangy dogs and goats scrounge food amongst filthy rubbish that litters the narrow streets and (holy Hindu) cattle rule supreme as they stroll along and across the busy roads oblivious to traffic and people alike.<br /><br />There’s no way you’ll buy a beef steak anywhere in the Andamans! However, food was cheap, especially eggs and green vegetables at the market, but finding unsweetened ‘normal’ bread was a challenge; clothing was also very inexpensive and 1000 Rupees (A$ 32) seemed to stretch forever.<br /><br />The market centre of Port Blair is known as Aberdeen Bazaar, a bustling kaleidoscope of movement, colour, smells, sights and sounds, where women in bright saris contrast paupers in rags and blend in with the colourful small shophouses whose wares spill out upon the narrow broken footpaths, upon which tradesmen sit cross-legged bent over their work. New Indian-made 1950’s Austin taxis and three-wheel Tuk Tuk’s, all painted in their ‘hornet livery’ of black and gold, race busily around adding further ambience to the cluttered street-scene. Whilst the fishing and coral were below expectations, we thoroughly enjoyed the people and their culture.<br /><br />Back in his heyday we think ‘Slim’ Dusty must have visited the Andamans. In his immortal classic he complains having ‘trudged 50 flaming miles to a pub with no beer’ – well, we sailed 400 miles to a pub with no beer! We were astounded when lunching at Port Blair’s flashy up-market Bay Island Hotel to learn they had run out of beer, and subsequently discovered that the entire country was ‘dry’ since the supply ship from Mumbai (Bombay) was long overdue. Thankfully we three yachts all carried sufficient ‘ship’s stores’ to be unaffected by this otherwise most serious dilemma.<br /><br />So we set off to discover the islands. Our 3 boat flotilla loitered slowly southwards to explore the spectacular beaches of the Cinque Islands, 35 nm from Port Blair, stopping over along the way at Chiriyatapu with its heavily eroded timber foreshores (which we named Tsunami Bay), then on to Rutland Island’s Wood-Mason Bay with its turquoise anchorage and wide sandy beach where we all took our deck chairs ashore to luxuriate in its splendour, enjoying another beach BBQ of prawns, freshly caught fish and hot home-baked bread, while playing Petanque on the beach with our steel boules.<br /><br />A couple of days were spent at very picturesque anchorages at South Cinque and Middle Cinque Islands where you could watch the anchor hitting the sand in this ‘Gin clear’ water, then go ashore and see spotted deer and monitor lizards. Meanwhile John off ‘Jaraman’ speared a nice big Parrot Fish which necessitated another beach BBQ ashore.<br /><br />With much to see in our short month, we kept moving and headed back northwards to Havelock Island which some travel mags claim has the 7th best beach in the world, with tropical shade down to the beach, along which a mahout walks his elephant each afternoon.<br /><br />Next day we visited the main village on Havelock Island, about 7km inland from our anchorage. It was only a few hundred metres long with small modest shops, crudely built, lining the narrow bitumen strip, but plenty of commercial activity by the locals and the 20 or so back-packers, mostly young Israeli girls who have somehow discovered this remote location. While here we were all visited on our yachts by the Police looking for Martin, a German backpacker missing for some weeks; he was the ‘talk of the island’, with locals suggesting foul play and a drugs connection? (Weeks later we heard he was still missing).<br /><br />Overnight stops were made at John Lawrence Island where different Police approached us still looking for mysterious Martin, then on to Henry Lawrence Island (have no idea who the Lawrence’s were) where Bruce celebrated his 63rd birthday catching a large Spotted Trevally trolling the nearby reef at our creek-mouth anchorage. No fish beats freshly caught and cooked fish – it was superb eating!<br /><br />The weather continues very hot and humid as it has for months - which is the dry season ‘norm’ here in the tropics- with a daily swimming ritual giving only temporary relief. Our cabin fans run all night long, the only aid to a good night’s sleep.<br /><br />On St Valentine’s Day ‘Envy’ motored northward in windless conditions to tiny Middle Button Island, noted for its idyllic deserted beaches and stunning underwater life, and we thought it the best coral seen so far. But the anchorage was unprotected so we continued on to Guitar Island, which was not on our approved travel itinerary, but looked a better spot, and where we were deluged with a heavy tropical downpour that evening. Sure enough the following afternoon a boat approached us from which an army officer told us it was an out-of-bounds area, so next morning our flotilla moved on up to Rangat Bay.<br /><br />We took two Tuk Tuk’s the 8km into Rangat town, another impoverished typical Indian village where we needed to replenish our Rupees and have lunch. We saw no other westerners here, and by the attention we attracted, seems tourists could be a rare commodity. The six of us walked up and down the main street checking it out but the rough dirt-floored cafes looked decidedly uninviting and since we then discovered there are no ATM’s outside Port Blair and the two tiny local Banks would not cash US dollars, our appetites quickly vanished.<br /><br />Upon returning to the anchorage we were dismayed to see the low tide had left our dinghies stranded on the filthiest, soft mudflats imaginable littered with wood, metal and plastic trash; but a score of young locals came to our aid and, amid beaming smiles and peals of laughter, helped carry the dinghies, while sinking in slimy mud up to our knees, the slow 150 metres out to the waters edge. No cut feet – amazing!<br /><br />It was time to start returning southwards so we sailed down the 15 nm to explore Homfray Strait, a 10 nm narrow passage separating Middle Andaman and Barantang Islands, and whose depths were not marked on any of our charts. The entrance started at a scary, shallow 4 metres deep - our draft is 2 mtrs, but we ever-so-slowly nosed onwards to happily discover it got deeper all the way, with the narrow waterway dwarfed by the towering jungle trees on either bank. However, we were baulked by overhead power lines 5nm in, so retraced our steps, only to later discover there is mast height clearance below them and we missed out on discovering the scenic north western Andamans, an area very rarely visited by other than the locals. Maybe next year.<br /><br />We all continued to dawdle southwards with return stops at Henry Lawrence (more fish) and Havelock Islands, and the following day got enough breeze for a change to sail into Port Blair. Three days were spent here soaking up the culture, and a taste at last of Indian ‘Kingfisher’ beer; we took the 500 mtr ferry ride across to visit tiny Ross Island, the original British administrational settlement in the Andamans, and marvelled at the size and complexity of the original brick buildings, though now in ruins and partially overgrown.<br /><br />Our last night in town found us at the old Cellular Prison in Port Blair where a Light and Sound Show traced the prisons history, again a huge complex (circa-1910) catering for long term prisoners from the mainland. We then walked the short distance back to and around Aberdeen Bazaar, the 8pm night-scape buzzing with light, colour and sound with all shops open and people everywhere blocking both footpaths and roadway, as busy as daytime, as the crowd went about their business, whatever that may be.<br /> <br />So our all too short visit was over, and the next morning saw the three yachts depart India’s Andaman Islands on February 24, sailing in 15kts of breeze at the start our the 346 nm return passage to Thailand’s North Similan Island. As usual the breeze faded away and we motored in fine and sunny skies for most of the 3 day passage back, sighting five ships during the 72 hour trip, averaging 4.9 knots.<br /><br />Anchored in ‘Donald Duck’ Bay – there’s a large natural rock ashore whose profile is so like Donald D, complete with duck bill, hence the nickname – we dined ashore that evening in a beach restaurant, enjoying a good meal of prawns, fried rice and beer for A$5 p/head. We departed North Similan Island in total darkness just before 3am next morning for our final 68 nm run back to Phuket, where we cleared Customs back ‘in’ to Thailand the following morning, happy to be back, but full of great memories to recall of our Andaman’s cultural experience.Yacht Envyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296367569566410867noreply@blogger.com0