Singing the Blues

May 3-4

Way too many clicks

The past two days were spent driving, driving, driving. We put in a 7-hour day yesterday moving from Fitzroy Crossing to Kununurra. It was either that or sleep at Turkey Creek again & I just wasn't down for that -- listening to road trains roar by in the night & picking burrs out of all our stuff. (Road trains = 18-wheelers on hormones.  There are generally 3-5 shipping containers pulled by one rig & when you pass them, the aerodynamics first repel your vehicle, then almost try to suck you under the back tires.  We've been passing a lot of them that are loaded with cattle in double-decker slotted containers -- they're pretty smelly...).

The highlight of the ride was stopping for $3.50 Bubble-o Bill Popsicles for the kids. Got to keep the natives happy. 

We made it to the Discovery Campground in Kununurra by 4:30 or so & got wedged into spot #27, lakefront, but surrounded on all sides by caravans with air-con abuzz. The folks surrounding us were extended family all traveling together: Kessy, Julie & their son Ben and Paul & Paula (I think Paula was Kessy's sister).  There was also a couple with their baby thrown in the mix. You could tell they were first time parents because of all the gear they'd brought along. Not envious!

We were lucky enough to catch a glimpse of George, the 50 year-old freshie with a broken lower jaw. He visits the caravan park around the same time every day & just hangs out for a bit. People were feeding bread to catfish and turtles that would use George's back as a step stool if they couldn't reach. Totally weird. (My kids swam in that river a couple weeks ago, George & all).

There was another fundraiser for Careflight going on that night. It was gold coin sausage night, but we had tons of food we need to finish up before Thursday. We ate spaghetti with tomato sauce & broccoli & had some leftover red wine that was on its way to vinegar. 

The air-con buzz made a wonderful white noise lullaby & we all had a good night's sleep. 

We tried to take a swim at Lake Argyle on our way to pick up Chris' specimens at Keep River, but were given some bad advice on that. There's really no beach to speak of, it's more like cliffs. We were able to dip our toes in at the boat launch. I wish we'd camped there instead of Kunurra again. What a gorgeous setting. 

Here's a view from on top if the dam:

Here's a photo of the relentless botanist scrambling up the cliffs at Lake Argyle to find solanum.  He was high as a kite when he found some!!

 

The high didn't last long though. We crossed into the Northern Territory & this is what we saw:

Only one trail was open & that was more of a lookout, than a trail anyway.  No camping yet either.  None of the roads have been graded yet, so one of the cornerstone species for this trip is unattainable. Big frowny professor. 

Chris tried his best to sweet talk Lance the ranger, but he wasn't having any of it. As it was, we had to knock on the door at his residence to retrieve the solanum specimens we'd dropped at the Ranger's Center the week prior (because of quarantine between NT and WA).