Over the border...

Well, our last day in WA was spent with a quick look at Lake Argyle before we said goodbye to WA for a while! We decided not to paddle the lower section of Ord River, as I read that local Rangers had shot a 3m salt water crocodile only a week before because it was ‘uncooperative’, and confirmed sightings of two others! I also read an article quoting DEC’s Wildlife Expert Peter Mawson, saying that people only think there are no salties in the Ord, and its only a matter of time before an attack happens!! No thankyou!

We also didn’t bother paddling on Lake Argle, as we were both itching to cross the border! We still stopped in and now have an appreciation of the size and beauty of the lake, but from there it was on to the border! Yay!

Almost immediately over the border, we turned off into the Keep River National Park to spend a couple of nights. It’s a small but very beautiful park with multiple walking trails, lookouts and limestone structures similar to the Bungles. We walked to a few small Aboriginal sites including some rock art, a midden (place where meal remains are disposed of) and a stone shelter used to lure and catch eagles for tucker. The main art site sounded spectacular with 2,500 pictures and petroglyphs, unfortunately it was closed after being extensively damaged by an arsonist 2 years ago. When we asked about it, the Ranger said that the local elders are spending time with their younger community members traditionally restoring the site with the aim to reopen it in the future.

On our first night, we were quietly kicking back in camp, when Stuart glanced up to exclaim “oh look the moon look’s a bit funny – oh – it’s an eclipse!” It was a beautiful clear warm night, so we pulled out the chairs and relaxed watching the partial lunar eclipse. I enjoyed the close up view through the binoculars while Stuart took some beautiful slow shutter photography.

Our second night was spent with the “Around Australia Mancala Challenge”. We’ve started playing sets of 5 games, with the current score even at 1 all!

Before heading into the Gregory National Park, which is full of 4WD tracks, tonight we are staying in a very small town called Timber Creek. There’s a free band on at the pub tonight, so were getting scrubbed up ready for a big night out!?! Anyone for a bit of country?! Yee ha.