Lake Argyle, El Questro, Diggers Rest, Wyndham, Marlgu Billabong

Hello all
With the Ute all better again and a long weekend coming up, I decided that Lake Argyle was a better choice for the weekend than El Questro.

Horizon pool at Lake Argyle

 The weather was hot and steamy all weekend with temperatures in the mid 30's, warm nights and high humidity. It even looked like we might get a thunderstorm at one stage.

Lake Argyle

 There is talk of enlarging the storage capacity of the lake, but after over 30 years they still don't know what to use what they have already on.....................

Lake Argyle

 On my way back to El Questro from the Lake, after a little shopping headed out to Ivanhoe Crossing. The old crossing has been closed for a couple of years, due to high river levels, but has now dropped.

Ivanhoe Crossing

Ivanhoe Crossing

Lilly Lagoon, Lake Kununurra

The Gibb River Road as far as the El Questro turnoff has now been bitumened, but they just tarred over the old road and the severe dips and floodways remain.

El Questro township fron Saddleback Lookout

 The 18km of gravel remain as well as the two river crossings, one still 300mm deep. I was surprised to see what people took in here.................A "whizz Bang" van, driven by backpackers and a motorhome towing a Suzuki Vitara.

Saddleback Ridge

Saddleback Lookout

Next afternoon I headed to Pigeon Hole lookout.

Pigeon Hole Lookout

Pigeon Hole Lookout

After Pigeon Hole I headed to Branko's Lookout for sunset, and yes the Chamberlain River crossing is still horrible.............over 100 metres of rocks the size of footballs.

Branko's lookout

Branko's Lookout

Branko's Lookout

Leaving El Questro after a relaxing 5 days i headed for Diggers Rest Station on the King River.

Cockburn Range

 
First it was a drive up 'The Bastion' or 5 rivers lookout, only to spy some "alien" drawings on the mudflats.

Cambridge Gulf

"alien drawings?"

Five Rivers Lookout

It was off to Diggers Rest for a peaceful, yet disturbing couple of days.....................

Diggers Rest

Diggers Rest

This is the disturbing part......................

If you are a very late 70's possibly early 80's lady with wrinkly leathery skin and still think you look good in a floral bikini....fair enough. But please leave you bikini top ON when camped not 10 metres from others..........this sight can not be unseen!
I am booked into therapy after that experience.....................

Prison Tree King River

Kimberley Boabs

From there I stopped into Marlgu Billabong, a RAMSAR listed bird viewing site.

and Crocodiles....

Spoonbill

2 Egrets and a cormorant

Marlgu Billabong

Egret

Adjacent, on the hill is the remains of the old telegraph repeated station.

old Wyndham telegraph Station Ruins

old telegraph station

Marlgu Billabong

After restocking, refueling and laundry in Kununurra, tomorrow I head to Purnululu, or the Bungle Bungles as they are also known.

Bye for now.................