The Build Up........ Myths and Truths

Hello All
It has been a while since I have done a decent post, so I thought I had better get my act together.
This is the first time I have spent time in the Tropics during build up period and have mixed feelings.

The downside is the brutal relentless heat, mid September and through October a normal day was 39c. November was hotter............a cool day is a day under 40c with the temperature hovering between 40c and 43c and an increase in humidity.

Packsaddle Springs

By the time I head to work at 6.45am it is already around 30c and 70% humidity.

Packsaddle Springs

On weekends by about lunchtime the airconditioning in my caravan starts to struggle so the only option is to ether laze in the pool or go for a drive........even if it is too hot to get out of the vehicle.

Packsaddle Springs

The town is like a ghost town, shops are empty, everyone is either inside with airconditioning or in the pool.

Packsaddle Springs

Any swimming holes or creeks are warm bath temperature and thus give very little relief. I have now turned the hot water service in my van off as the cold water tap now supplies water warm enough to shower under.

Packsaddle Springs

It's not all bad though, the tourist have gone, the roads and sights are quiet, the cloud thunderheads are awesome and everything is now getting a tinge of green.

Packsaddle Springs

Also the lightning displays need to be seen to be believed, but unfortunately all the storms so far have been during work hours or the middle of the night.

Cockburn Range

And the Boabs leaf up with the humid weather and start to blossom. The other weekend I drove out to the Pentecost Crossing and back seeing only one other vehicle on the Gibb River Road.

Cockburn Range

Oh how I wish it was like that in the Winter months..........

Buttons Crossing, Lower Ord River

The other upside is that over Christmas I am heading to Darwin. A self contained Apartment at Cullen Bay Resort is $62.50 per night. I am also going to do a loop through Kakadu on my way back with the Crocodile shaped Resort in Jabiru $109 per night.

a large Salty in the Lower Ord

It should be amazing seeing the Kakadu floodplains during the Wet.

Jabiru at Marlgu Billabong

By the time I get back it should be Waterfall time in the Kimberley.

Ragged Ranges, Carr Boyd Range

I have been fortunate enough to get permission to access this largely closed off area next Dry Season. This spectacular area is Aboriginal Land and has numerous Gorges and magnificent rugged scenery, some of the best in the Kimberley.
Needless to say I am pretty excited. This along with a trip to Kalumabru soon after the road opens makes for a pretty awesome dry season next year.
Stay tuned
I will finish editing some drone footage over the coming weeks and will post a video when completed.
Bye for now

Kimberley dry season 2018

Out and About 3

Hello all
It's been a while since last posted an update, so I thought I had better get busy.

Pidgeon Hole Lookout ElQuestro

It's starting to warm up with most days 39-41c, so unless I get an early start it becomes uncomfortable out and about.

Pidgeon Hole Lookout

The up side is that it is getting too warm for the tourists and it is a lot quieter along the roads and tracks.
The long Weekend in September I did a quick trip to Darwin, which was a good break away from town. Although the town nearly burnt down while I was away with a bushfire.

Before that trip I had OME shocks and struts fitted which transformed the trusty Hilux.

Last Sunday on a balmy 39c day we did the Karunjie track, which is the old stock route from Wyndham to the Pentecost Crossing on the Gibb. 

dam on the Karungie Track

It was hot, dusty, and recently burnt out with bushfires.

Karungie Track

We only saw one other vehicle, a couple of swedish tourist who asked us "Is this the way to the Gibb River Road?"

Karungie Track

A touch over 20 kilometres and five hours travel...........

False Mt Cockburn

I will try again next season a bit earlier and cooler as it would be a much nicer trek.

A couple of clowns

By lunchtime it was just uncomfortable to get out of the ute.

mudflats on the Karungie Track

Blogger has a limit of 100 megabite uploads, so this limits what drone footage I can upload.

 I am on a steep learning curve with my video editing but I am thinking I might have to sign up to Youtube for video uploading.

Lower Pentecost

And to finish the day..............an undisclosed secret place for a dip.

no directions will be given

and finally to round off this post a shot of the ever stunning Ivanhoe Crossing.

Ivanhoe Crossing

Until the weather breaks I cant see myself doing much exploring, by mid morning temps are hovering in the high 30's. 

Bye for now......

Out and About 2

Hello All

With tourist numbers starting to drop and the temperature increases I still try to get out and about on weekends.

Skull Rock Lower Ord River

I want to get over Wyndham way but the roadworks widening the Wyndam Road road is putting me off. It's currently drive a kilometre and wait ten minutes at the stop/go sign, drive another kilometre and repeat.
When you get home your vehicle is red from the doorhandles down with the roadbase which sets like concrete.

The Grotto, Wyndham

Weaber Plains remains a favourite though with the Drone, with rugged ranges adjacent to crops looking awesome from above.

looking towards Keep River on Weaber Plains

Weaber Plains looking west

I did take another run out to the spillway at Lake Argyle.

The spillway at Lake Argyle

It's starting to warm up with daytime temperature 37-39c and nights dropping to low 20's.

Spillway Creek looking downstream

Although I must admit my lowest winter daytime temperature of 28c was something I enjoyed.

campers at Spillway Creek

Today I took a short run out to Ivanhoe Crossing a few km's out of town.

Ivanhoe Crossing

Ivanhoe Crossing

The weekend after next is a long weekend here and I am contemplating a weekend in Darwin. If I go I should get some good footage along the escarpments in the Victoria River Region.

Bye for now. 

Out and About

Hello all
Over the last few weeks I have been out exploring.

 With the Gibb River Road closed last weekend due to an unfortunate double fatality it was a good opportunity to head out to the Pentecost for the day without all the crazy drivers on the road.

Dunham River Bridge with the Carr Boyde Ranges in the background.

Then a run out to Weaber Plains, part of the Ord River Irrigation Scheme.

the Ariel view from the drone gives a completely different perspective.

Today I went out to the spillway at Argyle Dam but it was a bit windy for the drone to get stable footage.

I was out here nearly 30 years ago, but the access road is now closed, so it was a few kilometres of tracks to get in the back way.

It would be a spectacular sight in flood.

Lake Argyle spillway

There were a few frisky brumbys around.
Over the coming weeks I want to head out to Keep River, and into ElQuestro once the tourists subside.

Bye for now 

A new perspective

Hello all
I've been very busy of late, with the tourist season in full swing but still try to get away for a drive on the weekends.

Lake Argyle is such a stunning location and the drive through the Carr-Boyd Ranges is spectacular. And the Fact it is only about 70km away makes it a regular destination for me.

In fact I don't need to go far at all for stunning scenery.

I only need to walk about 150 metres for this view of Lily Lagoon and the Sleeping Budda.

About an hour away, in the other direction is the Wyndham Prison tree where in the past authorities used to lock up prisoners in the trunk of this stately Boab, while transporting then to larger towns for trial.

This stand of Boabs on the King River floodplain always catches my eye.

Not far beyond that is the Bastion, or Five Rivers Lookout.

40 kilometres east is Thompson Spring, another great little spot away from the tourist season hordes.
I have deliberately stayed away from the Gibb while the tourists are here, as the thought of being clobbered by some overloaded crazy driving at twice the speed of their ability is too scary for me.

With my tax refund I have purchased a DJI Spark Drone and absolutely loving it.

With the drone things take on a whole new perspective, I can't wait until the Wet Season with waterfalls and thunderstorms and should be able to get awesome shots.

I am still experimenting and on a massive leaning curve but very happy with the results so far.

That little bit of height makes a big difference

 The one thing that has become blatantly obvious, working in the Motor Industry 25 minutes from the Gibb River Road is...............
People seem to have totally forgotten the reason they are visiting..............A HOLIDAY......hurtling at breakneck speed in an overloaded and under prepared vehicle along the Gibb is NO HOLIDAY
It turns into an ENDURANCE/TORTURE TEST.
Slow down and enjoy and DON'T lose sight of the fact you are on HOLIDAY.

30 Metres directly above

Maybe next Weekend I want to go out to Arglye and explore a back track near the spillway which should be a good place for the drone.
Bye for now