Crossing the Border (for the final time)

The first place we came across on our way to Keep River National Park was Timber Creek. We stopped purely to enable us to buy one final postcard from the Northern Territory for Max to send to his class, before we head into WA. While there I checked for phone messages and found a volley. While we had been enjoying the peace of Gregory National Park Liz had been having another phone ‘war’ with Coromal Caravans Cannington. The upshot was that although they had told me to pack everything we didn’t need, and could fit, into the van before it was trucked down South, with no problems about it sitting in there workshop until I got back down South in October, they then told Liz it had to be removed immediately and made a few cracks about how much stuff we had loaded into the van (although the bikes made it look far worse than it really was). On top of that she also copped another earful about the problems we had experienced being all our fault so wasn’t particularly happy. We agreed that Max and I would curtail our trip and head home as fast as we could, however as she had asked my Dad to help her pick everything up from Perth the next day decided that it was best if I made sure I was in Kununurra for the whole of the period she was on their premises the next day in case she needed to call me for any reason. This enabled us to at least spend one night in Keep River as a ‘last hurrah’.
We set up camp that afternoon and went for a twilight walk (once it had cooled down somewhat) looking for Aboriginal Rock Art. When we finally came to the fork that lead to the art we found it had been closed to visitors, so continued up to a lookout instead – Max was very put out however as he had chosen the campsite based on the trail to the art site.
Back in at camp our last night in Northern Territory was everything it should have been, campfire, balmy weather, not too many insets flying around and Max curled up next to me listening to ‘Lord of the Rings’ after we had had several hands of Uno. If we had to finish the relaxed part of this trip at this point at least we did it in style!
Next morning we were up nice and early with the aim of doing one final walk, passing through quarantine and getting to Kununurra with enough time for Max to ring home before Harry went to school Max had been trying to speak to harry since we had split the family up but had never managed to speak to home when he was there. The most annoying time I think was when I had a chat to Harry, but by the time Max finished talking to his Mum Harry had disappeared down the the creek with his cousins (they were at the farm this time). This particular day seemed appropriate as we were able to utilise the time we made up by crossing the border.
The lookout turned out to be historic and carefully maintained hide formerly used by local aboriginals to catch birds of prey (falcons etc.). It was largely constructed of stones, with a roof of sticks that allowed a stick decorated with feathers to be poked through. When a bird of prey swooped on the feathers the hunter would quickly reach up through the sticks and catch the bird – well worth the effort of visiting.
In the end we made it into Kununurra well and truly early enough for Max to make his call, in fact he ended getting Harry out of bed! and everybody was happy. Hitting WA on the first day of a month also seemed propitious for some reason (although one wasn’t readily apparent). We then headed back out to the Ord River Dam to have a look around before we were needed back in town as Liz and Dad weren’t due into Perth before 11am at the earliest.
The Ord River Dam was everything I imagined, huge and impressive – with a couple of houseboats moored near the dam wall giving thought to a future holiday opportunity. The fact that somebody had yet to come up with a way to really make this area of the state take off given the available water supply still staggers me, although it probably clearly identifies the difficulties isolation poses irrespective of the resources on offer (unless we are talking about mineral wealth).
Following our excursion across the dam wall we followed up with a quick visit to the Durack Homestead. I was very interested in this as I knew there was some sort of family connection with the Durack’s (I was thinking that they had been good friends with some of my family early last century but after talking to Mum she advised they had actually been related). While it was interesting for me I think Max found the two Bower Birds outside much more worthy of his time.
We then headed back into Kununurra and found the local library to allow Max to catch up on some reading while I checked a raft of emails Liz had forwarded on. In the end we spent virtually the whole day in the library (at least until they chucked us out), it was the easiest place to keep Max occupied while I made sure I was available for Liz whenever she needed me. Luckily all our stuff loaded up fine and in the end Liz suggested that Max and I cancel our rushed trip home and go back to Plan A because, as much as she was missing us, there wasn’t actually anything we could actually achieve by being at home at present – certainly not until some further information on the future of our caravan was available – this excited Max incredibly although he did confide to me that part of him wouldn’t have minded going home as he is missing Mum and Harry.
Once we knew that the rush was off I rang a friend of Liz’s Uncle Tim, who had offered us a bed if we wanted it. Unfortunately it was fairly short notice given it was now mid-afternoon and we were already in Kununurra, but worth the try anyway. In the end we couldn’t actually get hold of them until we had already sorted ourselves out in a caravan park and, while they offered us a place the next night if we wanted, we decided that we would head off for the Bungle Bungles around lunch time so we missed them.
Max was very happy with the caravan park as, for possibly the first time this trip, he thought a shower a great idea. Given he has a habit of curling up in any dustbowl he can find in shade I am not surprised. In addition they had the movie ‘Up” screening that night under a big boab which made his evening perfect – especially as he ended up getting to eat dinner while watching. One thing that is taking a little getting used to is daylight hours of 5.30am – 5.30pm, given we had just come out of 7am – 7pm. Not surprising given the time change but disconcerting none the less.
After messing around in town the next day, and taking a drive along some of the irrigated farmlands to see the difference in the country when water is added, we headed for the Bungles!