Jumping Crocodiles!

We have just had a well earned school holidays. We spent a week in Darwin, relaxing by the pool with friends, shopping, a movie, eating out, more shopping, visiting markets, more eating out and more relaxing by the pool! It was delightful. We did spend one day doing something touristy. I have wanted to go on a Jumping Croc tour for ages, booked one at last with this company here.

When we got on the boat they did the safety speil and it was "all children sitting in the ailse seats please". Which annoyed the girls greatly as they wanted to see. Well, it didn't take long for them to work out they could see just fine in the ailse!! This is Daz's head in the above shot, shows how close they got and shows how there are no windows on the boat....

It was just amazing, as soon as we had travelled 500 metres down the river, two crocs just swam straight up to the boat, just waiting for the food. It was actually pig's heads that were being dangled on the end of the rope for them to eat. They are so quiet and then BAM, they flick their tail and propel themselves up and snap that meat and then splash down and have dissappeared into the brown water. If you fell in you'd be gone.

We ended the holiday with catching up with my Mum and Dad. They have been on a 16 day cruise (big ship in the background!) and had a stop over in Darwin the last day we were there which was perfect timing. It was great to see them for half a day.

Hello Holidays!

Term three has ended, school holidays are here! We went to Lake Argyle yesterday for a day on the boat. What better spot for a frozen juice box hey?

Milly's Flash Mob.

Milly has been doing Jazz Ballet classes this year. It's fun, nothing serious, she loves it though. Their dance troup/school decided to hold a flash mob at the local markets. It was five weeks of extra sessions, I was proud of her as she didn't whinge about it once. They performed last weekend, it was so cool! Don't know if the link to the footage on Facebook will work but I'll try it..... here.

Father's Day Fishing.

We did a spot of fishing on the weekend. The dingy we brought Daz is his Father's Day present for the next 10 years so we might as well use it! Here is Milly all smiles till she got bored and whingy! How is that for a backdrop?

 First fish of the day was pulled in by Grace. "Look Dad! I got a barra!!!"

Slowly Gracie, reel him in nice and slow.....

Thats it, got him! Awesome!! He's undersize but lets take a quick photo before throwing him back in.

 

Look at that Poppy!! We'll throw him back and catch him next year.

And the next fish into the boat is a flathead caught by yours truely. The second ever fish I have caught up here. I thought it was a boot as I was reeling it in as I so didn't expect to catch anything!

And here is the mighty Pentacost River, it is very low at the moment, a mere trickly. Can't wait for the wet!

Book Week 2013.

Book Week is here again and as usual it was a mad panic the afternoon before the parade. Milly went as a cowgirl, Calamity Jane maybe? All her costume was ransacked from different wardrobes, my shirt and boots, Graces bandana.... Grace wanted to go as a wolf but the main part of her costume depended on a friend bring a jacket from home. I decided that was too risky, what if she forgot or the Mum didn't agree, so she ended up going as Benjamin Bunny. She was happy with that and I thought they both looked pretty good.

 

Working in the year 2's this year, thought I better dress up this year. I'm the Very Hungry Caterpillar but of course you knew that didn't you?! There were also three other VHC's including this one which one a prize. It was a fun day, bring on next year when I'm dressing Daz as Dumbeldore!

Uncle Justin's 40 hour visit!

A few weekends ago we had Uncle Justin visit for 40 hours.He came up for work and managed to stay for half of the weekend. We were all very excitied as none of Daz or I's siblings have visited us up here in KNX, so it was pretty cool to show Uncle Just the sights of our hometown. It was a whirlwind 40 hours, we picked him up from the airport during recess, dropped him at his work then went back to school! But at the end of the school day, we were walking out the door at 2.30 exactly! Put the boat on the back of the car and took him out on the river to show him Elephant Rock.

Then on Saturday it was up bright and early to take him to El Questro!

Had a dip at Zebedee Springs....

Then a walk up Emma Gorge...

Across the Pentacost to take the famous photo and then home again. We all had a quick shower and then went to the Pumphouse for tea which is a Simpson tradition for family who visit and leave the next day! Popped him on the 8am flight out on Sunday morning. It was an action packed 40 hours but awesome to see him again, we worked it out that the girls and I haven't seen him since visiting the Gold Coast in 2010/11.

Half of the Gibb River Road.

Beautiful Bells Gorge.

We got back from our ten day jaunt down the Gibb and to Broome last week and it has taken me a few days to go through all the photos and find the time to write this post now school has gone back and holidays are over! The Gibb River Road was originally a track to transport beef to the ports of Wyndham and Derby. It is only accessible in the Dry Season, it travels for 700kms through the Kimberley, it is an experience! When friends said they were going to do half of it for the school holidays, we jumped at the chance to join them.

Day 1 - We leave at 5.30 for Fitzroy Crossing. When we check into the caravan park I comment to Daz that the caravan opposite our tent area looks a lot like Jules and Pete's van but we say it can't be cause they left KNX four days ago. We take a boat cruise down Geikki Gorge and the kids are very impressed with all the crocs spotted in the gorge, I think 38 was the final total. We get back to the caravan park to find that yes indeed that it is Jules and Pete!

Milly and I modelling our new tracking shoes! Love the socks!!

Day 2 - We pack up camp and drive into town to buy the girls some tracking shoes as I didn't think to pack them. We found some for $15 each. We then drove onto the Gibb and went to Tunnel Gorge, hence the need for waterproof tracking shoes! Tunnel Gorge was dark and scarey in places. Had lunch in the carpark and then back in the car to Windjana Gorge. Stopped at the way to look at the ruins of an old police station that held Jandamara once, I think it was here that one of Graces tracking shoes fell out the car..... Arrived at Wanjani Gorge and set up camp. Knocked 3 minutes off our tent erection time from the night before. Walked only a third of the way up the Gorge as it was getting late. Crocs are everywhere on the banks.

Grace hanging with the locals in Windjana Gorge!

Bells Gorge.

Day 3 - Woke up and walked the whole length of Windjana gorge, well correction, Grace, Helen, N. and I. walked the whole 3.5 kms one way, everyone else turned around at about the 2km point. Not the most impressive of Gorges. Packed up camp and the Simpsons drove to Bells Gorge while the R's continued on to Charnley River station for the night as they had already seen Bells Gorge previously and we were to rondeveu with them later that evening. Bells Gorge was very beautiful. Due to time, we didn't walk down to the bottom tier for a swim. Next visit definitely would spend a whole day there. Meet the Rapanaros on the driveway up to Charnley River station, a 43km long driveway, was surprised that they weren't already there set up, they had got a flat tyre! Set up camp, knocked another 2 minutes off the tent erection time!

Walking down to Grevillea Gorge.

Day 4 - A leisurely morning around camp. We packed lunch and drove to a gorge called Grevillea Gorge. The kids liked this one as you had to climb down a ladder to get to it. Water was freezing but everyone went in for a quick swim. Back to camp to have chocolate orange cake for tea in the camp fire.

Hanging at Imintji Store.

Day 5 - Left Chanley river station and headed to Imintji Store for what was possibly the worlds most expensive sausage roll and choc milk! Headed down the Gibb towards Derby. Arrived in Derby mid afternoon. Not giving two hoots about our tent erection time now and added 12 minutes onto the time! Nice green lawn in caravan park on the very last row opposite a 6 foot mesh fence separating us from the mud flats of Derby.

Day 6 - A quiet night if you don't include the drunk telephone conversation at 2am from someone over the other side of the mesh fence on the mud flats who got left behind and was making sure we all knew about it! Packed up camp and then had a quick look around Derby. Brought three mud crabs for dinner and drove down the road to Broome. Arrived in Broome and set up camp on a small patch of dirt amongst backpackers that seemed to have been living in their tents for a few months..... Had mud crabs and takeaway Thai for dinner.

Day 7 - Did some shopping at the local markets then hit Cable Beach. Hired an umbrella, two deck chairs and two boggy boards and everyone was happy! Beautiful weather and the water was crystal clear. We noticed at the front of the caravan park there was a sign saying there was vacancys for 2 bedroom cabins which was what we had orignially wanted but were told back in March when we booked there was none available. So we quickly walked into reception and changed that! Dinner that night at Matso's with Jules and Pete and friends of the R's. Back to camp to find the backpackers had bit of a party going on at the camp kitchen table and chairs 2 metres from our tent.... Got the kids changed into their pjs and into their tents. Despite the noise they started to fall asleep until the backpacker from Scotland got out his Grandfather's bagpipes and started to play us all a jig! I went into our tent, Milly was crying "Mummy what is that noise? Tell them to be quiet! Don't they know we are trying to sleep?" Grace sort of went hmmffftt and rolled over and went back to sleep! Milly cried till they stopped 15 minutes later, Daz went down to the front office and got the manager to come tell them to be quiet. Quiet time was officially at 10, this was at 8.30. Funnily enough at 9.59 there was total silence as they had all gone to the local pub.

Day 8 - packed up our tents for the last time and moved into the 2 bedroom chalet. It was like moving into a palace! Took the kids and Pete to see Despicable Me 2 at the movies. Then back to Cable Beach to recline under the umbrella on the deckchair while the kids boggie boarded and built sand castles. I love that Grace is 10 and still builds sand castles. Dinner that night at a nearby cafe where the kids and men played putt putt golf. Back for an early night in our luxurious chalets!

My view from my deck chair on Cable Beach. It's a tough holiday!

Day 9 - Helen and N. go shopping alone, new running shoes, dress and bathers all successfully purchased! Then after lunch it was back to Cable Beach one last time to recline on that deckchair and watch the kids boggie board (again!) for the last time till next holidays. Dinner that night was at the fancy Wharf restaurant, oysters, chilli muscles, fish and chips, something for everyone. Back to the chalet to pack the car while the kids went to sleep.

My view of the road on the way home.

Day 10 - Left Broome at 5.30am. Drove and drove and drove till we arrived back in KNX at 6ish. Would have been an hour earlier but Daz and M. stopped outside of Doon Doon to help a couple change a flat tyre on their camper van. Everyone is very happy to be back in their own beds that night! So there is our adventures of Broome and half the Gibb. Hope you enjoyed it. Ten weeks till the next holiday!

A Weekend at Purnululu.

 

Last weekend was a long weekend, it was a Public Holiday in WA because...... ummmm.... because..... well just because it was! Friends were planning a camping trip to the Bungle Bungles or Purnululu, take your pick and although we have been before, it is such an awesome place we said yes we'll come too! Above was my favourite shot of the weekend. There is still a bit of water lying around, and although it looks pretty it was smelly and green.

Which way Daz?

Grace and her friend walked in front of us, Grace pretending she didn't have a dorky Dad?

Inside Cathedral Gorge is always spectacular. Do you think the girls could rustle up some sisterly affection? Not likely!

 Look, we got a photo without any of the 11 kids in our camping party hanging around the background! The sand in Catherdral Gorge is so white and soft.

 And This is my favourite part of Purnululu, Piccaninny Creek. I love this place, this to me is Purnululu.

The sun was setting and so we didn't venture down that far. Just far enough to open a bottle of wine and absorb the atmosphere. Till next time Bungle Bungles!

Farewell School Holidays!

Yesterday was our last day of school holidays. We took the boat out for an afternoon swim.

 "Come on Grace, jump in!"

The sunset was beautiful. Why would we want to live anywhere else?

Only nine weeks till the next school holidays....

El Questro.

We  have been to El Questro just a few times before but always nice to go back. They have only been open for a week, so its like going again for the first time.

Milly and Poppy practising for the cicus....

Daz testing out his new LCD lights while Chris cooks up a storm in our camp kitchen!

And Daz testing out his new solar panals, wohhhha to that glare!

The girls with some friends we were travelling with. Note the school holiday grins!

And a quiet moment in Zebeedee Springs with the husband. A great start to the holidays!

Our Weekend Fishing Trip.

We went fishing yesterday out to Digger's Rest. Here is Don getting his car wet.

And here we are all set up at the edge of the water. Big salt water crocodile territory here, NO swimming!

Milly helped pull in a barra with the other kids of the family we went with. She didn't want to hold it up by the lip, so she held it like this for the photo and then was totally grossed out to discover that she had fish blood and guts on her shirt!!

This one was a team effort by all the kids.

Mr Duthie kept the kids entertained with Uno between the rods going off.

And then on the drive home, we got to the outskirts of town and look what was strolling across the Diversion Dam bridge.... Who says crocodiles can't walk?

Just going for a stroll.

He's overtaking us on a double line! It was a spooky ending to a great day.