Keep River National Park is one of the smaller parks and is on the border betw
een Northern Territory and Western Australia. The entrance is a few kilometres from the Quarantine Checkpoint where, in order to keep out unwanted pests, all fruit and veg has to be declared or be confiscated. Having a healthy supply of veggies we cleared the fridges of all contraband and had an enormous veggie meal – or so we thought! Johann and Stretch sailed through quarantine but, horror of horrors, the border guards confiscated the half a lemon I was keeping in the fridge for the Gin and Tonic – which didn’t taste quite the same that night.
Keep River was where Sandra moved on to the
next phase of her surgical career – stitch removal. Readers of the blog, both with medical experience, advised that ear stitches should be removed after about six days – and so, on the Sixth Day, using a pair of craft scissors dipped in Tea Tree Oil, she removed her handiwork. The operation was painless and deemed a great success – by Sandra, who reckons my ear should look quite normal when the scabs disappear. Those of you who requested a video of the procedure – tough!
Spurred on by her medical success, Sandra then moved on to something for which she was equally
unqualified and inexperienced – hairdressing. This was marginally less painful than ear surgery but, aesthetically, less pleasing as the accompanying convict-like photo will testify. Lisa has nothing to fear from Sandra on the hairdressing front!
After two nights at Keep River we crossed the border into WA, a quick visit to Lake Argyle, then on to Kununurra where we set up camp just outside town at the Lakeside Resort. This is a commercial campground and we managed to get the two best spots in the camp on a small peninsular overlooking a lake teaming with
wildlife – mainly birds but also goanna (see photo) and freshwater crocs. Kununurra is the hub of the East Kimberley with many travellers using it to re-supply before setting off into the remoter part of the area such as the Bungle Bungles and the Mitchell Plateau. We stocked up with groceries and alcohol, booked my car in for a service, then set off southwards for a 3-4 day trip to the Bungle Bungles before returning to Kununurra to re-supply and head for the Mitchell Plateau.
The Bungle Bungles are amazing and we stayed there for three nights. On the first day we
explored Mini Palms Gorge and Echidna Chasm and on the second day we went to the famous beehive domes. The domes are weird and I imagine they would provide endless hours of fun for a geologist. They are rounded like beehives and have horizontal black and red stripes. They are taller near the plateau and get smaller as they spread over the plain – all due to erosion. However as we were leaving the area a tour group appeared on the scene and the tour leader asked his charges “Are there any geologists amongst you?” On finding out there were none he said “Good” and launched into the origins of the Bungle Bungles thus “In the 
Aboriginal Dreamtime a large pink elephant appeared from the North……..” I think he was pulling their communal legs!
Back to camp for a final night before heading back to Kununurra where Sandra is hoping to get a stall at the Saturday market to sell some of her craft goods.
– and then off into the wilds of the Gibb River Road, although I believe it is less wild than the last time we were there 5 years ago.
een Northern Territory and Western Australia. The entrance is a few kilometres from the Quarantine Checkpoint where, in order to keep out unwanted pests, all fruit and veg has to be declared or be confiscated. Having a healthy supply of veggies we cleared the fridges of all contraband and had an enormous veggie meal – or so we thought! Johann and Stretch sailed through quarantine but, horror of horrors, the border guards confiscated the half a lemon I was keeping in the fridge for the Gin and Tonic – which didn’t taste quite the same that night.Keep River was where Sandra moved on to the
next phase of her surgical career – stitch removal. Readers of the blog, both with medical experience, advised that ear stitches should be removed after about six days – and so, on the Sixth Day, using a pair of craft scissors dipped in Tea Tree Oil, she removed her handiwork. The operation was painless and deemed a great success – by Sandra, who reckons my ear should look quite normal when the scabs disappear. Those of you who requested a video of the procedure – tough!Spurred on by her medical success, Sandra then moved on to something for which she was equally
unqualified and inexperienced – hairdressing. This was marginally less painful than ear surgery but, aesthetically, less pleasing as the accompanying convict-like photo will testify. Lisa has nothing to fear from Sandra on the hairdressing front!After two nights at Keep River we crossed the border into WA, a quick visit to Lake Argyle, then on to Kununurra where we set up camp just outside town at the Lakeside Resort. This is a commercial campground and we managed to get the two best spots in the camp on a small peninsular overlooking a lake teaming with
wildlife – mainly birds but also goanna (see photo) and freshwater crocs. Kununurra is the hub of the East Kimberley with many travellers using it to re-supply before setting off into the remoter part of the area such as the Bungle Bungles and the Mitchell Plateau. We stocked up with groceries and alcohol, booked my car in for a service, then set off southwards for a 3-4 day trip to the Bungle Bungles before returning to Kununurra to re-supply and head for the Mitchell Plateau.The Bungle Bungles are amazing and we stayed there for three nights. On the first day we
explored Mini Palms Gorge and Echidna Chasm and on the second day we went to the famous beehive domes. The domes are weird and I imagine they would provide endless hours of fun for a geologist. They are rounded like beehives and have horizontal black and red stripes. They are taller near the plateau and get smaller as they spread over the plain – all due to erosion. However as we were leaving the area a tour group appeared on the scene and the tour leader asked his charges “Are there any geologists amongst you?” On finding out there were none he said “Good” and launched into the origins of the Bungle Bungles thus “In the 
Aboriginal Dreamtime a large pink elephant appeared from the North……..” I think he was pulling their communal legs!Back to camp for a final night before heading back to Kununurra where Sandra is hoping to get a stall at the Saturday market to sell some of her craft goods.
– and then off into the wilds of the Gibb River Road, although I believe it is less wild than the last time we were there 5 years ago.
I think I fear Sandra's haircuts more than the stitches coming out. We used to have a barber called Wilbert Kemp. He had one hairstyle and you counted yourself fortunate if you got through it without the need for the stick pen to stop the ear bleeding. Regulars had ears like pie crusts at bit like those James sports. a Bretagne
ReplyDeleteWe are in Adelaide for Calums rugby. Plenty time to read your blog but you seem to have reached a screeching halt. Hope you haven't been bogged on the Mitchell Plateau...
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