After 357 km we reached Kununurra where we stayed for 3 days. The campsite is on an artificial lake formed by a dam in the Ord River. It has a residential old 2 teeth crocodile (Gummy) who comes by each evening. First, we camped close to the lake but later moved back under the trees for more shade. The temperature rises to over 40 deg. Adding the sun to it makes it even hotter. We therefore now search for campsites with power for the air-con and a swimming pool so that Rudy can cool off after the long drive. Ever since swimming with the whale shark Rudy feels a cold in his head and chest. This is a reoccurring problem when water comes into his sinuses. Swimming under water in the swimming pool also does not help. So now only cooling off in the pool and no more diving to/sitting at the bottom.

Unfortunately, all gorges on the first stretch of the Gibbs Road (which is still tarmac) are closed for the season. We therefore made a drive out to Wyndham on the north coast. Along the way there are some springs and a grotto where you can swim. The 144 stone steps down to the water in the midday heat was just too much. So along this drive we did not adventure off the road. In Wyndham we stopped at the harbor. This was a bit of a letdown. There is some rusty equipment on display (small steam and diesel trains as well as cranes) but no other activity. In town there is a nice monument depicting an aboriginal family (oversized) and a less interesting large crocodile made by the local school children.

The 3 highlights of Kanunurra are the Zebra-stone gallery where they show statues and pendants made from the local rock which has bands of distinct colors giving the statue a special appeal. The local aboriginal art gallery was also recommended by the tourist office. A nice gallery but for me, none of the paintings stood out. Close by the museum is the Mirima NP. They called it the mini–Bungle Bungles. Not exactly the same though. The rocks are stratified and broken. Not the smooth wind/water erosion of the Bungles where the rock pillars look like round castle towers. It was 9:30am when we started the walk through the valley in between the rocks and here and there over the top on the plateau. It is made accessible by ladders and vista points. Enjoyable but 2 hrs in the heat (41 deg.) was enough so no more action after that other then swimming in the pool at the camping. Jamaliah still had enough energy to roam around the campsite with the tele lens to increase her collection of local bird pictures.

After 3 nights, we drove on north to Katherine bypassing Lake Argyle, which we hope to visit on the way back to Broome. It was a 510 km drive. Halfway at the Timber Creek roadhouse Jamaliah took over driving. Rudy was still not feeling well. Also this would be good practice for the 1800 km drive back to Broome later in the week. We plan to split the route into 3 stages of 600 km.

It had cooled off during the night following some small showers. The road north was much more hilly with also some rock outcrops. More trees with green grass undergrowth. There were cattle farms along the way, and you had to watch out for the odd wandering cattle. We saw one or two cattle carcas along the road but many more dead wallabies. Obviously, the cattle have a better understanding of traffic. Katherine has one major tourist attraction in the region. A system of several gorges with water in them where you can kayak from gorge to gorge. There are therefore many campsite facilities in town. It is end off season, so we had no trouble finding one with pool and good cooking facilities. There were few other campers. Rudy joined 2 brothers in the pool and with a can of beer in hand they all told good stories of catching marlin in the sea or driving tracks around the country or campers around the world. Later in the evening Rudy discovers that he could not see sharp with his right eye. When trying to clear the glasses it became obvious that a glass lens was missing. A night search with a torch was unsuccessful but the next morning Jamaliah saw something sparkling at the bottom of the pool. She had found the missing lens.