Kununurra still...

Friday the 5th to Sunday 8th of July

The kids have met up with some lovely girls (Natalia, Tiana and Micheala...hope the spelling is right) who also have a lovely Mum...always a bonus (their Dad seems lovely too...but he works most of the time so we haven't spent a load of time with him)!  It has made our stay here even more enjoyable. 

On Friday the girls (N,T and M) came with us to Swim Beach on Lake Argyle.  Apparently it is called Dog Poo Beach by the locals.....we found that out after we had swum.  It was beautiful in the water though and we enjoyed swinging from the tree.   

Tiana (top pic on left) summoned the courage and jumped in the chilly water....after the pic on the right was taken.  She made it out to the tree though.....what a pack of little legends all of them are!  It was pretty chilly water. Just as well the walk back to the car warmed us all up...when then drove back and picked Mama up.  It was here I snapped the pic of my most beloved road side sign up here....

 The kids have been doing arts and crafts with the local seeds and bark, riding their bikes down to the jetty and around camp...and eating the yummy food Kylie makes.  

By the way, I am now determined to buy a Thermomix so look out those on Phillip Island reading this be prepared, as I will be inviting you to a Thermomix demonstration at my house VERY soon. Kylie is Gluten and Diary free and has inspired me to do more with my food....with the aid of her beloved Thermomix. Yummy food without all the crap.

We are fortunate to be in such an ace caravan park that they have Star Fruit and Grapefruit trees growing in the grounds....yummo.

Sooo onto the magical Saturday.....

Well, it started with a trip into the local market where we all gorged ourselves on fresh mango sorbet, crepes, icecream and purchased some groovy crafts.  We ran into the Boulds at the market - as you do - and chatted for a bit.  We were also touched but the local communities plight to help Alyssa Spackman, 6 years old and battling a brain tumour.  I  bought raffle tickets, the kids ate burgers and I bid for so much stuff on their auction and was outbid on every item.  I have to say I was struggling to fight back the tears as I walked amongst their purple stall and saw all the love and dedication so clearly shown by the 20 or so people helping run Alyssay's auction, raffle and bbq stall. So reminiscent of Lills fight.  I love to be reminded of ya Lil just always wish the end result was different xxx

We returned to Kimberlyland, packed a lunch and joined Sean, a local fellow from the caravan park, for a trip up the Ord River.  Sean was so lovely to offer to take the kids and I up in his tinny...bit too small and wobbly for Mama too unfortunately.    It was such an incredible day.  Being such a little boat we were able to approach the freshies sunbaking on rocks quite closely.  Still scared the bejuses out of us when they looked dead and then would flip into the water in an instant.  Sean thought it hilarious to bang the tinny and roar as they did that......I just about jumped out of the boat.

This is jump rock ...I have only video footage (where you can hear me scream) here but I jumped from the top....assured by Sean that it was a sheer face from top to bottom! The kids jumped from lower down.  It was again, chilly but beautiful once you got in.

 Tols got to throw a reel in and caught two catfish (called Silver Cobbler so people will eat them).....threw them back though.  Toli was after the elusive Barramundi.  Think he may need a few more lessons first.

 It was an absolutely freezing journey home!!!! We ran into a bit of trouble and had to fight against the rapids and Pandanus to save the boat from going under.  As a result we all got a bit wet and sore but it certainly added an adventurous element to the trip.  My thumb is big and fat today!

So racing the clock Captain Sean got us home in time to get ready for our nights entertainment.  As we pulled into our moorings we were serenaded by a 22 year old, volunteer ambo/pilot, who lives here, standing on the edge of Lily Lake Lagoon playing the bagpipes....just lovely.  As we walked back to camp he finished with Amazing Grace.

So into the showers to thaw out and get ready.  As we were readying to leave Toli spotted a fellow on a Segway....the upright electronic scooter things that you see in Tokyo and other high density cities. Bells calls them 'the things you see nerds riding on in movies'. This man was lovely and we all got to try it out.  It really was a strange sensation stepping up between to wheels and then applying a little pressure onto the balls of your feet and whoossssh off you roll.

Then it was onto our nights event...The Reef....wow.  This was a performance by the Australian Chamber Orchestra.....but with a twist....We sat out amongst the Kimberley stars and after a cultural dance by the local aboriginal tribe we were treated to a visual and audial delight! 

 In his most adventurous project to date, Richard Tognetti takes musicians and surfers to the rugged surf coast and tough desert landscape of northern Western Australia to create a new performance piece at the intersection of music and nature.

Travelling with Tognetti to world heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef, making music and surfing with the locals, is a remarkable collection of artists: photographer Jon Frank, director Mick Sowry, composer Iain Grandage, didgeridoo player Mark Atkins, singer Steve Pigram and the young musicians of A^CO₂.

The Reef is a co-production by the ACO and Tura New Music, created at Ningaloo Reef in May 2012. 

It was home to bed (which was parked in the car park) for two very sleepy kidlets). We managed a sleep in today.....6:00am!