GET ON BOARD PART II
This week’s article follows on from last week’s about Triple J Boat Tours out of Kununurra. My sister and husband came over from the eastern states for a week and so the Ord River and Lake Argyle were definitely on the bucket list. The day started with a respectable 9am bus pick up by Simon from our caravan park and then at the marina we were greeted by Dylan who was our skipper and guide for the Ord River Tour. Now I have to tell you that I normally steer away from guided boat tours with lots of people. I much prefer to find my own piece of river and saviour the moments, without the running commentary and cameras clicking away everywhere. But for this trip I immersed myself in the experience, came armed with camera, zoom lenses, Go Pro and asked questions wherever possible. On a quality guided tour, you will always learn much more about a place and in that respect, Dylan was outstanding. He provided the commentary, skippered the boat, sometimes through very narrow sections, even set up and packed away lunch for us. Dylan’s father, Grant, is a part owner of the business and Dylan is the Operations Manager. Dylan’s history of the Ord irrigation scheme revealed how the grand concept of the area becoming an Australia and overseas food bowl has not yet been achieved. Sandalwood is currently the dominant crop in the area, used mainly for its perfumed oils. In the early days, the original rice crops just got through the first year with some Magpie Geese causing problems, but when they brought back all their mates from the Northern Territory the next year, that was the end of the rice. The next big crop on the horizon appears to be sugar cane with the Chinese being a major player here.
As we travelled upstream, Dylan paused at designated spots to enlighten us with insights about local bird, animals and plant species, which included bats, darters, ibis, ospreys, swamp hens and much more. At one location we watched a darter toss a fish into the air and swallow it whole, head first. At another location, one would have been forgiven for thinking that Triple J had planted an inflatable croc on a rock. The attached photo shows my authentic captured image of this freshwater crocodile showing off for the clients!
At the end of the Ord River tour we were then taken by bus a short way to the Lake Argyle launch ramp for the second leg, a sunset tour. You have to be on a boat to grasp the concept of this massive expanse of water and appreciate that in strong winds, up to three metre waves can be experienced. Many a boatie have got into difficulty here, which is why it is classified as unprotected waters, therefore requiring vessels to carry extra safety equipment. Fortunately our day was glassy, making the sunset swim in thirty metre deep water, with a cold ale or wine, just perfect. The seventy kilometre bus ride back to Kununurra was in silence as everyone was happily and completely ‘shagged’ after the huge day on the water. Thanks to all the staff at Triple J for combining quality service with local environmental information to make it a truly memorable experience.
To answer last week’s question, Darwin is closer to Kununurra than Broome, by about 200 kms. This week’s question is, ‘Why do darters have to swallow fish head first?’
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