Distance travelled: 590 kms
Cumulative distance: 4,844 kms
Sponsored by: Jenny Osieck.
Got away from Katherine at 7.45am. The weather was scattered cloud and around 23C. The horrible humidity of Darwin has gone. The day turned into a reatl sparkler with top temps of 32C, low humidity and a cooling breeze. The road started off flat and fairly straight but when we got close to Victoria River the scenery changed quite dramatically with the road winding through valleys between high bluffs of red rock and lush vegetation.
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Change of scenery to high bluffs and lush vegetation.
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Some of us stopped at a memorial for the Duracks who opened up this whole area in the NT and WA in the late 1800s.
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The memorial to the Duracks. Needs a bit of TLC.
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We all refuelled at Victoria River where the guy running the place was from Darwin and was only doing the job for ten weeks as a favour to the person that owns it. There were three positions vacant at the roadhouse, gardner/handyman, cook/chef and mechanic. Everywhere we go they are short of staff and can't get anyone to fill their vacant positions.
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| The Victoria river from the bridge over it. |
I stopped a few kms short of the WA border to consume the last of my fruit as I wouldn't be allowed to take it into WA.
About 30 kms before Kununurra is the turn-off to Lake Argyle. Most of us went there to check it out. The last time I was there was in 2010 and it hasn't changed at all. The resort is still very rundown. I was running short of fuel so I put 10 litres of their very expensive ($2.45/litre) unleaded in my tank. I rode around all the viewing locations for the lake. The day was clear and bright and the views spectacular.
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Lake Argyle from the highest viewing point.
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I visited the Durack homestead on the way out. They have updated the family tree which now includes Luke and Tessa.
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| The Durack family tree with Luke's family included. |
We are staying in the Hotel Kununurra which is like Fort Knox with all the security gates etc.
We met Paul from Bussleton south of Perth. He is riding back there from Townsville on his Vstrom. We invited him to ride with us if he wanted to.
A big day tomorrow 657 kms to Fitzroy Crossing.
