Lake Argyle- The Rogers, Endless Pools, and Air Conditioning

Finally after all the talk about spending some time together on our dream holidays, the Rogers and the Halls got together for some fun and adventure.  After stirring Rick up about us having a better time, there we were waiting for them at Home Valley thinking they won’t make it through the river crossing, when in the distance we see the landcruiser and the expanda riding into town like Clint Eastwood in The Unforgiven.  Mr Cool, fresh from giving 2 French female backpackers a lift, cruises in, puts the Camp Nazi back in his box, and in 5 minutes has the van set up with the aircon full blast.  Needless to say we spent a lot of time in their caravan.  Home Valley was a letdown though (it was a bit sterile, we caught no fish and there was no shade), so we left the next day deciding to meet again at Lake Argyle.   The Rogers were going via ELQ where they got a better deal on a helicopter ride and did everything we did, in 5 days, in 1.  So we arrived at Lake Argyle first and were blown away by the place, quickly setting up and jumping in the endless pool to watch the sunset.   

It reminded me of Santorini and I was wallowing in reverie until it was suddenly broken by the old grumps telling us to get out of the pool and make sure we police our kids and it was lights out at 8.30 and...he was a tosser.  Anyway we knew everything would be ok when the Rogers arrived and we were right- no one mess’s with Spiderman.  We had a ball catching black bream at the spillway (Arch landed a 42cm one), 

catching redclaw at the dam wall, lots of swims in the pool, and the kids had a lot of fun together.  

 Archer proved Cooper’s theory that his Dad does nothing when he spent a whole day putting Cooper’s remote controlled car together.  Coops was going off and I think Arch has a mate for life. 

 Our big outing was driving over the dam wall and we didn’t even get a dam t-shirt to say we had done it!  But we ended our time together with a bang doing the sunset cruise on the lake which was spectacular- lots of swims and jumping off the boat, lots of info (I fell asleep during the story of the Duracks) and just magic scenery finished with a great sunset and a full moon.   

We will definitely miss the Rogers as they head west and we head back and down the middle, but we look forward to moving into their house when we return while they move back into their unit.  Special mention to a great couple we met from Hampton, Sue and Di.  Di is a hairdresser and talked the boys into removing their long locks.  Checkout how much older they look!   

 There were a few black clouds, thunder and lightning too signalling the start of the wet season.  Rain seems a welcome relief to the stifling heat.

El Questro - the enigma

We had heard a lot of negative things about ELQ- run down, not kid friendly.  We also heard El Questro the name has no meaning, it was just made up (like every name originally).  Travellers said go to Home Valley it is much better.  Well I don't know where they went, maybe they got lost, because ELQ was amazing and Home Valley we lasted 1 night in.  We had the best 6 days at ELQ helped by the fact we were there with the Robos and they were in the mood to party.  With 6 boys running rampant- making fires each night, swinging on the rope over the river, catching cherubin, making dam walls, wrestling, stick fighting and throwing rocks; and 4 parents wanting to do all the tours, drink plenty of booze and do some exercise as well; that says it all.  But I will grant myself the opportunity to say more as El Questro and the Robos deserve it.  It was very hot which didn't lend so much to fires, which we had every night, and we were off power so no fans to go to sleep with, but the boys crashed every night without a whimper as the smell of smoke drifted in through the windows.

I think from hanging with the Robo boys and all the heat they were completely trashed at the end of the day.  In fact when the Robos left I think we all took a couple of days to recover.  The fridges definitely struggled in the heat and no power, with the waeco finally giving up and majorly reducing the space for beer.  When we first arrived we took a while to find the best camping spot and took a few sprinklers out along the way.  But we finally got set up side by side, with Pete going for the unconventional method, with a circus tent for an awning and a bit of slope in the floorplan.  We did lots of swimming in the river and the swimming hole with special mention to Kirst and Emma who actually went in the swimming hole against all their instincts.  The hammock got a good go but monopoly deal was a fizzer with complete anarchy.  All the parents made the final but decided they had better things to do.  We had great dinners with everyone having a go at cooking, even the Littlefords arrived and once again gave us a camping lesson cooking up Kirst's damper and making a cake for us.  The highlights of ELQ (apart from the lovely people and great service) were:
Zebedee Springs was nice and warm and a great spot to just relax.  It got crowded easily though unless you were here yesterday!

Emma Gorge where we did some good rock jumps and thought was amazingly beautiful with nice cool water and a warm spring to warm up in.  The walk in was burnt from a recent fire and the restaurant was closed for lunch so if we had been the week before it would have been even better!
The sun was setting as we drove back to camp and we stopped to say hi to a bustard.

  The helicopter trip to Mira Mira Falls with a gourmet lunch and swim was absolutely spectacular with the boys commentary in the back a real classic.  The pilot was in a bit of a hurry to go though as he had to do 3 trips to ferry us all back.  Apparently he was more relaxed last week he may have even done a helicopter dive!

 The Explosion Gorge tour was fun, learning about different trees and animals with Ranger Graeme and seeing a bower bird nest and its silver collection.  The 4wdriving was cool and the view from Broncos Lookout over a few beers was magic.  Apparently it was better the night before with Ranger Stewie though!  She gave us a great deal on some beers that were very expensive at the bar, even happy hour was only $2 off.  We did have entertainment though with Jo (whom we met at Kununurra) showing off her talent.  I really wanted to hear Brondon sing though.

 Hiring boats on the Chambo and Arch catching a massive catfish.  We only had 1 cherubin as bait and Arch and Wooz tossed a coin over it.  Arch hooked the massve 82cm fish and spent the next 5 minutes trying to reel it in.  I had to help him in the end and Arch netted it just as the hook fell out.  Apparently the day before we would have caught a barra!

We drove up to Saddleback Lookout which was fun and very scary for Kirst.  The sunset and view were beautiful but ofcourse have been better.

The last day we hiked El Questro Gorge.  7km return climbing over boulders, wading through water holes, and having an absolute blast.  It was quite challenging but all the boys nailed it, helping each other, and painting themselves with ochre to celebrate making it to the falls.  We stayed there a couple of hours, just lapping up the ambience, and doing some Hawaiin big wave training with rocks underwater.

 Then to finish off an incredible day and week we pigged out at the Steakhouse restaurant with MEDIUM steaks and lots of drinking.  Apparently the menu was better last week!
Well there's the rap.  Thanks Robos for a wonderful time.

Waiting for the Robos

Arriving back from the Bungles we settled back into our lakeside camper and soaked up the chlorinated pool water.  We had a few days before the Robos were arriving and Wooz wanted to step up the fishing thing.  So we bought a redclaw net and went out on the canoes again paddling all the way around to the Pumphouse restaurant where apparently we were a chance to catch a bream.  We only pulled in catfish again however and Kirst and I soon got jack of sitting in a canoe in the hot sun.  We put the net out on the way with the boiled chicken wings in it and went back the following morning to check our catch.  Few teething problems with the net though and it would have to wait til El Questro with the Robos for some action.  We also went to the Zebra Rock Gallery and fed the fish and the turtles there, and saw a massive catfish we called Dufus because it was so slow.  We bought a bag of zebra rock too so the boys can do some sculpting (part of their huge schoolwork program ofcourse).  We hit the golfcourse too braving the heat and got through 7 holes before I couldn't see because of the sweat in my eyes and the boys were taking their clothes off and yelling water where the sand greens were!  We hit the local swimming pool too with the slowest waterslide in Australia and tested the boys freestyle swimming laps against their dad.  Arch was only a few seconds behind over 25 metres and Wooz not far behind that.  Nathanial hasn't progressed to freestyle but has gone from not swimming at all to being able to get 25 metres on his own. Then finally the Robos arrived to watch the Granny with us at the pub and barrack for the cats over a few celebratory drinks.  We were all very excited and went back for a swim while the girls went to the shops to stock up for El Questro and finished the day with a barbee while the boys spotted crocs and caught frogs.  No photos from this time, gone bit slack in the heat.  Next stop ELQ.