Around The World Without Flying: Across the Kimberley Part 3

After we left Tunnel Creek, we went for a long drive along rough roads through rugged country with dry creek beds, boab trees, ghost gums, spindly bushes and different shaped and coloured termite mounds all adding to the rich colours and textures and general beauty of the landscape.

We eventually arrived at Windjana Gorge, which was surrounded by tall cliffs. There we saw many crocodiles lazing in the shallow green waters of the Lennard River, right next to the sandy track along which we trudged, as well as on the opposite bank. Despite their presence, were not afraid. They seemed bent on just basking in the heat, though of course you would be very foolish to wade in the water.

With the shimmering heat - it was would have been close to 40 degrees Celsius - walking into the gorge was demanding, but the rugged beauty of the spot, especially the contrasting colours - the bright blue of the sky, the golden sun and sands, the reds, browns, yellows and creams of the rocks and the green of the water and the vegetation - made the effort very worthwhile.

One point of interest was a fossil we saw in the roof of a hollow in the rocks. I have included a couple of photos of it. Again, I can only say that the Kimberley region is a geologist’s dream! While I did not study geology, this fascinating, awe-inspiring region certainly makes me wish I had!

On a practical note, we were way out in a very remote area. There was no coverage for our mobile phones - we had been able to make contact with family and friends at Fitzroy Crossing and in Broome, but here we virtually isolated. Yet thank goodness there were public toilets - right in the middle of nowhere. Mind you, they could only have septic tanks to treat the waste, and of course it was rather malodorous and the toilets were pretty primitive, but that still is infinitely preferable to the whole group spreading out and squatting behind bushes where there could be snakes and other nasties. On the whole 16-day journey in this remote region, if I recall correctly, we only had to do that once or twice. It is times like this that men have a great advantage . . .

And as it happened, we did not see any snakes at any stage. Many of the people I met on my 8-month odyssey last year said they would be too scared to come to Australia with all its ‘dangerous snakes, spiders, sharks and jellyfish. . .’ I think I have said before - in Australia, very few people die from snake, spider and insect bites, shark attacks, and attacks by venomous marine species (such as the blue-ringed octopus and the almost invisible tiny irukandji jellyfish), and crocodiles. In total, you might be looking at just a few victims each year, who usually died because they failed to take sensible precautions. We have terrific medical services and hospitals have antivenin to treat people who have been bitten by our more deadly snakes and spiders. Although I have walked along countless bush tracks, I have only seen snakes in zoos! You would be in far more danger from bears in Canada and the US! And I have to say, we are all in far more danger from drunken or overtired drivers, and drivers who have taken illicit drugs! These irresponsible, selfish people kill hundreds every year! And not just in Australia.