Kimberley Expedition: Day 6 (Afternoon)

Following our Porosus Creek cruise, we had a short bit of time to relax and have lunch aboard the Coral Discoverer. Then, we were off again … this time for a landing on Wandjina Island.

It was once again a very hot afternoon on a beach with very little shade.

This was our last chance to see Aboriginal rock art. We were told that there were two galleries … one an easy walk a short ways up from the beach; the other one further up and requiring a rock scramble. As it turns out, no one could find the trail to the second site — overgrown and hidden by the wet season growth — so we had a shorter outing.

The two figures at the easy site were painted under a ledge. The team put down towels as we had to lie down to see the figures. Only two people at a time. The rest of us squeezed in along the cliff where there was a sliver of shade and waited our turn.

From the gallery, we walked to the other side of the beach. Finding the small cave that we were told led to a gorge, I decided to check it out. Had to scramble through on my hands and knees. Once I got through, there was no apparent trail, so I turned right back around.

As we did yesterday, rather than wait around on the hot beach, some of us returned to the Xplorer, which was called back from where it was waiting offshore. There were more people today than yesterday who joined us in the shade … and refreshing breeze. After the remaining passengers boarded the Xplorer, we took a short cruise around the island, looking for critters … an osprey sitting on a huge nest was our reward.

Almost immediately after we returned to the Discoverer, the announcement was made for Steve’s presentation on “Phillip Parker Who?” He is apparently one of Australia’s best but least known explorers. We skipped it … too drained to sit through a presentation … rested up instead. I’ll look him up on the web.

Dinner tonight was a barbecue on the sundeck. A fun al fresco meal … with sunset adding color to the sky as the evening progressed. That we’ve had some exceptional sunrises and sunsets has been an unexpected bonus of this expedition.

Tonight was game night up in the bridge deck lounge. With a 6:30a breakfast looming ahead for tomorrow, we opted out.Leggi altro