The Aussie Adventure's of the Travelling Garrett's 2012: Lake Argyle( A must to see)

Awake at 5am, most of us, no!, I don’t wake at this time, but the body is saying its 7am. Well it’s getting hot, so out the tent is a good idea. Mum, you’d be proud of me, washing on by 7am in the morning and its dry by about 10am. We decided to-do the sunset cruise, forget that it’s going to cost $325 for all of us. Just do it, is a great motto. So this morning we drove to check out the Dam wall at Lake Argyle. Lake Argyle is a man made lake, so seeing this man made Dam wall that shuts off the Ord River from Lake Argyle, was amazing. It was 60 metres high, 350 metres long and 365 metres wide, it had different layers of clay inside the Dam wall and the outer wall was crushed rock, used from when they made a huge explosion to make Lake Argyle. Lake Argyle is 55km long and approx 48km wide, quite an amazing man made lake. We went down to the Ord River, right at the base of the Dam Wall and did some rock throwing just for fun. Checked out the boat ramp, where we will be hoping on board our cruise at 2.15pm. Lunchtime I think and swim time, again its really warm. Back to the best pool, we’ve ever seen and we had a lovely bite to eat around the pool, laying on sun lounges. And of course looking at the spectacular view of Lake Argyle. We were ready to go by 2pm on the bus and then it takes us to the boat ramp, 4 mins away.We went with the company,’Triple J’. There were 3 families with 3 children each and the rest of the people on board were all the oldies. (more matured should I say). Approx 40 people in total. Families were to hop on board the boat first and take a seat. We were introduced by the crew and it was just one guy, he didn’t tell us his name. We started with safety first, just lets hope we don’t need it.. It was smooth and slow cruising at first showing us the other side of the Dam wall, and then to see our first crocodile, a fresh water, on the trip, and it was in Crocodile bay. Its amazing how you could have your beer out in the water and handed Mark a stubbie, while he’s out in Lake Argyle. I opted this time for the white wine and first it was a bitter dry but I haven’t had wine for a while so I’m not used to it. After getting refreshed again and standing around drinking and eating and of course introducing ourselves to the other families, there was even background music plying. I thought this was like being at a wedding. What a great idea, Mark actually asked the guide, has anyone ever been married out here. No not that he’s aware of. It was just so magical and special, a certain memory to keep forever. As the sun came down and it was now a little dark, we headed back to shore and we flew along very quickly. The families we met on board would you believe were from Geelong and the other Red Hill. It amazes us just how many families and older people are actually traveling. A lot of the families we have met are on between 6months to 2year holidays, some even selling their homes and just driving around Australia with the children. I think I would miss my family too much and of course all my friends. the boat ,shuts of the engine and floats almost up to the crocodile on the bank. We did see many but they disappear quickly into the water. We stopped out in the middle of Lake Argyle where the driver let us jump quickly into the water for a swim, he said this swim they don’t normally let you do here but seeing its so hot, a 5 min swim was allowed. Mark, Dylan and Oliver jumped off straight away and they were given a noodle (a floating device) so they could float around if they wish. ‘OUT’, we have to move on the driver was saying, it was an afternoon tea break, serving cookies and fruit cake as well as tea, coffee, soft drink and water. We cruised over to an area, where we saw ‘Euros’, now I learn’t something this day that there was such an animal. Euros, I thought was money, not an Australian animal. They are similar to a wallaby and a kangaroo. Kangaroo’s have fur and aren’t up in this area, it’s too hot, the wallaby and the Euro has Hair. Well it was interesting as these little Euros weren’t looking too well and after about the last 6 weeks our guide has been feeding them wallaby food, they have gradually put on weight. Big Papa Euro sat quietly up the back and watched the little ones grab some food, they needed it, and you could see their ribs. A crocodile lay near by so maybe the Pap, was keeping a watchful eye. After cruising along once again, the driver says all kids can now come drive the boat, of course our boys were first in line. Dylan was first actually starting g off with the accelerator and off he went, he watched the computer screen and said we were going at 40 knots, which is 80km an hour, not bad. Oliver was next in line and he sat up there, hat on and again off we went cruising, it looked easy to them. Lily wasn’t interested at all. We cruised to a glorious spot where we could see from miles away and could actually see a mirage of land when there wasn’t really land in that area. Quite amazing. “Quick we have to move if we want to see the sun go down”, was the driver’s reply. He obviously has a certain spot where we stop and jump out and have about a 30 min swim as well as the sun setting beautifully. Our guide sets up, dips, pate’s, biscuits, a rare red paw paw for us all to try and of course the most important of all the alcohol. He did stress no more then 2 each and he was the only one the serve it, which is far enough. Mark and the boys had jumped in again and started to see the sun setting with its bright yellowy and orange rays coming down. We were driven back to camp on the bus, again a 4 min drive and the AFL was going to be on the T.V so Oliver was excited even if it was only Rich v Ess, it was T.V. We made a quick dinner and ordered hot chips to go with that at the shop, boys went over to the AFL, Lily and I went for about 15mins but she was so tired and my head was spinning slightly from the wine to having beer. Laid down, bang, out to it