Exploring another deserted island in the Kimberleys.

Ship's log. At noon today on the Oceanic Discoverer, we had honey chicken and rice, followed by gourmet sandwiches and salad, fruit for dessert.  I mention this in case you think that by this stage of the voyage, we would all be eating bully beef and dry crackers, with rationing in progress.  Not the case. I stocked up.

After lunch, I boarded the landing craft again with our party. We set off on a choppy sea to another nearby island in Prince Frederick harbour.  The new mystery island, or rather "islet"  has no name like dozens of others in the vicinity. Made landfall on a very steep beach involving a scramble up to the top. 

Over to the left of the cove was a large overhanging rock. In exploratory mode,  I found a cleft in the rock face, just big enough to squeeze through sideways. Curious to see where it went, I debated whether to go ahead.  Phillip Parker King would have had no hesitation, but perhaps he would have been more adventurous, ( and thinner) than myself.

Finally accepted the challenge (  should have eaten less at lunch !) and managed to get through using a subtle sideways movement that would have done credit to Harry Houdini.  On the other side ( see above photo) was a beautiful sheltered grove of mangroves with pristine white sand and cool shade. A tranquil place indeed, and well worth the squeeze to get there.

On returning, I found other members of the party had found aboriginal drawings on the rocky outcrop. The artwork looked rather like a curious letter "C" with a pair of spectacles in the middle.
No doubt it has a symbolic meaning known to the original inhabitants of this island.

From curious crevices to ancient aboriginal art,  an excellent place to visit, and another memorable day visiting a deserted island offshore in the remote Kimberleys, Western Australia.

Small inflatable boat, extremely rapid ride, horizontal waterfall off Kimberley coast.

Does the idea of hanging on grimly in a small inflatable boat, whilst shooting at breakneck speed down an extremely powerful torrent of water appeal to you ?  If so, then you should ride the horizontal waterfalls in Talbot Bay, between a narrow gap in the towering McLarty Ranges of the Kimberleys.

It was with some trepidation that I joined a fellow group of thrill seekers, and the experience proved memorable to say the least.  Perhaps the best advice I can offer is "Hold on and spray !"
The risk factor includes vast tidal whirlpools, plus roving crocodiles in the vicinity. All of which provides an incentive to keep firmly seated, and hang on tight. This is probably one of the "must do" attractions in the Kimberley.

Not only was the water flowing freely, but all who experienced the ride, found their adrenalin flowing freely.  Afterwards, back on our cruise expedition ship Oceanic Discoverer, the beer flowed freely as my fellow passengers and I celebrated our successful adventure !

Exploring rockpools on Iron Island, Kimberleys.

Poking around rockpools is fun.  And the rockpools of remote Iron Island are no exception to this rule. Whilst we were awaiting the return of the landing craft, I found and photographed this bunch of unusual and quite attractive striped shells.  Not being an expert conchologist, I'm guessing that they look like small versions of trochus sea snails.
Trochus snails are sought after to make mother of pearl products such as buttons, beads or pendants.
I've heard that the meat of the mollusc is edible too.  It might be OK for a snack or two, if I was ever cast away on Iron Island.
If any experienced shell collectors are reading this blog, please feel free to enlighten me, or correct me on my trochus pics. Thanks.

Climbing to the top of remote Iron Island, West Kimberleys.

Ships log - Day Two.   Made good progress today up the Yampi Sound, and into the area of iron ore mining operations.   Passed Cockatoo Island, then dry and dusty Koolan Island.  These rocky outcrops seem to be mainly Precambrian quartzite sandstone, and their redeeming feature is that there are some marvellous rock formations to view.
Made landfall on isolated Iron Island, uninhabited, but with a pleasant sandy beach.  I climbed a low ridge after we landed, a relatively easy scramble up a rocky track. The views from the tussocky ridge were worthwhile climbing up for, and the rest of the landing party from the boat soon followed me up.
No snakes to be seen, nor much wildlife.
 Probably not the best place to be marooned for any length of time because I didn't see any fresh water, or for that matter, MacDonalds.

 

Stowaway discovered on Kimberley cruise

Ships Log, Oceanic Discoverer 0600 hours.  I was taking an early stroll on the promenade deck this morning.  To my great surprise, I discovered the ship had gained another passenger during the night, lounging on the deck railing. 
To my inexperienced eye, it looked like some form of tropical mantis.  All the more remarkable as we were about ten miles off the Kimberley coast. A long way for a mere arthropod to fly. No wonder he felt like a rest !
Later when I reviewed my photo of the hitch-hiking insect, it didn't appear to have the large eyes of a praying mantis. The ordinary garden mantis as you may know, has quite bulbous eyes, which go red at night, and pink during the day.
If you look closely at the second photo, you'll see Arthur ( for want of a better name) has two ET style eyes, very small.  Other suggestions as to what species he could be, include a goliath stick insect ( eurycnema goloioth) or even a Giant Phasmid ( diapherodes gigantea). If the latter is correct, Arthur is probably aptly named, as the male phasmid is a bit smaller than the female.
What do you think Arthur is ?  Could he be a new species perhaps ?  Would be interested to know, and any feedback appreciated.

First day at sea - is that a ghost ship off the port bow in the Kimberleys ?

It's sunset and the light is fading fast.  I'm standing on the deck of the ultra modern, hi tech Oceanic Discoverer. We have just left tropical Broome on the West Coast of Australia on a ten day cruise. Is it my imagination, or do I see a ghost ship off the port bow ?
Perhaps I had a welcome drink too many when boarding.  Yet I do recall that the famous explorer and adventurer Phillip Parker King travelled this way in 1821.  His vessel was the HMS Mermaid.  Only 18 metres in length, the brave captain and crew must have endured primitive conditions in their single masted rigged cutter.
Compare this with the OD, or Coral Discoverer as it is now known in 2015.  Equipped with every conceivable modern navigational device, it carries 72  passengers on four decks of luxury. An efficient crew of 25 are helping make our voyage as comfortable as possible.
In the next few days, we will follow in the steps of the intrepid Parker King. I'm looking forward to seeing the locations he discovered.