Trish Travels: Lake Argyle

Day 5 - Lake Argyle

Sunday, 24 June 2012

Realised why the cruise was half price! The wind never let us. Although I don't ever remember feeling sea sick, there is always a first time, so we took one of Michael's Travacalm tablets as insurance. After a short bus ride down the 'escarpment' to the Kat. Welcomed aboard, are we were off. This lake is huge. There we only 11 passengers on board (takes 30) oh, oh, have we been mugs, sucked in by the 50% discount? All of us a bit concerned about the sea conditions. Yes, the wind was a bit chilly, but we had rugged up sufficiently, and there were plenty of places on board to shelter with great views, so no problem. Also she rode the waves really well. That is until I stepped around the BBQ on the back, missing my footing at went splat on the deck. I landed about 6 inches from the water, and remember thinking, oh how embarrassing I am going for a swim. However, my shoulder hit a cleat and stopped the forward momentum, and only my pride was hurt. Besides a big bruise on my chin and a graze on my nose where they hit the deck. Can't stop chuckling about it now even.

The days was fantastic, Capt Bill and Liz, pointed out things of interest, and after morno's we buoyed up alongside a small rocky island. Small being key word. I was quite surprised when we were told we could go ashore, via a VERY small blow up dinghy and look for zebra rock. No life jackets. Four of us clambered on after Capt Bill after he started the minute motor. The waves were lapping up the sides, which seemed to only be. Couple of inches above the water level. Only a few minutes to cover the 50 meters to the rocky shore where we clambered off for the Capt to return for more. I wandered the short length of the island to almost stumble across a large croc. I don't know who was more surprised, but being a freshy he didn't hang around long enough to pose for the camera. We found several pieces of souvenir rocks then it was time to get back to the Kat. I was starving by this stage so was first aboard after the Capt. If I had seen who was lining up behind me I might not have been so eager, not only Chauffeur, Michael and a lady a little bigger than me (who isn't:)? But the largest man on board. I was waiting for Captn so say "too many, one person will have to wait for the next trip" and 8 would have eagerly hopped off, but instead he said "push us off". Now I know from watching many a person at the boat ramp that you don't push off until the engine has started, however, it was a little difficult to put the engine down with the shallow rocky beach, and off we floated, to be picked up rapidly by the current, and guess what. Yep, the engine, him no speak broom broom! As the island got further away, and the seas got higher, I suggested we start paddling. After about the 20th attempt, the Capt agreed. Fortunately that seemed to be the necessary encouragement for the engine to roar into life and the little tiny overloaded boat bravely made its way to the Kat. Wondered if I was experiencing emotions similar to boat people. The waves lapped over the edges, and was grateful to step on to the safety of the big Kat. Second time in the space of a few hours that I had thought I might be going for an unintentional swim. Lunch was very welcome, and managed to wolf down a huge overly stuffed wrap. The events of the day must have heightened my appetite. The sail back was delightful, and due to the wind behind us, I was able to experience laying in one of the nets hanging between the pontoons. The sunset, avec sundowners put us all at ease and we were very happy sailors when we got back to dock.