Fri., 3rd Aug., 2012 - Still in Kununurra

We took a drive out to "The Hoochery", where they distill rum using locally grown sugar cane; they also produce other items such as cake & marmalade which have a rum content but, since we are not rum lovers, these did not hold much appeal for us.  However, the drive was interesting as we passed through an area of intensive tropical farming - fields & orchards full of produce, very little of which we recognised, although we think we saw mangoes & melons.  Water was readily available & the whole area was well irrigated.

We stopped to buy some oranges, grapefruit, beans & avocados from one of the farms, then continued on to Ivanhoe Crossing, where the River Ord crosses the road!  Sometimes it is possible to drive over the watery crossing but today the river was flowing too quickly & the road was closed.

The wattles were beautiful, producing a mass of yellow blossom, which contrasted brilliantly with the intense blue sky.  However, the real  thrill of the day was the totally unexpected swathe of Sturt's Desert Pea that grew along the verge as we returned to Kununurra.  Black "eyes" stared out from bright red petals & we were delighted to see South Australia's state flower "in the flesh".

Back at the Holiday Park, we enjoyed drinks with Judy, Charlie, Bob & Gwen (a couple whom Judy & Charlie had befriended whilst we were in Kakadu).  It was very pleasant sitting alongside the lake, sipping our drinks & watching the sunset, whilst fruit bats flew overhead.  We then cooked some barramundi for dinner, which was delicious.