Day 60 | Congo Creek: it might be the Congo but, surprise, there's absolutely no water

87 km | zzOz total: 3,108 km

A few travellers dropped in Bilung when I was stationed there with two days off, well, five to be precise.

One left the motor running, maybe for the airconditioning, while they got out, relieved themselves, and took a photo from the edge of the ravine.

A couple divided responsibilities, the slightly overweight driver, a bloke, had a cigarette while telling me a story of getting the only station wagon I’ve seen in the last many days bogged, unbogged, then really bogged, just out of Murchison. I focussed on the two small diamond studs in the chap’s ear. Do they still do that here? It’s very 2001. Meanwhile the more athletic girlfriend spent 20 minutes down by the Pool.

Two 4WDs sped up, 2 couples emerging and wandered down the ravine edge, then gals chatting away, the blokes as glum as I’ve seen for a while.

Later I went to fossic some water with my filter and 10 litre bag. Better too much than not enough.

Thought I’d check out the native fish, probably black perch I was told, they seemed about 150mm long which is why two shags were hanging around. From the edge of the drop to the pool I could pick out a small shoal, err. school, 20 or so.

The surprise was that they were accompanied by a couple of turtles, pie tin turtles I later find, sunning themselves in the dank water. They were floating closer with the little flippers seemingly inadequate for an Australian fulltime swimmer. The shell diameter was about 6 inches for the larger specimen with the head stuck out on a very long thin neck, maybe another 4 inches, like a elongated thumb.

I lay with my head over the edge, not moving, look there’s another one, no actually 2, make that 3 more, the total now 5, and here’s another.

One large one gets amorous with another, following behind, but then it wasn’t love after all, it’s bitten the back leg and now the leader really uses those paddles.

I stayed for an hour watching the fun.

I’m glad I had that second rest day yesterday.