Friday 25th July Fabulous, Fine Rock Art

Our ship was in Swift Bay, located in the Bonaparte Archipelago. This morning’s excursion was going to take us to view Warrabii East Rock Art Gallery. Another stunning day with calm seas meant for a very enjoyable boat ride to the site. To access the site, our Explorer boat had to nudge up to a rock shelf where we could land. We did this successfully and then had to do a bit of a rock scramble to reach the rock gallery. The expedition team members helped people who needed assistance, and nearly all of the group were able to view the Aboriginal rock art which was very impressive. On our way back to the Explorer, some people needed assistance to clamber down some of the rocks and Rob did a great job helping with this!  I must stop now and tell you about one very tiresome passenger. Yesterday, during our landing at Careening Bay, all of our group followed the instructions to not walk too close to the shore due to the possibility of crocodiles being close by. I think that this had been reinforced by various expedition team members, many times. Well, this one gentleman decided he was not going to follow this instruction and walked almost in the water, despite many people telling him not to. Today after our walk, while waiting, for the return of the Explorer boat, we were told once again not to wait on the rock shelf close to the waters edge, due to the possibility of crocs. The same man was sitting on the rock shelf with his legs dangling over the water, eating an apple. This time an expedition team member told him quite forcefully, to move himself right away from the area which he did, although he was grumbling under his breath! We had a very informative afternoon following lunch, with first a safety briefing for the Mitchell Falls Helicopter Experience which we are going on tomorrow. This was followed by two wonderful lectures by Greg, (A Gallery of Living Art) and Sandra (Marine Mammals of Northern Australia.) Both guest lecturers are exceptional in their knowledge and the excellent way they present, to make it so interesting that you don’t fall asleep. We finished the day with a delicious dinner sitting on the outside dining area adjacent to the dining room. We have tried to meet and sit with and meet as many people as possible and are doing well with this but have made firm friends with a couple from Perth, who like us are retired teachers. We can’t believe how much we have in common with them!