Australia's Coast from the Air Detour to the Argyle Diamond Mine, Western Australia

During the "Australia's Coast from the Air" flight, a detour was made to the Argyle Diamond Mine, Western Australia. This blog post adds to the first post of "Diamond Adventure".

The Argyle Diamond Mine, located in the East Kimberley area of Western Australia, near Kununurra, is the world's largest single producer of natural coloured diamonds and is famous for its rare pink diamonds.

A commercial joyflight was taken from Kununurra to the diamond mine airstrip and then a bus tour followed. The bus trip was hot and dusty but FIFOs (people who Fly In and Fly Out) enjoy the work and the big money from mining in the Outback. A great lifestyle for people who want to work away from home and save their money. Western Australia really is the "State of Adventure and Excitement" with loads of opportunities for people who want to work hard and reap the monetary rewards.

Argyle Diamond Mine, Kimberleys, Western Australia - Fran West

 The mine area is quite extensive with several buildings around the place (like those above and below).

Argyle Diamond Mine, Kimberleys, Western Australia - Fran West

However, the most impressive sight is that of the open pit mine (below) which is huge.

Argyle Diamond Mine, Kimberleys, Western Australia - Fran West

You can read more about the Argyle Diamond Mine and Rio Tinto's operations by clicking here.

As with any marathon flight or holiday, you need to take a break and let someone else do the flying (or driving) and just enjoy.

It was worth the effort of researching side trips for my flight and having time off every now and then.

By visiting the mine I learnt something special about my own country and I learnt more about diamonds. As far as I'm concerned diamonds aren't always a girl's best friend. Give me a beautiful blue Australian sapphire any day!

Relaxing Houseboat Holiday on the River Murray, South Australia

For a relaxing holiday on the water, there's nothing better than hiring a houseboat on the River Murray.

Get a group together and leisurely explore a stretch of the river (this section between Mannum and Murray Bridge winds its way past cliffs and shacks).

You can tow your own boat behind for fishing, exploring or water skiing.


At the end of the day you can moor along the riverbank, cook on the barbecue and relax and soak up the scenery.

Highly recommended for stress relief and recharging the batteries. Here's more information on the Murray River.

This photo also appears in my DVD, "Maritime Mix".

Trekking Adventure in Nepal with Fran West

The Annapurna - Dhaulagiri Trek in Nepal was a real adventure for me.
It was a challenge more than just a simple reward for my big birthday.


I'm not only afraid of heights (even though I'm a pilot), but I'm also an asthmatic. My aim was to reach the Holy Lake, with its snow covered shoreline, and return without having an asthma attack or needing to use my inhaler due to the altitude.


The hardest physical and mental challenge I have ever had – climbing along steep rocky paths, crossing over bridges, walking through waterfalls, inching my way across slippery landslides and eventually reaching the lake at 4,600 metres.

After setting off early in the morning in the dark, the group returned in the twilight eleven hours later with a herd of yaks accompanying it.

No asthma attack though. Amazing what being determined can achieve!

Diamond Adventure in Australia's Outback with Fran West

Hands up those who knew that there were diamonds in Australia's Outback!
Not many, I bet.

On my flyabout around Australia's coast, I detoured inland to Kununurra.

I had a day off and went on a joyflight to the Bungles and the Argyle Diamond Mine in northern Western Australia.

The pilot, Kylie, was also the bus driver and tour guide in the mine area.

Security is very strict, naturally, and if you do your own flight into the airstrip you have to fill out all the security paperwork before leaving Kununurra.


It's well worth the trip though, with lunch at the cafeteria, the tour around the mine area and a visit to the diamond viewing room and natural history museum.

Portage Glacier Adventure in Alaska with Fran West

There are thousands upon thousands of glaciers in Alaska and the Portage Glacier is one of them. Fortunately, it's an easy drive from Anchorage.


Once you arrive at Portage Lake you board the vessel, Ptarmigan, to head up to the glacier.

Blue fingers of ice reach up towards the sky as other sections of the glacier break off and crash into the water below.

No glacier walking here but plenty of photo opportunities with a backdrop of snow-covered mountains and brightly coloured wildflowers.

Fishing Adventure in Alaska with Fran West

Alaska is the place for adventure. On one of my drives out of Anchorage I stopped off at a parking area near a bridge. Everybody seemed to be getting out their fishing gear and heading down to the river.


I've never seen anything like it before. People fishing everywhere, with hardly any room between each other to cast their lines.

Apparently, this is called combat fishing and I can understand why.


It was even worse right in the middle of Anchorage.










Give me the open spaces of Australia!

Flyabout Gliding in Durango, Colorado, with Fran West

When I travel I like to pack as much into the day as possible.

In Durango, Colorado, I had one action-packed day.

I spent the day on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, then as soon as the train arrived back in Durango, I hopped (because I'm an Aussie!) into the car and rushed back to the glider field.

Then it was a real rush to get into the glider and take off behind the tow plane just as the second D&S train was passing the airfield. I was then photographing the passengers in the train photographing me in the glider.

So peaceful in the glider. Really soaring like a bird. True flying I guess but as a pilot of non gliders I prefer to have an engine up the front.

After the train and the glider I headed off to Mesa Verde National Park and arrived just before sunset.



Here's a bird's eye view of the tow plane up ahead.

The fuzzy bit sticking up on the left is a piece of wool called the yaw string.

Bryce Canyon Adventure with Fran West

In 2009, one of the best holidays I organised myself was a trip to the Southwest of the USA and southern Utah's national parks.

I started in the west with Zion National Park and followed a tourist route recommended on one of the internet sites.

At Zion Canyon, you have to look up to appreciate the canyon, whereas at Bryce Canyon, you have to look down to view a breathtaking panorama.

There are many drives and walks at the top of the canyon as well as walking and mule trails down into the canyon.

The features of the park are not only the vegetation and wildlife but in particular the rock formations and their various hues.


Sunrise and sunset are brilliant at certain points of the canyon.

One of the places I'd like to return to and explore a bit more.

Check out http://www.nps.gov/brca/index.htm

Fran West Rafting Adventure on the Seti River, Nepal

After finishing the trek in Nepal, I had another adventure lined up, rafting on the Seti River.

There had been a lot of trouble in the country previously because of the royal family deaths, so there weren't as many tourists around.

My trip consisted of me and three Nepalese men (all a bit young for me though!) in the raft.


The guide even thanked me for paddling, particularly when we were going through the rapids. What kind of raft trip is it if the guide does all the work and everyone just sits there? That's not rafting.



Anyway, a great trip with one overnight stop. I had a good night's rest, after all that hard paddling, in my own cosy tent which was close to the Royal Palace (loo tent). More stories about the trip later.

Fran West Adventure on a mountain bike in Nepal

After our trek in Nepal had finished, I spent a couple of days in the Royal Chitwan National Park. While there, I was talking to a couple who had done a mountain bike trip around Kathmandu. They said that they hired a guide and he took them to wherever they wanted to go - a tailor made trip.


Because I had a few days to spare in Kathmandu, I did the same thing too, so it always pays to talk to fellow travellers about their experiences and suggestions.




My guide, Tilak, took me past some of the embassies (and we actually went into the Australian High Commission grounds), the wealthier areas and then up into the hills around the city. We had lunch at a monastery overlooking Kathmandu and then biked back down the valley through farming villages.

Riding through busy traffic was scary and hair raising but Tilak said just keep going and don't look back! It worked and I'm still alive.

Fran West Adventure in Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park, Queensland

To reach Lawn Hill Gorge, my coastal flight detoured from the Gulf of Carpentaria to Burketown and then headed further inland to land at Adel's Grove.

After dropping off my gear in the tent accommodation, the Savannah Guide drove me to the national park.

I spent time doing several of the walks, checking out the Aboroginal rock art and climbing up to a vantage point to view the Lawn Hill Gorge and Creek. It was very hot walking at that time of day and I drank copious amounts of water. Do your walking early in the morning or towards evening when it's not so hot.

After that I spent the rest of the time canoeing on the creek enjoying the ponds and waterfalls. A real oasis in the desert.

http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/parks/boodlamulla-lawn-hill/index.html

Fran West Adventure on the Colorado River, Utah

Moab, in southern Utah, is a real adventure capital. It's the hub of an area which has several national parks, state parks and national monuments and has been in numerous movies.

One of the activities is rafting on the Colorado River. You have a choice to kayak or sit in a raft which takes several people.

I'd recommend the latter if you're wanting to take photos. There are rapids which are a lot of screaming fun but you have to watch out for your camera (the guide does provide a small metal box to keep valuables dry).

You will definitely get drenched but that's the joy of rafting. The compensation is the stunning scenery along the way.

Fran West Adventure on Florida airboat

After presenting a session at the Women in Aviation International conference in Orlando, I took time off to do a bit of touring.

I'm a big fan of CSI Miami and love the opening scenes which show an airboat speeding through the swamps. Just had to do that.

Near Christmas, Florida, I managed to sit right up the front of the airboat and take some real close ups of alligators slithering off the banks and under the boat.

The driver said Australian crocodiles were meaner and more aggressive than Florida alligators. Was he trying to wind me up just because I'm an Aussie?

He did, however, say "Don't drop your baby in the water because you won't get it back!"


P.S. I had all my winter woollies on - coat, gloves, scarf and beanie and I was still freezing. It's a bit breezy!