Swimming with Crocodiles

[Geoff Cunningham]

New book coming out next month

:)

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/504/swimmimgwithcrocsfinaljw2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[ominously]

Hmm, I notice the enigmatics herper's name is Geoff - any relation?

[nycherper]

Has anyone read any of his other works?

[Geoff Cunningham]

Hmm, I notice the enigmatics herper's name is Geoff - any relation?

Yes that's me, Adrian Geoff Cunningham

This is Will Chaffey's first book. The book is going to the printers next week.

[Andrew Gilpin]

sweet, sounds cool!

[Geoff Cunningham]

OK just heard from Will and the book is due out May 1st, Australia only. If you happen to live in Australia[or traveling] he is going on a book tour In Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. I can post exact dates etc if anyone is interested. Thanks Will lives in California so pretty cool he gets all paid vacation in OZ

[Geoff Cunningham]

Perhaps one of the mods could move this to the Herp fielding section?

[Andrew Gilpin]

Perhaps one of the mods could move this to the Herp fielding section?
sure thing ;)

[Geoff Cunningham]

Here is a map showing where we walked from.
http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/7267/prrpu2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Geoff Cunningham]

Long walk in trackless wilderness
Break a leg and you're done for

http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/1464/mapse6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Seeing heaps of reptiles like this Knob-tailed gecko make it worth the risk.

[/URL][URL="http://imageshack.us"]http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/4646/knobfq5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Geoff Cunningham]

Name this gecko?

http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/4854/oz166hk0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/6364/oz019iy5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Andrew Gilpin]

some species of oedura....?

[Geoff Cunningham]

some species of oedura....?

Sorry nope:)

[Andrew Gilpin]

Pseudothecadactylus?

[Geoff Cunningham]

Pseudothecadactylus?


That's it, giant gave gecko:)

[Andrew Gilpin]

can't really take any credit for it.... Mike " bugman" on here suggested it....
Although it took us a little while to figure out.... It almost looks like a cross between some type of Oedura and Cyrtodactylus louisanidensis or something. Pretty cool!

[Corpsefire]

What species of Python were you guys after?

[Geoff Cunningham]

What species of Python were you guys after?


Rough-scaled pythons,

My mate breeds them now, in oz

http://www.snakeranch.com.au/index.cfm?action=roughscaled

[Geoff Cunningham]

Sorry not a gecko but still a pretty cool dragon. What is it?

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/7948/supjs8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/8592/sup2gv9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

All photo's on this page copyright Adrian

[Joe Farah]

Did you find any "Roughies"? You guys must have been in the Kimberly region right? If i could own a pair of any snake on the planet it would definately be rough-scaled pythons. Mmm Mmmm MMm how I would love to see one of those in the wild...

[Geoff Cunningham]

Did you find any "Roughies"? You guys must have been in the Kimberly region right? If i could own a pair of any snake on the planet it would definately be rough-scaled pythons. Mmm Mmmm MMm how I would love to see one of those in the wild...


Before I answer that, a little background on the Rough-scaled python.

In the early eighties Dr. Richard Shine was looking through museum specimens and noticed what was labeled as a carpet python from the Kimberley’s. Upon further examination it became obvious that this was not a carpet python. Later I believe Dr Shine described this as an entirely new species of python. Morelia carinata.

During that time I was working at the Australian Reptile Park with John Weigel. John and I were interested in searching for Roughies and we formulated a plan to spend several weeks in the far northwest Kimberly in the hope of photographing the first live RSP. As I recall John and I took the bus to Derby WA [3-days] and then hitched a ride along the Gib river road to Drysdale River cattle station where we caught the once weekly mail plane to the remote Mitchell Falls airfield. We had enough provisions to last us 3 weeks of spotlighting, during the wet season of 1984. We spotlighted from dusk to dawn and spent the days either exploring and taking photo’s of the herps we found the previous night. When it became too hot to take photo’s we found caves to catch a nap in. We discovered a heap of interesting reptiles during that time but no Rough Scails. Next year Weigel and I went back with the same result, no RSP but still an adventure. Later JW would lead Syndeyherp society members in search of this elusive python. John’s idea was the more people [10 plus] looking the better the odds of finding one. This did not appeal to me much, lol.

I on the other hand decided to take time off my ARP duties and set off on my own. Later I was to meet an entustatic young American traveler/writer Will Chaffey. Together we formulated a plan to explore the Kimberly’s with the help of Dick Smith and Australian Geographic. You can read about our adventures in issue 26, 1992, PM me for a link that you can download the story. It wasn’t hard to convince young Will to go searching for this rare python in the incredibly remote area of the Prince Regent River Reserve [he must be nuts]. Not sure why I choose the PRRR over the type locality for M. carinata other then I hoped to add to the range of the species. As far as I know it is only found in close association with rainforest pockets, in a small area surrounding the Hunter River, just NW of Mitchell Plateau.

Sometime later after our story in the Australian Geographic John Weigel and his group found the first Rough Scaled Pythons and the rest is history. John has been doing great things with this species reproducing them every year. In fact given the known range is rather small there may be more in captivity then in the wild. Of course it remains to be seen if these rare snakes occur in the Prince Regent or other areas in the Kimberley that support Rainforest pockets. Time will tell.

Did we find one? No, but we had one hell of an adventure which is what I really wanted anyway! As for Will? he got a great story to write about.


You can read about it in “ Swimming with crocodiles. May 1st 2008

[Geoff Cunningham]

A couple pics from one of my adventures with JW

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/3716/2goannasci2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/378/geckoartbb2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Photography by Adrian, copyright all rights reserved

[Corpsefire]

Great story Geoff! It is too bad you were not able to find Carinata. Rough Scale's certainly are amazing. If I remember correctly I heard a new island population of M. Carinata was recently discovered...

[Geoff Cunningham]

Great story Geoff! It is too bad you were not able to find Carinata. Rough Scale's certainly are amazing. If I remember correctly I heard a new island population of M. Carinata was recently discovered...


Thanks

Does not surprise me at all that they occur on offshore islands or other locals in the Kimberley. I'll have to ask JW about that.

[Geoff Cunningham]

The books out in Australia and NZ. I should have a few copies in a couple weeks when Will sends them over from his book tour.

[Geoff Cunningham]

Nice review!

Swimming with crocodiles
By Will Chaffey
More than just another account of a year spent in paradise, this is a real, modern day
adventure story reminiscent of the tales of Australia’s early explorers. “Its safe to say I
left the United States and arrived in Australia at the lowest point in my life,” mire’s the
extremely likable Will Chaffey, before detailing dissatisfaction of having completed high
school in the early 1990’s without receiving any university offers. He meets Geoff, a
swagie with an encyclopedic knowledge of Australia’s plants and animals, and the pair
decides to embark on an incredible journey.
Carrying only their food and survival items they attempt to be the first white men to walk
the length of the Prince Regent River from its source to its mouth, a remote area of the
Kimberley, planning to photograph and catalogue new species they find.
What follows is an exciting and sometimes frightening account of a trip undertaken by
two friends who share an enthusiasm for the Australian outback and a passion for its flora
and fauna, native traditions and customs. This is no walk in the park- the men nearly die
of thirst and starvation, are pushed to their physical limits and have an extraordinary
encounter after stumbling across a remote and sacred Aboriginal burial site, the
recounting of which had the hair standing up on the back of my neck. The pair endures
encounters with biting green ants, snakes, monster bulls and crocodiles as well as their
own fatigue and fear
Throughout it all, Chaffey remains in awe if the wonder of the natural world, “Geoff” and
I were as remote as either of us had ever been, soaked to the bone, hungry and happy.
Despite our crude habitation and meager fare, we felt like Caesars in this wilderness.”
But when they reach the mouth of the river, on the verge of starvation and desperation,
hoping to be picked up by a passing boat, their adventure is only just beginning.
Reviewed by the Sydney Morning Herald, Kate Datum. May 1 2008

[Geoff Cunningham]

If anyone is in Australia right now you might catch Will Chaffey at one his book signings. I just heard from him him as he's being interviewed by just about every radio station and newspaper.

I'll have copies after June 1st when Will returns to CA.

[Geoff Cunningham]

A couple pics of Will on his book tour and radio talk tour.

[Geoff Cunningham]

The book is to be published in the USA next year, around May.

[Geoff Cunningham]

Another review, look out for the book in the usa around May 09;

Book Review: Swimming with Crocodiles by Will Chaffey
1 of 2 10/8/08 6:47 AM
REVIEW
Book Review: Swimming with Crocodiles by Will
Chaffey
Written by Maggie Ball
Published July 15, 2008
Swimming with Crocodiles is an interesting hybrid: a coming of age story, mingled with travelogue and
Nat Geo-styled adventure tale. Eighteen year old Will Chaffey was rejected by a number of universities
after completing his High School diploma at the prestigious Milton school, and decided to take a trip
overseas to Australia. It was there he met Geoff Cunningham, adventurer, nomad, and herpetologist,
who took him along on a trip deep into the Kimberleys in Western Australia. It’s a good story, gripping
and thoughtful. Chaffey manages to successfully toe the line between providing the reader with a good
deal of information on the flora and fauna -- some of it magnificent -- of the area, and creating an
engaging plot with a deeper underlying theme.
With all the skills of a fiction writer, Chaffey presents a cast of interesting characters – students,
scientists and hippies, from Bill, the grad student biologist from Berkeley who led his team of trappers
and data collectors, to Peter, the South African farmer giving his land back to the forest. But the most
interesting character is Geoff, the remarkable herpetologist who convinces him to join in and split the
petrol for an exhibition into the remote Kimberly, ostensibly to find new reptile species, take
photographs, and become the first white men to walk the headwaters of the
Prince Regent River to the falls of the King Cascade. If they had succeeded
without a hitch, it would have been an interesting story, full of Geoff’s extensive
knowledge of the land and its inhabitants, particularly reptilian and of Chaffey's
observations and sometimes wide-eyed wonder.
But there was a hitch. After 40 days in the wilderness, they reached their
end-point – The King Cascade. Then they sit down to wait for a boat to come in
and collect them, but nothing comes. After 10 days of waiting, no boat arrives,
and they end up having to walk another 220 kms to get out. The adventure
becomes a life or death story where starvation is just around the corner,
exhaustion threatens to overtake them, and the pair almost end up as croc food.
What Chaffey discovers about himself and about the world he lives in during that close shave makes
for an exciting read.
page 1 | 2
Blogcritics is an online magazine, a community
of writers and readers from around the globe.
Publisher: Eric Olsen
page 2
Book Review: Swimming with Crocodiles by Will Chaffey
REVIEW
Book Review: Swimming with Crocodiles by Will
Chaffey
Written by Maggie Ball
Published July 15, 2008
page 1 | 2
Throughout the book, Chaffey punctuates his rich descriptions of the land he is discovering, with his
fears, his sense of the future, and his growing self-development. His sense of time and space changes,
and he begins to see, everywhere, the bigger context of his role in the world and of its fragility:
It occurred to me that if you did not spend two months in the wilderness in your youth, you
might never discover who you were: you might fundamenbtally never discover your true
self, stripped of all conditioning, ideology and belief. I was the child of professional
parents, who grew up in a suburb of Boston, and yet here I was, no more than an Earthling.
Nature was the final context, and everywhere it seemed that context was being destroyed.
This sense of both the fragility of nature, and the fragility of man within nature, becomes an underlying
theme that carries Swimming with Crocodiles (Picador Australia) beyond simply a travelogue. We begin
to identify with Chaffey as a character, and his development becomes meaningful, but we also put his
experience into our own context, and it therefore becomes meaningful to us. Not all of us will have to
reach into crocodile infested waters to retrieve a lost fishing rod – our only means of obtaining food,
and not all of us will come to the brink of starvation and death in an environment both beautiful and
unforgiving.
But most of us will experience things that will change us, force us to grow, and question what we knew
about ourselves. In this way, as readers, we can identify with Chaffey’s experience, and enjoy it as both
a story and as an informative foray into one of Australia’s most forbidding, and compelling landscapes.
page 1 | 2
Magdalena Ball runs The Compulsive Reader. She is the author of Sleep Before
Evening, The Art of Assessment, and Quark Soup.
Comments
Blogcritics is an online magazine, a community
of writers and readers from around the globe.
Publisher: Eric Olsen

[ZEKE]

wow this sounds awesome!! so whats in the book is a true story? i will have to get this book. ill have to wait till next year tho to get it in the USA right?

[Geoff Cunningham]

wow this sounds awesome!! so whats in the book is a true story? i will have to get this book. ill have to wait till next year tho to get it in the USA right?

Yeah its nonfiction story, you can get it from Australia but its over 40 bucks just for the shipping and handling so its best to wait for the US book due out around May 2009, Should be a lot cheaper

[ZEKE]

thats really cool. ill have to wait till next year i guess :(

[ZEKE]

i just read the pdf file that you sent me about your adventures. that was one of the coolest things i have read in a long time. after reading that i am defanently going to buy the book when it is available here.

[ominously]

Just received a copy by Air mail last night and stoked to start reading it tonight - thanks Geoff!

[Geoff Cunningham]

Online slide show Travel Australia > Photo Gallery: ninemsn (http://travelaustralia.ninemsn.com/slideshow.aspx?sectionid=2701&sectionname=nature&subsectionid=80426&subsectionname=swimmingwithcrocodiles&photo=3&auto=true)

[Geoff Cunningham]

I have the Australian Geographic story on my public folder, password is species name for salt water croc? -------? PDF file is about 8MB. If you enjoy this you will also like the book, Swimming with Crocodiles
https://auth.apple.com/authenticate?service=idisk.mac.com&returnURL=aHR0cDovL2ZpbGVzLm1lLmNvbS9zd2ltbWluZ3dp dGhjcm9jcy9lbTF2ems=&realm=password:%202d8bf53a2736071ca6eee69b353e067d @swimmingwithcrocs&anotherUser=Y&desc=QUcucGRm

[Geoff Cunningham]

Here is an extract from the book, US edition. Into the unknown | The Australian (http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23704393-5001000,00.html)

Anyone interested in having a signed copy let me know as I'll have a few copies of the book in April. Not sure of the cost but it is going to be less then from the book stores.

[ZEKE]

i would totally be interested in getting a signed copy. how much do you think shipping would be?

[Geoff Cunningham]

i would totally be interested in getting a signed copy. how much do you think shipping would be?

I was thinking 20 bucks for the book, shipped anywhere in the usa, if that sounds fair?

The publisher has pre-sold over 6,000 copies so far and the book release date is April 09.

[ominously]

I wanted mine signed :(:p

Don't care though - the book's great, even if it is taking me forever to finish it Geoff

Mike

[ZEKE]

so 20$ shipped? that sounds great! if i order a signed copy from you when would i be able to get it? (like before or after the release date?)

[Geoff Cunningham]

I wanted mine signed :(:p

Don't care though - the book's great, even if it is taking me forever to finish it Geoff

Mike


Sorry Mike, it came direct from Australia to you, otherwise I would have signed it.

[Geoff Cunningham]

so 20$ shipped? that sounds great! if i order a signed copy from you when would i be able to get it? (like before or after the release date?)

I can not say 100%, but will do my best to get you the book as soon as I have it. The offer is good for the first five SWC books only, as i still don't know what the book is going to cost me. Not trying to make much just don't want to lose money lol.

This is the book Swimming with Crocodiles, A True Story of Adventure and Survival (http://www.arcadepub.com/book/?GCOI=55970100182560)

When I say signed I mean by me, Geoff Cunningham,

[Geoff Cunningham]

Will signed my copy, Thanks Will

[ZEKE]

okay well i really want to get the book and it would be cool to have one signed by you. let me know when/how to order one from you and ill try to get my mom to order it.

[ominously]

Sorry Mike, it came direct from Australia to you, otherwise I would have signed it.


No worries - I'll have to have it done in person when we finally hook up ;)

[Geoff Cunningham]

The book is out, saw it at Barnes and Nob...

also Amazon Amazon.com: Swimming With Crocodiles: A True Story of Adventure and Survival: Will Chaffey: Books (http://www.amazon.com/Swimming-Crocodiles-Story-Adventure-Survival/dp/1559709022/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238898293&sr=1-1#reader)
you can read the first six pages..
The publisher is sending me a # of copies so order now at smimmingwithcrocs@mac.com

[Geoff Cunningham]

Been working on a powerpoint slide show, here a sample YouTube - Swimming with crocodiles (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkyTLAFD5DM) Rate it thanks

[ZEKE]

The book is out, saw it at Barnes and Nob...

also Amazon Amazon.com: Swimming With Crocodiles: A True Story of Adventure and Survival: Will Chaffey: Books (http://www.amazon.com/Swimming-Crocodiles-Story-Adventure-Survival/dp/1559709022/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238898293&sr=1-1#reader)
you can read the first six pages..
The publisher is sending me a # of copies so order now at smimmingwithcrocs@mac.com


is there an order form we should fill out or just send an email saying we want to order one?

[Geoff Cunningham]

I shall let you know when I have the books in hand

Theatre iMovie (http://homepage.mac.com/swimmingwithcrocs/iMovieTheater3.html)

[tdg_onex]

:eek:
You have no idea how much i want this book. As soon as money isnt so tight, I'll be searching everywhere for it. I'll order through Amazon if i have to. :D

[Geoff Cunningham]

The audio book is out.. Louis Braille Audio Full Details (http://www.louisbrailleaudio.com/fullDetails.asp?Code=4337&client_type=Public_Library&Country=Australia&Category=Adult+Non-Fiction)

[sushigex]

I just picked up my copy today.

[ominously]

You will certainly not be disappointed.

Adrian, I wanted to mail you a sandwich when I finished reading it lol!

[ZEKE]

mine is on the way :D

im really excited to read it!

[ZEKE]

i just received my copy in the mail this morning!

[chockablock]

Cool! My wife is from Australia and the family is always asking what they can send me. I'll have a great answer next time.
And no, my wife doesn't have a knobbed tail.

[Zookeeper Gabe]

Has anybody ever read The Lizard King?? Also a very good book

[sushigex]

I read the "lizard king" a few months ago. I have about 35 pages left in "swimming with crocodiles." Both are very good books.

[sushigex]

After finishing the book today I have to say it has exceeded my expectations. One thing that struck me as a high point was that no matter how bleak the situation, you both seamed to be enamored by the virgin majesty of your surroundings. I can't say that I could ever go on such an adventure and so I'm truly envious of your adventure into the uncharted. Experiencing life the way it was meant to be lived is something that I too hope to experience at some point in my life, even for a brief spell...

[Geoff Cunningham]

After finishing the book today I have to say it has exceeded my expectations. One thing that struck me as a high point was that no matter how bleak the situation, you both seamed to be enamored by the virgin majesty of your surroundings. I can't say that I could ever go on such an adventure and so I'm truly envious of your adventure into the uncharted. Experiencing life the way it was meant to be lived is something that I too hope to experience at some point in my life, even for a brief spell...

Thank-you for the kind review.

Do you like that croc pic on the front cover on the usa edition? I hate it, prefer my waterfall shot on the AUS edition :p

[ominously]

I vote the waterfall - course I've only ever seen that one so it's hard to compare ;)

[sushigex]

Yeah, I liked the waterfall shot as well.

[tdg_onex]

Has anybody ever read The Lizard King?? Also a very good book

It's an awesome book :)

[Geoff Cunningham]

Bad news,Arcade Publishing files for bankruptcy | theBookseller.com (http://www.thebookseller.com/news/87894-arcade-publishing-files-for-bankruptcy.html)

However I do have 6 books on hand that I can sell to members for 25 dollars including shipping anywhere in the world. I take paypal,

[geck123]

i'd like a copy,but when i click on the link all i get is the crocodile hunter in the top left corner,and the rest is blank.Bad news,Arcade Publishing files for bankruptcy | theBookseller.com (http://www.thebookseller.com/news/87894-arcade-publishing-files-for-bankruptcy.html)

However I do have 6 books on hand that I can sell to members for 25 dollars including shipping anywhere in the world. I take paypal,

[Geoff Cunningham]

i'd like a copy,but when i click on the link all i get is the crocodile hunter in the top left corner,and the rest is blank.

try this thanks https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=6694219

need more info, please send me a pm

[geck123]

thanks,just ordered it.try this thanks https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=6694219

need more info, please send me a pm

[tdg_onex]

Absolutely amazing book. Wow. Despite all you guys went through, I would still have loved to experience something like that. It's truly remarkable. Kudos to the both of you :)
Any reason they changed the spelling of your name in the American edition? It's annoying me, it seems so pointless.

[Geoff Cunningham]

Absolutely amazing book. Wow. Despite all you guys went through, I would still have loved to experience something like that. It's truly remarkable. Kudos to the both of you :)
Any reason they changed the spelling of your name in the American edition? It's annoying me, it seems so pointless.

Anyone that read the book, please post a review on Amazon.com
Thanks for pointing that out, I agree. I did try to convince both Will and the publisher that Americans could understand the spelling Geoff, to no avail. Also tried to convince them the saltwater cr0c on the cover was lame, and that my waterfall photo should stay. I lost on both counts, oh well

I have a couple copies left if anyone wants one let me know. o:eek:

[tdg_onex]

Anyone that read the book, please post a review on Amazon.com
Thanks for pointing that out, I agree. I did try to convince both Will and the publisher that Americans could understand the spelling Geoff, to no avail. Also tried to convince them the saltwater cr0c on the cover was lame, and that my waterfall photo should stay. I lost on both counts, oh well

I have a couple copies left if anyone wants one let me know. o:eek:

for what it's worth, I like the aussie cover a TON better, though I have the American version. And I have a step-brother named Geoff- I totally woulda got it ;) haha.

[Geoff Cunningham]

I put together a slide show on UTUBE YouTube - Swimming with crocodiles, slide show (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkyTLAFD5DM)
Please feel free to leave a comment on UTUBE site, and rate the show would be great, thanks

[Geoff Cunningham]

I have 2 signed copies left of the USA book, read the reviews on amazon.com


Thanks Geoff https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bi n/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=8354828 (https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=8354828)

[Geoff Cunningham]

high resolution slides, if it works lol feedback welcome
http://docs.google.com/gview?a=v&pid=gmail&attid=0.1&thid=123dfa16877a7295&mt=application%2Fvnd.ms-powerpoint&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmail.google.com%2Fmail%2F%3Fui%3D 2%26ik%3Dcf0ed1b401%26view%3Datt%26th%3D123dfa1687 7a7295%26attid%3D0.1%26disp%3Dattd%26realattid%3Df _fzw1a6dn0%26zw&sig=AHBy-haZVpUCgu0ZOvsx_Onz3ChK377uWA&pli=1

[tdg_onex]

I put together a slide show on UTUBE YouTube - Swimming with crocodiles, slide show (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkyTLAFD5DM)
Please feel free to leave a comment on UTUBE site, and rate the show would be great, thanks

I love it! I had to pause it a few times to read the slide, but nonetheless, awesome :)

[ZEKE]

i still havent finished reading it because i can only read 1 book at a time and i have to read books for school.

i like the waterfall picture better than the croc picture.

[Geoff Cunningham]

i still havent finished reading it because i can only read 1 book at a time and i have to read books for school.

i like the waterfall picture better than the croc picture.

it's been a while, how did you like the book?

Update the USA edition is close to being sold out. Aracade books filled for chaptor 11 so as it stands now the USA editon won't be reprinted.

[Geoff Cunningham]

Stay tuned for the movie, Swimming with Crocodiles.

[Geoff Cunningham]

Been a while.

I have a few copies signed by Will Chaffey and myself

25$ including mailing costs. Let me know, thanks


‪Swimming with Crocodiles‬‏ - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkioU-fx77k&sns=em)

[Walter]

Wow, the book sounds awesome. It's so cool that your a herpitoligist, it's like my dream job.:) Your guy's adventure sounds epic.;)

[crevalle]

I actually just finished this book and, while I did find it enjoyable, reptiles comprise a very, very small percentage of the book. If I had to estimate, far less than 1% of the text. He just mentions looking for a particular python here and there.

If you're interested in reading about an adventure in the Australian outback, great book, but just be aware that it's not about reptiles...at all.

[Geoff Cunningham]

Glad you enjoyed the book! I'd say it's closer to 10% then 1% but I agree it's not a field guide to reptiles of Australia. I dont agree with the croc on the cover or or the publishers stating 'Epic story of survival' I lived the book and it never was an epic survival story but it was one fantastic outback adventure story. I've only read the book a couple times but, listen to the audio book heaps of times. Highly recommend the AB

Cheers Geoff

[RiddleReptiles]

I Agree great book, I have read it. 3 times since I got it last year

[crevalle]

Glad you enjoyed the book! I'd say it's closer to 10% then 1% but I agree it's not a field guide to reptiles of Australia. I dont agree with the croc on the cover or or the publishers stating 'Epic story of survival' I lived the book and it never was an epic survival story but it was one fantastic outback adventure story. I've only read the book a couple times but, listen to the audio book heaps of times. Highly recommend the AB

Cheers Geoff

Yes, definitely enjoyed it. Agreed, the croc on the cover is slightly misleading, but nevertheless fun book to read. One of the "scenes" that sticks in my head is when you were trying to catch a "tuna the size of a man" right off the beach in a pool. Could you talk a bit about that? It's just an incredible visual.

[Geoff Cunningham]

Great question*

The fish

*As i recall, the tide was up but on the way out, *tides on the Kimberley coast reach more than 34 feet. There is no beach as you have mangroves on both sides of the inlet. The sandstone that makes up the King Cascades faces the mighty Prince Regent River.*


At first light I climbed down the 150 foot falls. *I had taken Will's fishing rod and reel without asking. I was standing on a rock ledge about 20 feet above the murky water when a dolphin appeared. It gave me a glance as it frolicked under the fresh water falls. I didn't see my friend the dolphin again so I cast the line as far as I could and, waited. I had catfish as bait and it was not long before I got a big hit. I never seen anything pull that hard and was surprised it didn't snap the line and rod. I forget how long I fought that fish but I somehow managed to get the tuna close to the falls. I believe all that freshwater flowing over it stunned the fish. At that point I was figuring out how to keep tension on the line and at the same time climb down to wrestle it onto a rock ledge. All the while I was wondering where the 15 foot saltwater croc may be lurking. The way I figured it, the croc would rather eat tuna than me, so it must not be in the inlet. *I recall looking into the tuna's eye as it lay on it's side exhausted by the fight. *The tide was going out fast now, it looked to be trapped in a shallow muddy pool. Also the freshwater from*the Cascades was no longer pouring over it, I had to act fast or lose the Tuna. As fate would have it Will appeared just as I was about to climb down and the resulting argument over the state of his fishing rod, *I let the tension go on the line, the giant fish spat the hock out and disappeared into the muddy waters. The thing that made me mad was not so much losing the fish but, the fact Will cared more about his gear then helping me land the fish of a lifetime. *Oh well what can you say? I would have had a great fish tail to tell if only Will had slept in that day. But than again perhaps I was wrong about the Croc? Could have been down there waiting for me, we shall never know. That croc was a confirmed man eater, or should I say people eater since it killed and ate Ginger Meadows. RIP the previous year. *

From the book Will states I'm no fisherman. Well I beg to differ, Will caught a lot of catfish but it was I that hooked the largest Tuna, Will or I have ever seen. fact is I was spear fishing at 13 year old off of Laguna Beach when Will was still wearing diapers. Lmao. I had a great teacher in a National spear fishing champion who taught me a great deal. We would snorkel every weekend during the winter. I also have rod and reel experience catching sharks, *But after *a few years I gave up fishing all together.*