After packing up stopped at Timber Creek for bread then back to Victoria HWay to our next camp spot. Landscape is green with lots of trees,
road is bumpy. The road winds through the Stokes Ranges surrounding us with tree covered hills,
the road then passes back into The Gregory Nat Pk. Saw a sign Old Victoria River Crossing,
so followed it, 4wd only, down to the river where Colin had to play and get the wheels wet,
beautiful setting
just have to keep watch for the crocs. Arrived at Sullivan camp just before lunch, not ideal for a tent but we set up anyway, not sure whether to stay more than one night. Whilst on the road the camera came up with a message, we have filled the SD card, looks like will have to buy a new one in Katherine. Spent time backing up photos and Colin cleared out back of vehicle
10th June Sunday
Both slept all night, decided to stop one more night. Colin found another puncture in the tyre he had repaired, another tiny nail just next to the other one, plugged it yet again,keep fingers crossed this will do it. Made a list of things to do and see in Katherine. Worked out time and distance to cover to meet Marion and Laurie in August, and we don't have time to visit Darwin, so will head south towards Alice when we leave Katherine. Walked down to the billabong,
didn't see any crocs. People started to come into campsite just as we were thinking of having a shower. There were Teresa and Brian in a camper trailer John and Mary in a caravan and Karyn and Paul in a big motorhome towing a Suzuki Vitara. We all gathered round the picnic table for drinks and chat. gave up on shower and just hid behind a big towel and strip washed. Teresa and Brian had a Barra that she hade been given so Brian lit the camp fire and we all chipped in with bits of food and had a smorgorsboard that we all just dipped into, and as Karyn was travelling towards the WA boarder all her spuds went in as well. we had a great evening with wonderful company, one of our best. Went to bed as getting cold.
11th June Monday
10 degs, it's cold. Condensation in tent and chairs are damp. Everyone up, Karyn and Paul the first to leave heading towards Lake Argyle, took a while to say goodbyes, then we left at 9.45 heading to Katherine as are John and Mary, Teresa and Brian are staying another night. Great bunch of people. Along Victoria HWay road surface is not so good in places, the landscape very green, lots of trees, some of which are coming into flower, again a lovely cerise pink. Lots of traffic mainly caravans. Pulled into Katherine Springvale Homestead Caravan Pk just before lunch, stopping for 3 nights. It is big and spacious with a pool and Billabong with pretty pink water lillies
in it. The ablutions need a bit of TLC but fine for the price. In the afternoon 2 older ladies in a Wicked Van pulled up to ask a question, we didn't know where to look as the female driver had a beard and moustache that any man would be proud of. You see everthing in Oz. Got phone signal so caught up with EMails, the Kendalls we met in the UK are now in Oz waitingfor customs to clear their vehicle (wish them luck),so might meet up with them as it's not such a big country:) Got chilly as evening went on so bed early to keep warm.
12th June Tuesday
10degs, slept in till nearly 8am. Rang Cargo On Line to verify paperwork needed to ship LRover back home. Eventually got moving to go into town with a big list of things to do. First went to visitor centre who sent us to the Art Gallery as cheaper for internet, spent an hour uploading photos (very very slow) also to do photocopying and buy some mementos,then onto Red Cross shop to give them books and clothes and to buy 1 book. Found Subway and shared a foot long seafood special roll for only $7, before walking to the camping shop for new guy ropes, our are wearing out. Finally into shopping centre for body lotion, the sun and heat really dries out your skin, even Colin is flaking. Back at camp just after 3pm knackered. Now to sort out the paperwork to be posted tomorrow. We now have neighbours, Sugarbag Safaris, the driver/owner and 4 young people as passengers who muck in to put tents up and ready dinner, they kept to themselves, will have to look up name on internet as very strange for company name. Ate out of store cupboard till we get fresh meat tomorrow
13th June Wednesday
Rose has bites on the soles of her feet that were itching like crazy all night, Colin has no sympathy. Sugarbags is a small native honeybee according to the owner of the company, he also gave us some fresh noodles as he has no use for them as this tour ends tomorrow. We now have some blue guy ropes replacing the broken ones, we think it's called customising. Went into Katherine and dropped tyre off for repair, then to library to finish uploading the photos, still very slow. Found a butcher and bought lots of meat and had it cryovaced, then got rest of food. Drove out to Knots Crossing
for picnic lunch, you used to be able to cross over the Katherine River but since the building of the new bridge it's now just a picnic area,
very picturesque. Driving back to pick up tyre we got a phone call saying they were unable to repair tyre as it has a split in the side wall (no wonder could'nt fix it) when we got there they had a Bridgestone tyre with a similar tread pattern so decided to bite the bullet and get 2 new ones put on the front, $328 each ouch, should be able to get the same tyre in UK. Aint credit cards wonderful inventions, will be glad to leave Katherine it's too expensive:) Whilst walking through Katherine there are plaques set into the footpath commemorating the history of the town, one of the plaques tells of the 90 bombs that fell on the town in WW11, with only one civilian killed (oh what bad luck) We also saw a lot of Abos on the streets and sadly a lot of police. Colin spoke to Laurie and it seems the dates for Fraser Island have changed to a few days earlier, which will suit us better as will be able to spend more time with Marion and Laurie.
14th June Thursday
A busy doing nothing day, we had plans but nothing happened, staying another night, hopefully without paying. Repaired solar panel wiring and some kind person told us it is freezing at nights in Alice Springs, -2degs (don't laugh you lot at home it aint funny).
15th June Friday
FRIDAY FACT:- THE "SCHOOL OF THE AIR" IN KATHERINE HAS THE LARGEST CLASSROOM IN THE WORLD
Off to Mataranka today and the hot thermal pools 32degs. Fill up with fuel on way out, it's going to be a n expensive one. Stopped at Coles Express for fuel 126ltrs- $192 big ouch, but it was both tanks and Jerry cans. Heading south along the Stuart HWay, long straight roads, only 106kms to Mataranka. Stopped in town and had a look in the Stock Yard Gallery, some good paintings by local Abo artists and a lot more affordable than seen previously. Saw a huge termite hill,
approx 3 times Colin's height and he's 6ft 2ins or 1.88mtrs in new money. They charge $3 for the museum but we just walked in, not the best we've seen, part of it covered WW11 when service were stationed in town, they did'nt see any action. we then drove into Elsey Nat Pk to Jalmurak Campground. it has proper toilets and hot showers all for $13.20 pn. It is lovely with our own fire pit, on which we cooked our dinner, it's like camping in a park at home(but with better weather). The Roper River begins it's journey to the Gulf of Carpentia in this park. you can even hire canoes or swim in the river from pontoons. It is a hidden jewel. The mossies are huge, people say that they have land outside the town and walk in as they are that big, at least you can see them coming.
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