30 June Saturday
Colin warmer, Rose still cold, both of us wore our beanies in bed which helped a bit. doesn't take long for the sun to come up. Packed up and left camp heading towards Redbank Gorge, the raod to the gorge is sandy/rocky/corrugated/twisty and uppydowny, a bit rough in places, Colin enjoyed it. Just walked to the lookout, back onto main road and stopped at Tylers Pass lookout,, the views are stunning there is a big red rock
sat in the flat landscape in the distance to the south of us. as we continue along the main road we found a dirt road which led us to that rock, it's called Gosse Bluff. A meteorite crashed into the earth over 140 million years ago on this site causing the underlying rocks to lift up to what we see today. We walked to the edge of the crater.
The impact was said to be larger than the Hiroshima bomb. Amazing scenery. Back to the bitumen tto the junctionn with Larapinta Drive where we turned east towards Hermannsberg and the campsite at Palm Valley in the Finke Gorge National Park, 43 kms of dirt road. We drove into Hermannsberg but everythign closed for lunch so drove back to main road to fine road to Palm vally. Colin let the tyre pressures down. scenery going in is stunning along 21kms of gravel, sand, river bed
,and the biggest corrugations we've driven yet, more challenging than the Gibb River Road, the sign at the start of the track says allow 3 hours but we didi it in less than 1 hour. Lovely campground with hot solar showers. a family came in driving a D4 with camper trailer, Colin and the dad had a long chat about landrovers, we then had a walk down to the river. Cooked on camp BBQ as did everyone else, which then gets everyone talking to each other. After dinner joined 2 other couples round campfire, toasty before the cold night.
1 July Sunday
Blanket on top of mattress loast night, definitely warmer, still cold when we got up and we have a chilly wind. Just never expected to be this cold in Oz. spent morning warming up and talking to fellow campers, after lunch walked up to Kalangarra lookout,
good walk and wonderful views, nice to get out of the wind at times, we gathered some firewood for campfire. got cold very quickly and had a big soup with veggies for dinner followed by hot rice pudding with weetabix and jam, comfort food, then round campfire till bed. Dingos howling in the night.
2 July Monday
Very cold when we got up, just above freezing. Nothing folded or packed away well. Had hot milk on weetabix for breakfast to try and warm us up. Left site just before 9.30 for Alice, back along the 4WD track, it didn't seem as rough going back. Back on the bitumen we heard a bang, the solar shower bag went pop and water went up the windscreen, we think all the bouncing around was too much for it, just have to buy another. Uneventful drive back to Alice, arrived at G'Day Mate Caravan Park just before noon, set up tent and went into town for silicone spray (for tent zip) diff oil, on the way in we stopped at railway crossing for the Ghan train
to pass. whilst in town Rose bought some UGG boots
as feet constantly cold, even the men wear them. Back at camp to sit in the sum and try and keep warm. After dinner Colin spoke to Laurie then bed to keep warm.
3 July Tuesday
-5 degrees overnight, so cold. Rose put on 2 pairs of trousers when got up, till the sun came round and warmed her up. All the vehicles were iced over. A bloke called Jason stopped by for a chat with Colin, appears he saw us in Brisbane at the SLOW group, they chatted for 2 hours, eventually had breakfast and then to the Truckers Hall of Fame Museum, had a great time looking at all the trucks,
even found 3 old Land Rovers.
Saw a photo taken in 2000 of a truck pulling 79 trailers,
and a film of a pioneer trucker in the outback by the name of Tom Kruse, in the 1950s a film was made with the cameras following his everyday life, showing him digging his truck out of sand, climbing dunes, the film won and award at an international film festival, the early truckers were tough practical men. Back at camp bumped into Bob and Sarah, who we hadn't seen since Gladstone camp in WA, they broke down on the Tanami and were waiting for it to be repaired, it was good to catch up. Late dinner, it didn't seem as cold tonight. Spoke to Dee, she thinks it's hilarious it is freezing at night she thinks Rose should where her UGGS in bed as they are keeping her feet toasty warm.
4 July Wednesday
Woke up to hear someone scarping the ice off their windscreen, the frost is heaqvier this morning. Colin went to get some sugar and it's a solid block. Some fellow campers left their chairs out and they are covered in ice!! England is definitely warmer than Oz at the moment, when the sun comes up and you can get out of the wind it isw nearly hot. Spent day updating blog and sorting stuff in LRover ready to leave tomorrow. Rang Robyn she has a completion date of the house of 31 August, which is perfect as they will move out as we get home. She says the weather at home is warm but keeps raining. Had Kangaroo burgers for dinner, they were good and tasty. Axel and family invited us to watch the footie later with them but we were heading for the warmth of bed.
5 July Thursday
Another -4 deg night. Packed away slowly and after our goodbyes left site at 10 am. Took Ross Highway towards the East MacDonnell Ranges. First stop was Emily Gap, which is an Aborigine registed sacred site, it has a large roack painting depicting the Caterpillar dreaming.
At Jessie Gap the roakc painting is of Emu dreaming. Back onto Hway for 70 kms towards Trephina Gorge. The landscape isn't as sharp as the West Macs. Arrived at Trephina gorge about noon, the last 5 km on a dirt track, decided to set up camp here for the night, we were told it is warmer than Alice at night. After lunch and setting up camp, we walked up the edge of Trephina Gorge to the rim,
along the top for a while before descending into the gorge to walk back along the riverbed.
Hard work at timesw but the views were great, some of the rocks in the riverbed sand are a lovely pink colour. Both knackerd when we got back to camp. after dinner went to a campfire talk given by the Ranger Dan. He told us about the discovery of the gorge in the 1890s and how in 1966 it became a Nature Park under the care of the state. He talked about his role in the Park such as fire management, weed contral and pest control (they have problems with rabbits and feral cats). It was a good evening.
6 July Friday
FRIDAY FACT - NORTHERN TERRITORY IS AUSTRALIA'S LEAST SETTLED STATE
No frost - yippee. we've camped in shade so sun taking a while to get to us, stood in the sunshine to eat breakfast. Left camp and back on the bitumen towards Arltunga, after 12km onto dirt road, after follwing someone else's dust for 20km we stopped and Colin put tryre pressures down to 30psi, road is gravelly, corrugated and bit rocky in places. Road was twisty but where we stopped was very open with the wind cutting through you. Eventually reached to Cattlewater Pass Track, the book says allow 3 hours for the 55kms. The road constantly changed from gravel to sand, corrugations, roaks and small ditches, then there are the flat bits and twisty steep climbs,
very challegin 2hrs 20 mins, we saw one other vehicle towards the end. Finally reached the Plenty HWay, another dirt road, our route to Queensland. The Plenty is very wide with corrugations but we only had to do 50 km till our camp for the night at Spotted Tiger campground. We drove to local community store to pay for camp and permit but closed so just drove to campground, 8km south of the Hway. It is basic and rundown, no water just pit toilets. Set up tent and sat down by 4pm, a late finish for us. Sunny with very little wind. Colin had noticed temp guage went down , topped up rad and notice dripping under vehicle, looks like we need a new water pump, but we can get to where we are going ok. Sorted photos for blog then bed.
23rd June Saturday
Another very cold and windy night, decided to put tent down and move to other side of campsite
and sleep in LRover. Put some spuds in campfire coals for later, didn't take long to cook. Rose is wearing 2 Tshirts and a jumper. Wasn't too bad putting tent down in between gusts of wind. We are protected by the LRover from the worst of the wind on other side of site, got awning out ok so can cook in comfort. Had a walk into the Marbles on the east side of camp, not so spectacular heigt wise but just as stunning.
Was able to sit outside for a while and Rose got sun/wind burnt on her face. After dinner sat in awning with coats on as so cold. Went to bed early - warmer.
24th June Sunday
Much better nights sleep without the tent flapping also was warmer. Still only 10degs but wind not so bad. Take that back wind just got up again, bitterly cold. Packed up and left site just after 9amheading south, wind not making driving easy. Stopped at Wycliffe Well which claims to be the UFO capital of Oz. Inside the roadhouse are newspaper cuttings on the wall of UFO sightings over the years, outside there is a mural on the wall
with green men models
alongside, very characterful. Carring on south along the HWay the trees are disappearingand you can see red rcky hills in the distance, very reminiscent of the Kimberlys. Stopped at the John Mcdouall Stuart Memorial, he thought he had found the centre of Australia but it's situated just south of Alice Springs on the edge of the Simson Desert. Carried on to the Ti Tree Roadhouse Caravan Pk for the night, had just got set up and Colin walking back from toilet got bitten by a little white terrier, it drew blood(dangerous wildlife in Oz) Rose went to roadhouse and complained, they went to speak with owner. It is still windy but not so chilly. Both had lovely hot showers, but didn't take too long drying off before getting chilled again. Rose has put on her fleece pyjamas bottoms, bit warmer. Rang Dee after 6pm to hear about their cruise and when they are going to tackle the Gibb, she thinks it's hilarious we will have to buy winter clothes in Alice. Went to bed early as it's warmer.
25th June Monday
6degs this morning, it was cold last night, Colin wore his socks in bed. No wind initially but by time we left site it was getting up. Stopped at Aileron Roadhouse for coffee and spring rolls, only charged $8 with free coffee refils, then Rose broke one of their mugs ooops. Outside is the statue of Anmatijee Man on the hill,
a statue of a woman with child
and 2 snakes, one wearing a bra
. Scenery still green, wind gusting the LRover around. Have heater on again, so able to take jumpers off. Approx 25kms north of Alice we stopped at the Highest Point Cairn, it is the highest point on the Stuart HWay from Darwin to Adelaide. Arrived at Alice Springs
just after 12 and decided to go straight to K Mart, where we bought a blanket 2 fleecey check shirts with hoods and Rose also bought a body warmer and 2 pairs of jeans, all in the sale as they are getting in their summer clothes!!! also treated ourseves to chocolate biscuits and bars of chocolate - all in sale. We then drove to the G'Day Mate Campsite for 2 nights, it's a lovely place, very clean. After erecting the tent had a walk to the local grocer and managed to gloves and a beanie hat, now hopefully we are set for thereally cold weather with frosts at night. The caravan park is situated south of The Gap, which is a gap between the West and East McDonnell Ranges. We will be travelling to the West McDonnells when we leave here on Wednesday. Nice hot soup for dinner then to bed under our new blanket to keep warm.
26th June Tuesday
A freezing night, frost on the tent and LRover, temp in LRover was 4degs, good job we have extra warm weather gear.
Went into Alice to look around, lots of Aboriginal art and culture shops, could have spent a fortune but only spent a little on credit card. After lunch filled up with food at Woollies and meat at a butchers and fuel on way back to camp. Wind has got up but not so bad as last few days. Still wearing 3 layers though. Cooked 2 lovely pork chops with veggies on the BBQ (one way of getting warm), the evening not as cold as last night, so stayed out longer.
27th June Wednesday
Frost again, someone said minus 4. Blanket worked a treat, a lot warmer in bed. Cooked breakfast on BBQ, then had a leisurely pack up. Went into Alice to use internet to upload photos, ended up getting money back as only loaded 1 photo in 30mins. Drove out of Alice on The Larapinta Drive towards the West McDonnell Nat Pk. The Ranges are an ancient landscape sculptured over time by climate. The West Ranges stretches for 161kms from Alice with several gorges along the way, which are important refuges for plants and animals. Our first stop was at Simpson Gap
which is one of the most prominent in the Ranges, it is renowned for the Black Footed Wallabies,
we saw several amongst the rocks when we walked into the Gap. The area is a very important spiritual site to the Arrente Aboriginal people. It was a lovely place for a stop. Drove along the Namatjura Drive to our camp for the night at Ellery Creek Big Hole, which is a spectacular waterhole
in the Ellery Creek which cuts through a gorge that was formed by years of agressive floods. Reading one of the info boards it seems as though these ranges were once the same height as the Himalayas. It is a nice campground. Cooked dinner on the gas BBQ's(on site) as did several other campers. Not such a cold evening
28th June Thursday
It didn't frost last night but still very cold. Kept hearing dingos howling in the night, they sounded very close at times. The sun finally came over the hill so can now try to warm up (8.30am). Left camp at 10 am, first stop Serpentine Gorge, it was a lovely stony walk into the gorge,
very quiet and serene. Further on pulled into a lookout (up a steep hill) where the views were fantastic, from where we had to been
to where we were headed.
At Ormiston gorge we did the short walk up a very sttep climb (sheer drops) to the Ghost Gum Lookout, you can look into the Gorge where people look like little dots,
and down to the Waterhole where people are sunning themselves on the sandy bankside.
Had lunch back at the car, it really is a beautiful place, before driving to Glen Helen Resort our camp for next 2 nights. It is situated beside the Glen Helen Gorge, lovely setting. Sat sunning ourselves before dinner, cooked a chicken curry in camp ktichen, whcih will last us a couple of meals. Late in the afternoon 8 walkers came onto site a set up just behind us, they are walking10-15kms per day along the Larapinta trail and so they don't have to carry too much they have food drops along the trail. After dinner clouds started to build
up and with the sun setting the sky looked alive,
the colours were stunning. Able to sit outside quite late as not so cold.
29 June Friday
FRIDAY FACT - TEMPERATURES OF -4, ALICE IS OFFICIALLY COLDER THAN HOME
Night suddenly got cold, but sun soon warms you up. Sat out having a cuppa when on of the walkers came over and gave us 2 500g packs of Quinoa (like rice), they were too heavy for her to carry, now getting food parcles from backpackers!. wind has got up a bit, Colin doing maintenancethis morning, whilst in reception Rose weighed herself, she is 61kgs (approx 9 1/2 stone), can't remember when last that weight, but we are both fit and healthy, Colin's shorts are getting big on the waist so tucking his tshirts in to keep them up. After lunch had a walk to Glen Helen gorge, unfortunately due to the rains in the last few years the Finke River has quite a bit of water in it so can only walk to the entrance of the Gorge,
it is still spectacular. We walked back along the dry part of the riverbed to camp, then sat in sun till dinner. Trying the blanket under the airbed tonight to see if it stops cold coming up from ground, moon is nearly full.
16th June Saturday
Natalie's Birthday.
Had a trip out today to Bitter Springs Thermal Pool,
absolutely lovely, steady 32degs all year round, the water was crystal clear and the current gently carries you along to the other end of the pool. You can see the rocks and sand on the bottom
and you are swimming with pink lillies
beside you, Rose managed to swim into a rock-ouch. Drove back to Mataranka and Colin sent birthday message to Natalie (had phone signal). On way back to camp stopped at an Aboriginal war site, it was just a plaque and concrete pad. back at camp lit camp fire, covered ourselves in insect repellant and cooked jacket potatoes and sausages, lovely. sky not as clear tonight and no bats around.
17 June Sunday
Bit of a damp morning with condensation in the tent, left camp at 9am heading south on Stuart HWay to Daly Waters Historic Pub. there are lots of caravans passing us going north. It is a long boring road but very green vegetation bordering it. We stopped at Larimah to see the Big Stubby and Pink Panther.
Larimah is a Caravan Park and Pub and it painter bright pink. Back onto the road and reached Daly Waters at lunchtime, only $28 for 2 nights, we are in the overflow paddock, shortly after the rush started and there were vans queuing in the road to get onto the site, never seen anything like it. Daly Waters had the first international airport in Oz and was a rear guard base after the bombing of Darwin in WW11. The famous pub was originally a water supply point for drovers before crossing the perilous Murranji Stock Route. The pub is full of character with memorabilia
left by previous visitors, ranging from knickers, thongs, t shirts, beer mats and stickers, it is also famous for it's food speciality of beef and Barra (fish). There is entertainment every evening by a chap called Chilly, he sings, tells stories and recites bush poetry. People are still coming to the camp after dark. We could hear the entertainment at our site, we laid in bed and it was hilarious, didn't hear the end as went to sleep.
18 June Monday
Wind got up in the night. People are leaving the site at 7.30, Colin said he heard them leaving earlier. Went for a walk along the John Mcdouall Stuart Heritage Trail, who was the explorer who discovered Daly Waters 28 May 1861. Stuart and his party stayed in the area for quite a whilw plotting the landscape and finding waterholes, opening the eay for the Overland Telegraph line, which would link Oz to the rest of the world. The trail takes you past the famous Stuart tree, where it is said Stuart carved the initial "S", past the now demolished buildings that surrounded the tree and onto the abandoned hangar at the Airport. There is a pictorial display of the history of the area right up to the present day. The old airfield is now owned by the National Trust. Nice walk. Went inside the pub and took photos of the memorabilia as well as the Servo
and gift/trinket shop.
There don't seem to be many visitors today. After dinner walked over to the pub for the entertainment - 1 pint and 1 sprite £10.70 ooh! Colin nursed his pint all night, caught the end of the stint by a lady saxophanist, she was really good, then Chilly came on. he told stories and poems of life happenings and sang along with his guitar. He was very funny and had us in stitches. he started life as a stockmen herding cows and horses but everything done by vehicle now so he's on his 2nd career. Brilliant night.
19 June Tuesday
Cooler night, some campers left early again. Got packed up and away just after 9am, back onto the Stuart HWay going south, lots of yellow flowers on roadside bushes, then the trees thinned out, you can see for miles either side of the road. Stopped for a break at Newcastle Waters rest area, it has got increasingly windy along the road. Just north of Elliott there was a Police roadblock, they were stopping all vehcles. First of all Colin was given a breath test by a cop, then another officer asked for his driving licence and the registration of the vechicle, we gave him all the paperwork including the insurance and Carnet, he looked at the carnet and we were sent on our way. Stopped at Renner Springs for lunch stop, then just a short drive to Banka Banka station for the night, we both think this road reminds us of the Nullabor. There is a bush poetry reading tonight at the kiosk, nice site. Parked next to a 1998 Discovery with Oz tent and the other side of him id a Disco 3. after dinner went to the campfire at the kiosk for the bush poetry (needed the fire as getting cold). The reading was really good and very funny, will never look a velcro without seeing the problems it causes.
20 June Wednesday
10 degrees this morning, left site and back onto Stuart HWay, followed a brown tourist sign onto the old Stuart Hway, for approx 13 km before back on new road. You can see for miles. We saw 3 stockmen herding cows alngside then highway,
we are certainly seeing more outback life in the Northern Territory. 11 am and only 20 degrees, wearing my scarf. Stopped at Lake Mary Dam ,
it was opened in 1979/80 and is a local picnic area just before Tennant Creek, very pretty, had lunch and drove into TCreek, we stopped for bread but the town does not have a friendly feel, lots of shops boardedup. Drove out to Juno bushcamp but close so back into town and booked into the Outback Caravan Pk for the night. Good camp kitchen, cooked tomorrow night's dinner as well, filled our gas bottle for only $8. Checked weather for Alice Springs we are heading, it is zero degrees at night, looks like we will be acclimatising the other way, ready for autumn in the UK. Colin rang Sir Peter of Leongatha, he and Marj are at Bourke in NSW on a short trip, shame we won't be able to meet up with them. Night starting to chill down so went in tent to keep warm, getting dark early again.
21 June Thursday
Shortest day.
10 deg in vechicle, chilly night, Colin wore socks in bed. Leaving here today, slow pack up, filled up with fuel and few bits of shopping and treated ourselves to a Lamington Roll, then to library to upload blog, finally left town after 11 am onto the Devils Marbles
(104km) for the night, arrived just after lunch. As you drive in the rock formations are amazing, the campground is right beside the rocks, the other name for them is Karlu Karlu. It is a big campground and by the time it got dark . Stopping a couple of nights so will have a walk out tomorrow. Watched the sun go down over the rocks. Saw dingo walk through after dark.
22 June Friday
FRIDAY FACT- Daly Waters has held a liquor licence since 1893, making it the oldest pub in Northern territory
Woke up at 3am, at 3.15 the wind started, at 3.30 we got up and took the awning on the Landrover down, you could hear caravan owners winding in their awnings. 8am still windy, one of the poles holding the flysheet fell down causing the fly to flap noisily but other than that all in one piece. The wind is very cold. As a campervan drove out the dingo sat down in front of it, almost like it was posing, as everyone went for their cameras
a stupid itiot fed it some toast (just what you shouldn't do). Our neighbours have a camper trailer and due to the cooker being outside can't even boil an billy dueto the wind, we pulled out our windbreak
and set it up so they can at least cook. In the afternoon a wind gust tore the back of the flysheet clean off. The Devils Marbles
were formed by volcanic eruption, then weather erosion left just the granite rocks you see today. Campers not coming in so early today, just had dinner when a young lad from a family we met in Cape range asked us over to their campfire, the boys filled us in on their travels, feeling toasty in places before bed.
9th June Saturday
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.
