Australia

Day 38 25th May

Once again woke up to a magnificent day . Perfect blue sky Sun out and already warm. 21-33 Deg.
Today we pack up and move on to Katherine. Another fairly long day in the car, about 580 Klm’s.
About 80 Klm’s east of Kununurra we reached the Northern Territory border. Here we lost 90 minutes ! The clocks had to go back the 90 minutes to match up with N.T. time. This still puts us 30 minutes less than the eastern states.
Along the route we stopped at a wayside rest area, you would have to see this place to believe it ! The toilets we as clean as any public toilets I have seen.
Here we had ravioli on toast and coffee. Like I keep telling you all, life’s tough out here in the outback!!!!!

Onward to Timber Creek reached there by 1145. Place chockers of our Brothers. The noise was something to hear!!!! Half of the men were drunk some of the women were, well lets just say happier than usual. The whole of the service station was a footy match!!! The kids were all over the place. I spoke to one older guy, who switched from his dialect to English , that quick, he amazed me!! Like I said to Brenda, they have one thing over me they can speak two languages!!!!
We grabbed a coffee there and headed out very quickly!!

Just down the road we stopped at the Durack memorial. If anyone has read “KINGS IN GLASS CASTLE” they know of what I am referring to. They were an Irish immigrant family that arrived in Sydney moved to N.T. And started one of the largest cattle properties in the N.T.

Our next stop Was Victoria River. Lunch ( hot dogs) and a cup of tea. Nice location, right on the banks of the Victoria River. Seems like a nice place to stay, maybe next trip!!!!

We arrived at Katherine at 3.30 very hot ,but not humid. It wasn’t until I got here, did I remember what it was like!! The park is big, the sites are about 1klm from the office. They have a spa, swimming pool and a bar! Which we went to the bar for the usual “medicine” but wouldn’t serve us unless we bought a meal! So , as you can expect we left and regrouped at the vans!!!

Brenda has booked us on a cruise up the Katherine Gorge tomorrow so that will be brilliant .
We have had dinner , the footy on the TV (St Kilda- Freo). What else can a man ask for, Oh! by the way the beer is icy cold too!!!!!! That’s the new Engel for you!!!
Well its been a huge day so I think we will be off to bed early tonight. See you all in cyberspace tomorrow!!!!

Day 37 Thursday 27th May

Temp today is 20-32 Deg and sunny.

Once again awake very early. The traffic starts so early.
Well today we are on baby sitting duties as Rick and Tracey are off on a flight to lake Argyle, The Bungle Bungles and of course the Diamond Mine.

Took the kids to the pool for a swim, then off to The Hoochery where they make Rum . Had a taste but rum isn’t my thing, so only had one taste.
Back to the park for a lazy afternoon, before we head off tonight on the BBQ Cruise. This is a trip around Lake Kununurra and Lily Pad lagoon. Food was excellent and so much of it!!
Once the BBQ is over we went spotting Croc’s . Only the fresh water variety. The boat skipper grabbed one from the water, we all got to photograph it. But the best part I got to hold it. Quite a soft underbelly but as expected hard topside! I was warned to keep hands clear of the teeth as they might only be small but he said they will rip you open really quickly!!! Steady as she goes!!!!!!!
We did this same cruise 6 years ago, and is was still as good as the first time!!!!!

Back to the van for a start on the pack up as tomorrow we move once again. This time it’s off to Katherine and the Hot springs’

See, every move brings something new to enjoy!!!!

Day 36 Wednesday 23rd May

Awake early today! Traffic noise from road in front of park seems to start very early!!!! Nice warm day19 to 31 Deg.

We went to Zebra Rock. What’s that you may ask? Its rock that they only mined from Lake Argyle, and they sculpt lots of different shapes , patterns and animals. The pattern is mainly striped excellent looking rock.
But he down side is it’s very expensive…
At the back of the gallery is a fish feeding platform. The amount of fish that come to the edge is incredible. Catfish the main variety. The guy told us that a while ago they sold it as catfish and it cost $4.50 per Kilo.
It has since been renamed to Silver Cobbler and now sells for $ 18.00 per kilo work that one out!!!
In the arvo went fishing for the big one “the Barra” managed to catch one but bugger me dead it was 10cms to small and had to go back. Ricks boy Wes hooked a76 Cm which we kept and had for tea, it fed 8 people.
What makes you laugh is it cost $150.00 each so $300.00 for a fish and chip dinner for 8. There is value there somewhere but haven’t work it out yet!!! And the rules are only one in your possession at any time.
For those interested fuel ULP $1.58 LPG .89 cents
Also the nights are nice and cool so under the doona which makes a change.

Day 35 Tuesday 22nd May

We left F/Crossing at 6.50, onwards and upwards. We stopped at a great spot called NGUNBAM for brekkie. What magnificent views from the top of this escarpment, from here on the country side changes to hills and bush of dramatic colours!! Some , if you painted a picture with the colours you see, no one would believe you.
Stopped for fuel at Halls Creek , T&P stop. Now this place definitely needs a bull dozer through it!

Also needed to fuel up again at Turkey Creek now known as Warum? Only got LPG here but had a heart flutter at $1.20 a litre!!!!!!!!! Rick and Tracey pulled in here too so we had a bite of lunch together.

Left there and drove through some of the most amazing country in Australia. The sheer size and colours of some of these hills is breathtaking!! So much wild life on the road in this leg of the journey. We saw Brahman cattle, wild horses, eagles and to top that off, a Dingo trotted across the road. I pulled up to take a pic but he/she bolted. Probably had a gun or two pointed at him!!
We reached Kununurra at 3.15 booked in, then off for some grocery shopping.

Back to park happy hour tonight was huge lots of people( new friends) to have fun with. Of course all that laughter made us dry so … some liquid to oil us up!!!!!!!!
Booked a Barra fishing trip for tomorrow, should be fun,.

Fuel prices Halls Creek $1.50 ULP.. .90 cents LPG Turkey Creek ULP $1.60..,. Lpg $1.20... OUCH!!!!

Day 34 Monday 21st May

Once again woke up to a glorious morning, not a cloud in the sky! Todays temp, 24-34 Deg.
Packed up van and left Broome for Fitzroy Crossing(21-34). Stopped at Willare Where's that you ask ? Buggered if I know somewhere between Boome and F/crossing.
Got to the park at 1.30 very hot and humid! Then off to “town” for fuel and supplies. Saw our local Brethren, not much changed in F/C usual garbage and rubbish lying around. The pile of cans has gone!!!!
Back to park for an afternoon swim and cool down, then off to the bar (yes this park has it’s own bar and restaurant) for happy hour. Tonight the cans are only $2 EACH. They were XXXX but for that price even I drank them!!
Back to van for dinner, then over to Rick’s van for another happy hour.. I don’t know if I can keep this pace up!!!!!!!!!!
We ended up the day by watching a nice bedtime DVD, Hannibal Rising. Not what you would call a bedtime story
Asleep fairly early in readiness for a big day tomorrow 680KLM’s to Kununurra