Sunday 7 July 2013

Time flies when you are having fun!


Four days since we have reported in.  Some of that time lag is due to no internet connectivity as well as a lack of other essential human comforts...read on to see more about that below. However it is mostly due to our days being full and spending the time seeing so much of this magnificent country of ours.

Since we last blogged we left Barkly Homestead and headed toward the Stuart Highway where we hung a right toward Darwin. Only 710 km of 3600 to go! Onto our next overnight stop.
 Next overnight stop was the historic Daly Waters where the explorer Stuart discovered water in 1862. Prior to the 2nd World War, Daly Waters was the site for the first International Airport in Australia and refuelled planes and passengers en route to London. The trip cost 275 pounds and took 8 days. Today, the pub is still a welcome destination for travellers. The pub is renowned for its service, hospitality, great food and cold,cold beer. Memorabilia adorns the walls from Irish football jerseys to bras. Wherever you look there is something interesting to read or ponder its origin.
However what the tourist guides don't tell you is the way they cramp overnight vans and trailers in on red dirt. ANd the amenities..well we won't talk about them
(We've already had a couple of nights where you could hear the neighbours snoring from a distance!)
So we opted for an unpowered site...but the laptop had gone flat. Oh my God... I had no keyboard to attach to. Ian smiled.
Off to the historic pub for the famed beef and barra and more great entertainment. Three different entertainers...music and bush poetry. "Chilli" was politically incorrect but very amusing!

Caught up with Stan and Cheryl we had met at Barkly Homestead (Coincidentally they are from our own home town!)
Toby and Janelle were next door...a delightful young couple who have emigrated from the UK and are camping around Australia for six months before settling.
Off the next morning and over 500 kilometers up the road to Katherine. We saw the first water in a creek since  leaving South East Queensland almost a week ago.
Shady Lane Tourist Park was a great choice and lives up to its name. Met up with a lovely couple, Alan and Jenny from Gosford and were invited 'next door' for pre-dinner drinks around the camp.
I love this camp socilaising


Such a nice tropical shady location we decided to stay for three days.

Next morning we wandered down to the Katherine River in search of out first crocodile and I was a bit perturbed when the park owner warned to watch out for snakes!
But no snakes or crocodiles were spotted!
A restful day the second day and then we headed off for a sunset dinner cruse on the spectacular Katherine Gorge.
Words are inadequate to describe the beauty...the pictures tell it all.
And dinner... kangaroo with blue cheese and tomato and basil dip. Cream of crocodile soup, barramundi and prawns followed by coconut and ginger creme brulee.
We are doing it tough!
We were seated with two couples. One from Tamworth and in another coincidence, David and Elizabeth shared many of our Newcastle connections! We are planning to catch up with them on a sunset cruise in Darwin on Friday night.

Time to chill and make another cuppa. Belinda...will you please let Aunty Muureen know we just ate the last ANZAC bikkie!

Till Darwin
Over and out!



3 comments:

  1. It looks wonderful, Annie! Steve even asked me if I thought I might like to do a trip like this one day! (yes!) Great stimulus here for Outback Affair. ;)
    Cheers,
    Sue

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  2. Oh my, it brings back so many memories. Have you been on a corroboree and aboriginal walkabout as yet. Make sure you do. They are awesome. Looks like you are having fun. :)

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  3. Hey guys! Sounds like you are having great fun, we are getting very excited about heading North to take care of Bob! Safe travels. Katy and Jason

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