Alice Springs to Katherine

Well we have done a few k's in the last few days, conquered the Rock, trekked the Canyon now we are in Alice....what an interesting town. Needless to say we stocked up on supplies, did the washing (Cindy) and checked out what was to offer, mainly tours to all the places we have just been. Needless to say we were up and on the road first thing, after a little more retail theraphy and purchasing a  new Telstra Prepaid phone as the current ones do not have the same coverage as the new ones....bloody Telstra.

We headed north and a few hours in the request came for a comfort stop, pulling up there was a queue, a big Ass at the toilet door.......Cindy was to scared and then it chased us as we went to drive off....the strange things you see in the Territory.

Next stop was Wycliffe Wells, land of the Alien invastions or as it may seem except for the Chinese couple who now run the Roadhouse. Whilst Trev was busy getting a feed of very expensive diesel Cindy was busy chatting up a couple of green creatures.

Next stop was our planned destination for the night, Devils Marbles. After a quick stop and inspection of camping area we headed off again, not before getting some great shots. I think it was Cindy's fear of dingoes that changed her mind about staying the night.

We pushed on to Tennant Creek and set up camp in the local caravan park.........not as secure as you would hope but not too bad. The night was a little restless with all the locals fighting and screaming just the other side of the high fence that surronded the park...might have been quieter at Devils Marbles with all the dingoes, next time we will know better.

In the morning we did a quick drive around town and headed up to the Information Centre to pick up the key for the Overland Telegraph Station about 13kms north of the town. Must be a busy place that info centre, we had to leave $20 deposit for the key, looking in the register that last person to pick up a key was 4 weeks earlier. Was worth the effort though, very interesting and hard to comprehend how things must have been back then.
Due to the rising costs in fuel Cindy decided she would look to earn a little extra cash at the Telegraph Station, was a nice thought but the earning capacity of Pole Dancers at Tentant Creek Telegraph Station is not the same as the big smoke.....might have to try things when we get there.

Headed back in to town to drop of the key and fill up with fuel, also got the local Mitsubishi dealer to check the levels in Trev, all good does not look like there are any issues there....at least for now.

We pushed further north in to the heat and possible rain/wet season with a good plan to camp at Daly Waters and visit the Daly Waters Pub. Great place to stop for the night, $5 camping fee and the site was straight out the back through the beer garden. Had a couple of cold XXXX Golds served to us by an Irishman.....who would have guessed.

After a quick check out of the old WWII air base we headed north for Mataranka with plans to camp on the banks of the Roper River and have a swim in the thermal springs around town. The camp sites were not as they were rapped up in the Lonely Planet (but it is the offseason) so a good look around, stopping for lunch on the bank instead. Good to see just opposite the boat ramp was a Croc trap, we must be getting further north.....

 

The springs were very refreshing even that slightly warm, was heaps cooler than the 43 outside.

Instead of staying here we headed for Katherine Gorge, about another 130kms up the road. What an amazing place, once again there was very few people camping, must be getting too hot for the oldies (can relate though) and we had the place nearly to ourselves. Needless to say the wallabies decended on us as we parked on one of the few green patches. Now you think possums are bad when you camp, these wallabies stole and ate anything that was not put away, from carrots to brochures from the Info centre.......Managed to get a few nice shots of a mother and baby eating our carrots. The bloody things kept us up all night though.

In the morning we headed off for our cruise up the Katherine Gorge, only the first 2 (of 13 gorges). Amazing and when you think that levels rise up to 20 metres when in full flood, as we saw when we visited the museum in Katherine.

Quote of the week was spoked at the Info centre



We have managed to catch up with some old friends from the Brisbane days (Check and Bron) who now live in Tindal (Airbase just out of town). Check was posted here a bit over 2 years and they all seem to love the northern lifestyle (heat???). Always great to catch up with familar faces and the offer of an airconditioned room for a couple of nights is aways hard to refuse and in this weather gratefully apreciated

Next entry to follow - Trev the Triton....watch this spot.