Trip to South Australia, Western Australia, Northern Territory and New South Wales #12

#12

Tues 20^th.  We left the Oasis and headed south to Katherine.  We arrived just after 12md and set up the van and then went into town for a coffee.  What a surprise to find quite a few of the coffee shops are closed at 2pm.  WT!!!  One owner told us she closes at that time to pick up school children (OK) but the Coffee Club was also closed at that time and two others down the main street were also closed.  We finally managed to get a coffee back at the van :D

We then went up to the pool for a pleasant cool off for an hour.

We went to the ‘Barra Bar’ Restaurant – attached to the caravan park for dinner.  Darryl had crumbed Barra and chips and I opted for the gluten free Butter Chicken and Rice cooked by the Indian chefs.  Thoroughly enjoyed it, but by 2am my stomach wasn’t and promptly vomited and then had reflux until 11am.  Not sure what the issue was but it seemed to settle after that.

Wed 21^st. Once I was up and about, we headed down to the Katherine Hot Springs (a 400 metre walk down along the river) and had a fantastic 1 ½ hours in the springs.  The water was crystal clear, and it was fun watching all the little fish in the water and watching the native figs float by.  We then went for a drive around town and out past the hospital to Knott’s Crossing.  I can remember Michael and Lis Howard used to come to work this way from Emungalan.  Unfortunately, you can’t do that anymore, due to the sand build up on either side of the crossing.

We called in to the ‘Happy Corner Store and Takeaway’ for a cold drink on the way back to the van.  When we first arrived in Katherine in 1988, this was THE place to get a hamburger with the works.  They stood about 7inches high and had a skewer in them to keep them together.  We saw one this time and it was about 4inches high but still took skill to eat it :D 

Mind you – to get a hamburger, with a meat patty and nothing else is priced at $6.50. To get one with the works is $9.50.

Back to the van and a quiet evening after a swim in the cooler pool.

Thurs 22^nd.  We went into town to do some grocery stock up before we head south and decided to stop at ‘The Finch’ Café – just in case our friend Brian Wrigglesworth – was there.  After we ordered and went out the back – there was Brian and a group of about 8 others.  We found a seat under the shady trees until Darryl was encouraged to go and say hello.  This worked out to be great as he met up with one of the fellows he worked with in Williamtown, as well as all the others.  They all chatted for about an hour.

Whilst he was doing this, I was liaising with a couple of ladies next to me, and arranged to meet them at the Christmas markets, being held at the Museum at 6pm. 

On return to the van I started to write out our Christmas cards.  Some will get cards and others – who have an email address – will get a Christmas email.

We went to the markets and got some books to read by a local Author – one of the ladies I had been chatting with that morning.

Fri 23^rd.  Well the heavens opened at about 4am and continued until 10am.  By 8.30am, Darryl had decided that it was far to wet to travel, and he really didn’t want to drive into the rain, so he went and booked us in for another night.  I then spent most of the morning finishing the Christmas cards and then went to the Post Office and sent them off. 

We then had a quiet evening in the van and I started getting ready for travel.

Sat 24^th. We were on our way from Katherine by 8.30am.  It was a pleasant drive down to Mataranka. This is the area where Jeannie Gunn wrote ‘We of the Never Never’.

We are set up in the Bitter Spring Cabins and Camping grounds, only about 700metres from the Bitter Springs themselves.  After we set up, we went for a swim in the springs.  These are a thermal spring, coming out of the ground at about 33 degrees – quite pleasant.  The water flows very fast from left to right and flows into the Roper Creek, then into Waterhouse River, then into the Roper River which in turn flows into the Gulf of Carpentaria.

The experience was ok but the smell of rotting vegetation, and all the algae floating in the water spoilt the experience.  We then headed into Mataranka [checking where the toilet dump point is located] and then out to Mataranka Hot Springs at the Elsey Homestead.  There is a replica homestead here and I must say, it needs some TLC.  The display inside looks like it has silt from the last flood still on it and some of the path has been washed away.

We went to the thermal Springs and what a difference.  Lovely and clear and no floating algae or the smell of rotting vegetation.  Yes – there were bats up in the trees but there was no guano on the ground or on our towels when we got out of the water.  A much pleasanter experience.

Back to the van and put the AC on as it was 38 degrees – it is now a cool 25 degrees inside and 36.5 degrees outside.

Sunday 25^th.  We really didn’t do too much today as it was oppressively hot.  Went for a swim and then stayed around the van and in the air con.

Mon 26^th.  We headed out and down the highway to Renner Springs and stopped here for the night.  Not a bad spot but because of the recent rains the pool was green, and they were ‘treating’ it.  So even though it was really hot we could not cool off in the pool.

Tues 27^th.  Down through Tennant Creek, fuelled up at Barrow Creek and then stopped at Ti-Tree Roadhouse for the night.  This was much better than last night, BUT this pool was also closed for ‘maintenance’.  We did however see a few of the permanents in the water later in the evening.

Wed 28^th we headed down the road and stopped at Aileron to get some photos of the ‘BIG MAN’ for Shirley’s friend Greg.  This is a good walk of about 20 minutes to the base of the statue.  The BIG MAN is about 8 metres tall and overlooks the Aileron Roadhouse and community.  There is also a large statue of a woman, child and goanna down at the roadhouse. 

We then continued on our way to Alice Springs and checked into the Wintersun Caravan Park.  Once set up we went for a drive into town and found some murals before heading back to the park and a cooling swim in the pool.

We managed to contact our friends Wendie and Darrel and arranged to have dinner with them tomorrow.

Thurs 29^th.  Went for a wander around the town and finding more of the murals/street art around the town and then went up to the Anzac Hill before going back for a swim and then out to meet Wendie and Darrel.

Fri 30^th. We were invited out to Wendie’s workplace, ‘The Purple House’, for a tour.  What an amazing place.  They do renal dialysis for clients in town and also take them back to community and do the dialysis there.  We met so many lovely people and it was great seeing them all enjoying themselves.

We then went back into town and had a wander around the CBD.  We extended our stay at the park by one night as we are going to join Wendie and Darrel for a BBQ tomorrow night.

Sat 1^st Dec.  Today would have been my girlfriend, Valerie’s, birthday.  She would have been 63.

Today we did a tour of the Telegraph Station, then into the Yubu Napa Gallery and gift shop.  WOW. What a great place with local artists coming in and doing their paintings in the rooms towards the back.  You can stay and watch them do their craft.  So many great paintings available.  Some older style with traditional colours and some of the younger artists with the bright modern colours.  Lots of decorated gumnuts and seeds and bush toys.  A great place.

We then went to do the groceries and then to get ready for dinner.  We had a great evening chatting with Wendie and Darrel before saying our farewells and heading back to the van.