Sunday 30 June 2019

Time to Head South Again, then East

What a terrific time we had in Darwin, but now it is time to head south, and our first stop is Katherine again. Hear we had two nights so as to have a chance to take in the boat trip on the Katherine Gorge. What a breathtaking sight.




After Katherine we continued south covering towns that we had stopped off at on our way north. We have been absolutely stunned by the number of caravans, camper trailers etc that are travelling the highway, we reckon that there is only about 5-10% of vehicles are actually sedans.


A little further down the track we took a turn off the highway and made our way into Daly Waters - oh my gosh, the vans lining up to book into the small caravan park there!


I have to say that the 'servo' in town was rather 'cute', you would almost have to unhook your caravan to get in and get fuel, and yet it says it is 'drive-through'.


Now for the pub, that too was an experience in itself. It was just amazing.




From here we carried on to our nights stop over at Dunmarra in the campground at the back of the roadhouse. Decided to have dinner there, and oh my gosh!! Both of us were flat out trying to finish our respective meals. Pete had the 'Top End' steak sandwich and I had the chicken burger. Trust me, it takes a lot to stump Pete.



From here we continued on down through Elliott and Renner Springs before we came to the Three Ways Roadhouse where the highway either continues on through Tennant Creek and onto Alice Springs and eventually Adelaide, or you turn left - east - for Queensland, oh yeah!


We did however spend the night at Tennant Creek which is just 20 kms south of the 3 ways, before starting out early the following day on what was to be our longest days travel of the trip - some 475 kms that would get us across the border into Queensland at Camooweal.

As Pete would say, this is one of those 'never-ending roads ..... this is where you mull over ideas that might just work for all that fabric purchased at Alice Springs and Darwin.


About 216 kms into the drive, there is the chance for a break and a refuel of both vehicle and bodies at the Barkly Homestead.



From here it is the count down to where we cross over back into Queensland - our home state.


And still the road continues, and the thoughts of craft projects continues.


Nearly there.

For now though, it is farewell from the Northern territory.

Tuesday 25 June 2019

We Left Darwin with a Shake!

Yes, well ...... we left Darwin yesterday morning, only to hear about 4 hours later that Darwin had had a 7.2 magnitude earthquake around 12.30pm that had it's epicentre in the Banda Sea some 700 kms north of Darwin.

We thought it was just a bit of a rough bit of road. However, we have since been told that it was felt in Katherine (where we now are) some 300 kms south of Darwin.

All safe though, and will set off on catching up with some adventures here in Katherine.

The Top End

Yes!! We made it - we have reached the end of the road in Darwin.



Our first day into Darwin was just a 'getting to know you' day, where we visited the Information Centre and booked a couple of tours that we were interested in before getting some lunch and eating it in the park in the park at the end of the road. What a view.


 

The following day was the first of our ventures and we travelled via Humpty Doo to the base for Jumping Crocodile boats that take tours on the Adelaide River - what a trip. It was over two hours in length and we sure did get some great sites. On these tours they actually do feed the crocs (carefully with rods) and hence the crocs jump to get the meat or fish. We even saw a couple of female crocs fight for the right to have a feed.





On the way back to our base, we stopped off at Humpty Doo to got a photo of the 'Big Croc'  near the Humpty Doo Post Office.



Now it was time to go find and check out the only patchwork shop in the Top End. Some years ago (9 to be precise) I purchased a couple of kits from them online and have been looking forward to visit their store sometime. This is the time!!

I purchased a kit to make hexagon coasters, some fat quarters - believe it or not in Christmas prints, and an indigenous panel that I am also wondering what I can make with it. Oh the trials of buying fabric without a plan. Trust me I will come up with something.


Following this exhausting exercise, we headed to Mindil Beach to check out their famous sunset markets. Lots and lots of food stalls and numerous other stalls that, to be honest, for us was quite a disappointment, mainly stuff from Bali and South East Asia. However it was an enjoyable time checking it all out.



Friday saw us have a relatively quiet day, well for Pete anyway. For me it was a catch up with washing day, before a real treat on Friday night. We were taking a sunset dinner cruise on Darwin Harbour. What a night, the sunset was stunning, the dinner was scrumptious and the views and commentary was outstanding and very informative.

Our boat - Spirit of Darwin


 Mindil Beach from the water







On our way back in to dock, there was some fish feeding under the wharf.


Darwin by night.


we still had another couple of nights in Darwin, but chose to stay at our base for a well earned rest. This is the sunset on our final night in Darwin from the caravan park.


How can you top that? For now, it is farewell from Darwin.

Monday 17 June 2019

Central Australia

Upon leaving Coober Pedy we stopped off at Marla for which is the small outback town that is at the beginning/end of the Oodnadatta Track that comes across the desert from Marree. A very popular 4WD venture for those that want an adventure. We just stopped for a coffee break.



Have to say the road has been incredibly great, in really good condition considering the traffic/trucks/roadtrains that run up and down the Stuart Highway from Port Augusta to Darwin. There was one section though that gives you peace of mind, it is a run-way painted onto a straight bit of the highway so that for any emergencies, a plane from the RFDS (Royal Flying Doctor Service) can land if required.


The time has come for us to cross the state border into the Northern Territory.


Just another 20 kms we found our nights stop at Kulgera at the roadhouse that had a camp area at the rear, as do most roadhouses, and on the whole they are quite reasonably priced too.






From here it was a relatively short run into Alice Springs for a 2 night stop off. We have previously visited the area of Yulara/Uluru and therefore decided not to go out there again. However, if it had rained, yes we would have gone out to see it 'raining on the rock' - it didn't rain! We stopped at Erldunda Roadhouse at the intersection of the Stuart Highway and Lassiters Highway (the way out to "The Rock') for fuel and noticed on their specials board the following ....



We had a bit of a problem booking in to Alice Springs as it was the day after the Finke Desert Race (an off-road car race through the desert) and a lot of the competitors were still around town and catching their breaths before leaving on their long drives back to their various states. But we managed to secure a site and caught up with our washing etc. and a bit of retail therapy. For Peter that meant going to the supermarket, for me - a couple of fabric shops.

This photo is of the 'gap' at the southern end of Alice Springs of the McDonald Ranges that you drive through.

The very dry Todd River that does not normally run through Alice Springs - there is the odd occasion that it is a raging torrent though.


And of course here is the result of my retail therapy - 25 squares of lovely indigenous fabrics.


On leaving Alice Springs we stopped off to check out the Tropic of Capricorn cairn - we have been at the one on the east coast at Rockhampton in Queensland, now in Central Australia, and hopefully (maybe) next year we shall cross it on the west coast of Western Australia.


From here we continued north along (what seems) the never ending road towards our goal of Darwin.


Along the highway were several roadhouse stop offs including Ti Tree, oh and Barrow Creek, the roadhouse/bar here was something else, with a special 'barman' ....



From here we continued on and found a funny little place - just another roadhouse -  however at Wycliff Well which is supposedly (?) the UFO capital of Australia. Well ...... suffice to say, we did not see anything or anyone untoward.




We continued on at at a stop at the roadhouse at Wauchope, came across this appertising sign!!


Our night's stay at Tennant Creek was uneventful, with us stocking up the pantry with a few essentials. We continued on the next morning passing the intersection called the '3 Ways' which is where the Barkly Highway comes in from Mt Isa in Queensland, and of course the road north to Darwin and the road south to Port Augusta and Adelaide.

This never ending road continued on through Renner Springs, to Elliott and onto Daly Waters for this night's stop.


It was here we met a lovely couple who wee travelling from Victoria and heading for Western Australia, and as each van that booked into the camp ground, we were given a drinks voucher for a beer and a glass of wine - we'll be in that! And on the strength of that, the four of us also had dinner there as well.

The following morning was a sight to behold - a beautiful sunrise about 6.30.


From here we continued on through Larrimah and onto Mataranka. What a busy spot, caravans, camper trailers and every other assortment of conveyance was there and  we wandered into the community market held in the main park. What a gem! Just a tiny community raising money for their Christmas night 'on the town'.


The schoolkids (with their teacher) had a stall selling pieces of jewellery that the kids themselves had made. Then ... there was a stall with a lady who had made some really cute 'caravan purses' for putting anything small in them, but perhaps for your coin for the washing machines you need on the road. They really are cute, and I really, really had to get one. I also bought a Christmas potholder a lady and her grand-daughter had made. Got a bargain here, a potholder that had a recipe printed on the fabric for sugar cookies. Oh yumm!

 
It was also here at Mataranka that we saw the biggest termite nest we have ever seen - Pete says he thinks it maybe in the vicinity of twice as high as him, possibly around 10-12 ft high. Mind you, you see hundreds, no  thousands of them along the roadside.


From a lovely stop-off here in Mataranka, we continued on to Katherine. What a lovely caravan park, the sites were all shady and cool looking. It is the first time we have actually used the air-conditioner in the van - oh it was warm. A special treat awaited us out the back gate too with a 350m walk down to the Katherine Hot Springs. Although they were not 'hot' they were a very comfortable temperature and most enjoyable.

 

Well, with a refreshing dip, a drink and a nice dinner, it is farewell from Central Australia.