We left Walkabout creek after a quick drink and rest break and then through Cloncurry and on to Mount Isa where we had a 4 day stopover to recharge, do shopping, cook up and most importantly, wash the sheets from the bed!
We went down a mine and around the museum, we did consider a helicopter flight over Mt Isa but as it was windy while we were there, we thought better of that.
While traveling towards Katherine, just north of the "Three ways," we stayed in a free camp where we met two elderly fellows who I can only describe as mad and madder! They were cycling (on push bikes!!) from Darwin to Newcastle NSW. A distance of 4000 kms. I said they were mad! Expecting to take about six weeks.
They were telling us how and what they carry with them as they have no support team and what they eat and how they ration themselves. As we met them they were running short on supplies ready for their next shop so we gave them some pasta bolognaise, fresh fruit and biscuits. It seemed such a small thing to us but they were very grateful and appreciative.
Daly Waters was a great little spot a long way from anywhere. We spent an evening enjoying good food and Aussie entertainment and also shared a secret with a pommie backpacker!
At Mataranka we experienced our first hot springs, really warm water and another great social meeting place.
We did the three gorge boat trip in Katherine and that was as spectacular as we imagined. We travelled along the gorge changing boats and walking tracks along the way with a beautiful rock pool and a great swim at the third gorge. We saw crocs and aboriginal rock art and marvelled at how high the water rises in the wet season. We learnt about a couple of "Black fella's calendar trees" one is the yellow kapok tree which, when in bloom is nesting time for the crocodiles and the other was a tree that looses it's bark to a beautiful peachy colour which indicates the start of the dry season. another tree we came across which is in bloom at the moment, and so pretty, is the Turkey bush, so named as the bush turkey likes to spend time around and under them.
Next stop, Edith Falls, a beautiful camp spot with wonderful swimming holes, before going on to Adelaide River.
At Adelaide River we stayed at Mount Bundy Station, a working property that has also gone into tourism. We enjoyed a weekend of camp drafting and rodeo (watching, not participating) and interacting with the local wildlife.
We are finding the time is going so quickly, but with no time restrictions we can take our time and just enjoy the moment.
Next stop, Darwin