Feeling the heat! After Daly Waters we went to Douglas Daly Region and stayed on the Daly River. Visited Butterfly Gorgeand spent 34kn round trip for nothing did not see one butterfly. Moved on to Kakadu. We had very high expectations about this place. It seems the locals burn the grass this time of year to clear out undergrowth and re generate but for the tourist the place looks like the aftermath of Black Friday bushfires. Everything is burnt to a cinder. Tree tops are green.

Left the van at the Ranger station and went to Gunlom. Pictured waterfall. Well! as you all know, we are tardy in the mornings so by the time we get anywhere it is always noon or thereabouts. Not to be daunted the track to the waterfall said 1 km. Now I can do 12km every day walking to Middleton and back but what we didn't know is that 500 of those metres were straight uphill over rocks boulders pebbles etc. I had to stop about 20 times as I thought I was dying. Brad was pleading for me to go back as he would not be able to get me down. I was giddy and almost fainting but I plodded on knowing I could cool off at the top pool. The infinity pool. Finaly after 60 minutes I made it and fell into the pool, nearly passed out with the cold but managed to float. Brad staggered up 10 minutes later and as he had no bathers on had to sit and watch while I languished in the pool cooling off. Needless to say it was a fast trip back down but I also had to swim in the billabing to cool off yet again. Its 33 degrees up here. We had a quiet trip home and went to bed at 8.30pm

Had a rest the next day then off again up to Nourlangie to see the Aboriginal art. Did the Yellow water cruise up the Aligator River, saw beautiful birds. Jabiru etc and crocs. theyu are everywhere. Today we Moved to jabiru. Went up to Ubir to see the Atherton tablelands. More climbing. but only 250 metres this time. Stunning scenery. Went to Cahills Crossing where the border is to the tablelands. The tide changed at 12.30pm so we sat and watched as it chnaged directions sea water flowed up stream then all the crcoc's came out feeding on the baramundi leaping out of the water. huge things 4 metres long.

Decided to stay in the caravan park before heading to darwin. Need a rest day and wash the mound of smelly t shirts.

The view from Ubir was what I thought all of Kakadu woudl be like, green and lots of waterways etc glad we made the ffort as I feel as if I have seen the "real" Kakadu. While waiting forroast to cook the sky filled with Bats. Millions of them so we hurried in doors out of the mozzie stampede.

Thank goodness for the little fans aka Graham and Sue Evett. They run almost 24 hrs a day. Do not think we owuld have survived without them. Solar panels sit out chained to the van while we scout about to keep them running.

Car and Van going a treat. Car had several washes as the dirt is amazing. I found more red dust under my bed today from Lawn Hill. I will need a vacuum to get ot out. All my white tshirts are now a pinky red colour from the dirt and artesian water. We picked up sweet water at Bank Bank that even I can drink so we are hanging on to it like its precious. Most artesian seems to be salty, even the waterfalls.