Day 57
Mataranka Homestead
"But the people come, the people pay, they pay to watch me every day, as I jump through my hoop of fire....."
The circus came to town today.....
We had a sleep in this morning... Up by 8am and ready for another hectic day of relaxing in the thermal pools.
We first went for a drive into town to the Mataranka Markets - wow there were 4 tables of 'stuff' - on our way over to the other side of town to watch some Barramundi feeding. The feeding was disappointing - there was no attempt at handling and the whole thing was over in 10 minutes - not nearly as enjoying as when we were here last.
It was then onto Bitter Springs which is another thermal pool a bit more natural than at the homestead. It's deeper, full of dead trees and has a snaking river that has a current you can float along for about 200m till you climb out at a bridge and run back cold to do it all again! We were there for the rest of the morning - tough hey.
We returned to the homestead for lunch and a rest and whilst we were resting, the circus rolled into town .
Not any Circus mind you - the Great Moscow Circus. They are a city on wheels. We'd seen a truck in town at the markets - lets call him the point man.... We counted over 30 trucks of all shapes and sizes from b-double semis to caravans and even moving stables!
Guess there aren't many places this moving city can stay the night ! They have just started their Australian tour last Sunday and are on their way to Darwin and will be on the road for the next year finishing on Tassie. Circus folk are scary. I expected thieves and scoundrels. This setup is a bit more elaborate though. The boss man drives an Audi Q7.
Cayla loved the miniature Shetland ponies - especially one freaky looking one called Rasputin - he was white and had blue eyes!
We drove out through the Elsey National park this afternoon for a look around and then wandered through the replica Homestead used in the movie "we of the never never".
Tonight, dinner, beers and another outdoor gig with The Giants.
Tomorrow we get back on the road heading to another of our favourite spots, Daly Waters and the famous pub.