Day 50
Lake Argyle - WA/NT Border - Gregory National Park- Victoria River Roadhouse & Station
"Steal love, Still life, we cross the border...."
We drove into the NT today after reluctantly leaving the beauty of the Kimberley behind. Once we hit the border the temperature went sky rocketing too - it was 36 degrees at 4.30 this arvo!
Today was a travel day. Firstly to acclimatise to the 1.5 hours we just lost that we've been used to for over a month and secondly to get that much closer to Katherine.
We left Lake Argyle after another swim in that awesome pool this morning and headed for the border.
Just after the border we detoured out off the highway on the red top for 10ks out to the Zebra Rock mine. This rock is fascinating and we spend a good hour fossicking for pieces that we then started to sand back to a smooth surface with wet/dry sandpaper & water. Lots more to sand once we get home but we got some great pieces.
Both the caravan and Disco got another dust bath going out there and look all that more authentic outback again as a result!
Once we were back on the highway the fog subsided and we continued on to Timber Creek which we drove straight through - too many stories about this place and we stopped for lunch at the Durack Memorial about 10ks out of town. We topped up the fuel with the jerry so that we could get up to Victoria River roadhouse.
It was 32 at lunch and by the time we got to Victoria River it was 34. Cayla decided that here was as good a place as any to stop for the night. It was cheap too - $20 for a powered site and so we all agreed.
We'd seen lots of signs to places in the Gregory National Park that we would have otherwise missed so we quickly unhooked the van and took off to have a better look. We drove to the Old Victoria River crossing, did a quick 1k walk (in the 36 degree heat!) and walked the old river bridge that has recently been rebuilt about 20m higher than the washed out one!
Back at the van we were glad to be on the power - the aircon blasting away to cool us all down - assisted by amber fluids of course!
Tomorrow we get to Katherine and rendezvous with Corinne's Mum and Dad at the hot springs. They will join us for the return leg of our trip.