Douglas Daly Hot Springs (14th,15th,16th and 17th July)

Decided to turn off to Douglas Daly Hot Springs in Trewilyn National Park, not having heard huge positive or negative reports about it, like most other places. We arrived and set up, thinking how dry it was and doubted that the, so called hot springs, would be that fantastic. The fees are national park fees, 15.40/ night, however due to an argument between the caravan park owner 20 km down the road and national parks, no-one is taking care of it and the rubbish has piled up and the toilet almost blocked. The caravan park owner was meant to be paid 9,000/ year to look after the campsite, however they didn't pay him and now are in a fued over whose responsible. Quite sad really because the aboriginal people have leased this land to the government but, unlike most national parks I have to say, are not looking after this one very well. Might be a freeby!!

We walked down to the hot springs and this place has blown me away. We leave one place and think it can't get any better, but then it does. This place is magic!! Beautiful hot, hot water if you wan't, like a soothing steaming bath or cooler luke warm water or colder down stream. All natural and in its natural surroundings. If only Rye natural springs in Victoria, down the Mornington Peninsula, was free and kept so natural!! It is beautiful, but has been adapted to suit the, obviously comercially and economically driven owner, to make a bucket load of money. Here it is free for public use and absolutely fantastic. This is as good or probably better than going to a day pamper spa. Take a few drinks and snacks down to the water, have a good loofa (no soaps), and then finish with a herbal tea reading a good book. The cleaner fish are very active so give you a good exfoliation along with the fine sand grains which you can shape into any bath shape you wish. The beautiful minerals in the water leave your skin feeling soft and smooth and robust again.

The kids have enjoyed splashing and diving and somersaulting in the water with many other friends they have made. Being school holiday's there are many families around. The first day the boys and Ash made friends with boys aged 10 up to 14. The big boys were throwing our kids up in the air and tickling them and play fighting and our kids had the time of their lives. They played walked the plank ( trees fallen over in the water ) and played splashing games. What a time!!

We met a nice French family, on the 15th, who were camping next to us. Luuk was taking off the Australian sayings, slang and accents whilst the French family were in hysterics laughing at him. I don't think they even understood a word Luuk was saying, but that is what he enjoyed. The boys went to play a game of soccer with their new friends, but Ashley was too small to play, so we ventured over to watch. We ended up standing under a tree full of green ants and nests. We thought, as a joke, we would offer some green ants to the Frenchies. The daughter and son-in-law were very keen to try them and ate more than a few. I saw them go back a few times for seconds and thirds. The parents didn't dare try them, which stimulated some strange sort of conversation with Luuk about snails, but because Luuk was unaware of ''escargot' and the Frenchies unaware of the word snail , there was a lot of drawing going on in the sand. That evening we made bush damper so they could take the recipe with them back to France. They, in return brought over a recipe for Crepe Suzette. They have given us their address and emails and asked us to come and visit when next in Paris and thanked us for all the stories and information. We also showed them that we were learning French from a French APP on the telephone and Luuk, of course, was showing them phrases like, 'do you have a condom'. How he manages to get away with it, I do not know!!

Today, the 16th, I thought I would have a day when I wouldn't write the blog. This afternoon however, when we went back for a second swim, we sat with a few families from Western Australia and ended up having a beauty treatment which kept us, and many others who walked by, in hysterics. Luuk had gone walkabouts with two of the ladies and came back with beautiful deep dark grey and soft mud. The ladies were covered from head to toe and Luuk had it all over his face. They had supplies with them so the whole group, including all the children from 3-15 proceeded to cover themselves from head to toe. We had a great time and waited until it went dry and then thoroughly enjoyed washing it off in the creek currents. People came to look what we were doing and then it seemed to filter down the creek bed and all of a sudden there were people covered in mud all along the creek. Hilarious!!! We were tossing up business ideas, thinking we would take kgs of the stuff to Darwin and package it up and sell Fresh Douglas Daly Mud Facial Musks for $30 a tub and the beautiful fine sand for a body exfoliant and maybe even some of the cleaner fish to top of the treatment options. The amazing thing, although humorous, is that we all feel so clean and fresh and pampered and it cost us absolutely nothing. Better stay just one more day.

The kids used the mud/clay to make some pottery which we cooked on the fire to cure. We could also add this to our business adventure. Douglas Daly Clay Tea Cups and Pot. Maybe not this time however, as we are far too busy travelling, experiencing and learning for a new business adventure, but I have bagged a bit of the stuff to keep in the fridge to keep my almost 40 wrinkle lines at bay.