We have had another great couple of weeks across the Savannah Way and have made it safely to Cairns.

We departed Darwin on Day 84 headed for Katherine, where we spent the night with Carney Ganley (Mark's mate that we met on the East Alligator river) and his wife Kate and son Jackamarra. The kids had a great time in a house with toys and a television and a playmate the same age as Tess. In fact Tess and Jack hit it off so well that Tess decided to have a sleepover in the spare bed in Jack's room (we slept a couple of doors down in the camper on Carney's vacant block).

We set off on Day 85 with the Savannah Way in our sights. First stop was Mataranka Springs where we enjoyed a lovely warm swim and floated down the river - the kids had their snorkels and life jackets on and it was fabulous. We bush camped that night just shy of Roper Bar and travelled the last stint of the 200kms on Day 86 before we hit Roper Bar. It was a very slow and dusty trip and gave us a true taste of what was to come over the next few weeks. The kids were very disappointed to find that there is in fact nothing at Roper Bar - they had geared themselves up for a game of pool and a diet coke at the 'Bar', and were quite miffed at the fact that the 'bar' is actually the bar of rocks across the river! Tess said 'they shouldn't be able to call it a bar as they don't even sell beer!'. We put the boat in for an hour or so in the arvo, and I caught a rippa snag that we all thought was a Barra for a while...and in fact Max is happy to say it was a Barra and that it took me under the rocks (he's so kind).

We arrived at Lorella Springs on Day 87 after another slow day in the car (310kms and it took us 6 1/2 hrs to do it), and were looking forward to staying put for a bit. We arrived on "Territory Day" (1st July) - where people are allowed to buy fire crackers and let them off wherever they like! Needless to say the kids were pretty excited to hear that fireworks would be on up near the bar at 730pm, just after the Cane Toad race at 630pm! The kids enjoyed barracking for their toad, but neither of them took out the prize of the bag of lollies. The fireworks were set up on the road and everyone sat around on the lawn watching them shoot up in front of us - it was great fun. Day 88 started off with Mark and the kids enjoying a paddle in the warm springs at the bottom of the campground (there are a number of different thermal spring pools on the station) - the temp is like a warm bath. We left camp after morning tea and headed to "the waterslide" (see pic) - an hours drive from camp followed by a 45min walk in (with a slight delay on the walk, having seen a yellow snake on the way in!). Tess described the waterslide as 'fun-o-riffic', and we only wish we'd taken a picnic lunch and arvo tea in there with us so we could stay longer. A family from Darwin camped next to us that afternoon and the kids hit it off right away. We ended up enjoying a drink and marshmallows with them by the fire that night and it was great. Day 89 saw us head to 'The Cascades' (an hour from camp) to see if we could catch a Barra. We put the boat in (without the motor) and paddled through the billabong with the kids in their life jackets for a couple of hours (slightly delayed again - this time due to the fact that Mark had to retrieve Max's lure from a tree that he cast into from the bank!). Mark had a fish take his lure and also chomp right through his line - he's not sure what it was, but was very happy to see his $15 lure pop up out of the water a couple of minutes later. I had a barra have a go at my lure right up close to the boat - the water was so clear I saw his cheeky eyes looking at me. We returned to camp for another dip in the warm springs, however Tess only managed 10mins before she went into an area she wasn't supposed to and I had to drag her out (she screamed all the way to the camper and put on a right show for everyone). Mark and Max made Malcolm Douglas' honeycomb toffee for sweets and it was a hit.

We left Lorella Springs on the morning of Day 90 and had another big, long, dusty day in the car! It took us 8 1/2hrs to do 480kms and the kids (and I) were really starting to get sick of the corrugations and the bulldust. We made it to the Qld border late afternoon, and although we were keen to push on a bit further, by the time we hit Hells Gate at 530pm we'd all had enough. We had an early start on Day 91 and set off for Lawn Hill NP - a spot that Mark had heard a bit about and had always had on the list of places to visit on the trip. We had booked our two nights at the campground (only 15 spots avail) back at Katherine, and were happy to finally arrive at lunchtime - after 4 1/2 hrs and only 205kms covered (sooo slow - more dust and heaps of gates to open on the way in). We headed off on our walk to Indarri Falls after lunch - an hours walk to the Falls, followed by a swim and then a walk around the top of the Gorge back to camp. It was 430pm before we made it back to camp and we were all a bit hot and bothered by the end of it - the climb around the gorge was very rocky and steep in places (Mark worked extra hard piggy backing Tess again). We walked again on the morning of Day 92 - this time around to 'Wild Dog Dreaming' - a site of aboriginal art where no photos were permitted. We came back to camp via the Lower Gorge walk and then up to the 'Cascades' - nothing spectacular but lovely all the same. After a rest at lunch we set off to hire a canoe for our paddle up the Gorge back up to Indarri Falls. It was a bit of an effort for Mark who had to contend with Max and Tess attempting to 'help' him paddle using their oars (Tess copped the handle of Max's in the mouth at one point!). Tess was the only one who enjoyed another swim at Indarri Falls when we got there - we pulled up alongside the rocks and dropped her in over the edge and she happily paddled around in her life jacket (see pic).

Day 93 was another long day - this time headed for Karumba (8 1/2 hrs in the car and 520kms covered). We stopped at The Purple Pub at Normanton for a quick drink (see pic), but didn't manage the game of pool that Max was after (no kids allowed in the bar which neither of the kids were very impressed with!). We made it to the caravan park at Karumba late arvo and the kids enjoyed some computer time in the evening - a bonus of having power as opposed to only solar. Mark and the kids dropped me to the Market on Sunday morning (Day 94) with my cards, and managed to spend $5 on a new tackle box (for lures) before I'd even made a sale. We were back at camp by 1pm and Mark and the kids enjoyed a kilo of prawns for lunch - Pa enjoyed getting the photo via text! We went back down to the beach in the arvo for a relax, before heading to the Sunset Tavern for a beer, a game of pool and to watch the footy ! We grabbed fish and chips for tea and watched a cloudy but lovely sunset over the Gulf (see pics).

Day 95 started with a gift from a lady at the Caravan Park - some Sooty Grunter fillets for the freezer - she said she thought it was great that we were travelling with the kids (Mark thought it would have been nice if she'd also offered to take the kids for a few days!!). We visited the Barramundi Discovery Centre before leaving town, and it was great. The kids enjoyed the 45 min tour and loved the chance to feed the big Barra in the tanks. I got Max on video as the pilchard was ripped from his hand - they swam slowly up to him watching him, and then all of a sudden they 'SMASHED IT' (Max's words) with a great thump and splash. Tess had a go too, but dropped the pilchard before the fish took her finger off! The remainder of the day was made up of more driving - Mark had warned us there'd be lots of kms to cover on the 'driving days' across the Savannah Way, but the kids were really starting to get sick of it (and as a consequence the fighting began). We camped overnight at Mt Surprise and got rained on for the first time since the tropical shower in the Bungle Bungles nearly three months ago.

We packed up in the rain on the morning of Day 96 and headed for Mareeba. We had a brief stopover in Atherton before arriving late arvo at Tonina (Grant's sister) and Darren's. The kids made some more new friends.....Chloe and Joss were great and the boys and girls played brilliantly. We enjoyed a lovely BBQ tea with them that night before dragging the kids away from each other for bed.

The trip into Cairns (Day 97) was a slow one - 'how long until we see Jaida and Ruben?' - answer '30 mins' - 'how long till we see our cousins?' - answer '28 mins' etc etc. We arrived mid arvo and set the camper up and were then greeted by Tony and Ruben (Max and Ruben were wrestling on the ground within 20 seconds). We headed down to see where their unit was, and then Tony took us into number 15 to show us where we'd be staying once the boys headed off fishing. The kids didn't know that Mum and Dad had flown up to see them, and it turned out that the surprise was a bit too much for Tess. Mum and Dad were hiding under the bedspread and when they sat up and yelled 'SURPRISE', Tess backed away into the corner and didn't move or speak. She told me later that she thought they were monsters, and that 'those people scared the heck out me' (referring to Mum and Dad, and Hughie and Sandy who were hiding in the bathroom!). Once we got over the initial shock, the kids got down to playing, riding bikes and jumping on the jumping pillow, and we all enjoyed a BBQ down by the playground that evening. Day 98 started with free pancakes by the pool followed by more swimming, riding bikes and playing at the waterpark. The girls hit the DFO Friday morning (Day 99) while the boys mucked around trying to get the steering fixed on the boat, followed by a fish down the pier. We all headed out for dinner at Cazaly's that night, and for $2 per adult were able to join as members and get money off all meals and drinks as well as receive raffle tickets for draws throughout the evening. Shell shouted Bingo during the second raffle and then I did too! Shell managed to win a great big Ham and I won a Meat Tray, so we were pretty damned chuffed. They did a Lucky Draw for all of the unclaimed prizes, and I managed to win a Chicken Tray too (see pic)! The kids played with play-doh most of the evening and then cut up the dance floor with the band - watching them dance and sing to 'I've got the moves like Jagger' was hilarious.

Day 100 today and we packed up the camper early (Mark set the alarm for 630am) and moved into our cabin. As we waved goodbye to the boys at 9am Tess turned to Sandy and said 'where is my Dad going anyway?'. Once they were on their way we settled down to await the arrival of our massage lady (Mum, Dad, Hughie, Sandy, Shell and I had booked a 1/2 hr each). It's off to the pool for a bit now, and then off to the footy this arvo - Richmond vs Gold Coast Suns.

Hopefully a shorter blog next time as it will be like groundhog day here now for the next week - pool, waterpark, mini golf, movie night, free pancakes etc ! Shell and I don't intend on going very far, and we have Mum and Dad here till Mon and Hugh and Sandy till Tues. I'm sure Mark will enjoy his time away with the boys - and lets hope they come home with a big Barra or 10 (and some pics I can share).

Until next time.....