Burnin up some diesel - fifth Blog on the road 22nd - 26th July 2012

Now this is our fifth blog, I have uploaded two tonight so please don not miss our fourth blog you can find underneath this one

22/7/2012
Bit excited today we are going to the Pub, Daly Waters Pub that is. It comes with a bit of a reputation as an old pub in a town of 6 population which swells to 200-300 on any given night in the dry season. Tonight was no different we arrived at midday and the camp ground behind the pub was filling. By about 2pm they were pouring into an area opposite the pub. When we arrived we were convinced that the Barra and Beef night was the way to go and out appetites were wet with the entertainment. A lady from somewhere in Victoria entertained for an hour or so wasn’t too bad had her own cd’s for sale. Then we were entertained by a character called “Chilli” a former rodeo wrangler come clown come horse breaker come all round cowboy. He told yarns about his life and he was a scream, he sang a few songs in between and sold a couple of hundred cd’s at the end of the show. Not much else to report about Daly Waters other than if you come up this was and don’t stop there then you have missed a true Australian Icon or two if you count Chilli which you would nearly have to. He has won a songwriters at Tamworth for one of his songs and it was a ripper and you could understand the words.
23/7/2012 and 24/7/2012
Last night is going to be hard to beat, barramundi and a Chile. How would ya be without that combination and to say it was hot is an understatement. Be there or be square because if you miss it you will hear about it on the road and either have to turn back or live with regret. Today the head was a bit sore and long k’s were not something to in sight. We had discussed Mataranka and a couple of nights ago someone gave us a tip about a Caravan park, another bloody Caravan Park. Out Bitter Springs Road at Mataranka second caravan park on the left. Well did we score there, they had a choice of unpowered sites on the River so we said we will take one of those. We were right on the Little Roper River in ostensibly a bush camp. The boat came off the yabbie traps went in but the locals said that the Barra were not biting and the yabbies had dug their way intot he bank as Mataranka and indeed the whole north was experiencing its coldest winter in 30 years. And here we are coldest winter in 30 years on holidays and loving it. We swam in the Bitter Springs 500 yards down the road from our camp. Now Mataranka is well known for its hot springs and particularly the ones at Mataranka Homestead, we went and looked at them they were full of foreign exchange students and they had been concreted around the sides and looked like a council pool. The Bitter springs on the other hand had less people and had not been touched other than a set of steps to allow you to get in without breaking your neck. What an experience floating down on a noodle under the trees birds above 30 odd degrees of pleasure.
25/7/2012
Packed up and out of Mataranka early had a job or two to do in town and then off up the highway. We stopped off in a new truck rest area that hadn’t been opened yet and cut a wheelbarrow load of wood for the nights fire.
We stopped off in Katherine and again everyone was fussing over the Aboriginals, don’t stop here lock ya water inlet or it will be piddled in all the usual garbage. We parked up in a park full of aboriginals and at last count all the wheels are still on board and the fuel cans full and no piss in the water. They seem to me to just mind their own business.
We did some shopping then off up the road to where we spotted a turnoff to Edith Falls a National Park with a camping area . 25k off the highway to the camp. We wandered along and as we crossed the River I said to Anne look what I spot a nice little area right on the river. We pulled up lit a little fire and cooked a roast in the Camp Oven we were cooked and ready to eat by 5.30. Just after dark our second run in with bloody german tourists, a bongo bus and a troopy with two in each arrived and proceeded to park behind one of them poked his head out and said “we ok to camp here” to which Anne replied “no it’s a bit close don’t you think” to which he said “what you mean’ to which I said ‘rack off to somewhere else mate we are having a night alone”. One got out of th car and said we want to camp by the River I said that ok theres a dirt track 20 yards back up there hop on it and see where it takes ya. He asked did it take him to the River I said yeh yeh just keep driving until you get to the river you will get there soon enough. I don’t know where the road went but off they went.

26/7/2012
Today we arrived at Coolalinga Caravan Park on the southern end of Darwin. How delightful it is to be back in a City, can’t wait to get to the bush but we are having another auto electrical problem. Spent $500 on a part today and tomorrow the auto electrician is going to install it. It is a public holiday here so that is very good of him, will let you know when I get his bill.
We left our little spot at Edith River went dopwn to the falls nice enough but a bit of a let down, although to give it due it is in a very pretty part of the world. We headed off up through Pine Creek, stopped at Adelaide River for lunch. Didn’t do any sightseeing as we will go back the same way to Katherine when we finish at the Litchfield National Park which will be our next port of call all things being equal with the car. And guess what if you are reading this on the 27th it is all but up to date it is about 10.30 on the eve of the 26th.
They are having a cold snap in Darwin tonight, the minimum overnight is going down to 17 degrees oh how will I put up with it. Oh well best to try will catch you all on the flip side. Aint it great to be on holidays some form of retirement looks better as each day goes by, damn though you need money, oh well.