Normanton to Roper Bar via Gulf track

Have a great trip

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Kev
Hey the Whale season is on again, if pop into the thermal pool at Mataranka your sure to see a few big white ones floundering about there having a break on the annual journey North to warmer waters.

Last time I was there the whales were the fastest moving ones on the planet as the floundering changed to pure panic when a large python decided to join them in the thermal springs. The Japanese were the worst :)

It was a great way to have the springs all to ourselves though, SWMBO was a bit anxious though.

Kev

!MPG:8!

Kev
Gawd ...I didn't know they had a fish shop at Elsie Station

Don't know why, depends on the season, but iv'e been thru there is april and had no probs.

so your up to date with what the wet has been like hey ???

Doug,

From the 8th of May an Army Const Sqn is heading to Doomadgee to build the locals some new housing. It should be interesting seeing them get in there ATM, from all accounts it's still a bit wet up there.

Kev

Kev
It really annoys me when I hear about the houses , for near 40,000 years The true Australians live out around Kiwirrkurra in WA without houses, all of a sudden some bluddy do-gooder bleedin' heart in the city says they got to have a house ....at our expense, I know , i escorted them out there from Alice Springs.and if they end up like the ones in Papunya ....better stop before i drop a swear word

Hi Doug
We camp at that spot twice a year (gregory) not to many places better.

Doug,

They have been doing it since 1997, the first one was at Bulla near Timber Creek.

Other communities include Docker River, Oak Valley, Ammanbidgi, Yarralin, Lingarra, Yackanarra, Melville Island, Bickerton Island, Elco Island, Palm Island plus a few more.

It is all part of the reconcilliation.

Kev

I think I read a while back that Hell's Gate has closed also.

Banjo (WA)

Morning Viv
Looks like a nice Saturday here in Perth ......hate cities but .
OK about Lawn Hill it is a nice place , but you wouldn't want to have been around the area 509–506 mill' years ago ,go to my special webpage , look for Lawn Hill 6th under the 2 center photo's down the middle orange list , and while there check the "Wildfires" and the "Last Wave Goodbye" in red down the yellow list , It will give you idea that we are [ humans] here on borrowed time.

members.westnet.com.au/dtilley/impacts.htm

Doug

Don't forget Katherine Gorge and the world heritage listed Kakadu.

Cheers Steve.

Doug,

I've got a quiet arvo coming up so will spend it checking out the webpage. It's a lovely day here in the Southern Mallee....hopefully some rain soon though!

Steve,

Totally agree about Katherine Gorge and Kakadu...so much to see and do up there. In Kakadu I really enjoyed Gunlom, Yellow Waters evening or morning cruise, going out to Jim Jim and Twin Falls. That was before the barges. We swam up to Twin Falls!! Nourlangie Rock, Ubirr and Cahill's Crossing, Maguk....

We camped at Mardugal, Sandy Billabong, Merl, & Shady Lagoon.

Just thinking of all these places makes me want to head back up there!!

Viv

Lorella springs certainly is a nice spot after a few hot days on the road. Not sure how inviting it would be if there's still some wet about. From memory it's at least 30 minutes off the track, on a private road which the owner's don't grade.
We'll always remember the night we spent there. The Manager, a friendly bloke with a pretty casual approach to life, assured us that there were no crocs to worry about. Next day I asked why the crocs don't come up here, thinking the hot water had something to do with it.. "Well, (he drawls) when the owners bought the place about (however many) years ago there was a 14 footer living in the pool, but they shot him and we haven't seen another one since. Besides, we always send the dogs in first, and we've still got both of them."
I've since done a fair bit of investigation coz it scared the croc outa me. Top End residents stay alive with a simple rule.. "DON'T go in the water! There ARE crocs!" That applies right across the top above the 38th, coast-to-coast, including all inland waters. The ONLY exceptions are pools above waterfalls, crocs can't climb cliffs. But they do move across country if their hole starts to dry up. And after rain they will often swim upstream to places that haven't seen lizards for years.
Heading west from the turn-off to Lorella Springs watch out for the Burke & Wills tree. Their last main campsite before they met their demise. It was a great experience actually touching the blaze that those guys made so long go. Make sure you have a quality map, it'll have a lot of interest points along the track. You'll get heaps of good input if you talk to people at your campsites.
Stay safe on the track, Smudger.

OOOps, maybe that should be in a follow up

Regards

Jenko

That's a lot of beer :)

Kev

Jenko,

I better add some advice so as to be eligable for a beer too. LOL!!

Many years ago the park ranger drew me a mud map from Lawn Hill out to Doomadgee, it seem to take me through plenty of private property which was nice but a bit unnerving cause her distances were a fair bit out and confused me untill I hit the "Big Sign" she was talking about. Was a car door with painted sign on it, leaning up against a 44gal drum. This is now a fairly well documented "short cut" on most maps and is worth the drive in my opinion.

Enjoy your trip and see you at Gilhooley's Chermside for my beer ;-)))
Trevor.