tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35137655086428494282024-03-05T10:43:32.724-08:00M@tbe< on tour 2010What's this one about? A family trip from Central Victoria, through SA...then to the Red Centre....from there, The Top End, then finally home through Outback QLD and NSW (with a detour to Lawn Hill)M@tbechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16971751985819538199noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3513765508642849428.post-2747344094502907842010-08-05T23:51:00.000-07:002010-08-09T05:23:59.584-07:00BOURKE, GRIFFITH and HOME!We said our goodbyes to Mum and Dad and set off early from Charleville. The road to Cunnamulla was saturated...with lots of water lying alongside the road. Apparently a lot of rain had fallen a week or so before. We checked out Cunnamulla and saw "The Cunnamulla Fella" statue. Tried out a pie from the local bakery and it was terrible. Frey threw hers in the bin!<br /><br />We got to Bourke early enough to go into town and buy some lunch. Then we had a quick look at the Port of Bourke and The Darling River, before driving back out to North Bourke to set up the van at Kidman's Camp. Let me tell you...what a beautiful park! Right on the Darling...out of town, very clean amenities, beautiful pools, landscaped grounds and a terrific open fire area. The towel hangers in the bathrooms are horse-shoes...thought that was cool!<br /><br />Frey, Georg and I walked down to the Darling and saw the Jandra Paddleboat heading off on a tour. The girls and I did a spot of fishing and before long, G had landed a nice size yellowbelly. F was quite content playing with the worms we had bought. Bec decided that she would come down for a visit (with drinkies), so we sat and fished and had a nice bevvie! The rest of the night was spent in the van...catching up on the girl's school work and reading. Quite restful!<br /><br />We left Bourke early and by the time we were at Cobar, it was obvious that there wasn't going to be any more nice weather. From that point on...the temperature stayed under 12 degrees! Brrrrr! Quite a shock after 8 weeks of good weather....and the last 6 have been over 30 degrees. Anyway...we continued our long drive...stopping for a cuppa on the side of the road between Cobar and Hillston (a lonely stretch of road with lots of goats) before we got to Griffith early afternoon.<br /><br />I'd promised the girls a bit of retail therapy and Griffith delivered. We had a late lunch at Griffith Central Shopping Centre and looked around the shops. We then had a look up the main street before deciding to upgrade our powered site to a self-contained cabin. We felt cold, so we thought it would be nice to sleep in-doors and have a heater, tv and toilet/shower indoors.<br /><br />After tea, we decided to go to the movies across the road as a last night treat. As there wasn't much on for the kids, we all saw Eclipse again...the 3rd time for Bec and G!<br /><br />We left early the next morning and traveled home through Deniliquin...stopping for a coffee and a snickerdoodle at the Beechworth Bakery in Echuca. Walking back to the car, F looked into the Campaspe River and said "Are there crocs in there?". We all discussed just how used to the top end we had become...to the point that we were all expecting to see crocs! Lol.<br /><br />We were home by 1.30pm...after picking the cats up from Heather's. It was good to be home and we had lots of family and friends call in throughout the arvo and evening.<br /><br />So...the verdict?<br /><br />Bec must have enjoyed it. She thanked me for organising such a great trip and said it was so enjoyable and much better than our last escapade to FNQ. Her highlight? Gunlom by a whisker from Lawn Hill. Bec just couldn't get over swimming in cascades at the top of a huge waterfall...and when you looked out...you could see forever. No wonder they call it the infinity pool!<br /><br />Georgia struggled with missing her friends...but admitted it was a great trip and that (like Mum) she had enjoyed it more than our last trip too. Her favourite? Lawn Hill National Park. She just couldn't get over the experience of canoeing down emerald green rivers with blood red canyon walls towering over you on either side. Magic!<br /><br />Frey was Frey....she just went with the flow...and enjoyed wherever she was! Her favourite? Easy. Climbing the rock. She was so proud of herself going all of the way to the top. I guess it was a pretty good feat at the age of 6.<br /><br />Heather couldn't get past The Red Centre. She was expecting it to be a little dull...but couldn't believe how spiritual, ancient and beautiful it was. It was one of those cases where it was worth believing the hype.<br /><br />Mum and Dad are still travelling, so I'm not sure what was their favourite thing. I'm pretty sure it was Kakadu or Lawn Hill though!<br /><br />As for me? Well...I enjoyed this trip far more than last because I knew what to expect in terms of how fast the time flies...how the world still goes on without you and that everything is still going on as normal when you get home. Due to that, I feel that the holiday was even better than I could have hoped. We had sun from Day 1 to Day 56...with only a little bit of rain on the way home! The two weeks in the Centre were around the 20 degree mark...and the 6 weeks in the Top End and Queensland Outback were 30+...so we couldn't complain! We're all brown...which is a laugh now we're sitting in 11 degree weather.<br /><br />My favourite? A hard one. It would be a toss up between Gunlom, Jim Jim Falls or Lawn Hill....but since Gunlom and Jim Jim are both in Kakadu....I'm going to say Kakadu by a whisker over Lawn Hill. Like Bec...I though Gunlom was an unreal experience....while Jim Jim was one of those days in your life where you know you'll probably never do anything like that again. Swimming out 130 metres (in a plunge pool that is 50m deep) to the edge of a waterfall....that tumbles 100m from the top of the Arnhem Land Escarpment.....to sit under the spray is something that I will never forget.<br /><br />So...that's it....done and dusted! We're sad it's all over...but hey....how lucky are we that we had such a trip? Can't really be sad about that....and if the Universe is kind to us....there'll be more!<br /><br />So....final word....Viva La Vida! Live the Life! Get your backside into gear in the near future and travel...cause life's too short....and you just don't know how long any of us have got!<br /><br />So go!<br /><br />MBGF<br />August 6, 2010M@tbechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16971751985819538199noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3513765508642849428.post-21448886727011718282010-08-05T23:49:00.000-07:002010-08-09T03:29:42.048-07:00CLONCURRY, LONGREACH and CHARLEVILLE<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiPoNtjuV6lV4ZQ6YFJFToauNpA1IlAIgPdOWwwCBBq1X2FI7R9Rzfwgs0DNgiV5NhWkBbV80v2epCxRVh-B3UDYTCL3G8jdzEWdz-_V4TD_9j2kWAmAxR4d65RXeq7zzMY3QS93gzvK4/s1600/gf+stockmans+longreach.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503354281310818738" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiPoNtjuV6lV4ZQ6YFJFToauNpA1IlAIgPdOWwwCBBq1X2FI7R9Rzfwgs0DNgiV5NhWkBbV80v2epCxRVh-B3UDYTCL3G8jdzEWdz-_V4TD_9j2kWAmAxR4d65RXeq7zzMY3QS93gzvK4/s320/gf+stockmans+longreach.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjTUajWMx5AhYO3oFhZouITYQ242b5_Ax8u8dVuYsg5xfVV145GsvjrsMtOh0Z6iLpyojcYXiVijb0QEPi1nhO3zFuhIfpXAgUr5tZixpTND74MhsCPVaFeyxsniXRiHOeOEWMJyGpJx0/s1600/gf+qantas+hangar.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503353826883382866" style="FLOAT: left; 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MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxI_7bpyh8ChuB5pkY0o1zqIukoVRyHvzutKy-esfZkE2EW6X_pMJpbwGE3c6URv3_IraNl_vPn3nFwUaK6Z311zQLlLR11ktP4sXtyOkA0ORrfvYVIDGbWBdJeI5IU2i9eapEP5Q4VVg/s320/fg+waltzing+matilda.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAymObWf5zmyCxpjjB0GiMku3Iejoh7FVEytRup4EZjQME38nnehh_xAxAWUMyKjPZTyrXjq-LBFdVMKd73RD9ma8_aUoNR6jlfRxSnpHPWcZERGBijWpGDy0TBXRVBxDAo4EjVBCFV4c/s1600/fg+under+jumbo.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503353540773318066" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAymObWf5zmyCxpjjB0GiMku3Iejoh7FVEytRup4EZjQME38nnehh_xAxAWUMyKjPZTyrXjq-LBFdVMKd73RD9ma8_aUoNR6jlfRxSnpHPWcZERGBijWpGDy0TBXRVBxDAo4EjVBCFV4c/s320/fg+under+jumbo.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJZR_UqN_l5yHKh6WHlno2yg2HCpMglyMrlpAj5bFg14SoLrnPjNhCRJ0lHf9iC4ivb8xo97gEXkqVSHvHjJKg31j1Q1QnYS6TY4y_v0Kmxo3ikNBgQZQc3lMcFNtMNtcv1OLJA1uPzk4/s1600/fg+bilby+charleville.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503353457141930274" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJZR_UqN_l5yHKh6WHlno2yg2HCpMglyMrlpAj5bFg14SoLrnPjNhCRJ0lHf9iC4ivb8xo97gEXkqVSHvHjJKg31j1Q1QnYS6TY4y_v0Kmxo3ikNBgQZQc3lMcFNtMNtcv1OLJA1uPzk4/s320/fg+bilby+charleville.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNpVyaLHvfDbuxYahxktOwg6D5zE0iNBQKVjT6IKvrNeOHqR4Y1WSbCiuByl0EDl0p4Wso7Z6x6TLRHpEu6UrAcLhM4bin0YtwkGolvk2kzQqij-uIxPaIn7m8rcO57zt5thnxlLNkXrk/s1600/f+cockpit.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503353369726927458" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNpVyaLHvfDbuxYahxktOwg6D5zE0iNBQKVjT6IKvrNeOHqR4Y1WSbCiuByl0EDl0p4Wso7Z6x6TLRHpEu6UrAcLhM4bin0YtwkGolvk2kzQqij-uIxPaIn7m8rcO57zt5thnxlLNkXrk/s320/f+cockpit.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-iRQ44YsdYdd4eTP2P1dusIOIKNXIY2WD-KzZ_GeZhkYMY_OQcC9E3lh-XD6HcL17eQsMcZQ5Qw5NxcmRNliDvs2W2ImZaNLA9itcJlE20vjcUv4DglzjzQuxl31-8ZbTdHduRkB_mv0/s1600/bg+business+class.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503353094761792706" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-iRQ44YsdYdd4eTP2P1dusIOIKNXIY2WD-KzZ_GeZhkYMY_OQcC9E3lh-XD6HcL17eQsMcZQ5Qw5NxcmRNliDvs2W2ImZaNLA9itcJlE20vjcUv4DglzjzQuxl31-8ZbTdHduRkB_mv0/s320/bg+business+class.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXIgDd8JOoF1li81hfR1tW4Lj4t6zRHDbx5T55VewM94UvGhRWeK0zRFm3zaMFtP5d7vNNeItKHwdLLDUpLhe-MvAoyr3QYC-aD3IL5pZM7gy4Jz7lHphnJ6ELrrHo-nEHO1Xu6Qy-m0o/s1600/f+sunset+hill+cloncurry.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502243598545204498" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXIgDd8JOoF1li81hfR1tW4Lj4t6zRHDbx5T55VewM94UvGhRWeK0zRFm3zaMFtP5d7vNNeItKHwdLLDUpLhe-MvAoyr3QYC-aD3IL5pZM7gy4Jz7lHphnJ6ELrrHo-nEHO1Xu6Qy-m0o/s320/f+sunset+hill+cloncurry.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL37HXdXBnn4gTke8057qNo_lglZ-LY27MiUKvXcq1OJYSeA-i5nAra1DnDqv8J3L-AhkfbwxilHJ62Si2Prn2I_Ag_hyphenhyphensqV4SweDjFucoUTBUEqU8IkY7Fe6Trk7MXqE8vBFJD9rV4ds/s1600/brolga+near+burke+n+wills.JPG"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><div></div><div>We started our massive drive home on Friday from Adels. We stopped at Burke and Wills again for lunch and then continued on...arriving at Cloncurry...or “The Curry” as the locals call it by early afternoon. We set up in the Gilbert Caravan Park and couldn’t get over how warm it was there. For some reason, the weather was nudging 35 degrees...so we went down to the pool (which was really nice) and had a refreshing dip and a lay on the poolside lounges under the shade of a coolabah tree...lol! Before sunset, Frey and I walked to Sunset Hill where I took a photo of the little lass, face aglow in the twilight!<br /><br />We got up early and headed for Longreach. On the way we drove through farmlands and barren places....all beautiful though! At lunch time, we stopped in Winton and had the best meat pie at The Waltzing Matilda Centre (Coolibah Cafe). On the way out, I took a good snap of the girls with the swagman outside the museum.</div><div> </div><div>We got to Longreach at around 330pm and set up in a drive-thru site. We unhitched and relaxed outside in the chairs having a few drinks...then we walked over to the Woolshed (a restaurant in the park) for tea. It was a great meal and not overly expensive. Bec, Mum and Dad really enjoyed the country and western entertainment there too...a couple singing songs by Dolly, Johnny Cash, Slim Dusty etc. Bec said it reminded her of her Dad. The duo singers were actually really good.<br /><br />As we were staying 2 nights in Longreach, we got to sleep in....until 9am, which was nice. Once we got moving, we headed to the QANTAS Founders Museum for a look around. It was an awesome place to visit. You got to see different planes in the evolution of the company, read lots of interesting facts, see lots of interesting items (eg. Old menus, uniforms etc.) and go into the original hanger where QANTAS started!<br /><br />We met Mum and Dad for lunch there and then Bec, Georg, Frey and I did a tour of the retired Jumbo 747 “City of Bunbury”. We got to walk out under the jumbo and learnt all about different parts of the exterior of the plane. Georg and Frey then climbed a ladder and stood in the propeller/motor of the jumbo and had a professional picture taken. We climbed up into the cargo hold to have a squiz and then finally we climbed up into the jumbo. Inside we watched a few short videos and toured around different sections of the plane. We even got to sit in business class and go upstairs to first class for a look. On the way out we all went into the cockpit for a look....and gee....is there a lot of dials and buttons in there!<br /><br />After leaving QANTAS, we drove across the road to the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame. After entering, we toured through the galleries looking at exhibits on: Aboriginals, explorers, pioneers, rural life and of course stockmen! My favourite part was the explorers section where you could read about each of the explorers...and then on the way out of that section there was a huge interactive map where you could push an explorer’s name...and see their path light up on a huge map of Australia. It was definitely worth going there...and before we left we had a decent coffee and some cheesecake too!<br /><br />We moved to Charleville the following day...and took most of the day to get there...as we stopped in Barcaldine for a coffee...and a quick look at the Tree of Knowledge (where the Australian Labour Party started)...the we stopped in Blackall for fuel....and looked at the teddies in Tambo....and got fuel in Augathella....before finally arriving in Charleville at around 4pm. We set up in the Bailey Bar Caravan Park and set off to see the town.<br /><br />We stayed hitched on, so we all crammed into Dad’s car and went to see the town centre. Bec found a few shops open and bought a few bits and pieces. Then we headed to the Bilby Experience at 6pm. This was awesome....for a small cost of $5 per person, you got to see a presentation about the plight of the bilby, read through lots of media articles, watch an interesting DVD about the Bilby Brothers and then you got to go and see 6 bilbies that are part of the Charleville Captive Breeding Program. They were very cute! You should have seen them all running around over rocks...chasing one another under the glow of the red night lights. A site to behold! The girls loved them and also loved the bilby shop on the way out. No guessing what they got....more soft toys!<br /><br />We had a late tea at the Cattle Camp Hotel...and Dad shouted....since it was our last night together. Tomorrow they continue on in Queensland, while we drive further south towards good ole freezing Victoria!</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>M@tbechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16971751985819538199noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3513765508642849428.post-83617630290960626492010-08-05T23:47:00.000-07:002010-08-06T05:49:47.030-07:00BOODJAMULLA/LAWN HILL NATIONAL PARK<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk9p4j4lwob_4SUSjVVTWqOVVRC8r7GuYXA0Fd5pYx1YOAXWhgd3Q0jIMIsIGrgGyje_FwVENHrWYw6xZDedEBn5ir5QmyWPlDbZe5yi_MSEzsNuCSRb64eKeRL9msiLTNcXMeKccR_to/s1600/gf+boodjamulla+sign.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502239944590080034" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk9p4j4lwob_4SUSjVVTWqOVVRC8r7GuYXA0Fd5pYx1YOAXWhgd3Q0jIMIsIGrgGyje_FwVENHrWYw6xZDedEBn5ir5QmyWPlDbZe5yi_MSEzsNuCSRb64eKeRL9msiLTNcXMeKccR_to/s320/gf+boodjamulla+sign.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5iOy_LqI_akgBcxYTNb5CLpzW8VghROdUAHZN3gQpaEwYm-yrW1O5Q4MvEJxCIWktcSJHlxlzd5LeX5kfNEbQ3ExI23J7J1SF9VRjMpp1-ZrFx4hyphenhyphenQdJsMXrgfGLC1brj1Fv7EABv1XA/s1600/rg+ponies.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502239580445429490" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5iOy_LqI_akgBcxYTNb5CLpzW8VghROdUAHZN3gQpaEwYm-yrW1O5Q4MvEJxCIWktcSJHlxlzd5LeX5kfNEbQ3ExI23J7J1SF9VRjMpp1-ZrFx4hyphenhyphenQdJsMXrgfGLC1brj1Fv7EABv1XA/s320/rg+ponies.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXte3_4XYR6rjfnld5bJZPpWRZiu5BLIm-qipWMTklUwNDBWG5YLlOYsg_EznmIEDWl1vzs0CZcZkJiKhlXZJQiWU9oEie840NB1G8CxKy5Sn2ojpAHJelJYxbzc7ANnjkhAOaGQ0nsJc/s1600/rd+lawn+hill+canoeing.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502239432396520898" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXte3_4XYR6rjfnld5bJZPpWRZiu5BLIm-qipWMTklUwNDBWG5YLlOYsg_EznmIEDWl1vzs0CZcZkJiKhlXZJQiWU9oEie840NB1G8CxKy5Sn2ojpAHJelJYxbzc7ANnjkhAOaGQ0nsJc/s320/rd+lawn+hill+canoeing.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx9VR5eKHZ2gs_xRsKGdSN3_FC53DmIPvFhkyQ_DUeJaBbDK2M4PiBfKXIZGOoqFqBRoaZSBlJMtOJmtrsSjzEIyrmyd9l4TH1o0dBeAcfKC5eAoaC-qfPqbupWgmy8AHNaYqjdqrC6J0/s1600/rd+boodjamulla.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502239202193421714" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx9VR5eKHZ2gs_xRsKGdSN3_FC53DmIPvFhkyQ_DUeJaBbDK2M4PiBfKXIZGOoqFqBRoaZSBlJMtOJmtrsSjzEIyrmyd9l4TH1o0dBeAcfKC5eAoaC-qfPqbupWgmy8AHNaYqjdqrC6J0/s320/rd+boodjamulla.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH4tIdApF2FDkL20vkYECJrLo4aS_MF2TsE48hQOby0tijR-FhuIF2TbA-AWyJE6oWOMn7C-AfUFnKxbO7NnZ2Z3EhN73dvoWOSMzB3E2lO2cJNQx21EuBOYOk3BFk8IvqyT3nGe6ghKI/s1600/mbgfdr+adels.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502239072959321746" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH4tIdApF2FDkL20vkYECJrLo4aS_MF2TsE48hQOby0tijR-FhuIF2TbA-AWyJE6oWOMn7C-AfUFnKxbO7NnZ2Z3EhN73dvoWOSMzB3E2lO2cJNQx21EuBOYOk3BFk8IvqyT3nGe6ghKI/s320/mbgfdr+adels.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rUXxYrOHK-FBdcV-_0mmfB91YrG68WtIsAewdhaQLdT-SQcTWPP1rew_E4av-usA09Dqk45LaSLZtNbTr6DSYfPQw0voEmsDjB4TDYGwhZupOoskCwEqyekZAnLV8J8IILzeId06B_g/s1600/gb+indari.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502238925752679874" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rUXxYrOHK-FBdcV-_0mmfB91YrG68WtIsAewdhaQLdT-SQcTWPP1rew_E4av-usA09Dqk45LaSLZtNbTr6DSYfPQw0voEmsDjB4TDYGwhZupOoskCwEqyekZAnLV8J8IILzeId06B_g/s320/gb+indari.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVN7SmIZQ7IxQKcMClL7yJUkpUvIzaM98xM71-56LLAfMMCZUMOgD_-xND1sQF4fFr9a2GoRgFdKwc8Kgt_FAvhCxOf8K1Y2FcCu33NILr84AMoKlz2d1FP4OODiK9ZEYacD7b4V-C5eU/s1600/fm+boodjamulla.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502238792488629986" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVN7SmIZQ7IxQKcMClL7yJUkpUvIzaM98xM71-56LLAfMMCZUMOgD_-xND1sQF4fFr9a2GoRgFdKwc8Kgt_FAvhCxOf8K1Y2FcCu33NILr84AMoKlz2d1FP4OODiK9ZEYacD7b4V-C5eU/s320/fm+boodjamulla.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIA_eFBXhFYIHjbCO_OAufoc9mkTLtNgtE7iqvOw8VwDQ35NUBFlO6XoY__SDikvYcvwCuK5cxtrHLmUwXGhwloi4MEgsXyi0BPwAt2S2Q3N4SKgpU2TupORmYz2KcISrkwXhqfhxO8U0/s1600/fg+cascades+boodjamulla.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502238673773722146" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIA_eFBXhFYIHjbCO_OAufoc9mkTLtNgtE7iqvOw8VwDQ35NUBFlO6XoY__SDikvYcvwCuK5cxtrHLmUwXGhwloi4MEgsXyi0BPwAt2S2Q3N4SKgpU2TupORmYz2KcISrkwXhqfhxO8U0/s320/fg+cascades+boodjamulla.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Qm7-7YqEfdLBruXT6qu_B4_20bE3bbUH47fXzA5yjDTt8HT8x10-6EBdhsbMVIjVWXlBZ9LUAeTCenYyktsqeLskTYOmps-qGjS3D_Asp1tJu8yg_gZbtotUw5V3f1aRAPe3laLqoVw/s1600/f+middle+gorge+lh.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502238572584818370" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Qm7-7YqEfdLBruXT6qu_B4_20bE3bbUH47fXzA5yjDTt8HT8x10-6EBdhsbMVIjVWXlBZ9LUAeTCenYyktsqeLskTYOmps-qGjS3D_Asp1tJu8yg_gZbtotUw5V3f1aRAPe3laLqoVw/s320/f+middle+gorge+lh.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO7Pl8b7j1mP_2Os7FWtTy48B_JOh-F9pvH_DZt8_VG6qUAWscAQ8sCxyVAeoGqxuQBWek94gH-o5E9EN5VSmshbCfSXrzfwag29291VYLlYaNFpysZGcWpJAkABUAqESzJUkbMfReP24/s1600/dr+canoeing+boodjamulla.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502238464529011298" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO7Pl8b7j1mP_2Os7FWtTy48B_JOh-F9pvH_DZt8_VG6qUAWscAQ8sCxyVAeoGqxuQBWek94gH-o5E9EN5VSmshbCfSXrzfwag29291VYLlYaNFpysZGcWpJAkABUAqESzJUkbMfReP24/s320/dr+canoeing+boodjamulla.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh66WyWUC8t4fs2w_T7rZ89J30rDjsNCwmfLZWg-3GKlE8G5AhpLir5apweW379EvAuXrNfEXRbON16geljuuyvOu-AAzAa514ObogHw8IUryTgFDqN6jebmKqTjIVuhdPcwXzUpFiY7f0/s1600/cool+cat+boodjamulla.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502238358445469410" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh66WyWUC8t4fs2w_T7rZ89J30rDjsNCwmfLZWg-3GKlE8G5AhpLir5apweW379EvAuXrNfEXRbON16geljuuyvOu-AAzAa514ObogHw8IUryTgFDqN6jebmKqTjIVuhdPcwXzUpFiY7f0/s320/cool+cat+boodjamulla.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh24mZvhe8-yumjOSBdK3pGwG_CewcrnB0xdxG1Ve2niedXiHj2Zqo_fsVmYwkp6PK0dMlOMPcvEDbzrCdgWRR2aB6FmSJcZRgqNJdHW77pWyXF_P-9d0-LnnIF7dQJ-gBqxSjNAlIcUwk/s1600/br+adels+camp.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502238220863530194" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh24mZvhe8-yumjOSBdK3pGwG_CewcrnB0xdxG1Ve2niedXiHj2Zqo_fsVmYwkp6PK0dMlOMPcvEDbzrCdgWRR2aB6FmSJcZRgqNJdHW77pWyXF_P-9d0-LnnIF7dQJ-gBqxSjNAlIcUwk/s320/br+adels+camp.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr2T8WdYmJsEMhaTLrG_gDgFfNKrxWTnuGyU3TOtvKELyrk6F7Oapt8_RyUjE8CTyBe0ecHBcyw7v-ahnLs5lRr3ZBuhpIdKHNPjDLlIrcwnTr_vbCSUaW6PyNQNn79kLyXkZCFlOrCyI/s1600/bf+island+stack.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502238127298327554" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr2T8WdYmJsEMhaTLrG_gDgFfNKrxWTnuGyU3TOtvKELyrk6F7Oapt8_RyUjE8CTyBe0ecHBcyw7v-ahnLs5lRr3ZBuhpIdKHNPjDLlIrcwnTr_vbCSUaW6PyNQNn79kLyXkZCFlOrCyI/s320/bf+island+stack.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>After leaving Mt Isa (or “The Isa”) quite early, we headed for Cloncurry and then onto Burke and Wills Roadhouse. When we got there, we had something to eat...an early lunch if you like. From Burke and Wills, we had another 145km to Gregory Downs (only a pub, toilet and playground there) and we stopped to lower the pressure in our tyres. On the way we saw heaps of emus and brolga alongside the road.<br /><br />Bec was a little stressed going off road...as we had 85 km of dirt road to Adels Grove. The going was Ok though...parts were sealed and the first 40km was well maintained due to a huge mine that uses the road. We did have to pull over though when a huge road train went past and engulfed us in a cloud of red dust! Eventually we got to Adels, found someone had stolen our site and then got put in the Grove...which was apparently better! It was too...the grove was very shady and was right beside the Lawn Hill Creek...which is a beautiful spring fed watercourse lined with pandanus and bamboo. The other sites were exposed to the sun and the weather was hot....30+ degrees. We got a shock, as we thought we’d left the weather behind in the Top End.<br /><br />After setting up, we spent the arvo swimming in Lawn Hill Creek....a little cool in the water but beautiful! You could swim out to a floating pontoon or climb trees and bomb into the deep water. You could even hire tubes for a small donation to the Royal Flying Doctors Service and float on them. I just floated around on a noodle.<br />The nights at Adels were great. There was no power, but we had a roaring campfire that we sat around (a little way back though...cause the nights were warm enough). A couple of nights we made damper and had it with jam for dessert. Another night the girls played hairdressers with Mum and Bec. It was quite funny seeing Mum in pony tails!<br /><br />On the first full day, Bec +George and Frey+I did the canoe trip up the Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) middle and upper gorges. The first gorge had sheer walls, quite close together that were interesting to paddle through. The contrast of the red gorge walls and emerald green water was magnificent too! If you looked up, you saw rock figs clinging onto cliff faces, with their roots trailing all the way down the cliff to the water.<br /><br />At the end of the middle gorge, we had to drag the canoes to the upper gorge....a bit of fun that was! We went all the way up to the top of that gorge, including a section of rapids that I had trouble getting through! Because I had Frey in the front, the canoe was raised at the front and the water just kept pushing it back. On the way through the rapids, we saw quite a large freshwater croc sitting on the bank. We had a rest at the top and floated down the gorge eating muesli bars and mandarins. The archer fish were following our canoes and eating any bits of muesli that fell into the water.<br /><br />Once we got back in the middle gorge, we all swam at Indari Falls. These falls were tufa falls....ones made by calcium and lime deposits in the water and they were quite beautiful. I swam out under the falls and had a natural spa where several falls fell into the one spot...making a bubbling/rushing section of water.<br /><br />Once back, we were met by Mum and Dad and we had a picnic lunch. After eating, we walked to the cascades (between the middle and lower gorge) and swam there in little pools of running water. It was great to cool off, as the weather was hot at 34 degrees. Frey made a friend there and had fun building a mussel shell mural on one of the banks.<br />The next morning, Bec, Frey and I did the Island Stack walk. This walk goes up a sheer cliff face and onto a stack of rock that is surrounded by water. We walked around the stack, looking down into the Lower Gorge, which was magnificent and serene. We couldn’t take photos though, as this section was not allowed to be photographed by the public...but I tell you this....it was beautiful. At one point, we sat and had morning tea on the cliff top, looking down into the gorge, over rivers lined with cabbage palms and off into the distance into barren lands. It’s hard to believe that this paradise is out in the middle of what appears to be no-where. Even Bec said it’s like paradise...which is high praise from her! She didn’t even want to come into the place...<br /><br />We finished our stay in Adels with another canoe trip up the gorge (this time with Mum and Dad too)...but we only stayed in the Middle Gorge and had a longer swim at Indari. Back at the camp, we all swam in the rapids below the resort and returned to the deep swimming of Lawn Hill Creek (with the pontoon).<br /><br />I was pleased to get a few new birds here too....a channel billed cuckoo, a white browed buff robin and a purple crowned emu wren. God they are beautiful birds....the emu wren that is...although the robin was pretty nice too!<br /><br />Thanks to Debra for making me watch Postcards last year on TV when they showcased Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill). After that...and Deb + Greg’s (and Mum and Dad’s) reports on Adels/Lawn Hill...we altered our trip and made the huge detour (900km round trip) to come into what has been one of the best places on our trip.<br />Even Adels Grove is worth the visit...it is an amazing place....a beautiful shady grove of trees on a magic coloured creek in the middle of nowhere. What is even more amazing is the grove was planted by a French botanist in the early and mid 1900s, so you have exotic trees growing along the side of the river. Adels Grove is actually an anagram of the botanist’s name....Albert De Le Strang! How’s that for a fact!!!!<br /><br />It truly is paradise and anyone going past should make the effort to come in. It’s been a favourite of Bec, George, Frey and mine! Top of the list...alongside Jim Jim and Gunlom!</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>M@tbechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16971751985819538199noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3513765508642849428.post-84941661882759810242010-07-25T22:50:00.000-07:002010-08-06T05:50:17.173-07:00"Heartbreak Hotel" CAPE CRAWFORD + MT ISA<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWNM9RBbjf-A8tsU4arUycw7XqxP7ht7vxGi4btw3zJeRZFTz-5CbSG_WE5rDDymIayvkOC7EIGMo32glXPvYjpxz6uoTbgzyzhuTUNcoR8v2fo07fbfGmW2ZYthUCuXrQh4NCQ56cGfE/s1600/road+side+wedgies.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498095406696321906" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWNM9RBbjf-A8tsU4arUycw7XqxP7ht7vxGi4btw3zJeRZFTz-5CbSG_WE5rDDymIayvkOC7EIGMo32glXPvYjpxz6uoTbgzyzhuTUNcoR8v2fo07fbfGmW2ZYthUCuXrQh4NCQ56cGfE/s320/road+side+wedgies.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIbqSLrxFI5ajOOhsooox0XbVXEfR-yrqbog7z-TM_1B0_ILVVAxALUCxR8sLe9hfAPPITrvC2RB5lyXmKSPQt5GDaaaZWgvy61bvisRjimnAXcrx-QANnbQ8kLhajlEp1l0F1ejAgb3k/s1600/fg+car+cape+crawford.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498095231897112466" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIbqSLrxFI5ajOOhsooox0XbVXEfR-yrqbog7z-TM_1B0_ILVVAxALUCxR8sLe9hfAPPITrvC2RB5lyXmKSPQt5GDaaaZWgvy61bvisRjimnAXcrx-QANnbQ8kLhajlEp1l0F1ejAgb3k/s320/fg+car+cape+crawford.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj940YoNc_gss2eIix7iYjDuw_UjsFYCGjRpXx9NJu1aM-L62_k_wKbAgxErkEhM6vpL-7uP__hBq3kDzjNiGEcoiHfTLOpdxbqDHktA_3q1UCjja-Apu9qcdvTBAPJdAPJEghQYe5jfS4/s1600/fg+cape+crawford.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498095049909010258" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj940YoNc_gss2eIix7iYjDuw_UjsFYCGjRpXx9NJu1aM-L62_k_wKbAgxErkEhM6vpL-7uP__hBq3kDzjNiGEcoiHfTLOpdxbqDHktA_3q1UCjja-Apu9qcdvTBAPJdAPJEghQYe5jfS4/s320/fg+cape+crawford.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6f582twSnUbwfTZQSE5GQA6LDd7bZmgL64wJvi-yvSRe8X3kSd2q4sUKQ0EEk7xtEkEMeKEPUMFFh6Nxut0n5zgpLvZyaUnPBpxCMDiBHA-4xjgks8dacWZLTuGcEnAHwkUcm82Jzizk/s1600/bustards+tablelands+hwy.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498094885565437042" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6f582twSnUbwfTZQSE5GQA6LDd7bZmgL64wJvi-yvSRe8X3kSd2q4sUKQ0EEk7xtEkEMeKEPUMFFh6Nxut0n5zgpLvZyaUnPBpxCMDiBHA-4xjgks8dacWZLTuGcEnAHwkUcm82Jzizk/s320/bustards+tablelands+hwy.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy_dFoylu8h1RHm74_RH-wyNVkiTqzDbiNnEn-d2AfL2CGCcpztEnn2257G_0kzC8NHXdmhHhjYlpxJ8BFBfhpTBnfVIertKgPnQnqwLPz5dJA4vLdOMvGC22x9UFOO0dPbFydMUxosqs/s1600/g+fun+park+the+isa.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502241442368371282" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy_dFoylu8h1RHm74_RH-wyNVkiTqzDbiNnEn-d2AfL2CGCcpztEnn2257G_0kzC8NHXdmhHhjYlpxJ8BFBfhpTBnfVIertKgPnQnqwLPz5dJA4vLdOMvGC22x9UFOO0dPbFydMUxosqs/s320/g+fun+park+the+isa.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMvGf9Du2LyiBbIv8eabUMoYZf05hysgJF9VpFPH_jQ4cd-rTyNijFiUn4ZfM_8qtrOHdSAUHzbiNiEYTpR34K8FKjoa3EvO7VoEbqWCF0gs1AYObtEsqOdb8N9FTtjJjn8o9ce_mp9kE/s1600/fg+fun+park+the+isa.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502241306444194386" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMvGf9Du2LyiBbIv8eabUMoYZf05hysgJF9VpFPH_jQ4cd-rTyNijFiUn4ZfM_8qtrOHdSAUHzbiNiEYTpR34K8FKjoa3EvO7VoEbqWCF0gs1AYObtEsqOdb8N9FTtjJjn8o9ce_mp9kE/s320/fg+fun+park+the+isa.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQqFc-R6y46uBzOrSHMoejTpJ2pjjMq16kp6gx6mNn-gdNRyHkopKgYHScWrsUVDVWgsRbkQvUWP6jqFcQp7Jxt5jrxXlOQ7dO36whLJtAf3ji6pmsWJ6yeMGZqE5lIsnIGG33E1yhB80/s1600/dfg+outback+at+isa.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502241168839937890" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQqFc-R6y46uBzOrSHMoejTpJ2pjjMq16kp6gx6mNn-gdNRyHkopKgYHScWrsUVDVWgsRbkQvUWP6jqFcQp7Jxt5jrxXlOQ7dO36whLJtAf3ji6pmsWJ6yeMGZqE5lIsnIGG33E1yhB80/s320/dfg+outback+at+isa.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQqFc-R6y46uBzOrSHMoejTpJ2pjjMq16kp6gx6mNn-gdNRyHkopKgYHScWrsUVDVWgsRbkQvUWP6jqFcQp7Jxt5jrxXlOQ7dO36whLJtAf3ji6pmsWJ6yeMGZqE5lIsnIGG33E1yhB80/s1600/dfg+outback+at+isa.JPG"></a></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>We weren’t going to blog for here....but it was kinda interesting.<br /><br />After the scary drive down to Daly Waters (there’d been a massive smash and a couple in a caravan had been killed), we took the left turn to Cape Crawford. The highway was more like a goat track and it took ages to go the 270km to Cape Crawford. Once there we set up in the caravan park behind The Heartbreak Hotel and laughed at the toilets...named Elvis (men) and Pricilla (women). We had tea there that night and paid too much for an average steak and some chicken kievs.<br /><br />In the morning we were up early and off by 7am. We had to carry fuel with us because of the 375km without fuel. The Tablelands Highway was a joke! I tell you guys back home....the roads around Majorca, Mount Cameron and Red Lion are more “highway” than this was. Every time another car came, you had to get off the road. Every five minutes you had to stop for cattle too...which were all over the road.<br /><br />Apart from this though...we loved the drive....as it was nature city! We counted over 30 wedge tail eagles....saw 5 Australian Bustards, drove through a flock of flock bronzewing pigeons and saw about 1000 Australian Pratincoles along the road....it was an amazing drive. Gary and Glenda....it would be your dream drive!<br /><br />It took over 5 hours to go 375km. We had lunch at the Barkly Homestead (very clean and well organised), then did the 450km to Mount Isa....OMG....we didn’t get into the park until 7pm and we had been in the car for 12 hours...so we were a little tired....so today we’re resting in Mount Isa. That’s right....we’re in Queensland now!</div><br /><div>We spent the day in Mount Isa resting. We slept in until we wanted and enjoyed having the luxury of an ensuite powered site. At lunch time, we ventured down the street, had a look around, bought a few things and had lunch at the Isa Hotel...awesome Hotel and great food! After lunch, we went and had a look at OUTBACK AT ISA....an information centre...it was OK. The girls were busting to go to this fun park, so we drove there and they had fun on the flying foxes and other zappy/cool play equipment in this new, huge playground. It even has a waterpark and a scooter/skateboard town/track. Our verdict on Mt Isa.....we love it! What an awesome place....and quite beautiful too!</div><br /><div>Tonight we take it easy...get ourselves organised and head off road for 3 nights. You probably won't hear from us for a few days....or even be able to ring...so see you all on the other side!</div></div></div></div>M@tbechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16971751985819538199noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3513765508642849428.post-78770280708469511712010-07-25T22:49:00.000-07:002010-08-06T05:50:39.558-07:00KATHERINE<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg14v3bFQUM1C3xIFYJ36mVLQAFzdEXybj1F56WQjDFvMklBhQu0xrSCjXseXxtfio9-m0i9YcQvCP73wwh3yGPbL7zY_3R8AKlVFZp4QcAnj92p_Rai075NhK7ucR1LfzJQYidabNZVtE/s1600/rf+kath+gorge.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498092876574671458" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg14v3bFQUM1C3xIFYJ36mVLQAFzdEXybj1F56WQjDFvMklBhQu0xrSCjXseXxtfio9-m0i9YcQvCP73wwh3yGPbL7zY_3R8AKlVFZp4QcAnj92p_Rai075NhK7ucR1LfzJQYidabNZVtE/s320/rf+kath+gorge.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7137q8Dwy7eZLtBelp9cvocZbRKY5C0bE4W2hxE6dI2mU3G2qHdTLYc5_5If1GlliApDj-3wUxQgemuop2p-p_s4o5qadYnpEyLAkYceLD8tYNaBFzfdUKTlBwSXVHRXdHzxx9gQm4JQ/s1600/mrgdf+kath+gorge.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498092732866465026" style="FLOAT: left; 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MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE5zYa-uW0t3AVhyphenhyphen-UJ72ASmJdyu4p-Ufqnhzjt3A3E8SObkbwFGPBErlPKd-nj_kI_BaSDxqBAkvtayBl4ZfcbcvEbw8c34eiNpw5KCylRUBiS9cmBq_dIYPtCxpYboCyLlKitgXqRbw/s320/g+kath+gorge+(3).JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlPw0UZwt1liUQnHAw55bUNpsescOR_uJnb9jJx7EDoihQNmA_Qj2QNJ4WTNP4ywrC0N_H3NIpt5W590hmuaVMH2vjjYLBriLXTvVl7ZUQgfXQ0blQG2U8STOkYYct9malh2XFq8V5mpQ/s1600/g+cutta+cuta.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498091064889351762" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlPw0UZwt1liUQnHAw55bUNpsescOR_uJnb9jJx7EDoihQNmA_Qj2QNJ4WTNP4ywrC0N_H3NIpt5W590hmuaVMH2vjjYLBriLXTvVl7ZUQgfXQ0blQG2U8STOkYYct9malh2XFq8V5mpQ/s320/g+cutta+cuta.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8SNmwVNZk-Yg4GvGM5Yc_HIOIJDcVxyjRMIdzKbHQBpj91TJFivfvn1hRTEbT9tWjZSMfoQUxslHcikmnjsowd3NwN8aKkEn5jfeD_tRT7lOokXnHDU0GFSgZ1MirBoveGKp62C6kj3U/s1600/fg+low+level.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498090922739815666" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8SNmwVNZk-Yg4GvGM5Yc_HIOIJDcVxyjRMIdzKbHQBpj91TJFivfvn1hRTEbT9tWjZSMfoQUxslHcikmnjsowd3NwN8aKkEn5jfeD_tRT7lOokXnHDU0GFSgZ1MirBoveGKp62C6kj3U/s320/fg+low+level.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_aL_3G8i-mZLgHhJwqP0N6yZF-AOKgRpq-McTLJFYx5uJ1fyswGYawj8E5i6-wGZ9Ugj4Lt_j6M4REGtvvI34IYWWpaIDQaXHMyMnJ16msmfC58NvEX08fLrWYPMYfgoU5oc-J1t3zas/s1600/fg+kath+hot+springs.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498090738932114162" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_aL_3G8i-mZLgHhJwqP0N6yZF-AOKgRpq-McTLJFYx5uJ1fyswGYawj8E5i6-wGZ9Ugj4Lt_j6M4REGtvvI34IYWWpaIDQaXHMyMnJ16msmfC58NvEX08fLrWYPMYfgoU5oc-J1t3zas/s320/fg+kath+hot+springs.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2MyAdFLG92QmEoOVbarY7CComDS8sUM93h8x_4m0kC9W_wnpk8YiDReecl46k5ipRS1onCphLldFpMQl4qfIdcVZVTJ3ZiE_MGu9UNbyJ3C7OcW4SdPCGJqoe6rwOJD3b6Pq-NwfmD1k/s1600/f+kath+gorge.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498090539647767874" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2MyAdFLG92QmEoOVbarY7CComDS8sUM93h8x_4m0kC9W_wnpk8YiDReecl46k5ipRS1onCphLldFpMQl4qfIdcVZVTJ3ZiE_MGu9UNbyJ3C7OcW4SdPCGJqoe6rwOJD3b6Pq-NwfmD1k/s320/f+kath+gorge.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOaW-OSY7e-j6MYNJOcD28b1yJgVK71YlzrQt8OjcldVFvOQKHLNkA5f9oGKcN7vOiM5XFsj3_gGTEBdwctZxrLOp9BgO5b6yX-38ZpHvFxG-olsZ3CCkLExyR2st1EQ0glflICwBCvM8/s1600/f+cutta+cutta.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498089670329831762" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOaW-OSY7e-j6MYNJOcD28b1yJgVK71YlzrQt8OjcldVFvOQKHLNkA5f9oGKcN7vOiM5XFsj3_gGTEBdwctZxrLOp9BgO5b6yX-38ZpHvFxG-olsZ3CCkLExyR2st1EQ0glflICwBCvM8/s320/f+cutta+cutta.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip1YUzOMBaq_WP8UlK_GE1k0c9Cgd9FhXHGf2M9WwXYcIf3vdn5mtKGKf5eBZUl8jB2hKogzGyiLJzoFAkDdc2LVsLcFQhq8_T0glLowY4u0Hh81jqThKtysRzhiaVuvFUT6ecf4RbJTo/s1600/d+kath+gorge.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498089503165167698" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip1YUzOMBaq_WP8UlK_GE1k0c9Cgd9FhXHGf2M9WwXYcIf3vdn5mtKGKf5eBZUl8jB2hKogzGyiLJzoFAkDdc2LVsLcFQhq8_T0glLowY4u0Hh81jqThKtysRzhiaVuvFUT6ecf4RbJTo/s320/d+kath+gorge.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1b8Q6Cfm1onEbuS6TBxDRT00L9-hvSKIUW3sF9cTePzODZleZkKUQOmYHK-M13mnN0Gp0utnL7XYrnOYIgO2Q0x438sdedQ7cMvGtgbzORcrBrfrvn88hl8kULI3BTLbsxPmhSDElyHc/s1600/bgfmr+kath+gorge.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498089272931798498" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1b8Q6Cfm1onEbuS6TBxDRT00L9-hvSKIUW3sF9cTePzODZleZkKUQOmYHK-M13mnN0Gp0utnL7XYrnOYIgO2Q0x438sdedQ7cMvGtgbzORcrBrfrvn88hl8kULI3BTLbsxPmhSDElyHc/s320/bgfmr+kath+gorge.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2i7JzDbur3AtdxfJt0iazk0wiWrlT3EmBvryt6-EFC0NS1H2f_UbL72xIFr8t6zzCoyeZSC47vbrTasXFXzxVmCn2X3aCOudf4uxU9kWgwJrGGDqV1QNVeN5RxuckV0buuxaXuMaGObU/s1600/bfg+cutta+cutta.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498089120767205618" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2i7JzDbur3AtdxfJt0iazk0wiWrlT3EmBvryt6-EFC0NS1H2f_UbL72xIFr8t6zzCoyeZSC47vbrTasXFXzxVmCn2X3aCOudf4uxU9kWgwJrGGDqV1QNVeN5RxuckV0buuxaXuMaGObU/s320/bfg+cutta+cutta.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Jesus Loves Nachos<br /><br />Well...apparently he does, according to what you read when you cross the bridge in Katherine. It’s written in big letters alongside the railway bridge and every time we read it, we laugh!<br /><br />Katherine was an interesting stay. A lot of time was spent trying to get Dad healthy. He came down with a nasty virus...had the shivers and shakes and couldn’t stop visiting the facilities. After ridiculously long waits in the Katherine Hospital Emergency Department....try from 9am until 330pm (told Dad he’d been at school)...we finally got some medicine to help Dad get on his feet.<br /><br />Katherine allowed us to do some retail therapy...so we did a bit of shopping and bought a few birthday presents for people back home. There was a Maccas and Coffee Club there too...so we were right and managed to get quite a few coffees in during the 5 night stay. The girls and I also had a few serves of hotcakes and hash browns.<br /><br />Some of the local attractions were rotten...ie. Springvale Homestead! We thought it would be like a Tyntynder or Murray Downs...but it was occupied by a souvenir shop and cafe...and so it didn’t seem old at all. The only thing of interest there were the huge raintrees...4 of them...one planted for each of the settlers children back in the 1880s.<br /><br />There were more hot springs in Katherine, so we made a few visits to those...and they were quite nice. Not as warm though....only 32 degrees. Mataranka was 34 and Douglas Daly was 60! There were nice falls in these springs though...and Georg, Frey and I enjoyed getting under them, having a nice spa.<br /><br />We did a drive down to Cutta Cutta Caves...and did a one hour tour of these karst limestone tropical caves. They were awesome. We were toured through several deep chambers with beautiful formations...including stalactites, stalagmites and curtains. Some of the stalagmites were full of shining crystals....which is where the Aboriginal name Cutta Cutta comes from....it means “Many stars”. As you go deeper into the caves, they become hotter and more humid, which is quite different to normal caves that are cold. The last section of the cave is closed to the public because the humidity is 100% and the temperature is around 35 degrees....not very pleasant. It’s also full of bats and snakes down there anyway....so we didn’t mind! On the way out...the tour guide turned off the lights to let us see how dark it is in the cave...PITCH BLACK!<br /><br />The main attraction in Katherine is of course Nitmiluk (aka. Katherine Gorge). We booked in for a 3 gorge, 4 hour tour. During the tour you catch 3 different boats (one for each gorge) and explore each gorge. Between each gorge you have to climb over rocks and rapids to get to the next gorge. Let me tell you...the scenery in there is magic....especially the second gorge where the walls are sheer cliffs on both sides of you.... Along the way we saw Aboriginal rock art, caves (with bats), hanging gardens, waterfalls...and even water raining from the bottom of rock overhangs (it’s just the water from the swamp above slowly filtering through the sandstone)... The tour guide was an Aboriginal bloke and he did an excellent job. He told us about the formation of the gorge (both geological and Aboriginal perspectives). I liked the Aboriginal explanation the most....the Rainbow Serpent! On the way back we had a snack and had the opportunity to have a swim. Frey and I got in (cause G nearly broke her toe getting in) and swam in a safe area between the 1st and 2nd gorges....apparently the salties can’t get into the area because of the rocks and rapids! We had a great time and it left me wondering what the other 10 gorges would’ve looked like....<br /><br />We didn’t really like the town of Katherine much...and felt that it wasn’t much of a highlight. The only saving grace was our caravan park....Low Level. It was a beautiful park, with a huge pool and spa (that the girls and I used a few times) and it was close to the Low Level Bridge and Katherine River. We walked down there a few times and I even threw a few lures around to try and catch a barra...but no luck. We saw a few freshies though and a golden tree snake. I’ve included a picture of the bridge with the girls to let you see how nice it was there!</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>M@tbechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16971751985819538199noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3513765508642849428.post-65646085220644583742010-07-21T03:48:00.000-07:002010-08-06T05:51:14.129-07:00DOUGLAS DALY<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwPHFFWXbrtxAlndUThGeZ7Sl7MVaaxRAGrvRv21cBLvOh5fcWK8AYz0li6A_2Sqal2OZaZSUA8HwVt_ZCfam_t-N4OYpA2g-E230r2dCOZQ4JmU1VRFOZjJqXw1cFbRcVzpYmKT4zEmo/s1600/rgd+arwc.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496316226985010290" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwPHFFWXbrtxAlndUThGeZ7Sl7MVaaxRAGrvRv21cBLvOh5fcWK8AYz0li6A_2Sqal2OZaZSUA8HwVt_ZCfam_t-N4OYpA2g-E230r2dCOZQ4JmU1VRFOZjJqXw1cFbRcVzpYmKT4zEmo/s320/rgd+arwc.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0b3BaOlhWeMOqMRkgJA7kzca24kcOwwPB5s_uEh9ve5ICDe6PJ1ravWTYzVQoyBMhR6OFH7qqkxXS6bXIkihsuOucbPPPC7wH9hb7lej8qIzh1BN1Mnc0AayofsIi15xwXu4wdFk8cw/s1600/mfg+dhs.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496316082618405282" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0b3BaOlhWeMOqMRkgJA7kzca24kcOwwPB5s_uEh9ve5ICDe6PJ1ravWTYzVQoyBMhR6OFH7qqkxXS6bXIkihsuOucbPPPC7wH9hb7lej8qIzh1BN1Mnc0AayofsIi15xwXu4wdFk8cw/s320/mfg+dhs.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQyZT2c-sD-STVzkdejA5_-CVq0iJ5uBVkZNs_ND7ptduTGD1eQgLWD-PUW8WMLJHDS5hw9yAV7D19XPmzzagKuLGa_UzLJJSgSOtpj_pozE17G1kQLdvg18cKqutxIlkGuRz1gsRapGM/s1600/gf+douglas+river.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496315962124216194" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQyZT2c-sD-STVzkdejA5_-CVq0iJ5uBVkZNs_ND7ptduTGD1eQgLWD-PUW8WMLJHDS5hw9yAV7D19XPmzzagKuLGa_UzLJJSgSOtpj_pozE17G1kQLdvg18cKqutxIlkGuRz1gsRapGM/s320/gf+douglas+river.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4a486V4o1R01cDq9tLyP0HyWfymzoJUONRbqVDPz9OXU2d_HtQiRQ1ptyNBNEkQqr9-pW5-H5fMR5X7Z7u14dE73jM4T13BIAO5ihyfBwRalSrviUS9tXHFR-NeU_AVlvbfeNjkSZ8f8/s1600/gf+charlie.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496315846077832050" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4a486V4o1R01cDq9tLyP0HyWfymzoJUONRbqVDPz9OXU2d_HtQiRQ1ptyNBNEkQqr9-pW5-H5fMR5X7Z7u14dE73jM4T13BIAO5ihyfBwRalSrviUS9tXHFR-NeU_AVlvbfeNjkSZ8f8/s320/gf+charlie.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIN55Z76sxWI7lSVHL3ZJpvpmlkyT2Pi3Un8zBQsLdqJ1sFsIMr-UTfIDOuQaTKqjwpp86wnLaneuD7Fr-0MjoRDjrjVXLAep8N8fWantEpwRQkmY2IS6CX7ML-Sw_eDCrbDv7tkUQdQU/s1600/gbf+adelaide+river+war+cemetary.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496315735397445778" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIN55Z76sxWI7lSVHL3ZJpvpmlkyT2Pi3Un8zBQsLdqJ1sFsIMr-UTfIDOuQaTKqjwpp86wnLaneuD7Fr-0MjoRDjrjVXLAep8N8fWantEpwRQkmY2IS6CX7ML-Sw_eDCrbDv7tkUQdQU/s320/gbf+adelaide+river+war+cemetary.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuMLPVdkwKKIFzFLKMyR-dPN_7MURFImbGL9oWAuTSpRbgUR5zcs2S2CP8uZt4sr9CV6CYM3kP3H1k8-RDkDCw6zNYxcql7nk0hyphenhyphenjXXvbrI-wreJ-fEgwamiNLgKjJajEvGTObB3CNc1c/s1600/fg+croc+trap+douglas+river.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496315627293115266" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuMLPVdkwKKIFzFLKMyR-dPN_7MURFImbGL9oWAuTSpRbgUR5zcs2S2CP8uZt4sr9CV6CYM3kP3H1k8-RDkDCw6zNYxcql7nk0hyphenhyphenjXXvbrI-wreJ-fEgwamiNLgKjJajEvGTObB3CNc1c/s320/fg+croc+trap+douglas+river.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIy9egFxtl6pvz6PzwXu83jKWsuQqwtSZaGyRrBSpau49HwZ2bCwSuMfH9hp54YhVn1Pp8J-e-UuGTnUeOIJzo1DxGa6YtIO20dw4WV27-JdJbikfREqWQlM_Z7gVBStl9-F22tFNR5zQ/s1600/fbg+douglas+hot+springs2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496315521983592610" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIy9egFxtl6pvz6PzwXu83jKWsuQqwtSZaGyRrBSpau49HwZ2bCwSuMfH9hp54YhVn1Pp8J-e-UuGTnUeOIJzo1DxGa6YtIO20dw4WV27-JdJbikfREqWQlM_Z7gVBStl9-F22tFNR5zQ/s320/fbg+douglas+hot+springs2.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>We are so good at packing up now...that I blinked and the van was on behind the Kluger! Lol! No...but we're pretty quick at getting it all on and setting off down the road.<br /><br />We had a few stops on the way...firstly we dropped into the Adelaide River Inn to see Charlie. Who's Charlie? He's the water buffalo you see blocking the road in the first Crocodile Dundee movie and Mick Dundee (Paul Hogan) hypnotises him....that's if you've seen it. We went in to say hello to him and get a photo of him, but he didn't say much, because he's as dead as a doornail and stuffed now...and water buffalo can't talk either. He stands on the bar in the pub. Lucky he can't unleash a load! Wouldn't like that landing on my pot of beer or bar meal!<br /><br />After Charlie, we drove down to the Adelaide War Cemetery. I tell you, it's the most magnificently kept cemetery and has beautiful manicured lawns and an extensive tropical garden around it. We all walked around the graves of those lost during the bombing of Darwin (World War II) and felt quite sad reading about boys as young as 16 that were killed defending our country. There was even a grave containing 7 people....all postal workers killed while keeping the lines of communication open in Darwin during the war. It was quite a sombre place to walk around and it really did make you feel a little sad thinking of how different life was back then for those people...and how lucky we all are today to be safe and live in such a great country....anyhoo...there's Matt's one and only deep and meaningful for this blog...soz! On a brighter note, we found a couple of great bowerbirds (they're everywhere up here) and then we found it's bower....full of snail shells....bits of glass....rocks....pull rings of old cans etc... We've started calling Freyja "Bower" now because she keeps collecting rubbish around caravan parks (or wherever she goes) and keeps dumping these items in her nest (our van or the back seat of the car!).<br /><br />We got to Douglas Daly by lunch time and set up the van quickly. After some lunch and a cuppa, we set off to the Douglas River Esplanade, where we saw a beautiful rapids, a small weir and a place called "The Arches" where some people swim through them and onto a beach. I was too scared to do it because they do have crocs (salties), although they say they have caught them all....but who's to know? Anyway...we went below The Arches and found a shallow beach in the river....where lots of people were swimming....so we did (well Bec didn't and neither did Mum), but we felt safe there...swimming under paperbarks and pandanus...and right next to us was a huge croc trap! Lol...Will post a photo of it for you to see!<br /><br />After the swim, we drove up to the Douglas Hot Springs where we had yet another swim. This time we got in the river...and had to get straight back out again...the water here is so hot it scolds....around 60 degrees celcius! You can see it bubbling up through the sand! We walked down stream a little way and found a spot where cooler water merges with the hot water....so you lie in the shallows....with currents of hot and cold washing past you....awesome! I loved the spot. I just lay on my back looking up at the sky with hot/cold/hot/cold etc. going on for ages. Everyone got in here....and even Mum said the water was hot! Those that know Mum will realise that the water must have been pretty warm! We tried walking as far up stream as we could...but still had to stop 10m short of the springs because it's so hot! The girls spent time there making sand castles and trying to find turtles....no luck...although someone said that snakes and frogs were around a bit....but we didnt' see any of them either....<br /><br />...until the shower that night....there I am...having a nice private shower...with around 25 frogs! They were behind the door, on the walls, on the top of the toilets....in the sinks....everywhere! Some even went into the cistern of the toilet when you walked past! Lol.... No snakes though although we keep seeing Golden Tree Snakes everywhere....which are quite beautiful and harmless snakes.<br /><br />Anyway...off to Katherine next....to do the gorge etc.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div>M@tbechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16971751985819538199noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3513765508642849428.post-19746319770480866912010-07-17T03:20:00.000-07:002010-08-06T05:51:57.373-07:00LITCHFIELD<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvGImRQYWXZ9nTJtl-8dr6EZgbuLUuGznGrB4hX-uhzwgxv746J-pUo_kelBHmG_3Y-0KmsXg-PO6uxnYVspHGNFBrI0lJlyu2C_shYM_aGRp3xZthG6cHhEHAx7UnSQyRaj6cSDs-s-I/s1600/swim+florence.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494825707460044562" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvGImRQYWXZ9nTJtl-8dr6EZgbuLUuGznGrB4hX-uhzwgxv746J-pUo_kelBHmG_3Y-0KmsXg-PO6uxnYVspHGNFBrI0lJlyu2C_shYM_aGRp3xZthG6cHhEHAx7UnSQyRaj6cSDs-s-I/s320/swim+florence.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAS_QtHB6mU8aHlJkX4nmZsv2-vXKOovQ9kjLHWaj4EbjBA_duxDe7IHeAp2F1xIqZBRWLcldqAM7GShzrjgO_RiltZcqYj5XJrxpLeOV3PeA2kuLumFOIXosHQAzSeDavJGoStyWiThk/s1600/rd+tolmer+falls.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494825574060285314" style="FLOAT: left; 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MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhtmlodpwmQVlzkPgh3x2kDBYrFfGgQ2R85jcpxgK0GPcpfwba7S2myyUSslp0Y0nLxPc9ni9d8XmGg4jZSMq1II6gVBCEIXRgQBQcVehdpRmwiKxHhOWarQp-Au1lunPLZPselZClpuk/s320/fbg+buley+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEuaEgisITBf-W2aY4nAtpwEENR2gSe9bt6W9TtHdGDVz5jFipRG5es4DzaomOnqC0TmE_jBAnO9n1KRMDRP2YWzXMO_9h9NRAst2uWlLIlmz2XSEEsi65GVVQf0Ynv0zBBFu9EKH5-CM/s1600/F+worn+out.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494824280767406354" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEuaEgisITBf-W2aY4nAtpwEENR2gSe9bt6W9TtHdGDVz5jFipRG5es4DzaomOnqC0TmE_jBAnO9n1KRMDRP2YWzXMO_9h9NRAst2uWlLIlmz2XSEEsi65GVVQf0Ynv0zBBFu9EKH5-CM/s320/F+worn+out.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ojDX6uwVFP6Q54NbvuhPBLqZIPV_8dwLNS6o70AKyQ7FHgEyxKFEHKHVZtojRL_EVyvZJgkg-OPxrJE8f9Nq0VzkTjSvK2UgcT3yf6Bv4hXnqEyWlHwWzW3Xd6IZNsi7pxagcFHbfd4/s1600/bfg+buley+rockholes.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494824151596162482" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ojDX6uwVFP6Q54NbvuhPBLqZIPV_8dwLNS6o70AKyQ7FHgEyxKFEHKHVZtojRL_EVyvZJgkg-OPxrJE8f9Nq0VzkTjSvK2UgcT3yf6Bv4hXnqEyWlHwWzW3Xd6IZNsi7pxagcFHbfd4/s320/bfg+buley+rockholes.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>Once we packed up the caravan in the Free Spirit Resort in Darwin, we were off for about 5 minutes...until we saw Palmerston Maccas...so we detoured in to get a morning coffee. Yummo!</div><br /><br /><div>After about 35km, we returned to Berry Springs for another swim. It was great getting into the warm water at 10am in the morning for a good paddle around. Bec, Mum and Dad even got in this time and we all took turns getting under the thermal waterfall.</div><br /><div>After the swim, we had a coffee in the van and set off for Litchfield. It only took less than an hour and we were at our park: Litchfield Tourist and Van Park. We were really happy with the park, as we set up under swaying palms and it is so much quieter than the noisy Darwin park (it was right on the highway). We set up our vans and took the short drive in to Buley Rockhole (we're in the closest van park to the main attractions). </div><br /><div>Once at Buley, we swam in little deep pools, that would trickle over rocks into the next deep pool...and so on...and so forth. We spent over and hour changing pools every 10 minutes....as some were very deep, some had cascades and some were like spas. Bec was in her element...lazing around in natural spas! Mum tried to get in and Dad did and ended up on his bum! Hurt his arm a little...and his pride. It was awesome swimming around...except when a Merten's Water Monitor decided to join everyone in the water....you should have seen everyone stand up and look around then. Lol!</div><br /><div>After Buley, we went to Florence Falls....(fond memories hey Deb?)....where Mum, Dad and Bec didn't feel like attempting the 140 steps down...and 140 steps back up...so they stayed at the lookout over the falls. Georg, Frey and I went down to the falls and had a quick swim. We went right out into the the cascading water...and stuck our heads under for a drenching. Georgia had a noodle to swim with, while Frey was using a life jacket (thanks again A and M!).... The plunge pool was quite deep and in spots you could see huge rocks below you and logs. We saw lots of sooty grunter swimming around too. Check out the photo and look for the people swimming with noodles: that's GF and I and the photo was taken looking down from the lookout! After the swim, we walked back up to the lazies and went back to the park.</div><br /><div>The next day, we rested and took off into the park late. We stopped at the Tabletop Swamp first for a look at this beautiful paperbark lined swamp which was covered in white waterlilies. Next was Tolmer Falls...a beautiful spot where you can only look down into the falls from a lookout. Unfortunately no one is allowed to go to the base due to colonies of endangered bats! We took a few good shots there....and then Dad, Frey, Georg, Bec and I did the Tolmer Creek walk back to the car (Mum took the short cut). We got some great shots of along the creek, with us bathing our feet in the cool water.</div><br /><div>After Tolmer, we drove to Litchfield Cafe for lunch....we needed coffee and something to eat...and it was a good little spot! After here we went to Wangi Falls for a look. It's a beautiful spot...but honestly...none of the falls here measure up to the ones in Kakadu! Jim Jim Falls and Gunlom are truly mind boggling! It's just that not many people can get into them and they're very isolated...one is 38km in on a rough dirt road and the other is 58km in on a rough 4WD road. </div><br /><div>We did the treetop walk at Wangi and walked over the top of it and down the other side. Beautiful views. You couldn't swim though due to high water levels and crocs. Very inviting!</div><br /><div>Mum and Dad shouted drinks and icy poles and after that Bec, Frey, Georg and I drove to Greenant Creek. We walked from there to Tjaetaba Falls through monsoon rainforest and open woodland. It was a beautiful walk. When we got there, we swam above the falls (not allowed to below the falls due to it being sacred) in a little rockhole right on the edge of the falls drop off. We had to tell Frey to stay away from the edge. On the way back Frey conked out in the car and went to sleep using a water bottle as a pillow....lol!</div><br /><div>Today we went into the town of Batchelor to have a coffee at the Butterfly Farm. Then we toured through the farm...and it wasn't very good. Hardly any butterflies and not very well organised. I think we've been spoilt going to the Melbourne Zoo all of those years!</div><div>In the arvo, we went back to the spots we enjoyed most....so we did the Shady Creek Walk into Florence Falls...and this time Bec got in. I told her Deb said it was beautiful...so she did it! The whole time she was worrying about crocodiles and the big fish swimming around under her. Lol. Frey used the life jacket and Georg used a noodle again, as it is quite deep in spots. </div><br /><div>After Florence, we returned to Buley so we could have our rejuvenating spa treatments again. Bec and I sat in one rockhole with the falls rushing past our backs and enjoyed the peace and quite...as the two girls were enjoying swimming in the next rockhole. On the way home we checked out the Magnetic and Cathedral termite mounds. The magnetic ones look like something from Doctor Who or a sci-fi movie, while the cathedral mounds are massive...I've included a picture of one for you to enjoy!</div><br /><div>We've enjoyed Litchfield....but have to say....in our opinion....Kakadu wins by a mile!</div><br /><div>Anyhoo....hello to all of those people who read this, but don't know how to leave a comment. Believe us...there are a lot of family, friends and school associates who still haven't figured it out...so to those that have....aren't you clever!</div><br /><div>Post soon!</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>M@tbechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16971751985819538199noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3513765508642849428.post-75425585247019683602010-07-13T04:37:00.000-07:002010-08-06T05:52:30.759-07:00DARWIN!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhevk8Kj8Cb3qdrZnxfXD0bSYXSB0gRVu8rJuYFxytu1bUfbqCSA6H3uELc8cBSIFIi459akfo3k5ZfcyHHS5LFxeSZZ976CU5EJZtj7oLN6Rnzl2tmjJ0St7sz0qHV4NWdwz9N-RDMBtw/s1600/mgf+wave+pool.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493359214729475346" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhevk8Kj8Cb3qdrZnxfXD0bSYXSB0gRVu8rJuYFxytu1bUfbqCSA6H3uELc8cBSIFIi459akfo3k5ZfcyHHS5LFxeSZZ976CU5EJZtj7oLN6Rnzl2tmjJ0St7sz0qHV4NWdwz9N-RDMBtw/s320/mgf+wave+pool.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDC-_mGoz5MzkzQGOPifFg0n6-_ro00Y_YNOT5_9drv7snndqpjhQTJM_Wl7fC9lLxRqlVZ0ZrWwJ0j5fMGeLBO4bsCaIb9Tjrxk948dsNu1vUDmU1bxNgVb17NvlNtcjr_cd2AJViGVY/s1600/hgbf+mindill+beach.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493359089324873746" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDC-_mGoz5MzkzQGOPifFg0n6-_ro00Y_YNOT5_9drv7snndqpjhQTJM_Wl7fC9lLxRqlVZ0ZrWwJ0j5fMGeLBO4bsCaIb9Tjrxk948dsNu1vUDmU1bxNgVb17NvlNtcjr_cd2AJViGVY/s320/hgbf+mindill+beach.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoY5RIFJirOQdksrR_an96_UmpTBoJJ_1wmHE67orcpjCrS4lOqXsfqgA7NPzGbTg9AqU-a3AcXlzWSwBBZ52CdJ59H0uwRVns8QZd7lkI7DD4vinAN9kc7mC_1BxIV_0USwpXsY2AE_M/s1600/gf+darwin+pool.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493358979849182338" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoY5RIFJirOQdksrR_an96_UmpTBoJJ_1wmHE67orcpjCrS4lOqXsfqgA7NPzGbTg9AqU-a3AcXlzWSwBBZ52CdJ59H0uwRVns8QZd7lkI7DD4vinAN9kc7mC_1BxIV_0USwpXsY2AE_M/s320/gf+darwin+pool.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilmhq9AvXr42woU1LZIXSx3i1RoiMozIEqQixky-rLBmlIzWn2ECQ6-PNg7MEOL3H-4XlzUc8t8Y0u6wACsmfD8ARscufug1UzwW528AiKuzvu7A495N4yWRWM_Xp19kG9uzhk0MGLfiI/s1600/georg+rufous+owl.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493358866680047330" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilmhq9AvXr42woU1LZIXSx3i1RoiMozIEqQixky-rLBmlIzWn2ECQ6-PNg7MEOL3H-4XlzUc8t8Y0u6wACsmfD8ARscufug1UzwW528AiKuzvu7A495N4yWRWM_Xp19kG9uzhk0MGLfiI/s320/georg+rufous+owl.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ZsBIfY378URzDtzpS5Lwx8tbFhooHAYZtNF_ywDsHV3wzWx08D9z-MDkltFrFt1A8i3nPfkbUnNgLSo1x4uMauNPGmtbLOutP8-DmAYrIUyhx3GCi9ZtOqbZFqqaqV4rtzQSa3gyCgE/s1600/g+mindill+sunset.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493358745518013490" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ZsBIfY378URzDtzpS5Lwx8tbFhooHAYZtNF_ywDsHV3wzWx08D9z-MDkltFrFt1A8i3nPfkbUnNgLSo1x4uMauNPGmtbLOutP8-DmAYrIUyhx3GCi9ZtOqbZFqqaqV4rtzQSa3gyCgE/s320/g+mindill+sunset.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirkuHKMJTXhdYXK6joFeehqn7UxvPkCbSaOWkNp9SUj70kXQgpz_VNimekgsRyDlQobEcxQHP_eYra7fZ8-a4uiasmkdHa72ioqaovaeDv3UvaEJX0VG6Llf2lDpoCvUQJfJvXnV3_u4w/s1600/frey+rufous+owl.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493358632047945698" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirkuHKMJTXhdYXK6joFeehqn7UxvPkCbSaOWkNp9SUj70kXQgpz_VNimekgsRyDlQobEcxQHP_eYra7fZ8-a4uiasmkdHa72ioqaovaeDv3UvaEJX0VG6Llf2lDpoCvUQJfJvXnV3_u4w/s320/frey+rufous+owl.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBgYQppeUeL2OWB6uNU_bERpNdANP37_-relATOkoR24cZ9UO3GJbul_Yyq7VA2epQLMy_1VeH3Ua1YJ8710JgO6Uu7Z3_bcf3e6xNH6rXUqmJa7LjcGl4Zu9QqbmvXEiNr_QJd3uaIVA/s1600/fmg+mindill+beach.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493358490629665586" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBgYQppeUeL2OWB6uNU_bERpNdANP37_-relATOkoR24cZ9UO3GJbul_Yyq7VA2epQLMy_1VeH3Ua1YJ8710JgO6Uu7Z3_bcf3e6xNH6rXUqmJa7LjcGl4Zu9QqbmvXEiNr_QJd3uaIVA/s320/fmg+mindill+beach.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz1z2lQg5vGF8oI3CwE1v9laWujfx0-C5HduURCTE8tIBsQyCL5FD8amozXGzVYQ6XXCiFGKTDvY9sX0Iuf0ew9mLkwU-K8pUPp3Q6UEgdJUpfcU_FWIrNGzzM2yxA3LhtZXJWLhuczt8/s1600/fgh+cruise.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493358363473470562" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz1z2lQg5vGF8oI3CwE1v9laWujfx0-C5HduURCTE8tIBsQyCL5FD8amozXGzVYQ6XXCiFGKTDvY9sX0Iuf0ew9mLkwU-K8pUPp3Q6UEgdJUpfcU_FWIrNGzzM2yxA3LhtZXJWLhuczt8/s320/fgh+cruise.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyp0nUg_cmd5Pxk0_e4vfMjHWml8LsG5-32id3cy5PWfBidBUYSan4RneUrz9PkHFQ6_GKb0yf_SocGDNKoNOS2M7xRlu20B2777lMbGp_WdbdBQJKNydGLwjiP4tE7kuduAwg7t74Qic/s1600/fg+cruise+sunset2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493358243895540210" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyp0nUg_cmd5Pxk0_e4vfMjHWml8LsG5-32id3cy5PWfBidBUYSan4RneUrz9PkHFQ6_GKb0yf_SocGDNKoNOS2M7xRlu20B2777lMbGp_WdbdBQJKNydGLwjiP4tE7kuduAwg7t74Qic/s320/fg+cruise+sunset2.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Well...it's hard to believe, but we're nearly at the end of a week here in Darwin. It's been an action packed week....so I'll try and condense it all into as small a space as possible.<br /><br />We arrived on Thursday, took Heather round the sights to find our bearings...and we had Maccas...cause we hadn't seen one for awhile. After that we went back to the van and got organised to go to the Mindil Beach Market. We got there around 630pm and stayed until after 10pm. While there we ate exotic foods, drank strange concoctions of fruit juice and bought the odd thing or too. We caught up with Chris L (from CPS) for a short while and quickly exchanged goss...and while walking around, we were approached by Anthea C from Carisbrook Primary School....so that was amazing...as she was on a ski trip. Got some lovely photos of Bec, Heath etc on the beach...and a good one of Georgia with the sun going down on the sea.<br /><br />On Heather's last full day, we hit Casuarina Shopping Centre...looking for bargains. The day was spent doing retail therapy...and after that we headed to Cullen Bay (that's right Ellie B....Cullen) Marina....where we went on a sunset cruise of Darwin Harbour. It was magic....and the sunset was awesome. The cruise went for awhile and I was feeling a little sick after it. We drove around to Stokes Hill Wharf and sat above the sea on the wharf...eating whatever took our fancy. I went for an authetic Laksa...and it was beautiful.<br /><br />We got up at 5am the next day and said a sad goodbye to Heather...who flew back to Melbourne. The girls cried nearly all day....as they really missed their Grannie and I think Georgia is finding it difficult now being so far from her friends. She really misses school! I tell you now...Heather was a breeze to take away...never complains, always helps and always has something great to say about the scenery!<br /><br />The next few days were filled in with Bec and Georgia have a pedicure and then they took me to the movies to see Eclipse.....mmmmmm...it was OK. Dad, Mum and Frey went to Shrek Forever 3D and really enjoyed that. On Sunday we went to the Northern Territory Museum...and it was awesome....especially since it's free. It's full of Aboriginal Art, displays on wildlife, a Cyclone Tracy exhibit and a real/stuffed model of a 6/7m crocodile named "Sweetheart" that they caught up here in one of the rivers. He was huge...yes a he! Named after Sweetwater Billabong or something. We went to Aquascene Fish Feeding that afternoon...and the girls and I fed thousands of wild fish that come in on high tide each day. Very good...but costly to see a natural phenomenon. On the way home we revisited the Mindill Beach Markets again and had tea there.<br /><br />On Monday, we organised ourselves and went to the Territory Wildlife Park. This park is dedicated to showcasing the wildlife of the Top End. It was pretty good....especially the aquarium (with weird animals like sawfish, saratoga etc.) and the Bird Free Flight Show....where Georgia and Freyja got to hold a Rufous Owl on their arm. The also had pictures taken with a Pacific Baza and a Bookbook Owl. On the way back to Darwin we stopped at Berry Springs. Wow! What an awesome place....a bit like Mataranka...but much bigger and deeper....but not quite as warm. Georgia, Freyja and I got on top of a thermal waterfall and just lay there looking up at the palms above us or the pandanus lining the sides of the creek.<br /><br />Today we went into the city to do some shopping and then went to the new Waterfront Precinct to enjoy the wave pool. Georg, Frey and I had a ball riding the waves and enjoying the hot weather.<br /><br />We have a day left here, so might go back to Berry Springs or the girls want more shops....we'll see if we can compromise!<br /><br />We're still enjoying ourselves and we love the park we're staying in (Free Spirit Resort)....happy hour every evening while the girls swim in the pool....can't get much better.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>M@tbechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16971751985819538199noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3513765508642849428.post-43909302964353707052010-07-09T15:42:00.000-07:002010-08-06T05:53:25.151-07:00MARY RIVER - ANNABURROO<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu4YXZNYcdLj7bbY8MHcev6j9mSOPTke4b_x6TU5FVl0itRFZLnCguVGPLa-KITTzA0w61K5LVSMxH4dbl_16s6hPkuGNZ2usGmCrEIOLxbT73R_dGis3B9MOfnZ44HQTWaEo8SWoTfgg/s1600/jumpin+croc2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492473409585014338" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; 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MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi195ZNGxSjHBbZWQ5ZxKs9aavrGPZR_9rPQmpCXigVLmsQWEwzuSakx4Lj0yOzR52S45bPIVNETyAnIv_fpdcNJbxMk2b0wFamZhWXBolNdVz02GJN-FPxojxcRPpEsCvs2xLYAVMafZ8/s320/gfr+corroboree+park.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyzSxwOcb_Gq_iS5rpPqVFjq8DsGLoZWPIU34xVygyW0YoCuSzR17tODz4iJfBYoH0UPTaFOHwn_25AiPt-8MX4xan4_EtdbtgO4Ru8GFDXsFOZE2lGHXyiwQ6EqC_cqPIOkpYQnEUdro/s1600/fhg+corroborree+billabong.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492472883111032786" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyzSxwOcb_Gq_iS5rpPqVFjq8DsGLoZWPIU34xVygyW0YoCuSzR17tODz4iJfBYoH0UPTaFOHwn_25AiPt-8MX4xan4_EtdbtgO4Ru8GFDXsFOZE2lGHXyiwQ6EqC_cqPIOkpYQnEUdro/s320/fhg+corroborree+billabong.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnBN8XdgzTn6FfswxN4yhL0mWWpriCXDlHYjllAtNFipX_D8JWJVAdQT6ZRHGJ-a9Vc6Lsvip6wmipHPmJ06Shxah3DvSPvQrBXjy-z9NeyJTf3dRgiFQTUFESxLXLu7kjJlVkRkIcKQk/s1600/dm+barramundi.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492472751052626850" style="FLOAT: left; 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MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEpgPDRtQK92jjHW89Vb8gPUwpi78trOzPhelD2vMNBvPKu1q1_E-cgA8c47SI4CpYnU7Yx3VDCkB1ecUJwRAuOh2tCV3ol2diSMpsUcdrARYctTSwJsbfL6hI7srH823tq03cJ02TwTM/s320/d+brian+creek+walk.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhclNlNFFk2UKofbmDJqaYUePy0fIiwL1c9S-9UPthSpJcqJaADgyH-rE7IaXj5WiO5NEn2TVq794dSj5jLnBJuT3SA5fUTVQoFE2rdc9e4J_HpW0X0SohoF0R5eNKHPLWN2x9GZEqbYlM/s1600/big+saltie.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492471793298126402" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhclNlNFFk2UKofbmDJqaYUePy0fIiwL1c9S-9UPthSpJcqJaADgyH-rE7IaXj5WiO5NEn2TVq794dSj5jLnBJuT3SA5fUTVQoFE2rdc9e4J_HpW0X0SohoF0R5eNKHPLWN2x9GZEqbYlM/s320/big+saltie.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVOC_kz51p_LKKRtqDRxw3WO8pmgrRcuJlZ7B-mnGUOkmS42Z5aAT9_Lo5H80HWkxAfOid5OGKdSq9NafW9b9qCDMtOzSlPr3xAFtIl_lxS4xlQK3Zyfi78ghU4dc4dEDUCcSCyFoUUbs/s1600/bh+wine+time+mary+river.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492471662650538146" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVOC_kz51p_LKKRtqDRxw3WO8pmgrRcuJlZ7B-mnGUOkmS42Z5aAT9_Lo5H80HWkxAfOid5OGKdSq9NafW9b9qCDMtOzSlPr3xAFtIl_lxS4xlQK3Zyfi78ghU4dc4dEDUCcSCyFoUUbs/s320/bh+wine+time+mary+river.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>!!! FOR THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN AVID READERS....FOLLOWING EVERY POST (YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE....AND THANK YOU!)....I HAVE POSTED PHOTOS RIGHT BACK TO MATARANKA....AS WE HAVE FREE INTERNET ACCESS IN DARWIN THANKS TO MACCAS!</div><div></div><div>After a quick pack up (we're very good at it now), we drove into Jabiru and Heath + Bec went and did some grocery shopping, while Georg, Frey and I did the petrol run. Once we were all in the car, we started the short drive to Mary River Park. On the way we stopped at Mamukala Wetlands lookout (nice...but not spectacular yet because of the high waters), the South Alligator River (high tidal river with cream colour water) and The Bark Hut in where the girls got to pat Water Buffalo, donkeys etc.<br /><br />When we got to the park, we set up down by the river and Caleb arrived (a relative of our family from Mildura). He works at the park, but was heading to Darwin for a few days and wanted to take us out fishing for Barra before he left....so Dad, Georg and I got organised and went out on the river with Caleb as our guide (he's the official fishing guide here anyway...lol!). We trolled up the Mary River and in 5 minutes I'd caught a large catfish....then in another 5 minutes I'd caught another catfish.....and in another 2 minutes I'd caught a barramundi. It was 53cm...so 2cm too small! Oh well...it was a nice fish and I was enjoying getting all of the fish! While we were traveling up the river, Caleb showed us quite a few crocs...but we didn't see the Cow Cruncher....a 5 and a half metre monster that lives just up from the park.<br /><br />On the way back down the river, Dad landed a good barramundi...around 62cm. He was very happy! We did another dash up the river and I was lucky enough to get another barra....this time a lot bigger at 65cm! I was pretty happy, as it was a rather large fish. Caleb had to get back then, so we returned to the park...and we tracked down a Black Bittern on the way....so that was really good. Caleb filleted the fish for us before departing to Darwin. We really appreciated the trip out fishing and it was good to see him.<br /><br />The next day we got up and drove to the Corroboree Park Tavern. We caught a mini bus out to Corroboree Billabong and did a 1 hour cruise on the billabong. It was very beautiful with all of the usual birds and this time, lots of brolga. The crocs in here were huge and the guide kept pulling the boat in right beside the crocs sunning themselves on the bank. I swear....we were all pooing our pants....cause this 4m croc was just sitting 2m away from us....we made sure we didn't hang our arms over the side!<br /><br />Then we traveled on to the Adelaide River....where we had lunch near the cruise centre. Nice...but expensive! From here...we drove about 10km down the road to Fogg Dam....this was awesome. You drive out over the dam wall looking over the most beautiful wetlands (that used to be rice pattie fields but they failed due to all of the birds eating the crops). We couldn't walk out on the dam wall, because there is a huge 5m croc lurking around the area...and they haven't been able to catch him in the croc trap as yet. On the way out to the end of the dam wall....we had to stop to let a turtle cross the road. The girls named him Terry. When we got to the end of the dam wall...we saw a huge goanna loping around...and brolga, jabiru etc. Got quite a few types of finch out there, which was good! On the way back along the dam wall we stopped to watch a jacana walking on the water (or waterlilies) beside the car.<br /><br />Windows on the Wetlands was next....a big observatory overlooking the floodplains with information about all of the animals and plants. It was very good...but we had to rush to get back to the Jumping Croc Cruise on the Adelaide River. We did the 3pm cruise and had a ball going up the river, watching as the lady made huge crocs jump up out of the water to eat a pork chop! We even saw her feed white bellied sea eagles and whistling + black kites. We had torrential rain and all of the locals were confused because they just don't get rain in the dry season! We got soaked...but dried out in about 5 minutes when it cleared...as it was hot and about 32 degrees.<br /><br />We drove home and I did the Bird Billabong walk looking for birds....not much about and not much of a billabong really. A professional birdo had just seen a huge flock of Gouldian Finch...so he took me back to look....but of course, no luck!<br /><br />The next day we got organised and went for a drive out to Shady Camp. This is reached up a 57 km dirt road. On the way we stopped at Brian Creek Monsoon Forest. We all started the walk in, but Bec, Georgia, Heather and Frey got scared by the long grass. Dad and I continued and were rewarded with a patch of rainforest as good as any in the wet tropics of Far North Queensland. There was a huge strangler fig in the middle of the forest too...and when Dad looked into the creek...guess what ran up the bank and hid? Another Black Bittern!<br /><br />We drove all of the way to Shady Camp and hated it. Dusty, no shade and mosquito heaven. We had a picnic under a tree...and looked up to see a Barking Owl looking down at us! After lunch we looked at the freshwater/saltwater barrage where they catch all of the barramundi from and saw a few large crocs sunning themselves on the river bank. We decided to go back to the park for the arvo. We spent the arvo in the pool drinking beverages and eating hot potato wedges. At 5pm Dad and I drove out to where the birdo saw the Gouldian Finch to see if we could strike it lucky. The area was a recently burnt patch of ground under some trees....with a bit of regrowth. A finch flew down to the ground and I was excited....but disappointed when I saw that it was a masked finch. Lol....but then...down came a Gouldian Finch! By the time we'd left, we found a flock of around 50 birds....Dad thought it was amazing. I was pretty excited too! Told a couple of other young fellas that were bird watchign where they were....so they thought I was person of the year too!<br /><br />The rest of the time at Mary River was spent at the park, under tropical trees...with an open fire each night to keep the mosquitoes at bay! Couldn't sit near the fire though...too hot! Lol</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>M@tbechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16971751985819538199noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3513765508642849428.post-83154361295475311512010-07-09T14:34:00.000-07:002010-08-06T05:56:01.005-07:00JABIRU<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYZvBOydK43tipJCCRwE5Fn28ZlucUL7lfks8o70nyoTPspTLLC9a0yGZokNb-ss_SAhp-TELdK3vkFnpzZ-Sw7ThFP9CsaWFZFyf7J1oxKoDvEtnEhcA-cKE_oobXpd4RiCZkuwjcbJs/s1600/Ubirr+sunset4.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492471396424272594" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYZvBOydK43tipJCCRwE5Fn28ZlucUL7lfks8o70nyoTPspTLLC9a0yGZokNb-ss_SAhp-TELdK3vkFnpzZ-Sw7ThFP9CsaWFZFyf7J1oxKoDvEtnEhcA-cKE_oobXpd4RiCZkuwjcbJs/s320/Ubirr+sunset4.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyOkEkpn9ElpIvegrOlZ6XaIIe5xEVLUMdXe7oLV6o7Tz8cBvc0w_0-PrdeQxRsLTp3QWj8kS13G7y-ttcPM_aOz7s_oWMslWHHKAUez7Cj-H7ADyl1AqvbOaqVQW0SJGXcehB32LWXHs/s1600/nourlangie+art5.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492471238439969922" style="FLOAT: left; 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MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGSmhpfCCRPISJ_IFYBjUrF6SyaNmXyXiW3nXRDMpjVJZ7nufF1_rYDnLKGJXLy-QBzE8vB-PAWOE2J9wciYwHD0f0Nyha-YUIH3dslpJ-2ScKkhe0Y3WBcvbK6vsRfkj1CF_G9WfzLXI/s320/GRFB+Ubirr+sunset.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZkgZYKIH0Fu7752LgTWsxxuaaPhfsC8TTnufX1KqKSddin__rG5Kb6c_aO5PC01Nm0_caa2cUe59zQVPm3r6UPdvCorDWDdcNNy_pWmjEVcKy7FMxXdp2HE_w67bnGDXARWrg9pCk9o/s1600/gf+cahills+crossing.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492469629076452370" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZkgZYKIH0Fu7752LgTWsxxuaaPhfsC8TTnufX1KqKSddin__rG5Kb6c_aO5PC01Nm0_caa2cUe59zQVPm3r6UPdvCorDWDdcNNy_pWmjEVcKy7FMxXdp2HE_w67bnGDXARWrg9pCk9o/s320/gf+cahills+crossing.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6wY0w7n9jejioKlpQy29ZlSy8VTwT7j0zISMJfPZ-edlm4v13RbaQuGcwUJw4o36gwYLOPMkrg040LJ6Qrb1N-hBe4N5B3F1-SC7lSFdyxy2BiZG8zAU-e5pNSqe8zx4CA1B0dkGIn6k/s1600/fgm+nourlangie.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492469499985965346" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6wY0w7n9jejioKlpQy29ZlSy8VTwT7j0zISMJfPZ-edlm4v13RbaQuGcwUJw4o36gwYLOPMkrg040LJ6Qrb1N-hBe4N5B3F1-SC7lSFdyxy2BiZG8zAU-e5pNSqe8zx4CA1B0dkGIn6k/s320/fgm+nourlangie.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt0VurwIj-G_5TTezQOkUVaSqho8zpGyZI-NLrw8ziSZv6OWYD0EOEAPtp-PdG7_yvMZUpka-Wtl-12WQjJPK-QmmwNmuZrEfWjZbr6ot8iI1kCjqJ5UngsxF4siGgXMd6hRE8WM2rRqc/s1600/Dad+Jim+Jim+Falls.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492469359273348354" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt0VurwIj-G_5TTezQOkUVaSqho8zpGyZI-NLrw8ziSZv6OWYD0EOEAPtp-PdG7_yvMZUpka-Wtl-12WQjJPK-QmmwNmuZrEfWjZbr6ot8iI1kCjqJ5UngsxF4siGgXMd6hRE8WM2rRqc/s320/Dad+Jim+Jim+Falls.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji_Web9Hdib2okC_w10xAQvz996w_YsQdL3Y3yVVuHtlshCHeJhtZuZXnhiV6n0EgL6gCco9tMpeH0svjRW8vrTxkrkWOjyNncjGiL2nl841sLm39pxHk3heeiEUMpOr29p250_Yuo-6M/s1600/bec+outliers+bardedjilidji.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492469241246102882" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji_Web9Hdib2okC_w10xAQvz996w_YsQdL3Y3yVVuHtlshCHeJhtZuZXnhiV6n0EgL6gCco9tMpeH0svjRW8vrTxkrkWOjyNncjGiL2nl841sLm39pxHk3heeiEUMpOr29p250_Yuo-6M/s320/bec+outliers+bardedjilidji.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>After the short drive from Cooinda, we were set up in Jabiru by 10am! We got to a supermarket quick smart and stocked up on necessities. The bakery was worth a visit for lunch and then we decided to go to the Bowali Visitor Centre. This place was great, with fantastic displays of the different environments in Kakadu...and believe me there are a lot of different types. On the way out, we bought a beautiful piece of bark Aboriginal art from the gallery there.<br /><br />We then drove out to Cahills Crossing to see where people have to drive through the East Alligator River at low tide to enter Arhnem Land. A 4WD had be washed down stream and was laying on it's roof downstream! Wouldn't have liked that...imagine washing down a croc infested river! We fished there from high off the bank and used lures. I kept casting near a couple of crocs. One was huge...nearly hit him on the head!<br /><br />After a fish we drove to Ubirr and looked at the magnificent Aboriginal rock art. They were mainly paintings of food like barramundi, magpie geese etc. We then walked to the top of Ubirr Rock and watched a magnificent sunset over the wetlands. The same spot Paul Hogan stood as Mick Dundee in Crocodile Dundee!<br /><br />The next morning Dad and I went on a 4WD tour to Maguk and Jim Jim. Both are magnificent falls with plunge pools that they have cleared the crocs out of. We went to Maguk first. There was a hike of around 1km along a pandanus linded creek. When we got to the falls, it was magic. Dad didn't want to swim, but I went in and swam right out to the falls. A bit scary as the depth was about 20m and they can't guarantee they get all of the crocs out. I swam out to the falls with a new mate and then did the silly boyish thing of jumping 5m off the cliff into the falls. Awesome.<br /><br />After Maguk we went to Jim Jim. We had an awesome lunch and then hiked in another 1km. This was hard going over huge boulders. When we got there, the falls were amazing. Words can't describe. Jim Jim has canyon walls the size of Kings Canyon, except there's this massive waterfall plunging into a great big black hole that the sun never hits. I decided to swim it. We were warned that the water is freezing....due to the fact that it never has direct sun on it and it is around 50m deep! I still took the plunge and swam 130m out to the falls...that's up, back, up and a little at the Maryborough Pool! The water was freezing and I was pooing my pants thinking of crocs and how deep it was. But it was worth it. When I got to the edge of the falls, the only way to get under the spray was to swim under the water, as the spray and wind from the falling waters is so strong that you can't get in! My new mate and I swam under and there was a little rock ledge to sit on....awesome! The force of the water falling hurt my head!<br /><br />We returned and had a quiet night as we were tired. The girls had spent the day at the resort in the pool as it was quite hot at 34 degrees and humid too. The vans had all been invaded by ants too, so there was a bit of ant proofing to be done while Dad and I were touring the falls. Lol<br /><br />The next day we did the art at Nourlangie Rock....beautiful too. This art was more Aboriginal myths with the Lightning Man and other spooky characters painted on the walls. We did the walk up to the lookout too and got some good shots. Unfortunately Anbangbang Billabong is still closed due to the high water levels....along with Twin Falls....still too high and can't get the crocs out yet!<br /><br />On the way back to Jabiru, we went to the Gagudju Crocodile Hotel (the one shaped like a croc) and checked out all of the Aboriginal art in their gallery/foyer. Bec and I saw another piece of art that we liked....this time on paper...so we made another purchase! When we got back to the van, we swam in the resort pool. Bec and I did two walks in the arvo out near Ubirr. We were looking for the chestnut quilled rock pigeon, no luck, but we got a Rainbow Pitta!</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>M@tbechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16971751985819538199noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3513765508642849428.post-59385406107969924272010-07-04T01:05:00.000-07:002010-08-06T05:55:32.563-07:00KAKADU - COOINDA<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM63DshZi2e1N_zF6mU2IHmpCbTXE99_an6Th8aAX6nLMoQ1l6E88W6ypcrGk_zey_b0RmAdUeFo6SoDHX94Xzmnrk71hs7WlDODkFXuOt0TummjdGAV_W2gRoWyeoRDe0b-u31gMXuqM/s1600/sunset+yw2+rippa.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492468659434937826" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM63DshZi2e1N_zF6mU2IHmpCbTXE99_an6Th8aAX6nLMoQ1l6E88W6ypcrGk_zey_b0RmAdUeFo6SoDHX94Xzmnrk71hs7WlDODkFXuOt0TummjdGAV_W2gRoWyeoRDe0b-u31gMXuqM/s320/sunset+yw2+rippa.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTeuv6ayUaC5OWsf5LX9EqrfuSSlt-_-xhlpuHSWFagwtl9I9mAzLguEX1UCxh7g3xYyc4jN6GGwnxEIF-uk0bJJjLGeEz6374ZGRSZiH-8SrP4y1IVz1o6pDoGSx-tT6DNWevIcgdMQ0/s1600/fmg+gunlom.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492468319262436130" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTeuv6ayUaC5OWsf5LX9EqrfuSSlt-_-xhlpuHSWFagwtl9I9mAzLguEX1UCxh7g3xYyc4jN6GGwnxEIF-uk0bJJjLGeEz6374ZGRSZiH-8SrP4y1IVz1o6pDoGSx-tT6DNWevIcgdMQ0/s320/fmg+gunlom.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmE9UMEHYTg_ahlyqBZET6qqMrbSP_m7q1hgz5wkutt2mCVi5_xSp7coKn3CL6wVrQBkhFQbKJI62GhuMEWvQnWJ6X5GVj1gMXffAzDnZzIUAwAFf_NmQ5eWGH0uB-yAKwZndx7y9t_4A/s1600/fg+gunlom+top+pools.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492468074278156402" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmE9UMEHYTg_ahlyqBZET6qqMrbSP_m7q1hgz5wkutt2mCVi5_xSp7coKn3CL6wVrQBkhFQbKJI62GhuMEWvQnWJ6X5GVj1gMXffAzDnZzIUAwAFf_NmQ5eWGH0uB-yAKwZndx7y9t_4A/s320/fg+gunlom+top+pools.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2X3BqkPyzxe6nMGMVfYSCMVRHZItU4QZpdnF0hQv6pi2TUYCUp4MegjxGeO_z-VfPdugUxRv5zmJVPHqN3VUMPKZjJ5ZofChYHWhx6YLyuVD5R46svm5_HL6kd2IPcJZDbNYQEITfd3M/s1600/fbg+gunlom+top+pools.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492467848942796866" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2X3BqkPyzxe6nMGMVfYSCMVRHZItU4QZpdnF0hQv6pi2TUYCUp4MegjxGeO_z-VfPdugUxRv5zmJVPHqN3VUMPKZjJ5ZofChYHWhx6YLyuVD5R46svm5_HL6kd2IPcJZDbNYQEITfd3M/s320/fbg+gunlom+top+pools.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitWHlhpwmRVXLOafnXDDbuA7_qmQRNEphc0RxbVIaCdseT1hY6gSwA101HYjSyhme1D4ttp3VUkL0x0Zeo8C9-SdCJVA0lXXX4iDzQ-7e6fP9PuxnV54nqnRhKP7Oe_5luyyVho6SLIPk/s1600/f+gunlom+top+pool+falls.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492467706005313890" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitWHlhpwmRVXLOafnXDDbuA7_qmQRNEphc0RxbVIaCdseT1hY6gSwA101HYjSyhme1D4ttp3VUkL0x0Zeo8C9-SdCJVA0lXXX4iDzQ-7e6fP9PuxnV54nqnRhKP7Oe_5luyyVho6SLIPk/s320/f+gunlom+top+pool+falls.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtannq3axaQf4VG4tuxWwrGmLkqHq0yWIGpshqqOvkO0DN-iyjfttQY_d_c0gMgwZ14W9u1-sn_UDAy1gAKW6gyhAl2kERdUs0A_mXMvdEWe9g6w5kaejL4YkAFBREwcV0YyIq1DywXaY/s1600/dgf+yw+sunset.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492467533594810802" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtannq3axaQf4VG4tuxWwrGmLkqHq0yWIGpshqqOvkO0DN-iyjfttQY_d_c0gMgwZ14W9u1-sn_UDAy1gAKW6gyhAl2kERdUs0A_mXMvdEWe9g6w5kaejL4YkAFBREwcV0YyIq1DywXaY/s320/dgf+yw+sunset.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Well...it's certainly warm weather now. Could hardly sleep because of the heat and the mosquitos in Cooinda are like black darts...stabbing into you all of the time! No sheet needed for the night and your alarm is the dingoes at 5am...or the first lot of tourist going off to Yellow Waters Breakfast Cruise. So...we were up early and off we went to Warradjan Cultural Centre...which was very interesting and had some great Aboriginal art and artefacts.<br /><br />After that we drove 100km South....still in Kakadu to a turn off...from here it was 37km in to Gunlom on a dirt road...apparently 2WD recommended. Let me tell you something...2WD my foot! It was so corrugated and rough! We perserved though and went the 37km....which took an hour! Lol.... When we got there, we had lunch at a little canteen and then Bec, Georg, Frey and I set off to climb the falls. Mum, Dad and Heather went to the base of the falls to swim in the plunge pool rather than do the steep/hard walk up and down the falls.<br /><br />The walk up was steep and hard in the 34 degree heat. Frey was red in the face...or black actually, as she was covered in dirt from scrambling over rocks. The climb was worth it...absolutely magnificent views over Southern Kakudu...Jawoyn country. Even better still...the top of the falls has little pools and cascades that you swim in....so we swam and splashed in all of this little pools and took lots of pics. One pool is called the Infinity Pool because if you swim in it, it looks like infinity beyond...as the waterfall plunges down behind it! Awesome. Bec's and my favourite thing yet of the trip. Just magic!<br /><br />After the hot walk down, we went to cool off in the base plunge pool...then we had the 37km bumpy ride out! Fun....fun...fun.....bump bump bump....and on the way out we drove through several fires....lit by the traditional owners to control the undergrowth...so smoke everywhere...<br /><br />We did the Yellow Waters Cruise the next morning....530am we were up...on the bus by 615am and on the water by 645....for two hours. We saw the sunrise over the wetlands and then spent the time cruising up and down seeing sea eagles, brolga, jabiru, whistling ducks, pygmy geese, egrets, herons....and best of all....lots of jacanas...and better still...lots of baby jacanas running around all over the tops of the lily pads! Georgia thought this was magic. The cruise was awesome.<br /><br />We then went back to the resort for a huge buffet breakfast...you name it...you could eat it....so we didn't need any lunch that day! We were filled up on bacon, eggs, breakfast sausages, hash browns, baked beans, muffins, danish, croissants, toast, yoghurt, fruit, cereal, juice, tea, coffee and real coffee too!<br /><br />The rest of the day was spent lazing in the beautiful resort pool....and Dad and I flicked a few lures around in Home Billabong...but we had no luck!<br /><br />That night we had tea in the resort bistro...and I enjoyed a barramundi served with lots of fries and salad....beautiful! Cooinda really was an awesome place to stop!<br /><br />Sorry no pics yet....still Internet Kiosk access so can't post pics...Will fill up all of the pages when I can....onto Jabiru (still in Kakadu) next!</div></div></div></div></div></div>M@tbechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16971751985819538199noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3513765508642849428.post-8584526963509138672010-06-29T04:10:00.000-07:002010-08-06T05:56:37.783-07:00TENNANT CREEK and MATARANKA!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmoqq8hp4V-zlQ9uJGEL55NpUCP_V605Ki6b0BX_qidoTTcfc8DdgOe0p3uHJ-ZzLfVuWXy1jvO4cKR-u3zmUmJ-0tN-a3eGFn2dzVWi1SkJ5dcoDvAxqUp0eWj65Asd5zWbGatCCyTWo/s1600/MRH+Bitter+Springs.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492466750365770898" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmoqq8hp4V-zlQ9uJGEL55NpUCP_V605Ki6b0BX_qidoTTcfc8DdgOe0p3uHJ-ZzLfVuWXy1jvO4cKR-u3zmUmJ-0tN-a3eGFn2dzVWi1SkJ5dcoDvAxqUp0eWj65Asd5zWbGatCCyTWo/s320/MRH+Bitter+Springs.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmoqq8hp4V-zlQ9uJGEL55NpUCP_V605Ki6b0BX_qidoTTcfc8DdgOe0p3uHJ-ZzLfVuWXy1jvO4cKR-u3zmUmJ-0tN-a3eGFn2dzVWi1SkJ5dcoDvAxqUp0eWj65Asd5zWbGatCCyTWo/s1600/MRH+Bitter+Springs.JPG"></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_9rTVqXoBORIZSB2o-YBOGA1Kfb1MWKFFyl89jnrakRnMvT7PSF1R4VG8W3URdWUffWtuCjvdl6KXdZZkQuREtu2fxYWbQ8uufp5BE8kWBR5xveDb_XKaFkOL7cjeoZyEQfA8_ltobDY/s1600/MG+FD+canoeing.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492466563791591026" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_9rTVqXoBORIZSB2o-YBOGA1Kfb1MWKFFyl89jnrakRnMvT7PSF1R4VG8W3URdWUffWtuCjvdl6KXdZZkQuREtu2fxYWbQ8uufp5BE8kWBR5xveDb_XKaFkOL7cjeoZyEQfA8_ltobDY/s320/MG+FD+canoeing.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtUwOZZ6pmfTuKVhyPCU7deqTB9Pza853FwCrBKBxeXMbUDPe1ZjGMe1uoOz3B4m4ocaVGmupMS2JZ5VqR4dgVR-S9EdxaViGJvSZxQQhlqGVOsYxkFZr8_M4Q82FPvxHoLxoZ2kvl8LE/s1600/Girls+Rainbow+Springs.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492466416375255362" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtUwOZZ6pmfTuKVhyPCU7deqTB9Pza853FwCrBKBxeXMbUDPe1ZjGMe1uoOz3B4m4ocaVGmupMS2JZ5VqR4dgVR-S9EdxaViGJvSZxQQhlqGVOsYxkFZr8_M4Q82FPvxHoLxoZ2kvl8LE/s320/Girls+Rainbow+Springs.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKtyvcRAVVQbihwprhwRkuG2h0FqxSRD_yaogAdA1YTWgFQfX_FLog8lG7FHYOiKD1AVIA27z7JyoTTUiIYZG95d3MPaRK6BkL-8Wt0Xd-3CCOUsTVdf4ksJ8wqohexKGz6VWhpRxcy9k/s1600/G+Bitter+Springs.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492466278771320994" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKtyvcRAVVQbihwprhwRkuG2h0FqxSRD_yaogAdA1YTWgFQfX_FLog8lG7FHYOiKD1AVIA27z7JyoTTUiIYZG95d3MPaRK6BkL-8Wt0Xd-3CCOUsTVdf4ksJ8wqohexKGz6VWhpRxcy9k/s320/G+Bitter+Springs.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivzF0lVuBKZmjDvGhjIMaHUgziWgLFdKdYUAxr3z2bShdlQJ1JII7Dpd_B4r6jJgA-bYkFCVf9qrEoIUvUQ-che5qi3xImInSKIMQUN21VgAanGm-s1o3Rjz1oPz7FHP00mxFUWbYS-ug/s1600/Big+Barra+Territory+Manor.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492465464266837106" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivzF0lVuBKZmjDvGhjIMaHUgziWgLFdKdYUAxr3z2bShdlQJ1JII7Dpd_B4r6jJgA-bYkFCVf9qrEoIUvUQ-che5qi3xImInSKIMQUN21VgAanGm-s1o3Rjz1oPz7FHP00mxFUWbYS-ug/s320/Big+Barra+Territory+Manor.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>No...we haven't dropped off the face of the earth...just no Internet service and no McDonalds anywhere for free service. Tonight I've got an Internet booth, but can't post pics due to no flash drive access. Hope to soon though!<br /><br />The drive to Tennant Creek from Alice was interesting. Aileron was an interesting stop with a huge Aboriginal man with a spear looming over the roadhouse from the hill behind. Beside the roadhouse there's a huge statue of an Aboriginal mother and child too. They are probably around 6 metres tall and look very effective out in the dry landscape.<br /><br />Next stop was The Devils Marbles. Wow! Couldn't get over how many of them there were. That Rainbow Serpent really did lay a lot of eggs in the Dreamtime! We had lunch there....quite warm too, so had to sit beneath boulders to get out of the sun/heat. After a quick bite and cuppa, we walked around the rocks/boulders and then took off for Mataranka.<br /><br />When we got there, we only just squeezed into the Homestead Campground and ended up in a bus area. It was a nightmare finding a site, as you just go where you want and hope you're lead is long enough...it's all just dust and ghost gums too....and half the power points don't work either! Finally we got settled and went down to Rainbow Thermal Pool...and it was awesome. A constant 34 degrees in the water. The pool is lined with huge native palms and the water is a jade green colour and flows quite quickly through the pool. No bats either....thanks to the sprinkler system that have installed to scared them away!<br /><br />Got a few birds here too Golivers! Pheasant Coucal, Greater Bowerbird and shining flycatcher.<br /><br />On the second day we went to a market....or really a car boot sale (around 5 stalls all up!) and then went and saw a free Barra feeding show in a lagoon. That was interesting, as the man hand feeds barra and then grabs them, lifts them clear out of the water and shows everyone! The fish didn't smile for my photo though. Georgia was lucky enough to feed one using a fishing rod (with no hook though!).<br /><br />After the fish feeding, we went to Bitter Springs. This spring is much nicer than the commercial one, as it's less crowded, is much bigger and felt even hotter. You get into the spring (which looks like an aqua clear creek) and float down the stream/spring for about 800m between palms, paperbark trees, logs etc. The scary part is you float under heaps of huge spider webs that have massive orb spiders sitting in them, looking at you...."The spiderman is having me for dinner....tonight!". Anyway...once I got over the shock and learnt not to look up, Frey, Georg, Dad and I took to floating down the river (as the current is quick) on pool noodles. Frey actually used a life jacket....thanks Andrew and Mandy for that! It's been very useful.<br /><br />We got Bec, Heather and Mum in too. That was hilarious, as they all enjoyed it, but didn't do it again. Don't think they liked the "natural" features of the pond, like spiders, weeds, slimy logs, water bugs, etc.<br /><br />After a bbq tea, Dad, Frey, Georg and I went on a night walk. We walked along the waterhouse river and spotlighted.... On the way we killed around 12 cane toads....Georgia was the best at spotting them! Frey didn't like how their guts came out of their mouths when Pop or I stomped on them though!!! Lol...but we explained how we were doing our bit for the environment! When we went to the river, there was a large freshwater croc. just sleeping on a log where the thermal water flowed into the river! The s loved that! We also saw a lot of agile wallabies.<br /><br />In the morning, we had a decent coffee in town (hard to find up here) and went canoeing on the Waterhouse River. Dad and Frey were in one canoe and Georg and I in another. We spent an hour going under pandanus palms, around logs and up and down the small creek paddling away. We saw heaps of birds too: flycatchers, bee-eaters, azure kingfishers, ies and more. We even had a large freshwater croc swim across in front of our canoe. Cool!<br /><br />After lunch we went back to Bitter Springs to do it all again. We floated down stream and had a ball in the 30 degree sunny weather. I'm sunburnt! The only thing different about this time was we had Merten's Water Monitors crawling along the bank in the weeds. Cool! Georg and I did a bit of snorkelling too, as the water is crystal clear and quite deep...so you can see all of the logs and weeds and things. I even caught a little native turtle in the main pond...but let him go! Of course!<br /><br />We had tea at the resort and had fun talking to Kev, John and Jenny from Hollands Buslines in Maryborough! They bought in 4 busloads and surrounded our van with 150 Year 11 students. Groan! But, they were quiet and we managed to have a good sleep.<br /><br />Tonight I'm in Cooinda...which is in Kakadu. I'll write about here soon...but I'll give you the hot tip....it was 34 degrees here today and it was stinking hot! Right now it's 9pm and i'm sitting in wet bathers and a tank trying to stay cool!<br /><br />Anyway...off to spot crocs off the jetty in the dark with a torch. Greg tells me their eyes glow red in the dark...so hope I see some red neons over the billa !<br /><br />Hope you're happy now Brett.....the latest addition is up mate! Shaun....met a guy Reynolds here...works for Qantas in Yulara and knows you...plays cards with ya! Small world hey!</div></div></div></div></div></div>M@tbechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16971751985819538199noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3513765508642849428.post-81538860483570846602010-06-24T05:14:00.000-07:002010-08-06T05:57:40.242-07:00EXPLORING ALICE!After our leisurely day yesterday, we got up and got going to explore the West Macdonnell Ranges. Mum, Dad, Heather, Frey, Georg, Bec and I piled in the Kluger and we were off by 9am. First stop was Flynn's grave, then onto Simpsons Gap. This was a beautiful spot with a dry creek bed and waterhole in a gap of the ranges. The funniest moment was when one of the school kids on an excursion looked at the sand in the creek and said "So this is where they get kitty litter from!"....Lol...and you know what? It did look like kitty litter! Picture of Simpsons Gap below.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_TapOMwCwnh5rmvXp-CcnKxisNggnl9VcBACSoSwJBkhdL5oNmnXfdIMKbAteoDzIAgdxBmIaIlpc_xTolthLOFtHwG9V86zYsESWIUNNVA8VoWGqqIhV9KqBTPipc9cg7p3lrrOEZWU/s1600/gdf+simpsons+gap.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486318436962200178" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_TapOMwCwnh5rmvXp-CcnKxisNggnl9VcBACSoSwJBkhdL5oNmnXfdIMKbAteoDzIAgdxBmIaIlpc_xTolthLOFtHwG9V86zYsESWIUNNVA8VoWGqqIhV9KqBTPipc9cg7p3lrrOEZWU/s320/gdf+simpsons+gap.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />After Simpsons, we drove for around 40km to Stanley Chasm. This incurred a fee of $8 but was really worth it. The walk up was magnificent, we the little creek flowing between cycads and red rocks. When we got to the Chasm we walked through it, marvelling at how close the walls are and how small you feel while inside. See picture below.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIc684pZOC2ae_yFH3V7Y_dV-DhwTrcvBA2UVFL1GUMiNYj_Rl1M_xCWOnsUiEHJBzkpDolv63p-RaCzgdauOIiYpEGYk01lWUJK-55h3_2x_i6Uboej6ikfzXVl42KlDVLTEkSmfdNu0/s1600/g+stanley+chasm.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486318330921795314" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIc684pZOC2ae_yFH3V7Y_dV-DhwTrcvBA2UVFL1GUMiNYj_Rl1M_xCWOnsUiEHJBzkpDolv63p-RaCzgdauOIiYpEGYk01lWUJK-55h3_2x_i6Uboej6ikfzXVl42KlDVLTEkSmfdNu0/s320/g+stanley+chasm.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Next on the agenda was Ellery Creek Bighole. This was a fav. of mine! A huge deep waterhole full of fish....wedged between cliffs and surrounded by ghost gums. When I stood in the water, the water was so cold it hurt! No kidding! Absolute icicles!!!!! Even the s had trouble staying in and they love water. The hole was full of fish and many were dying....or ....apparently part of the natural cycle in desert waterholes. We sat down in the 22 degree sunshine and had a picnic lunch. Gee this is hard! Pictures below for you to enjoy....<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogspaHBMdnnnoKfR6zyRmli2dI1hyphenhyphenMT2UiNCImEYtmpbIofnhKFoZcCtDKfkM19cPy70HiaVBRDN9UOXPL64eVS_jG_R9YZgiLi5bJHs6DsTyVNQzXQ84iu8iER2w3YL2fbhyphenhyphenDPQLTT8/s1600/rbgfh+ellery+creek+big+hole.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486319203755419490" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogspaHBMdnnnoKfR6zyRmli2dI1hyphenhyphenMT2UiNCImEYtmpbIofnhKFoZcCtDKfkM19cPy70HiaVBRDN9UOXPL64eVS_jG_R9YZgiLi5bJHs6DsTyVNQzXQ84iu8iER2w3YL2fbhyphenhyphenDPQLTT8/s320/rbgfh+ellery+creek+big+hole.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Zi5SoNL4oZVYJNZ4a6Gjg3MeMw3RzfdxGWQ_-TV-7s_VGHBUfkmZBA0jYlPkMaHtdyygqbtk4RYDw07FZX6emWXh1aY8uRaC0ykZZUXTLlgEq4HqfMWSVmNs11DegxWkIU2NdGByQUM/s1600/gf+ghost+gum+ellery.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486318544539968466" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Zi5SoNL4oZVYJNZ4a6Gjg3MeMw3RzfdxGWQ_-TV-7s_VGHBUfkmZBA0jYlPkMaHtdyygqbtk4RYDw07FZX6emWXh1aY8uRaC0ykZZUXTLlgEq4HqfMWSVmNs11DegxWkIU2NdGByQUM/s320/gf+ghost+gum+ellery.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNWk69lJoA3s8YHy3zTvtykC-F3dCfZsEH8B7JvHhdIpfRIRfr1ZPqzwguxk76ccqn7kM0d2PZ9SUeagjneNdMwKJNSRPwXSMEl1PFQrbPaw9MwWI575xTWOUjbAWGkaIBpLDrs5FiWfc/s1600/fg+ellery+creek+picnic.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486317933228665938" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNWk69lJoA3s8YHy3zTvtykC-F3dCfZsEH8B7JvHhdIpfRIRfr1ZPqzwguxk76ccqn7kM0d2PZ9SUeagjneNdMwKJNSRPwXSMEl1PFQrbPaw9MwWI575xTWOUjbAWGkaIBpLDrs5FiWfc/s320/fg+ellery+creek+picnic.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />After Ellery we went on to Serpentine Gorge. This was an extremely rough 5km dirt track in and then a 1.3km walk through long grass with grasshoppers and lizards everywhere. Bec got a little freaked out! But.....it was so worth it. Serpentine Gorge is beautiful...with a deep pool between two towering walls and a red cliff face beyond, glowing in the sunlight! The gorge was filled with the sound of zebra finch coming in to drink!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZKDFJAIpLoiU5nAw6tVDx1qwAKxQiVxVgrRX-y5R_1LtjWf3TAYlW6laJA6lUlgJSZE830hJtHLirXfTCLUR8fVpmNmwJiKpgT4UkVfwjgAYKvFs9CQ3yMTe0DZOp_TEYPzUAOjHEz4/s1600/g+serpentine+close-up.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486318231187039874" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZKDFJAIpLoiU5nAw6tVDx1qwAKxQiVxVgrRX-y5R_1LtjWf3TAYlW6laJA6lUlgJSZE830hJtHLirXfTCLUR8fVpmNmwJiKpgT4UkVfwjgAYKvFs9CQ3yMTe0DZOp_TEYPzUAOjHEz4/s320/g+serpentine+close-up.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Next on the journey was The Ochre Pits....an ancient place where Aboriginals used to collect high quality ochre for their art and decoration. Dad, the s and I walked along the dry creek bed looking at the amazing colours on the wall. Dad and Georgia caught a little lizard too....and returned him to the wild after a little squiz.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht6FIIusWF2nl-1ZEpwLF7SA0kD5DZsE5P_4VCF5maLDrJx2o8L7Z2XauC9Qj-2wx_GQW4yHpVYCz2sP5nxc3i5MzWs30BQJoUV-S-uOSEc5DPOsZsIBgSox9n3HZjMGEmQlzTop7sgys/s1600/girls+ochre+pits.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486318790003576082" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht6FIIusWF2nl-1ZEpwLF7SA0kD5DZsE5P_4VCF5maLDrJx2o8L7Z2XauC9Qj-2wx_GQW4yHpVYCz2sP5nxc3i5MzWs30BQJoUV-S-uOSEc5DPOsZsIBgSox9n3HZjMGEmQlzTop7sgys/s320/girls+ochre+pits.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Ormiston Gorge was next. This gorge is perhaps most well known and was absolutely beautiful. It was also full of water....stopping people from doing some of the longer walks, unless they wanted to wade through icy water! We were on limited time, so we looked around, talked to a backpacker who was washing (Heather told him to use soap) and got some nice pics for you to enjoy.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6l21QaluMTwh_OmpfZaWZgm7TN9mLIfee78U_TuQTvAtNnea4hsrSPEcupeTs9aSo1szmPDXt4zkJiWz85duu8cSRNsznRFQfqP9jxFrquV5OsoHD7q92qT4Db39-kjPPdBZbfoQdxO0/s1600/m+ormiston+gorge.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486319088145922306" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6l21QaluMTwh_OmpfZaWZgm7TN9mLIfee78U_TuQTvAtNnea4hsrSPEcupeTs9aSo1szmPDXt4zkJiWz85duu8cSRNsznRFQfqP9jxFrquV5OsoHD7q92qT4Db39-kjPPdBZbfoQdxO0/s320/m+ormiston+gorge.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Finally we got to Glen Helen Gorge/resort, where we walked along the Finke River (the oldest river in the world) to the beautiful gorge...which was glowing in the arvo sun. By this stage Georg and Frey were totally over gorges....Lol! Our last stop was a lookout where you could see Mount Sonder....a mountain that famous Aboriginal Albert Namatjira used to paint. We had a long drive back in the twilight....red hills aglow!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFSoWGdzgJbV8gG7QVpAsIos5PYr-axD_Umglh2Dy7C04qATFx-Q4tC74TUAYyP9fYj7DtlUjMSyGgPx90Jtj62VEdZqbRUstT3ec9Fag9WmdohjfHONlKKFXm_0UyF6npEr80rL3kz8M/s1600/gh+glen+helen.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486318663117451938" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFSoWGdzgJbV8gG7QVpAsIos5PYr-axD_Umglh2Dy7C04qATFx-Q4tC74TUAYyP9fYj7DtlUjMSyGgPx90Jtj62VEdZqbRUstT3ec9Fag9WmdohjfHONlKKFXm_0UyF6npEr80rL3kz8M/s320/gh+glen+helen.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />After tea, Mum, Dad, Frey and I sat around 3 bonfires in the park and listened to a musician play. He was amazing and took requests....so I got in "Sweet Child of Mine", "Angel of Harlem", "Throw Your Arms Around Me" and "Patience". He was awesome.<br /><br />After a great sleep, we were up and at them again....and off to the East Macdonnell Ranges. The weather was warmer too....24 degress...so out came the shorts and ts!<br /><br />First stop was Emily Gap. A beautiful spot with a waterhole and some Aboriginal rock art. We took a shot of the sign for Aunty Em back home in Maryborough. Enjoy!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz4j5m-BHI2C2jcKcTv1wzOM71A9d9n4Nt1VENp20KCF_RmJWyMB6KqdDcPTpr2SkTEAMbkk5JO60izjbxf1A8sg_7FX5v9ksd-M8NbZp9vOHPHSf-oNb2kMxBGfxgcbWy5tYru37P-PM/s1600/H+emily+gap.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486318995236390882" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz4j5m-BHI2C2jcKcTv1wzOM71A9d9n4Nt1VENp20KCF_RmJWyMB6KqdDcPTpr2SkTEAMbkk5JO60izjbxf1A8sg_7FX5v9ksd-M8NbZp9vOHPHSf-oNb2kMxBGfxgcbWy5tYru37P-PM/s320/H+emily+gap.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Next was Jessie Gap. Another beautiful spot with a waterhole and Aboriginal rock art, but not as good quality art. We took a shot of the sign for cousin/neice Jessie back in Cheltenham. Enjoy!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtGmF-lGOa8SgN3nYdsRgQ3qVBNHROODEVhnin3UFKCmdQNW-Do0-UNl_zpy5T2pPb_0RrBGb6UYOalfFEiS26H7kqM01CAUzrqqq3n2REG1YCPwxHzU7cTB7zdTTHSKA9ugYnmKBDQoE/s1600/fg+jessie+gap+sign.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486318020316930466" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtGmF-lGOa8SgN3nYdsRgQ3qVBNHROODEVhnin3UFKCmdQNW-Do0-UNl_zpy5T2pPb_0RrBGb6UYOalfFEiS26H7kqM01CAUzrqqq3n2REG1YCPwxHzU7cTB7zdTTHSKA9ugYnmKBDQoE/s320/fg+jessie+gap+sign.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />After a little drive, we came to Corroboree Rock. This was a dolomite outcrop of rock in the middle of nowhere...and really interesting. We really loved walking around the outcrop through the spinifex!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAFMlZ-S1-_oz8dToNjRTni49UFMIicNw6sUU-c1xSIcIrFIzR6JqY38zSTwgpIUlpihRzMfe9c4urBjN2VQieJDKSoW2zQi4KWKhiroSO6dKA_mPrqdHvYRWYeqfXjZN96K3xKvSEu7U/s1600/gmhf+corroboree.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486318890162630722" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAFMlZ-S1-_oz8dToNjRTni49UFMIicNw6sUU-c1xSIcIrFIzR6JqY38zSTwgpIUlpihRzMfe9c4urBjN2VQieJDKSoW2zQi4KWKhiroSO6dKA_mPrqdHvYRWYeqfXjZN96K3xKvSEu7U/s320/gmhf+corroboree.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />We went to Trephina Gorge next and enjoyed a clifftop walk, looking down into the gorge, that was flowing quite steadily with water. The views along the cliff were beautiful, with rust red rocks plunging onto white sand and ghost gums..... Once at the end of the walk, you got to walk back through the creek and gorge! Beautiful. We ate a banana and mandarin for a snack and returned to the car....before heading to Ross River Resort....should of listened Deb...not worth the drive!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGOnrkcLX_40eptqPDuWwfVcjPDNafrOhh5goHnjcSDsT9O4hlcasb9-ZUONeMA79TF7KIurb5HDUqnE6CVra2K3dKYNrqbhPZIkAjmLX0p2yZ7ZUDuTlkSgYBpxhiCz5wS6Ir-oXroh4/s1600/fgh+300+year+old+ghost+gum.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486318139146556818" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGOnrkcLX_40eptqPDuWwfVcjPDNafrOhh5goHnjcSDsT9O4hlcasb9-ZUONeMA79TF7KIurb5HDUqnE6CVra2K3dKYNrqbhPZIkAjmLX0p2yZ7ZUDuTlkSgYBpxhiCz5wS6Ir-oXroh4/s320/fgh+300+year+old+ghost+gum.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvdaNBtjEae0Mcx1i8y_8C2Rt0455PiaxMGDSWP2tb43JygeClB74rkZ7mZduasMlkNo4v8zSo8y5VniI_uKnp0PBTfLGVozUxqI_EBvtKrDIllSPNZXVYT1g4DbHrOMtJSNqopw7HbH0/s1600/f+trephina+gorge.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486317828284856770" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvdaNBtjEae0Mcx1i8y_8C2Rt0455PiaxMGDSWP2tb43JygeClB74rkZ7mZduasMlkNo4v8zSo8y5VniI_uKnp0PBTfLGVozUxqI_EBvtKrDIllSPNZXVYT1g4DbHrOMtJSNqopw7HbH0/s320/f+trephina+gorge.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Once back in Alice, we got lunch and stocked up on groceries ready for the next few days in isolated areas. We had pancakes after tea courtesy of the strawberry/pancake van that goes to Energy Breakthrough every year. They do the winter stint up here as it's good for business.... The rest of the night has been packing up and getting ready for the trip tomorrow.<br /><br /><br />To all of you reading back at school....or anyone reading that goes to school...enjoy the holidays. The Brook crew thoroughly deserve them...and Laura....if you are reading....have a fantastic trip to Europe with Adam. Can't wait to hear all about it!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Catch you guys again soon....M@tbechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16971751985819538199noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3513765508642849428.post-9004308426584907882010-06-22T04:15:00.000-07:002010-08-06T05:58:33.049-07:00TO ALICE!Before you read....I've put the King's Canyon pictures in now if you want to have a look...<br /><br />We were up and at 'em early in Kings Canyon. We left by 8am and thought of everyone beginning a new week back at school....especially Craig due to his return to work. We travelled well and even saw wild brumbies alongside the road. By 12 we had reached Erldunda...so we stopped for lunch and paid $7 of a latte! Rip off!!!!!!<br /><div><div><br /><div>The drive to Alice was awesome....beautiful ranges and rock outcrops. We got to town around 2pm and set up in our caravan park. The park has 2 jumping pillows, 3 pools, 2 playgrounds and heaps more....very spoilt! </div><br /><div>After setting up, Heath, Bec, Georg, Frey and I went into town to buy a new digital camera, as mine had died in Kings Canyon. The shopping centre is pretty basic and most of the main street (Todd Mall) is taken up with art galleries selling expensive Aboriginal Art....the ones we like ranged from $3000 to $30,000 so we gave it a miss.....</div><br /><div>After shopping we drove back to the park and got ready to go out for tea. We went to Bojangles (thanks to a recommendation from Deb, Greg, Mills and Nikas) and had tea for Mum's birthday. I had the outback grill and it was beautiful....there was an emu sausage, a kangaroo steak, a crocodile rissole, a buffalo medallion and camel kebab....all of which were very tasty! While we were in Bojangles, friends and family could watch us via webcam. The girls were dancing for Brett, Bev, Jess, Em, Fitty, Madi, Nikas, Millsy and Georgia....who commented that our Georgia has some pretty good dance moves! Not sure who else watched! We ate next to a cage of snakes and organised a huge chocolate treat plate as Mum's birthday cake.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9TpcWX7FlMS4__HQ05RXgYAQvb43Mttima5yX1KpauB84OPOz5O-19dRWjPmMATKX5-GyRkvPrhgckOKToj7f6vGP9QYHJEyy2u-IY6Gs9wZKC8-7e-qFyeuJiOAfnFkZyEQtYHuS3EE/s1600/g+bos.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485558995874010594" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9TpcWX7FlMS4__HQ05RXgYAQvb43Mttima5yX1KpauB84OPOz5O-19dRWjPmMATKX5-GyRkvPrhgckOKToj7f6vGP9QYHJEyy2u-IY6Gs9wZKC8-7e-qFyeuJiOAfnFkZyEQtYHuS3EE/s320/g+bos.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIJX8rasvBVPKuJsd36grhaCLQICmhd-vAE1l4R0L-BRdCCDH3wsdhZsJJYqjigQFLw2g4ktQYQxlj74xUe01cdPOnrjZYPsq9i-juCHXFmhYQKqiDmtJ17whUKn1d8SGRdsOj_S6feeE/s1600/hr+mums+71st.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485559154233868642" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIJX8rasvBVPKuJsd36grhaCLQICmhd-vAE1l4R0L-BRdCCDH3wsdhZsJJYqjigQFLw2g4ktQYQxlj74xUe01cdPOnrjZYPsq9i-juCHXFmhYQKqiDmtJ17whUKn1d8SGRdsOj_S6feeE/s320/hr+mums+71st.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>When we drove home, a song came on the radio...."This is dedicated to Matt, Bec, Frey, Georg and Heather....have a great trip....Nikas, Millsy and kids!" How funny!!!! Bojangles runs one of the stations and you can request songs via the Internet for visitors. Not sure about the choice of song Nikas: Mamma Mia!<br /></div><div>After a good sleep, we got up and hung around the park, doing washing, having cups of coffee and relaxing/reading. I saw a few new birds....got some babblers Gary!!! Gee they are funny birds.... A Port Lincoln Ringneck even perched on our van!</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJhHrIpIwET4xc1e9NslpLwi18iDP6bN-SEwgCUm5Q-jRItYf4XeVkd9MrzRjX094Xu451zlKOqIlB1ua_rUEPn8_OBvNTSzinyI2NCRaPjTZZtiXnY9oO9FsqpTI1tdbtoVtHUC1o3zc/s1600/ringneck+van.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485559596981947410" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJhHrIpIwET4xc1e9NslpLwi18iDP6bN-SEwgCUm5Q-jRItYf4XeVkd9MrzRjX094Xu451zlKOqIlB1ua_rUEPn8_OBvNTSzinyI2NCRaPjTZZtiXnY9oO9FsqpTI1tdbtoVtHUC1o3zc/s320/ringneck+van.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>When we were ready, we went into town, looked at a few more galleries, then had lunch at a food court. After lunch we went out to the Desert Park. This is an amazing animal park, showcasing life in the desert. You walk through woodlands, sandplains, claypans and more. We saw all of the birds of the desert and when we went into the nocturnal house, we saw scorpions, centipedes, mala, hopping mice, quolls, pythons, rats, frogmouths, ghost bats etc. It was the best nocturnal house I've ever seen.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz-Acw2U3rN9hRW3xupmfvmoBv-WfZ4HrmXbM7oQIBtpkuvt_H1C1VVH-sdz4YhfFwS1PXmQ5cXeMOZiPN-8yec97a_akEoycIiaGZ19Sf1Ysqha7SmEoUPrF86qLdxQUtFzhRfP0X4sw/s1600/fg+desert+park.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485559496232928962" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz-Acw2U3rN9hRW3xupmfvmoBv-WfZ4HrmXbM7oQIBtpkuvt_H1C1VVH-sdz4YhfFwS1PXmQ5cXeMOZiPN-8yec97a_akEoycIiaGZ19Sf1Ysqha7SmEoUPrF86qLdxQUtFzhRfP0X4sw/s320/fg+desert+park.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>After this, we saw the birds show. It was amazing, as the tour person had a Southern Boobook Owl flying over us and eating treats, a magpie doing tricks and a brown falcon, black kite and whistling kite flying over the crowd and catching food in mid air. We had a coffee and went back to the park. Tonight's been quiet....as we're off tomorrow to do the West Macdonnell Ranges...so early to bed. I'm tired anyway!</div><div></div><div>Well done Lightning Premiership kids back at Brook!!!!!!</div></div></div>M@tbechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16971751985819538199noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3513765508642849428.post-42928570329744253742010-06-20T03:42:00.000-07:002010-08-06T05:59:03.152-07:00KINGS CANYON<div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>We got up at Yulara....I saw the final sunrise on the rock and we packed the van and went around to say goodbye to my brother Shaun, his wife Mandy and their daughter Hanna. We were so thankful for the treats/spoiling they gave us while here. Won't go into it on here....but will fill you all in when we're home or catch up!<br /><br />After leaving Yulara, we drove out to Curtin Springs and paid $1.92 a litre for petrol!!!!! Outside of Curtin Springs we stopped at the Mount Conner lookout and walked to the top of a nearby sand dune to see Lake Armadeus (a huge salt lake). Frey and Georgia were excited when we left because we saw a huge herd of camels sleeping in the desert sun....until we found out they had all been shot....because they are such pests!<br /><br />The drive to Kings Canyon was really interesting. Lots of desert oaks, spinifex and beautiful rock outcrops. When we arrived at the resort, we raced for a site (extremely busy - lucky to get one) and set up. An hour later a harley davidson came into the park and nearly ran me off the road...they kept annoying me...until I realised it was Shaun and Hanna...Mandy was following behind in their car. They had driven over from Yulara to stay the night! We were all really pleased.<br /><br />After a quick catch up we got ready and drove to the canyon where we did the Canyon River Walk. This walk goes up inside the canyon floor along the dry river bed. It was filled with beautiful ghost gums and cycads....as well as huge boulders. I couldn't believe it when 3 spinifex pigeons ran between our feet on the track!!!!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVp0FhzCoPLxub-ToboFvDeW9UNMeGvusz4WQ3VK7Qc8sZ9ppWC_TzuEW-4osAj6DFkFFhthYHrWHyJOUYl_wdzXr23dN5TEsFP5QpJmG3r3m3zkIcHdeGVLrfK3u8Fp4Axt-cPMdFAek/s1600/mfms+kings+canyon.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485561387373270146" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVp0FhzCoPLxub-ToboFvDeW9UNMeGvusz4WQ3VK7Qc8sZ9ppWC_TzuEW-4osAj6DFkFFhthYHrWHyJOUYl_wdzXr23dN5TEsFP5QpJmG3r3m3zkIcHdeGVLrfK3u8Fp4Axt-cPMdFAek/s320/mfms+kings+canyon.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9p0F0xgsQeK4jss10mejZY1yiKjiNq41Gb2REvBMd13mWlYXhTZzc2Q8UyAfx7Ux3Rk5V3Vicnn-iVhFnum82NJN-oZW6iarnwvpWmYnaQeyXNCoyk3pXjnPAb4cPi7MkCtZUP83Dpi0/s1600/hf+kings+canyon.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485561190332190738" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9p0F0xgsQeK4jss10mejZY1yiKjiNq41Gb2REvBMd13mWlYXhTZzc2Q8UyAfx7Ux3Rk5V3Vicnn-iVhFnum82NJN-oZW6iarnwvpWmYnaQeyXNCoyk3pXjnPAb4cPi7MkCtZUP83Dpi0/s320/hf+kings+canyon.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjEv5HZbx5YzfxItND5EL2_uuuqcH2Go_8U1-g62VahhMr9XmHfNFmdD2HTz0hmOy5Ur62j4Yq1FjC1VA-cLRqHy4_QN9e3-UGvIipOTiNsJQBcIc-rKAZAtoFTVqPh1lsZXkrSxJ9esM/s1600/frey+georg+kings+canyon.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485560989013562562" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjEv5HZbx5YzfxItND5EL2_uuuqcH2Go_8U1-g62VahhMr9XmHfNFmdD2HTz0hmOy5Ur62j4Yq1FjC1VA-cLRqHy4_QN9e3-UGvIipOTiNsJQBcIc-rKAZAtoFTVqPh1lsZXkrSxJ9esM/s320/frey+georg+kings+canyon.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjEv5HZbx5YzfxItND5EL2_uuuqcH2Go_8U1-g62VahhMr9XmHfNFmdD2HTz0hmOy5Ur62j4Yq1FjC1VA-cLRqHy4_QN9e3-UGvIipOTiNsJQBcIc-rKAZAtoFTVqPh1lsZXkrSxJ9esM/s1600/frey+georg+kings+canyon.JPG"></a></div><div></div><div></div><div>After lots of photos and sightseeing, we went back to the resort for tea. After our meal, we went to the local bar to see "The Roadies". They are a local duo that sing songs and get people up on stage to have a bit of fun. It's pitched at families and grey nomads...so we all enjoyed it. Mum and Dad started daggy dancing and eventually they had Heather up....in her ugg boots! Nice look H! Georgia, Frey and Hanna were having fun dancing and ended up on stage playing blow up guitars. They were hilarious.<br /><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div>In the morning we got up and did the Canyon Rim Walk...the only one who couldn't was Mum because of her knees. The walk was absolutely unbelievable. Up sheer cliff faces....across chasms, down flights of stairs into deep canyons and along river beds covered with cycads and other plants. Our camera died...so no photos....need to buy another one from Alice! This walk was amazing!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlC8mS1XsVd199f6U96s-KDVJfqS544YjjGRAnzyi9e13MtJElNFWFaGBxyybi1zFW3pk1UGLZybbEV5bhwGksIOJKNsXf8OAfbqvmmLvs21RVAhxncH1RIFVW5EFOUEW3c8OhSKwBQoY/s1600/shfgmh+canyon+rim+start.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485561625962270114" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlC8mS1XsVd199f6U96s-KDVJfqS544YjjGRAnzyi9e13MtJElNFWFaGBxyybi1zFW3pk1UGLZybbEV5bhwGksIOJKNsXf8OAfbqvmmLvs21RVAhxncH1RIFVW5EFOUEW3c8OhSKwBQoY/s320/shfgmh+canyon+rim+start.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />After returning to camp, Shaun gave Georgia, Frey, Heather and I individual rides down the canyon road on his Harley. It was great fun...and awesome looking across at the canyon walls in the sun.... <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTEsVi9lqIlhdQ2hSNj7cxCVTNhyK2oxdKjxs4HnntlFzWgR8i5clWc5lRmMoFZtF74rsRy4135U322Q-CbAmwGG_h-aA0ZXUEOMPsoGdywEP8OsJU5OvR_te5ILbBNDB1L_8vX0GFXO8/s1600/matt+hanna+kings.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485561286574094866" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTEsVi9lqIlhdQ2hSNj7cxCVTNhyK2oxdKjxs4HnntlFzWgR8i5clWc5lRmMoFZtF74rsRy4135U322Q-CbAmwGG_h-aA0ZXUEOMPsoGdywEP8OsJU5OvR_te5ILbBNDB1L_8vX0GFXO8/s320/matt+hanna+kings.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXuCLV9PX-pHGwUM95_zWND3ojuZ0XC2nWbr99NBY10V3LKe6PdAUGcl9dW1rtBGBDcDcUZNueeAODQ90Miwuh8pEPXaClB2_1KxFTbTmoG0PoXR8E4rDx935Nt66SF5VToBz6HuXQFSI/s1600/hanna+frey+canyon+walls.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485560887512245346" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXuCLV9PX-pHGwUM95_zWND3ojuZ0XC2nWbr99NBY10V3LKe6PdAUGcl9dW1rtBGBDcDcUZNueeAODQ90Miwuh8pEPXaClB2_1KxFTbTmoG0PoXR8E4rDx935Nt66SF5VToBz6HuXQFSI/s320/hanna+frey+canyon+walls.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXb2MzylF5VavX1Y08OkIUT2VxkVrWVX1hT1swX6_oYlwdXQi-eFAyl-4ReaQuve0UHOQAbpUOJqInSDV7Vu5m_RygLradzJ4eH9SCwd_MindkNMDzxHjOAFoXs6Atn0_D9wZIL4JsRsY/s1600/hanna+shaun+canyon.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485561083194433378" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXb2MzylF5VavX1Y08OkIUT2VxkVrWVX1hT1swX6_oYlwdXQi-eFAyl-4ReaQuve0UHOQAbpUOJqInSDV7Vu5m_RygLradzJ4eH9SCwd_MindkNMDzxHjOAFoXs6Atn0_D9wZIL4JsRsY/s320/hanna+shaun+canyon.JPG" border="0" /></a>Shaun, Mandy and Hanna left at lunch, so we spent the arvo relaxing. The girls did school work while I went to Kathleen Springs birdwatching. I got a button quail, a red backed kingfisher, superb fairy wren, budgerigar, diamond dove and dusky grass wren....so I was pretty happy.<br /><br />After a nice tea, we are blogging while the girls are on stage with "The Roadies" again...I think Frey and Georgia were just singing! Tomorrow we go to Alice...so hopefully we can load pictures then!<br /><br />Oh....a dingo nearly got into our van this arvo....it grabbed a bag of rubbish off our picnic table and tried to run off with it! I had to chase it and it dropped the bag......cool!</div></div></div></div></div>M@tbechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16971751985819538199noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3513765508642849428.post-69456517595311773012010-06-18T04:47:00.000-07:002010-08-06T05:59:51.114-07:00YULARA....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVL6QFwwsFk2hEjNllyLI-CoeOif1d04B6xw-z_T-8AkzuB29FCJNR_Qr5aLp7uGdohC7-MzSz7TVnBkHS-7JUFaC1tO-Tx_6Px7dAnNUbo0WK9XyE1sWA-0AxqnvtidKERhJtak5fxcs/s1600/ulura+chopper.JPG"></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLyu0DE7PMXfl3PdtR5VoMAR8ifnX19mMqy1Ete9ThHNNNOVpkkfNbeZxNjZb1c2iOHQcUhS393nUPs2-LKeczOiF0ACBnd0UzTeG35lopoBCXkvhHeDB57vG0IQdvV8HlBNfzogI9aaM/s1600/ulura+chopper.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484084885314175234" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLyu0DE7PMXfl3PdtR5VoMAR8ifnX19mMqy1Ete9ThHNNNOVpkkfNbeZxNjZb1c2iOHQcUhS393nUPs2-LKeczOiF0ACBnd0UzTeG35lopoBCXkvhHeDB57vG0IQdvV8HlBNfzogI9aaM/s320/ulura+chopper.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFQIk8KdLkOjTVE_9eQw6JogZb9lbLaFtjXm8oDPrXlreANhsBXrSHm_W7eNqRq0V4mJ3VF3im3dXYz_6TH5Pit7mL7IE2Y_Uipe22ol8sdGUJ5P-mqF2ploekFusUMYR7m9G-79wiASw/s1600/mbgfh+uluru.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484084738620220338" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFQIk8KdLkOjTVE_9eQw6JogZb9lbLaFtjXm8oDPrXlreANhsBXrSHm_W7eNqRq0V4mJ3VF3im3dXYz_6TH5Pit7mL7IE2Y_Uipe22ol8sdGUJ5P-mqF2ploekFusUMYR7m9G-79wiASw/s320/mbgfh+uluru.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhU4DPqjY96nsrxkFjenxBeMl0eeJ-5TGlElIc43CxhP7Eu0phCWGOMSVZ6RppkGmGZa2pQkkNMW-sULrgceNItI8s48Gqn_JtKYd3szSt2E7OoOpvRi_orrJNCrGtHWbLJurILTGFj0/s1600/mattchopper.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484084637764697202" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhU4DPqjY96nsrxkFjenxBeMl0eeJ-5TGlElIc43CxhP7Eu0phCWGOMSVZ6RppkGmGZa2pQkkNMW-sULrgceNItI8s48Gqn_JtKYd3szSt2E7OoOpvRi_orrJNCrGtHWbLJurILTGFj0/s320/mattchopper.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDi4dSjn4DTgQIdFucf3xPRtUXzVyLUPTmMYCgnP83AAYnDWQSMm4R7eHBSFQaBosYrvj6JIukJlR3rUl_FslQtV6-9PaBi2Rnz1hJm_f3nVi5Anw1cUrJr5GG-Ghw8zyBgkcx7jY8WVw/s1600/homer+olga.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484084529808762242" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDi4dSjn4DTgQIdFucf3xPRtUXzVyLUPTmMYCgnP83AAYnDWQSMm4R7eHBSFQaBosYrvj6JIukJlR3rUl_FslQtV6-9PaBi2Rnz1hJm_f3nVi5Anw1cUrJr5GG-Ghw8zyBgkcx7jY8WVw/s320/homer+olga.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBCGRAYs-cETR6kqFlW7L4baOWbswyeOkKBkQMLJqevBuH9kXgaJxwsLEvA5V66wA-JO9rmZMFAvArSuY7wuhtd-Y4YYtfp3Kp3cRMgaNw2QDgso_USKn-2OkuD-Fr1VAuumFo99YTfro/s1600/gs+mutitjula.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484084448036769458" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBCGRAYs-cETR6kqFlW7L4baOWbswyeOkKBkQMLJqevBuH9kXgaJxwsLEvA5V66wA-JO9rmZMFAvArSuY7wuhtd-Y4YYtfp3Kp3cRMgaNw2QDgso_USKn-2OkuD-Fr1VAuumFo99YTfro/s320/gs+mutitjula.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmGfGzVspUS9kgQkoZghfDAdqIn_MMqwscASBqwiwJdhY1oZGgS-EnL2aAmPeUAGcyeIjcaG199k_mkz_uKcdt7sgSoJJk8gHOH0vMsQ_DGvVz6HqH_mv9NbAEaUcg5nZv8Bc69-1ugzY/s1600/girlscamels.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484084367871170690" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmGfGzVspUS9kgQkoZghfDAdqIn_MMqwscASBqwiwJdhY1oZGgS-EnL2aAmPeUAGcyeIjcaG199k_mkz_uKcdt7sgSoJJk8gHOH0vMsQ_DGvVz6HqH_mv9NbAEaUcg5nZv8Bc69-1ugzY/s320/girlscamels.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwP-6DBmUCZ3VkqdRezpD41TtMcQQKX1nDm5KJpcxuKul91vfbVgPYvCca_hZ3qcoLPo7eoTJj7edxtFrzqdveo57iuMNo5UYQtG5rE3cOa4Q3PKswbwkaoclbxmbtsrJiHiJbaahYv-0/s1600/gf+uluru+walk.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484084267380493138" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwP-6DBmUCZ3VkqdRezpD41TtMcQQKX1nDm5KJpcxuKul91vfbVgPYvCca_hZ3qcoLPo7eoTJj7edxtFrzqdveo57iuMNo5UYQtG5rE3cOa4Q3PKswbwkaoclbxmbtsrJiHiJbaahYv-0/s320/gf+uluru+walk.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYIJ-DguZSGSJDbmDWdOeDik8byridWVKP75LIfPwjLAL6uwoZFeH9lOZmZpAFtYr1KRJxIovcqxO7Tr81JPiTktRAAI3CflxfVpyf9TQAyPQXzZo9wlc-SLExrU-U1GA2xEKzEihIxe8/s1600/freygeorgrock.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484084150209705170" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYIJ-DguZSGSJDbmDWdOeDik8byridWVKP75LIfPwjLAL6uwoZFeH9lOZmZpAFtYr1KRJxIovcqxO7Tr81JPiTktRAAI3CflxfVpyf9TQAyPQXzZo9wlc-SLExrU-U1GA2xEKzEihIxe8/s320/freygeorgrock.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>OMG! What a huge and fantastic day! It all started at 5 am when a busload of tourists woke up and decided to have showers before heading off to the Sunrise on the rock...so i got up for a walk to the toilet...and a dingo followed me in the shadows....eerie!<br /><br />At 8am I was picked up and taken to the airport to board a helicopter with my dad. We had a 36 minute flight past the resort, Uluru and Kata Tjuta...and it was amazing....the rock and Kata Tjuta looked so different from so high up. Looking down onto the red sand was also unreal...the spinifex looks like a coral pattern from high up<br /><br />When we landed, we all got organised and went around to Shaun's. Once there, we got in the cars and went to the local camel farm for a ride. Georgia and Frey had a go first and they loved it. Then Heather (Mrs Mac) and I got on and had a ride too....apparently my head looked like an acorn with the funny helmet on it! The ride around was great, as you could see Uluru and Kata Tjuta.<br /><br />After that we went into the National Park again. We stopped at the sunset viewing area for Uluru and took a family shot with the rock behind. Awesome view. Then off we went to the climb...which you're advised not to do, but I felt the need to do it... Heather, Dad, Bec, Georgia, Freyja and I were keen, but when we pulled up and Heather saw how high the first part of the walk was...she was out! Lol... Dad and Bec started the climb...but got to Chicken Rock, which is about 50 metres up....where the chain starts....Frey and Georgia went up like a pair of mountain goats...so I decided I might as well take them both up. Well...the first half of the walk was as scary as hell! A thin chain....with sheer drop-offs on both side. My water bottle slide out of my pocket and fell about 100 metres to the ground, bouncing around and sliding all the way down! It looked like a Woomera rocket! Lol...<br /><br />We climbed up slowly...the two girls in front of me...all the way....to the top! What a feeling when we got there. I texted a lot of people sending photos of the girls. We tried ringing Bec (below the rock) and Ryan (so Georgia could tell the class), but there was no answer....so we decided to start the big trip down. It was pretty Ok going down, until the last stretch where the drop is pretty steep. Both of the girls preferred to slide on their bums and hold the chain...until finally we were down after 2 hours. Frey had worn a hole in her pants coming down...that's how much sliding there was! We were so proud....Dad 38, Georgia 10 and Freyja 6....and she looked like the youngest up there today. Many people commented how fantastic the two girls were doing it and they couldn't believe the little one....but for those of you that know Freyja well...I'm sure you're not surprised....when you think of the energy and determination she has!<br /><br />After the walk we met up with the rest of the family. They had driven around the rock, walked a couple of sections and sat waiting for the mountain goats! We went for a look at the Cultural Centre and then had a late lunch. After that we raced to the Yulara Primary School to see Hanna and have a quick tour of the school. We also saw the oval...greenest oval I've ever seen surrounded by ghost gums...the home of the Yulara Flies Football Club...Shaun has had a lot to do with getting the club going....<br /><br />After the visit to the school, we drove into the visitors centre to visit Mandy. We looked through the interesting displays of desert life and bought some souvenirs. After this we had a coffee (which is fantastic here Anne and Ryan) and went to Sails in The Desert Resort. Shaun toured us through the restaurant, pool area and art gallery/shop. The Aboriginal dot paintings here were magnificent, but the one Bec and I loved was around $7000, so we decided to give it a miss.<br /><br />We returned to the campground to clean up...and had tea at Shaun's. We got takeaway from the Outback Pioneer and while there I met friends of Brendan and Lisa Evans from Carisbrook. How funny is that?<br /><br />Anyway...I'm going to try to post some photos too....so I better go....read on and see where we are next time...</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>M@tbechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16971751985819538199noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3513765508642849428.post-80836922272432882532010-06-18T04:00:00.000-07:002010-06-18T04:47:06.032-07:00From GeorgiaHi Guys,We are at Yulara it is fantastic. Today we went to the rock and OMG it was amazing and Dad Freyja and me climbed Right to the top and that was all so amazing but it is not the easiest big rock to climb.<br />Mum Gran Nan and Pop didn't go up it!!!!!!<br /><br />Thanks to all my friends that have written comments. It's great to hear from you<br /><br />Love GeorgiaM@tbechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16971751985819538199noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3513765508642849428.post-20229270900936438172010-06-18T03:43:00.000-07:002010-08-06T06:00:47.562-07:00Coober to Yulara and first day in the Red Centre!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-7bP-OfSWZpnOcp2p38lBcgrhieta1JPgldmhS4ROSLM3GK6OGBd4K3bvtqKNID4fpSJRPU5Gie3BEPaRoVcOSk13GSPAqKshYjqmsAs0GjVxkWPk2liG15bHqeY5RjPDR5_PkbK_WPI/s1600/matt+kata+tjuta.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484083925365815826" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-7bP-OfSWZpnOcp2p38lBcgrhieta1JPgldmhS4ROSLM3GK6OGBd4K3bvtqKNID4fpSJRPU5Gie3BEPaRoVcOSk13GSPAqKshYjqmsAs0GjVxkWPk2liG15bHqeY5RjPDR5_PkbK_WPI/s320/matt+kata+tjuta.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ7xBpKNnuv6k7LXT8af_rrpveErywuCbDWRNBadKFkTrQaLsmbAiMXxq1SrMdCPWNN9YasJVVW3PRuFcPUic3xSYXFfiHEDm-8JB2wLRuDzRMxxtmuWZJ2hDNJ4niVhbAA1C5VJWOy_Y/s1600/kata+tjuta.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484083836744232770" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ7xBpKNnuv6k7LXT8af_rrpveErywuCbDWRNBadKFkTrQaLsmbAiMXxq1SrMdCPWNN9YasJVVW3PRuFcPUic3xSYXFfiHEDm-8JB2wLRuDzRMxxtmuWZJ2hDNJ4niVhbAA1C5VJWOy_Y/s320/kata+tjuta.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2pwO71CcN_yJKi5Nik3t3xLIQ5ygUzuOcQwzP9q_rgJNl3Wt0xMqB8YoT1DJqm1Ee40qWoncMYYks3WNN4_zr08Bl6ODG29UUgu7nvrriczzFXwseTQju3ihbpiVjBFliq48XAviG5xU/s1600/georg+kata+tjuta.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484083721524357522" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2pwO71CcN_yJKi5Nik3t3xLIQ5ygUzuOcQwzP9q_rgJNl3Wt0xMqB8YoT1DJqm1Ee40qWoncMYYks3WNN4_zr08Bl6ODG29UUgu7nvrriczzFXwseTQju3ihbpiVjBFliq48XAviG5xU/s320/georg+kata+tjuta.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_XttWv4MpJmqZf_sIUXwPfzar3f7Cg7Tb6bE81ZNVOKOO1_ab2LOfdDimxzYvyrVw0ZmUIJZnPcO07ZPWdzkVNVUdImnpXygWRuTNiSGz4WPptxlJ9gni6ouditL45IgsKdHDsYNXOvA/s1600/fhgb+valley+of+the+winds.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484083584497055602" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_XttWv4MpJmqZf_sIUXwPfzar3f7Cg7Tb6bE81ZNVOKOO1_ab2LOfdDimxzYvyrVw0ZmUIJZnPcO07ZPWdzkVNVUdImnpXygWRuTNiSGz4WPptxlJ9gni6ouditL45IgsKdHDsYNXOvA/s320/fhgb+valley+of+the+winds.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKRDMtg42AOVAB6qHV9hMlQQvJVqybfaaJfKktXx-fRRtZOX7XnKjZEDZ_N-gwLqbc2KNpdz8-DHdftp13EvroFe66bC03CiNRIc-eyWBcBE7SsuCWsF6C8EZuGuK31v6s2F_FZ0pNohU/s1600/Dadolgas.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484083487599851522" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKRDMtg42AOVAB6qHV9hMlQQvJVqybfaaJfKktXx-fRRtZOX7XnKjZEDZ_N-gwLqbc2KNpdz8-DHdftp13EvroFe66bC03CiNRIc-eyWBcBE7SsuCWsF6C8EZuGuK31v6s2F_FZ0pNohU/s320/Dadolgas.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>OMG! What a long drive! It took us from 7am in the morning until 430pm in the afternoon to get to Yulara (resort town for Uluru/Kata Tjuta). On the way we stopped at small roadhouses like Marla and Erldunda. We had lunch at Erldunda and when putting petrol in the car (very expensive too) I could hear the sounds of a bird avairy. I walked over to the sound and there were about 40 zebra finches drinking from a water source in the ground...wild...free...wow!<br /><br />We drove the 260 km across to Yulara, seeing Mount Conner (thanks Nikas for giving Bec the tip off...was going to try and trick her) and finally getting to the resort in the late afternoon. I met my brother Shaun out the front of the resort (he is 2IC here) and he took us to the campground. We settled in and had champagne in an ice bucket delivered to our van, courtesy of Shaun, Mandy and Hanna.<br /><br />After setting up, we went around to Shaun and Mandy's and had tea. Mum and Dad are staying there for the three nights, while we're in the campground. We were pretty tired, so we had tea and went back to the campground for a sleep.<br /><br />I woke up at 5am for a toilet visit and was a bit worried on the way back to the van when wild dingoes started howling in the dark....pack my dacks time! In the morning we got up, got organised and went into the resort for a shop. After that we drove into the National Park on our way to Kata Tjuta (The Olgas).<br /><br />When we arrived there we got sorted and started to do the Valley of The Winds walk...it's around a 8km walk through the rock outcops. The walk was amazing....up up up...then down into valleys surrounded by red rock. Dad had fun climbing up to the first lookout thanks to a sausage roll! Lol... The walk went along creek beds lined with Ghost Gums and zebra finch were everywhere. We had to climb up walls of rock and up through valleys that had the most amazing views. Halfway through we stopped for lunch overlooking the valley below. The rest of the walk swept around the back of the rock domes...across dry rocky plains...to meet the start of the track. The photos I've taken do not do it justice....it was just amazing!<br /><br />We returned to the campground, got ready for tea and went out to The Outback Pioneer Hotel...Bough house Restaurant...a $50 a head smorgasboard dinner....oysters, prawns, sushi, camel, kangaroo, salmon, atlantic salmon, crocodile, barramundi, other normal meats....and sweets like pecan pie, chocolate mouse, tropical delight, pavlova, chocolate mud cake...and so on... We ate a wee bit too much, but it was magnificent.<br /><br />After that the girls went home to bed and Shaun and I stayed at the Outback Pioneer Hotel until close, having a few drinks with resort mates of Shaun's. By the time I got to bed, I was pretty tired....but what a great day. The Olga's are awesome...and what's funny, if you look at the silhouette of them, it looks like Homer Simpson....check it out....</div></div></div></div></div>M@tbechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16971751985819538199noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3513765508642849428.post-39858924894590891512010-06-15T02:53:00.000-07:002010-08-06T06:02:02.673-07:00EXPLORING COOBER PEDY<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjK4S2C55n49Kgz4g9na0-1ZMttEIIaeSX8PU0cEGmLikjvxVFKyFPnX7C-UwLuZ7YhtDMlxqwQxekHjVURjIlu_AeF10yHFiV8190XB_soQgtzwN15PlMbSWA8DoimhhCgcW8KTDhCKk/s1600/Georg+CP.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484086519500905426" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjK4S2C55n49Kgz4g9na0-1ZMttEIIaeSX8PU0cEGmLikjvxVFKyFPnX7C-UwLuZ7YhtDMlxqwQxekHjVURjIlu_AeF10yHFiV8190XB_soQgtzwN15PlMbSWA8DoimhhCgcW8KTDhCKk/s320/Georg+CP.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEgJaVcnvtH8_ucbxUibXy32Jd0yOt_tHy2BpDEEnzgCJivednXmYhD0DVwTUXZI2bw4Vj78oNTSP9qOSNeJKJH9-DlopWURiZXCH7uAQd-ZQxYlauh95ldkGObBELm9HAX1v5ZY41NpM/s1600/Frey+Heath+Georg+Hardhats.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484086370872680802" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEgJaVcnvtH8_ucbxUibXy32Jd0yOt_tHy2BpDEEnzgCJivednXmYhD0DVwTUXZI2bw4Vj78oNTSP9qOSNeJKJH9-DlopWURiZXCH7uAQd-ZQxYlauh95ldkGObBELm9HAX1v5ZY41NpM/s320/Frey+Heath+Georg+Hardhats.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKxg8k9PpsnkGyH6LYEglSZU5_ETIcfpTE2hj8UDW_lTuuFNIBgJhkPaJBSh2abu9HYHEqeFzt7qLExvQhEKU6Y4uXvdIMlG8971vGe00ikkOuFhEb5PldukWAQtu4cJeUR0BMTOJGvVo/s1600/Frey+cp+lookout.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484086265804046818" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKxg8k9PpsnkGyH6LYEglSZU5_ETIcfpTE2hj8UDW_lTuuFNIBgJhkPaJBSh2abu9HYHEqeFzt7qLExvQhEKU6Y4uXvdIMlG8971vGe00ikkOuFhEb5PldukWAQtu4cJeUR0BMTOJGvVo/s320/Frey+cp+lookout.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div>First of all...if you are ever in Coober Pedy, get a pizza from Stuart Range Caravan Park. It was the best ever!<br /><br />Today we tried to sleep in, but were woken at 7ish by Freyja saying "Cook my breakfast!" We decided to ignore her and popped the van heater on....while we stayed in bed...as the nights in the desert areas are freezing 0 degrees...or below!<br /><br />We lazed around, had cuppas, noticed when it was time for school to start and we all thought of you....well Bec, Heather and I did....Georgia and Freyja had made friends and were running around on the huge adventure playground in our park.<br /><br />After showers and a tidy up, we went into town. First was The Old Timers mine. We had to put miners hard hats on....dorky! Mrs P needed a large for her big head! Lol... Frey threw a wobbly about going into a dark hole...but with a push, we all went inside a hand dug opal mine. There were statues of miners in there...real opal seams (one valued at between $20,000 and $40,000) and all sorts of tunnels and tools. The path went up a little and there was a second story of the mine that was a house. There was a kitchen, loungeroom (with TV), bedroom and bathroom (with toilet and shower!). On the way out of the mine/house, we went through the shop and got some souvenirs. Mrs P got a pandora opal charm...very nice!<br /><br />Outside you could noodle...so before long most of us were in the stones washing those that looked like opal. The girls, Dad and Heather got hooked and we couldn't get them out of the noodling area.....so we went next door for a coffee....and guess what? You had to go underground! So there we were...under ground, in a cafe having a latte! Funny, hey? The cafe was part of an underground motel, so we looked around the rooms and halls (Some of which were part of old mines).<br /><br />We drove up to the Big Winch where you could see 360 degree views of Coober Pedy. You could see the roof of people's homes...and it looks like piles of dirt and rocks with chimneys sticking out. There are wrecks of old cars everywhere too! Throughout the day we looked through 4 underground churches...the Catholic church was the nicest...and we lit candles for people that have died in their memory.<br /><br />In the afternoon we went to other underground motels with expensive opal shops and museums. Mrs P bought herself a dirty great opal ring....very nice! I tell you guys...that lady has a handbag, shoe and jewellery fetish!<br /><br />Bed early tonight as we're off to Ayers Rock in the morning and it's a 700km+ drive.... We've already done over 1500km! Thanks everyone for reading and special thanks to those that post...as we look forward to reading your comments. It lets us know who is reading and what you think. It also keeps us in touch with home, which is beginning to be so far away!</div></div></div>M@tbechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16971751985819538199noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3513765508642849428.post-32380495040504104362010-06-14T02:47:00.000-07:002010-08-06T06:02:51.847-07:00COOBER PEDY OR BUST!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbL9J8HuWLET3nwabGbhKYCqUPAg1Z0nqv-x32eA_nFYHPobDbs01XayYBDSMfp8VSMuqxMMMbK7LFUFpX6JdJDdupZtjCzN6DvBb4lFt_Qzaq-3HCzfSqgGAIzXPVXVJKK1_xvxE-gdY/s1600/freyja+breakaways.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484085611860161138" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbL9J8HuWLET3nwabGbhKYCqUPAg1Z0nqv-x32eA_nFYHPobDbs01XayYBDSMfp8VSMuqxMMMbK7LFUFpX6JdJDdupZtjCzN6DvBb4lFt_Qzaq-3HCzfSqgGAIzXPVXVJKK1_xvxE-gdY/s320/freyja+breakaways.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzk6ygTcWMgzMC-ZGgeMyO2U4yOc4ZfqtYyHBhv9WmY5xK1dKtDgDfpl_LfWwaY1GllOnacoWbRL_lzVXtDyhzYINlTf80uceqCbQhlBBGsqZXyGRIO3kScfYkDZZ_wTLMuqPyU8uPM4w/s1600/girls+lake+hart.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483658447535195730" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzk6ygTcWMgzMC-ZGgeMyO2U4yOc4ZfqtYyHBhv9WmY5xK1dKtDgDfpl_LfWwaY1GllOnacoWbRL_lzVXtDyhzYINlTf80uceqCbQhlBBGsqZXyGRIO3kScfYkDZZ_wTLMuqPyU8uPM4w/s320/girls+lake+hart.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN8JEw8YLxpoz-Rx3nRkJvCnB978A8mVPD0k9Hsw9NkpILflvZuaAd-MxT2z9-DBBq-UBZp2qQaMl3ipJnkZsLdm0Xdm-NoaLsM9dDr_UFkWPgXfksZ9qKsjQEnge235ISfETNAYq7zq0/s1600/freyja+breakaways.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2NzqBqpjy7ztLFdqGgKvWOhEKCLHOF_9bNuZdLEJCnApOdMqlldJ_AmbOY7xZbijw_wQmcbdFylO2nMV75xvONlTRS_rybh7islpdKxC5DmhatIpH8rxIv0KfuajqlwGkTrf7VfuCnE8/s1600/Frey+Heath+Georg+Hardhats.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzIUNN0rFhWxL1324Qz8jp5DMLNuZk0lfxJ8dK85yKou6W8kJLW2BHaa9ykwDMNUdDGBpM4jRYsMaMAR2xT4tb2pgrNU4QavgyvoqNV7lQ76cqgTMCeIjUytRHxVivA01OXL4jHeagwGQ/s1600/Georg+CP.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9JwpMuxmkboDROTe8dk9ez7QlBDDw7FJAIWB2ya0QpnVvmqQg62wFLEK-fOKy5FVh5L0AjUdC5a0izh752HvpKSHxHVhyhXC88hl4GCrx5lBvh8h5pemxl2bxj5uI3xbb4OtQS0Jmyro/s1600/Frey+cp+lookout.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Today was full on!<br /><br />We got up at 6 am, packed and left Port Augusta at 730am.<br /><br />The trip was an interesting one....better than I expected. I didn't think the countryside would be so interesting...huge salt lakes, rolling hills, scrub, saltmarsh, rocky outcrops and more.<br /><br />We stopped for a wee at a roadside stop overlooking the Flinders Ranges. I heard Bec gagging and thought she was going to vomit. Then Heather came out coughing and retching! I thought....what carry-ons....and marched over to use the Mens....well....I couldn't even lift the lid....I nearly vomitted on the spot! The stench was so foul....so I backed out of the toilet quick smart and took a walk instead to find a bush....not many around though!<br /><br />We stopped at Lake Hart and were amazed by it's size and how beautiful it was. For those that don't know, it's a huge salt lake with beautiful cliffs surrouding it in the middle of no-where! Heather, Georgia, Frey and I walked down to the edge and picked up salt crystals off the sand. The water was covered in a thin film of salt, which we thought was pretty interesting. On the way back up to the carpark we saw a pair of mulga parrots...new species for me!<br /><br />On the way to Glendambo we saw wild families of emus running alongside the car and even a huge wedge tailed eagle eating a kangaroo carcass! One was also flying overhead. We had lunch at Glendambo and Freyja locked the van keys in the caravan....lucky she hid from me because she would've got a kick in the pants! I was so annoyed. Apart from that it was fun eating lunch in the sun and I even got through a few hours of the day in a tshirt....very sunny weather...but still cold.<br /><br />We got to Coober Pedy at 330pm and set up in our park. After a quick cuppa....we were in the car for a look at the town. Wow! What an interesting place! Deb and Greg....we saw a few of your friends and they asked after you! Lol....<br /><br />All of us piled into the Kluger and traveled out to the Dog Fence (over 5000km long to keep out the dingoes). This was reached after driving along a stretch of the Oonadatta Track (largely 4WD). We took a turn up a track and went to Moon Plain...a site that looks like the surface of the moon and used in horror and space movies....like Pitch Black for example. From here we went to The Breakaways....beautiful sandstone rock outcrops in the middle of nowhere....in all different colours....and magnificent with the sun setting on them....which we had. Unfortunately Georgia wasn't feeling great (sick tummy bug like Frey had last week) and spent the time dry reaching instead of enjoying the view...although I guess you didn't really need to know that! Lol<br /><br />We got back to the park and ordered pizza from the caravan park bar....I'm typing this on the restaurant Internet kiosk...so no pics again...but definitely some in a few days when I use my brother's computer at Yulara (Ayers Rock)<br /><br />Catch you all later....<br /><br />MBGF</div></div></div></div></div></div>M@tbechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16971751985819538199noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3513765508642849428.post-66960513129843745852010-06-13T04:48:00.000-07:002010-08-06T06:03:46.294-07:00PORT AUGUSTA<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgroKxCBKR_u04huzDJXd_wf1qGQW34qIRaXxjmTOEqrTUAU9lm-9bYV4Zw1Ln3BL8VCKvZpcEyco9ZrXzJi6GtUTxxT5lsRp3eyo-YXCdZCNp9dwp5uVI8SIANqB_8xFJIUkB_DrIsGEo/s1600/mgfmd+closeup+crossroads.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483656986660302658" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgroKxCBKR_u04huzDJXd_wf1qGQW34qIRaXxjmTOEqrTUAU9lm-9bYV4Zw1Ln3BL8VCKvZpcEyco9ZrXzJi6GtUTxxT5lsRp3eyo-YXCdZCNp9dwp5uVI8SIANqB_8xFJIUkB_DrIsGEo/s320/mgfmd+closeup+crossroads.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioInDF4sWO4moJtBAvYwT6AjOJqialqD6ei9bxgUX79THODLmM6GVeBI6LxyyWnzaQKU80Kydsr4TXmFVlAhZLUtcKgpjmlBmJ1jCBiPaOJ_xcUBzTljareqqjUJfSfHyXTWGM43eaego/s1600/georgiamorganferry.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483655221500130274" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioInDF4sWO4moJtBAvYwT6AjOJqialqD6ei9bxgUX79THODLmM6GVeBI6LxyyWnzaQKU80Kydsr4TXmFVlAhZLUtcKgpjmlBmJ1jCBiPaOJ_xcUBzTljareqqjUJfSfHyXTWGM43eaego/s320/georgiamorganferry.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>We decided to get up later and take our time as we were tired. Due to this we didn't leave Renmark until 930am.<br /><br />The first part of the day was very interesting traveling through The Riverland. Towns like Waikerie and Morgan were really appealing and we especially liked the ferry trip (in our car with van attached) across the Murray River at Morgan. After this we traveled to Burra and had lunch at Peacock's Chimney. We had sandwiches out in the sun and boiled the kettle in the van. Boy this Expanda is so much better for this kind of travel... We really liked Burra and I remembered Gary and Glenda talking about stopping there before. My brother Shaun also told us about a building named "Pearce Building" which we saw standing proudly in the main street.<br /><br />The afternoon was spent driving. The girls rewatched all of season 1 Kath and Kim today too. Before we got to Port Augusta, we crossed the southern end of The Flinders Ranges at Horricks Pass. This stretch of road was magnificent with views of the ranges and then of Spencer Gulf as you came out the other side.<br /><br />We got to Port Augusta at 4pm and stayed hitched up, thanks to a drive through site. We looked around the park, the girls made new friends and we had 5 o'clock nibbles and drink outside....as it's not too cold<br /><br />We're all well...but looking forward to the fun to start when we stop for a few days and get a chance to look around.<br /><br />Photos loaded when i'm not at an Internet Kiosk....there's no flash drive hole Ryan!<br /><br />Thanks to all that have joined and those that are reading....</div></div>M@tbechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16971751985819538199noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3513765508642849428.post-39223604299437518582010-06-13T04:32:00.000-07:002010-08-06T06:04:35.020-07:00Renmark<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi563jP-TAIDsYeovZ4b6Tz7quic0sR_kd8Sj0S2IpTE_REATRGmlNQw6UG4A8Qn4seZXtjfwrNjXfgtA9t5jXHohTuh-rwL1NkDIKlSfScBg12thLkrgaJzfpJiHVjbL2phsziFHxM_Y4/s1600/freygeorgparingabridge.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483653550295724994" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi563jP-TAIDsYeovZ4b6Tz7quic0sR_kd8Sj0S2IpTE_REATRGmlNQw6UG4A8Qn4seZXtjfwrNjXfgtA9t5jXHohTuh-rwL1NkDIKlSfScBg12thLkrgaJzfpJiHVjbL2phsziFHxM_Y4/s320/freygeorgparingabridge.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIUuq7vh7n7iGS1UF7RUE_sOvOFHKxSd437IqgAi37m-0uH3rTV-BYCbMtKFLZqoUK9M4XxdkojwArL9H5_HKjOiBboW_nm0g8FwnTmrJiwLjv9BPNkk7a6lYdvbJjlNq17gPn622jM0E/s1600/girlsrenmarkballoonfire.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483652403301735602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIUuq7vh7n7iGS1UF7RUE_sOvOFHKxSd437IqgAi37m-0uH3rTV-BYCbMtKFLZqoUK9M4XxdkojwArL9H5_HKjOiBboW_nm0g8FwnTmrJiwLjv9BPNkk7a6lYdvbJjlNq17gPn622jM0E/s320/girlsrenmarkballoonfire.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>Hey everyone! We're officially away...<br /><br />Left home at 6am, got Heather from Dunolly at 630am and we were off by 7!<br /><br />Breakfast was at a bakery in Birchip. Nice pies... The two girls had a photo with a statue of a Mallee Bull and no points to guess which part F was most fascinated with!<br /><br />Fruit was dropped off at a fruit fly bin drop off and the girls amused themselves trying to find the biggest tumbleweed... We toured Red Cliffs (my first home) and then Mildura (because apparently a legend named Matthew was born there). Lunch was at a very posh and tropical McDonalds in Mildura.<br /><br />On the way to Renmark we met up with Mum and Dad for a cuppa. We drove through the fruit fly check (happy guys they are) and under the big Dunlop wheel into South Australia! Our park was right on the river and very beautiful! The river was up and was covered in duck weed. The girls made friends and played on the jumping pillow. We all enjoyed the aviaries containing gouldian finch, quail, regent parrots, alexandra princess parrots and bourke parrots.<br /><br />We went into Renmark to look at two huge hot air balloons at the football oval. The kids were fascinated seeing them fire up.... After that we stocked up on groceries and went back to the van for tea. After curried sausages and apple cake (thanks Heather) we went for a night walk around the park. We saw 8 kangaroos and 2 possums.<br /><br />It was early to bed and that was the end of our first stop!<br /><br />Sorry about no photos but G and I are on one of those terrible Internet kiosks where $2 gets you 15 minutes and they keys have to be pushed through the table to work. ARRRRRRGGGGHHH!</div></div>M@tbechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16971751985819538199noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3513765508642849428.post-56586032031815111482010-06-11T06:09:00.000-07:002010-08-06T06:05:49.697-07:00The night before Christmas....actually....the trip!After finishing school and the 9 week stint as Principal...it was good to get home and organise the van. It was on before dark and Georgia and I were able to do all of the car jobs.....air/oil/water etc.<br /><br />We have been spoilt today with farewells at school....the most amazing morning tea that turned into lunch too! Thanks all concerned...much appreciated! The chocolate blocks will come in handy too.<br /><br />The girls have lollies in the car to eat thanks to Lach and Soph, we have nutloaf thanks to Chris and Maree and Dean gave the girls a cool drink bottle each for the car and some chocolates to share as well as something nice for Bec and I to drink by the Murray tomorrow night. Thanks guys!<br /><br />Tea was taken care of by Nikas and Millsy....well done guys....oh...and Zayden + Marlo<br /><br />It's late (11.07pm), we're tired and almost ready to go to bed. We plan on an early start tomorrow (Sat 12 June) - probably around 5am! See how we go with that one! Lol. Then we're off to Dunolly to pick up Heather and off to Renmark via Mildura....<br /><br />I'll try and load photos as soon as I can!<br /><br />...and great to see so many followers.....including Evan! Good job...M@tbechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16971751985819538199noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3513765508642849428.post-49471535097348730382010-06-06T04:55:00.000-07:002010-06-17T01:07:39.814-07:00Getting ready!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil6piyqbcDgMPya4DGJz8U5Y9Xht5G7Y6jkhxTbA_XhQcsFSCIHcfD73T-HENPnkPMP4v-FejGDLfbd1f-luoulmSXiXw-8trFSsk2iE5XD4j-czfOA0ETPEAc_7g2k2OjRyB1va5byHQ/s1600/therig2010.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483651235424918066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil6piyqbcDgMPya4DGJz8U5Y9Xht5G7Y6jkhxTbA_XhQcsFSCIHcfD73T-HENPnkPMP4v-FejGDLfbd1f-luoulmSXiXw-8trFSsk2iE5XD4j-czfOA0ETPEAc_7g2k2OjRyB1va5byHQ/s320/therig2010.JPG" /></a><br /><div>The car is serviced....the van is nearly packed and we're all excited! Not long now until we say farewell to family and friends for a few months while we head North to escape the cold.<br /><br />Looks like we have most things organised. Felix and Myni (the cats) are going to be taken care of - thanks Nikas and Millsy! The mail is also under control thanks largely to Em and Fitty! The bills are largely taken care of for the time being too....hopefully they won't find us while we're away!<br /><br />Heather packed her things into the van tonight. We tried the heater in the Expanda and it worked well. The new Grundig LCD TV also worked ok with our make-shift antennae. Bec can't do without her TV....should be interesting when we're far north and there's few channels and very little to watch. Lol!<br /><br />Anyway...roll on Saturday!<br /><br />Matt</div>M@tbechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16971751985819538199noreply@blogger.com5