REACHING THE TOP END

28th May Wednesday
Set out on the leg to Katherine after our morning dip in the springs. These were found by enlisted men during WWII, it was enlarged, then the officers deigned it Officer Use Only. It has been edged with a timber material, a nice sitting platform all round, and it still has it's lovely white sandy bottom. The water is so crystal clear and a very comfortable 34.c. The small wallabies were around again this morning before we left. It was only a short trip up the highway, so there was plenty of time in the afternoon to go back in to town, book a canoe for tomorrow morning and catch up with a little grocery shopping. Very hot and humid, so we had ourselves a lovely swim in Park pool, before enjoying happy hour at the bistro. Alarm is set for 6am, to be at the Gorge by 8am for our self guided tour up the first gorge

Oh! Nearly forgot State of Origin tonite, I say go the blues, Don is for the Maroons. 

29th May Thursday
What a shame !!! NSW WON THE MATCH.  

Our canoe trip was fun, we opted for a double, me in the front "doing all the paddling???" and  Don in the back steering. It was really not quite that way, but half way up the gorge my arms felt like it. A tranquil paddle at our own pace to the sandy beach at end of that gorge, lovely swim in the cool water, and back to base. There are crocs in the river, freshwater ones and we were assured they only grow to 3feet and don't attack, only if you annoy them. We didn't see any on our trip, I wasn't disappointed but Don was, he wanted to spot one, even if it was only a small one.  The only thing to spoil the day, hundreds and hundreds of bats at the landing area for cruise boats and canoes. They stink, make a mess, are noises and very destructive, the attendant said "but they were there first" so I'm guessing no effort will be made to move them along. 


Friday 30th May
Our last leg up to Darwin today,a reasonable drive, passing through Pine Creek, (where the turn off is to Kakadu) Adelaide River and finally the outlying surrounds of Darwin. The vegetation was changing, more and more palm trees the closer we were to Darwin.  Signs to WWII airfields along the way, one was running along side the highway. I had no idea what was involved in the defence of Darwin when the japs attacked, it is a big eye opener to visit here.  We are staying at Howard Springs about 20ks south of the city. It is an oasis of palms,  very large and THE BEST amenities block EVER. Instead of rows of showers and rows of toilets, the shower and toilet have been combined into ensuite, rows of them and no Men and no Ladies, all unisex.  It all makes so much sense

It is very humid, the neighbour next door lent us a large fan for afternoon and night, otherwise I think I'd have dissolved into a puddle of perspiration



31st  May Saturday
First things first, off to Bunnings to buy a fan.  The biggest 46cm 5 blade one seemed like the right decision, and it's fan...tastic. The morning was spent in the city precinct, going round and round looking for a parking spot, giving up and driving out to Cullen Bay. Very impressive, man-engineered from a swampy area, lots and lots rocks to make retaining walls, build a lock because of the 8m. High tides in this part of the world.  Eateries and apartment blocks, pleasure boats of every size, type and price.  Yummy fish and chips for lunch, then we spied the "hop on hop off" red double decker bus, spent a while chasing down where we could board it. Finally on the top deck and a 90 minute tour of the city. Hopped off at the WWII Defence Museum (which we intended to do tomorrow) and back on to continue the journey to base. Was very interesting with a good commentary along the way. Saw and heard things we would have missed by ourselves

By the way, the fan works a beauty. Carted my camera, ipad and iphone round all day, but didnt find a single thing wanted to take photo off.  Sure there will be more photos further along the way.