Katherine to Darwin

Katherine Springs

I stayed at the Low Level Caravan Park (A Big 4 so big money).   I treated myself to lunch and dinner in Katherine.  Lunch at The Coffee Club and then dinner at the bistro in the caravan park while listening to Tom Curtin ( a country singer who writes his own songs).  It was nice to have a day off cooking out of the van.   On Saturday morning I met up with Kylie (Brenda's daughter) who lives in Katherine.  We met for a chat at the local community market in Katherine - some lovely produce there and Asian food.   I then went off to the Katherine Hot Springs for a dip before   heading north that afternoon.  The springs were beautiful and warm not hot.   Myrtle and I  drove up the Stuart Highway and stopped at a free camp spot about 30 k south of Adelaide River.  It was a big camp area and clean toilets and by about 7 pm there was about 20 tents/caravans/campers pulled over.    After chatting to fellow campers I had a beautiful salad for dinner and then had a great sleep. It was so beautiful there early in the morning.    I headed into Adelaide River and had a look around the War Cemetery.  It was very moving and there is a lot of history in the northern NT connected to WWII.

Wangi Falls with the sunset on the rocks reflecting orange onto the water.

There was a little market in Adelaide River and I bought some Anzac bikkies!  I drove on up the highway to the turn off to Batchelor and Litchfield National Park.  I decided to drive into the camp area at Wangi Falls.   It was a beautiful spot and I pulled up next a couple (Gill and Peter with Connor)  from Melbourne (& NZ).  Gill is also an avid blogger.   I walked to the Falls and it was one of the most beautiful swimming holes I have every seen - it was such a lovely swim across to the falls.   There were so many people there (and most of them from around the world).  We live in such a beautiful diverse country!
Late in the afternoon Marina and Pascale turned up at the camp site - it was great to catch up with them again and have their company again for a few days.    I had another swim that day with Marina. There was a camp fire at the camp site that night and we had bbq sweet potato and potatoes in foil on the fire.  The next morning after a big breakfast we went off for a walk at Greenant not far from Wangi falls.  We walked up to a waterfall and rock pools and then back down and drove back to Wangi Falls for lunch and another swim.

Pascale and spiderwoman at Wangi

And then a visit from spiderwoman!   It was such a laugh and I even joined some neighbouring campers in their family photo!  Also quietened down another young camper who was crying (or maybe I just scared her into silence or maybe her parents said if you don't be quiet spiderwoman will come back!)

On the way out of Litchfield I went to Buley Rock Pools and then to Florence Falls for swims.  There are about 130 steps down to the falls.   Then off to Darwin for a few days.  I went to Berry Springs on the way into Darwin.  Beautiful swimming spot, little water falls so you can have a spa bath.  Water just warm.  I am at Shady Glen Caravan Park which is next to airport and airforce airport so the fighter jets are roaring over my van.  When I look to see them they aren't where the noise is - you have to look ahead of the noise!  I didn't hear the noise until after I booked in.   However park is good and only 7 ks from Darwin centre.  Everywhere here is so busy with it being peak season and the Darwin cup on Monday. 
Today is catch up day with washing etc. and some shopping as I had popcorn for breaky.

Bitter Springs then Katherine Gorge

At the Bitter Springs caravan park you can hire a "noodle" then walk down the road 500 metres to Bitter Springs.  It is so pretty and the water is crystal clear and you jump in and float with the current down the small stream with palms on either side and spiders in the trees and water lillies on the side.  If you just float with your "noodle" down the stream it takes about 15-30 minutes and it is so relaxing - you hop out when you get to the bridge then a short walk back to the start to do it all over again!  Marina and Pascale arrived at the campground so it was nice to see them again and we went down the springs so I will put on a photo of me on the blog when they email me a copy.  We had a big cookup that night in the camp kitchen and the next morning I did pancakes - yum.    The next day I drove into to Katherine and out to the gorge and met up with M and P again and we had a swim in the gorge and then went up to watch the sunset over the gorge - we took up dips etc.but the ants discovered the food very quickly and nearly carried us away!  The view and the sunset was amazing.  The Northern Territory is so beautiful and the Katherine Gorge is stunning.    I stayed the night and the park and said goodbye to M and P as they were heading off to town then Kakadu on their way to Darwin.   Thank you Marina and Pascale for your company over the week - it was great to have someone to enjoy my adventures with Myrtle!  I am staying in Katherine tonight and then probably off to Kakadu tomorrow or maybe not. 

Along the way to Mataranka

Daly Waters Pub

Above the bar at Daly Waters - yes they are bras (mine isn't there!)

Wycliffe Wells - a mural at road house - doodie doodie

Bitter Springs at Mataranka - blissful

This was the second time (the other time at Daly Waters) where I saw these little individual raised corrugated iron shower/toilet cubicles.  Someone said they were up high because of the rain.

On the road north from Alice

Simpson's Gap

Paul and Dan - free campers  23 July

Pascale and Marina - happy Swiss campers  23 July

I haven't been able to upload photos for a while so these are some photos from about a week ago.  This is from camp spot at Tropic of Capricorn.   The whole journey is so much better for all the lovely people you meet on the way.

Daly Waters to Mataranka

Up the highway again!  Another long drive and by the time I got to Daly Waters I had enough.  Instead of stopping at the roadhouse I turned off the highway for 7 ks into Daly Waters "township".  I had overhead the night before that they had a pub there and caravan park.  Well along the road I thought there can't be anything out here and then there is a camp ground with hundreds of vans and a pub that is packed with people.  I got put in the overflow park as the other one was booked out.
Then Marina and Pascale arrived and we went to the pub for a shandy and a bit to eat $7.50 for a shandy!!!  And then a barra wrap.   There was entertainment but we went back to the vans as we could hear it from there.  Very unusual place and very popular.  Photos later!   A short drive of 150 ks to Mataranka - I called in at the Homestead and had a float in the hot spring pool before heading to Bitter Springs to book in at the campground and now I am off to float down the hot spring river!!!

A long drive to Tennant Creek

After leaving the free camp spot  I drove up the highway and went through TiTree, Barrow Cliff and Wycliffe Wells (UFO capital of Australia) but didn't see any ET's but did see some strange characters at the roadhouse.  A stop at Devil's Marbles and saw Marina and Pascale and a decision made to go on to Tennant Creek as at least there you could get showers.  The caravan park was OK and the showers were good and after travelling about 400K it was a welcome break.  (it was $22 night one person powered site)  I cooked risotto in the camp kitchen and we listened (well did not really chose to listen)  to some old guys being very ocker and not always politically correct (well quiet racist they were really!)  Good night sleep ready for the next big haul.  Filled up with petrol in the morning - I think it was $1.66  ( have paid up to $2.22).  On the way out of town I stopped at the Pink Palace and bought 2 art works - beautiful and met the artist.  The women meet there each day to paint and sell their paintings.  Saw M & P again as I pulled out of the gallery and on the road again.   The roadhouses are very "different" and many have pubs attached (or in them) and many different decors.

Tropic of Capricorn - Free Camp Spot

After I left Alice late Sunday arvo I stopped at the first free camp spot as I was tired and free was better than paying $40 in Alice Springs.  After a kip for a minute in the back of the van I got up to chat to the other free campers.  I ended up sitting around a camp fire with a man and his son travelling in a 4WD and about to head off to the Tanami Desert and 2 girls (sisters Marina and Pascale) from Switzerland who were travelling in a Wickedvan up to Darwin.  We had a great time with many discussions from bunyips to politics.    I slept really well inspite of the road trains roaring past metres away. 
I will add photos when I have a better connection.

Pancakes, markets, museums - more about Alice

I am on the road again and tonight at Daly Waters but more about that later.  Any there is a lot of thinking time on the road as the last few days has been full on driving all day.
When I arrived in Alice last week after being on the open road for days, I thought it was such a busy place and didn't know where to go and what to see and just wanted to leave again.  However after a few days there the place grows on you and there is such a range of people and places and it is a very interesting community.  It is very cultural with its art gallery and museum and many crafty galleries.  I even found a sculpture done by my old art teacher, Joan Brassil, from high school (in Campbelltown)   at the big cultural art gallery.   The Museum is amazing - natural history and pioneer history.  All the examples of different geological eras are around in the layers in the McDonnell Ranges.   They even have art house films every week and art studios and courses. I went to the market on Sunday and lots of stalls and food stalls and the community catching up.  Where do the pancakes fit in???  Well at the Big4 camp ground on Sunday mornings they have free pancakes for breakfast so I lined up with Merrin and the girls(who I bumped into again at the park!) (and the rest of the campground) for pancakes and a cuppa.  There was a long cue!  You had to wear a name tag with where you were from before they served you a pancake.  An encourage to be social and talk to your fellow travellers.  I also had a jump on the giant jumping pillows at the campground  - I got Amy and Sarah to go with me so it didn't seem so weird!    Anyway by the time I left Alice on Sunday afternoon I thought it was a great place and wouldn't mind going back sometime.  There is also so much to see in the surrounding area.  The McDonnell ranges (east and west) have some beautiful spots to see and not very far away.  I called into see Simpson's Gap before I left on Sunday.

Around Ormiston Gorge

The Pound - only took my little camera as a big walk and I didn't want to take my big camera. Next time I think I will put up with the weight!

Ormiston Gorge - Awesome!

Have just got back in Alice Springs after having spent two nights out at Ormiston Gorge.  It was such a beautiful camp ground - toilets, shower, gas BBQ ($10 pn pp) The water hole was beautiful and some great walks.   This area is part of the Larapinta Trail.  I did The Pound Walk - it was about 4 hours and went through some beautiful country.  There was a lookout and you could see right over the pound.   The last part of the walk was over lots and lots of boulders and rocks (a river bed) then through a gap until you got to the waterhole and you had to strip off and walk through freezing water (I am lucky I am tall and it only came to the top of my legs).   It was only a few metres across so it wasn't too bad.  Then I walked along a path along the cliff to a lookout and then back to the camp ground.  It was good as it challenged my fear of heights - yahoo.
Also when I was there I bumped into Merrin (sp?) (a physio from Wang who I worked with years ago)  so I had dinner that night with Merrin, Clayton, Amy and Sarah.  It was fun and great to see familiar faces!
After leaving there this morning I called in at a few spots along the way back to Alice.  Myrtle didn't like some of the dirt roads so we did not go into Serpentine Gorge but did see Ellery Creek Big Hole and the Ochre Pits.  Also went into Standley Chasm which was a bit of a disappointment after being at a beautiful place like Ormiston Gorge.   Off to cook dinner now.  

Myrtle

Myrtle at Yulara camp ground

Having a wander in Alice

King's Canyon - along the river bed

After a cold start I did the washing and then went into Alice Springs to do a bit of shopping and wander around. Also bought some nice sushi!   There are a lot of art, craft and photography shops so I had a nice look around.  I had a coffee with Yvonne (well not with her but she phoned when I was having coffee so it was nice to catch up!).  I went to Woolies and got some supplies and back to the camp ground to cook before it gets too cold and dark.

More Photos

Taken from a lookout on Lasseter Highway - a salt lake?? Other side of the road to Mt Conner

Mt Conner (or some call it Fooluru as you see in on the highway going to Uluru)

A.S.

Crikey it is cold .... make that freezing...in Alice Springs during the night - definitely a 2 doona night!

Alice Springs

I am tucked up in bed in my little home away from home.   I arrived in Alice Springs late this afternoon after a long drive from King's Canyon.  It is very busy and lucky to get a spot for Myrtle for the night.  It is going to be minus 2 tonight but they don't usually get a frost as no moisture in the air.
On my long drive I saw people on pushbikes! They would be pedaling for over 300 ks.   How tough would that be??   King's Canyon was nice and I did a walk however my fear of heights got the better of me and I didn't do the walk up the steep stairs and around the top of the cliff!  I am sure there will be more gorges etc that I can work on my fear!  
It is so nice to get comments as I feel like I have company on my journey.  It is easy - just select profile then name/url - You just put your name and don't fill in the URL bit.  Thank you for reading my blog!  Also tell me any news from home or where ever you are!  I will probably put some photos on tomorrow.
I watched TV for the first time tonight since I left.  I realised that I haven't been missing it at all.  I will pack it away again in it's box!

Farewell Uluru

Monday morning and I am packing up to head along the road to Kings Canyon.   The sun is shining into the van after a very cold morning.   There is usually a breeze in the mornings but warm in the sunshine.  I spent most of the day either viewing  Uluru from afar or just sitting quietly in places being with the ancient spirits around the rock.  The plants here are wonderful and so much bush tucker at the right season.  Native figs and plum trees. 
It is interesting talking to fellow travellers.  There is a couple from Tas who have brought their pushbikes and are riding out to the rock everyday.  Another couple from Switzerland (who now live in Australia) who have an old swiss army "truck" (1959)   converted into an offroad van.  They travelled overland from Europe years ago and now go across the deserts in it.
The campground here is excellent.  Busy but quiet.  Heaps of families.  I remember when my mum and dad took us  camping over Australia in 60s.   I am grateful for the those times and appreciate the effort that went into it with the old car and the big tent.  

close to the beautiful Uluru

Uluru

I enjoyed a walk around Uluru this morning.  I walked with a couple from WA.  We started off listening to cultural info on the rock and then continued around - it took a few hours (about 10 ks).  There were water holes around the bottom and I am going to go back tomorrow for some quiet contemplation.  I cooked up a dahl tonite on my little butane burner.  Also cooked some mushrooms and eggplant.  It was so yummy and probably good considering last night I had cheese and biscuits and chocolate for dinner.  It is such a great place I have decided to have an extra night here and will head off to Kings Canyon on Monday morning.

Sunset at the Rock

Today I went out to Kata Tjuta (the Olgas) and went for a walk through Walpa Gorge.  Amazing huge rocks!  Beautiful!  Then back to Uluru to watch the sun set on the rock.  I sat with a couple from WA who I met the night before.  So many people there to watch the sunset.  It has been warm in the sun today but it cools off at about 5.00 pm and very nippy now.   

Dinner

Myrtle

Myrtle's interior decor!

in a roadside rest area - Myrtle looks like she is on the moon

Life is good....

I have just booked in at the campground at Yulara and will be off to the Rock soon.  I am so excited!!!!
What a beautiful morning - the light is amazing in the morning casting long shadows of the small bushes along the road.      I stayed at a lovely little free camp spot last night  (about 150 k from Uluru)   - I had some great company with fellow travellers and sitting around the camp fire chatting - A few couples from WA and a couple of girls from Tassie doing the 4WD and swag trip.

I love getting comments.  If you go to select profile and then name/URL you can type your first name (you don't have to put anything in URL) and then your name will come up with your comment (instead of annon)

I am off to have a bit of a wash!   Then to walk around Uluru. xxxxxxx0000000  

Close to the Rock

In the Northern Territory!    Came through Cooby Pedy yesterday.  Strange place - did not make me want to stay there.  Mullock heap mounds everywhere for at least 20 k out of town.
A strong cross road wind yesterday and Myrtle didn't like it at - she is a bit top heavy and it took a lot of effort to keep her on the road.  Petrol prices around $1.73 today and just looked at the bowser where I am stopped at Erlunda and it is $1.84. 
I camped at Cadney Park last night and had a bowl of pumpkin soup at the pub - I think they just boiled the pumpkin and pureed it in the water as no taste - however I am grateful that I did not have to cook. It is the first "meal" I have bought "out".
SA have some weird road safety billboards - DON'T DRIVE LIKE A .... - and a picture of a door knob, or a picture of a Anchor with a W in front of it and also a picture of a rooster  What The......
It is about 3 pm so I think I will camp the night and head into Uluru in the morning.

Along the Way to Glendambo

A quiet night in Snowtown, apart from the patter of rain on the roof and the occasional freight train going past my window!  Then a drive to Port Augusta and a bit of shopping then the road north and wide open spaces.      The traffic consists of camper vans and caravans and road trains along a straight seemingly never ending highway.  Some scenery is amazing except for the rubbish.  Many of the rest areas have no toilet facilities and hence....some beautiful views are spoiled by litter!

Day Five

Waved goodbye to Joy and Andrew who are now in sunny North Queensland.  Thank you both for a lovely stay in Adelaide - it is always great catching up.   
I was late leaving Adelaide today so haven't gone too far today.    Arrived in Snowtown about 5.30 pm as I wanted to set up camp before it got too dark.  It is amazing what preconceived ideas you have of a place because of what has happened here!!!  I am at a town showground camping area and only $7.50 unpowered so I am happy.  Three big caravans arrived here at the same time as me.  They are all travelling together and are friendly and helpful and even offered to get me an extension lead to plug into their power.
I had some lovely dip from the markets and dukkah on some very nice bread for supper.  I think it will be an early night.  I will head off to Port Augusta tomorrow morning.

Day three

Saturday - Went to the Adelaide Market with Joy.   I so like the market here.  Not too big and heaps of fruit and veg at great prices, great breads, cheeses, dips, and great cakes, tarts etc!   I could spend all day there and eat!!  A lovely meal in the evening with J and A.


It is going to be very strange for me doing this blog.  It will be like someone reading my diary because I suppose this is what it is - my diary.
Also I want to thank Amber for the photo of me and the van.  We had fun doing the photo shoot.  Some people are probably wondering...... why the spiderman outfit??.......just because I happen to have one! (doesn't everyone?)

Adelaide Market

I couldn't resist taking this photo of the oranges and lemons - so attractive in their cane baskets

Day One and Day Two

I'm in Adelaide!!!! 
I will add to the post later when I have time.  I am at my friends' place, Joy and Andrew,  (I was bridesmaid for them 38 years ago - it was their wedding anniversary yesterday).  I have been so tired in the evening after driving that I have not had the energy to blog.   So watch this space!!!   I am off to the Adelaide market today  -  yummmm!  More Later!
 It is now later!!
 Day One - Thursday     I finally left Stanley in the afternoon after much packing, cleaning and organising.  I found it hard to believe I was actually leaving!
Thank you everyone for your love, support, goodbye hugs, etc.   I am so fortunate to have so many wonderful friends in my little corner of the world.   Myrtle and I trundled down the highway with our new friend (or foe) the Navman GPS.  I was thinking of heading across country towards Ballarat way with the help of Navman but he took me a bit too cross country (dirt roads/gulleys) and it was getting dark,  so I decided to head to Melbourne and call in and see my niece Belinda, her hubby, Cory and Will and Amy and to start again in the morning!  I had a very comfy night sleep in the van - so warm - I was glad for the extra blanket and doona I threw in before I left.

Day Two - Friday
I decided to give Navman another chance to redeem himself and he helped me navigate the freeways out of Melbourne off towards Ballarat so I may forgive him.   I decided to head straight to Adelaide and do the scenic route to Mt Gambia on my return home.    It was a long drive but interesting as the countryside looks amazing and I haven't driven some of that way before.  I arrived after 7 pm and the Navman helped me find Joy's house so I will keep him!   Another night in my home on wheels - tiny but warm and cosy!