Got up early and drove to Katherine Gorge for our day of canoeing. After finding the hut, they told us that we needed to go to the Information Centre to book. When we got there, they said they had no full days left. So we booked a full day for the following day and also a night in the national parks campsite. After that we drove in to Katherine for a better look around. Visited the information centre in town and then drove to Katherine springs. We had our lunch then went for a swim.
Back at the campsite we sat and relaxed, had dinner and looked forward to tomorrow. The couple behind us were having some problems, Hannah heard them saying someone had stolen some food. I got back after washing the pots and Hannah told me, then the man behind us started shouting and banging his hands together. We turned around to see a kangeroo jumping out of their tent. It turned out the kangeroo was stealing their food!
Wednesday, 14 November 2007
Friday, 2 November 2007
Caught in a bush fire, 6th September 2007
Set off about 8am, heading for our next land mark, Larrimah. The guide book says to stop there for sandwiches from a lady's house. They are supposed to be the best in the area. When we got there the house is on the main road and has boards all out the front advertising different things to eat and drink. The lady had a special on today, roast pork and lamb sandwiches on freshly baked bread.
So after one of each to share (which were really nice) we started driving again. A short way ahead we could see lots of smoke. Hannah was driving and around a corner the road was covered in smoke and as we got closer the trees and grass at both sides of the road we on fire. The smoke got thicker and Hannah had to drive quickly in the middle of the road to be able to see anything. The fire was that close I could feel the heat. It last ed for a few seconds and then we were out the other side. It was a bit like that scene in Days of Thunder with Tom Cruise, driving through the smoke on the race track and not knowing what was on the other side. A bit scary.
After that we got to Mataranka, hot springs. It was mid-afternoon so we stop for a swim. After that we decided that we were so close to Katherine we should just drive on. We found a campsite just outside of town, on the road to Katherine gorge, the place we were going to canoe tomorrow. The campsite was nice and as soon as we were booked i, we saw a man we had meet in Alice Springs. His name is Peter, but not Peter Kay our storker. We got the site next to him and had a drink and a chat with him after dinner. We found out he was going to the gorge tomorrow too but he was going on a boat. It was getting late, so we said good night and we headed for bed.
So after one of each to share (which were really nice) we started driving again. A short way ahead we could see lots of smoke. Hannah was driving and around a corner the road was covered in smoke and as we got closer the trees and grass at both sides of the road we on fire. The smoke got thicker and Hannah had to drive quickly in the middle of the road to be able to see anything. The fire was that close I could feel the heat. It last ed for a few seconds and then we were out the other side. It was a bit like that scene in Days of Thunder with Tom Cruise, driving through the smoke on the race track and not knowing what was on the other side. A bit scary.
After that we got to Mataranka, hot springs. It was mid-afternoon so we stop for a swim. After that we decided that we were so close to Katherine we should just drive on. We found a campsite just outside of town, on the road to Katherine gorge, the place we were going to canoe tomorrow. The campsite was nice and as soon as we were booked i, we saw a man we had meet in Alice Springs. His name is Peter, but not Peter Kay our storker. We got the site next to him and had a drink and a chat with him after dinner. We found out he was going to the gorge tomorrow too but he was going on a boat. It was getting late, so we said good night and we headed for bed.
Devil's Marbles, 5th Sepember 2007
The car seems fine this morning, so we drove to the Devil's Marbles 200km to the north. These are rock formations that are rounded stones balancing on top of each other. A sacred site for the Aboriginals. They believed that the rocks had secret people that if a child was left there to play on their own the people would come out of the rocks and pull the child in to the ground under the rocks. The rocks are various sizes from small stones to 3-4 meters wide. We walked around the rocks and took some great photos. We had a cup of tea and did some more walking across the road to see more of them. After that we had a big drive north, about 270km to Rinner Springs roadhouse. Its is just a service station with a camp ground. We got there to find it a bit disappointing to find a rubbish site and toilets that looked like they were going to fall down. Couldn't go further as its about other 150km. About 2 hours driving! And they charged us more than most sites we've stayed at. So we're telling everyone we meet heading that way, not to stop as there are better sites before and after Renner Springs. We got chatting to a younger couple, one English and the other German. They had been working in Alice for about 4 months and glad to be moving again.
Sunday, 28 October 2007
Van service 4th September 2007
Took the van for its service early this morning. The mechanic was really funny about it this morning and said I'd not booked it in. After talking to him I found out he had book ed it in for the previous Tuesday. He fitted us in and we walked into town. Our first stop was at ANZAC hill. A memorial for WW1 and 2. It looked out over the whole town and towards the MacDonald ranges. Then went on the Internet and emailed, blogged and other things. About 10:30 the guy rang and said the van was ready, so we picked it up and did some shopping, then drove to Stanley chasm. A rock formation the locals told us not to miss. It was a nice walk along a try riverbed to the chasm. We took some pictures, did some climbing over some of the rocks in the chasm, then coz it was hot I sprayed Hannah with water so it looked like she had wet herself and then she took the water and emptied it on me. No one could see the water on Hannah's white shorts but the no dark red wee looking patch on my shorts, everyone could see. Its all fun and games today.
After the chasm we were off, we drove north towards Katherine and Darwin, only about 800 miles.
We got about 200km to a road house and campsite when the van started playing up. Its too far to turn back, the van was over rev'ing and when we turned the engine off, it stayed running for about 3-4 seconds. So we decided not to drive any further. We booked in to the campsite, a little disheartened and worried about he van. Rang Dad "the mechanic on the phone" to pick his brains. What he said put our minds at rest, so off north tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed!
After the chasm we were off, we drove north towards Katherine and Darwin, only about 800 miles.
We got about 200km to a road house and campsite when the van started playing up. Its too far to turn back, the van was over rev'ing and when we turned the engine off, it stayed running for about 3-4 seconds. So we decided not to drive any further. We booked in to the campsite, a little disheartened and worried about he van. Rang Dad "the mechanic on the phone" to pick his brains. What he said put our minds at rest, so off north tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed!
Friday, 26 October 2007
Back to Alice Springs, Monday 3rd September 2007
Hannah watched the sun rise over Kings Canyon from our bed in the camper as I was in the shower. We are driving back to Alice today as the camper is having a service tomorrow. It took a while to get back, but on our way back we saw 8 wild horses crossing the dessert roads, 7 camels and a dingo. We went back to the fridge repair people and told them about the fridge, they didn't do anything, so we decided not to waste any more money on it. But we'll buy the fridge somewhere else. We don't want to give them any more of our money either.
We went back to the campsite we were at before and relaxed from the day of driving. We drove about 600km again today.
We went back to the campsite we were at before and relaxed from the day of driving. We drove about 600km again today.
Kings Canyon, 2nd September 2007
We watched the sun rising over Uluru again this morning, but today we're very stiff and our bodies are sore from the walk yesterday. We sat there with our tea in hand and planned what we were going to do. After deciding to drive on to another local natural attraction, Kings Canyon, just north, about 300km, we packed up and set off.
We got to Kings Canyon mid morning and booked into our campsite. After lunch with stiff legs we decided to do the 6km up hill and across cliff edges walk of Kings Canyon. The 1st part of the walk as up a steep, nearly vertical staircase, got so video footage and we had to stop every so often to rest as the temperature was rising again. We we're carrying about 1.5 litres of water and started drinking after about 2minutes of walking. We walked through amazing rock features and looked over cliff edges that fell away to the ground about 300 meters below. It got to about 34'C and with no clouds in the sky it was real hot. We found some shade in a valley called the valley of Eden. There were not plants or trees on the cliffs but in the valley the temperature lowered and there was water in the bottom for loads of plants and trees to grow. Near the end of the walk about 1km from the end was the best views of the whole walk. It was from the highest point and looked down over the valley below.
Back at the campsite we treated ourselves to a nice cold drink and an ice cream.We walked to the lookout point of the campsite, to watch the sun set over Kings Canyon. We decided to go back to our camper and found we had a better view from there so we just sat in our chairs outside our camper and chatted to the neighbours watching another amazing sunset.
We got to Kings Canyon mid morning and booked into our campsite. After lunch with stiff legs we decided to do the 6km up hill and across cliff edges walk of Kings Canyon. The 1st part of the walk as up a steep, nearly vertical staircase, got so video footage and we had to stop every so often to rest as the temperature was rising again. We we're carrying about 1.5 litres of water and started drinking after about 2minutes of walking. We walked through amazing rock features and looked over cliff edges that fell away to the ground about 300 meters below. It got to about 34'C and with no clouds in the sky it was real hot. We found some shade in a valley called the valley of Eden. There were not plants or trees on the cliffs but in the valley the temperature lowered and there was water in the bottom for loads of plants and trees to grow. Near the end of the walk about 1km from the end was the best views of the whole walk. It was from the highest point and looked down over the valley below.
Back at the campsite we treated ourselves to a nice cold drink and an ice cream.We walked to the lookout point of the campsite, to watch the sun set over Kings Canyon. We decided to go back to our camper and found we had a better view from there so we just sat in our chairs outside our camper and chatted to the neighbours watching another amazing sunset.
Walked around Uluru, 1st September 2007
We woke up at 05:30 this morning, its still dark. We wanted to see the sun rise over Uluru. We had arranged to meet Sophie in the car park and drive over together. It was dark, no street lights and we only had a small torch and an idea of were Sophie was sleeping. We drove around looking for her, for about 30minutes and we had probably woken up lots of campers, as we drove around, shinning our torch at them. We were just about to leave without her, when we saw her walking around with her sleeping bag and pillow. She jumped into the van and told us she had slept outside the campsite on a sandy area which was the lookout. She could only find 1 flip flop and we told her that's there are lots of Dingo's around and we have heard stories from other campers that Dingos have stolen there footwear before. So of we went to Uluru, there were lots of people already there from coach trips, but we found a nice place and made breakfast and had a cup of tea watching the sun rise and the shadows of Uluru change to the yellows and orange colours that we all know and have seen. It was really peaceful and nice just to seat there and watch. The coach tripper's left and we were then nearly on our own. After a while we went to the visitors centre and found a free talk from a range starting a 10am so we joined him.It was a interpretation walk of about 3-5km, he explained all about the way the Anangu (aboriginal) people have used in for celebrations, events and even just living around it. In respect for the Anangu people we had decided not to climb Uluru, but were going to walk around the base, 10km (about 6 miles). It was starting to get hot so we took some water and started walking around. It got to about 30'C and the flies were everywhere. I counted the flies on Hannah's back and there must have been around 50 on her upper back and shoulders. We enjoyed the walk and the different views of Uluru and by the time we had finished the walk we really, really hated the flies. Going to buy a fly head net from the net shop we see them.
It was getting closer to when Sophie's bus was leaving, to take her back to Alice Springs, so we decided to go back to the campsite, shower and chilled out a little after our walk. We swapped emails and said our good byes to Sophie and then Hannah and I drove back to Uluru for this evening sun set, just the two of us and a beer. After it had got dark we drove back the campsite and had dinner and watched lots of wild rabbits running around the camp grounds, just playing and eating what ever food they found.
It was getting closer to when Sophie's bus was leaving, to take her back to Alice Springs, so we decided to go back to the campsite, shower and chilled out a little after our walk. We swapped emails and said our good byes to Sophie and then Hannah and I drove back to Uluru for this evening sun set, just the two of us and a beer. After it had got dark we drove back the campsite and had dinner and watched lots of wild rabbits running around the camp grounds, just playing and eating what ever food they found.
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