Alice Springs - Darwin

Picked up at 5.30 this morning, I really couldn't wait for a lie in!! Jumped on the bus with Carl, the guide, and we headed to Melankas to pick everyone else up and check in. We didn't actually leave there until gone 6.
We had a quick stop on the way at The Tropic of Capricorn, I didn't get out to take a picture as I had been at it in Rockhampton. It was ok but just a statue.
We continued on for a bit longer and stopped at Ti Tree for a drink etc and a look found the aboriginal art gallery which was quite good. We were there for about half hour or so.
We kept on driving and did the usual microphone introductions, did mine first to get it out the way. Can't believe how worried some people get about it - poor souls. We then played a TV theme tune quiz for a little while. We stopped at Barrow Creek for a quick loo stop and then continued onto the Devils Marble for lunch. We had a wander around all the random boulders lieing around and I played with my timer and took a few shots. We all ate, it was getting really hot!! We all jumped back on after lunch and off we went.
I finished my Bill Bryson Britain book which was good. We had a cash, food and drink stop in Tennant Creek then went to the Mary Ann Dam so people could have a swim, it was a bit cold if you ask me so needless to say I didn't enter the water.
We had to stop and collect fire wood during the next drive. We arrived in Banka Banka Station at 6pm and got settled in. We went to watch a slide show that the manager, Will, put on for us. All about cattle farming. It was actually quite interesting and lasted about an hour or so. We had a good dinner and sat round the fire for a bit before going to bed.
Got up early. We left at 7am and saw 2 baby Emu's on the road, didn't even really look like Emu's. We drove through Elliot adn Dunmarra, maybe stopping for fuel - don't remember!!
I also saw a Frilled Neck Lizard running across the road which was pretty funny to see!!
We drove onto Daly Waters where the first Australian Internation Airport was, because the planes had to refuel. There were also lots of army camps here during the second world war, Darwin was badly bombed, and you often see petrol cans on the side of the road that have just been left.
We also went to the Oldest Pub in the Northern Territory and had burgers for lunch there. The pub was interesting as people had left a wide range of things including money, flags underwear, id's - all sorts, very odd. Pretty cool place though.
We drove to Mataranka where there are Thermol pools and a river, with Freshwater crocs, for people to swim in. I didn't swim, the thermol pool was pretty small and busy and the river was cold. A few people swam.
We stopped by at Katherine for food etc and then headed on to the camp. Chatted a bit, had dinner and then bed!!
We left at 7am again and headed straight to Katherine Gorge where most of us were canoeing. I had teamed up with Iain from Ireland as they were double canoes. It was great, really stunning scenery and fun. We headed round to the first gorge and parked up on the beach. We walked across the river looking very unsteady and not very ladylike (no change there) and went to check out some Rock Art. It was really good, very different to what I had previously seen. We walked along the bank a little and spotted a better place to cross back ove, much easier. Once we were back across we walked up that bank a little until rocks and cliffs stopped us. We wandered back to our canoe and started to paddle back at 9.20am so we could have a relaxing time. It was really nice, good to do something active - that wasn't swimming!!
We had an early lunch and headed off at 12-12.30.
We drove to Edith Falls so people could swim, again!!, I chatted to an Aboriginal lady from Katherine which was nice. We were there for a little while.
We continued on and stopped at Adelaide River, not actually the river, but the pub. We actually stopped to see the Buffalo from Crocodile Dundee, who is now stuffed on the bar!, his name is Nick although his stage name is Charlie. Had a drink while the locals were going crazy about th AFL final!! Bloody hell...
We arrived in Darwin at 6ish and got settled into our hostels. We met for a free meal and they played some silly games in a pub. I left around 10 for an early night and lie in!! The hostel had messed my booking up so I have a twin to myself which is great!!
Dawn
xxx