tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36367673309206191812024-03-19T13:45:37.014+11:00Andy, Nessa, James & Jemma’s All Aussie Adventures"Remember what Bilbo used to say: it's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to."Nessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743234057904783218noreply@blogger.comBlogger90125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3636767330920619181.post-55239882406188126252022-10-25T10:32:00.000+11:002022-10-25T10:32:03.384+11:00We 💛 Winton - The Australian Dinosaur Trail & other adventures Part 2 <p>After 4 wonderful nights and 3 glorious days at Porcupine Gorge with echidnas and bettongs and snakes (oh my!) it was time to move on. To Winton and more Dinosaur adventures We had chatted to some fellow travellers who had come from Winton and had some comments or advice. </p><p>First comment was that the flies are pretty bad. How bad could they be? Advice was not to miss the Gregory North Banjo Paterson show at the North Gregory Hotel. It all made perfect sense.... And also that you should book the final two dinosaur attractions on our muliti-pass; Australian Age of the Dinosaurs and Lark Quarry Dinosaur Stampede National Monument.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzmqVDgLOYSHkGV11gw2V4ZJImSXfoQL4ncsL--I2bJVEI9JrhKlAgu8Ul3i2wMTZqsUGEo7ckFgx9tREpNvk_4Bw8GyUtmZrslSHOO2tuK-2n-WjA3nsJI4DJgJTHlJ8ZhxGeWPG9t17Y91eZHPhiXCmzQJqm-xP4Bvci1c4UWNqH9fYFdK5TMA8oEg/s320/IMG_7607.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzmqVDgLOYSHkGV11gw2V4ZJImSXfoQL4ncsL--I2bJVEI9JrhKlAgu8Ul3i2wMTZqsUGEo7ckFgx9tREpNvk_4Bw8GyUtmZrslSHOO2tuK-2n-WjA3nsJI4DJgJTHlJ8ZhxGeWPG9t17Y91eZHPhiXCmzQJqm-xP4Bvci1c4UWNqH9fYFdK5TMA8oEg/s1600/IMG_7607.jpeg" width="240" /></a>Down town Winton - green grass gets the thumbs up from the kids. And yep the flies were bad.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisDgxiI5fv5Vj_HnsnD7ABlTiey-5y30jJ0erkYMI6X16n3GIktJM4W_GA5boqhrI8ovulY5CRTN6x0Rg5pCdKxfDbp40BDi4ByirItOXGOzyjWSbLPrUR62INvZwMzyKzIhOI8B3uQifijg-iP3FI7vOFGn7rUwk-zqRbIlb4UR9kbmbp5yM9FgPDjw/s320/IMG_7611%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisDgxiI5fv5Vj_HnsnD7ABlTiey-5y30jJ0erkYMI6X16n3GIktJM4W_GA5boqhrI8ovulY5CRTN6x0Rg5pCdKxfDbp40BDi4ByirItOXGOzyjWSbLPrUR62INvZwMzyKzIhOI8B3uQifijg-iP3FI7vOFGn7rUwk-zqRbIlb4UR9kbmbp5yM9FgPDjw/s1600/IMG_7611%20(1).jpeg" width="240" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTuk8M1WPjJzHZNoi15-gyNV1rzG9GbxuevEvvDqLULnYC5BE5CItXYMoAFrtvBTATtixyKkrK1vOVVksh5mxnrIKJjCswYVViu8WBl29YpXGeYfJ6gptKcaE1iVIE-9SA463W2v84D5UoHTW9AMSOfiDzUZT5vODDmFDwCgK23bCwaw41Q1Gz3FU3Dg/s320/IMG_7610.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTuk8M1WPjJzHZNoi15-gyNV1rzG9GbxuevEvvDqLULnYC5BE5CItXYMoAFrtvBTATtixyKkrK1vOVVksh5mxnrIKJjCswYVViu8WBl29YpXGeYfJ6gptKcaE1iVIE-9SA463W2v84D5UoHTW9AMSOfiDzUZT5vODDmFDwCgK23bCwaw41Q1Gz3FU3Dg/s1600/IMG_7610.jpeg" width="240" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">More silly photo opportunities that could not be resisted.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">We pulled in to Winton about 1pm on a Monday- good timing we thought. We had fancied a bakery lunch but found that a large group travelling on motorbikes had bought the entire town out of any fast and easy take away meals.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">We ended up at the North Gregory Hotel for lunch having a yummy bistro meal. The North Gregory Hotel is one of 4 hotels in Winton, a town of less than 1000 people in the 2016 census. The current, and 4th, version of the North Gregory was finished in 1955 after the previous 3 versions (1899, 1916 & 1946) burnt down. Fires are a common theme in Winton. One of the other pubs in town had sections closed due to fire. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">While in town we also took advantage of free showers ( had been in the bush for 4 nights if you recall, and swimming is not quite the same) at one of the roadhouses. We also obtained some town water, bore, which the lady at the Visitors centre assured me would be fine if we just let the sulphur blow off ( it was ).</p><p style="text-align: justify;">While at the pub I took the opportunity to call the Australian Age of the Dinosaurs to book us in for our visit. We really wanted to be there for James' 12th birthday the very next day and the lady was very patient and had to move a whole lot of stuff around to accommodate our family. But she did it, and we were very grateful! We were now all booked in for Age of the Dinosaurs and the Dinosaur Stampede the following day.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVHVHkqWTuTzskZ9s4bFlnPPuHSRdQsPfsEP094zs7vsYOsRiR8sNBffrtQu5rU877vXQoUlMuqVHU98av09Z2GYf5HTz2zxk4U38f3aALqeeUDFguj0zeCCo92NiypkuBS7FwMJ-YobS7756J4_KZ5crKibPjrEOtCCBEbLJNGPOmv8xJXDsB_aC9aA/s320/IMG_7615.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVHVHkqWTuTzskZ9s4bFlnPPuHSRdQsPfsEP094zs7vsYOsRiR8sNBffrtQu5rU877vXQoUlMuqVHU98av09Z2GYf5HTz2zxk4U38f3aALqeeUDFguj0zeCCo92NiypkuBS7FwMJ-YobS7756J4_KZ5crKibPjrEOtCCBEbLJNGPOmv8xJXDsB_aC9aA/s1600/IMG_7615.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />I know this looks like big flat empty nothing country. This is the drive into Bladensburg National Park, about a 20km drive from Winton where we camped on the river bank for 4 nights and used as a (not always convenient) base to explore Winton and surrounds. <br />I love this type of country. The sky is just huge. I love the colours. The tough animals and plants that thrive here. Getting up early and sitting quietly is so rewarding. The smells and sounds. I love the openness. I love that for an hour after sunset the horizon blazes tangerine and mauve and blue. And then the stars - wall to wall. The camp ground was teeming with budgies, and I mean teeming. Like most Australian parrots their crazy bright plumage is surprisingly cryptic in the apparently drab colours of the outback - you really would not think a bright yellow and jewel green bird would be so difficult to see in the yellow spinifex and grey green of the gum trees. Walking up to a clump of spinifex could yield dozens of the bright green little birds, chattering and squeaking as they fly away. Big flocks of them would explode up from the side of the road as we drove along and it became a bit of a game to try and predict where the next 'big' flock would be. Late rain makes for lots and lots of happy budgies around Winton. They were everywhere - in every tree, on stumps and in the grass.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5qnVf8Zh07KRe69PAEoCiHSPAV_AZA3Cp2mAedm6IuBiGeB6N41fgD1r4_ovX3cTkA-ubCriB0SRfuTQHyrHbjMWy8x-E9wj8he3TI7k9xnNepounJQNsL_bF-IWoAqMwv2s37wjtQPsLXSXmoW6xXY8hJBw6aSKfbAaegIgdwOkpNHxXYoF6MvxqXQ/s320/IMG_7619.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5qnVf8Zh07KRe69PAEoCiHSPAV_AZA3Cp2mAedm6IuBiGeB6N41fgD1r4_ovX3cTkA-ubCriB0SRfuTQHyrHbjMWy8x-E9wj8he3TI7k9xnNepounJQNsL_bF-IWoAqMwv2s37wjtQPsLXSXmoW6xXY8hJBw6aSKfbAaegIgdwOkpNHxXYoF6MvxqXQ/s1600/IMG_7619.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camp set up #1 Bladensburg - we ended up moving to a better neighbourhood the next morning</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdoUFOnvFkuhnGUYkxveRMU5mJHFBMueFtkaaM-2Y12jmLrV3GICL_T3xrEdjs1Her6AeWytpSiF5a3pNKcPQiYWFWouLouSQy5-mSFrYBovkz80NlMJ51F03jvPHFBl7uR_Fao2anx9l42WV_idJvSb2blQ1fLAnSEyfFdZM3JVgoWjcSazheSfpGOA/s320/IMG_7623.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdoUFOnvFkuhnGUYkxveRMU5mJHFBMueFtkaaM-2Y12jmLrV3GICL_T3xrEdjs1Her6AeWytpSiF5a3pNKcPQiYWFWouLouSQy5-mSFrYBovkz80NlMJ51F03jvPHFBl7uR_Fao2anx9l42WV_idJvSb2blQ1fLAnSEyfFdZM3JVgoWjcSazheSfpGOA/s1600/IMG_7623.jpeg" width="240" /></a>HAPPY 12TH BIRTHDAY TO JAMES! Chocolate cake for breakfast!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4kdo2M8UPAlXEGnOLd5TKL0JCkmXsWYiDb5ZohMpfoodeoNOBBeT8-3fUFC8hNteh7QsvQIuuk_3YHWqd7ZxVWBi4yOvuoAxep1id_3ofW0aWrJza-v_LHbfoOvlFNZEHDj0Q_jJBLoEvEzNhGAnn0i2fuho9fe2rfOTFqZPx1r32PhqkJQfOUK2c3w/s320/IMG_7634.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4kdo2M8UPAlXEGnOLd5TKL0JCkmXsWYiDb5ZohMpfoodeoNOBBeT8-3fUFC8hNteh7QsvQIuuk_3YHWqd7ZxVWBi4yOvuoAxep1id_3ofW0aWrJza-v_LHbfoOvlFNZEHDj0Q_jJBLoEvEzNhGAnn0i2fuho9fe2rfOTFqZPx1r32PhqkJQfOUK2c3w/s1600/IMG_7634.jpeg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSsCABIAOYkCyb3nIVqX2qjYMC3CDApZ-PNuWQiJTOp4iMW1wnwY97UnNhi3guD61OaElebKZzTpPM-_FYHK0OxT_7axblXU7HUkSk9bunIED3ppH0g9YD0_X-GzPt9S_GVXIQQrG_8mwyoz78yajwrCxyrLzbMimeYJ_W0WdsfVrfdOCl-tsJ78UYCg/s320/IMG_7635.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSsCABIAOYkCyb3nIVqX2qjYMC3CDApZ-PNuWQiJTOp4iMW1wnwY97UnNhi3guD61OaElebKZzTpPM-_FYHK0OxT_7axblXU7HUkSk9bunIED3ppH0g9YD0_X-GzPt9S_GVXIQQrG_8mwyoz78yajwrCxyrLzbMimeYJ_W0WdsfVrfdOCl-tsJ78UYCg/s1600/IMG_7635.jpeg" width="240" /></a><br /><br /><br />The kids posing with 'Banjo' at the entrance to The Australian Age of Dinosaurs ( I will abbreviate to Age of Dinos). Banjo is an <i>Australovenator wintonensnis </i>a theropod dinosaur found with sauropod 'Matilda' <i>Diamantinasaurus matildae </i>on nearby Elderslie Station in 2005 by the station owner. They are dinosaurs from the Middle Cretaceous period approximately 100-95MYO.<p></p><p>On entering reception and checking in we were given a timetable as you cannot freely walk around the entire site. The kids were each given a special guide to complete as we went along. There are 4 different areas to experience at Age of Dinos; the fossil preparation laboratory, reception and collection room, March of the Titanosaurs exhibition and Dinosaur canyon and outdoor galleries.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKfFEvnYJy21nxOqZZxarRnYawLb2HP26texMzTkGqY_cliJ8_ydmhKPQv4lzMHaanS8cVrlIvsgmSUjEZDM5-ncWLg5ncH9R6Ddr1ZdEaHczpGZyFbrxF02PYDmNdGww724Wtn-QCJZsJiWUxiE0CrEVXyFlaX2aQQiunwr2cl4kEjrmg9lz78uPopQ/s320/IMG_7630.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKfFEvnYJy21nxOqZZxarRnYawLb2HP26texMzTkGqY_cliJ8_ydmhKPQv4lzMHaanS8cVrlIvsgmSUjEZDM5-ncWLg5ncH9R6Ddr1ZdEaHczpGZyFbrxF02PYDmNdGww724Wtn-QCJZsJiWUxiE0CrEVXyFlaX2aQQiunwr2cl4kEjrmg9lz78uPopQ/s1600/IMG_7630.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before I go on - FLIES! Winton is known for its flies. They are bad all the time. Sometimes worse than other times. The fly level was HIGH during our visit due to unseasonable, late rain. They were super annoying and made even the simplest tasks frustrating. Most people, and I would say 90%, had fly nets and I started to wonder if we were horrible parents for not offering them. And the kids didn't ask. So we persevered net free, like locals, just waving them off every couple of seconds.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKB5jZcbBdlPtApyEDz_7PvtGAmbkeIPHwQ0Xz4r7EbKA44fq9U7EEfi36qGnTya-ie3HIB03mvMk2RTxH-OCnss6noIxPb0f8RtaEB7n-NtiKwx3bbQZjMB0LljY2Nl2tpxcCg8_jQJ1umUxUxkUAm_fOP4do3ofxdAe7FsqYfkgArQ9CMWbP-T9zpQ/s320/IMG_7662.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKB5jZcbBdlPtApyEDz_7PvtGAmbkeIPHwQ0Xz4r7EbKA44fq9U7EEfi36qGnTya-ie3HIB03mvMk2RTxH-OCnss6noIxPb0f8RtaEB7n-NtiKwx3bbQZjMB0LljY2Nl2tpxcCg8_jQJ1umUxUxkUAm_fOP4do3ofxdAe7FsqYfkgArQ9CMWbP-T9zpQ/s1600/IMG_7662.jpeg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFeoTknjFVUWfFxfRKGXsCNlWdc7yjzAFFUKc2DLCg74PtI1y87Cnp9XrY5kliH3Shjaut_jAIf9CRc-ltknpzqNe0H8Dm_d1CwvHKe10xZNNJFJEFggcnqFATF5Pm6g7iwnq0uyfH0OkHKq7vA1n9ija7AH0jAixopQgatTw3s6dAGo4T5hdEfhkraA/s320/IMG_7672.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFeoTknjFVUWfFxfRKGXsCNlWdc7yjzAFFUKc2DLCg74PtI1y87Cnp9XrY5kliH3Shjaut_jAIf9CRc-ltknpzqNe0H8Dm_d1CwvHKe10xZNNJFJEFggcnqFATF5Pm6g7iwnq0uyfH0OkHKq7vA1n9ija7AH0jAixopQgatTw3s6dAGo4T5hdEfhkraA/s1600/IMG_7672.jpeg" width="240" /></a><br /><br />Gross flies. So many flies.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">First stop was the March of the Titanosaurs exhibition. This was a guided tour through a large made-for-purpose building to protect the 54m long dinosaur footprints, or trackway. The footprints are a relatively recent discovery on (yet another) nearby cattle station, "Karoola". </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitd-hDevdUMKWqQvupPwLd2Mhnp6Qu7_msXawcZVQ2xsdKtZ9_ETbGwE-zLHlN_GUmwETcuOkc5NBiLsARKhazrHFDI6Xam_D0PCgiw34nc02f7MV2rfBRmBdNZDueWhlHXIXv_JtVHK0uidgqv0_4PX5aGAAdY42qPX0k1N3WGNgbNl0C04XLNFOztw/s320/IMG_7646.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitd-hDevdUMKWqQvupPwLd2Mhnp6Qu7_msXawcZVQ2xsdKtZ9_ETbGwE-zLHlN_GUmwETcuOkc5NBiLsARKhazrHFDI6Xam_D0PCgiw34nc02f7MV2rfBRmBdNZDueWhlHXIXv_JtVHK0uidgqv0_4PX5aGAAdY42qPX0k1N3WGNgbNl0C04XLNFOztw/s1600/IMG_7646.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUMKvy13DPIgxsQDMUceRUgWFcs6S8dT_HjqxarwaqyVJ6g0yxx8w2CrxP6FOhF90vUcgGptf4_GN3fyC8GERa48Q2h6jZy4nmck79X3mM_OrRn6A-M-20l84bV48YwGGHj3xrBlU5gs0-bVYOzvo_neWQIkAVwBNosb3vDMZK6MZGOhr4YsD5m5TSMQ/s320/IMG_7647.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUMKvy13DPIgxsQDMUceRUgWFcs6S8dT_HjqxarwaqyVJ6g0yxx8w2CrxP6FOhF90vUcgGptf4_GN3fyC8GERa48Q2h6jZy4nmck79X3mM_OrRn6A-M-20l84bV48YwGGHj3xrBlU5gs0-bVYOzvo_neWQIkAVwBNosb3vDMZK6MZGOhr4YsD5m5TSMQ/s1600/IMG_7647.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;">The trackway is known as the Snake Creek tracksite and required the excavation, removal and reassembly of tonnes and tonnes of rock, like an enormous and very significant jigsaw puzzle. Our guide brought the trackway to life for us and explained that we were looking at a snapshot of an (extra)ordinary day near the river or billabong 95million years ago; it was a landscape covered in temperate rainforest - very different to the Jump-up (mesa plateau) the AODD is on today.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6BSmWlUTmgaVd0nrJJHDHykHxo3U3LV8uj5p-eU22uUkuIocmrkvmwz2KorhCU0bzGZ1NDzFk4MzRj5-B3sDKunbYlrccwIAzp9EIOcPTudnpT4cn7R5SH2r9VVHooktEnUbcsa3v5EX__6b_qX7iKuRfSxkvPSa2vPlT06oNHxt33yNEmCLNASBlvw/s2947/IMG_8536.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2103" data-original-width="2947" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6BSmWlUTmgaVd0nrJJHDHykHxo3U3LV8uj5p-eU22uUkuIocmrkvmwz2KorhCU0bzGZ1NDzFk4MzRj5-B3sDKunbYlrccwIAzp9EIOcPTudnpT4cn7R5SH2r9VVHooktEnUbcsa3v5EX__6b_qX7iKuRfSxkvPSa2vPlT06oNHxt33yNEmCLNASBlvw/s320/IMG_8536.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Footprints include 4 individual sauropods, including a juvenile, as well as tracks from crocodyloformsi, lungfish, turtles, and ornithopod and therapod dinosaurs all going about their daily business. There is no real drama in the trackway (very different to the Lark Quarry trackway to come) but offers palaeontologists insight into how these animals lived and behaved. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9yqNYxcmlmfkIxpgPMfo90d6tT8bccRjcNJGZXyI_ybbvK4LzJKAKhvjG2AhkPD9x1PSEgistCa7eb6laIPRoukHYLsBvNeUATcEuKtyg_oxHNjR4m7TajRgK0nYazbVi8dUkLsyCLXJElwNIrZCTWUNTZmKpUVIajlqALbYy5Pkha72aNbNW2v639Q/s320/IMG_7650.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9yqNYxcmlmfkIxpgPMfo90d6tT8bccRjcNJGZXyI_ybbvK4LzJKAKhvjG2AhkPD9x1PSEgistCa7eb6laIPRoukHYLsBvNeUATcEuKtyg_oxHNjR4m7TajRgK0nYazbVi8dUkLsyCLXJElwNIrZCTWUNTZmKpUVIajlqALbYy5Pkha72aNbNW2v639Q/s1600/IMG_7650.jpeg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHQICFEQuPJEE8EA4BtgeSgU5GxGI10v2_H-bHMA6qMme00xO0YLuofF0g0cT5xGkCGt5hzT2a2WqxQgtZml0-9KSnKnyWeAgz7-2gEP4opW5EXgJG3UqXQ4oW0M7t6u9hJZcOeBkHs66uJSaDwHzQLh0s8eflAq4qNmy0eZLgqAMMkGmSswGFVBxOtg/s320/IMG_7670.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHQICFEQuPJEE8EA4BtgeSgU5GxGI10v2_H-bHMA6qMme00xO0YLuofF0g0cT5xGkCGt5hzT2a2WqxQgtZml0-9KSnKnyWeAgz7-2gEP4opW5EXgJG3UqXQ4oW0M7t6u9hJZcOeBkHs66uJSaDwHzQLh0s8eflAq4qNmy0eZLgqAMMkGmSswGFVBxOtg/s1600/IMG_7670.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Bronze statues of the titanosurs</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Next we headed to the Dinosaur Canyon outdoor galleries. The kids busied themselves with plaque rubbings at each exhibit to complete their guide books. The adults shooed flies and assisted where necessary. The flies made being outside pretty unpleasant and I am ashamed to say that we rushed this part a little in order to escape the meaning flies. There were 5 exhibits in all; Death in the billabong ( photo below), Cretaceous Garden (in progress), <i>Pterodactylus family, </i>Dinosaur Stampede and the <i>Kunburrasuarus </i>exhibit, all accessed form a raised walkway.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWMT-SvpDCdewx8R-A-viVxroFgBWV7VGNOfjdvN6hXSU-y4kPYf_7s-jagw-DI4B_ga_kGbA0f_-g2s0i5TOmRmKmxeEKrHGVbDTp086e9PGU9Hl45YQ5pf3VPWYAXZxzqrO_lS2FRdEqfFq9GDcoOB67BhTGiz7PSDgh7ZVhsbaDAQynDw3N8yFS6g/s320/IMG_7651.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWMT-SvpDCdewx8R-A-viVxroFgBWV7VGNOfjdvN6hXSU-y4kPYf_7s-jagw-DI4B_ga_kGbA0f_-g2s0i5TOmRmKmxeEKrHGVbDTp086e9PGU9Hl45YQ5pf3VPWYAXZxzqrO_lS2FRdEqfFq9GDcoOB67BhTGiz7PSDgh7ZVhsbaDAQynDw3N8yFS6g/s1600/IMG_7651.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Plaque rubbings</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO7kW0JkyUugHGnugwq-0UsdTIp5uZaNxo8SUxuYf9HP7JAhOE1Qzfvh2zdF4E33z5lBvmFkMQeuGqthqXTzkOf3qH4QrcPs9yrDmnXp2TfcoH1H5NwnbFg4G8-6ynkAudTM_A__7KpvHcPBucqLZVMgXhZfTzKJcavh4raMQbZ8YkonGkbaKZI80LYw/s320/IMG_7657.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO7kW0JkyUugHGnugwq-0UsdTIp5uZaNxo8SUxuYf9HP7JAhOE1Qzfvh2zdF4E33z5lBvmFkMQeuGqthqXTzkOf3qH4QrcPs9yrDmnXp2TfcoH1H5NwnbFg4G8-6ynkAudTM_A__7KpvHcPBucqLZVMgXhZfTzKJcavh4raMQbZ8YkonGkbaKZI80LYw/s1600/IMG_7657.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN6-QzFPAr9fS7qesKtrqAiWtuHUGWBPcjARTPw6LOiDvjpkEJUSoEKUvtutY8jGd9M-q7ctUDfNZxu6MTcK0GH1tI-XCg4MqeykPyKoPHa-0bB4hv_aKvUkxfYZ6d_4YA-s1edOZWVjj61zws7PY629NH8Ks7CqLtpH_5ArMJWrOwMV2YBaoqT3SSqg/s320/IMG_7654.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN6-QzFPAr9fS7qesKtrqAiWtuHUGWBPcjARTPw6LOiDvjpkEJUSoEKUvtutY8jGd9M-q7ctUDfNZxu6MTcK0GH1tI-XCg4MqeykPyKoPHa-0bB4hv_aKvUkxfYZ6d_4YA-s1edOZWVjj61zws7PY629NH8Ks7CqLtpH_5ArMJWrOwMV2YBaoqT3SSqg/s1600/IMG_7654.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Above 2 photos are part of the dinosaur stampede exhibit showing a single large, predatory therapod dinosaur causing smaller theropod and ornithopod dinosaurs to bolt in an attempt to escape. More on this soon.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">We hopped back on the courtesy bus to take us back to reception to eat our packed sandwiches ( and some flies) before heading for the next scheduled guided tour; the preparation lab. This was probably the part of the day I was most looking forward to, with the added bonus that it was inside and away from the bloody flies.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1kptiWuXAOaQgQTigrwBfXozTPDHL5dw6xLcS8Y_xGW1hNLBMBlVPR8lFoh3uKrKxgFsIxVbtQyPi7Jf5fOCcM_Tl9BOEjSjcDW_mhliUlYviHtYMD1JEqayvW06p5hiclUWglrQiV8AtaaQ5hly3UKzPXihylutqMkhKtFbTJuJbpZ46-3csXfqtjg/s320/IMG_7676.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1kptiWuXAOaQgQTigrwBfXozTPDHL5dw6xLcS8Y_xGW1hNLBMBlVPR8lFoh3uKrKxgFsIxVbtQyPi7Jf5fOCcM_Tl9BOEjSjcDW_mhliUlYviHtYMD1JEqayvW06p5hiclUWglrQiV8AtaaQ5hly3UKzPXihylutqMkhKtFbTJuJbpZ46-3csXfqtjg/s1600/IMG_7676.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Big legs of sauropod found near Winton. The Winton area has produced more large dinosaur fossils than any other part of Australia, and new sites are being discovered every year. There is currently a back-log of about 10 years work in the AODD prep lab!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1wavhpb8M28rl83gdGoHfl2sh7NRNK3uQs990YnqaHdTj1OcUXzQUdKjOVTxM91LCEXx15laIIP4nitDKAXWEZsV-oc8JQmUaqW1JtEV7sAc6lHLI99BsHFNePA44LEL-PshZaLjeWFmxDOCiyQuswY2l6kFb68hmQg-O3-6xP35oAEdpwK44bgsI2Q/s320/IMG_7679.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1wavhpb8M28rl83gdGoHfl2sh7NRNK3uQs990YnqaHdTj1OcUXzQUdKjOVTxM91LCEXx15laIIP4nitDKAXWEZsV-oc8JQmUaqW1JtEV7sAc6lHLI99BsHFNePA44LEL-PshZaLjeWFmxDOCiyQuswY2l6kFb68hmQg-O3-6xP35oAEdpwK44bgsI2Q/s1600/IMG_7679.jpeg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD-uXVbbhD-xcqznMbVLIsoFX99Qfq-90i3aeVjomBO-IOWEqtoZnTKH7v01aEmisTxjyUbcVF_IYBmEzMrkvSx62HP5_qPfjtjiObKah6SFhhT-RLze-7OYjDICLNAaD_3Wge7AJHcMFiJ7nq50kpQs2vafSYsCD2fjb8cPsasLBcm3Y7KMaaVuoKkQ/s320/IMG_7680.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD-uXVbbhD-xcqznMbVLIsoFX99Qfq-90i3aeVjomBO-IOWEqtoZnTKH7v01aEmisTxjyUbcVF_IYBmEzMrkvSx62HP5_qPfjtjiObKah6SFhhT-RLze-7OYjDICLNAaD_3Wge7AJHcMFiJ7nq50kpQs2vafSYsCD2fjb8cPsasLBcm3Y7KMaaVuoKkQ/s1600/IMG_7680.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiznoQAFnaflP6l_N8Wxrwz7E4nYv8WYbShghfrhKl39uXw7GQ0w_Hd3rZOdLzlzfTk_Z1hjQA-N4CvPsg_HAXbpjIn58QZbSPZcjNnnK04FnPlsiW1K0BER2s-FaPgl07DDZ6jpuTioLBLB0G6Kjjk8TH7UcFitx_4h-w91YWH3ISbcjPHgUEVIBR8Pg/s320/IMG_7682.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiznoQAFnaflP6l_N8Wxrwz7E4nYv8WYbShghfrhKl39uXw7GQ0w_Hd3rZOdLzlzfTk_Z1hjQA-N4CvPsg_HAXbpjIn58QZbSPZcjNnnK04FnPlsiW1K0BER2s-FaPgl07DDZ6jpuTioLBLB0G6Kjjk8TH7UcFitx_4h-w91YWH3ISbcjPHgUEVIBR8Pg/s1600/IMG_7682.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The preparation lab was another guided tour with lots of information about just a fraction of some of the incredible finds in the region. We were able to touch some of the 95MYO leg bones of sauropod dinosaurs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsuaRclF3r822tDwnqs6z9zZL0YWvEVqiuXCsl-TLwtLYZIXtFwPo9CR6OKbtmFir7KRHkUIh8AWRuWrJaAKbduGda8Ol6_8_l4MG8CmpjqFdD24LCGyQdTqL6sk-3HgbA8T-eyArjOnkMzmY49Cp4ilp2nHh3LirSr5KHahdPXJE6kodgX537doFChg/s320/IMG_7687.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsuaRclF3r822tDwnqs6z9zZL0YWvEVqiuXCsl-TLwtLYZIXtFwPo9CR6OKbtmFir7KRHkUIh8AWRuWrJaAKbduGda8Ol6_8_l4MG8CmpjqFdD24LCGyQdTqL6sk-3HgbA8T-eyArjOnkMzmY49Cp4ilp2nHh3LirSr5KHahdPXJE6kodgX537doFChg/s1600/IMG_7687.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Neck vertebra of a big sauropod dinosaur in the prep lab in the process of being cleaned and assembled. There were several volunteers working on some fossils in the lab who happily fielded questions about all things dinosaur and fossil. I learnt all about the jacketing process, and how it is done in the field to ensure the fossils are safe from breakage but also from changing atmospheric conditions so that they can be transported and potentially stored until someone is ready to prepare and study them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The fossil preparation lab at AODD had floor to ceiling shelves full of jacketed specimens from many dig locations just waiting to be cracked open. Years of work ahead. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2luHTap2YScLQ2ImQZLbJfFZ_8hpwpK5tmPDwh6XVxYqEcf5VemyTqCl_mklZhvRR9BN_dRsQbj5zCWYJMT3B9V62XvTJsq6jryGAZ8JfcnkKfb0_BpksG1erWJ-OIyIW0e_UjvgvWlBkccfpGvR_IzjV9GHfelLPp1S8ALZIHVDGbxdBV9O-wXbrAQ/s320/IMG_7689.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2luHTap2YScLQ2ImQZLbJfFZ_8hpwpK5tmPDwh6XVxYqEcf5VemyTqCl_mklZhvRR9BN_dRsQbj5zCWYJMT3B9V62XvTJsq6jryGAZ8JfcnkKfb0_BpksG1erWJ-OIyIW0e_UjvgvWlBkccfpGvR_IzjV9GHfelLPp1S8ALZIHVDGbxdBV9O-wXbrAQ/s1600/IMG_7689.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Last stop at the AODD was the Collection room, which again had a short presentation by a guide as well as a brief movie and animations to explain various aspects of the dinosaurs being studied here. the collection room contained the holotype (first known) specimens of 'Banjo', 'Matilda' and 'Elliott' <i>Saranasaurus elliottorium </i>(another sauropod) and <i>Ferredraco lentoni </i> - the most complete pterosaur fossil found in Australia.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum exceeded our expectations. It is a stunning facility in its location and presentation. I thoroughly enjoyed the fact that it isn't just a museum in the static sense, but a work-in-progress. We got to learn about why it has been built, what is happening and what is next. I got the sense that we are in a very exciting phase of dinosaur discovery in Australia. James had a fantastic and unforgettable 12th birthday - who doesn't love dinosaurs?</div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFyt3yXo4Wdqr8SjPVzESXrtTyMyDYOLO7ZGIE2wEgwuxf710UoSyX-46Qvk_Ymgd8O9zQtsLwLehdLTIynFD3p3VYbo-sjdgTUZqneZKT5h63AGdaSZQyMN5V1CRMDQ75P-3lmN2Bj9BogHdFYwjh9th1KeInjDoC0miWMsMDkJcYYQbfQJ4QoY1I2w/s320/IMG_7704.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFyt3yXo4Wdqr8SjPVzESXrtTyMyDYOLO7ZGIE2wEgwuxf710UoSyX-46Qvk_Ymgd8O9zQtsLwLehdLTIynFD3p3VYbo-sjdgTUZqneZKT5h63AGdaSZQyMN5V1CRMDQ75P-3lmN2Bj9BogHdFYwjh9th1KeInjDoC0miWMsMDkJcYYQbfQJ4QoY1I2w/s1600/IMG_7704.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jem posing with her Australian Dinosaur merchandise - super cool T-shirt, limited edition Aussie dinosaur Top Trumps game and new softy "Matilda"</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After our day at the Age of Dinosaurs museum we headed to the North Gregory Hotel to catch Gregory North's fantastic live show reciting Banjo Paterson's poems. Greg North is a bush poet and his show is well worth seeing. We sang along to Waltzing Matilda and learnt all about its origins right here in Winton, and heard some of Banjo's most famous poems brought to life. Part performance and part history lesson there was just enough to keep our 2 weary kiddos engaged.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg72P-ErtONBrSxc8_Jr67R75K-NuHvo8TVXLIXMPCEiloTMLKcz2kYDxIEzTA_zMCE0igG4IIqjax3HP2aiiPVFbIbgPTdLLwa229KbNul-KVeaX8_i3VJ6m-0M9bZjlVIK0F-2Z8gTZ6trklEuwyjWn2sB3Cf8Y1fJWPpzi6kH4lV2mIYKdeX0xiqcw/s320/IMG_7710.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg72P-ErtONBrSxc8_Jr67R75K-NuHvo8TVXLIXMPCEiloTMLKcz2kYDxIEzTA_zMCE0igG4IIqjax3HP2aiiPVFbIbgPTdLLwa229KbNul-KVeaX8_i3VJ6m-0M9bZjlVIK0F-2Z8gTZ6trklEuwyjWn2sB3Cf8Y1fJWPpzi6kH4lV2mIYKdeX0xiqcw/s1600/IMG_7710.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Birthday dinner by request was pizza at another pub across the road - also a winner. And then a night time drive back to the national park dodging roos.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqb0my8loTX4tZ8qYk-1W50qy6rfBxK4dyPWRwQHjfFCx0-HyqZ_MPW8JpYBT0ZWBLJO2Rb4FBtWch9Akjvw9n9SgnoyiLC0xe-IkzKN6wDtM3R3cbtPjZ_XpOSr3_tbUjRK-aEtz6MqsyuWms9aITCQIV7-pDaRNzZKQZTVhWr3d0cXVfTSSdsxjIkg/s320/IMG_7696.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqb0my8loTX4tZ8qYk-1W50qy6rfBxK4dyPWRwQHjfFCx0-HyqZ_MPW8JpYBT0ZWBLJO2Rb4FBtWch9Akjvw9n9SgnoyiLC0xe-IkzKN6wDtM3R3cbtPjZ_XpOSr3_tbUjRK-aEtz6MqsyuWms9aITCQIV7-pDaRNzZKQZTVhWr3d0cXVfTSSdsxjIkg/s1600/IMG_7696.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 1 in Winton was a winner and we have 2 more days to go<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCrfevEFCWYYWQTrOkCi2mhRPZ2uLNj3fXbRisAVvk_-XT6-nDWq57WzMh4HM0lmQY2v0fJSmcxhNlogGKizitlRbHBF4QSW_TjKZ91SiHSWNUwFHUnsdfqrSUFdT2rOvNklwZrjXwooKFYeWBq8A6bInUaKuRnqJRsQyYewxqtFUZsaCVGFbs75tulg/s320/IMG_7762.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCrfevEFCWYYWQTrOkCi2mhRPZ2uLNj3fXbRisAVvk_-XT6-nDWq57WzMh4HM0lmQY2v0fJSmcxhNlogGKizitlRbHBF4QSW_TjKZ91SiHSWNUwFHUnsdfqrSUFdT2rOvNklwZrjXwooKFYeWBq8A6bInUaKuRnqJRsQyYewxqtFUZsaCVGFbs75tulg/s1600/IMG_7762.jpeg" width="240" /></a>Better camp spot right on the riverbank at Bladensburg<div><br /></div><div>Day 2 of our Winton Adventure - Dinosaur Stampede at Lark Quarry Conservation Park. Lark Quarry is just (!!!!seriously 110km out here is just down the road) 110km SW of Winton. There is nothing else here.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxuF0A_uvwpmN3yar8kTodozl4gGGxm-r7kLARt2nRpXlQK15zCDxnuruFZq5fMUXly3v_6SyC288N4TrKBHUR0-TmxUk2eg3j-kahY5DQHslC-KZjSiQZn3SFb1QQJdrZgFmzO5u4EOWJkOL9QnfvZlUy1yZwTjjfIh_kn2EdrybXTHlnhz9trgAp5g/s320/IMG_7747.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxuF0A_uvwpmN3yar8kTodozl4gGGxm-r7kLARt2nRpXlQK15zCDxnuruFZq5fMUXly3v_6SyC288N4TrKBHUR0-TmxUk2eg3j-kahY5DQHslC-KZjSiQZn3SFb1QQJdrZgFmzO5u4EOWJkOL9QnfvZlUy1yZwTjjfIh_kn2EdrybXTHlnhz9trgAp5g/s1600/IMG_7747.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back at the facility that houses the dinosaur stampede</td></tr></tbody></table> at Lark Quarry.<div><br /></div><div>A local station manager (always) discovered what he thought were bird footprints in the 1960s. He showed them to a mate and a chance encounter years later in a Winton caravan park brought the footprints to the attention of some palaeontologists on their way to a fossil mammal dig (Riversleigh?). These scientists recognised the potential significance of the the tracks and redirected their focus to the tracks at Lark Quarry. In the late 70's 60 tonnes of rock was removed to expose an exquisite record of the only known dinosaur stampede in the world. A shelter was built to protect the tracks and research continued to interpret the story.<br /><div><br /></div><div>The interpretive tour at Lark Quarry included a short animated movie bringing to life what scientists think happened here. In short 95 million years ago 150 smallish dinosaurs - chicken sized carnivorous coelurosaurs and larger emu sized vegetarian ornithopods came to a lake to drink. A big therapod dinosaur (like <i>T.rex </i>but smaller) approached, began to stalk, changed direction and charged. Then all hell broke loose.</div><div>Over 3000 footprints of the panicked dinosaurs have been beautifully preserved as they tried to escape becoming the therapods next meal. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1WEDbpThDOeCtalgu-wJDHcXd3_RT7DVbCmXC6YAzw-7XnPkTBxzdh5_2wDPseZQ3kQC-RCtJJO6iN21KXEDkHIgeAY3lNor073JN3OldolFnlwRof6CoKdpBxgljLTQJvuWj6fWckpCTT3-npC9YQXBG9WvQeeXF01Ix3Pe1XCI0zjudoeqXJ_RiPg/s320/IMG_7726.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1WEDbpThDOeCtalgu-wJDHcXd3_RT7DVbCmXC6YAzw-7XnPkTBxzdh5_2wDPseZQ3kQC-RCtJJO6iN21KXEDkHIgeAY3lNor073JN3OldolFnlwRof6CoKdpBxgljLTQJvuWj6fWckpCTT3-npC9YQXBG9WvQeeXF01Ix3Pe1XCI0zjudoeqXJ_RiPg/s1600/IMG_7726.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4K79VqbhPIS0Tfp5SZBkkRrSYecJbVOORzlu5U38XGbaTaXLlES6_Rxy3DTNTFjwVFOeQlFWrBhM-umcpNX9jy17_RH6XMrV2tZzyZA7D3EfG9jzrQ-4u_UTlqwlmrhi0c-BYEv4QsIYdhEqEgv1Cq5VeYWo8r8lLpfr_Jl5-gclq8_VihHl4l1w-eQ/s320/IMG_7727.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4K79VqbhPIS0Tfp5SZBkkRrSYecJbVOORzlu5U38XGbaTaXLlES6_Rxy3DTNTFjwVFOeQlFWrBhM-umcpNX9jy17_RH6XMrV2tZzyZA7D3EfG9jzrQ-4u_UTlqwlmrhi0c-BYEv4QsIYdhEqEgv1Cq5VeYWo8r8lLpfr_Jl5-gclq8_VihHl4l1w-eQ/s1600/IMG_7727.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Small chicken sized dinosaurs leaving chicken type scratches as they evade predation</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5U3sLimtrJHAN-94RnGJMUzkRLGRo42qXQaOdI_uOyFCkIHdd0FHkOIC7FAxSdYPQxwrByipFx3XSv397fLQeT-67UyZOYrmQa4GsdIXAFPNF8UXY3x7UnHZbvvjUV1cojAgS-4sjEcyi3V2G5VoIIsn2gVKl6WEjndXwoXHxztlQenNRaJXLF8W9rw/s320/IMG_7744.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5U3sLimtrJHAN-94RnGJMUzkRLGRo42qXQaOdI_uOyFCkIHdd0FHkOIC7FAxSdYPQxwrByipFx3XSv397fLQeT-67UyZOYrmQa4GsdIXAFPNF8UXY3x7UnHZbvvjUV1cojAgS-4sjEcyi3V2G5VoIIsn2gVKl6WEjndXwoXHxztlQenNRaJXLF8W9rw/s1600/IMG_7744.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Clear view of the MUCH larger therapod preador that scientists think caused the stampede</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br style="text-align: left;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ2x-k3UsGET8vnH7__7qpWphfJJV9s2-Gaqrq_iGz7wYVpMfsJiYIzCYejP-sKC8bvE4fJlwvPuAuBZSLyva8beeLZGtIjDk8m4xsqQc75llhXcqYUC88SbVJ4cGkgPJ4WG1TfzotyhV_n-pF3DBEvjZN4RnIhO3qwDMzOc0KGYaASbKYTi3syPploA/s320/IMG_7722.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ2x-k3UsGET8vnH7__7qpWphfJJV9s2-Gaqrq_iGz7wYVpMfsJiYIzCYejP-sKC8bvE4fJlwvPuAuBZSLyva8beeLZGtIjDk8m4xsqQc75llhXcqYUC88SbVJ4cGkgPJ4WG1TfzotyhV_n-pF3DBEvjZN4RnIhO3qwDMzOc0KGYaASbKYTi3syPploA/s1600/IMG_7722.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Photos of the tracks including Andy's hand with a cast of the predatory therapods footprint for context.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Winton is not all dinosaurs by any stretch. There are loads of other things to see. Day 3 of our Winton stop we visited Bladensburg Homestead (namesake of the National Park) and shearing shed. It still boggles my mind that anyone thought this would be good sheep country, especially before the bores were sunk to access the essential and reliable water source required for any type of stock. Central Queensland was the scene of significant shearers strikes and in 1891 it all came to a head. Striking shearers formed armed camps on the outskirts of towns and thousands of armed solders protected non-union workers and arrested strike leaders. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The shearers strike was ultimately broken and the squatters/landholders won but at great cost. This led to the realisation by the squatters that they needed to work with the Shearers Union and ultimately was one of the contributing factors leading to the formation of the Australian Labour Party.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Central Queensland is now predominantly beef cattle country, and specific drought resistant types of cattle at that.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvd-3T6H3xy8QEt1TbnTKFvPxKGjHGLHXf99JTxsbftD2Wf7pe-caVtDRag80y2kaUc-LSoUlMggr2ohnH6gyHiIjFmkW0nzFdOuNhpkF8xa2y17NWdf8Td8T5T_Kp18uBbsUcnhZ_gjk14AwbOcS7C8PcV3SW4YRas_FvyMdvYK8YgxshnLwzC2kG4g/s320/IMG_7765.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvd-3T6H3xy8QEt1TbnTKFvPxKGjHGLHXf99JTxsbftD2Wf7pe-caVtDRag80y2kaUc-LSoUlMggr2ohnH6gyHiIjFmkW0nzFdOuNhpkF8xa2y17NWdf8Td8T5T_Kp18uBbsUcnhZ_gjk14AwbOcS7C8PcV3SW4YRas_FvyMdvYK8YgxshnLwzC2kG4g/s1600/IMG_7765.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Andy and kids in the old Baldensburg shearing shed</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg48caOLd_cAmi_GP9F91phdbj7nxieVVDO9BLqPZTZTmyJEoV-KmglHE39XXoAKU01JadHa0lBdjcZb4zqzPEjpc8oJ-XCr0xdqBAsfv4rpw-jmQzRFrqn_I4rb9LxHnjKBheEXyfkVcYv_l6Mw3roplbWyV7xF1y8mkm5JstB0XyYIg7y7HVSPf4hHw/s320/IMG_7774.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg48caOLd_cAmi_GP9F91phdbj7nxieVVDO9BLqPZTZTmyJEoV-KmglHE39XXoAKU01JadHa0lBdjcZb4zqzPEjpc8oJ-XCr0xdqBAsfv4rpw-jmQzRFrqn_I4rb9LxHnjKBheEXyfkVcYv_l6Mw3roplbWyV7xF1y8mkm5JstB0XyYIg7y7HVSPf4hHw/s1600/IMG_7774.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Also in Winton is the musical fence - a free musical junkyard where you can make all the noise you like</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis3LrMOrwutHTCiEdANk48RMK6fQbsNI5G-iZPmHQ0jI9y3PBb-SlLS0DK98bFQuOd14jxWWJKav38O-YFFnnZH-8b4eu-Nlulw8lsJwJ4oM6ndpjEwYs4EI9acicfMPbkNndNvXYCuPIJw6WExy49f59x3THg1m03mDAMB0YM2_1dquX690PtctIqTg/s320/IMG_7785.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis3LrMOrwutHTCiEdANk48RMK6fQbsNI5G-iZPmHQ0jI9y3PBb-SlLS0DK98bFQuOd14jxWWJKav38O-YFFnnZH-8b4eu-Nlulw8lsJwJ4oM6ndpjEwYs4EI9acicfMPbkNndNvXYCuPIJw6WExy49f59x3THg1m03mDAMB0YM2_1dquX690PtctIqTg/s1600/IMG_7785.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoH0YwFRVsznlWp3nGQiqmfC5fPZH5GsDr0uK_USvxG0efKkIeXQtmLrdNKZx99gSrkBZLjSjAEorL4FveyNUhGARoh-rJEWsqVgLX_EFOiWHgPIWgCtopuMrReaQ4ToZCwxgt9oTWiAo-oOYCb7kVhP1FKe8O6L3N2fh426A2MTQLdbWg047VutEleA/s320/IMG_7790%20(1).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoH0YwFRVsznlWp3nGQiqmfC5fPZH5GsDr0uK_USvxG0efKkIeXQtmLrdNKZx99gSrkBZLjSjAEorL4FveyNUhGARoh-rJEWsqVgLX_EFOiWHgPIWgCtopuMrReaQ4ToZCwxgt9oTWiAo-oOYCb7kVhP1FKe8O6L3N2fh426A2MTQLdbWg047VutEleA/s1600/IMG_7790%20(1).jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Winton is also famous for boulder opals - here the kids are rummaging around in a free noodling pit outside a shop in Winton. James (& Andy) found lovely pieces with flecks of opal through them. Requires a bit of spit to see the true colour.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLsCfJ_TmNFJCvYZYNDhxxVNPwoQjgUJZPNaxmLXswFDor1n5f4YGORl0UQR1XtIBggtjODyhTTreOIXdjh2OQETGv7tF6afDKKIDmsR6CirxKP36uc_ztgMFWh3kbGXePhO08jjOU74He8_fN0_k57BQlNj3B5yV-oVcaxEIcj97paXsjq4lzItqcuA/s320/IMG_7797.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLsCfJ_TmNFJCvYZYNDhxxVNPwoQjgUJZPNaxmLXswFDor1n5f4YGORl0UQR1XtIBggtjODyhTTreOIXdjh2OQETGv7tF6afDKKIDmsR6CirxKP36uc_ztgMFWh3kbGXePhO08jjOU74He8_fN0_k57BQlNj3B5yV-oVcaxEIcj97paXsjq4lzItqcuA/s1600/IMG_7797.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Aside from dinosaurs Winton is best known for being the birthplace of Banjo Paterson's Waltzing Matilda. The lyrics were written at Dagworth Station near Winton when he was visiting a "friend". Another friend put some music to it and the first iteration of Waltzing Matilda was born. Banjo Paterson sold the rights to Waltzing Matilda (and some other poems) to Angus & Robertson's for five pounds. In 1903 the lyrics were altered slightly and adapted for an advertising jingle for Billy Tea making it nationally famous. And is now considered to be Australia's unofficial national anthem.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There is a museum dedicated to Waltzing Matilda in Winton exploring the folklore surround the song and the process of its creation. In true Winton fashion the Waltzing Matilda Centre was razed by fire in 2015 but has since been completely rebuilt, and luckily many precious items were stored elsewhere.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj95EISTUuRy6V-pV_PJ0PnOdXjL8OFiNMjnRsegELY7mUh77lFai_jOy3ExOxsqRzg2NltvkD4qAxRCHaXD9ySpB14T1CYdOLWNQvzF2JZ_iqfAgZtoE6eEZ2iPWjD2JmD28v1GAB034kUo9C8Q2GDlwvSgF6qInvFZAnAIG4lsN5Zx-ijr60kwDyEJg/s320/IMG_7805.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj95EISTUuRy6V-pV_PJ0PnOdXjL8OFiNMjnRsegELY7mUh77lFai_jOy3ExOxsqRzg2NltvkD4qAxRCHaXD9ySpB14T1CYdOLWNQvzF2JZ_iqfAgZtoE6eEZ2iPWjD2JmD28v1GAB034kUo9C8Q2GDlwvSgF6qInvFZAnAIG4lsN5Zx-ijr60kwDyEJg/s1600/IMG_7805.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Swagman with his jumbuck in his ticker bag</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7k2ladP9B9rHzWHto9xnZ0Iivg8PKiFnmz9yDY_3gamWAz0paPMvex2Im3g8Jtb6oFk8oEBgqtIsLju-r5RWJH-vSmos2pj9CzcdNyckv1AlxpVyD67bHtMXlGfhYJ1e7HpsweqrLZ03GwE_DGIls5pcq6x-HnXD4SW6Ri1Z3CuG3DDqtbllvNHCxrQ/s320/IMG_7714.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7k2ladP9B9rHzWHto9xnZ0Iivg8PKiFnmz9yDY_3gamWAz0paPMvex2Im3g8Jtb6oFk8oEBgqtIsLju-r5RWJH-vSmos2pj9CzcdNyckv1AlxpVyD67bHtMXlGfhYJ1e7HpsweqrLZ03GwE_DGIls5pcq6x-HnXD4SW6Ri1Z3CuG3DDqtbllvNHCxrQ/s1600/IMG_7714.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tracks of a different kind. Kangaroo tracks overlaying car tracks in the fine sand at the camp ground in Bladesnburg NP. The kids liked following the clear hops of the roos tracks each morning, as well as looking for evidence of other creatures like lizards and beetles in the sand.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We had such an amazing stay in Winton and I am so pleased we were able to spend the 3 days here that we did ( original itinerary only allowed for 2 nights). It is well worth the visit. The whole dinosaur trail was a great adventure at the end of an already incredible adventure for our family.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">From Winton we needed to be getting south for our stay in Bull Hut before heading to the East Coast for my dad's 80th birthday celebrations. We packed up our camp for the last time on the trip and hopped into Nissy P for several days of hard driving.</div><br /></div></div>Nessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743234057904783218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3636767330920619181.post-76552854794581981252022-09-22T15:23:00.000+10:002022-09-22T15:23:31.032+10:00The Australian Dinosaur trail and other adventures - Part 1<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This post comes with a warning - I think it might go on for a bit. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We have been back in Adelaide for just over 3 weeks and I have been wanting to get my thoughts down for ages. I thought a fantastic opportunity would present itself when Andy went to Europe for a dear friends wedding (Capri and Rome!)...but then the kids and I got COVID. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The risk with waiting so long to post about something is losing the presence, the excitement and that sense of immersion but I am going to give it a crack.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am tracking back to the Dinosaur Trail, which in my mind really began once we entered Queensland back at the beginning of August.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>The Dinosaur Trail is a 735km loop taking in the following towns and sights <span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a181b; text-align: start;">Richmond - Winton - Lark Quarry - Hughenden - Porcupine Gorge - Richmond according to the Outback Qld tourism website. I had also hoped (so much) to start our Dino adventures in Boodjamulla National Park as it includes <span>the Riversleigh World Heritage Area: i</span></span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8); text-align: start;"><span>t is one of the most significant fossil deposits in the world and the richest known fossil mammal deposit in Australia. It has revealed records of Gondwanan life forms which existed prior to the break up of this ancient continent. It made sense to visit, we would be driving right past it, in a manner of speaking.</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8); text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Boodjamulla NP is also known for its great beauty, an oasis in the outback. To say I was disappointed when I came to grips with the fact that we would NOT be going is an enormous understatement. On our enviable list of highlights on our amazing 9 week tour Boodjamulla was the place I was most looking forward to. Remote national park camping, extraordinary beauty, hikes, canoeing...it took some getting over. Common sense reigned as we had a seriously compromised vehicle already and heading hundreds of kms into the wild from an already super-remote place just didn't make sense.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8); text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Andy assures me that we WILL get there one day. Just to put it all in perspective Boodjamulla is in the middle of <u>nowhere.</u> It is 280km north of Camooweal on (dodgy we are told) dirt roads, which makes for a 560km detour. From Camooweal. Camooweal is 2000km from Adelaide give or take, and it's not really on the way to or from anywhere...so it's on the one-day list. I needed to flesh this out as I was quite disappointed - did I say that already? I just wanted it here in writing.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8); text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL3tli1wIjXzzNvGbWXSWYLrpuJlgZLAi-XWZjy4eCIRViBKMOWeHXjfKwl0Q8p0qGnmC1UCm2X_osh88DJGEX5iBnEQsFKupjBiRK2WRYkXMrAmCagAfgWigwCJghD3YZuRtf6FXiEDC73YcamQRGbHzsGTMwgx4IIuVYbCJFo8_mMfNIizZTEgMzIQ/s320/Screen%20Shot%202022-09-22%20at%207.59.45%20am.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="277" data-original-width="320" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL3tli1wIjXzzNvGbWXSWYLrpuJlgZLAi-XWZjy4eCIRViBKMOWeHXjfKwl0Q8p0qGnmC1UCm2X_osh88DJGEX5iBnEQsFKupjBiRK2WRYkXMrAmCagAfgWigwCJghD3YZuRtf6FXiEDC73YcamQRGbHzsGTMwgx4IIuVYbCJFo8_mMfNIizZTEgMzIQ/s1600/Screen%20Shot%202022-09-22%20at%207.59.45%20am.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />Where is Boodjamulla National Park?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table>And so we left Camooweal with hopes of having the bloody car's steering seen to, but with no idea when or where this would happen the trip was hanging on a hinge. We headed East as you know and found respite in the friendliest little town in the outback. Cloncurry - forever remembered as the place of can-do mechanics and welcoming smiles. Driving the Patrol without power steering on single lane highways populated by caravanners in a hurry and road-trains with deadlines is not an experience I wish to have again. The difference in being able to respond at speed in a fraction of second is life and a wrecked car at best so having the steering fixed (for now) took a lot of tension out of our days, and we quietly set our course East towards Richmond: stop #1 of the Dino Trail. And we were back on track.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8); text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirgHMioARHt1WE4iWlTvDmTInItkUGEc0urT03ocEcQ1f36-ZPk_D9HzBb83jxKk9d3_3NeUzoy0lA6mKaHOXgWKJLvvtqh5r7xC4KtAzdaR7x8UUnT9mt26xg0Ndi-8tqV0y6mpoHr0dPgf1ke8Xq4P1HC8WmfUuIMIKhnzj2WnU-Pqv0VqFwWNhQLA/s320/IMG_7240.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirgHMioARHt1WE4iWlTvDmTInItkUGEc0urT03ocEcQ1f36-ZPk_D9HzBb83jxKk9d3_3NeUzoy0lA6mKaHOXgWKJLvvtqh5r7xC4KtAzdaR7x8UUnT9mt26xg0Ndi-8tqV0y6mpoHr0dPgf1ke8Xq4P1HC8WmfUuIMIKhnzj2WnU-Pqv0VqFwWNhQLA/s1600/IMG_7240.jpeg" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Celebration of the tough droughtmaster </span>cattle breed that make it possible to raise beef cattle in this tricky country. Cloncurry wanderings while waiting for the Patrol's steering to be fixed. It was hot and the kids and I were left in town for an unknown duration while Andy got the help we needed. We ended up staying the night in a cabin in Cloncurry caravan park.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8); text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidSm2vlJqySC9Npe9w7uWiLFup-t1lm9waUNC9qAu3_QX7sUUpcmbvON04UM5D8WpkErYs9suyg3NS8-0HLwxBiGJimlPqSxzogDqrpW-T3ulIAlxoS9_cQNWqU61rS5M0kwvIO_k5GS0NCnRThQACqHD82HM7WnXMH4nBW-Lo6HYrHbti6WXxGLWQsQ/s320/IMG_7258.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidSm2vlJqySC9Npe9w7uWiLFup-t1lm9waUNC9qAu3_QX7sUUpcmbvON04UM5D8WpkErYs9suyg3NS8-0HLwxBiGJimlPqSxzogDqrpW-T3ulIAlxoS9_cQNWqU61rS5M0kwvIO_k5GS0NCnRThQACqHD82HM7WnXMH4nBW-Lo6HYrHbti6WXxGLWQsQ/s1600/IMG_7258.jpeg" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Cowboy country - Outback Queensland. Jemma = shoes optional. Quick stop at Julia Creek visitors centre and photo opp<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxIr5jrNnSRTMMGmRyUR72YjiTNy3bNYrbg04cFV5Wrcc5xJp4jNXN9ETJH0hx1wGZJb2gVGGUH3C_q_BuB2CKQd3qghhLTEnVzJ9SXIZtNza7Es1Nb7tNzhLwI5DY31n3xdoQW58qTRVt7g3U5Fy9NUthio06eooqLJTHWu48hik5bClfrQLyxn0Cdg/s320/IMG_7263.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxIr5jrNnSRTMMGmRyUR72YjiTNy3bNYrbg04cFV5Wrcc5xJp4jNXN9ETJH0hx1wGZJb2gVGGUH3C_q_BuB2CKQd3qghhLTEnVzJ9SXIZtNza7Es1Nb7tNzhLwI5DY31n3xdoQW58qTRVt7g3U5Fy9NUthio06eooqLJTHWu48hik5bClfrQLyxn0Cdg/s1600/IMG_7263.jpeg" width="240" /></a><br /><br />First <literal> sign you are entering Dinosaur country, west of Richmond</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">RICHMOND - KRONOSAURUS KORNER (3rd August 2022)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We were excited to be back underway, back on track and on the Dinosaur Trail at last. Kronosaurus Korner (so Korny) is Australia's premier marine fossil museum. It houses over 1100 unique fossils from the Richmond area in outback Queensland. It is special in that most fossils on display are the actual fossils rather than casts of fossils. The majority of fossils are Early Cretaceous 100-115MYO marine reptiles as well as fishes, ammonites and squids that once dominated Australia's ancient, shallow inland Eromanga sea. It all began with the 1989 discovery of the most complete pliosaur skeleton in the world, on Marathon Station. Other significant finds followed and scientists convened to create a museum to prepare, conserve and showcase the fossils from the local area.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Richmond is a very small outback town, with a population of about 650 (way more galahs live there than people, way more).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOZUw4vnjUX0fyELekRJFUEDlK73S14ND02NZRZO-wSCAWGQO81eqIvGtEJDLuxp6bwCaUyrAEXVNiVdS7eP5DEo4U0PfRIifiyANLLSC4Rouv2Ajs6NQHF7ytI5I8FKARO9oO3AiIoIsmqyhyH4n6MVo8tB7AFHCFnfYhiGAxBGq8J7RQRVMIp6voKg/s320/IMG_7264.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOZUw4vnjUX0fyELekRJFUEDlK73S14ND02NZRZO-wSCAWGQO81eqIvGtEJDLuxp6bwCaUyrAEXVNiVdS7eP5DEo4U0PfRIifiyANLLSC4Rouv2Ajs6NQHF7ytI5I8FKARO9oO3AiIoIsmqyhyH4n6MVo8tB7AFHCFnfYhiGAxBGq8J7RQRVMIp6voKg/s1600/IMG_7264.jpeg" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Lifesize!!!!!!!! replica of Kronosaurus to greet visitors outside the museum. <br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; text-align: start;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="text-align: start;">Kronosaurus queenslandicus </i><span style="text-align: start;">belongs to an extinct group of marine reptiles, the plesiosaurs. It would have been the dominant marine predator of its time reaching 10-11m in length and weighing 11,000kg. For reference the dominant marine predators today; the great white sharks reach at most 5m, and weigh in at 2300kg and orcas can grow to 8m and 4000kg. Kronosaurus was big! Pretty glad they are no longer in the sea where I like to swim.</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUsd9aB4p8McdwKZfCVttj2GkqhAjct2j9kxBn9Awe-t_5kY4v3MayyHYwI2cCi4d1w3St7e1EwknNLzjRer3bBdiI-R5t2nyixbFvBVuDmhzlECWQhyOpyJdvtXQe5mNOsIr4wJW50jsHRkHMX-jQ2IQ2LR0atqJ6asDw4fXHaT_pnqcdJCqlMeVJ_g/w240-h320/IMG_7270.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />Kronosaurus mandible with saltwater croc mandible for comparison. Saltwater crocs grow to about 6m and weigh in at a puny 1300kg at the biggest</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUsd9aB4p8McdwKZfCVttj2GkqhAjct2j9kxBn9Awe-t_5kY4v3MayyHYwI2cCi4d1w3St7e1EwknNLzjRer3bBdiI-R5t2nyixbFvBVuDmhzlECWQhyOpyJdvtXQe5mNOsIr4wJW50jsHRkHMX-jQ2IQ2LR0atqJ6asDw4fXHaT_pnqcdJCqlMeVJ_g/s320/IMG_7270.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjav8w1IIyCt84ZmNvXSUy2UXIis5Yw321zDYGm-1HDQvCpajJGISwdDq6wK5f1fq4LPr9PWX9grGhbE2s6f6u7bun8XP1RLHWjzQKEbMhuySePj8Bqx8v0wqUQVokwgsefxOUzQmBQPz7nMvV1gdIH_fMyfz_3LuL28i_qd58cHzmJLuxXTv-T7srbvA/w240-h320/IMG_7280.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />The museum had incredible displays with paleo art to bring the fossils to life.The kids were extremely engaged and interested which was fortunate as we had signed up for the $300 Dino Trail multi pass which would grant us entry into all 4 attractions. Entry to Kronosaurus Korner included a brief 10-15 minute video which gave a a really good overview of the ecology of the area in the Early Cretaceous, and who was finding what and where. It turned out that a good portion of the incredible fossils were found, and then donated, by graziers of surrounding cattle stations who chanced upon these incredible and significant fossils while spraying for weeds or mustering. </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjav8w1IIyCt84ZmNvXSUy2UXIis5Yw321zDYGm-1HDQvCpajJGISwdDq6wK5f1fq4LPr9PWX9grGhbE2s6f6u7bun8XP1RLHWjzQKEbMhuySePj8Bqx8v0wqUQVokwgsefxOUzQmBQPz7nMvV1gdIH_fMyfz_3LuL28i_qd58cHzmJLuxXTv-T7srbvA/s320/IMG_7280.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_fSbKZRY-ZYqwKOXXOSfb2Cl_Wd7sxtWEODrMFKBhX-7d-YILm7JEvEewGbsFLNWNmz64I9MlWPAjKAvdCmakUuDx3M2JZsPQUcEEOETl-AuXMtRxhK_r94fg_VsGf0gmAqsvdudRbWkl4OYCxdY4kiKnyHbMGyWGNkAuzt1BmkrJJMtbRMI7TzYPGg/s1600/IMG_7281.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq_oXrBGwtjzA3tKY9Qmsk1bqerwhZGOw6AZmHVGZ1t0NyQ3rufvivCvNXmsygj53jvALqhh11PsH2CjO5v19otJp7fQYIPbi2FH2pkPJ4uSXJiImbVrO3gsWrbSld0fQ0hxAxT9K8Je7FDqmnW_Jxd-XxfD5OyB1Q18ApStDetjqSa62MVaRPEvQMIg/s320/IMG_7283.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq_oXrBGwtjzA3tKY9Qmsk1bqerwhZGOw6AZmHVGZ1t0NyQ3rufvivCvNXmsygj53jvALqhh11PsH2CjO5v19otJp7fQYIPbi2FH2pkPJ4uSXJiImbVrO3gsWrbSld0fQ0hxAxT9K8Je7FDqmnW_Jxd-XxfD5OyB1Q18ApStDetjqSa62MVaRPEvQMIg/s1600/IMG_7283.jpeg" width="240" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />James with the cutest ever <em style="box-sizing: border-box; text-align: start;">Kunbarrasaurus ieversi </em>an ornithischian dinosaur. <em style="box-sizing: border-box; text-align: start;">Kunbarrasaurus ieversi</em><span style="text-align: start;">, was a primitive member of the Ankylosauria and was a </span><span style="text-align: start;"> small, bulky dinosaur with short limbs and prominent bony armour. <br />Also included in admission was the use of an audio guide which was brilliant; you just press the number of the exhibit you'd like to hear about and away you go. James thought this was exceptional and liked that if he wasn't all that interested you didn't need to listen to the whole thing, for example the names of the geological formations the fossil was found in. You could control how much information you took in. One thing he did find difficult to come to terms with was that the exhibits were not in numerical order. I suppose as exhibits are changed or updated they just switch the numbers rather than reordering the whole museum, and so he spent a little while trying to find #9. Once he accepted that he did not have to complete every audio entry ( he might not even have been able to!) in order he just moved happily from exhibit to exhibit. </span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_fSbKZRY-ZYqwKOXXOSfb2Cl_Wd7sxtWEODrMFKBhX-7d-YILm7JEvEewGbsFLNWNmz64I9MlWPAjKAvdCmakUuDx3M2JZsPQUcEEOETl-AuXMtRxhK_r94fg_VsGf0gmAqsvdudRbWkl4OYCxdY4kiKnyHbMGyWGNkAuzt1BmkrJJMtbRMI7TzYPGg/s320/IMG_7281.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiztQ5FN_UtXeUSxThjGZi5j9H1DI5PHCVIwNcAIC_L2biAdOQGafNeuVRtCjfmu2xoUqNXMwTxw-oODOPihO4wclhs4iQU2wB6cAVoE5mmIsURG9temWgEywnlpY8Rkm_nG_VyOU0DvApZiaWqgvfTF5K-q6iXOlezhzg5A7IuvYWothPQfJ4A7MYI6Q/s320/IMG_7285.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiztQ5FN_UtXeUSxThjGZi5j9H1DI5PHCVIwNcAIC_L2biAdOQGafNeuVRtCjfmu2xoUqNXMwTxw-oODOPihO4wclhs4iQU2wB6cAVoE5mmIsURG9temWgEywnlpY8Rkm_nG_VyOU0DvApZiaWqgvfTF5K-q6iXOlezhzg5A7IuvYWothPQfJ4A7MYI6Q/s1600/IMG_7285.jpeg" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5un1Mth3NaT9JKUSW7EjXo76qiEbQ52qaLeqJpfF81V-hYsoP0yFze7qvJcoqbN1PW3GgbCRmgBCwNPka5Vm7t8W1O0TRRLnwi6oOBQUr-cSZeV6u5dupQrJ3KSMjYBYPKhCyMV5gHhkJMppi58xqiQPkefmX4FsPq8JxRZs90_hiXuaIyXELs404jw/w240-h320/IMG_7287.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />The above two photos are from the Richmond polycotylid or Richmond pliosaur/plesiosaur. Found on Marathon Station in 1989 it is still to be formally described. It is one of the most complete vertebrate fossils found in Australia, and one of the earliest known fossils of its type in the world at approximately 100MYO. It was a 4.25m long air breathing marine reptile of the Eromanga Sea.<br />It is a breath taking and beautiful fossil.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw5rviT6auvY_UAFS170MjyDdYoRP9UAFtZi80aaYnA4TfOLwwPv9TLLlq29StnzF1Uu_52yfQKzkd_SV46bkcQ31ClAjWrrIx5_sly_pLSGUNVhlbJreL20WO-BZhKk0KatMX1LxQQ2KUNiuo-wRfmpyGgAtIjLbeH1rz4vK2AKiSanD9sEIqy_zpWw/s320/IMG_7277.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw5rviT6auvY_UAFS170MjyDdYoRP9UAFtZi80aaYnA4TfOLwwPv9TLLlq29StnzF1Uu_52yfQKzkd_SV46bkcQ31ClAjWrrIx5_sly_pLSGUNVhlbJreL20WO-BZhKk0KatMX1LxQQ2KUNiuo-wRfmpyGgAtIjLbeH1rz4vK2AKiSanD9sEIqy_zpWw/s1600/IMG_7277.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />Ammonites the size of car tyres you say! Lots of marine invertebrates including nautiloids, ammonioids, belemnites and vampyromorphs (think Vampire squid, the only species still living) have been found around Richmond and there was a healthy display of these fossils.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSGYgWzQjrMLAvxKXGwwlOtAqF44EQLl6AzJjLv4Qzibu2ul_jS7pu_VAet_0_-X6Ws363msLqOoLXAtvPA9vgOQC3bx1X3kvBOC5urV6xB-9yqBXKoWpIFlzLkI5FBioqJAvO9Qo9yiHi2UUvYL325EUpqz3MhNijLQGX129E_Vjx1QBV6XmJ2JiXzg/s4032/IMG_7278.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSGYgWzQjrMLAvxKXGwwlOtAqF44EQLl6AzJjLv4Qzibu2ul_jS7pu_VAet_0_-X6Ws363msLqOoLXAtvPA9vgOQC3bx1X3kvBOC5urV6xB-9yqBXKoWpIFlzLkI5FBioqJAvO9Qo9yiHi2UUvYL325EUpqz3MhNijLQGX129E_Vjx1QBV6XmJ2JiXzg/s320/IMG_7278.HEIC" width="240" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5un1Mth3NaT9JKUSW7EjXo76qiEbQ52qaLeqJpfF81V-hYsoP0yFze7qvJcoqbN1PW3GgbCRmgBCwNPka5Vm7t8W1O0TRRLnwi6oOBQUr-cSZeV6u5dupQrJ3KSMjYBYPKhCyMV5gHhkJMppi58xqiQPkefmX4FsPq8JxRZs90_hiXuaIyXELs404jw/s320/IMG_7287.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ichthyosaur and baby suspended from ceiling. Ichthyosaur fossils are relatively common around Richmond and several specimens of mother and baby have been found which suggests that the shallow sea was a good place to give birth. There was also a fossil of a pregnant female ichthyosaur which showed the vertebrae of an embryo.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Kronosaurus Korner surpassed our expectations and we were now very excited to see what the rest of the Dino Trail had in store for us.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">We spent the night at the Richmond Lakeview caravan park which, lucky for us, had a free dino themed water park just a short walk away. It wasn't really that hot but kids + water = happy so we spent some time there blowing off some steam and getting the wiggles out before dinner and bed and more dinosaurs tomorrow.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWkwDVSul5tcz16gfWaEIclKnrE0MgGqbEFy2m1hRYkzHNZvYpr411GRjGmIxOuGgjjRAgCfNFY3JhnOebzaZPIZ300L3nXVEcX8BIFfcq2L68nt6t9qSChjzM0NL4GABbNZ9tLyKKWLGsfmoj9l7iKzomg8ZlV3E8BuZQg-2ihy0fCQ7_JTSCNFj6pA/s320/IMG_7337.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWkwDVSul5tcz16gfWaEIclKnrE0MgGqbEFy2m1hRYkzHNZvYpr411GRjGmIxOuGgjjRAgCfNFY3JhnOebzaZPIZ300L3nXVEcX8BIFfcq2L68nt6t9qSChjzM0NL4GABbNZ9tLyKKWLGsfmoj9l7iKzomg8ZlV3E8BuZQg-2ihy0fCQ7_JTSCNFj6pA/s1600/IMG_7337.jpeg" width="240" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgphP8KxTPOlLq9Fqc3C_yP8NF7k6ALquW2lQTcqFQO1b0La24RVKK2eSUK_C5FKmt8QTN8ItWwUkPhuUutq9JCdNeDC0AV0fZKFTqgB4k4zU_V-xjFA5hVdU7T2sW7bgH1nmlaergvPeOkDoVzuTqmrMvmf_lbT6kWryrBlSefgnHMez1Tccv76zT0bw/s320/IMG_7324.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgphP8KxTPOlLq9Fqc3C_yP8NF7k6ALquW2lQTcqFQO1b0La24RVKK2eSUK_C5FKmt8QTN8ItWwUkPhuUutq9JCdNeDC0AV0fZKFTqgB4k4zU_V-xjFA5hVdU7T2sW7bgH1nmlaergvPeOkDoVzuTqmrMvmf_lbT6kWryrBlSefgnHMez1Tccv76zT0bw/s1600/IMG_7324.jpeg" width="240" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;">The caravan park was one of the noisiest places I have ever tried to sleep. Situated just off the Flinders highway and opposite a roadhouse with a truck stop area you would think it would be trucks keeping us awake. Galahs! Hundreds and hundreds, possibly thousands of galahs! They took flight at the slightest provocation, all at once, squawking and doing laps until they could settle to roost again, only to be upset by the next truck hurtling along the highway. This went on all night. They must be such tired birds.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You might have noticed that we are not doing the Dinosuar Trail in the strict order as put out by Queensland tourism but it worked out just fine for us.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">HUGHENDEN - FLINDERS DISCOVERY CENTRE</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Stop #2 on our Dino Trail was Hughenden, also in the Flinders Highway, is a slightly bigger town than Richmond</span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFzZoEvTIhq5MTkNT0RruCTlwN6_WclIYG1vUH18zhwpxhxc4S8VDCQ0UErCnJnFUgLM885wIo4F3lwVcmq_zsEfr5AUcPlFGR2Nc-9Pj0T2CBCa7QaMLOQ30Qtt1NNynhAMyMV8p7oULQabhJ658RNgNtyyxFWn6_cYQgled_Z3Xfa05fsNmWuAfvNg/s320/IMG_7358.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh09cV3H6Pc1RKwfDD4XiM6BxxrMjdFURwaq2Bno5mR7pTmPjEIupfyNotInBPDd-Sv3viun9UfEl_DkxzEf6PcupT-I0aX9Pz6FQuEV1cVEUXE8dmBkm-vU-8G7_oL3xXgU2ylueqgx8czCkQicsJdSfWKVRKzV1MzWEmRS7JwikpiE5dbVls469Ss2g/s1600/IMG_7360.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />Never miss an opportunity to stick your head through a photo backdrop thingy.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh09cV3H6Pc1RKwfDD4XiM6BxxrMjdFURwaq2Bno5mR7pTmPjEIupfyNotInBPDd-Sv3viun9UfEl_DkxzEf6PcupT-I0aX9Pz6FQuEV1cVEUXE8dmBkm-vU-8G7_oL3xXgU2ylueqgx8czCkQicsJdSfWKVRKzV1MzWEmRS7JwikpiE5dbVls469Ss2g/s320/IMG_7360.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijcJRZCTfBbUYFYThieTzoEfqvKQ2raU3BrNc7Lnc0AURWqhaRqer1IcDeiBpCxF9q0WACGajUj6KCyr46MW3yEQ8hV63pjR7U7n1yQdzST8lXxxvSWXYAy0RXpLP4tFtgI8mKiizUMR6z8H3I5sJb0-gLZVlXp_qC0uKGELlEl2LQQnu1dFGnKXmLyA/s1600/IMG_7363.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />Never!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijcJRZCTfBbUYFYThieTzoEfqvKQ2raU3BrNc7Lnc0AURWqhaRqer1IcDeiBpCxF9q0WACGajUj6KCyr46MW3yEQ8hV63pjR7U7n1yQdzST8lXxxvSWXYAy0RXpLP4tFtgI8mKiizUMR6z8H3I5sJb0-gLZVlXp_qC0uKGELlEl2LQQnu1dFGnKXmLyA/s320/IMG_7363.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihspiqP7zQ9w2V6flEGYeQxKp6m6wyyg-tS5J3UUGtNOvTfHVZbhNL9WxHefRcRgnj1AzXd4mpUou1jTH1FyIvnJj7FtF1IjO1AnjBb3cd0d54e53JXRLsazsagVG0TMJ3S-HAXK_A6HOc3Q01FP3UFpDVEKNPdGegKCiVxzvLDy12XivbgRLOkLM8Tw/s1600/IMG_7370.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />Muttaburrasaurus replica outside the Flinders Discovery Centre. <br />Found near the town of Muttaburra south of Hughenden in 1963 it is still being studied. It was a 7m long herbivorous ornithopod dinosaur. Ornithopods usually had horny beaks instead of teeth and were bipedal. Muttaburrasaurus has a spiked thumb on each forelimb, a trait is shares with iguandon type dinosaurs found in other parts of the world.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifeC6NwTp-KsMoPQgxmgj4R-tpmBFcIzcISLLESm924TI4jhX5dvxwTGOA3kT0QzXCR8sh5-3E9wIcMjZVqjU0mDIA0dly37DraFoNAmwikLQMiAi_kvyYIJ4q1a7kdQejXL3Md3a_TsgY0POju78cHhILJSTICi0VNoPDdbpKYGmj74TS6QRPPhaGsg/s320/IMG_7358%20(1).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifeC6NwTp-KsMoPQgxmgj4R-tpmBFcIzcISLLESm924TI4jhX5dvxwTGOA3kT0QzXCR8sh5-3E9wIcMjZVqjU0mDIA0dly37DraFoNAmwikLQMiAi_kvyYIJ4q1a7kdQejXL3Md3a_TsgY0POju78cHhILJSTICi0VNoPDdbpKYGmj74TS6QRPPhaGsg/s1600/IMG_7358%20(1).jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br />Inside the Discovery Centre - 'Hughie' - pretty sure this was a cast rather than the actual fossil bones.<br />The Discovery Centre was undergoing some upgrades and expansion with some areas and exhibits closed off. One half of the centre housed the Muttburrasaurus display as well as an eclectic collection of fossils and other geological specimens from all over Australia, and the world. <br />Probably the best thing at the Flinders Discovery Centre was the short film animating the deposition of the various layers of rocks in the canyon at Porcupine Gorge over hundreds of millions of years.<br />The other half contained a history of the sheep and cattle industry in the area. This was just a taste of what was to come in terms of the history of the wool industry in Outback Queensland, violent shearers strikes, the beginning of the Australian Labour Party and Banjo Paterson's Waltzing Matilda - we had NO idea!<br />As you can probably imagine, establishing a wool industry in outback Queensland was no simple undertaking with water being one of the biggest issues faced by early graziers. Towns in outback Queensland rely on bore water from the Great Artesian Basin.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Flinders Discovery Centre was very different to Kronosaurus Korner and we really did not know what to expect from the rest of Australia's Dinosaur Trail, but that would have to wait as we had some camping to do.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">With Boodjamulla off the itinerary Andy and I rejigged a few things and in hindsight they definitely worked out for the best. We were able to spend 4 nights at Porcupine Gorge National Park 60km north of Hughenden. It was on the list of must-see attractions in the area. It also gave us an opportunity to pause for a few days. We had been on the move for weeks it seemed, add in the stress and changes that came with the steering failing and time lost, we needed a break. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Booking camp sites online is a great concept in theory but the reality is you really don't know what you're going to get; will the site be big enough? Will we be really close to other people without kids who just want peace and quiet, not giggling kids at sun-up? Will there be some jerks in our site when we get there? Most of the time it's fine, and fellow campers are generally a tolerant bunch but what do you do when your tent just will not fit on the tent pad built for that purpose? And the camp site is fully booked. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">This happened at Porcupine Gorge.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Andy very quickly decided to put our enormous (6m x 2.5m) tent up in amongst the trees to the rear of the site, and kind of on a path. Not technically the site, but what could we do? I was very nervous that the Ranger might come and ask us to move but we didn't see the Ranger the whole time we were there so after a time it seemed like it would be fine, and it was. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0N5b3UzCTSgt4RzoxjOGA4CFNOvDb5SB1UbLCITiRLyX10m47PNkHKJMaFR1DifR1dOvB4eeJ0txDbfmGGklCOcuUVPvKeGVg_IRe0a9MdadbysQvtZZkeQjQV7BjvQh0QqRrZm966KUWm0yM5Xc6RRK03p9a6-Nm58eVRBq4R1mMPMI-YHmYpGzSqQ/s320/IMG_7384.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0N5b3UzCTSgt4RzoxjOGA4CFNOvDb5SB1UbLCITiRLyX10m47PNkHKJMaFR1DifR1dOvB4eeJ0txDbfmGGklCOcuUVPvKeGVg_IRe0a9MdadbysQvtZZkeQjQV7BjvQh0QqRrZm966KUWm0yM5Xc6RRK03p9a6-Nm58eVRBq4R1mMPMI-YHmYpGzSqQ/s1600/IMG_7384.jpeg" width="240" /></a>The view from the rim of the gorge a short walk from the camp-ground. You can see the 'pyrmaid' in the distance. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTaIiy35J_X59PRUEZljKRA2fq6CPddD3pEKt-jlgTp0tDJgBd8d07ea-WCPi2sy1RDgDZL-ENAVpK8IC8Jj5SNlBhXO_PsftqtWVlt2rGryi2WFplAxrl1VNzUlTHg5BU-urPFPrVownuRxnWEwb_FVDXIkVYlW4cQJKy9soxAb5ZIFtswYmd2eaUXg/s320/IMG_7385.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTaIiy35J_X59PRUEZljKRA2fq6CPddD3pEKt-jlgTp0tDJgBd8d07ea-WCPi2sy1RDgDZL-ENAVpK8IC8Jj5SNlBhXO_PsftqtWVlt2rGryi2WFplAxrl1VNzUlTHg5BU-urPFPrVownuRxnWEwb_FVDXIkVYlW4cQJKy9soxAb5ZIFtswYmd2eaUXg/s1600/IMG_7385.jpeg" width="240" /></a>You can glimpse the tent off to the right amongst the trees. Cheeky! I think they are James' knees you can see in the hammock. Jem most likely playing in the dirt somewhere!</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihspiqP7zQ9w2V6flEGYeQxKp6m6wyyg-tS5J3UUGtNOvTfHVZbhNL9WxHefRcRgnj1AzXd4mpUou1jTH1FyIvnJj7FtF1IjO1AnjBb3cd0d54e53JXRLsazsagVG0TMJ3S-HAXK_A6HOc3Q01FP3UFpDVEKNPdGegKCiVxzvLDy12XivbgRLOkLM8Tw/s320/IMG_7370.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKrV_Opn9UUmyNow6iuxOKrYIOAGjWp0RFvAANwECyhijM_m4UoMHm9QzC9rJscjoUl8ZXxdYkGIxqUUVx1rCWqQdO2p4SYdi-ja8CLb_Q8L6IcDXL4B0iSFTmq6W5L6BmmiqBinngxa0EByIpOJXnr1M2acTMVzfGDDIFWOxvyf53V2NbgExVCat8kg/s1600/IMG_7391.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />Dinner time</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKrV_Opn9UUmyNow6iuxOKrYIOAGjWp0RFvAANwECyhijM_m4UoMHm9QzC9rJscjoUl8ZXxdYkGIxqUUVx1rCWqQdO2p4SYdi-ja8CLb_Q8L6IcDXL4B0iSFTmq6W5L6BmmiqBinngxa0EByIpOJXnr1M2acTMVzfGDDIFWOxvyf53V2NbgExVCat8kg/s320/IMG_7391.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWWxUXFZh8jn_emJePSC5FTMbI7iomZeZOjwIWjNq9d8nj9ChXU0eTa3HdDJqz_OJw4zQA5yuf9z0SepyhxBrb0D_vGX7hgWHB43HmFVD6q20HZd7OhvorvqPlSZcGZ995HeCN7PH3KiVTsbJCFG-OBJokC5ZqeT1tbKKfOHUEgDDj_imxTSZ2uWxR6g/s1600/IMG_7415.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />Quiet reading time. Jemma opted to take this enormous squishmallow instead of a pillow. It was absolutely filthy at this stage.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWWxUXFZh8jn_emJePSC5FTMbI7iomZeZOjwIWjNq9d8nj9ChXU0eTa3HdDJqz_OJw4zQA5yuf9z0SepyhxBrb0D_vGX7hgWHB43HmFVD6q20HZd7OhvorvqPlSZcGZ995HeCN7PH3KiVTsbJCFG-OBJokC5ZqeT1tbKKfOHUEgDDj_imxTSZ2uWxR6g/s320/IMG_7415.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTIWQVIq9n9YfGzgKFxI4sJAJLQzA87CLUF18WCmLo0DiDskD9zfKcgCGuc1jMrsrjiCja2ykcIcSEPrsMpJmk6IwIcOKeAadBeWMzWhOS8XltTbIddyJNi6qs_6wM8tDETVSssUp4TPHxx6CvUoB5AFy12OGi9RDGIsdvZdtLI8eGRt60wZ4tjIOVfg/s1600/IMG_7426.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />On our way down into the Gorge for the day. It was about a 1.2km each way walk. Steep and steppy in parts - it was hard both ways!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Our first full day at Porcupine Gorge was unseasonably hot, mid-30s so we walked down into the Gorge before it got too hot and spent the rest of the day down there with picnic lunch and chilled cordial drinks.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTIWQVIq9n9YfGzgKFxI4sJAJLQzA87CLUF18WCmLo0DiDskD9zfKcgCGuc1jMrsrjiCja2ykcIcSEPrsMpJmk6IwIcOKeAadBeWMzWhOS8XltTbIddyJNi6qs_6wM8tDETVSssUp4TPHxx6CvUoB5AFy12OGi9RDGIsdvZdtLI8eGRt60wZ4tjIOVfg/s320/IMG_7426.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJvuB5FMKfkuOtHeIr4FSr_5K6oHT1MAkQGUgbE_klRhk5-MTBG2hwiCdy5sgypZGZCV67Q8Pdo0TFjN9a1F9ElhrPKhLhKrgC1ddTHiugubnLQeoFiZ_g3Fqv_CTAYNFwZgPkA9_7uKntwmSS7As6s7tY6dtntepyyQ76UekMMDekrF0ms2gX_lL2ig/s320/IMG_7435.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJvuB5FMKfkuOtHeIr4FSr_5K6oHT1MAkQGUgbE_klRhk5-MTBG2hwiCdy5sgypZGZCV67Q8Pdo0TFjN9a1F9ElhrPKhLhKrgC1ddTHiugubnLQeoFiZ_g3Fqv_CTAYNFwZgPkA9_7uKntwmSS7As6s7tY6dtntepyyQ76UekMMDekrF0ms2gX_lL2ig/s1600/IMG_7435.jpeg" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy8ZSWRGz29gLmqBeIsuxGIBik-NjodZL5NO2p3DAubrPi-r09n9lXuiFo9piy-QG0PeZEZJveAELXcU17kCwuSCO8jQUFWVEcs8iz9D57ZW1dilaaZHl5H7mZw9mcqAPCXxS2CPru6syMBX_TqUK-Ga9m5NRxcLb-A5Jjxh6GRrVN6-spES3i5Y7rMA/s1600/IMG_7438.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />The kids LOVED the river. The water was crystal clear with fish and turtles and rocks and sand and overhangs. There were parts where you could easily walk across the river and deeper parts that required swimming. It was glorious. The only thing missing was reliable shade. We had the shade of a couple of immature acacia's which required regular shifts of all our gear. Even the adults swam. Well I swam, Andy partially immersed himself. We played catching games and just noodled the day away.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy8ZSWRGz29gLmqBeIsuxGIBik-NjodZL5NO2p3DAubrPi-r09n9lXuiFo9piy-QG0PeZEZJveAELXcU17kCwuSCO8jQUFWVEcs8iz9D57ZW1dilaaZHl5H7mZw9mcqAPCXxS2CPru6syMBX_TqUK-Ga9m5NRxcLb-A5Jjxh6GRrVN6-spES3i5Y7rMA/s320/IMG_7438.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrBP1Y97ODmKNpwzlQ8RTRKyzFLpQcthMwxSnP2HIJC33Za9dgRMuC4zfpnpfyvxZCXnyJRxjghaB2N49VNW3CbZnhNEUBcUkRvOqvpTUsp4qiX0mmDAYZR9T0BuvEvJcFHrr4HpFMw_DFA41faPplLVGu7V9GdFhmomeV3fKliZEYmKRzWvP4W-4ruA/s1600/IMG_7481.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />After hours and hours in the water the kids could barely lift their bodies to eat dinner. And guess what! We get to do it all again tomorrow!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrBP1Y97ODmKNpwzlQ8RTRKyzFLpQcthMwxSnP2HIJC33Za9dgRMuC4zfpnpfyvxZCXnyJRxjghaB2N49VNW3CbZnhNEUBcUkRvOqvpTUsp4qiX0mmDAYZR9T0BuvEvJcFHrr4HpFMw_DFA41faPplLVGu7V9GdFhmomeV3fKliZEYmKRzWvP4W-4ruA/s320/IMG_7481.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0x6sMGFvovstk0mxV1xQ_3Y665-mMFHoyf0AIi8Ei4RYccEKIoaw-IQ8x9bhuqx1ffqTTk9brGyr-mDQ3kLATywkvzwFyB-ymzu32Ir5eEFJBAZG8pcJKtjpRIfHQTa24tsjgL7nn7h5Ya_NQiQUaRrQ6E84pOZ7jjTvUUTi2QdAG-QSCFz0cIdWA7g/s1600/IMG_7492.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />Back in the gorge for another day of playing and exploring.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0x6sMGFvovstk0mxV1xQ_3Y665-mMFHoyf0AIi8Ei4RYccEKIoaw-IQ8x9bhuqx1ffqTTk9brGyr-mDQ3kLATywkvzwFyB-ymzu32Ir5eEFJBAZG8pcJKtjpRIfHQTa24tsjgL7nn7h5Ya_NQiQUaRrQ6E84pOZ7jjTvUUTi2QdAG-QSCFz0cIdWA7g/s320/IMG_7492.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_IAEjGybbdCQodnt6naLpGI6yLhAFxoyyEPN7u_cpHtgCpusixnse6g53TGk_jNNUQ3sBu9mNAIoIA5cjcgdDOXgWZoOkuLZLSIbw-pGQ__36naauY_dD0wyGCnug-r9Hmy1ukpE5mF0MA6KirWzETJlfBTsH3GUnDDObLFpl64iMXaGurTaUaC4IA/s320/IMG_7400.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="320" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_IAEjGybbdCQodnt6naLpGI6yLhAFxoyyEPN7u_cpHtgCpusixnse6g53TGk_jNNUQ3sBu9mNAIoIA5cjcgdDOXgWZoOkuLZLSIbw-pGQ__36naauY_dD0wyGCnug-r9Hmy1ukpE5mF0MA6KirWzETJlfBTsH3GUnDDObLFpl64iMXaGurTaUaC4IA/s1600/IMG_7400.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />This little Rufous Bettong and its mate visited us every night of our stay. They made a sound like moth wings beating inside something which is what I thought it was when I first heard it. They are super cute marsupials about the size of a big rabbit and seemed completely unconcerned about our presence. they hopped between our legs and under the table.</td></tr></tbody></table></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3EGzHfhzaY-oV_sn-YSn5IrEkZGXoYmLfocP9saHPnzEBhhhZgoAu4-hKfM0G-Igkf5reC22WnThEWa0cp5uYasGcgZacnW34GW0gBD1PNwzIdEpNFdHFUgxPxYXTRv5Rs9akg53VidosNnkUzlakwyk5lms48DPRwLI9MjkxO1168dLzE9vOY4OhFg/s1600/IMG_7511.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />Back down in the gorge, that is the pyramid in the background</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3EGzHfhzaY-oV_sn-YSn5IrEkZGXoYmLfocP9saHPnzEBhhhZgoAu4-hKfM0G-Igkf5reC22WnThEWa0cp5uYasGcgZacnW34GW0gBD1PNwzIdEpNFdHFUgxPxYXTRv5Rs9akg53VidosNnkUzlakwyk5lms48DPRwLI9MjkxO1168dLzE9vOY4OhFg/s320/IMG_7511.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjSEZv3ONSgANW7WdTXIVOHjOTmpKL-mMbXkFC6HPj1hfS9UbMZ73WgVTIj2XTD6Rvwx6s5dhqBbpx0qKYSx1QVLdj7necbnK9h9hnSQzJcGuwGMqguE4f8x2B3wxfv43WWMGUMuzrjiHrfd3Jq_aMzT4xk6DiUqAaeJkmQCF2kslaMnAOVjigXqwj7w/s1600/IMG_7516.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />Fun!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjSEZv3ONSgANW7WdTXIVOHjOTmpKL-mMbXkFC6HPj1hfS9UbMZ73WgVTIj2XTD6Rvwx6s5dhqBbpx0qKYSx1QVLdj7necbnK9h9hnSQzJcGuwGMqguE4f8x2B3wxfv43WWMGUMuzrjiHrfd3Jq_aMzT4xk6DiUqAaeJkmQCF2kslaMnAOVjigXqwj7w/s320/IMG_7516.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnTcZVV2DAuOmP8gY0ry-4biwF2uVU2Tr01TkXM6nhTlhWSjBXuR7f_mTNm2fNPT_pLnd9NzWYQKFDxny8jnWl5xSKtYToXBEqTksNz-J6BwdR5oUjrhkpJ9Q7HBntT7NvcR3h403QAs0VyGdmZa33LtloHFe90gVYJeRd6mGScFfxIEKgkWAOC7nclQ/s1600/IMG_7533.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />The way up in the late afternoon</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnTcZVV2DAuOmP8gY0ry-4biwF2uVU2Tr01TkXM6nhTlhWSjBXuR7f_mTNm2fNPT_pLnd9NzWYQKFDxny8jnWl5xSKtYToXBEqTksNz-J6BwdR5oUjrhkpJ9Q7HBntT7NvcR3h403QAs0VyGdmZa33LtloHFe90gVYJeRd6mGScFfxIEKgkWAOC7nclQ/s320/IMG_7533.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaWKdtDskGMP7_pC4wDBEWtExUHvc_emfZJJb5VXPVRvbrj6CbJPjQoLgtQv7eoAu_G3Kh_7HtcGKqsTd1-8IjMbt0T-EEXxkMGMhohHEgF5Ct7PV9BqavBAwMuRm7BB9zBGXPAXLzVhzryZTYFSQ8pijp7_j7zAAaK4N0YDvUsscV39FhksI5z3g5Pg/s1600/IMG_7554.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />And down again....</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaWKdtDskGMP7_pC4wDBEWtExUHvc_emfZJJb5VXPVRvbrj6CbJPjQoLgtQv7eoAu_G3Kh_7HtcGKqsTd1-8IjMbt0T-EEXxkMGMhohHEgF5Ct7PV9BqavBAwMuRm7BB9zBGXPAXLzVhzryZTYFSQ8pijp7_j7zAAaK4N0YDvUsscV39FhksI5z3g5Pg/s320/IMG_7554.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvxOJZOThT3QY-H_EF38TnY6P3EK1brm_cfdxDQ12BlZaqdrPGHAgF9BNejt_y6GevsPp1yGnss5ykMK55NcJoL2TOchNgIs6SnBjnLM5N0fQWcjxYThN0mmU_OdNY3yUt3OCNlmSFqmiB_BFeXT8X954GWBqrd4pUQBARTZ_4swgNFhxmVSUNjEDSKw/s1600/IMG_7558.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />Exploring different areas of the gorge and river for the best swimming spots</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvxOJZOThT3QY-H_EF38TnY6P3EK1brm_cfdxDQ12BlZaqdrPGHAgF9BNejt_y6GevsPp1yGnss5ykMK55NcJoL2TOchNgIs6SnBjnLM5N0fQWcjxYThN0mmU_OdNY3yUt3OCNlmSFqmiB_BFeXT8X954GWBqrd4pUQBARTZ_4swgNFhxmVSUNjEDSKw/s320/IMG_7558.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9jfn4lSkJeqNaitLRHKAsYkuwzzp9707NMtEXrxpRWhvCGhCeWafuQkdOHyWDev6NZcJhaBbPHBsU8GvFH8vtXWesbJHPzdj-AfsjM5Azi35I4RIyZ_UXqphado-hiSZVfy50WhSQXhPag64R03W304VKBqqTaLw-CC7ZHgSOJf3i5MjeITOltMA4lQ/s1600/IMG_7409.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />Andy trying to fix Jem's beloved Frozen thong with plastic bread ties and a lighter. It was successful in the very short term. </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9jfn4lSkJeqNaitLRHKAsYkuwzzp9707NMtEXrxpRWhvCGhCeWafuQkdOHyWDev6NZcJhaBbPHBsU8GvFH8vtXWesbJHPzdj-AfsjM5Azi35I4RIyZ_UXqphado-hiSZVfy50WhSQXhPag64R03W304VKBqqTaLw-CC7ZHgSOJf3i5MjeITOltMA4lQ/s320/IMG_7409.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrYKE4qMfkzbZWrvACKDezTPwFcJ_omhjbqjSItgSNeZG8-R75LhGSOi2A-CEAKl0rg8a6Dp8DLjE7aq_Mpjw6hh7LGvz-c9CuRsOd2GgyHXYBPgn8rkbm5ydRYBkIdj5oNYwNg2aL-l-g6V6lOp3S1MWnzHkOzIUiHe12jT6K2Zan_hKOXdhb7BDWLw/s1600/IMG_7599.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />Porcupine Gorge's namesake - a juvenile echidna wandered through the camp ground one afternoon causing much excitement. Another native animal that seemed unconcerned that humans were around.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrYKE4qMfkzbZWrvACKDezTPwFcJ_omhjbqjSItgSNeZG8-R75LhGSOi2A-CEAKl0rg8a6Dp8DLjE7aq_Mpjw6hh7LGvz-c9CuRsOd2GgyHXYBPgn8rkbm5ydRYBkIdj5oNYwNg2aL-l-g6V6lOp3S1MWnzHkOzIUiHe12jT6K2Zan_hKOXdhb7BDWLw/s320/IMG_7599.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjafr2UbeQhK3OWvMT2NRlgmSVRA4nvKcFu9TEcUA7A2EKiSTWkERxdTeTXOWSUyRkyFIXUv6p4ahdu-QS6BSOK914KpQ34k0XOeQSP6orqesI1wbbWr2kFwcngppzTyIH6j0-bm28N2Y3m6zEUjJwgrhYGPi0AXJsJSFsZTC6gZfGZyLDO2tPWsPsnQ/s1600/IMG_7580.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />Porcupine Gorge was a stunning, surprising and much needed stop.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I have decided to break the Dinosaur Trail into 2 parts as this post is already pretty long. </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjafr2UbeQhK3OWvMT2NRlgmSVRA4nvKcFu9TEcUA7A2EKiSTWkERxdTeTXOWSUyRkyFIXUv6p4ahdu-QS6BSOK914KpQ34k0XOeQSP6orqesI1wbbWr2kFwcngppzTyIH6j0-bm28N2Y3m6zEUjJwgrhYGPi0AXJsJSFsZTC6gZfGZyLDO2tPWsPsnQ/s320/IMG_7580.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /> </span><p></p>Nessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743234057904783218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3636767330920619181.post-59764434090044456172022-09-02T12:42:00.005+10:002022-09-02T13:02:42.809+10:00Homeward Bound<p>We left the secluded valley of Four Bull Hut on Friday. As usual, the known way out wasn’t as scary as the unknown way in, and within an hour we were back on the bitumen and heading across the dividing range to Grafton and then on to the familiar Pacific Motorway down the coast to Port Macquarie. The kids were so excited to see their cousins that we only made the brief obligatory stop at the Big Banana in Coffs Harbour on the way. The scenery across through to Grafton was incredible, and again very twisty and steep so having working steering was a big plus.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUzOVEnloCqqOuHNjkAij6e8JEOL31z1coBoHja6A--bkgTsmttPRoUI-hetDzc5wQLkDxh3dILq_gJVs3vYp_lts5MJqdM0RHO9azsSNMBc_hS7zZ9YQAOlbAprQzMO8CC-ATkpE1qZY5EMSzJCTIDjGOuUxLDIxJ-Yvmlx2ykm_bZByfWngIrT62tw/s4032/30A0066A-F89C-4DAA-AD7D-4B60E0A50570.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUzOVEnloCqqOuHNjkAij6e8JEOL31z1coBoHja6A--bkgTsmttPRoUI-hetDzc5wQLkDxh3dILq_gJVs3vYp_lts5MJqdM0RHO9azsSNMBc_hS7zZ9YQAOlbAprQzMO8CC-ATkpE1qZY5EMSzJCTIDjGOuUxLDIxJ-Yvmlx2ykm_bZByfWngIrT62tw/s320/30A0066A-F89C-4DAA-AD7D-4B60E0A50570.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIVrD_KYNtwoGwS9hi3AdTZJwEozxL2FoWayhxBUfDwHkfr5ynJW8qBLZ3AS2kmBX62swgw4HbuaCCJBYuOqjWq3cZs7phOMy1VykSrhY3vJjK2G0_kUzN7KzHAWvVRCEI0Q6EjNmz2qHGo-oqKk3B--mhlYP7G9-GvfgZfhHvuI84jVk_E3qssC35wg/s4032/37E1A2BA-5380-469A-8099-3763275A1311.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIVrD_KYNtwoGwS9hi3AdTZJwEozxL2FoWayhxBUfDwHkfr5ynJW8qBLZ3AS2kmBX62swgw4HbuaCCJBYuOqjWq3cZs7phOMy1VykSrhY3vJjK2G0_kUzN7KzHAWvVRCEI0Q6EjNmz2qHGo-oqKk3B--mhlYP7G9-GvfgZfhHvuI84jVk_E3qssC35wg/s320/37E1A2BA-5380-469A-8099-3763275A1311.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwByB2YLw5v9mHvCLf1UX_zdxHorRQYAgskYw1lzJzrgj6PqpkIqr_bAis9V0aZf-Haf-dlSFSwr7KH4ACiA0Cd4Snf3VYKR3Jfsr7O8S0ZeaxGZv9lJVvgPPdKnqZeWO9uOQSPDNJM055LzPm4XeNp9oY76fT3WUghFp8L-0_vGvnuRpjFR5fkcIKCg/s2642/B046CCC7-8810-4477-8305-EE2A01468478.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1486" data-original-width="2642" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwByB2YLw5v9mHvCLf1UX_zdxHorRQYAgskYw1lzJzrgj6PqpkIqr_bAis9V0aZf-Haf-dlSFSwr7KH4ACiA0Cd4Snf3VYKR3Jfsr7O8S0ZeaxGZv9lJVvgPPdKnqZeWO9uOQSPDNJM055LzPm4XeNp9oY76fT3WUghFp8L-0_vGvnuRpjFR5fkcIKCg/s320/B046CCC7-8810-4477-8305-EE2A01468478.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>We arrived in Port Macquarie late afternoon, which was totally lovely but over-whelming given our isolation all week. The whole family was in town to celebrate Ken’s 80th birthday, which we did in style on the Saturday. The weather was fantastic and the sea food was divine! The weather over the remainder of our time in Port was a bit ordinary but the kids didn’t seem to mind and we still managed beach time and the kids swam, and I got some walking time along the amazing coastal path.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvGvG_JDLpZSzJubxztuMisSK0318BK9ZIkMAS2C-Do0p3Tn3dupwasC3OObxSXc1X-cecJj45zXEM-5Y_7DecSZtsoA02hcegAahOAwFr6YUu5c0v77bjyIWMrLoz2czgp7ALTHoKuFBQDSkDJyJhJgqQfPk2QBsjg-1TnjOZ28dy6DzvZR3Gl7HtSg/s4032/64D62B18-044F-45C9-BC81-648CBA62509B.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvGvG_JDLpZSzJubxztuMisSK0318BK9ZIkMAS2C-Do0p3Tn3dupwasC3OObxSXc1X-cecJj45zXEM-5Y_7DecSZtsoA02hcegAahOAwFr6YUu5c0v77bjyIWMrLoz2czgp7ALTHoKuFBQDSkDJyJhJgqQfPk2QBsjg-1TnjOZ28dy6DzvZR3Gl7HtSg/s320/64D62B18-044F-45C9-BC81-648CBA62509B.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1hK5QN0USkoNtKCKEWbkMVVRmiUXKsvshdfPuv7SKvafmIWluDftljMYrtP1PxYz2_KcYTegICco_9i0IXhAaGIknwm3dnZie2jtC_tGybIfS3GvEnRiIESXuMXPHOmcm7IsaDU-wJE2AUgrijJSZXC2gFNmHYAgky1V7jVOAUE44URI9W4qIvBO0LQ/s4032/A354217E-E441-4AB3-9DE0-08B7742ADF12.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1hK5QN0USkoNtKCKEWbkMVVRmiUXKsvshdfPuv7SKvafmIWluDftljMYrtP1PxYz2_KcYTegICco_9i0IXhAaGIknwm3dnZie2jtC_tGybIfS3GvEnRiIESXuMXPHOmcm7IsaDU-wJE2AUgrijJSZXC2gFNmHYAgky1V7jVOAUE44URI9W4qIvBO0LQ/s320/A354217E-E441-4AB3-9DE0-08B7742ADF12.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOjaYdxeGRzeWuFY2F0IQQ8fgEO2NKyTbFd9t_03HANwJrWZOOz0fsBZ_EeeamLFGLCcNrT7C8hn5bShQMLjxp6knXI6CtBn19zXfTXPFU3c-7EZApkJWm4SRgvIiHeiM7Vw8NH2TkELKL9RiUnRIElmCk2yHqZEPpSqZQJ_TZu5T8xcj8eIWNokxJLA/s4032/AB91522C-85AF-4EA0-868A-32C9BCCC5FB3.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOjaYdxeGRzeWuFY2F0IQQ8fgEO2NKyTbFd9t_03HANwJrWZOOz0fsBZ_EeeamLFGLCcNrT7C8hn5bShQMLjxp6knXI6CtBn19zXfTXPFU3c-7EZApkJWm4SRgvIiHeiM7Vw8NH2TkELKL9RiUnRIElmCk2yHqZEPpSqZQJ_TZu5T8xcj8eIWNokxJLA/s320/AB91522C-85AF-4EA0-868A-32C9BCCC5FB3.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtsY5Hnl1ek8LjJFepEPeki6A3UHWGdlNi6Pj2_ClZEIpGcN7EC4-Ia90CW5pXNHVoRciy6wS7oBCYheqYj41Fp3dwnjg6_zEOAs6v_EVoHpYVk5wiCEZQfcah0R2Y6XTjKPvjJ-JUWgeFFhUCWce5bdf-ZDtG_FF-H1QcmrAvxJny2lG8g042HVFMjQ/s4032/DBA27B49-E7D2-460E-85AE-C4374C0E1418.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtsY5Hnl1ek8LjJFepEPeki6A3UHWGdlNi6Pj2_ClZEIpGcN7EC4-Ia90CW5pXNHVoRciy6wS7oBCYheqYj41Fp3dwnjg6_zEOAs6v_EVoHpYVk5wiCEZQfcah0R2Y6XTjKPvjJ-JUWgeFFhUCWce5bdf-ZDtG_FF-H1QcmrAvxJny2lG8g042HVFMjQ/s320/DBA27B49-E7D2-460E-85AE-C4374C0E1418.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSbzWqdMNYWNL2vIGVke8zTVRtxWeCRgCty6Yt91s7Tewbi_B-MTtCNExg7Mbrzrc8JZES5Nzp9gT9QsV3AygPDI5zf8LedTLLZtujbmv7Dhxey7eUvxjCfGagFCbywSut1IZ_5AlYSOui51YrcU0ArnG_70TlMoLYnhIwI1JBmuQVSyWTmgAM_8YCmw/s4032/EAC12242-195C-4776-BFF8-618C50F73C43.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSbzWqdMNYWNL2vIGVke8zTVRtxWeCRgCty6Yt91s7Tewbi_B-MTtCNExg7Mbrzrc8JZES5Nzp9gT9QsV3AygPDI5zf8LedTLLZtujbmv7Dhxey7eUvxjCfGagFCbywSut1IZ_5AlYSOui51YrcU0ArnG_70TlMoLYnhIwI1JBmuQVSyWTmgAM_8YCmw/s320/EAC12242-195C-4776-BFF8-618C50F73C43.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio7GTEJ1TOZAq-fwfqHfBLbDUoln4LHsK0_zgakzcQqTnDdlcKJF_Z8C2IrVEycEJKg2xYKTrhKcaJnZMA03-gL9_VzST_5U3lkzyg-AhvTZRYD3BsNgwxZ-vEelGfYM5487DqQjeC3wuaJ6P1bV2XItJ-giBEuy0f1-VGav39xS9tTtchGgOzs57GDQ/s4032/FDEE6E83-DC98-40AC-97B6-B014AFC87CD1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio7GTEJ1TOZAq-fwfqHfBLbDUoln4LHsK0_zgakzcQqTnDdlcKJF_Z8C2IrVEycEJKg2xYKTrhKcaJnZMA03-gL9_VzST_5U3lkzyg-AhvTZRYD3BsNgwxZ-vEelGfYM5487DqQjeC3wuaJ6P1bV2XItJ-giBEuy0f1-VGav39xS9tTtchGgOzs57GDQ/s320/FDEE6E83-DC98-40AC-97B6-B014AFC87CD1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>We took Nissy P for the service which we’d arranged while marooned in Camooweal. Turned out that there were a few other issues and the powered steering was still leaking fluid. Nothing critical and we’ll get it tidied up back in Adelaide. Sadly they gave her an unexpected clean and washed all the red dirt we’d been accumulating. They even valeted the inside of the car. </p><p>It was great to see everyone together and the kids were beside themselves. Jean got the Monopoly out which James quickly got the hang of. He’s ruthless. We were sad to move on, but that was tempered knowing we’d all be back together in Leura in a month’s time.</p><p>Our next destination was Dubbo for a couple of days at the zoo, and an evening for James and I at the observatory. It was cold and frosty so we’d abandoned plans to camp and instead stayed in a cabin about 20kms out of town. Dubbo Zoo is incredible and was fairly quiet with it being mid-week. They had two baby giraffes (Jemma’s favourite) and she got to feed a couple of the adults. A highlight was the painted dog feeding, which we arrived for early and enjoyed watching the dogs trying to work out how they could get in a position to eat James and Jemma. The observatory was a great experience and it was a perfectly clear night with no moon. Very informative and we got to look through lots of different telescopes focussed on different star clusters, Saturn and binary systems. It was very very cool. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfUhWuQ-KUALo3TfCixUJGSJpuhlEyMYbdybrIrbUh795CK2CQqJudvQEPvF_w-cvmUN5RJNh8otMrpOLaniqxzDYz2VBznSeZvXuE1VAsMmC1ffYubT2-GQhnLHZHvZ9W5AOEV2kpRgHL31e3K4quXL1Vg0f76nO6oN_1u3A_lzpl9GALq69AzWGEBg/s4032/0E47171E-AE3D-48F4-8392-59780302DCA1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfUhWuQ-KUALo3TfCixUJGSJpuhlEyMYbdybrIrbUh795CK2CQqJudvQEPvF_w-cvmUN5RJNh8otMrpOLaniqxzDYz2VBznSeZvXuE1VAsMmC1ffYubT2-GQhnLHZHvZ9W5AOEV2kpRgHL31e3K4quXL1Vg0f76nO6oN_1u3A_lzpl9GALq69AzWGEBg/s320/0E47171E-AE3D-48F4-8392-59780302DCA1.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi03vWbJmYffNBA5jbmv3Ogmx8JysM-1b3N46zy7HzSkze47244Bf8rNjgynM7b9PPTWBn12r_UMUGFRfxGCp-XnDIBhkr9-kgMlWFH45Xin9uwd-18JpUDrhiX8cdero1WtuNyCjFft-F7vc4YAACtnAnsoBOU330RHEUArnzSN8Cs_ofLzFRHrrCgZQ/s4032/3D152778-0CFD-4CA0-98C5-76EBEE64E64A.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Tvf7d4BRnAkhn1jIJi76DJ_nvJwaLkAUU3tahwtI-gFMErFgYLCGeVhzAk9fAECU6Gz8gwq_4kXilumJ3m8L91Y_xPK0gDZ4un-ADp6FsChDQFl3PEffMdmemG2CQRXV1p50aIQu9Qdfv24UdagiP0FhqjHXhNYt83YIEQfascqCTrAB2E6RKmNAIA/s320/3041B2A4-A5DC-4BFA-9639-BA3847871064.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicgOauOAm13RyOzvAyPeoT9T2vDLV8QhJbvdHr4OsyyPeFmPrNUBiaVpvYhrNKc-kf1yfYN1N6BXkUY44TRulAM9Gas2cdNO9TV-DlBvgWr1mt20oonf6DZoAsuF2nQ13WmqK-rO4YoybLgYNIiwf06n3U8_YDv07WHbBr-MxCTXCuFvhye0-BGD14lQ/s4032/E3FAE211-C362-43AF-92D0-718A7442E0D6.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicgOauOAm13RyOzvAyPeoT9T2vDLV8QhJbvdHr4OsyyPeFmPrNUBiaVpvYhrNKc-kf1yfYN1N6BXkUY44TRulAM9Gas2cdNO9TV-DlBvgWr1mt20oonf6DZoAsuF2nQ13WmqK-rO4YoybLgYNIiwf06n3U8_YDv07WHbBr-MxCTXCuFvhye0-BGD14lQ/s320/E3FAE211-C362-43AF-92D0-718A7442E0D6.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Our last leg home had us stopping at the Tooleybuc Motor Inn on the NSW/Victoria border. It’s the perfect stop when coming back to Adelaide distance wise. It was a huge amount of driving and long days in the car before we got home. </p><p>We arrived home early afternoon on Sunday to happy dogs, a well looked after and warm house, and sitters who were a bit sad to be moving on.</p><p>This week has been a bit of a blur, settling back into life and school. My electric car had gone flat while we were away but nothing the RAA couldn’t quickly fix. Nissy P is off to the doctors next week to hopefully fix up the outstanding jobs.</p><p>This trip was an amazing adventure for all of us. We were sad not to make it to WA this time but we got to return to old favourites as well make some new ones in Queensland. We’ve loved seeing James and Jemma each grow so much over the 9 and a bit weeks. They have both increased so much in confidence and I’ve gotten to know them both so much better, and them me. </p><p>We’d always hoped for the opportunity to do this. We had to create a lot of space in our lives to make it happen and we’ve each got to try and work out what the next steps looks like for our work. I finished full time work in March pretty much burnt out and carrying a lot of unresolved trauma and grief. At the time I resolved to get my mojo back. While this remains (and is likely to remain) a work in progress - my resilience jar (a story for another time) is full and for now I continue to put more in than I’m taking out. </p><p>We have another short trip with the kids planned for the October school holidays when I back from Italy and are already scheming something for the end of the Christmas school holidays. </p><p>But there are lots of habits from the trip we hope to continue to do from here. Adventure is after all a state of mind. In the words of Terry Pritchett …</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">“Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colours. And the people there see you differently, too. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.”</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span></p><p>So over and out from me for now…</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcGNMgugdHZsovNxYdyT1_BBD5RTdwnE58QiSrCOrIAuTFdOruIKI-DoyrjFbr0_wpuJGYMxrVxcpuzQwmpxPIMzwWHUmzdJDnCbu-IW0r4VsGOZURv3IBesddkmG4jP27Qe0ULdjg8gXJtNaeGjVytCpOpIrLS0t1Qr2zDvqODBynKf2OzlwjZGKZYg/s4032/DEA5F1DF-2F97-4379-9D1C-E1A53B7DDBE8.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcGNMgugdHZsovNxYdyT1_BBD5RTdwnE58QiSrCOrIAuTFdOruIKI-DoyrjFbr0_wpuJGYMxrVxcpuzQwmpxPIMzwWHUmzdJDnCbu-IW0r4VsGOZURv3IBesddkmG4jP27Qe0ULdjg8gXJtNaeGjVytCpOpIrLS0t1Qr2zDvqODBynKf2OzlwjZGKZYg/s320/DEA5F1DF-2F97-4379-9D1C-E1A53B7DDBE8.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb7Y48tgcFzxS92Ss8licC6FQYMvKND3POoyqXw2c2SzNVmCGpMN7apdIU849FBb5Cbj0NifWlhPmpQtA543WLA91JrtF9lzLTSbdbDr1YVeZH2lpGE9MJb-qcLjwHEh1A2Hiv8AXcxxKgypaU0t_BhRYdEUb3VwC6sCGXgWlQyT86ZzDNIDNSCSRw3Q/s4032/8FAF4B93-7D0E-4863-89AB-5275018E9E73.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb7Y48tgcFzxS92Ss8licC6FQYMvKND3POoyqXw2c2SzNVmCGpMN7apdIU849FBb5Cbj0NifWlhPmpQtA543WLA91JrtF9lzLTSbdbDr1YVeZH2lpGE9MJb-qcLjwHEh1A2Hiv8AXcxxKgypaU0t_BhRYdEUb3VwC6sCGXgWlQyT86ZzDNIDNSCSRw3Q/s320/8FAF4B93-7D0E-4863-89AB-5275018E9E73.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04142224789928286977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3636767330920619181.post-27881873020369628122022-09-02T11:15:00.007+10:002022-09-02T11:26:55.211+10:00Back to NSW, Four Nights at Four Bull<p>We left Goondiwindi on Monday morning, almost immediately crossing in to NSW. The road started to twist and turn as it made the slow climb up the western side of the great dividing range, up to Tenterfield where we stopped for lunch and provisions before heading into the little accessed north western corner of Washpool National Park. Once again we were grateful for Alan’s work on the car steering. The fire trails to Four Bull Hut were badly washed out after the massive rain over much of 2022. The driving was way more exciting than I’d prepared for. The road did say 4WD high clearance only and for stages we felt like we were straight back in the Victorian High Country. We met one ute coming out, thankfully after we’d finished a steep stepped ascent on a badly washed out and rocky track. The occupants had just prepared Four Bull Hut for us and said we were lucky that some repairs had been made to the road, and that the other way out was in a terrible state. Most was OK, but the ascents and descents were exciting. </p><p>About 5kms short of the hut there is a locked gate across the fire trail. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXpr1uegTh2AWNx3L8AY5l8KxhwTovuKIS7YDAPE6HOyxCekmAnAi--DYTgpYntKVLpmsBANF0_oelitTSbH89abisgYAymX1bOTJJqeVY6QYgd4Q8FcVNnGa5If7V6zYlcDCG2CMEOuoSncxz_GXz0QzF9UXgY6OIr5a94dPqrxSH-WjiMus1xO11iQ/s4032/783A4D71-2CC4-4023-911C-C567E9DAEC4E.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXpr1uegTh2AWNx3L8AY5l8KxhwTovuKIS7YDAPE6HOyxCekmAnAi--DYTgpYntKVLpmsBANF0_oelitTSbH89abisgYAymX1bOTJJqeVY6QYgd4Q8FcVNnGa5If7V6zYlcDCG2CMEOuoSncxz_GXz0QzF9UXgY6OIr5a94dPqrxSH-WjiMus1xO11iQ/s320/783A4D71-2CC4-4023-911C-C567E9DAEC4E.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>What came next was three whole days and four nights of total relaxation in a very basic yet very comfortable three room cabin. We were totally isolated, no phone signal and no radio. The hut was off grid with a solar battery really just running lights and gas powering the oven, fridge and hot water. Heating was via a wood burner and there was plenty of wood to chop up. It was frosty every morning (helpfully other than the morning we had to pack up and leave).</p><p>There was absolutely nothing to do, other than go for walks, play frisbee, play cards, do jigsaws and read books. Absolute bliss. The stars were amazing and each night we had longer before the moon rose.</p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4T_liChZEgHp4SeBSibtGshJm4OS6a4JAw89JYqBUrpyyAdJvwI6bIqaxJ0S4H9MewZHJ_VGl3irikCMp_Syap8v6fxxrT1XKoyAkcJ_4FWT1LbswEgwuGEp-M1cjaSIXNZlXDvIKUzVEEyK9JXXtzjTmerJF9juHRcSC8uRRYVcxUmobUG1yU26RVg/s4032/4ECC7AF5-FB46-4BB5-AB10-BC06CDF89D1E.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4T_liChZEgHp4SeBSibtGshJm4OS6a4JAw89JYqBUrpyyAdJvwI6bIqaxJ0S4H9MewZHJ_VGl3irikCMp_Syap8v6fxxrT1XKoyAkcJ_4FWT1LbswEgwuGEp-M1cjaSIXNZlXDvIKUzVEEyK9JXXtzjTmerJF9juHRcSC8uRRYVcxUmobUG1yU26RVg/s320/4ECC7AF5-FB46-4BB5-AB10-BC06CDF89D1E.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyXSrkR0zABQ2ZOMM32XmF0CHtrXMLnQ_sGKk892lFufABmgCYu_Tn_MvEvURnPl-WPDlaDfAPLYouw3i4COOPRkzkWcBsYr4lyZyRyClwE9jHEBfJG6FmR-UZKJGssIApLVytrv-6nOSi9IaSErrt7aNHvEkYi2Ead2f_dSzW5ZgF86SoSv6hIITLCw/s4032/8C8D6DAF-8AC8-44A2-8723-61667253625E.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyXSrkR0zABQ2ZOMM32XmF0CHtrXMLnQ_sGKk892lFufABmgCYu_Tn_MvEvURnPl-WPDlaDfAPLYouw3i4COOPRkzkWcBsYr4lyZyRyClwE9jHEBfJG6FmR-UZKJGssIApLVytrv-6nOSi9IaSErrt7aNHvEkYi2Ead2f_dSzW5ZgF86SoSv6hIITLCw/s320/8C8D6DAF-8AC8-44A2-8723-61667253625E.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_yLkyMq9kynM7jLXEVGEhC2akkWDdZGqQbMrvvpck2oKnDuWtnAYmVqIUSlU72PKcIBrMmxOjdyfj-5tDwZFCuJVsK_wv5MiaW6a6x210aiUxJ1Wq18mh4XBm7-edJaY_Jhuz4y1g-WnpNIT0VI1SoEG6BluF3475U9YRIFAtOZpDrxWu4IXgeOEK5Q/s4032/9B44D5BF-5CDD-4AA9-B8FC-4F201871B527.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_yLkyMq9kynM7jLXEVGEhC2akkWDdZGqQbMrvvpck2oKnDuWtnAYmVqIUSlU72PKcIBrMmxOjdyfj-5tDwZFCuJVsK_wv5MiaW6a6x210aiUxJ1Wq18mh4XBm7-edJaY_Jhuz4y1g-WnpNIT0VI1SoEG6BluF3475U9YRIFAtOZpDrxWu4IXgeOEK5Q/s320/9B44D5BF-5CDD-4AA9-B8FC-4F201871B527.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9G4cLZYNStgWNrClw8GvXo-rLIA4Tj3RhXqdXegH6gJwDctyNX9kTeB1wIx4UIzU1RG9vvrXVlgZO4Ah1zzucj4A8Ir1dIjMjvmGOE70dPQU3Mun2RYJ2WFUkdHHBE7_R1v4CFnediVH7nGU2_lasNdfr-hKfq2n3EeSLyuiqWlJXOanI-VF33Inh1w/s4032/B931B9CB-81DB-4321-8944-DA95D1D88B02.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9G4cLZYNStgWNrClw8GvXo-rLIA4Tj3RhXqdXegH6gJwDctyNX9kTeB1wIx4UIzU1RG9vvrXVlgZO4Ah1zzucj4A8Ir1dIjMjvmGOE70dPQU3Mun2RYJ2WFUkdHHBE7_R1v4CFnediVH7nGU2_lasNdfr-hKfq2n3EeSLyuiqWlJXOanI-VF33Inh1w/s320/B931B9CB-81DB-4321-8944-DA95D1D88B02.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqIcfYqA3Vsl28kDv8kvybp6JwabOMgNsTxSHn85O6i_rJAZEHHmptrwgrA9M_zUZkOWlZevi-Oa219vZelNLipcWoaizc_jF-djMJaQQzZWGUvz5qyvIpQi33r7AFMI2FNSm3uznJy8xY0BpvPwnspHzEGCxIuK9lDbhPrIAAt9mqGd-kbZ2nJz3e4A/s4032/C77B8E31-A9FC-409F-BCBF-65AFF6AC599F.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqIcfYqA3Vsl28kDv8kvybp6JwabOMgNsTxSHn85O6i_rJAZEHHmptrwgrA9M_zUZkOWlZevi-Oa219vZelNLipcWoaizc_jF-djMJaQQzZWGUvz5qyvIpQi33r7AFMI2FNSm3uznJy8xY0BpvPwnspHzEGCxIuK9lDbhPrIAAt9mqGd-kbZ2nJz3e4A/s320/C77B8E31-A9FC-409F-BCBF-65AFF6AC599F.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>We learned to play some new card games from our card game bible and we also cracked out Yahtzee without any fear of offending anyone within earshot. When played enthusiastically its a noisy game. I’m starting to think that Jemma is inheriting my slight overly competitive nature.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx2xhllw2kh81xxEFQ1uf2R-Dy-dolGEW8-S_j1ZwUWIhUPUEMh22yQEefnR00dS6rZ0uS0wo87zW3hajVXxA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p>Anyway, we didn’t see a soul near the hut over the four days, other than a ranger I met when out on a walk one day. He was clearing fallen trees from the fire trail I was walking on. To say I gave him a surprise was an understatement.</p><p>We were very sad to pack up from Four Bull, but the next stop was Port Macquarie, and that meant grandparents, and visiting cousins, aunties and uncles - an another birthday to celebrate.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgExiihmTJZ4z7bdRLB3Cw5clHlFxt-G3wi5PY6C9nnqdx5vLprCYQ1oXodpusq8ec1pmD6kT0tRuJLBujdP8nIbB2zV3G7bJTFqaKbIvYZg41gLGEzemh7J4oKCgH_scaDamAvZnvRZ8OSwFMYgma3two1B3U0kFbwIKNs2ekIC2XyoyN9gzM9KOF1Cw/s4032/85F08B6B-8908-44AB-A6E2-B0C1579D7BBD.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgExiihmTJZ4z7bdRLB3Cw5clHlFxt-G3wi5PY6C9nnqdx5vLprCYQ1oXodpusq8ec1pmD6kT0tRuJLBujdP8nIbB2zV3G7bJTFqaKbIvYZg41gLGEzemh7J4oKCgH_scaDamAvZnvRZ8OSwFMYgma3two1B3U0kFbwIKNs2ekIC2XyoyN9gzM9KOF1Cw/s320/85F08B6B-8908-44AB-A6E2-B0C1579D7BBD.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmrigJY8qvO5SGJqZYPzE1-HZzMyOafXiha_IdLydvvzTOdBu2U1edlaY1amDTFnLqfpfwRPIxUguhVTKQ1afdcHeONUDUg8rQW-xFke9AW-a_vpFt25vN-Er6oKTqDjMRi_3BzgnORA1gtufJqz3_ZcYsXcBukTeBXwjB6gtAGId0IAV3BwaNEIzGBg/s4032/EE273A95-A433-4F11-BB44-5B5C2A3FCADA.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmrigJY8qvO5SGJqZYPzE1-HZzMyOafXiha_IdLydvvzTOdBu2U1edlaY1amDTFnLqfpfwRPIxUguhVTKQ1afdcHeONUDUg8rQW-xFke9AW-a_vpFt25vN-Er6oKTqDjMRi_3BzgnORA1gtufJqz3_ZcYsXcBukTeBXwjB6gtAGId0IAV3BwaNEIzGBg/s320/EE273A95-A433-4F11-BB44-5B5C2A3FCADA.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJdhPRcJD5E5rX3E8HQOTUqQI9H4ko6TqR1kBlMG0mPMyo08PKPvpuHjK4tIAE5TmDUGMYcs-uEROglmfIual-J9CFX6PKLO5s8BF2D9j1fU3CTo2ukWrMWIlEk_IpKi2r6rw-pLVDL6ZDnv5qpYB9lBPDrsRFPqfUxh7dO1mBJ9T-PryX39JU7TM9-A/s4032/ECEB1339-E04D-4E92-883F-FF318EF5C057.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJdhPRcJD5E5rX3E8HQOTUqQI9H4ko6TqR1kBlMG0mPMyo08PKPvpuHjK4tIAE5TmDUGMYcs-uEROglmfIual-J9CFX6PKLO5s8BF2D9j1fU3CTo2ukWrMWIlEk_IpKi2r6rw-pLVDL6ZDnv5qpYB9lBPDrsRFPqfUxh7dO1mBJ9T-PryX39JU7TM9-A/s320/ECEB1339-E04D-4E92-883F-FF318EF5C057.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04142224789928286977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3636767330920619181.post-78570752577427464262022-08-14T16:11:00.005+10:002022-08-22T15:57:14.247+10:00Across the Top part 2 (trip rebooted) - flies and dinosaurs<p>It’s been almost two weeks since we left Camooweal. The trip was in serious jeopardy. Dave, the only mechanic in town, was busy jimmy rigging an axle on to a busted caravan as I wrestled Nissy P over to him on Monday afternoon. He took a quick look, confirmed that the powered steering pipe had a hole and despite his obvious skill couldn’t fix it. I was fine to drive the car he said, but it would take some effort at slow speeds, The blackfellas out here do it all the time Dave reckoned, optional extra apparently. I returned confidently to the caravan park and called a few mechanics in Mount Isa, the nearest town a mere 187 kms away to try and find someone who could do a fix there. They were all booked up for a month.</p><p>The caravan park was already starting to fill up with the new batch of one nighters. Word had got around we had car trouble, which attracted a lot of unwanted but well meaning attention from some very well credentialed blokes. As is the way of things a wide spectrum of views emerged on what we should or could do next. Dave had been so clear that I could drive the car without doing further damage that I was confident we could drive on until we found someone who could help, all the way to Adelaide if necessary, The caravan park peanut gallery mainly thought otherwise with the middling consensus being I’d wreck the powered steering motor driving it without any lubrication and I would invalidate the insurance should I end up in an accident. Adding lubrication every few kilometres held the majority view for a while before someone pointed out the speed at which the oil was leaking would likely lead to a fire. Sometimes having no clue about something can be an advantage, but it was all a bit overwhelming. </p><p>We resolved to drive on the next morning regardless to kick the ball down the road a bit and see what would happen. We’d already spent three nights in Camooweal, squandering the extra nights we’d “saved” by not staying at Butterfly Falls. If the only mechanic in town couldn’t do anything there was little point staying. After all, outback roads are mostly straight and the towns are a long way apart so what could go wrong? We’d just drive until we found a mechanic who could help. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA0V9N9uxOCzUZrpzuTMNN0VkFUUJvkSAK7O4VpxMLz7ZZLzpYjRygm1D37XNZ7skUEmxDDPKee77xNF9NoxIpNGAnEbMYQZHknA4mIbRWH7hyN4aUImevR5tctiP0acX84IJZrS3AQ2M-_0tEMr878dRiF9mPyIogbsrZ_AwPlvm0cLO1sKNH8ZrIAA/s4032/F3DED3E8-3073-48C0-A613-84A663A07457.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA0V9N9uxOCzUZrpzuTMNN0VkFUUJvkSAK7O4VpxMLz7ZZLzpYjRygm1D37XNZ7skUEmxDDPKee77xNF9NoxIpNGAnEbMYQZHknA4mIbRWH7hyN4aUImevR5tctiP0acX84IJZrS3AQ2M-_0tEMr878dRiF9mPyIogbsrZ_AwPlvm0cLO1sKNH8ZrIAA/s320/F3DED3E8-3073-48C0-A613-84A663A07457.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">We’d run our course with Camooweal but we did learn some new tricks during the downtime.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Sadly we decided to forfeit our three nights in <a href="https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/boodjamulla-lawn-hill/about" target="_blank">Lawn Hill / Boodjamulla</a>, which we’d actually engineered into six in our heads with unused nights from Butterfly Falls. We’d even booked the extra nights at Adel’s Grove. The 4WD road in would have been too difficult without proper steering. On a trip this long there is of course never just one destination, but missing out on Lawn Hill really sucked and Ness was in a black mood about it. Lawn Hill is a long way from anywhere and at just 250kms away, we were effectively right on the doorstep, It’s over 3,000kms from Adelaide on the shortest route here (we’d already taken more than 8,000kms on our roundabout route). But cool heads prevailed. As tempting as it was, it just didn’t make sense to be driving even further away from help. Having the kids with us made a difference. If it was just the two of us we’d have probably have had a crack, and would even have walked the rest of the way if we’d broken down. Ah well, it’s there for next time.</p><p>Neither Ness nor I slept very well on the Monday night and it was a quiet pack up. We headed out early on the Tuesday morning before a critical audience could assemble. Once we were back on the Barkly Highway and out of town the car actually handled pretty well. Keeping a steady 80km/hr was a sweet spot but every approaching road train, and there are plenty in cattle country, was a worry. As we got closer to Mount Isa the road started to twist and turn as we hit the rugged Selwyn Range. We pulled over at a rest area about 50kms out of town to change drivers. The rest area was off to the right and Ness had a battle to get the car back out of the rest area and back onto the highway. We changed drivers again just outside of Mount Isa and I drove into town, battling a few severe slow speed turns and into a servo to fill up with fuel. It wasn’t impossible but it wasn’t fun, and didn’t feel that safe. There wasn’t a mechanic in Mount Isa who could look at the car for a month, which was after we were due to get home. So we pushed on to the next town, Cloncurry, a further 140kms to the east. The road continued to be windy but we rolled in to town around lunchtime. </p><p>While Ness took the kids to the park to run off some steam and get some lunch I went into the local mechanic to see if he could help. Again they were booked for the next month. Normally they said its a two week wait but there are a lot of people on the move this year. They told me I should try John at Field Engineering Services just out of town who often handled their overflow work. Not one to miss a chance I called John straight away. He’s a man of few words, who grunted a few times as I explained our problem, Get here quick and we’ll see what we can do he said. So I headed out of town, leaving Ness with the kids. I found John’s workshop, </p><p>While John might be the brains of the operation, his brother Alan did the actual work, Alan was a ginger Alan from The Hangover, with every inch of exposed skin covered in thick black oil that looked like it never came off. He was absolutely amazing with the perfect have a go attitude we needed to get back on the road. There was little chance a Nissan franchise would have sanctioned anything other than a replacement of the metal pipe. </p><p>As a backstop we’d booked a service in Port Macquarie while we were in Camooweal. That was still over 2,000kms away. They told me they would probably need to order in the pipe from overseas. Alan had other ideas. He had to take off the bull bar, front headlights, auxiliary battery and air filter to get to the broken pipe. I got the sense he didn’t like working on Nissans. Alan had a rollie in his mouth the whole time, constantly singeing his moustache. Amazing that he didn’t set himself on fire. He also cut himself numerous times as he pulled our car apart. After about two hours he finally wrestled the pipe out of the vehicle and called a couple of mates to come and weld a fix. Putting things back together posed more of a challenge for Alan so it looked like we’d be coming back the next day, Alan was due to knock off at 4pm and when Ness came out to meet me just before then in a taxi things were far from finished. Miraculously at 4.15 John called to say “she’s done, come and get her”, hanging up before I could say it might take me a while to get out there. Anyway half an hour later I picked up the car, the steering was as light as a feather, and we were back in business. The pump was making a bit of a funny sound which Alan said would resolve itself for the better or worse pretty quickly.</p><p>We’d had a lucky escape and enjoyed a great night out in Cloncurry to celebrate the big weight lifted. The town has been Queensland’s friendliest town twice in the last 10 years, and well deserved from our point of view. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigF68OqXSOt2Sf3HTixigjRoLD4-5n6OzLaEp7zesXYlqqjBtHQhABSsJiFyxNYWHYfg7bV6CAT7ZXuz9Ctd0SCCQqxBgo2m4rZ0C4Ye7F7M5qAyfTDNDxmbpJfOp3Qw54vbr2KsNdvmSYggUpTFGGtf0fRvMVZVy9ImRGsarbxwO66mfU2qFTNBNiMw/s4032/8817902C-E32D-4ACD-97C9-7CB0758284EC.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigF68OqXSOt2Sf3HTixigjRoLD4-5n6OzLaEp7zesXYlqqjBtHQhABSsJiFyxNYWHYfg7bV6CAT7ZXuz9Ctd0SCCQqxBgo2m4rZ0C4Ye7F7M5qAyfTDNDxmbpJfOp3Qw54vbr2KsNdvmSYggUpTFGGtf0fRvMVZVy9ImRGsarbxwO66mfU2qFTNBNiMw/s320/8817902C-E32D-4ACD-97C9-7CB0758284EC.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOOKaYtcrfv4F8eNzwumdvkxwW9R4htrrSL2B4x1T501vTg6WzOlKmOVXC3VIgHmLobU2Y-0MUOsR-DOTRunS9LD6ZcQRF6qN5iloLbKIQWp6-FgBrFDNEowTL1mbPaM7fIUOq5R13ifjn5JllaBjQrMFRRP8JMLYrkjXYrO0UB7eml88hrMxFkvp9pw/s2304/B35AC701-5AA5-4623-9C66-225085951542.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2304" data-original-width="1728" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOOKaYtcrfv4F8eNzwumdvkxwW9R4htrrSL2B4x1T501vTg6WzOlKmOVXC3VIgHmLobU2Y-0MUOsR-DOTRunS9LD6ZcQRF6qN5iloLbKIQWp6-FgBrFDNEowTL1mbPaM7fIUOq5R13ifjn5JllaBjQrMFRRP8JMLYrkjXYrO0UB7eml88hrMxFkvp9pw/s320/B35AC701-5AA5-4623-9C66-225085951542.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp34ILjYLyutJN3cS64G_0zLyCa-_nrOJRKkE1AfjsPE-qewvxxyS6GUA3kkumuz0m-J2dl5YkdTaOOToT3AOgvCsylP0yRh4-_S2f0i-OhWpFjPU0XMAAczJLYrHf8db6tifnp0ukQOe5IsSwILQ6zmA0PfOpoAF81Zjbi6re3amTU6HB2FPIjKWwbQ/s4032/E8AFDD9A-F9BB-4E39-AA68-9D2640CD779E.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp34ILjYLyutJN3cS64G_0zLyCa-_nrOJRKkE1AfjsPE-qewvxxyS6GUA3kkumuz0m-J2dl5YkdTaOOToT3AOgvCsylP0yRh4-_S2f0i-OhWpFjPU0XMAAczJLYrHf8db6tifnp0ukQOe5IsSwILQ6zmA0PfOpoAF81Zjbi6re3amTU6HB2FPIjKWwbQ/s320/E8AFDD9A-F9BB-4E39-AA68-9D2640CD779E.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>We had dinner at the Wagon Wheel Motel, next to the Cloncurry bowlo. A mostly indigenous staff served up great food with amazing friendly service. We also had our first night <u>not</u> in the tent since Tennant Creek. The kids love exploring any motel room or cabin and this was no exception.</p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidgQieW7k6agRrpKo4sezb6avBuh3Chwk0_NBJEp0lXCXpHobqC7LUPPLJz8f-56FIBBkBiOFzMOYuX8ojLBzqLIBEN2ZyELkc1qTL45Gj7CaK6WxuOesQnQQmBkCgpmJ-GSh00FMqChB1W5yjdOsY2xeSR7iVnHJCeTiZ-mNfAUsjlB119d-jNK0_qg/s4032/9A1B3D29-B94A-4FEC-ABA2-169C8CF3683B.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidgQieW7k6agRrpKo4sezb6avBuh3Chwk0_NBJEp0lXCXpHobqC7LUPPLJz8f-56FIBBkBiOFzMOYuX8ojLBzqLIBEN2ZyELkc1qTL45Gj7CaK6WxuOesQnQQmBkCgpmJ-GSh00FMqChB1W5yjdOsY2xeSR7iVnHJCeTiZ-mNfAUsjlB119d-jNK0_qg/s320/9A1B3D29-B94A-4FEC-ABA2-169C8CF3683B.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We woke with renewed optimism on the Wednesday. It had been a long few days of heavy worry. The vegetation in Cloncurry, and most of Queensland it seems, smelt a lot like spilled steering fluid. I had a quick look under the car before we headed off but all seemed fine. It did, and still does, feel too good to be true but Nissy P was back to her old self. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our next destination was Richmond, close to 300kms further east so we had plenty of time to test out the steering. We stopped around half way at Julia Creek for bathroom stops, playground timeand coffees. Oily liquid was dripping from under the front of the car when we stopped which did not look or smell good. Thankfully it was coming from a different spot and was seemingly just condensation from the air conditioning. There was a lot of oil to wash away from the previous leak and the air was a lot more humid than we’d experienced for weeks. Julia Creek was lovely and offered the best coffee we’d had probably since Adelaide.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We rolled into Richmond in the early afternoon and kicked off the first leg of the Dinosaur trail at Kronosaurus Korner. It’s the biggest exhibition of marine dinosaur fossils in Australia, featuring over 1,100 specimens, most of them found on nearby cattle and sheep stations just sitting on top of the black soil. Rob Ievers from Marathon Station got things going here when his brother found the first fossils while mustering, He recognised the significance of the find, remarkable in itself, and has been the driving force behind the museum’s development and ongoing <a href="https://www.northweststar.com.au/story/7542656/bones-of-110-million-year-old-ichtyosaurus-found-in-richmond/">research</a> which continues to make big discoveries. It really was something to behold. The displays are the actual fossils, not moulds. Very cool and beautifully presented with great self-guided audio. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCflV2NrYf7A7Ih_iYL7Sj1yK6GTuJGoU58iiTYqnTASPuHchJC4V5dtadzeqGq83vuQaTmDG9lu9NtX6IcN9vcDiM70pWv4MURm7pRQOJShvPD4_I6yJx54TI93KLTaX-1HIejQyTQXh2Om3YQ1v54qyfjoFxJ-WlGfnZT2kWXHBDdJAg_yqVh9Wd5A/s4032/0267078D-6F78-40BA-BE8F-BA5AE6389507.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCflV2NrYf7A7Ih_iYL7Sj1yK6GTuJGoU58iiTYqnTASPuHchJC4V5dtadzeqGq83vuQaTmDG9lu9NtX6IcN9vcDiM70pWv4MURm7pRQOJShvPD4_I6yJx54TI93KLTaX-1HIejQyTQXh2Om3YQ1v54qyfjoFxJ-WlGfnZT2kWXHBDdJAg_yqVh9Wd5A/s320/0267078D-6F78-40BA-BE8F-BA5AE6389507.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdkkouWNgv8hBUTD-DKuAdMAMVPMLIfOmI5eU86csVCFmEuEl7U0i4neiG_HfJeBA3a6vlyWbDI38oL7X469qGa2AjkA2aaYMc3fCBCLfvvcCrTJ8ApTiVAxwst8wSncnVMt0dnrumTnNZ4extA1BObmRXqCdOzBHTZLrw6j2tJYWTerg0mkOwgOTQlA/s4032/319888FC-24EC-4AF9-9EAD-FC53190AB41F.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdkkouWNgv8hBUTD-DKuAdMAMVPMLIfOmI5eU86csVCFmEuEl7U0i4neiG_HfJeBA3a6vlyWbDI38oL7X469qGa2AjkA2aaYMc3fCBCLfvvcCrTJ8ApTiVAxwst8wSncnVMt0dnrumTnNZ4extA1BObmRXqCdOzBHTZLrw6j2tJYWTerg0mkOwgOTQlA/s320/319888FC-24EC-4AF9-9EAD-FC53190AB41F.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiow3udEYvkLRi7HIfOCjQcXqXDEVyvFu03Fxf3sJlLuzJfvMDzJh1h4pznuyNtafDHWgxzH3rFGGUDQ6q9lZjcaA8VrjjDxPwXRCX3mNgr0GMeBlFuXt9z1EWUSlCS6NxuBTytIXVY1EFP4-L83m-xMDpQyTuJF2zlgfQyP1VMiw-o1tHrkTCAy_cFpQ/s4032/E9079894-2DAE-4CFB-B5C2-A99B54268861.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiow3udEYvkLRi7HIfOCjQcXqXDEVyvFu03Fxf3sJlLuzJfvMDzJh1h4pznuyNtafDHWgxzH3rFGGUDQ6q9lZjcaA8VrjjDxPwXRCX3mNgr0GMeBlFuXt9z1EWUSlCS6NxuBTytIXVY1EFP4-L83m-xMDpQyTuJF2zlgfQyP1VMiw-o1tHrkTCAy_cFpQ/s320/E9079894-2DAE-4CFB-B5C2-A99B54268861.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>The kids had not been oblivious to the tension about the car so were delighted to let off some steam at the free water park, a short walk around the lake from the Richmond Caravan Park.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyrnXDJGxa7GN1BawaEmGfzMjk73Z5Tp9XO49NGjPW0FcFH3TzcRrd0KjKYQSt0MqYNwt6zjfKU5fkbiANicw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div>With growing confidence in Nissy P we rejigged the schedule to have 4 nights at Porcupine Gorge NP near Hughenden and 4 nights in Bladensburg NP near Winton. These offered a quiet respite after the Camooweal and Richmond caravan parks which were both very close to the highway. The night in Richmond was noisier than the one in Tennant Creek, but the locals causing the problems this time were the hundreds of galahs woken every time a road train rumbled through town (which they did all night). The nearby lake also meant this was the buggiest place we’d stayed at probably the whole trip.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On Thursday we stopped in briefly at the dinosaur and sheep farming exhibit at Hughenden but it fell short of our unrealistically inflated expectations after our experience at Richmond. The centre is being redeveloped so for our visit there was really only one room for each exhibit. Hopefully better times ahead.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4zIW-ANECHqgwa45RQ81_yN7AQpE_kAWb4OIWFTKelwyTNm0HSHSrIOYF4i9PtTsKr-10dMriDHMUAD_YOaPF1Hf_elxYJJFaFH8WydEvlXVQIqkNy7U1rKchG_wS3W6SFL5MdrbsXL45PGVcnB7UyNacJrM2aa3JlTn1VA56ScNySr1HnvH0rAnsbQ/s4032/DF070C44-E217-488A-A211-D301ED7D2AC4.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4zIW-ANECHqgwa45RQ81_yN7AQpE_kAWb4OIWFTKelwyTNm0HSHSrIOYF4i9PtTsKr-10dMriDHMUAD_YOaPF1Hf_elxYJJFaFH8WydEvlXVQIqkNy7U1rKchG_wS3W6SFL5MdrbsXL45PGVcnB7UyNacJrM2aa3JlTn1VA56ScNySr1HnvH0rAnsbQ/s320/DF070C44-E217-488A-A211-D301ED7D2AC4.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglgAaCWhJeIwjIYfbhEWTNPF69-rsyGU0gS49Bh-WmD3aLJAzvezWLiYF9iEdGkBtmIpxbfl73yOQt9XwjgcxmAgTNK7MSZOw12hjRJUoY7IgMJykwXWGPo9ef1r-Off8XwDxvtHhWkB9uV1OVeqzj3P5Sf8yWOjmfufjF9VSF82HirOR9MXxVWVYOdA/s4032/FA2F633C-FF1E-43D9-8D0D-2A94FAE7D20D.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglgAaCWhJeIwjIYfbhEWTNPF69-rsyGU0gS49Bh-WmD3aLJAzvezWLiYF9iEdGkBtmIpxbfl73yOQt9XwjgcxmAgTNK7MSZOw12hjRJUoY7IgMJykwXWGPo9ef1r-Off8XwDxvtHhWkB9uV1OVeqzj3P5Sf8yWOjmfufjF9VSF82HirOR9MXxVWVYOdA/s320/FA2F633C-FF1E-43D9-8D0D-2A94FAE7D20D.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br />We arrived at Porcupine Gorge, 60kms north of Hughenden, in the middle of some unseasonably warm weather, 35 degrees in the middle of winter. The space for the tent was about half the size of our tent so we had to get creative - and for once we seemed to have the best shade in the whole campground.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We spent three wonderful days enjoying the gorge (a tough walk down about 200m over 1.2kms and tougher for me at least coming back up). Shade was at a premium down in the gorge but the swimming holes were plentiful and we got creative with some boat building and racing, damming etc. We took the car for a spin on day three which was fortunate as the auxiliary battery had just run flat from the demands of the fridge.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA8a2dgjJHqGZcvhQ770GcXy4PH2x5YDc6OWofTCzV4S5BdI6RXOOUCKn4BkDAAWlWJWjIMFB1aw20nG2hOvWT7UV-f9opVp-gPlrlSyqthV_31qDYqYS5yUV2r708QT0b4TWezy5fYoaP8KGRCfTPBGxltW70FOSCx3Wv3tBkejgXotuAYmyYccxdVg/s4032/7B81600B-255D-49A5-93C8-38991A31D2E0.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA8a2dgjJHqGZcvhQ770GcXy4PH2x5YDc6OWofTCzV4S5BdI6RXOOUCKn4BkDAAWlWJWjIMFB1aw20nG2hOvWT7UV-f9opVp-gPlrlSyqthV_31qDYqYS5yUV2r708QT0b4TWezy5fYoaP8KGRCfTPBGxltW70FOSCx3Wv3tBkejgXotuAYmyYccxdVg/s320/7B81600B-255D-49A5-93C8-38991A31D2E0.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: right;"></div></blockquote><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP44sm6VRXBiq8vpNNcOVffZUCLB3hqBwG9RplbA6w1JDvZDM1BnYxfYaJv1PAPHCsPdGKDS25pO0FKJlP1TUr6eVlSjXEdZzndIca4XiULf3E9H0GyU3in7NQ6PFefGfYayYltow9XZqVCR-W0k3VHRQpiZNWWDH1hguDtT9h6JUB09dg6TVi2RBQqA/s4032/10BA67C9-889D-4D95-9990-225E7D29A48F.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP44sm6VRXBiq8vpNNcOVffZUCLB3hqBwG9RplbA6w1JDvZDM1BnYxfYaJv1PAPHCsPdGKDS25pO0FKJlP1TUr6eVlSjXEdZzndIca4XiULf3E9H0GyU3in7NQ6PFefGfYayYltow9XZqVCR-W0k3VHRQpiZNWWDH1hguDtT9h6JUB09dg6TVi2RBQqA/s320/10BA67C9-889D-4D95-9990-225E7D29A48F.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjALsIwXLWU6qFLvpp3QIgmLA_Srzt-CBBLt82wU9jEo9FPGEJvjxd0WbXPQ0JKRH-p2woOkVnHTZGxbfdMqj3INMO7Gj0f-GPuX6QsJcWsse7aC5iO312aLGSzPdZysEH273WE_QHPVc49F8p1U1MHVzZmoINANAsY9OigzrgnONOuGaAdae11x0cjPw/s4032/887D7D49-250B-45D1-9423-38B43D73296D.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjALsIwXLWU6qFLvpp3QIgmLA_Srzt-CBBLt82wU9jEo9FPGEJvjxd0WbXPQ0JKRH-p2woOkVnHTZGxbfdMqj3INMO7Gj0f-GPuX6QsJcWsse7aC5iO312aLGSzPdZysEH273WE_QHPVc49F8p1U1MHVzZmoINANAsY9OigzrgnONOuGaAdae11x0cjPw/s320/887D7D49-250B-45D1-9423-38B43D73296D.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMLASRC-5mhxA0SKYWwLoGswjeE3GG1r90yqRDqslJWzqF7rUuAcIyjPAkqwOqGtt85u0zDLu2Np9JIfM1CpCQch6-oBqX5rywSYNerqhkAymfDTEghreFg4GlOX_GtoE1pPLzXFcOprjz6UbrQ8TU_ezCmPpO9QUkJDIAeMxpFnTDA5JlnLHqIZSr-g/s4032/37449268-61D8-4E11-91C2-70CCDC337227.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMLASRC-5mhxA0SKYWwLoGswjeE3GG1r90yqRDqslJWzqF7rUuAcIyjPAkqwOqGtt85u0zDLu2Np9JIfM1CpCQch6-oBqX5rywSYNerqhkAymfDTEghreFg4GlOX_GtoE1pPLzXFcOprjz6UbrQ8TU_ezCmPpO9QUkJDIAeMxpFnTDA5JlnLHqIZSr-g/s320/37449268-61D8-4E11-91C2-70CCDC337227.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzRFYpTQPxIMq_JeFkD8OI9Z_BRriCwVo39o6Y3EEduZ_pfDyMrGHt2TV8oTEdXFXvZNNga1mSN0qS8YWM1ooXCby6fegUuIQh8R_n7JR2ckDWCQ8sWbVaHAth9yCfxi_jpcY3jn97V9wS-kIUnzYdwYS26tfwCb8L-1XargErKzhCSAxvbSi_j-t2uw/s4032/D16E9A7D-5C7D-4201-8927-C1B4C5208D2A.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzRFYpTQPxIMq_JeFkD8OI9Z_BRriCwVo39o6Y3EEduZ_pfDyMrGHt2TV8oTEdXFXvZNNga1mSN0qS8YWM1ooXCby6fegUuIQh8R_n7JR2ckDWCQ8sWbVaHAth9yCfxi_jpcY3jn97V9wS-kIUnzYdwYS26tfwCb8L-1XargErKzhCSAxvbSi_j-t2uw/s320/D16E9A7D-5C7D-4201-8927-C1B4C5208D2A.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We spent hours building and racing our boats down the creek</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidRwsg89ORzeniGymOwqscQZ62SOIhd3ubQ22PpaUOx5wcP5Fha1BvQ2DDNiElc0u0dZwts3MqQRqdx2WqvR_-pJBTPXuGb2lLzaWImNbKCuIoPX1lNfCVj2Io__h-splIdn3EvOKWhIHEi9VMrZlTa0N0Lw09klUpQiBbGZX4at1YYvrMoaz1QcwQXQ/s4032/D0504EB5-95E3-47CD-B286-A18D0C5C14EE.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidRwsg89ORzeniGymOwqscQZ62SOIhd3ubQ22PpaUOx5wcP5Fha1BvQ2DDNiElc0u0dZwts3MqQRqdx2WqvR_-pJBTPXuGb2lLzaWImNbKCuIoPX1lNfCVj2Io__h-splIdn3EvOKWhIHEi9VMrZlTa0N0Lw09klUpQiBbGZX4at1YYvrMoaz1QcwQXQ/s320/D0504EB5-95E3-47CD-B286-A18D0C5C14EE.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Pyramid</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The wildlife was something else, with rufous Bettong visits to our camp each evening and on our last night an echidna. The bettong is about the side of a fat rabbit and they were totally oblivious to us.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We were very sad to move on from Porcupine Gorge, but dinosaurs and more awaited us in Winton. We also had a birthday to celebrate.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Cloncurry had set a high bar for friendly towns, but Winton really was up there. As they say in Winton, a million flies can’t be wrong. Bladensburg National Park provided the perfect base to explore the area and we had three full packed days. Our first full day was James’s 12th birthday, and what an experience we had in store for him - a trip to the incredible Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History. This was a largely guided tour over four hours through the collection room, fossil preparation room, march of the Titanosaur exhibition and Dinosaur Canyon. The whole experience blew us away, despite the significant number of flies. The whole facility is set on a jump up just south east of town and is incredible. Again the genesis was local farmers finding out of place rocks.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg23tt_65Call6s7iY6wUD3eYF4ZU2LAHVThKV4pAEkcykjZpcX2H14H2ykfShRJz_LFzGxMh85JxJ6B6WzcHUv3G_ojrfRLw-0m4aU3zfUIFy3YPAH1lHOJreWYNBODA6mEd09U8QS7fINwJqSQcaI5iUDJX2EeNAvQjTdMBWW1fM8_bdg6E8ViAGimA/s4032/0470D408-384A-43E0-9E29-5700737197A5.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg23tt_65Call6s7iY6wUD3eYF4ZU2LAHVThKV4pAEkcykjZpcX2H14H2ykfShRJz_LFzGxMh85JxJ6B6WzcHUv3G_ojrfRLw-0m4aU3zfUIFy3YPAH1lHOJreWYNBODA6mEd09U8QS7fINwJqSQcaI5iUDJX2EeNAvQjTdMBWW1fM8_bdg6E8ViAGimA/s320/0470D408-384A-43E0-9E29-5700737197A5.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ205qpn3up18sLp15Q-cepdQfaxob2fm5pL2mVXTmjy6HKLHfDegzDifhNp_YGxXAG0BCMgmX_OWQyv1VnPz0nPYm0oX1l-BbqLoWv_E3hfe0Bc_hfWTzu0F5-ql7LxPBW8sDj37m8WZX9NI0uun05TIePwjLba6k4qM64LwTDnJArg_baEoA5Leu9A/s4032/6410F1A9-F90A-4E05-822C-FA7D32B09828.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ205qpn3up18sLp15Q-cepdQfaxob2fm5pL2mVXTmjy6HKLHfDegzDifhNp_YGxXAG0BCMgmX_OWQyv1VnPz0nPYm0oX1l-BbqLoWv_E3hfe0Bc_hfWTzu0F5-ql7LxPBW8sDj37m8WZX9NI0uun05TIePwjLba6k4qM64LwTDnJArg_baEoA5Leu9A/s320/6410F1A9-F90A-4E05-822C-FA7D32B09828.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">March of the Titanosaur captures footprints from 100mya. The whole display was lifted from a nearby station.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7KYQJbfW7D6wDb1kV75CPEBkeUWy6GsteICo6a0jtf0faUxq28Du5KNEjiUiRpSqpLQdqr3oIYrKBouLSjOxpG6JTrXrmaPweZU5wmQwjAqXoZM2UFaFf5dahXul0npxCg2SU5HX32ZDdFfrzOw1Z--W4f5PTU0jBILekhxyiubekB9vsH_Nns2oCoQ/s4032/97357109-E793-450D-B99C-8574464A662D.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7KYQJbfW7D6wDb1kV75CPEBkeUWy6GsteICo6a0jtf0faUxq28Du5KNEjiUiRpSqpLQdqr3oIYrKBouLSjOxpG6JTrXrmaPweZU5wmQwjAqXoZM2UFaFf5dahXul0npxCg2SU5HX32ZDdFfrzOw1Z--W4f5PTU0jBILekhxyiubekB9vsH_Nns2oCoQ/s320/97357109-E793-450D-B99C-8574464A662D.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtOkpBOFjTkF-n_GdCqFSWGFjMZOwyN33mugcj8QGBAjPKmRoeQl0DEXdtFl3EHhUqu7GaS__DmSQlnimBOb71q0AVhPz60NpMuOz4f4xmnH-fPTETShIJFXK72qnGqNhf9cjS_38zMhnQ7YqDEnqZjdrLSAWxIh6Lh1Syblc0Ay1l3JBLptticgYPVQ/s4032/EF69F621-6C83-4DEC-A14B-919C09C9062A.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtOkpBOFjTkF-n_GdCqFSWGFjMZOwyN33mugcj8QGBAjPKmRoeQl0DEXdtFl3EHhUqu7GaS__DmSQlnimBOb71q0AVhPz60NpMuOz4f4xmnH-fPTETShIJFXK72qnGqNhf9cjS_38zMhnQ7YqDEnqZjdrLSAWxIh6Lh1Syblc0Ay1l3JBLptticgYPVQ/s320/EF69F621-6C83-4DEC-A14B-919C09C9062A.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As if James’s birthday couldn’t get any better we saw out the day with a Banjo Paterson performance by champion bush poet Gregory North at the North Gregory Hotel in the afternoon. Banjo wrote Waltzing Matilda on a nearby station. Gregory North was excellent (and you can hear it all for yourself on Spotify).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2mu_0gOeszjuLS2zYGXqN5leVVl16P4UoOJo67Jc94iye7ADrgnG_qQEia1OZYUMO9lOZttWpq-_NbGIASqEwTbaCbCoLd_rwyRg-h21PIz46VxHVpBJkjrWEfATz-rGFCyLc10cgKtXnt14QlCCuYe66Pn5VGIMlajOz5xybLNlgqsVuhh7S6VNyVA/s4032/2BF03A06-D9B4-4E2E-9E6A-82FC738C69BA.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2mu_0gOeszjuLS2zYGXqN5leVVl16P4UoOJo67Jc94iye7ADrgnG_qQEia1OZYUMO9lOZttWpq-_NbGIASqEwTbaCbCoLd_rwyRg-h21PIz46VxHVpBJkjrWEfATz-rGFCyLc10cgKtXnt14QlCCuYe66Pn5VGIMlajOz5xybLNlgqsVuhh7S6VNyVA/s320/2BF03A06-D9B4-4E2E-9E6A-82FC738C69BA.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On day 2 we headed 110kms south west of Winton to Lark Quarry Dinosaur Trackways National Monument to see the only fossilised remains of a dinosaur stampede to be found (yet) anywhere in the world. The best explanation for the site is a carnivorous big dinosaur disturbing around 150 angry chicken size dinosaurs and by some fluke it all getting covered up by sand and fossilised. Hard to get the excitement across even with photos, but it was well worth the trip. The site had been discovered by an opal hunter having a smoko back in the 1960s. It took 10 years before the right ears heard about the site and the rest is history.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH30Oy3lLqhnO42PJDaAv7owgjbQLNwbvu_yA2CGv2UCy2fkjsZE-EjLO7j3ETj5LFjKAheSb2dZuDNdOctG75Nc719PYC1HGSR6iObzlmkPt6sfxs-bPbxDZZ3nJDYI4NvkJyyBxeRTOLVRAHyFldojyE4Qp-z6p0DAXerz4uE2rTd3Xs_COA4n7jhQ/s4032/93EF2DAD-263B-4C63-A480-077DA8B8ADCC.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH30Oy3lLqhnO42PJDaAv7owgjbQLNwbvu_yA2CGv2UCy2fkjsZE-EjLO7j3ETj5LFjKAheSb2dZuDNdOctG75Nc719PYC1HGSR6iObzlmkPt6sfxs-bPbxDZZ3nJDYI4NvkJyyBxeRTOLVRAHyFldojyE4Qp-z6p0DAXerz4uE2rTd3Xs_COA4n7jhQ/s320/93EF2DAD-263B-4C63-A480-077DA8B8ADCC.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwBiLBVqF4imZOjWo1Kmu-izyMheErEJmGz6_C5tytXE86Ur6gJlEW8XOtEvfgDICFra4qMLSpNB6pdH-iypMzj1uyThAxdd42H5NcHNopQ0sSs7m34LNH_xxEv8jdR2mDcjf5JP1okaDIcmOwPwvf8334gW1RbCTcGsjzbz_iQllJNwbeBKfph9H4FQ/s4032/1123FA65-D682-4771-AE0F-62D3286757F0.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwBiLBVqF4imZOjWo1Kmu-izyMheErEJmGz6_C5tytXE86Ur6gJlEW8XOtEvfgDICFra4qMLSpNB6pdH-iypMzj1uyThAxdd42H5NcHNopQ0sSs7m34LNH_xxEv8jdR2mDcjf5JP1okaDIcmOwPwvf8334gW1RbCTcGsjzbz_iQllJNwbeBKfph9H4FQ/s320/1123FA65-D682-4771-AE0F-62D3286757F0.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After the tour we carried on away from Winton on smaller and smaller roads on a loop out to Opalton. Lots of wildlife on the way. Opalton didn’t have much to offer, not even an ice-cream for the kids. We did later pick up some boulder opal from a free fossicking box outside of a shop in Winton. Me and the kids are delighted with our haul.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1TfA_Ntln5n-nsNEVEJ5_KGPlMPHKVjFWOl0Oj0lxHd_MjZzFfjSKUuOyiWN-nwpIVL9ETm1r-yDUzzYZfe1FavgTp9Ea5YP79pqgtO-QLKEmZSQurBOYikTYb0Buui2tBjGSNCBALhqffhnMQ6Pooh0_NR_s6YQX5QlrIz2FCUlpUtECH4KLDybNwg/s4032/0F16D703-DC44-43FD-9B0F-B5D3F257553F.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1TfA_Ntln5n-nsNEVEJ5_KGPlMPHKVjFWOl0Oj0lxHd_MjZzFfjSKUuOyiWN-nwpIVL9ETm1r-yDUzzYZfe1FavgTp9Ea5YP79pqgtO-QLKEmZSQurBOYikTYb0Buui2tBjGSNCBALhqffhnMQ6Pooh0_NR_s6YQX5QlrIz2FCUlpUtECH4KLDybNwg/s320/0F16D703-DC44-43FD-9B0F-B5D3F257553F.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivlp7ltZkmiejl8K0nRW7MG9FK0MsqBAj6eBWj1Vn7s4Zqy0GaszufZ1A6LiCz19gfpCsSacuqPG3OEVy-YPsSTZAhZHfKPeu1tK897ln4ntU2CLv1dOn19ykaM_TVd3loyhbercUc7_i1_8QJpllK_k_u-U8DQRY_D_k5yf1BUDY7MPVKTOVYqMg_yQ/s4032/060A3008-F0D5-40F6-B2CF-3A361E2D9763.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivlp7ltZkmiejl8K0nRW7MG9FK0MsqBAj6eBWj1Vn7s4Zqy0GaszufZ1A6LiCz19gfpCsSacuqPG3OEVy-YPsSTZAhZHfKPeu1tK897ln4ntU2CLv1dOn19ykaM_TVd3loyhbercUc7_i1_8QJpllK_k_u-U8DQRY_D_k5yf1BUDY7MPVKTOVYqMg_yQ/s320/060A3008-F0D5-40F6-B2CF-3A361E2D9763.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Day 3 in Winton was a Winton day, starting with a tour of the sights of Bladensburg National Park including shearing shed and homestead. Winton itself had a surprising number of attractions including the Musical Fence, birthplace of Qantas monument, free hot showers at the Puma service station (which we used twice - hot artesian water round here) and most impressively the Waltzing Matilda museum, rebuilt following its complete destruction from fire in 2015. Fire seems to be quite a risk in Winton, with just about every building in town having burnt down multiple times. On arrival I’d gone to the beautiful Winton Hotel to use the drive through bottle shop only to find it closed from a fire just a week ago, likely linked to the newly installed solar panels. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyV168DpV-LohoEp7FRkdGYvm5eUHHW7RHo_qtwkkvJam_JJd_DH95tpkBTtDDeuahw1rVRSkk3w7C6nKeCkg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM-Y8fEiiAE9EGHdG-gdPMDnj1e7y_g_IqnR2v4D_F49rtkb_DsH1Rrdwn5ZeNmj8zjoTtJF2y168EU4y0JfTVkw2bWosMnP6SinybF7j6W50dbPhXwXdbd8cu_CNFSV1F_5uOl35SAXHCYCnIVuYa41yXsaTZ-SaBRajNL9Ejqqax0YRbTnqhf6b3bg/s4032/743BF59E-11F0-4BDD-9887-755CAC8DF5D6.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM-Y8fEiiAE9EGHdG-gdPMDnj1e7y_g_IqnR2v4D_F49rtkb_DsH1Rrdwn5ZeNmj8zjoTtJF2y168EU4y0JfTVkw2bWosMnP6SinybF7j6W50dbPhXwXdbd8cu_CNFSV1F_5uOl35SAXHCYCnIVuYa41yXsaTZ-SaBRajNL9Ejqqax0YRbTnqhf6b3bg/s320/743BF59E-11F0-4BDD-9887-755CAC8DF5D6.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFYQu-T3813XkgeF4VyJgMIVS4hIZmgcH3UJ-lcL7bYVfe6PQURfHBQnHLExQA3s5-0jKXAAHc0RpO8zrqFseDoyv4HfRUii0shgxCVcykv_I7uzCLmbFbZxgtjygAsPI4y9zo3uCpcJSWXeoR4UxLVaIsuWHUjB4nQIuQIO4yuqjfJ2q-nc17DAAmfA/s4032/04796683-5AEC-426D-95AE-B4024E3EBC8E.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFYQu-T3813XkgeF4VyJgMIVS4hIZmgcH3UJ-lcL7bYVfe6PQURfHBQnHLExQA3s5-0jKXAAHc0RpO8zrqFseDoyv4HfRUii0shgxCVcykv_I7uzCLmbFbZxgtjygAsPI4y9zo3uCpcJSWXeoR4UxLVaIsuWHUjB4nQIuQIO4yuqjfJ2q-nc17DAAmfA/s320/04796683-5AEC-426D-95AE-B4024E3EBC8E.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeM0ObUU5lR2d9U1MhgLzESTz9V0mi9vjuEz-ruIqBPm400OCXFV1NQud5NuC8FcO0vb7ItfOx0YQwv5V-MGciMpwpvbR_IZgVLdYEEN4IDcWBuLB3-_iyAXwJeSgjqQ_xIPmDu-tJPzFYqZNIniuDPGxdNHCdejtDxAzMEThoyltwtsloJCzFXGtwgQ/s4032/F260D50C-5B74-4087-A0D9-ACF9D543525A.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeM0ObUU5lR2d9U1MhgLzESTz9V0mi9vjuEz-ruIqBPm400OCXFV1NQud5NuC8FcO0vb7ItfOx0YQwv5V-MGciMpwpvbR_IZgVLdYEEN4IDcWBuLB3-_iyAXwJeSgjqQ_xIPmDu-tJPzFYqZNIniuDPGxdNHCdejtDxAzMEThoyltwtsloJCzFXGtwgQ/s320/F260D50C-5B74-4087-A0D9-ACF9D543525A.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div>On Friday we packed up tent for the last time for a couple of weeks and rolled out town down the Matilda Highway to Barcaldine via Longreach (site of the first Qantas flight and their first crash). We stopped at the Stockman’s Hall of Fame which again was excellent. The kids would probably have enjoyed the Qantas museum more but we’re not a democracy.</div><div><br /></div><div>Barcaldine offered a chance to catch up with washing. Sadly the drier didn’t quite cut it so we turned the motel room into a Chinese laundry. Barcaldine is the historic site of the Tree of Knowledge where shearers gathered to strike in 1891. It’s also the birthplace of the Australian Labor Party. There is a lovely monument to the now dead tree which was poisoned with 30 litres of Roundup, presumably by a Tory, in 2006.</div><div><br /></div><div>The town was abuzz with excitement for the next day’s league grand final where the sand goannas would take on the rival magpies at Blackall 100kms to the south. Every shop had a sign up, even the ones that appeared to have been closed for years. We had the best meal of our trip so far at the Union Hotel, beef sniddy for me, barramundi (bravely) for Ness. Sensational. </div><div> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOmC8NWBsJc4DMcvr9HAT8yN76i8KZtgSilKANyKDuMM6vPn2zysEVpWjGJ5QahUmy9LEIWSD2Hcam01l3T17O1FrsB7xdiueJ0Y2eYJMjkJG3XP-cPlruejgYFfi7aPxDRPOJGvV4TxDwCir-EXJghoTbllIGcDKbwylsUkd6ogE-7E3Y4roS2bypBQ/s4032/EED2002B-04CF-4C54-95FA-51BCB3EEA036.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOmC8NWBsJc4DMcvr9HAT8yN76i8KZtgSilKANyKDuMM6vPn2zysEVpWjGJ5QahUmy9LEIWSD2Hcam01l3T17O1FrsB7xdiueJ0Y2eYJMjkJG3XP-cPlruejgYFfi7aPxDRPOJGvV4TxDwCir-EXJghoTbllIGcDKbwylsUkd6ogE-7E3Y4roS2bypBQ/s320/EED2002B-04CF-4C54-95FA-51BCB3EEA036.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFgyBUBTIPSl2cmng26WFA0claysHbNABEF3al5iR1PL9I6k5VmQWTWxaISRP2AnGlqxGTye1H-aXvYXNG7AZMdAxVn4-TJypwETEBI9zpi8HhaUqATq9HZKD3WTS8GbXkFlihscWGK6mK0Fy1StoW8gcHtST_O4aYrr7sLzDrQ91Rg2853PYdoGbX7Q/s4032/5DBCA3ED-C24C-4D87-8E0F-5C734577F7A2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFgyBUBTIPSl2cmng26WFA0claysHbNABEF3al5iR1PL9I6k5VmQWTWxaISRP2AnGlqxGTye1H-aXvYXNG7AZMdAxVn4-TJypwETEBI9zpi8HhaUqATq9HZKD3WTS8GbXkFlihscWGK6mK0Fy1StoW8gcHtST_O4aYrr7sLzDrQ91Rg2853PYdoGbX7Q/s320/5DBCA3ED-C24C-4D87-8E0F-5C734577F7A2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhQggMraBTS8uCvq2R7z7Xlz51VoqtMqgFu2JCdnEnD53kiKGDr-aqQQS5WZYeyie9lQnl8cg0rgnWhPAPJSsVsZn4oFjYtFh3KWqsBN5jyKGSLUnf5Eym1vhARa5c0ebwQEMVLqlH8lecuulay4ap5CgwnJPFARUa-liv97-3_B0feH-89wxRandLlA/s4032/5184BC87-6C0A-4CC0-BFE6-5A442F78C0E1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhQggMraBTS8uCvq2R7z7Xlz51VoqtMqgFu2JCdnEnD53kiKGDr-aqQQS5WZYeyie9lQnl8cg0rgnWhPAPJSsVsZn4oFjYtFh3KWqsBN5jyKGSLUnf5Eym1vhARa5c0ebwQEMVLqlH8lecuulay4ap5CgwnJPFARUa-liv97-3_B0feH-89wxRandLlA/s320/5184BC87-6C0A-4CC0-BFE6-5A442F78C0E1.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3bcmL2K0MTfUgi6vjMfgbYlFuGrSuobqSOfgT_aSSXAGBasSP8BmqdNpcEsQMpfayO_07hfiaEaa5U0cq5VWS3JVALfkRhGZ-Ukfq2Ue_MlgiuhBL9Yn-M5lSc8AEFYrtU5KEnHwmeoY6U_YDEyPpunLPl8pr5XK_2WbyrXrWIUHT2Y5c9HkuQ_jCIw/s4032/FFB46A46-120A-4F65-92B9-26F472240635.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3bcmL2K0MTfUgi6vjMfgbYlFuGrSuobqSOfgT_aSSXAGBasSP8BmqdNpcEsQMpfayO_07hfiaEaa5U0cq5VWS3JVALfkRhGZ-Ukfq2Ue_MlgiuhBL9Yn-M5lSc8AEFYrtU5KEnHwmeoY6U_YDEyPpunLPl8pr5XK_2WbyrXrWIUHT2Y5c9HkuQ_jCIw/s320/FFB46A46-120A-4F65-92B9-26F472240635.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>On Saturday we continued our trip south east with another big drive to Mitchell. The road south the next day had also been decorated by the locals. A great cabin according to the kids, best yet. We finally got to enjoy an artesian bath - water at 40 degrees thank you very much.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii767BH7i9lfzx75pKp03_y0in7NbGij_b1UaqBPqW0vWAajZZUvM0pIvM_Vkv_sD_qOacKsK5yDWUYPWfvl2R--dni_Je87ldcaCP-MUhK29nEO6fuQO_k8fXfBZQY5earHVYR_kDaT3z5Dc_zZeY_tVUE3t71-h8uMT2pFzCxZCjk1Qhf6xkKTPavw/s4032/81E09D17-6E24-480C-B3AD-A603BACBA343.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii767BH7i9lfzx75pKp03_y0in7NbGij_b1UaqBPqW0vWAajZZUvM0pIvM_Vkv_sD_qOacKsK5yDWUYPWfvl2R--dni_Je87ldcaCP-MUhK29nEO6fuQO_k8fXfBZQY5earHVYR_kDaT3z5Dc_zZeY_tVUE3t71-h8uMT2pFzCxZCjk1Qhf6xkKTPavw/s320/81E09D17-6E24-480C-B3AD-A603BACBA343.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Today we woke to the news that the sand goannas had beaten Blackall 14-10. We carried on to Goondiwindi, from where you can almost smell New South Wales across the McIntyre River. Plenty of water in it for sure. We are about to head for a drink at the famous Victoria Hotel (once the washing is done) and then on for a Chinese at the New Dynasty. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcP0x1GTxbGFXETalD_jCn6lNsrsfIorZAH6_r5g9kgr1pFqoaaekeCwyjiOnvCyA8iCj0qzJw0ukqndUeVWdXUTDg0znue7PEfcGQ7A2TaY25Ksmtu0vAzfzmLYJh1yyrtrRPWgFbVHFCZFegmIFpKZKW2psFY74HO8cqOCMh1J8GmcwpSWh0B_mahA/s630/2EC5D2D9-998A-4556-AA82-3FB8CD58410F.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="630" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcP0x1GTxbGFXETalD_jCn6lNsrsfIorZAH6_r5g9kgr1pFqoaaekeCwyjiOnvCyA8iCj0qzJw0ukqndUeVWdXUTDg0znue7PEfcGQ7A2TaY25Ksmtu0vAzfzmLYJh1yyrtrRPWgFbVHFCZFegmIFpKZKW2psFY74HO8cqOCMh1J8GmcwpSWh0B_mahA/s320/2EC5D2D9-998A-4556-AA82-3FB8CD58410F.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Such luxury ahead of four rustic nights at Four Bull Hut in Washpool National Park. There is a locked gate 5kms from the hut and we will have 100kms of walking trails in beautiful rugged country almost to ourselves. I am very excited about this next stage before we head on to Port Macquarie to catch up with the family. We’ll have driven close to 1,500kms in four days by the time we get to Four Bull tomorrow, mostly in a south easterly direction, so the cold weather is back. Other than a light shower when packing up on day 2 of our trip we’ve not seen any rain. That was seven weeks ago so we count ourselves lucky. There was ice on the car this morning for the first time since Alice Springs and the forecast is for ice each morning at Four Bull. Luckily the place has a wood burning heater and outside fire pit with all wood provided!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><p></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04142224789928286977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3636767330920619181.post-15283726579191305922022-08-03T21:41:00.002+10:002022-08-03T21:52:24.303+10:00Across the Top part 1 - See You NT<p>We have left the Northern Territory and are now in Queensland. </p><p>First stop was Camooweal, a dusty old droving town just inside the border. We had coverage again, and also sadly a bit of extra time on our hands while Nissy P was awaiting a diagnosis from the local bush mechanic. We’d packed up on Sunday after one night here to head in to Lawn Hill. </p><p>As I was manoeuvring the car to the recycling point, the steering started to get much harder and some worrying noises were coming from under the car. Powered steering was kaput and fluid was leaking heavily. She’s a big heavy car and almost impossible to manoeuvre without assistance at low speed. There’s one mechanic in town and we get to see him at 2pm this afternoon (Monday). </p><p>There are worse places to be marooned so for now we wait and will have to see what Dave the mechanic has to say. The weather is great, there are only a handful of flies and mosquitos and there is a pub. That said, Camooweal is very much a one night destination. Most people have long evacuated by mid-morning each day. According to TripAdvisor there are only two things to do in town and one of those is to look at a statue of a drover. The other is the Drovers Camp Memorabilia shed which we did on Saturday when we arrived. </p><p>So anyway we have had some time to catch up on reading and washing and internet things. And plenty of time for catastrophising about what happens if we can’t get the car fixed, or we can’t drive it, or we do and something bad happens. I don’t fancy driving a car without proper steering the 4,000kms it is til we get home. On outback roads it might be OK, but towns will be difficult and crossing the great dividing range (twice) will be almost impossible as the steering is harder at low speeds. And what if we do more damage and lose the whole steering mechanism? Mechanics in Mount Isa are booked 4 weeks out./ These are the sorts of things that start to contaminate your mind. It took a pretty big jolt back to reality to get things back into perspective. We were with the kids at the pool when a fellow temporary Camoowealean had a medical incident and fell and cracked her head open on concrete near the bathroom. We were first responders prior to the ambulance and helicopter evacuation. She was unconscious for a long time and unresponsive. We will never know for sure whether she will have made it. Life can just change in an instant. Just awful. </p><p>I’m adding the video of the drive into Maguk which we didn’t have time to compress while in Kakadu. We had a few things shake loose on that short trip, and more again during our recent trip through Limmen National Park which I’ll get to, including a sheared mounting bar for the cargo barrier. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyUq9oXivEBnSDubRmshSsF6GMw8d6eCpsZmgkhuBjXjVmwDcOvHq6EW9IAB_VuZV47vNvxh1yc8gHSMa_7dg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><p>We were also alerted to an ABC news story on Kakadu’s <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-29/nt-croc-tourists-warned-at-cahills-crossing/101281828" target="_blank">Cahill’s Crossing</a> where we’d seen a lot of people doing the wrong thing and taking pretty big risks with the crocodiles. Only a matter of time before someone gets munched. We’ve sadly seen plenty of people doing the wrong thing, including an atypically rebellious Singaporean couple who drove the whole Reynolds Track despite it being closed (and gated) beyond Sandy Creek where we’d stayed. “Nothing wrong with the road” they told us, “just lots of fire” (which was obviously why the road had been closed). Sure they wouldn’t have tried that at home.</p><p>Anyway, back to how we got to here... </p><p>After leaving Kakadu we headed to Mataranka, stopping en route in Katherine for a restock and some fuel. We didn’t bump in to Wally and Margaret Bower this time, but we did see some friendly and dirty faces from Kakadu while we were doing our shopping. Shapes were on special at $1.75 each, compared to $6.50 at Jabiru and the bottle shop was offering an all you can carry allowance so we took full advantage.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhube_S1869JD8VLe0is5ccxtdD_IjTf1jCXOaxkyapoE0RvCx0u_hhPsAajXVW9Fsap6W3qPmUSQpYXF3fAX3azJEXIdoZtz70GiTD7JRZHjtSTMrVLkK2aPYOkTpXdfbr-IkB6BAp0tTKl83zjjN-klg5tXb9Byba-vWv-v5uOmaNobcjj_P8E5x5ZA/s4032/9EF5FD8E-47E0-4F3F-BAE1-5B681F979D65.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhube_S1869JD8VLe0is5ccxtdD_IjTf1jCXOaxkyapoE0RvCx0u_hhPsAajXVW9Fsap6W3qPmUSQpYXF3fAX3azJEXIdoZtz70GiTD7JRZHjtSTMrVLkK2aPYOkTpXdfbr-IkB6BAp0tTKl83zjjN-klg5tXb9Byba-vWv-v5uOmaNobcjj_P8E5x5ZA/s320/9EF5FD8E-47E0-4F3F-BAE1-5B681F979D65.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Couple of ferals outside the supermarket in Katherine</td></tr></tbody></table><br />We camped at Elsey National Park, outside of Mataranka for two nights. It’s an expansive campsite on the banks of the Roper River, downstream and a 15 minute drive from Mataranka’s hot springs. There are commercial caravan parks close to each of the springs but I’d recommend the national park as the quieter option, especially if our kids aren’t there.<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgVxejqr98bgVL3LjolfwgwxmC0NnEp8SPOyvJ7HygucWFiS_g6Q1DYs3009KgwCRBmnMms_qd97zp64NpyoNskAYHmaSAFvpdemNU2ch8y_l64rkPbjyEFqzp78-Vdyrt9lehlSQrgna-ZjDbwUFmH9V5DsPEBk7ajCuVaRFkfleenNNYbSfPGh6OcA/s4032/4B4755F8-529A-474F-B8E2-D86541376E8B.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgVxejqr98bgVL3LjolfwgwxmC0NnEp8SPOyvJ7HygucWFiS_g6Q1DYs3009KgwCRBmnMms_qd97zp64NpyoNskAYHmaSAFvpdemNU2ch8y_l64rkPbjyEFqzp78-Vdyrt9lehlSQrgna-ZjDbwUFmH9V5DsPEBk7ajCuVaRFkfleenNNYbSfPGh6OcA/s320/4B4755F8-529A-474F-B8E2-D86541376E8B.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Elsey National Park camp spot. The stars were amazing. Plenty of hee-hawing from donkeys each night.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNc_JKGMJZrKrYzuwVGpehpTktc5MDcxT5v0HnG9TZDdfoxScAfAjpRJKuMG4WC68RXhIvUuP5wS4eYBZJmTeUPPoO-3hIj99C9kZ4Eq7E1jkmxAgTcjTF043VKYd0LGosta0tBF2Fqejo0M1oh7F2LtkvmXiTZmO9Girr75P6emJT3SjCvkQ6yhVupg/s4032/7C208346-F3A5-40BE-9DD8-79CA7F39F373.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNc_JKGMJZrKrYzuwVGpehpTktc5MDcxT5v0HnG9TZDdfoxScAfAjpRJKuMG4WC68RXhIvUuP5wS4eYBZJmTeUPPoO-3hIj99C9kZ4Eq7E1jkmxAgTcjTF043VKYd0LGosta0tBF2Fqejo0M1oh7F2LtkvmXiTZmO9Girr75P6emJT3SjCvkQ6yhVupg/s320/7C208346-F3A5-40BE-9DD8-79CA7F39F373.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg84TftLzcMaMyKsP71LNGdl8D99QSHzOqC2nJN-4x7hemNrRCd2acmznzs3gNn1SUkPaV0uqyBUSUCtcgNooS4W2fkdvuu9mqObHNY3P2SENteJKGsdtla4Zo4kkx7t9-Xrv8IGbGvJGxlhRaidvWtbCf0AzUn2XXElGo8RzCNj_Ai5_LBxP6ASokD3A/s4032/A78540A7-4CB0-451F-B4CB-58FB79AE2366.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg84TftLzcMaMyKsP71LNGdl8D99QSHzOqC2nJN-4x7hemNrRCd2acmznzs3gNn1SUkPaV0uqyBUSUCtcgNooS4W2fkdvuu9mqObHNY3P2SENteJKGsdtla4Zo4kkx7t9-Xrv8IGbGvJGxlhRaidvWtbCf0AzUn2XXElGo8RzCNj_Ai5_LBxP6ASokD3A/s320/A78540A7-4CB0-451F-B4CB-58FB79AE2366.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-gq-H1YB6UlKM68yhypCEQmsOsTYY26ogDWDRN0fvCY8Cvll6k3lzDZHo5LJ4dKLfld2XBq2ZJ3QX6YKTVcLX42q-x_tt9-eXjTrc3DvqMZNMRUvwxpYw0nFgFyXlaBJPa4LT_72cBdzC23W57ComlGVlxehgFDljsC80faVi2VWvwScHgtZ2TdBmsg/s4032/E101E30A-CBE7-415A-9DFE-61FD39130123.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-gq-H1YB6UlKM68yhypCEQmsOsTYY26ogDWDRN0fvCY8Cvll6k3lzDZHo5LJ4dKLfld2XBq2ZJ3QX6YKTVcLX42q-x_tt9-eXjTrc3DvqMZNMRUvwxpYw0nFgFyXlaBJPa4LT_72cBdzC23W57ComlGVlxehgFDljsC80faVi2VWvwScHgtZ2TdBmsg/s320/E101E30A-CBE7-415A-9DFE-61FD39130123.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>We had a couple of lazy days enjoying the hot springs at Mataranka and nearby Bitter Springs. The water was completely clear and a steady 32 degrees, warm enough for even me to get in.</p><p>On Wednesday we headed east through Roper Bar and into the remote Limmen National Park. Limmen is now fully graduated from ‘proposed’ into a real national park. When we were last here proclamation of the park was subject to finalisation of outstanding land claims. It was initially planned to become the second largest national park in Australia, but some iron ore mining leases cut out around 1,000 square kms from the final boundary making it number three or four. </p><p>The road from Mataranka starts as a single track bitumen road. This is fine until a 59m long road train comes screaming towards you over crest at 130km and you have to get off onto the gravel on the side in a hurry. Mostly, but not always, we had a bit of warning with UHF 40 crackling if a road train was headed our way. There was also some exciting controlled burning underway which attracted lots of kites hunting the fleeing wildlife. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxQT-6m_qOWGXhbQrlJP5-RFJcs7tVqM53BaQy78FPkBb11W3dG8_GECMRz1sh8ENoD-c3JPO-9ZtqPf_Dlvg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p>After about 130kms the road turned into a bit of a corrugated mess and we were very happy to finally pull in to the Roper Bar Store for lunch and an ice-cream. It’s an incredibly well stocked shop given its location - fridge freezer for $699 anyone? Over lunch we talked to some people who had just come north out of Limmen National Park who shared some useful road condition reports. We’d been toying whether to go through Hells Gate after Limmen but some seasoned travellers were saying the road was the worst they’d ever been on (lost their fridge and two antenna). That firmed our decision to head south when we left Limmen We were told the road through Limmen was bad in parts but generally OK. WikiCamps reviews were pretty dire but one said they’d seen a grader somewhere.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimasawOz4q6dMi7ut7RKfsjX_gfPOyqQs6qTpcRSAXuNOW0KFurjh5RVyR9eGFlVV5WYji9QKZDAdtSemNaUUHaE7NA4gGcoYcrsjH6g17eab_Nfn-FfjwmB9E-RQwOwQYsI16Cq4oZeVdu4Uz64WEKKpnro9c_RtcCaXKUR3jjr7Q1abIrsPnUR9cvQ/s714/1437175C-94F1-4473-897A-EFD3749019C3.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="429" data-original-width="714" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimasawOz4q6dMi7ut7RKfsjX_gfPOyqQs6qTpcRSAXuNOW0KFurjh5RVyR9eGFlVV5WYji9QKZDAdtSemNaUUHaE7NA4gGcoYcrsjH6g17eab_Nfn-FfjwmB9E-RQwOwQYsI16Cq4oZeVdu4Uz64WEKKpnro9c_RtcCaXKUR3jjr7Q1abIrsPnUR9cvQ/s320/1437175C-94F1-4473-897A-EFD3749019C3.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roper Bar store, come and grab a fridge</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>After lunch we turned into Limmen National Park and headed the remaining 40kms to Munbililla / Tomato Island spot. The road was better than we expected. On arrival at the campsite we were amazed to see green grass, but drove straight past the Tent Camping area sign assuming it was day use and instead camped 500m further along the river at the end of the campsite. This made for a 1km round trip to the dunnies and J-Loo as she is now known is a reluctant coopy downer. All good for the step count. The 4G coverage and excellent facilities were most unexpected. We found a lovely shady spot and I got some firewood for a damper. The kids made friends with a French /Chinese /Australian family who had the best colour coordinated Ute and trailer we’d seen and were travelling for a year. Their youngest Wei Wei joined us for marshmallows after dinner. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6vhqgOWp8mq4BGYMhoKdw0NdmHiFOu_8qJpddZbFlHSASn6Vov8L-SER4mnHISUNreUqQUjaPvWaiKCHwwX5oQa5SKbMii979QvSz1qpN9Cw6adWbREzqww4Mm2EvaGtXKDJ5lbg210Io84xIUM9EsLzMVggjpmbZ7XOGntYKhfQp213G4-rqFRPzRw/s4032/39E7E4FD-DABF-40DD-8EC7-0DF9BAA5723F.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6vhqgOWp8mq4BGYMhoKdw0NdmHiFOu_8qJpddZbFlHSASn6Vov8L-SER4mnHISUNreUqQUjaPvWaiKCHwwX5oQa5SKbMii979QvSz1qpN9Cw6adWbREzqww4Mm2EvaGtXKDJ5lbg210Io84xIUM9EsLzMVggjpmbZ7XOGntYKhfQp213G4-rqFRPzRw/s320/39E7E4FD-DABF-40DD-8EC7-0DF9BAA5723F.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXa0E9vMKi3fJ2vCZ0LUsjo_AgvUv4y9eqC9ONVy9VcuZYEvl0D7_mBtoxBOHlRtxYHysnM0827huk0HYobzp05kYXn5kAfMGMy7cws-PJqcZDFpbDktLANBL92L3L-d8eGoddTe_z3dggDj02O2Dw4JcyxCiZvgJYLE3M2EwjsHAQg8FhVk6BZ_GHlg/s4032/B8D6F7C9-FBE0-41C4-9B17-D34CA0FB5FEE.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXa0E9vMKi3fJ2vCZ0LUsjo_AgvUv4y9eqC9ONVy9VcuZYEvl0D7_mBtoxBOHlRtxYHysnM0827huk0HYobzp05kYXn5kAfMGMy7cws-PJqcZDFpbDktLANBL92L3L-d8eGoddTe_z3dggDj02O2Dw4JcyxCiZvgJYLE3M2EwjsHAQg8FhVk6BZ_GHlg/s320/B8D6F7C9-FBE0-41C4-9B17-D34CA0FB5FEE.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>With hindsight we should have stayed longer, but the next morning we headed on a further 160 or so kms to Butterfly Falls. The Parks NT website promised beautiful falls, swimming hole and butterflies so we’d booked in for three nights. The road started pretty good but after 30kms turned very very ordinary. We passed some cattle musterers driving bull catchers like you see on the TV, old converted 4WDs with side arms supported by a spotting helicopter. We let some air out of the tyres which helped a bit but we had around 40kms of shaky road, holes and bull dust. We were just commenting that the one road sign we’d not seen much of on this trip was “Road Plant Ahead” when one magically appeared, shortly followed by a grader. The road improved markedly along with our mood but we were still held up for close to an hour by a 4WD caravan which had come unhitched during a creek crossing. </p><p>After a quick stop at the deserted ranger station we arrived at Butterfly Falls to find a deserted campground. The spot we’d booked turned out to be the only one without any shade. This exposed one of the problems with the online national parks booking system for very remote areas. You need coverage to make any amendments. Travel plans in remote areas change for many unexpected reasons. We’d left coverage back at Munbililla. So we had the choice of setting up in a dust bowl in 35 degree heat, or choose a site that probably wouldn’t be taken but risk someone showing up after dark. Anyway the drier than normal wet season meant that the falls weren’t falling and the swimming hole was just a stagnant pool, This was attracting cattle whose poo was supporting a healthy number of flies. So we didn’t hang around to see what the mosquitoes were like and headed on to the Southern Lost City.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP0xPCdVZgD_t9RMJ_1UOICwH90LFBy4IgRe3B0sbGz3bznytWR7k1k5gSvI4EYNj3UEi71oV2TUrslcqEVP5VY2_8QI7E87xfuO0KiI_ojeY6Fn17TJTe76xI5pUl48N-TDmHSYfOBi_rWibtes53eKjwp7vExLvgpAc9MaMDoBIuMP_mI4r6dJU6Ow/s4032/54E5223D-4BD2-4721-BC4A-EE36D6C689E7.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP0xPCdVZgD_t9RMJ_1UOICwH90LFBy4IgRe3B0sbGz3bznytWR7k1k5gSvI4EYNj3UEi71oV2TUrslcqEVP5VY2_8QI7E87xfuO0KiI_ojeY6Fn17TJTe76xI5pUl48N-TDmHSYfOBi_rWibtes53eKjwp7vExLvgpAc9MaMDoBIuMP_mI4r6dJU6Ow/s320/54E5223D-4BD2-4721-BC4A-EE36D6C689E7.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHqs_tw8aM9fY_YcuErBoDVW5VB7WgztlzPqutMfBaXE4zYK9vahnzFYEQtKh8EH-6FgkZw49q8Y_kcmUREtb0_vBZMHipDqLoD9O_ap2mz-w2Bs7sguSNDJdEqpZBq_YitQlInIuWAfejo-zbHzKTxmiwwjEwSj0j00RVLuJ_FQugbJNneUlDg-gl1A/s4032/82DCADE8-A056-461A-B143-83E43A6D46C2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHqs_tw8aM9fY_YcuErBoDVW5VB7WgztlzPqutMfBaXE4zYK9vahnzFYEQtKh8EH-6FgkZw49q8Y_kcmUREtb0_vBZMHipDqLoD9O_ap2mz-w2Bs7sguSNDJdEqpZBq_YitQlInIuWAfejo-zbHzKTxmiwwjEwSj0j00RVLuJ_FQugbJNneUlDg-gl1A/s320/82DCADE8-A056-461A-B143-83E43A6D46C2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWAV_Oj5dzucEFkPMfEdZIdGpqp-v8sGqQN68PNJfmHGH7LBPxw4ICCmpXta8g35M6LMisFyIyANDmwmEK5Ca4yWGsPVmUrEypuNkrhmopEPy4Zl0jdJF2gcW9zsTrCsVwUF3b5pmfvPKPvp9qo5XGY5KKsQzlyiT4xrjfKfHGauSlEnZiXnB9u-ggUA/s4032/78328F0D-C4D9-474C-89C2-EFFB54761038.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWAV_Oj5dzucEFkPMfEdZIdGpqp-v8sGqQN68PNJfmHGH7LBPxw4ICCmpXta8g35M6LMisFyIyANDmwmEK5Ca4yWGsPVmUrEypuNkrhmopEPy4Zl0jdJF2gcW9zsTrCsVwUF3b5pmfvPKPvp9qo5XGY5KKsQzlyiT4xrjfKfHGauSlEnZiXnB9u-ggUA/s320/78328F0D-C4D9-474C-89C2-EFFB54761038.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZKqXlQsAlsy9MFLhP5Uh1HyXI56wHwN2bENvzimODLuGedy3uQLc3PQFihWSmhQdXaCg55wGTFjiGWxxfV9vZSDUwF-NM2LNh-w6NbQuogVE_U-4o9z6ngirU4OSS5r0DwgwaimJ7Ap-0uXQ3GocgmoVVqDbWXkD2TOzzXdLxs3RBGBR4ire8_ELiw/s4032/A00BC225-1F15-4917-84C4-ED7931094443.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZKqXlQsAlsy9MFLhP5Uh1HyXI56wHwN2bENvzimODLuGedy3uQLc3PQFihWSmhQdXaCg55wGTFjiGWxxfV9vZSDUwF-NM2LNh-w6NbQuogVE_U-4o9z6ngirU4OSS5r0DwgwaimJ7Ap-0uXQ3GocgmoVVqDbWXkD2TOzzXdLxs3RBGBR4ire8_ELiw/s320/A00BC225-1F15-4917-84C4-ED7931094443.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2HcggePJruJoFvafry2-gvU3TrChvaznKWKMWc1gDSGbuxTx_Jhll7YyiJ8yeZNCtJ63X4p9Jik4patxParpa40Lh8mlhpIZLaCvk6XDTrc8dM8ZU9wZNtqqMer77vh4U8W7mth1NsY6fyWrebIMDpN9xp8gUuckFvVuA_ffGmhRs7ACtJfAqyZBfcw/s4032/F578CFAE-F9C7-4EA2-98FA-B11AB6692A10.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2HcggePJruJoFvafry2-gvU3TrChvaznKWKMWc1gDSGbuxTx_Jhll7YyiJ8yeZNCtJ63X4p9Jik4patxParpa40Lh8mlhpIZLaCvk6XDTrc8dM8ZU9wZNtqqMer77vh4U8W7mth1NsY6fyWrebIMDpN9xp8gUuckFvVuA_ffGmhRs7ACtJfAqyZBfcw/s320/F578CFAE-F9C7-4EA2-98FA-B11AB6692A10.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Southern Lost City has five allocated camp spots but fortunately plenty of day use and drive through areas. This supported the 20 or so groups actually camped there for the night, most there a day or two either side of when they were planning. We’d paid for three nights at Butterfly Falls so didn’t feel too bad. We put the tent up alongside some other squatters in a drive through space. The online system is still new here and apparently the rangers aren’t policing it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We packed up early before the heat arrived and stopped for morning tea just outside of Limmen at the Heartbreak Hotel Roadhouse at Cape Crawford. It was mid renovations and we decided to push on the 400kms across the tablelands to the Barkly highway.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7isE7fgVphxxhYb43pSgrqYv-Pj6UOWC5Jqe2nflSrJzayXn9KbhBl-frIWqoG3C7j9iTiqHHT2Eaynaw83aV9uQunE5BekWtevP53mmeHrsK7slyf75BFqnk-7zHf1t4FdxCjsJLOKAfh65niR9pDAuuXEM-n3tvbkZHOpDpWaoMXqztx_XuEBJaLw/s4032/89B9BA04-7B92-4407-89EF-430A0A856305.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7isE7fgVphxxhYb43pSgrqYv-Pj6UOWC5Jqe2nflSrJzayXn9KbhBl-frIWqoG3C7j9iTiqHHT2Eaynaw83aV9uQunE5BekWtevP53mmeHrsK7slyf75BFqnk-7zHf1t4FdxCjsJLOKAfh65niR9pDAuuXEM-n3tvbkZHOpDpWaoMXqztx_XuEBJaLw/s320/89B9BA04-7B92-4407-89EF-430A0A856305.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The road was mostly dead straight and like the road out Limmen was mostly single track so there was occasional slowing down sufficiently for oncoming vehicles that you could safely put two wheels on the gravel.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg774purfGuw04mvWDiRvug02B_ky736A4oEPL7nNVivkpjM4eA-vAXpR7pyiGECaO2897_XP5x7YIH0aTW9O7caPGcnztsDd-Jp3PhSAI1pM13xXGtQr0qkD4adIxtStNfbd1QwKSjA7tZpSwnwdf-xma3m9bJmJYyrLAHDlGSn9zxM4D_5Ty-aO8SMA/s16350/53CA00C7-D849-4AE5-B5ED-B01BDC12C777.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3718" data-original-width="16350" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg774purfGuw04mvWDiRvug02B_ky736A4oEPL7nNVivkpjM4eA-vAXpR7pyiGECaO2897_XP5x7YIH0aTW9O7caPGcnztsDd-Jp3PhSAI1pM13xXGtQr0qkD4adIxtStNfbd1QwKSjA7tZpSwnwdf-xma3m9bJmJYyrLAHDlGSn9zxM4D_5Ty-aO8SMA/s320/53CA00C7-D849-4AE5-B5ED-B01BDC12C777.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvYBSmzjoZqcsnJRuwyAeT5vzos3w2Nde17tRH3gq2EjMzLvUuXDJa1q9i0xDmeaCJv0CFWu_JgAGMVvUd9zQp7IX1km6ylllbT20SuePzQdUwrfyFa_TP3peGgb1eV-rLddVhtSm6whiVlXUHu8fnrhsBnOzPSQjAx_wZyrKAXBwAmpcdj6RycL5A4g/s4032/73AE805A-CC22-48F7-A946-28A1F552DE91.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvYBSmzjoZqcsnJRuwyAeT5vzos3w2Nde17tRH3gq2EjMzLvUuXDJa1q9i0xDmeaCJv0CFWu_JgAGMVvUd9zQp7IX1km6ylllbT20SuePzQdUwrfyFa_TP3peGgb1eV-rLddVhtSm6whiVlXUHu8fnrhsBnOzPSQjAx_wZyrKAXBwAmpcdj6RycL5A4g/s320/73AE805A-CC22-48F7-A946-28A1F552DE91.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was a massive day in the car, but well rewarded with a surprise free gig from Kasey Chambers and her dad at Barkly Homestead. Tired camping facilities but the bar and restaurant were excellent. We met some lovely people, including Michelle from Lismore who was off to see her son in Alice for the first time in two years. She was still living with her brother months after the February floods which had seen 5 feet of water in her single storey house. After my own trip back to the UK in May it made me very emotional to think how important this trip is for Michelle, but another reminder of how delicate our stability is and how quickly our worlds can be completely turned upside down.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04142224789928286977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3636767330920619181.post-36766247832999171882022-08-01T15:10:00.000+10:002022-08-01T15:10:36.621+10:00Thank you Kakadu!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am writing this from very sunny Camooweal, just inside the Queensland border with NT, we got here 2 days ago and have had an unexpectedly extended stay due to some issues with the Patrol - will get to that later...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I will use this opportunity to post some pictures of our 5 days in the remarkable Kakadu National Park, in no particular order.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1FleElZC7xvX1IT-MQ-tpNm95Z0tbS9BxjjWt8GOx2UsBPRlqN8PtKIAiF0TV5z-sBtDmiux8GgPUSJPuqaD6iWZs9d1dyqLL_Y1eVN8g89ru3beJD2X6lmXI2QRXbPLl6XBstkq45dg9/s4032/0FA82E3F-E16F-46B5-AF45-6C0302133476.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1FleElZC7xvX1IT-MQ-tpNm95Z0tbS9BxjjWt8GOx2UsBPRlqN8PtKIAiF0TV5z-sBtDmiux8GgPUSJPuqaD6iWZs9d1dyqLL_Y1eVN8g89ru3beJD2X6lmXI2QRXbPLl6XBstkq45dg9/s320/0FA82E3F-E16F-46B5-AF45-6C0302133476.heic" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nawurlandja lookout</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQoR97HBZoPVKMdVt0UHbfDxx3PhIgiohT2lRU1XxQXTwt3ucPOutdenIiAyldVkXJ8-ClgAZSAF4Nc0jYm_lLkoodkv_eM-BSZNa-Vs1kBfbia10yavkCyhMb6O1JMHOO3FqmDVTOq4DY/s4032/1A302D4C-7472-4004-9A24-668EBC962C67.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQoR97HBZoPVKMdVt0UHbfDxx3PhIgiohT2lRU1XxQXTwt3ucPOutdenIiAyldVkXJ8-ClgAZSAF4Nc0jYm_lLkoodkv_eM-BSZNa-Vs1kBfbia10yavkCyhMb6O1JMHOO3FqmDVTOq4DY/s320/1A302D4C-7472-4004-9A24-668EBC962C67.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After a days walking I was ready for a swim - probably should wash my legs before getting in the pool. Kakadu was hot, dry and dusty.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7pXaWpciYE04bY0EiavabQaO39NAkT1jG5xC1tukT5hg9Qh_SQuV8xX6993knYSkvttdC1_oLPTZ0fgqY1oyaoO_M-GKJ-kM85UqzLyGrfZMKtIUgjJTo9pTSnKBmiiWPTnrKLZaMdith/s4032/1BD05B1B-8065-47EA-BBFA-16F3DD600011.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7pXaWpciYE04bY0EiavabQaO39NAkT1jG5xC1tukT5hg9Qh_SQuV8xX6993knYSkvttdC1_oLPTZ0fgqY1oyaoO_M-GKJ-kM85UqzLyGrfZMKtIUgjJTo9pTSnKBmiiWPTnrKLZaMdith/w240-h320/1BD05B1B-8065-47EA-BBFA-16F3DD600011.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lagoon style pool at Jabiru caravan park in Kakadu (that I washed my legs for) where we spent most afternoons lounging, swimming and generally just having a really nice time. Restaurant and bar opened at the very reasonable time of 4:30pm. Very cold beer, we won some stubby holders, and had a great meal there.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7hXgr4EXa3c4LeOT0dnGO-uksax9LeAiVs_Wt5EjYj-SOVqS1e4-mOJh87d_QmdoAy25FHR3ny-LsAp584oQTEgYehucf0vRxhdHGKOqWaYs8mrC2fbuy-N3vA2Il5lLNM8he_HxKr-Jt/s4032/2D0E69FE-6849-4F51-A428-37706A23F889.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7hXgr4EXa3c4LeOT0dnGO-uksax9LeAiVs_Wt5EjYj-SOVqS1e4-mOJh87d_QmdoAy25FHR3ny-LsAp584oQTEgYehucf0vRxhdHGKOqWaYs8mrC2fbuy-N3vA2Il5lLNM8he_HxKr-Jt/s320/2D0E69FE-6849-4F51-A428-37706A23F889.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"More than 1000 species of flies" - 'nuff said really. To be honest the flies weren't as bad as I recalled; most likely down to the very dry conditions, and the dry wet season they had had.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7DdCJAHE65F4tfCSt5Wv4A56PbFebvf7oIfK5YseDJJLN-RIv3gQamq31ZUYug8wlFKI7XRgjXexQqGlEqFGbRIicMD-gT1h4kJeBCh59XIyM5HZPOxUUUv5PlIDD6wCEHqfAwqL1R24E/s4032/3F936ABD-4139-4D33-B701-FE4C09734513.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7DdCJAHE65F4tfCSt5Wv4A56PbFebvf7oIfK5YseDJJLN-RIv3gQamq31ZUYug8wlFKI7XRgjXexQqGlEqFGbRIicMD-gT1h4kJeBCh59XIyM5HZPOxUUUv5PlIDD6wCEHqfAwqL1R24E/s320/3F936ABD-4139-4D33-B701-FE4C09734513.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top of Ubirr</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrgXSc4WBacDiYqAHcN_GTEmUMo4R4nylrXsXkGdlqxtUsaAOsz_Iu1mBa6PQOLNE85240TCKNhEHPfoLi3rtC4DgBsTeujg1pzHkx9MJD8VbOo9UIY29PdaYKhxx7g6sCuUyHYvWBYcGJ/s4032/4F6598DA-CE13-4843-99E6-05C578F1FE06.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrgXSc4WBacDiYqAHcN_GTEmUMo4R4nylrXsXkGdlqxtUsaAOsz_Iu1mBa6PQOLNE85240TCKNhEHPfoLi3rtC4DgBsTeujg1pzHkx9MJD8VbOo9UIY29PdaYKhxx7g6sCuUyHYvWBYcGJ/s320/4F6598DA-CE13-4843-99E6-05C578F1FE06.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crocodile - Yellow Water sunrise boat trip. Amazing the first time, blew us away again!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqVuFg8lbW3CTqWjR0kYDNetaIUsbjGlU-51zj0MfsE4SB3r7Ch5TBWKvD_WijG_X6hXEi9IR_EPH7QW99g05oK1-r-olNRBdYL4EYo_Lc_59mUSI-PsPCfsNAe6RaymaiAHxiAI27g3Li/s4032/4FA453BA-66A3-4B19-9D7D-D4C2C47E7E04.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqVuFg8lbW3CTqWjR0kYDNetaIUsbjGlU-51zj0MfsE4SB3r7Ch5TBWKvD_WijG_X6hXEi9IR_EPH7QW99g05oK1-r-olNRBdYL4EYo_Lc_59mUSI-PsPCfsNAe6RaymaiAHxiAI27g3Li/s320/4FA453BA-66A3-4B19-9D7D-D4C2C47E7E04.heic" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sun rising over Yellow Water</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNlPzwlQQIKcZ7de0B0wmBzhMo53vEgyLc8TlmjU5XhIljMA6UIcn7bA4a-osJT756T4u4swURis57Q7uDwT9yE9mf-CTh_ifX7XqwQBwKV45HPKf0m8lL2xfeMDKl8dSEge83GjYA5KN7/s4032/5FACEC69-E6F2-4958-B1CC-E8DD43864D01.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNlPzwlQQIKcZ7de0B0wmBzhMo53vEgyLc8TlmjU5XhIljMA6UIcn7bA4a-osJT756T4u4swURis57Q7uDwT9yE9mf-CTh_ifX7XqwQBwKV45HPKf0m8lL2xfeMDKl8dSEge83GjYA5KN7/s320/5FACEC69-E6F2-4958-B1CC-E8DD43864D01.heic" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Like mother, like daughter - looking for the birdies at Mamukala wetlands</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1_AGzxKDVcd9omqmmGJAvSVzDKS5LoheUcOSTd0QxmD8vvzRjPsSzGopoHA-SGJVSlCuelLcvof_iLsZk5DHdoFLWLcYkLVHgO8r6r3lgDBdrZxP6VLgKd-zM3JDcDd35x4-7H9BX1NJF/s4032/6AAD989F-7929-44D5-9031-41C7E5E2F852.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1_AGzxKDVcd9omqmmGJAvSVzDKS5LoheUcOSTd0QxmD8vvzRjPsSzGopoHA-SGJVSlCuelLcvof_iLsZk5DHdoFLWLcYkLVHgO8r6r3lgDBdrZxP6VLgKd-zM3JDcDd35x4-7H9BX1NJF/s320/6AAD989F-7929-44D5-9031-41C7E5E2F852.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking up an enormous conglomerate slab to watch the sunset from Nawurlandja lookout - hazy purple range in the distance is the Arnhem Land escarpment</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihcNYnE_Ax2xvPxiDCNWsDB4VfDhn7VXMBu11PyiBCQ346BasdWseodpU0FxBe0_n9G59T9E1blYeR1ZQE4ScbgIuKS-cF01ZBoUvxRX0JW-q-Nvp3nxdnzaF-ys1tO9elxLUwps8SFKGD/s4032/6CE8D3B4-4579-4474-BC34-92B7EA7D1BF1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihcNYnE_Ax2xvPxiDCNWsDB4VfDhn7VXMBu11PyiBCQ346BasdWseodpU0FxBe0_n9G59T9E1blYeR1ZQE4ScbgIuKS-cF01ZBoUvxRX0JW-q-Nvp3nxdnzaF-ys1tO9elxLUwps8SFKGD/s320/6CE8D3B4-4579-4474-BC34-92B7EA7D1BF1.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jem at Nourlangie, resting in the shade during a walk</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh39uxstcAD3LLBnX0mpO5QgF_145DKZPdAws_r6O9wYHei0XHTjMc3RX3ntaM3Cx7dK4SLjCCPtED48Q5t0tAeLSgP1LCX00uXzF1Lf3cqyl3GgDzA-NvfdFWXiQB7izL86nUJcUmA1NKw/s4032/9E79EC37-AA96-45E2-ACE0-13DC2AA8AEEB.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh39uxstcAD3LLBnX0mpO5QgF_145DKZPdAws_r6O9wYHei0XHTjMc3RX3ntaM3Cx7dK4SLjCCPtED48Q5t0tAeLSgP1LCX00uXzF1Lf3cqyl3GgDzA-NvfdFWXiQB7izL86nUJcUmA1NKw/s320/9E79EC37-AA96-45E2-ACE0-13DC2AA8AEEB.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bowali visitors centre - the kids with part of the display, an enormous python</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqfpuHojxMn2eh2mvLeWNTfHqykVTN7dx9lVrqrV87yaLKkhCm9AVHCetbKBUDL9MAJ3kVyW-TvsB9GUv4LzP3w0j1avj5jyZrZomvCSaTewfYBiv08bWNmDvHU_2AG8G6iJfyThAmNK_c/s4032/23D23586-EB9D-431B-9725-3EBFF1482471.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqfpuHojxMn2eh2mvLeWNTfHqykVTN7dx9lVrqrV87yaLKkhCm9AVHCetbKBUDL9MAJ3kVyW-TvsB9GUv4LzP3w0j1avj5jyZrZomvCSaTewfYBiv08bWNmDvHU_2AG8G6iJfyThAmNK_c/s320/23D23586-EB9D-431B-9725-3EBFF1482471.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading out on the croc-safe boardwalk on the Kungarre walk near the South Alligator region in Kakadu.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqm0EiP3XrrqIsqRehlfyWfa9UHpx8rUtHIy2yOPwNy1-YwzDYkUI-sR6D_ERjuYyS5njjqOoxsZO2GHlbIqWHDFcnqVg5Rz3oAQcsmTmcl0kBdQvdGem8iHbEW_UOd7dh_V3YdQ0JVeU8/s4032/27FFA761-9A92-4B07-94A8-18881C6715FE.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqm0EiP3XrrqIsqRehlfyWfa9UHpx8rUtHIy2yOPwNy1-YwzDYkUI-sR6D_ERjuYyS5njjqOoxsZO2GHlbIqWHDFcnqVg5Rz3oAQcsmTmcl0kBdQvdGem8iHbEW_UOd7dh_V3YdQ0JVeU8/s320/27FFA761-9A92-4B07-94A8-18881C6715FE.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What is bird is that? James has become an avid bird spotter and watcher. The bird in question here was the Spangled Drongo -fabulous name!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQgeo2yfCXSTI7e2ibDyTmCGSlgEqC1hzL_Sg8zxQaGA_dEkUPVcLVv-w3pNd2mRXXhA2fpLahDMklL1MAYez9ZRFCUFcLKy9AWqbRjyYIqM2pcNpxJmulssaeTMG2bmJsa5MB9uGBTeQt/s4032/36F021ED-54BF-4C87-AB19-2543971F4521.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQgeo2yfCXSTI7e2ibDyTmCGSlgEqC1hzL_Sg8zxQaGA_dEkUPVcLVv-w3pNd2mRXXhA2fpLahDMklL1MAYez9ZRFCUFcLKy9AWqbRjyYIqM2pcNpxJmulssaeTMG2bmJsa5MB9uGBTeQt/s320/36F021ED-54BF-4C87-AB19-2543971F4521.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another hot day, another walk - this time to Mirray lookout with 360 degree views over the northern part of Kakadu. It was 1km straight up.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcc8EXuZvgWUvCO3TNM4USZPkt7zoI2kBfzx9rZQQ_x6VbfiktEve450ifyiDDZ9UJB4DH_4CndZRBV-hGUK9Jo2LjT6XNOXq4-jx1AFeJcx-rRyQj3MxxruYC_rTOO-1CR-txfrDj4X2r/s4032/49ECF1A1-0249-4A45-A8A6-AC1E964EF6EF.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcc8EXuZvgWUvCO3TNM4USZPkt7zoI2kBfzx9rZQQ_x6VbfiktEve450ifyiDDZ9UJB4DH_4CndZRBV-hGUK9Jo2LjT6XNOXq4-jx1AFeJcx-rRyQj3MxxruYC_rTOO-1CR-txfrDj4X2r/s320/49ECF1A1-0249-4A45-A8A6-AC1E964EF6EF.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">High fashion in Jabiru township - Jemma was delighted to see that the 'The Friendly Grocer" sold bread, ham, cheese and dresses! </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG4Gbd1b9xA2TnGPH6523b-ro7yslmESDT5iulWsWMT5njf5ByjEQfnclp-80SKnSevrUXUh_8USx1_H-SvW0PxnSGor5XSiKme1lezPQms30N7pHcrZwTUuwXnsKMX3w4sbdXWKvZv5yG/s4032/60F7B63D-A751-43F8-B9C0-FFBC8149C7D1.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG4Gbd1b9xA2TnGPH6523b-ro7yslmESDT5iulWsWMT5njf5ByjEQfnclp-80SKnSevrUXUh_8USx1_H-SvW0PxnSGor5XSiKme1lezPQms30N7pHcrZwTUuwXnsKMX3w4sbdXWKvZv5yG/s320/60F7B63D-A751-43F8-B9C0-FFBC8149C7D1.heic" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snacks at the top of Nawurlandja</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMV2-zrbvgEtHgkm5x0xWFFQruRzSjK3re7De1HEhve5Kv88XsJj3r2DcXSBdQg2Szw17HPOjl-KYFlnhtvic8hEX3eK1j4xnkcrCm_RpTiz6CSI-VsCfkBnwXV_wKecdmta8Tt2roBo9/s4032/78F9CC96-3D67-4843-912D-27D43FA2EC73.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMV2-zrbvgEtHgkm5x0xWFFQruRzSjK3re7De1HEhve5Kv88XsJj3r2DcXSBdQg2Szw17HPOjl-KYFlnhtvic8hEX3eK1j4xnkcrCm_RpTiz6CSI-VsCfkBnwXV_wKecdmta8Tt2roBo9/s320/78F9CC96-3D67-4843-912D-27D43FA2EC73.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow Water sunrise cruise - this boy was captivated for every single one of the 120 minutes of the cruise, spinning his head this way and that to see all the wildlife including brolgas, black necked storks, white bellied sea eagles fishing, crocodiles, sacred kingfishers, hilarious Nankeen night-herons, cormorants and snake-necked darters, egrets, ibis, lots of different kinds of ducks, feral pigs, water buffalo - the whole box and dice!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ4UVTrUL2oVEV-DmtO88xcygcKatkc_Qn9NLX5hXOr5ECHgcjCv0rIY5ZZBIFciDP-3kCdjVFt4ecldHEngWsyRNxMESaPZ1b7gYu-9E-Kx38dikoa2eeYuoU8dgwauHRoPhwBqwId3H4/s4032/79C64F05-CC79-42E5-AE04-A8150E8C72A2.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ4UVTrUL2oVEV-DmtO88xcygcKatkc_Qn9NLX5hXOr5ECHgcjCv0rIY5ZZBIFciDP-3kCdjVFt4ecldHEngWsyRNxMESaPZ1b7gYu-9E-Kx38dikoa2eeYuoU8dgwauHRoPhwBqwId3H4/s320/79C64F05-CC79-42E5-AE04-A8150E8C72A2.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cooinda (Yellow Water) pontoon in predawn light before we boarded the cruise. It was unseasonably cold which made for extremely dramatic mist and a very red sun peeking over the horizon.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm9Avowq0k6yBUoRcH_atoqopn_Hrg1lU50eEuliRjvYpm_GXTagRC2rdehvLq9rc8VyBb4yE6RUKsltqXmqb7cBaLX08mxy3eBAD0VfGnB9Tgnbm4kRsd6BIlSFUjfkZaYbwM6eARfLUF/s4032/89B0D286-3D0D-4F4E-A246-523E23C89FC5.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm9Avowq0k6yBUoRcH_atoqopn_Hrg1lU50eEuliRjvYpm_GXTagRC2rdehvLq9rc8VyBb4yE6RUKsltqXmqb7cBaLX08mxy3eBAD0VfGnB9Tgnbm4kRsd6BIlSFUjfkZaYbwM6eARfLUF/s320/89B0D286-3D0D-4F4E-A246-523E23C89FC5.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not sure what this flower is but Jem thought it very pretty and asked that I take a photo - 'leave only footprints, take only photos' being the golden rule in National Parks</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUrOoDtGStVjXjLzzNktdpb9DFLnSS1p7FPzx3ngoYp1tMxOkHJLE0sudiUk0w3fK5ac5mTx_6wYN-ve1KdOEAPBoHZdqd806s0xuYyuJ_usHiv9j4-5q_rfkrqCFhLnSvzSnCJueacaD/s4032/179B88E4-586A-410E-9F22-EB548CB276A3.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUrOoDtGStVjXjLzzNktdpb9DFLnSS1p7FPzx3ngoYp1tMxOkHJLE0sudiUk0w3fK5ac5mTx_6wYN-ve1KdOEAPBoHZdqd806s0xuYyuJ_usHiv9j4-5q_rfkrqCFhLnSvzSnCJueacaD/s320/179B88E4-586A-410E-9F22-EB548CB276A3.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow Water sunrise</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUbm2Z0Wes4u5FQxbpGElQKr594lynAWkdqIRHfJ8tdW0Dy3WWwqkIcK9ZirL9aZT9Uczz7SItghBa_ZWoJJn3fPAG2jsZ1ekwESG2J_5igFR2HpumCYF3YCWl6-OBYH4YtWSQ3NLYg0eE/s4030/0811A63D-4136-4C33-AF24-3C72939EF0B5.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2551" data-original-width="4030" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUbm2Z0Wes4u5FQxbpGElQKr594lynAWkdqIRHfJ8tdW0Dy3WWwqkIcK9ZirL9aZT9Uczz7SItghBa_ZWoJJn3fPAG2jsZ1ekwESG2J_5igFR2HpumCYF3YCWl6-OBYH4YtWSQ3NLYg0eE/s320/0811A63D-4136-4C33-AF24-3C72939EF0B5.heic" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sea eagle with fish it had just plucked from the river - James (typically) was looking in the opposite direction to the rest of the boat who were watching the sunrise to the East. Luckily Andy was trigger ready!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-pQ1lEUClv8t-beZGlGlYoFCPwz5bNxn2jT00cRZRUGZ8uW-D4c6hAM8-7EeBzSPt99J1WEHu3GwcmARqT2pPfMV-E6Dtlw29-Ot0Yo8xwjrJC17sQW44k73kF37LgDaQL_AuEzgkKZ3p/s4032/2423D46F-BE68-48F2-B4F6-2EB1EC071828.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-pQ1lEUClv8t-beZGlGlYoFCPwz5bNxn2jT00cRZRUGZ8uW-D4c6hAM8-7EeBzSPt99J1WEHu3GwcmARqT2pPfMV-E6Dtlw29-Ot0Yo8xwjrJC17sQW44k73kF37LgDaQL_AuEzgkKZ3p/s320/2423D46F-BE68-48F2-B4F6-2EB1EC071828.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow Water waterlilies</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAJ_h_oqHN9FUS6IfC50XgvMCQecLN1ZwcdSHnFHMwD5_DZboirNTLc9F2A-f6oDZdNJKJaKXmvcnrExjnhqekhCyU79YbOP8LD6jIY6pyhK2xlrrwf72eFxVFyfedcORB80z5anveC5ss/s4032/2939B322-F145-463A-864D-97CA07BD4415.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAJ_h_oqHN9FUS6IfC50XgvMCQecLN1ZwcdSHnFHMwD5_DZboirNTLc9F2A-f6oDZdNJKJaKXmvcnrExjnhqekhCyU79YbOP8LD6jIY6pyhK2xlrrwf72eFxVFyfedcORB80z5anveC5ss/s320/2939B322-F145-463A-864D-97CA07BD4415.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking around Ubirr</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAhgf8t50sG8o9Ble8bm7e-dJtHuqpFNxnc3Ue9yvFvyhnd8Y5Y8biuZvzKqm9ueeA5189Cr2biHcjDYJVeCe4SG0KTNOHnPhhvgPJn_5_CtnHaT_OWDT6oDiDf5gbeV2ZLegBA4047Fu1/s4032/8069A71A-CB05-4793-BA7E-46D8B484733F.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAhgf8t50sG8o9Ble8bm7e-dJtHuqpFNxnc3Ue9yvFvyhnd8Y5Y8biuZvzKqm9ueeA5189Cr2biHcjDYJVeCe4SG0KTNOHnPhhvgPJn_5_CtnHaT_OWDT6oDiDf5gbeV2ZLegBA4047Fu1/s320/8069A71A-CB05-4793-BA7E-46D8B484733F.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More signs along the lines of 'spiky, venomous or trying to eat you', just assume it wants to hurt you!<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj1oYK6XUYjRwv9EbaMLaVv50qL9hOcYvvNtkH0db-LJcdnuDpNZHmxY4Iu1PctDdQS1uHvZ_QzEra5WEhktmzKbUOYlt18VqclKAXp2FRjx-eexI9d1wAjwujGNLh18bcSpG9lbX3st1H/s4032/32132E08-2EE1-4F43-83C3-4280966B0F08.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj1oYK6XUYjRwv9EbaMLaVv50qL9hOcYvvNtkH0db-LJcdnuDpNZHmxY4Iu1PctDdQS1uHvZ_QzEra5WEhktmzKbUOYlt18VqclKAXp2FRjx-eexI9d1wAjwujGNLh18bcSpG9lbX3st1H/s320/32132E08-2EE1-4F43-83C3-4280966B0F08.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jumping a crack at the top of Ubirr</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivChXj5kBZfu_Pd42KouCv4Mh_rKejh2eYYlB9ELAZZ0uGGQuXZeLep_bCoAm0VEGrtFmznCmkzmqIGn4S7Uc28vIGv0zxNEjD87xEVrcMSL7QyZqSSeHZS5Vlsd9Y5lqpzx3bC100yasW/s4032/39006F4C-821F-4C3C-80EA-5B2C66C0DB28.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivChXj5kBZfu_Pd42KouCv4Mh_rKejh2eYYlB9ELAZZ0uGGQuXZeLep_bCoAm0VEGrtFmznCmkzmqIGn4S7Uc28vIGv0zxNEjD87xEVrcMSL7QyZqSSeHZS5Vlsd9Y5lqpzx3bC100yasW/s320/39006F4C-821F-4C3C-80EA-5B2C66C0DB28.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glorious sunrise Yellow Water</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZo40Q6al-rsl7-EH9HiXC9uIYKd0fXVUU9RdOky9wafAufQFuXa90W3zoS3LGZYQ6EiP8b0CjJYJOk9V-18npvpLDkWGlEtHh04-KB2r9ink_aEQztC1Dv34zBRTQaRX7o26BYfQNrVZG/s4032/46784172-CDBF-47E9-9401-581425C9DF3C.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZo40Q6al-rsl7-EH9HiXC9uIYKd0fXVUU9RdOky9wafAufQFuXa90W3zoS3LGZYQ6EiP8b0CjJYJOk9V-18npvpLDkWGlEtHh04-KB2r9ink_aEQztC1Dv34zBRTQaRX7o26BYfQNrVZG/s320/46784172-CDBF-47E9-9401-581425C9DF3C.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">About to walk into Monsoon Rainforest on another walk</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinELzm0925oX319NHL5d11XC5P8LFKbiAHFnzs5YR3JW7d4AQU68h6AbUzn9U1E1Zw7ZuvyJuXckeojYLvf7SpiJUFJa2hGOh7tMlGseCa2O_ldyEHwE-1VdU2Uyai9mzSOYWAenST8M-w/s4032/A2E0A65C-8202-48DD-8228-8EAFA192047D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinELzm0925oX319NHL5d11XC5P8LFKbiAHFnzs5YR3JW7d4AQU68h6AbUzn9U1E1Zw7ZuvyJuXckeojYLvf7SpiJUFJa2hGOh7tMlGseCa2O_ldyEHwE-1VdU2Uyai9mzSOYWAenST8M-w/s320/A2E0A65C-8202-48DD-8228-8EAFA192047D.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kiddos on Nourlangie walk resting in the shade</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguYuR4S6NllE9KOB64hBo3UZPA2J5EZwmKzOs98EbIAAb5354F8quI9cz7KiTa3yUZRLT2u6vEwxa3zImK7B-7NZwTkHtQzzETrvblJfWCiMVABABcAhplCOqlCqThKykcEU0AdzdKbYrN/s4032/A06CAE18-DA5B-4A7E-9C00-AF7B7563C1BA.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguYuR4S6NllE9KOB64hBo3UZPA2J5EZwmKzOs98EbIAAb5354F8quI9cz7KiTa3yUZRLT2u6vEwxa3zImK7B-7NZwTkHtQzzETrvblJfWCiMVABABcAhplCOqlCqThKykcEU0AdzdKbYrN/s320/A06CAE18-DA5B-4A7E-9C00-AF7B7563C1BA.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">James and the bird book</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLJjawxnWHzWo6bOq8hLbr9OMzvEjvRyjZ2m9OQrWlb9fqJvNQHjUhMBDF9-o0yLImQ0_8fPEFlSwQb2g60-vix772ILi8r10FocCV8sxaMYjD2MGFfF0WI0p-CV6K2JSeaU9SVaQg8pAB/s4032/A09E6957-7AA0-459C-BFCB-2447D4ABC142.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLJjawxnWHzWo6bOq8hLbr9OMzvEjvRyjZ2m9OQrWlb9fqJvNQHjUhMBDF9-o0yLImQ0_8fPEFlSwQb2g60-vix772ILi8r10FocCV8sxaMYjD2MGFfF0WI0p-CV6K2JSeaU9SVaQg8pAB/s320/A09E6957-7AA0-459C-BFCB-2447D4ABC142.heic" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When you're on the way to the pool and there's a sprinkler you probably should play in it for a bit!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPwvjicpiVvlDaD9YcATdiEk5rj9xIMj1rfSCjEygKrpCi8StqNvnnvFAkO83S0aHaJtZMOFjU4F5POxoBsy3hgzYVLdBiHaWGuqEv9DSLulGk_bK2EoAhY8ipIrKtbLf2ITP8IQWeFwuK/s3840/A6666B44-61C8-4341-B71A-0226F59F250C.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPwvjicpiVvlDaD9YcATdiEk5rj9xIMj1rfSCjEygKrpCi8StqNvnnvFAkO83S0aHaJtZMOFjU4F5POxoBsy3hgzYVLdBiHaWGuqEv9DSLulGk_bK2EoAhY8ipIrKtbLf2ITP8IQWeFwuK/s320/A6666B44-61C8-4341-B71A-0226F59F250C.jpeg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rancho Relaxo at Jabiru - look at Andy's feet!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkIKtiChuWGanSCkFSV3YTCKxnLOBCVibEZSEwf062xE9XcjerMoYsOyMY7HEoQk4fsIqxJfwj6tjTk8OsCuLKaODRVNmPThpyKg3CKZUf13TWQ9eR7Ke5rVlPzTL8qe-wcRQy8qK_rCWG/s4032/A07846EE-94E4-4D53-BDA1-7692085EBFA9.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkIKtiChuWGanSCkFSV3YTCKxnLOBCVibEZSEwf062xE9XcjerMoYsOyMY7HEoQk4fsIqxJfwj6tjTk8OsCuLKaODRVNmPThpyKg3CKZUf13TWQ9eR7Ke5rVlPzTL8qe-wcRQy8qK_rCWG/s320/A07846EE-94E4-4D53-BDA1-7692085EBFA9.heic" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty water lilies - bound to be crocodiles under there</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiW1f8Cjta07bwm4yxL8sLEtliE9YMINrET0_W3_FeXMIiMHr1gsIUv8VmufYu3YFotR3j-CceZDPKYwMIB3DVYdlDvYtHsEvxqYMXbsPPF3q6cPYFLpSXf9AJqu8zOjym1X0gSa29aJBK/s4032/ACE2A077-FC3A-4239-AFCD-1ABE224AB03C.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiW1f8Cjta07bwm4yxL8sLEtliE9YMINrET0_W3_FeXMIiMHr1gsIUv8VmufYu3YFotR3j-CceZDPKYwMIB3DVYdlDvYtHsEvxqYMXbsPPF3q6cPYFLpSXf9AJqu8zOjym1X0gSa29aJBK/s320/ACE2A077-FC3A-4239-AFCD-1ABE224AB03C.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reading. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBANHXkDfHAZUlIWgFWIFhsLCum5P2V4g5snKZJrl1wxvx_ngQ9b8i3T3VepWtxeA5gLq3OmViMyZBCOiyQ4Kb0UvSHdqxYwclDKcVEku9Fom0_wwWhx900IIQhlDYffg6QMaEqheP194S/s3088/B47AC365-EECC-4B42-8FDB-01F911A30574.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2320" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBANHXkDfHAZUlIWgFWIFhsLCum5P2V4g5snKZJrl1wxvx_ngQ9b8i3T3VepWtxeA5gLq3OmViMyZBCOiyQ4Kb0UvSHdqxYwclDKcVEku9Fom0_wwWhx900IIQhlDYffg6QMaEqheP194S/s320/B47AC365-EECC-4B42-8FDB-01F911A30574.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How to beat the heat!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk4kwlg7UuX7VW6ywGtdxLI_fEM725hc_CdXlyNiL84C5V_-HdsNwWSDmBDnqnOhrhvEARXuKUTX5S-XlmGcAHZjWleEQRhe9tcyPVVjHG6ukekEY0TAVA0yRVyiD259wYlA4aYbBfr1yL/s3088/BFC85F46-9798-400F-B928-8D40C0C7781F.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2320" data-original-width="3088" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk4kwlg7UuX7VW6ywGtdxLI_fEM725hc_CdXlyNiL84C5V_-HdsNwWSDmBDnqnOhrhvEARXuKUTX5S-XlmGcAHZjWleEQRhe9tcyPVVjHG6ukekEY0TAVA0yRVyiD259wYlA4aYbBfr1yL/s320/BFC85F46-9798-400F-B928-8D40C0C7781F.heic" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow Water sunrise cruise</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjoVdtRuHKLnX-xrOvT59oyXP-CN1qvmsfQBVbHWAoHqZt3iw5ntzQO64JrMdmURwlcFZdGh2peT6TO1XWIlJt4R1bb7k5l5SNhVnuFGIi3egAtyF33dwG6qVVegTGIbF0aaBPo7PcTfYz/s4032/C2BB0C05-E0E9-4FFA-88DB-02909FFE42F1.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjoVdtRuHKLnX-xrOvT59oyXP-CN1qvmsfQBVbHWAoHqZt3iw5ntzQO64JrMdmURwlcFZdGh2peT6TO1XWIlJt4R1bb7k5l5SNhVnuFGIi3egAtyF33dwG6qVVegTGIbF0aaBPo7PcTfYz/s320/C2BB0C05-E0E9-4FFA-88DB-02909FFE42F1.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More birdwatching</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSgN6UAdOr_Zq9stBBgxAn4DZb09qOIc3SzZdSist6SX2g506nUeO8safIZZhIbDwgdhslPMa3eAclD4TvEHUyA1BqytfDeVbpoVTAw5z7YT3tlVvM_Sv7EQDD0ZjC0VLEqOgWtxqapw-S/s4032/C32B87BC-3097-4246-A6D0-03A526A31C3F.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSgN6UAdOr_Zq9stBBgxAn4DZb09qOIc3SzZdSist6SX2g506nUeO8safIZZhIbDwgdhslPMa3eAclD4TvEHUyA1BqytfDeVbpoVTAw5z7YT3tlVvM_Sv7EQDD0ZjC0VLEqOgWtxqapw-S/s320/C32B87BC-3097-4246-A6D0-03A526A31C3F.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yay for swims </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvXLsZ_-vgTDJDda22f4gASqTKpSTbyOzy6wFqfFmC_gOqOaX6VTEfKdUu7Sg5NiECjnCHjP-gHCxs0auJexK3szfEpzPwaEDH8AkXhST5l3nhCDSNX47bCSMrJa2CzXVOBVwMJ2E5Gkjc/s4032/C744B8F1-9ED0-4678-9CD0-E33244A483CB.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvXLsZ_-vgTDJDda22f4gASqTKpSTbyOzy6wFqfFmC_gOqOaX6VTEfKdUu7Sg5NiECjnCHjP-gHCxs0auJexK3szfEpzPwaEDH8AkXhST5l3nhCDSNX47bCSMrJa2CzXVOBVwMJ2E5Gkjc/s320/C744B8F1-9ED0-4678-9CD0-E33244A483CB.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8PLXSI40w0r02nYvPQXziTS5O2I2yGTdDk1YiO0S4bH-EVWlW7kStI-wMXShs1rHnfICRXzFmt3zO0FDd_3Vmj98M7gTmUJ9aiOSZ7nDNOEv6ni7sGuzAXX7gU1-PDBGfgBZozE598JGM/s3840/C912DC43-CE21-456D-A03F-266E4EC7BCFF.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8PLXSI40w0r02nYvPQXziTS5O2I2yGTdDk1YiO0S4bH-EVWlW7kStI-wMXShs1rHnfICRXzFmt3zO0FDd_3Vmj98M7gTmUJ9aiOSZ7nDNOEv6ni7sGuzAXX7gU1-PDBGfgBZozE598JGM/s320/C912DC43-CE21-456D-A03F-266E4EC7BCFF.jpeg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We made it back to Kakadu- Cheers to us!<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcRFDKQSxAsVeKW8_305ag_ewLZC99nWJOyn5mMOyLHf0okoUqgQqgejX7T97NCM40p2ck4zU6YGmYj-Os6VLU5s75sYrx2uHrXjtbxH783d_l1NGaM3eqDl9Q4weF6JxbjQe9Amh1C72F/s4032/CC5D0E0C-E1EA-4AFF-B191-7EA2EBCA004B.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcRFDKQSxAsVeKW8_305ag_ewLZC99nWJOyn5mMOyLHf0okoUqgQqgejX7T97NCM40p2ck4zU6YGmYj-Os6VLU5s75sYrx2uHrXjtbxH783d_l1NGaM3eqDl9Q4weF6JxbjQe9Amh1C72F/s320/CC5D0E0C-E1EA-4AFF-B191-7EA2EBCA004B.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mirray lookout platform - all a bit hot after a steep 1km hike to the top</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyP8OIQg4oyjPidaGiA2DDBe-486xxieAD4MlIzrYza-prKashxGZ0448ZEba5ZAiYdMreb1uWqTBM5WQqzYjbaRfYP-MUYqHa_d_h8DNU8cXO-077trUC0xjNY3PHnHNSPhG_kpCBUdeW/s4032/CEB18F69-C78F-4CF3-AF95-FFD3A4A4E0B3.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyP8OIQg4oyjPidaGiA2DDBe-486xxieAD4MlIzrYza-prKashxGZ0448ZEba5ZAiYdMreb1uWqTBM5WQqzYjbaRfYP-MUYqHa_d_h8DNU8cXO-077trUC0xjNY3PHnHNSPhG_kpCBUdeW/s320/CEB18F69-C78F-4CF3-AF95-FFD3A4A4E0B3.heic" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pandanus Yellow Water</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBlAvtx8Tb1QAnXNVg-3Vc6om7f_xZ0rGq0owRTgZuUkptHV6wghzy8BGodCs1TBKhLJviDqNa7VkAqtbUIlYKRRG4_MbHMc_ZGYmdgCgyBcrVIEfuXtypXs8woOcXGY9DBXd7Ea_qGk0F/s4032/D43B93FB-C5FE-4256-BAA5-639D2AECDC66.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBlAvtx8Tb1QAnXNVg-3Vc6om7f_xZ0rGq0owRTgZuUkptHV6wghzy8BGodCs1TBKhLJviDqNa7VkAqtbUIlYKRRG4_MbHMc_ZGYmdgCgyBcrVIEfuXtypXs8woOcXGY9DBXd7Ea_qGk0F/s320/D43B93FB-C5FE-4256-BAA5-639D2AECDC66.heic" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mamakala wetlands bird hide viewing platform</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyADDwG_UKtWgdiHISDE_OnB4DtL_6uZ2AZDA-meTci6yo3OEKcDz7yynzqTnNhI25sQALrpqcFmO6pfSIGL75LzZ-UD1vC4bv6__LvIYT9Dib74qc0uEQS5JJrCbun6dtFnwsl9LH-Ydw/s4032/D3769BC9-EF34-4A4C-87FB-6782F8C0B7DC.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyADDwG_UKtWgdiHISDE_OnB4DtL_6uZ2AZDA-meTci6yo3OEKcDz7yynzqTnNhI25sQALrpqcFmO6pfSIGL75LzZ-UD1vC4bv6__LvIYT9Dib74qc0uEQS5JJrCbun6dtFnwsl9LH-Ydw/s320/D3769BC9-EF34-4A4C-87FB-6782F8C0B7DC.heic" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Car park brekky after Yellow Water cruise. The cruise started at 6:45am, we needed to be there 6:25am for a bus transport, and we were staying in Jabiru 60km away. Needless to say it was an early start with no time for breakfast, just up and into the car in the dark. It was completely worth it!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBA1i5W7bWXfKK10X6OE3ObhYqoRdaMLXyCiplmKQxryTLehnJjr7YD4XjtZXtMYbITOqqumQVJf_2pUqoJyI3wEg7yp5BoIyUm4Y_GjuAbSKr12OVzcPaQ2t-LdfiOdQtJiXlZrUkEJ-a/s4032/D82765EB-DF04-438C-A565-DB538904C148.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBA1i5W7bWXfKK10X6OE3ObhYqoRdaMLXyCiplmKQxryTLehnJjr7YD4XjtZXtMYbITOqqumQVJf_2pUqoJyI3wEg7yp5BoIyUm4Y_GjuAbSKr12OVzcPaQ2t-LdfiOdQtJiXlZrUkEJ-a/s320/D82765EB-DF04-438C-A565-DB538904C148.heic" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nourlangie Rock glowing red and Arnhem Land escarpment hazy purple from Nawurlandja lookout at sunset. Kakadu is so vast, it is very difficult to grasp its size and this photo does not do it justice. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6c9Hsl-fTu2Z1urdKC0wAvmj7SRQA6xhoPGMM0L6vdaH5PJv461lfvXM4uT4z02UOF4aJLejSimY5e9HdC2Z8h3tcSNqDtjOX44d74zerAzSQ0OrX3TXxI140n88sBccTPEPOpa3ssuAz/s4032/DB903A7F-F247-43F2-9FC4-1A69A018CC85.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6c9Hsl-fTu2Z1urdKC0wAvmj7SRQA6xhoPGMM0L6vdaH5PJv461lfvXM4uT4z02UOF4aJLejSimY5e9HdC2Z8h3tcSNqDtjOX44d74zerAzSQ0OrX3TXxI140n88sBccTPEPOpa3ssuAz/s320/DB903A7F-F247-43F2-9FC4-1A69A018CC85.heic" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nawurlandja lookout</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmyOZCSiNcYrMbMF4m6e69cwQKjEVoIjHl-SeCWaFEHIGaZvvZuX0vXz1-PqrWbKVfWobmkxHEw0k8sItqWQU3wYa5ePiA7_33id64fpfQcPR7vvE2-Z7DUoo4kymIitJ3Ja7edw1I7yD1/s4032/E8ADB65A-80A0-4ABE-926A-FC449180ECC3.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmyOZCSiNcYrMbMF4m6e69cwQKjEVoIjHl-SeCWaFEHIGaZvvZuX0vXz1-PqrWbKVfWobmkxHEw0k8sItqWQU3wYa5ePiA7_33id64fpfQcPR7vvE2-Z7DUoo4kymIitJ3Ja7edw1I7yD1/s320/E8ADB65A-80A0-4ABE-926A-FC449180ECC3.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nawurlandja lookout</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGYrwwpffAxPHfjPBwOv9iiMa7-FY1u61JRGTG7pia5Zp0J3oTPFJyi1fjucWcAr-58xFEndYHV0cOtpmjwf_ifMeql8NVi1jMiArDgZXg0hWsleUnbannRjA2N3sHQkuIN-iEJsJn72GX/s4032/E83AE3F9-60D3-47D8-9537-47F7B534C0B2.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGYrwwpffAxPHfjPBwOv9iiMa7-FY1u61JRGTG7pia5Zp0J3oTPFJyi1fjucWcAr-58xFEndYHV0cOtpmjwf_ifMeql8NVi1jMiArDgZXg0hWsleUnbannRjA2N3sHQkuIN-iEJsJn72GX/s320/E83AE3F9-60D3-47D8-9537-47F7B534C0B2.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> I leant a lot about crocodiles on the 2 boat trips we did. A few fun facts - crocodiles can stop blood flowing to parts of their bodies so if say, a leg is ripped off in a croc battle they just turn off the blood supply and do not bleed to death. They have way more antibodies in their blood than us and can fight infections that would kill other animals. They can break down all parts of animals except keratin - so they can digest bone but not hair, horns or nails. And just an observation ; unless they have parts of their bodies above the surface of the water you cannot see them. At all.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxf2RjCcl9by3lPJvXJ5D7NwNhFquksnnfSuAcTUTrpiGhUEk_-3EgC13RA3sH6WKaIFXBoualiKDq_UM0AiTRCVqdPRloor_wyMBMYwxx3o67VLtxT4m4iMFzsfkNQ-VROjoM17FOf7tg/s4032/ED69D01F-A13C-4D4C-8E71-2E5EC41CB7BD.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxf2RjCcl9by3lPJvXJ5D7NwNhFquksnnfSuAcTUTrpiGhUEk_-3EgC13RA3sH6WKaIFXBoualiKDq_UM0AiTRCVqdPRloor_wyMBMYwxx3o67VLtxT4m4iMFzsfkNQ-VROjoM17FOf7tg/s320/ED69D01F-A13C-4D4C-8E71-2E5EC41CB7BD.heic" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hot kids</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_kQtaHW052CdK8cy2l8e6w4sSyQNN3W_5SSTz19zRICndQs8ernaRGReqZXetrt3VTUt6cJ1c_HlXd2Faot5NZ1CRVTdZ8ILOHlCXhA4hxWxKuAkDkt3Mt5yzFp23HSczC-QtIBI2yvDj/s4032/F1F32210-5A0E-46F8-87DF-031673B1D946.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_kQtaHW052CdK8cy2l8e6w4sSyQNN3W_5SSTz19zRICndQs8ernaRGReqZXetrt3VTUt6cJ1c_HlXd2Faot5NZ1CRVTdZ8ILOHlCXhA4hxWxKuAkDkt3Mt5yzFp23HSczC-QtIBI2yvDj/s320/F1F32210-5A0E-46F8-87DF-031673B1D946.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nawurlandja lookout</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBoaDG0gVuhBAN8X1XvbmdIhIqnUlKCxcr2RAqEFXNHC2r_kPOx9CrsUuHov-kNoVdqXhDvsC-BVncYzE8KxVBUWTdFqKbw4nbEIXpYE_kRvKYG5uCbYw5mkoHmq0vtFGxEvSODsDRnF77/s4032/F3A78D3D-C7DF-4EAF-B986-8343C16E14D9.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBoaDG0gVuhBAN8X1XvbmdIhIqnUlKCxcr2RAqEFXNHC2r_kPOx9CrsUuHov-kNoVdqXhDvsC-BVncYzE8KxVBUWTdFqKbw4nbEIXpYE_kRvKYG5uCbYw5mkoHmq0vtFGxEvSODsDRnF77/s320/F3A78D3D-C7DF-4EAF-B986-8343C16E14D9.heic" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beautiful views from Ubirr </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWVtTgvqoAC-fChBS0-LtgKsRVnJagJWpb_Dqc3-QOo5f5Sj3wRwoHiduBVC2x3AlDRQR3V3RVc1hottu6ZvKzrGS9KtnyUveAO6qheQvDdE-IxudQVGNqoOTBe8No_JK5KREwSvSMPgU5/s4032/F348CB38-7303-45F1-AB84-7575237EFE60.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWVtTgvqoAC-fChBS0-LtgKsRVnJagJWpb_Dqc3-QOo5f5Sj3wRwoHiduBVC2x3AlDRQR3V3RVc1hottu6ZvKzrGS9KtnyUveAO6qheQvDdE-IxudQVGNqoOTBe8No_JK5KREwSvSMPgU5/s320/F348CB38-7303-45F1-AB84-7575237EFE60.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">James Payne - Ubirr </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQY0p_lmvqomewxQ1sNwz5Hljk7qXXp9lxhncjKUkeTKa0g-dfD6hYTzmTpfjf-C-UeL97otvW11SpYFXcJceUD0ziByuOcCa2OkkXETabAsrMBjCLB0jGEHCwqCiDsf72iHtM97usPnSf/s4032/FC5931C6-D734-4C37-BBC7-CD9B5A1A7414.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQY0p_lmvqomewxQ1sNwz5Hljk7qXXp9lxhncjKUkeTKa0g-dfD6hYTzmTpfjf-C-UeL97otvW11SpYFXcJceUD0ziByuOcCa2OkkXETabAsrMBjCLB0jGEHCwqCiDsf72iHtM97usPnSf/s320/FC5931C6-D734-4C37-BBC7-CD9B5A1A7414.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking and clambering to view rock art thousands of years old</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-bfikh709hkZu0Ub8e8eOzqp7FDpVxI5_iJ5V6YGk_hVMT-egeUfqzGJ_rPG94waBdZg4F78LeGRMyfvU1D0AWu3k9kVlAXE_lGTW-DsOp-z0iNTFzsN1ItJW7utn2-4FoVuct6lqb-W8inDqICdeNHqD_Bypoon3w4mQUzH938ca39qYl8DQzAEgLQ/s4032/A338A5A9-982B-4CF7-AB64-6C24682BD958.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-bfikh709hkZu0Ub8e8eOzqp7FDpVxI5_iJ5V6YGk_hVMT-egeUfqzGJ_rPG94waBdZg4F78LeGRMyfvU1D0AWu3k9kVlAXE_lGTW-DsOp-z0iNTFzsN1ItJW7utn2-4FoVuct6lqb-W8inDqICdeNHqD_Bypoon3w4mQUzH938ca39qYl8DQzAEgLQ/s320/A338A5A9-982B-4CF7-AB64-6C24682BD958.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maguk swimming - the water was delightful!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM9I52RnJdvSZusSVkeYYwZtyqo1cgELy_ZA9eZNVtYmtkean9pkCr2xDONWzfh92UqqGBLTBJ3XiUDMwseoY6maoZJ5dYZRSgkfNKLh7ni50hBS3Tb4CbtQb-YdHWgbqaQsZo5LoGD0OiQE_Ji6MQX70UQG2TFY_HhdkoBfO5NI8TIaxr1YN4nDml2g/s4032/8619E652-A393-4A5A-9063-C3FF51EA12C8.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM9I52RnJdvSZusSVkeYYwZtyqo1cgELy_ZA9eZNVtYmtkean9pkCr2xDONWzfh92UqqGBLTBJ3XiUDMwseoY6maoZJ5dYZRSgkfNKLh7ni50hBS3Tb4CbtQb-YdHWgbqaQsZo5LoGD0OiQE_Ji6MQX70UQG2TFY_HhdkoBfO5NI8TIaxr1YN4nDml2g/s320/8619E652-A393-4A5A-9063-C3FF51EA12C8.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Magical Maguk swimming hole - the road into Maguk was terrible but only 10km each way.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thank you Kakadu, we had a marvellous 5 days exploring, walking and relaxing. If anyone tries to tell you to Kakadon't just ignore them and go anyway. Despite driving all over the park and trying to do it all I cannot help but feel like we barely scratched the surface of this complex, stunning and ancient place.</div><br /><br /><br /> <p></p>Nessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743234057904783218noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3636767330920619181.post-85102952950129060922022-07-24T18:56:00.003+10:002022-07-24T19:02:02.071+10:00Kakadoodle-do<p> When discussing our itinerary at Kings Canyon, a couple from Queensland had offered us their advice to ‘Kaka-dont’. </p><p>Kakadu is Australia’s biggest National Park, covers 20,000 square kilometres and is World Heritage listed for both cultural and natural significance. It’s been inhabited continuously for more than 50,000 years evidenced by world-class cave paintings and rock art. UNESCO describe it as a living cultural landscape with exceptional natural and cultural values. The park preserves the greatest variety of eco-systems on the continent including extensive savannah woodlands, open forest, floodplains, mangroves, tidal mudflats and monsoon forests. </p><p>It would take a spectacular lack of imagination to not find something of interest in Kakadu. She does though make you work for it a bit. None of the instant gratification of Litchfield, a fraction of the size and other than the Lost City all accessible on bitumen. This park covers an area about the size of Wales. The main attractions are fairly well spaced out, and some require determination and a lot of shaking to get to. Some are poorly sign-posted and sadly some are closed with outstanding management disputes. The walking is hot from around 10am to 5pm, with daily tops around 35 degrees and high UV. The national park camping is pretty rough and ready and anywhere near water is bug and mosquito heaven.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8TxIALrbx1JFCLPdPsbZvl-jq2GnjfbToDx68x8g-VbXW1qu9wCOhC2dyjlX_NvOOKVdTFIMnzg3vp3jidZaerpqeTDbJTIJZspROT1c7CeNarpeIcuqxeBAO8J9RYkAC291FTVAqeP2tKMKBFe8A3GLJLq-PXvY60ePQY_PEYRhFy1Fbxa_N-rifmA/s4032/AC72A16B-8EB1-4139-9204-4778C5A8956A.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8TxIALrbx1JFCLPdPsbZvl-jq2GnjfbToDx68x8g-VbXW1qu9wCOhC2dyjlX_NvOOKVdTFIMnzg3vp3jidZaerpqeTDbJTIJZspROT1c7CeNarpeIcuqxeBAO8J9RYkAC291FTVAqeP2tKMKBFe8A3GLJLq-PXvY60ePQY_PEYRhFy1Fbxa_N-rifmA/s320/AC72A16B-8EB1-4139-9204-4778C5A8956A.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>We are just finishing our five night stay at the Jabiru resort. A place we’d intended on giving a few nights before moving south but where we ended up staying for our whole time here. Away from water, other than the large shaded pool, the park is almost bug free. With the pool and bar at it’s centre, the park is a set on a series of concentric circles of powered sites with unpowered camping assigned a large area on the eastern side among fairly tall shade giving gum trees. Whistling kites patrol overhead, Ibis (aka bin chickens or Gold Coast Flamingos) patrol the ground. We have enjoyed a shady site, with ground so soft you can almost peg the tent by hand. The only necessary addition to our camping gear has been the solar powered fairy lights which have some fairly hectic settings, but do impact star-gazing.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4BFz9Oi6a11ujMZuuwONMB1DPkVDUOj7MFk0Damc3o_j2bdqqiTIlzYGRh2o7jVZlrrshy6AK1b-WP93K4XfZymhMyL4N4fhfewj69-yEQSmJoMAmYxX-ZxUMysQOcKz-zkhN6xMmtD-NKZOqGisEjbYY5z0ErcmH5-hcOndbbPs2z1a1830mR3uWgA/s4032/6C7FE9A0-13B5-47CC-8EFB-7B831A8C2771.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4BFz9Oi6a11ujMZuuwONMB1DPkVDUOj7MFk0Damc3o_j2bdqqiTIlzYGRh2o7jVZlrrshy6AK1b-WP93K4XfZymhMyL4N4fhfewj69-yEQSmJoMAmYxX-ZxUMysQOcKz-zkhN6xMmtD-NKZOqGisEjbYY5z0ErcmH5-hcOndbbPs2z1a1830mR3uWgA/s320/6C7FE9A0-13B5-47CC-8EFB-7B831A8C2771.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Other than Jim Jim Falls we’ve pretty much ticked the currently available boxes. Day 1 involved a visit to the beautiful Bowali visitor centre where you meander through the various landscapes of Kakadu and then on to the Burrunggui (Nourlangie) Art Site. It’s a fairly easy walk through rock shelters that have been inhabited for a long long time with seriously amazing art, some of which you’re allowed to photograph and some which you’re not.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigPLlis4swkBrUqOoVrIx-_rXbbvpMt-9_RGvHhlIiDLzplUK0s-8JocFuGhBqeeCE8bCDETMV4qA2G9uSCr7j2HGDoZR-brobrtWB4IW1TDTwXJ7mPtIR1R4if9Uj68oWbf1V_P3lYt-mS_QesBwdqihUUmAH2O9z4Gxf-1v5AHm6jHu2_9vfLgwILw/s4032/3D7D8D1E-8801-4D46-A5CD-1C0F2A86D585.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigPLlis4swkBrUqOoVrIx-_rXbbvpMt-9_RGvHhlIiDLzplUK0s-8JocFuGhBqeeCE8bCDETMV4qA2G9uSCr7j2HGDoZR-brobrtWB4IW1TDTwXJ7mPtIR1R4if9Uj68oWbf1V_P3lYt-mS_QesBwdqihUUmAH2O9z4Gxf-1v5AHm6jHu2_9vfLgwILw/s320/3D7D8D1E-8801-4D46-A5CD-1C0F2A86D585.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjppBvjrLkkB1XxjX_gP8nQthAl70EPRKquqKDaiM5ZqQzXjKV2GKh9XjOXk2Am4qv65EH3SL1y1rMJjpQVI8ErWuRL_QjNNmtnJytgh3TgnRE10cgaRPI5wLBT49tMvI6mI4r8tkzn84VREV90OTHT5yD5rTtQn49pesJ3biGRIRskcgqTUHm5_d62OA/s4032/A618E2F8-BB95-423C-8EEC-97586D5EAF16.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjppBvjrLkkB1XxjX_gP8nQthAl70EPRKquqKDaiM5ZqQzXjKV2GKh9XjOXk2Am4qv65EH3SL1y1rMJjpQVI8ErWuRL_QjNNmtnJytgh3TgnRE10cgaRPI5wLBT49tMvI6mI4r8tkzn84VREV90OTHT5yD5rTtQn49pesJ3biGRIRskcgqTUHm5_d62OA/s320/A618E2F8-BB95-423C-8EEC-97586D5EAF16.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS_-sxUrME63g3YYgYaFMUl_QsH6ShMuGZzQM_TaK3QJvCMfsGuhPZZQed9XjXtfDl8gzR4z2pRD2O4F0qOu747Id0EComcHphXl3kgrwPG_GmAeqEuM3Qk_LfiSfW3mfqXIWSI9Z88_9E5ZY5pkM7-wqTQECvvBU46LM6ODRKDHA0D11d4km4Qaoqvw/s4032/B874B765-2446-46A7-8B31-988E314505F1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS_-sxUrME63g3YYgYaFMUl_QsH6ShMuGZzQM_TaK3QJvCMfsGuhPZZQed9XjXtfDl8gzR4z2pRD2O4F0qOu747Id0EComcHphXl3kgrwPG_GmAeqEuM3Qk_LfiSfW3mfqXIWSI9Z88_9E5ZY5pkM7-wqTQECvvBU46LM6ODRKDHA0D11d4km4Qaoqvw/s320/B874B765-2446-46A7-8B31-988E314505F1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtXW08Diu_o3AGPO-AZFM3_BHbCw-nKbHD8js2Lt14cw0Xd7nLRWA4aGZjjDpZD8NLMXXE9_EBng_Vl_USmSsPhvPMnNVd3htU23W-Gc4UCco5t3GVMQz_9pXEXg9eu3Yb-hq9iMKxAIFC1qTkek8QU76AKlnbqKEftFkOTV9VGRzdXZ2rltUOg9tYzg/s4032/D5390705-C807-4DD3-B6B8-7B312912C5F8.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtXW08Diu_o3AGPO-AZFM3_BHbCw-nKbHD8js2Lt14cw0Xd7nLRWA4aGZjjDpZD8NLMXXE9_EBng_Vl_USmSsPhvPMnNVd3htU23W-Gc4UCco5t3GVMQz_9pXEXg9eu3Yb-hq9iMKxAIFC1qTkek8QU76AKlnbqKEftFkOTV9VGRzdXZ2rltUOg9tYzg/s320/D5390705-C807-4DD3-B6B8-7B312912C5F8.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilm02E0ZH8q42DsuaMhSBGxSp69K4H-iR6UREy8bsqe5UmQgQoyzWIGhIPdE33cIfcbactkHyQgeIAbrlK9_B0L4YPMsgsQgC5MeR-u4Szp3LtSXqcksTvls3paMa6uGdZ0IXS7cLK3IJX-weP7_PPL_IJgkw6MVymgFG3SQSxzaBQ-hzcddPblRwVoQ/s4032/EDBC0AEE-28EF-478D-B026-29A024A1C2F0.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilm02E0ZH8q42DsuaMhSBGxSp69K4H-iR6UREy8bsqe5UmQgQoyzWIGhIPdE33cIfcbactkHyQgeIAbrlK9_B0L4YPMsgsQgC5MeR-u4Szp3LtSXqcksTvls3paMa6uGdZ0IXS7cLK3IJX-weP7_PPL_IJgkw6MVymgFG3SQSxzaBQ-hzcddPblRwVoQ/s320/EDBC0AEE-28EF-478D-B026-29A024A1C2F0.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo_TTNE6340eiPHyhyDevxgbRGbSUHHS6SrNLPBO8AQOXgtHd9_vIk2JObRlRGRg3axxAqsWPaTcHKfA85VFFZjY4RCT_dhUGN29HkZxE7GJKoG1GFpj-OVSXeA3RbiOjncPHYbLD42aMgOCit_Z89_mOR2PdzMlfi7oVXdT6xpZ1AvyiXGw87tN1HdQ/s4032/F0A3A08A-A799-45B4-9C28-9636E42653F2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo_TTNE6340eiPHyhyDevxgbRGbSUHHS6SrNLPBO8AQOXgtHd9_vIk2JObRlRGRg3axxAqsWPaTcHKfA85VFFZjY4RCT_dhUGN29HkZxE7GJKoG1GFpj-OVSXeA3RbiOjncPHYbLD42aMgOCit_Z89_mOR2PdzMlfi7oVXdT6xpZ1AvyiXGw87tN1HdQ/s320/F0A3A08A-A799-45B4-9C28-9636E42653F2.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><p>After a relax and cool off back at the resort we then drove out to Cahill’s Crossing and a Monsoon Rainforest walk, sadly both closed. There were plenty of folk, like probably a hundred, ignoring the signs and climbing up to watch the occasional vehicle cross the crocodile infested waters into or from Arnhem Land, just like Ness and I had 13 years ago when we’d got a permit to go up to Garig Gunak Barlu National Park on the Cobourg Peninsula. Man we were adventurous in the olden days!</p><p>We made an earlier than planned visit to Ubirr, so were a bit ahead of the planned sunset, but that did mean we had most of the rock art to ourselves before the coach parties arrived. Again, great art, amazing Dreamtime stories and a super view at the top, only marginally disturbed by some people drinking wine in glasses at a sacred site where alcohol is not permitted. If Ness and I can forgo a drink at the request of traditional owners then Barry and Linda, probably from Queensland (but could have been from anywhere), should be able to as well. I’ve not worked for the last four months so I struggle to muster much of a rant these days but it doesn’t mean I don’t notice the significant number of dickheads who just do the wrong thing because they probably won’t get caught and what’s the problem if it’s just them right? Can’t avoid kama though, even this far away.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgclB8LDZ9L9oLa9vdKUDP6dZrW9alBFSlnhN9zNUrCqM99q32X3MwdDYTNc5JSI5KlA4AdZ4ms_5v0AaxrdE2l4JKvVsLiyaLgj7xyMm8Xye0clLfFeuU_312MONqagJVi4lJBHVxHifElHZzyMMaYpiqNemdxs6LvKhG-UM7h80X4IAbYcSL6hQPj8g/s4032/0FC3745F-E096-43F2-8F85-0BF77C4E271B.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgclB8LDZ9L9oLa9vdKUDP6dZrW9alBFSlnhN9zNUrCqM99q32X3MwdDYTNc5JSI5KlA4AdZ4ms_5v0AaxrdE2l4JKvVsLiyaLgj7xyMm8Xye0clLfFeuU_312MONqagJVi4lJBHVxHifElHZzyMMaYpiqNemdxs6LvKhG-UM7h80X4IAbYcSL6hQPj8g/s320/0FC3745F-E096-43F2-8F85-0BF77C4E271B.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF3Tjwgp4xBpLc2evgzeG2WGEDsvCn8Wc3jaZ0jr4ecAPf0cLh2jz9b-eVrgMibOb-T9ph9ClNL-cKwzh_QMLK9v3r09_VWyHAWNwOK935gWpRd3S49lnVwA6EQ1I_nDdZvFBwAQB20HzzDhOzuyks8x4-qu0R9fuOBmYW-ooSIJ4LNSGDdFAm40ZIeQ/s4032/48FDB723-2B81-4C05-8D5B-42FAA6B4149A.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF3Tjwgp4xBpLc2evgzeG2WGEDsvCn8Wc3jaZ0jr4ecAPf0cLh2jz9b-eVrgMibOb-T9ph9ClNL-cKwzh_QMLK9v3r09_VWyHAWNwOK935gWpRd3S49lnVwA6EQ1I_nDdZvFBwAQB20HzzDhOzuyks8x4-qu0R9fuOBmYW-ooSIJ4LNSGDdFAm40ZIeQ/s320/48FDB723-2B81-4C05-8D5B-42FAA6B4149A.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlj4o9N-BJNng0wyUfBaFkmUa_F0OCZmUDsHTULWi4eFi2lnjIWO2JEVyGG6P1RwzaOJd-DdRON5UhcyOVuWcAQZYMeqz-ToqEVR7BwDXEZ7OdhfA3fBjc6aS-6Gjl2Fj8ZFO4-YUOv-pSuby17X94XS4VeEWFrLE9UDdm_tBJAaC3TJ3ftMfpc-CPrA/s4032/D7C1BF3A-CBD5-4AA2-AB7B-D1CF5FF84363.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlj4o9N-BJNng0wyUfBaFkmUa_F0OCZmUDsHTULWi4eFi2lnjIWO2JEVyGG6P1RwzaOJd-DdRON5UhcyOVuWcAQZYMeqz-ToqEVR7BwDXEZ7OdhfA3fBjc6aS-6Gjl2Fj8ZFO4-YUOv-pSuby17X94XS4VeEWFrLE9UDdm_tBJAaC3TJ3ftMfpc-CPrA/s320/D7C1BF3A-CBD5-4AA2-AB7B-D1CF5FF84363.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpt9eKFfczv0Gu5PNchXDcuAHVUAv98QJs5gVOg9MDmnbueNMP5dtPS8ZIcbkYeKHuYoATHwQqrLOhKw78rirXYSNX-qlQA9DT6b_4GMsXUcTLKydbj1f9DkwkVVIWM2uIT69AJe8lOJDL-4f6J5DR77bjOjLEt0W7TGtZjgV6433T9vX0IRvwBLbXJA/s4032/8C0C558A-D17A-463B-AAFD-44387BF51DBD.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpt9eKFfczv0Gu5PNchXDcuAHVUAv98QJs5gVOg9MDmnbueNMP5dtPS8ZIcbkYeKHuYoATHwQqrLOhKw78rirXYSNX-qlQA9DT6b_4GMsXUcTLKydbj1f9DkwkVVIWM2uIT69AJe8lOJDL-4f6J5DR77bjOjLEt0W7TGtZjgV6433T9vX0IRvwBLbXJA/s320/8C0C558A-D17A-463B-AAFD-44387BF51DBD.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>On day 2 we got up at 5am and drove down to Cooinda / Yellow Water for a replay of the highlight of our last visit - the sunrise yellow water cruise.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTAQYRs6aPZWxX-IFpxe1_5cpWEr1pE0sIq4T5kr8T685oorTRJ9YbHB3EqMEgAZmXTopYMRNSq7-apMDhc9QvP4FF3ZcSZDaS5UMOmpQZOBBOl6M5e3cHsMq67CiKZ5HhgdUFZuFQ2_dkXPhChhRxT4q3GE2OtPYSl19opT1Khe2lJNY8zpAqtkEECA/s4032/2F2F46B4-14DB-4C33-A915-15CD0D1172A3.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTAQYRs6aPZWxX-IFpxe1_5cpWEr1pE0sIq4T5kr8T685oorTRJ9YbHB3EqMEgAZmXTopYMRNSq7-apMDhc9QvP4FF3ZcSZDaS5UMOmpQZOBBOl6M5e3cHsMq67CiKZ5HhgdUFZuFQ2_dkXPhChhRxT4q3GE2OtPYSl19opT1Khe2lJNY8zpAqtkEECA/s320/2F2F46B4-14DB-4C33-A915-15CD0D1172A3.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh06oowjmt34NWgt9IS44rjQX0WZzmFVXmkMyy8UTHLu0vk_f2v-3oVkXwRCt95XpE7fkwvqxhRF_aliCDBRza_I1KxZLuOZkChY700rGYq_KyjGfdpF6bA5bu9FLNhcpLqAtpQQIj1dB7b_Go4pa7RzXhCZNGw9vWwFWoErYQrmlrbgL_YHWilaIc2g/s4032/192AE299-63B9-4F70-8D81-643ADC21D618.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh06oowjmt34NWgt9IS44rjQX0WZzmFVXmkMyy8UTHLu0vk_f2v-3oVkXwRCt95XpE7fkwvqxhRF_aliCDBRza_I1KxZLuOZkChY700rGYq_KyjGfdpF6bA5bu9FLNhcpLqAtpQQIj1dB7b_Go4pa7RzXhCZNGw9vWwFWoErYQrmlrbgL_YHWilaIc2g/s320/192AE299-63B9-4F70-8D81-643ADC21D618.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijqEfgCdmAV3Cp-5WlXpR2DXJOghuo6iPmVs9vzcYmnUU6s2HUVweTiLHmH3aSfyrL9mzHvJITpKFyyJLvnsltyrP59-7qrC-FRLczXtJ0FIhrzGYDPvUCOJwN3g9T64udIEw9QBXVaaCmBM8I_5o7wefgpZj4oPULE7pxIQUU1WuPGhfPMt3qf_lRag/s320/64948D0F-5F92-4D87-AEDD-918FA7DD512D.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOfuEYuupUpUFXomdX0_zIy31Z0v8qdXRvoHi2DG1la9y1kMzOm4kksZY7ds8n-GP4sxDBwaE_tSDkWR9vRUg5N13D1icwrktYuGeKug0tsUHLTitVJOZxISQrnMzFmhx90lv3nsl12LXfVgEi00ct1fX5cSP-HjKauYCVR7mLtVlv7bpg2185wfkmcw/s4032/AB90D50C-D124-48BE-8A7C-F5DE2E560E55.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOfuEYuupUpUFXomdX0_zIy31Z0v8qdXRvoHi2DG1la9y1kMzOm4kksZY7ds8n-GP4sxDBwaE_tSDkWR9vRUg5N13D1icwrktYuGeKug0tsUHLTitVJOZxISQrnMzFmhx90lv3nsl12LXfVgEi00ct1fX5cSP-HjKauYCVR7mLtVlv7bpg2185wfkmcw/s320/AB90D50C-D124-48BE-8A7C-F5DE2E560E55.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX031F9XvNVZHYAa5Ng0Ftda7bCQb1BEtgFmjQG7WnYwXqlZxBvGLafMXFt600jiYiEFVM_cbrC1Jf5HpfmafxL8TvS-S0JF_03WANmugW6xu1phZpebGDu7RQKnvKD51WbVl_dJ7LV3D9e3QbjauDWpRU2X0lywTznSq5wT1o3y_jNSYVSoRHbg1RZQ/s4032/BA0B5660-B099-4E51-8781-D63F7C7786F1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX031F9XvNVZHYAa5Ng0Ftda7bCQb1BEtgFmjQG7WnYwXqlZxBvGLafMXFt600jiYiEFVM_cbrC1Jf5HpfmafxL8TvS-S0JF_03WANmugW6xu1phZpebGDu7RQKnvKD51WbVl_dJ7LV3D9e3QbjauDWpRU2X0lywTznSq5wT1o3y_jNSYVSoRHbg1RZQ/s320/BA0B5660-B099-4E51-8781-D63F7C7786F1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR4NLYmvWjyxY80YAs6toXwmEoYUW3zUhgvW0GZgOGuOfnXz3YTjxgoqZ4iP5qlQ0XoawCXRXwAvNlUSZo8wbrfzZ1Mo86cb14I_fcNSxQsRaBLok8Xqr5BLLrb2uCoJVN02Z-9Yy6yI03pYsq7ThfJixkxLgIlwnFJkaxTXO1edy8nqbKkWSy8AUgFw/s4032/C430B11E-E47C-437E-A7F5-59DB9B92684C.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR4NLYmvWjyxY80YAs6toXwmEoYUW3zUhgvW0GZgOGuOfnXz3YTjxgoqZ4iP5qlQ0XoawCXRXwAvNlUSZo8wbrfzZ1Mo86cb14I_fcNSxQsRaBLok8Xqr5BLLrb2uCoJVN02Z-9Yy6yI03pYsq7ThfJixkxLgIlwnFJkaxTXO1edy8nqbKkWSy8AUgFw/s320/C430B11E-E47C-437E-A7F5-59DB9B92684C.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiltJwK2I5ZijMYPL3SKtdI4QA7v6WTRyXXPWzFL1V0ho5hE0qyCP1Dtbfgxg392ipldRqIt2WTdaPXNIkysjA6Lzoab_LJ1WD6brpmAeagomdrJYiglQENeqihGKsa-qJ5hb0T3zX488xBCmhJa3FIwV5_vNHqqS0RcIyxUarRgMrpgZ85WtN3k0OhWQ/s4032/E0C4E940-E9C9-4DCC-9548-787DF10C95E9.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiltJwK2I5ZijMYPL3SKtdI4QA7v6WTRyXXPWzFL1V0ho5hE0qyCP1Dtbfgxg392ipldRqIt2WTdaPXNIkysjA6Lzoab_LJ1WD6brpmAeagomdrJYiglQENeqihGKsa-qJ5hb0T3zX488xBCmhJa3FIwV5_vNHqqS0RcIyxUarRgMrpgZ85WtN3k0OhWQ/s320/E0C4E940-E9C9-4DCC-9548-787DF10C95E9.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>I’m not going to describe it, I wouldn’t want to spoil it. You need to come here and do it for yourself, James was entranced for the full two hours, stillness and focus belying his usual morning challenges. He will do well this kid (he’s currently helping some other kids create a tornado in the spa, don’t ask).</p><p>After the tour we had breakfast in the car park and then headed in to the Cultural Visitor Centre at Warradjan. Again an incredible journey and very generous sharing of aboriginal culture and stories. We smashed the bookshop on the way out. I’ve parked Ray and Moth on the Salt Path at Mevagissey and am now enjoying a collection of aboriginal Dreamtime stories.</p><p>The rest of our stay has been very relaxing, interchanging beautiful walks and sunsets with pool action / friend making opportunities. Today we made the big drive down to Maguk Falls, and hour or so for the first 120kms and then 30 bone shaking minutes for the last 10 kms along a very corrugated track. I made it out in about 10 minutes when the tyres had cooled down a bit and we’d tightened up the cargo barrier screws and fixed up the things that had shaken loose on the way in. Nissy P is a great old girl, but we need to respect her age. </p><p>The video of the way in is apparently too big and my phone is on 4% so sayonara. Hope everyone in the real world is going OK, we are..</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfnSw6n2OooRWw0wsemdOT3KVLXWdIhi6C3qoObrvilJpZfr62mklk6B6LzCagp-33tZZLVA1VCULZ6asABog0ujlCWCjuPw0Wmq1J0eHciJXGdYByx01-jXliujmuk03wCT2y335_buS3WAqvISNoP60AkGEbuDZQXl3PnYBkrY5eYtF-eys7kIsqA/s4032/01FFA7F5-76C2-4BE7-8410-5CB32DC209BD.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfnSw6n2OooRWw0wsemdOT3KVLXWdIhi6C3qoObrvilJpZfr62mklk6B6LzCagp-33tZZLVA1VCULZ6asABog0ujlCWCjuPw0Wmq1J0eHciJXGdYByx01-jXliujmuk03wCT2y335_buS3WAqvISNoP60AkGEbuDZQXl3PnYBkrY5eYtF-eys7kIsqA/s320/01FFA7F5-76C2-4BE7-8410-5CB32DC209BD.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAbGQo6D9Tb9RgpLVSm_91fU1t3cFB_hIuKIhuBGmYpbO3Hm2VxXDPTTcMdwCaLjVjveeT9ar4t9jJc1X9fCzfHedW-Gw04B8vkrSyEs27uFMFSXm83Bet5GpqDDeTslVsCNADe8kUhPKCaeid1a_sZmjiviec4sXC44x-0DDYkyM1i7cuSNznJ7WhYQ/s4032/002FB099-5E54-47C9-8BD3-127EE3BD1B9C.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAbGQo6D9Tb9RgpLVSm_91fU1t3cFB_hIuKIhuBGmYpbO3Hm2VxXDPTTcMdwCaLjVjveeT9ar4t9jJc1X9fCzfHedW-Gw04B8vkrSyEs27uFMFSXm83Bet5GpqDDeTslVsCNADe8kUhPKCaeid1a_sZmjiviec4sXC44x-0DDYkyM1i7cuSNznJ7WhYQ/s320/002FB099-5E54-47C9-8BD3-127EE3BD1B9C.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc1Pbe_ILiO_ClK3yIG3EwR51wVTWj59hm_Suegk76Ii9PQ8UZLkT97A-J0TPc7i5mcImF1d-P3x9rpUSDP5psRzFc06bHKHfLyMpoOlNLw2d-6vliGaW_AeL-uUR_EkEhpAp0DxtpBUqV77gxXozOVEUlHN9efjCHFp5QEgFdkQNGTAXQXaFMaYplzg/s4032/7E8520F0-1274-4126-9023-D50A5D3E877E.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc1Pbe_ILiO_ClK3yIG3EwR51wVTWj59hm_Suegk76Ii9PQ8UZLkT97A-J0TPc7i5mcImF1d-P3x9rpUSDP5psRzFc06bHKHfLyMpoOlNLw2d-6vliGaW_AeL-uUR_EkEhpAp0DxtpBUqV77gxXozOVEUlHN9efjCHFp5QEgFdkQNGTAXQXaFMaYplzg/s320/7E8520F0-1274-4126-9023-D50A5D3E877E.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFLnjNJQren6di15hpompWjtH4LaaTW48KO_WtvU1yfFAXQNQH3E7e9a0kXzYgxL34v_IL_7JzyYF-lsWtB1MHKOlUiyezKco9hngYtAxzdfyyHHFiELVdHbzPZP9NlCnsHhwGxjo_tTllvFFaM5SmNqkPF9JcEwgGbI0PD15NDYuIgZ7i8xarh-Cupg/s4032/9EE9F4CF-0311-4BEB-B588-CF3FF01F41BF.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFLnjNJQren6di15hpompWjtH4LaaTW48KO_WtvU1yfFAXQNQH3E7e9a0kXzYgxL34v_IL_7JzyYF-lsWtB1MHKOlUiyezKco9hngYtAxzdfyyHHFiELVdHbzPZP9NlCnsHhwGxjo_tTllvFFaM5SmNqkPF9JcEwgGbI0PD15NDYuIgZ7i8xarh-Cupg/s320/9EE9F4CF-0311-4BEB-B588-CF3FF01F41BF.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7cVxfPJfchjf9L7rvioGEqgZaF6j5S7dQCtzL7QQVPRiTbPWrqAYRWBzL1bUXYY2bjvQKq3g77ZE-A5bYZCJicvHb5NnndXc33Y8yk8MhMWTtldTe0BZcsRgdbUvUWYpShdjyu9XDUbuuUYWN5lEFr6AJbATWa10yekMbaM6WZuEsF1DVwpYbr8gnnA/s4032/D3EBF265-C4DF-4702-87E2-32C5276A0D82.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7cVxfPJfchjf9L7rvioGEqgZaF6j5S7dQCtzL7QQVPRiTbPWrqAYRWBzL1bUXYY2bjvQKq3g77ZE-A5bYZCJicvHb5NnndXc33Y8yk8MhMWTtldTe0BZcsRgdbUvUWYpShdjyu9XDUbuuUYWN5lEFr6AJbATWa10yekMbaM6WZuEsF1DVwpYbr8gnnA/s320/D3EBF265-C4DF-4702-87E2-32C5276A0D82.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p>Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04142224789928286977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3636767330920619181.post-7503337663968619062022-07-23T16:50:00.001+10:002022-07-23T16:50:14.300+10:00Alice to Darwin - quick sticks<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We left Alice Springs on a cold and frosty (again) morning, keen to hit the road as we had some kms to cover due a spreadsheet planning mistake I had picked up earlier in the trip.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> During the planning stages for this trip Andy and I were working in our spreadsheet while he was in the UK visiting family for the first time in years. In a perfect world one column held the destination for that particular date, and the next column had the distance to be travelled (according to trusty Google maps). As the route evolved and developed I admit I was not always great at adjusting the distance column - hence we ended up with something like this;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Alice Springs --> Devils Marbles (412km) which was perfectly fine</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Devil's Marble --> Edith Falls (300km or so) which was NOT fine at all, as that distance is actually more like 830km!! And this included a one night set-up and pack-up, and we had been struggling to get away much earlier than 10am with the cold.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A solution was realised in a motel stop in Tennant Creek (night 16) which Andy covered in his post. We probably don't need to ever stop in Tennant Creek again, but it negated the need for the one set-up and pack-up and we were now 100km closer to Edith Falls than we would have been had we camped at Devils Marble's as planned. We were able to get up and leave at first light and had the biggest day in the car to date; the kids handled it pretty well, with a few stops to break it up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEDxdbNf2-ZlIHgvqlLcFKrqyDeUeHYuPC9lPGU2rjS4UoMWmKHyt_RF46khOr80Ir0qeWvaqDs9d0DeiItPQtAT7_Xaka95oN-4aPS6dGtYhXNMpYDWJvOD6KjtS7fxde5szKgF520L3WncUU0mHjPuBEoqHaEbpGJaMw-qf2MHbTVSRJyyx_M2amUw/s4032/EE63C838-5D88-4AC9-99EC-0EC31E357980.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEDxdbNf2-ZlIHgvqlLcFKrqyDeUeHYuPC9lPGU2rjS4UoMWmKHyt_RF46khOr80Ir0qeWvaqDs9d0DeiItPQtAT7_Xaka95oN-4aPS6dGtYhXNMpYDWJvOD6KjtS7fxde5szKgF520L3WncUU0mHjPuBEoqHaEbpGJaMw-qf2MHbTVSRJyyx_M2amUw/s320/EE63C838-5D88-4AC9-99EC-0EC31E357980.heic" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">James on an ancient grader near Renner Springs - note the Road Train parked across the road in background; it had 5 trailers, the last of which is out of shot and had a Landcruiser, the smaller car is a Mini Cooper.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigpDtPQjpLU-2oMesVNhiz6_Yq0U-w60HXVWhYDbTSNLO3PVq4Q7UiejMLQ7U319UFRfavOiM1-cPutcuY9hB_tvj7_z9jHjG41fwRyI6Alulv5pSUFF0AygDnKTQ9ubl2PsVVkyDr-KJalQrpMBb1YMTsdN-gbh-0DZhpPVqcE8K0bSAxotqSL4mAGw/s4032/E1860E02-60F3-461D-B50A-453483818097.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigpDtPQjpLU-2oMesVNhiz6_Yq0U-w60HXVWhYDbTSNLO3PVq4Q7UiejMLQ7U319UFRfavOiM1-cPutcuY9hB_tvj7_z9jHjG41fwRyI6Alulv5pSUFF0AygDnKTQ9ubl2PsVVkyDr-KJalQrpMBb1YMTsdN-gbh-0DZhpPVqcE8K0bSAxotqSL4mAGw/s320/E1860E02-60F3-461D-B50A-453483818097.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back of car lunch in Mataranka - servo sausage rolls and sandwiches</td></tr></tbody></table> to celebrate NOT running out of fuel!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6F0xk-xQqRVLMqH7yoYD2qYuNOJktfkFHZCn5xpZcqaBjQo9ZKDciQBozdixZu9jYFiuctGUoIEgS3GeHZ7nTpQyiybflhmJepsl4GgGC03oWGNwWKhBnqEoMUWy43U4bDpMFpln5QPI03RbNqsMQKKRaKwm3ujuNblttPZ78Sp-e2T5oj3-1_-LqNA/s4032/FBBD1D6D-6B86-48D8-B80C-BCDD2F74A289.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6F0xk-xQqRVLMqH7yoYD2qYuNOJktfkFHZCn5xpZcqaBjQo9ZKDciQBozdixZu9jYFiuctGUoIEgS3GeHZ7nTpQyiybflhmJepsl4GgGC03oWGNwWKhBnqEoMUWy43U4bDpMFpln5QPI03RbNqsMQKKRaKwm3ujuNblttPZ78Sp-e2T5oj3-1_-LqNA/s320/FBBD1D6D-6B86-48D8-B80C-BCDD2F74A289.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another Mataranka treat - while I nipped to the shop across the road the ice-cream man came!</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Ahh sweet Edith Falls (17, 18 & 19), a sight for weary drivers eyes. We pulled into the campground at Edith Falls about 5pm, which we think is pretty decent for a 730km day plus all stops for wees, fuel, snack, and more wees. We stayed here on our last trip and had fond memories so were keen to see if and how it had changed - not a lot is the answer. It was busy but not crowded and the sites are well marked and distanced from others. There were lots of families so the kids were delighted! We set up in record time and took it easy in the first real warm weather all trip - at last!! ( No more having to strip off in the mornings to put on a freezing bra 😬)<div>Our first day at Edith Falls we walked as a family on a loop walk taking us up to the middle pool and to some great lookout points - it is so pretty. We then spent the rest of the day playing and generally just noodling around. The kids hooked up with some other camp kids in a central area and just played for hours!</div><div>Day 2 saw James and Andy take on a more challenging walk which Jemma declined as she had struggled a bit on the shorter walk, some of the rock clambering was a bit challenging and slippery. I had been finding some of the walks we had been doing very much two-handed affairs and my left hand was still mending. Jem and I spent the morning at camp together.</div><div><br /></div><div>The water was very cool (cold) and the outside temperature not high enough for me to swim, a stiff breeze cementing the decision. James seems determined to swim in any and all waterholes. Jemma would like to but generally cannot get past her legs, she is persistent and tried to get in at Edith Falls on and off for an hour and a half.</div><div><br /></div><div>We had a bush-stone curlew visit early in the evenings then heard its blood curdling screams later into the night - they are very pretty birds. Their call is very distinct and can sound like a child screaming and has apparently been the cause of people walking into the bush and getting lost looking for the poor child. We also had a dingo padding around but we had taken all the dingo precautions and put away all rubbish and meal prep stuff.</div><div><br /></div><div>A fantastic stop for 3 nights and welcome warmth for these cold-weary campers!</div><div><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUrJHxJvi_G7E_W2wSL8Ka7T5C9lflb6Fqvv74Oc0h6IMQ3H6Fq0hv2liTPv4tAacom_Lp5QaMPzjZcsNb9qiZ6qcAlgDt2a5y2UZywkTg-XpWva7Wo9-GOY0bRJcb6fm1ZIwFOMLInynhVPotluSQjQYOuwQ3VqBChlSyChHOOneLjQzMJMbJednoEg/s4032/46C235F5-0D8D-4A81-BAB6-5335591100E1.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUrJHxJvi_G7E_W2wSL8Ka7T5C9lflb6Fqvv74Oc0h6IMQ3H6Fq0hv2liTPv4tAacom_Lp5QaMPzjZcsNb9qiZ6qcAlgDt2a5y2UZywkTg-XpWva7Wo9-GOY0bRJcb6fm1ZIwFOMLInynhVPotluSQjQYOuwQ3VqBChlSyChHOOneLjQzMJMbJednoEg/s320/46C235F5-0D8D-4A81-BAB6-5335591100E1.heic" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Edith Falls camping</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMwV8JJ-ZhwwemIC0wOOxkGAd1h8GlWdBcSdWGIUnD6T17mDPuablUIKGQwQC2fdrmmyut078zfsMRYa2Lp7j93a6lwDJBpSEgUfE5lPI8fbDY883Kt5FhyxXCQQGek1CWfOYstwV0F4pQGP6UcdVMNzxYZ5qyytTRMk3P7MIvkxoOoA6CVanuu5eJQ/s4032/078F7376-1CA6-4307-ADE3-3C04A5B0A007.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMwV8JJ-ZhwwemIC0wOOxkGAd1h8GlWdBcSdWGIUnD6T17mDPuablUIKGQwQC2fdrmmyut078zfsMRYa2Lp7j93a6lwDJBpSEgUfE5lPI8fbDY883Kt5FhyxXCQQGek1CWfOYstwV0F4pQGP6UcdVMNzxYZ5qyytTRMk3P7MIvkxoOoA6CVanuu5eJQ/s320/078F7376-1CA6-4307-ADE3-3C04A5B0A007.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Card games - Edith Falls</td></tr></tbody></table><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXbKS8iLFFlwDe-WEIIQitBMG8Ozf9DYgmsAboGuYYYPNfBo4hjnOEA8lr-zWP8Pp3rx6XZHeojFUV3sABLzjdR2Ydph6zRuWerU7B9rN8E1vCbF4cbjGRKwiRbtFo3Z3-5sDKPWVigzYZKt18JQ63-PqFWITM-ozBe2wnzrajs-OAB6G63S3EWYn7Mw/s4032/08251A75-6492-4C51-A35E-AEA1128D41BF.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXbKS8iLFFlwDe-WEIIQitBMG8Ozf9DYgmsAboGuYYYPNfBo4hjnOEA8lr-zWP8Pp3rx6XZHeojFUV3sABLzjdR2Ydph6zRuWerU7B9rN8E1vCbF4cbjGRKwiRbtFo3Z3-5sDKPWVigzYZKt18JQ63-PqFWITM-ozBe2wnzrajs-OAB6G63S3EWYn7Mw/s320/08251A75-6492-4C51-A35E-AEA1128D41BF.jpeg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUusj3DZgQ05CAnt8zbpKLt6VmCnPx8cU31zpmL6BNmeZ_WFjGJ4kX0Y_PwFZxl3cGF3wc4Cvd99DL4W6tNTRAZUiRERNfRcI0oTlXgf7-RoNE7ZnM7whmsRqXSWewsXicGxKQxjhs1FRCDunudLPHq5AXZXx03kBHvWnU-V-SOtJuhEBLgCX_80XIvg/s4032/CCCF4BD6-186F-427D-91B5-50A28DE0687C.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUusj3DZgQ05CAnt8zbpKLt6VmCnPx8cU31zpmL6BNmeZ_WFjGJ4kX0Y_PwFZxl3cGF3wc4Cvd99DL4W6tNTRAZUiRERNfRcI0oTlXgf7-RoNE7ZnM7whmsRqXSWewsXicGxKQxjhs1FRCDunudLPHq5AXZXx03kBHvWnU-V-SOtJuhEBLgCX_80XIvg/s320/CCCF4BD6-186F-427D-91B5-50A28DE0687C.heic" width="240" /></a><div><br /></div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUwI3vc30mF_P0rlgoeHJiaCm_fNN3P-wR3ERyksFHlUvkFLMcbg-VS3pZ9MxZi_-nVF_mDkTGfmY4aoAfdAU-XsKD9bw3ntfWQHUjJDRBfWYbARWZUOyZVBS00jOND0jp7vff4zZ3VEocPBQnVrqgOpLBs9xGj4VP1cfvlQ9A2FP_mqjZoo71CrgtqQ/s4032/82AF308E-6FF6-4035-95C8-ADC08AE99320.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUwI3vc30mF_P0rlgoeHJiaCm_fNN3P-wR3ERyksFHlUvkFLMcbg-VS3pZ9MxZi_-nVF_mDkTGfmY4aoAfdAU-XsKD9bw3ntfWQHUjJDRBfWYbARWZUOyZVBS00jOND0jp7vff4zZ3VEocPBQnVrqgOpLBs9xGj4VP1cfvlQ9A2FP_mqjZoo71CrgtqQ/s320/82AF308E-6FF6-4035-95C8-ADC08AE99320.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jemma just moments before slipping into the freezing cold at water at the middle pool at Edith Falls</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZMRprUaf0se93GXL2i7i3XZeTNFImZQYOci1cO3B0L4zvQP955FNjAHNIUQKPC8VV1fXE6NPN9HFXo8UNWdx1ANnA2SpsuKUFp00kfslxAbj6osSnbIcuvYF9fBaeEQq08c8ha2L-T0ZYjASgoqYP2ZGsZDT6AigrnCclAMtZSX-URa6EF-zIeb1Y0A/s4032/893EA51D-44F7-44F9-90AC-A61AB2CE1C98.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZMRprUaf0se93GXL2i7i3XZeTNFImZQYOci1cO3B0L4zvQP955FNjAHNIUQKPC8VV1fXE6NPN9HFXo8UNWdx1ANnA2SpsuKUFp00kfslxAbj6osSnbIcuvYF9fBaeEQq08c8ha2L-T0ZYjASgoqYP2ZGsZDT6AigrnCclAMtZSX-URa6EF-zIeb1Y0A/s320/893EA51D-44F7-44F9-90AC-A61AB2CE1C98.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Edith Falls, NT<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEtDlMaSDkR8ZD5sWfdbY1IrmW8rcGOpHuNr3zH0WT1Py_LZz1jUN55dFiscSxGjtb9vJ0MVn95vAtQe7dF-erRWEP5JuzzAtUAmxNefT5_WDRTMC9c92kh35IkCv2-pj-Ts9A43IL1fqoBJg7SOd8tjMd9pWyxSgzio3jzkjtyMmWcmUFNsnUd_u7Rg/s4032/7154EAEB-F0B3-43AA-9BAF-C3DD64C839DE.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEtDlMaSDkR8ZD5sWfdbY1IrmW8rcGOpHuNr3zH0WT1Py_LZz1jUN55dFiscSxGjtb9vJ0MVn95vAtQe7dF-erRWEP5JuzzAtUAmxNefT5_WDRTMC9c92kh35IkCv2-pj-Ts9A43IL1fqoBJg7SOd8tjMd9pWyxSgzio3jzkjtyMmWcmUFNsnUd_u7Rg/s320/7154EAEB-F0B3-43AA-9BAF-C3DD64C839DE.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">James about to swim while Jem thinks about swimming at Edith Falls</td></tr></tbody></table> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPPh3nhOJadMQOr_8kpkjpZO8uByVAGOu2bhnokxggQ4rB59pzqPbn5RYjgcSoqEugvbnd6RhpAMYErfjxHryAH7khSbhQvD_UszOs_04LkGOzipYnuSyMRqRj1jNXKa5mIFAQqqducwrHTan24IgeuW05V9sNBJ74r4EGLTs6v1o0yvIq7l6TnwnDHw/s4032/B3B62BCD-7BDF-4776-A413-37B5B02BB6BC.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPPh3nhOJadMQOr_8kpkjpZO8uByVAGOu2bhnokxggQ4rB59pzqPbn5RYjgcSoqEugvbnd6RhpAMYErfjxHryAH7khSbhQvD_UszOs_04LkGOzipYnuSyMRqRj1jNXKa5mIFAQqqducwrHTan24IgeuW05V9sNBJ74r4EGLTs6v1o0yvIq7l6TnwnDHw/s320/B3B62BCD-7BDF-4776-A413-37B5B02BB6BC.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cooling his toes Edith Falls, NT</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiSEMpH5E-fJTJhG2JH9Ak_8Ra84wSAp9UmxaOTHdZq910hh-QVTZ-OqXdvlx1S61SAwp1mFTDUDF5XAFjvgRL_dnSrLTfhI3ayAn72fEyjLd1TPKK_HNTbBCkhIQ4mDD6AVswVS9PTVVyaXC2ZYWUBoGV4bYVMxtkRWeWSUus3bqjM-bHw3Ps5hGJCQ/s4032/BC5E6D89-F63D-48C1-A538-1949F41B4FA8.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiSEMpH5E-fJTJhG2JH9Ak_8Ra84wSAp9UmxaOTHdZq910hh-QVTZ-OqXdvlx1S61SAwp1mFTDUDF5XAFjvgRL_dnSrLTfhI3ayAn72fEyjLd1TPKK_HNTbBCkhIQ4mDD6AVswVS9PTVVyaXC2ZYWUBoGV4bYVMxtkRWeWSUus3bqjM-bHw3Ps5hGJCQ/s320/BC5E6D89-F63D-48C1-A538-1949F41B4FA8.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poo sticks - Edith falls</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6s7EAw7XS0NbdDVmz4L_6sZFxyml7aXuPwhj_vRhNbwRztTvD1cLujnawfRVmIfzaTUsYXseRCgxs2JPVf_rQYPjcB46SlM3AYxK_tNl8QQT6ORmz5-rBYcy5gwzYPLSaeqofBj1DYFc_JviZJ9EWO-GVgdXAP3nu8Q_BSuDCY_vdWMvaCmxVNJu7aA/s4032/CB93A328-0102-4C94-B82F-1A005D7AA0AA.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6s7EAw7XS0NbdDVmz4L_6sZFxyml7aXuPwhj_vRhNbwRztTvD1cLujnawfRVmIfzaTUsYXseRCgxs2JPVf_rQYPjcB46SlM3AYxK_tNl8QQT6ORmz5-rBYcy5gwzYPLSaeqofBj1DYFc_JviZJ9EWO-GVgdXAP3nu8Q_BSuDCY_vdWMvaCmxVNJu7aA/s320/CB93A328-0102-4C94-B82F-1A005D7AA0AA.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sun kicking off the colours on the rocks at Edith Falls</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFbvj0zP9noauNmwgEJKf1OffyH25w0nPjmNNl2jFywmrnIDq6nuFqFmd9aRVF2_TpxshXnhrMIUNw5nNylf2s-QAHYGx3csa5jGKdCmkzlxTnSnTX1zKAfvQ8-I9QuHWi5-OkItGixbHloTjB2USYyJF1CC4hr93Jb06_lc5UtYpikCVMXnJSgj_SWg/s4032/E4A57205-BA21-45CA-A157-A493FA74CCA5.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFbvj0zP9noauNmwgEJKf1OffyH25w0nPjmNNl2jFywmrnIDq6nuFqFmd9aRVF2_TpxshXnhrMIUNw5nNylf2s-QAHYGx3csa5jGKdCmkzlxTnSnTX1zKAfvQ8-I9QuHWi5-OkItGixbHloTjB2USYyJF1CC4hr93Jb06_lc5UtYpikCVMXnJSgj_SWg/s320/E4A57205-BA21-45CA-A157-A493FA74CCA5.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camping is a grubby business</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihzKtzbonbjjItb-rz4A3C21JUKSE1uq-fdfBRO93xrGinGGnRi0dirorhjr4Bg75uj_gNSviAWkSyVSe9NztrPMf2R71mnSk4C-RApEjd7kokWNzlIRyw1mXd-a02DUZmWFv6mJFxxxc77jJost6Zg0LlJxSapgqWMDN4XGE7aW0Ojn1Qrs9Cj9edqQ/s4032/F9941A4A-6C79-45EE-83E3-D215D80925C6.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihzKtzbonbjjItb-rz4A3C21JUKSE1uq-fdfBRO93xrGinGGnRi0dirorhjr4Bg75uj_gNSviAWkSyVSe9NztrPMf2R71mnSk4C-RApEjd7kokWNzlIRyw1mXd-a02DUZmWFv6mJFxxxc77jJost6Zg0LlJxSapgqWMDN4XGE7aW0Ojn1Qrs9Cj9edqQ/s320/F9941A4A-6C79-45EE-83E3-D215D80925C6.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birthday picnic for her Panda "Pandy" & friends</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY2Ng0R_zV1jQ1gf5V54V8YerqSJSjuGk1RhuI6ViBFAoxHrzM-TinP5gdSi8s6NgVvipoGqCHRUhVqk7Zw5p9TfeQi7Timcpwrz4pI4dP0dJlJ0RX6RY2rDsbz5_eCzYxOpB5vXalM66gsHjzlXwDjQs13X17ZHZI0OnvmzO7Rjr9kl8fFf5BupAoOQ/s4032/FB9994B1-6737-47C8-B045-9E97E2386031.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY2Ng0R_zV1jQ1gf5V54V8YerqSJSjuGk1RhuI6ViBFAoxHrzM-TinP5gdSi8s6NgVvipoGqCHRUhVqk7Zw5p9TfeQi7Timcpwrz4pI4dP0dJlJ0RX6RY2rDsbz5_eCzYxOpB5vXalM66gsHjzlXwDjQs13X17ZHZI0OnvmzO7Rjr9kl8fFf5BupAoOQ/s320/FB9994B1-6737-47C8-B045-9E97E2386031.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Helping!!! Edith Falls</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Packing up at Edith Falls was a much quicker and simpler affair than any other to date, and we were soon on our way to a much anticipated stay; Sandy Creek campground in Litchfield NP for 3 nights (20, 21 & 22). We made a quick stop at the Batchelor Friendly Grocer for some pricey supplies and then onwards to Litchfield, stopping at Tolmer Falls on the way to our campground of choice.</div><div>Sandy Creek was a firm favourite on our last trip, and Litchfield full of great memories of waterholes and falls and wildlife. Again, it was an incredible stop!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6U3oUlAMBmojfrwqpFxGbUnr8JGXLGQ56LfQdFoaT9kqBOq-T_jlxDyqWEq6dUGys3i1TCTPnnJsP5p2_lxEgMs8JBtkt8gnmZFp-ALLlA6eFbYFyNnoUmyqUWpt7tNx3uy5avprliKyb8apNWk4TLpnNv6QOT2lUvIL7p0lB6ovsHtQjDP0YfxIpYg/s4032/0B3E4C2D-6DD9-4DCE-94F6-737AEC17D030.heic"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6U3oUlAMBmojfrwqpFxGbUnr8JGXLGQ56LfQdFoaT9kqBOq-T_jlxDyqWEq6dUGys3i1TCTPnnJsP5p2_lxEgMs8JBtkt8gnmZFp-ALLlA6eFbYFyNnoUmyqUWpt7tNx3uy5avprliKyb8apNWk4TLpnNv6QOT2lUvIL7p0lB6ovsHtQjDP0YfxIpYg/s320/0B3E4C2D-6DD9-4DCE-94F6-737AEC17D030.heic" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Tjaynera Falls - 1.7km each way from Sandy Creek campground, coldest water in the park according to some </div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE4Y07hEFjzj2wmA2dovPtPiure7wbJki6yQ8cCAJPKdjEMdJrMs7i3KmtUlmwjqbLD3mTTbjCBHgjvugtSK8m4U6obEDfaPNLDngfKwyKEbsVppBEqXL1bsnX-0XzUCOrD_DmhVRYALehigQOECekTFwTZz8e6H9kMEc8ciHvPUJ0Qs9QkpAF_n-Prg/s4032/4D30420C-9800-43B8-9055-7AF4BF37492A.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE4Y07hEFjzj2wmA2dovPtPiure7wbJki6yQ8cCAJPKdjEMdJrMs7i3KmtUlmwjqbLD3mTTbjCBHgjvugtSK8m4U6obEDfaPNLDngfKwyKEbsVppBEqXL1bsnX-0XzUCOrD_DmhVRYALehigQOECekTFwTZz8e6H9kMEc8ciHvPUJ0Qs9QkpAF_n-Prg/s320/4D30420C-9800-43B8-9055-7AF4BF37492A.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heed the signs!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table>Litchfield saw the first hot days we have experienced so all walking and exploring was done in the relative cool of the mornings. It's so nice to be warm, and to swim and walk in such a beautiful place.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRq4i-Z5cNxGWvmwOPGvoPfHhAMitIt1OkBXYFJrvNJErQ8j4PB0WXaplnIxGNfuMg-2Dp5IWVc1jF1-rBzzDBVkm8rnaRM1GEgEl6okQsyYKf1ZPBQjb0eFwsZQ_0nzkJ8oL2ckWB_qUWGkfS1m6eVb8jv600ePe2np8unLdOhzvfy0SRGhdjQlZzLA/s4032/5C97B2B7-DC2E-46FF-8C88-649C6C309729.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRq4i-Z5cNxGWvmwOPGvoPfHhAMitIt1OkBXYFJrvNJErQ8j4PB0WXaplnIxGNfuMg-2Dp5IWVc1jF1-rBzzDBVkm8rnaRM1GEgEl6okQsyYKf1ZPBQjb0eFwsZQ_0nzkJ8oL2ckWB_qUWGkfS1m6eVb8jv600ePe2np8unLdOhzvfy0SRGhdjQlZzLA/s320/5C97B2B7-DC2E-46FF-8C88-649C6C309729.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On our way to the waterhole</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuY3lTslG9kFSrLb4KDxAiSaWLBOl8nGiVrGGlMhhM9TzirzFtOd0-iMtmwY704usbu7QcT18EtNBaGQY3nYFuLPTgdHXdOry-Sk3-AmSZtofkRyUdGyUpqFNMiJFFup0ZZ99jXyKcNn6fIMXCATslDtT8RYC3ee01V6SlC2gZ9sGyLzJTFrqfa7xwwQ/s4032/6BFEF0FB-317C-485A-B9EC-8990EE6B7E28.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuY3lTslG9kFSrLb4KDxAiSaWLBOl8nGiVrGGlMhhM9TzirzFtOd0-iMtmwY704usbu7QcT18EtNBaGQY3nYFuLPTgdHXdOry-Sk3-AmSZtofkRyUdGyUpqFNMiJFFup0ZZ99jXyKcNn6fIMXCATslDtT8RYC3ee01V6SlC2gZ9sGyLzJTFrqfa7xwwQ/s320/6BFEF0FB-317C-485A-B9EC-8990EE6B7E28.heic" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More noodles for brekky, a gift from some fellow travellers who were flying out the following day to go home, they passed on some of their pantry to us</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdh7Dqg1RvjtPGmoeIOaPiNuOrqqhzI_E9qA14lUucTQjfKrpt1o3wAbuJi3cp-mJmUK0_EG-xS1ihdnDB9W2d-plyZ_nr7fKmE8d0EcNvG7djMFt_wlrFeGTMLaAbNRA7L4c4iGRJSRABiuWFSR2xHh-Zld6Y4WJbgg0-5NBYpFGiRciLlYGo6jAKmg/s4032/7ABAAE65-1C3C-4BE8-9916-202A9E88A36C.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdh7Dqg1RvjtPGmoeIOaPiNuOrqqhzI_E9qA14lUucTQjfKrpt1o3wAbuJi3cp-mJmUK0_EG-xS1ihdnDB9W2d-plyZ_nr7fKmE8d0EcNvG7djMFt_wlrFeGTMLaAbNRA7L4c4iGRJSRABiuWFSR2xHh-Zld6Y4WJbgg0-5NBYpFGiRciLlYGo6jAKmg/s320/7ABAAE65-1C3C-4BE8-9916-202A9E88A36C.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wangi Falls, Litchfiled</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyDiUB4NjNc630MbFw8MY9zKsKE4vwb_DMa65FpyQbIUDUoRnr2oU3DgYIZClDWqzAgdMyi4zGQ50IUMC0XKwivPk56aEhsu7L15kxH5OQAShO4fxxN0mBKN4sXa3L5YteFJFrfQnc5TC4UEL8ziQ6iAWsNnZjxDXrXsiOCmLOelPlTScEaESRrZX4ww/s4032/9A7D409E-BAF1-4731-BA84-18901E5E2B10.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyDiUB4NjNc630MbFw8MY9zKsKE4vwb_DMa65FpyQbIUDUoRnr2oU3DgYIZClDWqzAgdMyi4zGQ50IUMC0XKwivPk56aEhsu7L15kxH5OQAShO4fxxN0mBKN4sXa3L5YteFJFrfQnc5TC4UEL8ziQ6iAWsNnZjxDXrXsiOCmLOelPlTScEaESRrZX4ww/s320/9A7D409E-BAF1-4731-BA84-18901E5E2B10.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crossing the creek to get to the waterhole - Sandy Creek</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvAAxKAqqxeMUAFxFooe7ZtIx4PziQCMylhXZvdaVTqsX5cHOwN3KNlRBJZnJ9HH3hgPQ6ZNh70MWIUDOEkQmllmMsJXDeZLO2NMuMP0xhRH7kP1Zrx4rT76uqT2K8l2-T-8m7ygRCtT7xGQF3mll7wBJMvC9Pe7L-5HIsFL28ICnAnKRERCxyccFJNg/s4032/12D3DACA-7E04-4F57-A503-E8ADB700A6F2.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvAAxKAqqxeMUAFxFooe7ZtIx4PziQCMylhXZvdaVTqsX5cHOwN3KNlRBJZnJ9HH3hgPQ6ZNh70MWIUDOEkQmllmMsJXDeZLO2NMuMP0xhRH7kP1Zrx4rT76uqT2K8l2-T-8m7ygRCtT7xGQF3mll7wBJMvC9Pe7L-5HIsFL28ICnAnKRERCxyccFJNg/s320/12D3DACA-7E04-4F57-A503-E8ADB700A6F2.heic" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dirty feet, James, Litchfield NP</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq9RB_xy2LTwPMh1IM6PAm8fkB__w2NlKhKNzC8Y8neqWRvlJZKu2cW7bxXB4o81wg_YtXYm16XkblqsKaEwSQQmqPFwMS2ed6zp1WSf22YErcwQHTUMIC-qGvOnPWbiLQnce7ExumjNTsENXACK7Q-QbH73GuwTlu6d5CMwqnGwdDKQnM74Cvd1fbVw/s4032/38FAF8E8-E4C3-4742-9697-B7D55A494DFD.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq9RB_xy2LTwPMh1IM6PAm8fkB__w2NlKhKNzC8Y8neqWRvlJZKu2cW7bxXB4o81wg_YtXYm16XkblqsKaEwSQQmqPFwMS2ed6zp1WSf22YErcwQHTUMIC-qGvOnPWbiLQnce7ExumjNTsENXACK7Q-QbH73GuwTlu6d5CMwqnGwdDKQnM74Cvd1fbVw/s320/38FAF8E8-E4C3-4742-9697-B7D55A494DFD.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">James swam and swam and swam at Tjaynera Falls despite the cold water!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfW7RcGQCQu-qV3kUICOU6VuS8YoWAfilg5baMuicVmUIALmHchZusoWul4yWM0AIAjQfXyQQNXbTiRKMUHmLDin_O_CGINahe7B4JHHazx_RQFkPFnrRQAMc7qHtnonMlltUO4jb_cZrtQnGByNHc7H_1p-T6TlI2HTwUg2KHJ3UDm1YXmzqHIfJ6GA/s3088/5734DB20-1533-4DB7-9AF2-EB98A2B31E19.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2320" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfW7RcGQCQu-qV3kUICOU6VuS8YoWAfilg5baMuicVmUIALmHchZusoWul4yWM0AIAjQfXyQQNXbTiRKMUHmLDin_O_CGINahe7B4JHHazx_RQFkPFnrRQAMc7qHtnonMlltUO4jb_cZrtQnGByNHc7H_1p-T6TlI2HTwUg2KHJ3UDm1YXmzqHIfJ6GA/s320/5734DB20-1533-4DB7-9AF2-EB98A2B31E19.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Off for a swim - I did not swim at Tjaynera</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj1uOg9JmSsZ3XVvuphG3ar8D56p5xcOKcwI3TlgJwSxlIz6Anh3kERZkxSwbY67yTteSzpYp3lp8q7_5i9paYFyYLj0gD-A_mcllvt6h9_8qOCOBd7GXYCBFBKHTZq2_35XLObyCOSdOhs_iJcPnLuTDDGggYWK1iaC1AHPrB9kdLcHUo7G4o9mmWmA/s4032/43263A96-D2CE-4567-BBF5-3D2754A6F8FB.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj1uOg9JmSsZ3XVvuphG3ar8D56p5xcOKcwI3TlgJwSxlIz6Anh3kERZkxSwbY67yTteSzpYp3lp8q7_5i9paYFyYLj0gD-A_mcllvt6h9_8qOCOBd7GXYCBFBKHTZq2_35XLObyCOSdOhs_iJcPnLuTDDGggYWK1iaC1AHPrB9kdLcHUo7G4o9mmWmA/s320/43263A96-D2CE-4567-BBF5-3D2754A6F8FB.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monsoon rainforest at Wangi Falls, Litchfield</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAPALdg4axue-L0Ors3IFC3eVejG-WcE-nY_MJVvcftdlfBqzIG_eZ-ZJxScgqqP-qNVHluJp6WMhC6bITKo7o0awgE1GqcAvX9LxAzV2SjO8sV-usqh4GFeEckHaWrGOB2JOrrkG63NA7KuqgAP5P1Xb6fPlYfollw1PKgxjkwIDI9vfyxqs2N6t9KA/s4032/B568EF16-706E-4990-BE01-D262A5B8B0AF.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAPALdg4axue-L0Ors3IFC3eVejG-WcE-nY_MJVvcftdlfBqzIG_eZ-ZJxScgqqP-qNVHluJp6WMhC6bITKo7o0awgE1GqcAvX9LxAzV2SjO8sV-usqh4GFeEckHaWrGOB2JOrrkG63NA7KuqgAP5P1Xb6fPlYfollw1PKgxjkwIDI9vfyxqs2N6t9KA/s320/B568EF16-706E-4990-BE01-D262A5B8B0AF.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is exactly how I broke several chairs on previous trips, we call it 'hammock-style'</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIVy22H8ei2aQ2Pc8X3y7fApPP1NULRmppa0BI33KpVM1l8XUKG61oUBHASV-9kHUcvdGnBIRC8oFB1mepg315iDgaVIKHesE5cVpTeUs7tW0Ky7_va2pJQ0QA_uB-81bsgzZ2lDD6GVVGew6ndNobv7-aQClQ7tUk_GcYITyc9nJMYtnr6UoPHpPx2A/s4032/EA1932CB-C810-4169-B77F-0A5A23E50798.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIVy22H8ei2aQ2Pc8X3y7fApPP1NULRmppa0BI33KpVM1l8XUKG61oUBHASV-9kHUcvdGnBIRC8oFB1mepg315iDgaVIKHesE5cVpTeUs7tW0Ky7_va2pJQ0QA_uB-81bsgzZ2lDD6GVVGew6ndNobv7-aQClQ7tUk_GcYITyc9nJMYtnr6UoPHpPx2A/s320/EA1932CB-C810-4169-B77F-0A5A23E50798.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jemma 'going for a swim' at Tjaynera - she froze on the rock and would not swim back so I went in and got her</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPEcKSw2vD48wSBZkzQUx3jgXxne4108hQqXgNXM-9areMAtWdV2Zg7FCMz7h3-TKRtHYwAkWmJo6aFwVaO22TftokXizjRcAYlzBoNv8RY1ani8vRqlMTS9_ZV6ZxvAGpF9JfUqly9oMb8ymgWxEZriYHzNgy2c_vsTmUBZmIN6GQtbypIRsJOcyf3Q/s4032/ED095277-6DFB-4AA4-BBEB-F5477013048A.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPEcKSw2vD48wSBZkzQUx3jgXxne4108hQqXgNXM-9areMAtWdV2Zg7FCMz7h3-TKRtHYwAkWmJo6aFwVaO22TftokXizjRcAYlzBoNv8RY1ani8vRqlMTS9_ZV6ZxvAGpF9JfUqly9oMb8ymgWxEZriYHzNgy2c_vsTmUBZmIN6GQtbypIRsJOcyf3Q/s320/ED095277-6DFB-4AA4-BBEB-F5477013048A.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sandy Creek campground</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgezWTBHeIAAWFj-wk6A0q63445JA5ZZdsFeqO4TpMxY8Gi63zVAH4sVZN30vEpAp4kQIe4p0gk3RoWKe5ZL_mFr0yotxJHtHDJhdmR1QSLvDemC4fRnSzIzX6npkMfbVqUGBvAVW-pC7SCF0-qMhummQncjdMMAjK9ok01Z3iC0xPm5EmzcmaJw-kw/s4032/EDE11687-7EA1-41B9-AFC8-EB7ACF49D544.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgezWTBHeIAAWFj-wk6A0q63445JA5ZZdsFeqO4TpMxY8Gi63zVAH4sVZN30vEpAp4kQIe4p0gk3RoWKe5ZL_mFr0yotxJHtHDJhdmR1QSLvDemC4fRnSzIzX6npkMfbVqUGBvAVW-pC7SCF0-qMhummQncjdMMAjK9ok01Z3iC0xPm5EmzcmaJw-kw/s320/EDE11687-7EA1-41B9-AFC8-EB7ACF49D544.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Off for a swim/play</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpOoawLVVU_9ZJEAHFWB6_BnmamTN268eCZP61VpqJG8FmIDOQOd3RTGT3nGS_x86XKDbDcRq3U4IST9TRZf81mXELdvlLIEtkOl9LFvrFjliRJEURUw6Nyl4xHoGRDxJVE8L5xNl_x7d9jRPH2BL7kXo_awI3Yv0atVCPGDOP2HAo7kPoJjkKNAZgkw/s4032/2DDD0990-49C7-4DCD-A06D-94BC7CE50835.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpOoawLVVU_9ZJEAHFWB6_BnmamTN268eCZP61VpqJG8FmIDOQOd3RTGT3nGS_x86XKDbDcRq3U4IST9TRZf81mXELdvlLIEtkOl9LFvrFjliRJEURUw6Nyl4xHoGRDxJVE8L5xNl_x7d9jRPH2BL7kXo_awI3Yv0atVCPGDOP2HAo7kPoJjkKNAZgkw/s320/2DDD0990-49C7-4DCD-A06D-94BC7CE50835.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cascades, Litchfield</td></tr></tbody></table><br />On our way out of the park we had planned to do a walk along Greenant Creek before heading to Darwin. It had been open when we passed it the day before but when we pulled in to the car park there was tape over the access and a note from the Ranger saying it was closed due a prescribed burn. Back into the car with no real plan we decided to just see where we ended up. The next brown National Park sign indicated a right into 'Cascades' - we didn't really know anything about it but decided to take a look - what luck!! A relatively easy walk through Monsoon Forest (=shady) and a bit of a rocky scramble brought us to this picturesque spot which he to ourselves for a short time. </div><div>We stayed a while and the kids paddled - disbelief at first when I said they could swim in their clothes. </div><div>It must be very confusing for them at times, all normal conventions and rules are out the window when on the road; being dirty is OK, swimming in clothes is OK, staying up late to watch the stars is OK and playing on the road is OK ( admittedly a road in a remote campground at the end of a 4WD track) to name a few.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy7hrr5xTyUPEGHhVS8M0VwnIAps3KqwY-AZftke9rr48WSCrXgB3kN_vaAd5wLfOcXSp6PlJxAMVSICAWi9zTInSjVk4wVeQ2yARFW30b-nmZn3O7zC_bcrR5auR7id4I2PezXWJewsgKN4b_w1MNaqP1OUb6bRh3qtRvqb2jjZzmTm8Y_iWKEKVm2A/s4032/9F527FE7-B64F-4A39-844F-FE887EB95C4F.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy7hrr5xTyUPEGHhVS8M0VwnIAps3KqwY-AZftke9rr48WSCrXgB3kN_vaAd5wLfOcXSp6PlJxAMVSICAWi9zTInSjVk4wVeQ2yARFW30b-nmZn3O7zC_bcrR5auR7id4I2PezXWJewsgKN4b_w1MNaqP1OUb6bRh3qtRvqb2jjZzmTm8Y_iWKEKVm2A/s320/9F527FE7-B64F-4A39-844F-FE887EB95C4F.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cascades walking track, Litchfield NP</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ynpDOfD1sU48V4iO1Aec1IaD0kcaJRSsEMi_j5g6K3gkUHwaXtVLib84se2qdXCdg-v_hYhZJSh55SVCuIjHmXKtgSEXztusJhf76zVeQBjDUSAX8d-P8coKtmL9ulpM4Z3lgorZ2e0pHYo9UAfVBkA4UCPqMMS1GmZURp9-Hu4z8tPXFjwY6o8nAg/s4032/28FBF762-1271-4B02-8DA3-A5F70EB44078.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ynpDOfD1sU48V4iO1Aec1IaD0kcaJRSsEMi_j5g6K3gkUHwaXtVLib84se2qdXCdg-v_hYhZJSh55SVCuIjHmXKtgSEXztusJhf76zVeQBjDUSAX8d-P8coKtmL9ulpM4Z3lgorZ2e0pHYo9UAfVBkA4UCPqMMS1GmZURp9-Hu4z8tPXFjwY6o8nAg/s320/28FBF762-1271-4B02-8DA3-A5F70EB44078.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cascades, Litchfield NP</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1o7f9a3hbZi1IBuzn2RKKHO8zuSWSNtcDrcukWk8q9m_i1AYYJCe5HaXqPAx_ogLrmTiz96VzF7GouIbrP5MGuGvdumc6yeURZn9DIsCKY2MvWMdr-QBquVoi4ptkKSzYGC3UzZIB7ve5TMWFPwcxfHpeZVR5vJoHhaa9ccs6Uk3XqC9SycfFdHmEdQ/s4032/35FEC895-0E3A-4727-9A1C-2ED4D2EDC538.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1o7f9a3hbZi1IBuzn2RKKHO8zuSWSNtcDrcukWk8q9m_i1AYYJCe5HaXqPAx_ogLrmTiz96VzF7GouIbrP5MGuGvdumc6yeURZn9DIsCKY2MvWMdr-QBquVoi4ptkKSzYGC3UzZIB7ve5TMWFPwcxfHpeZVR5vJoHhaa9ccs6Uk3XqC9SycfFdHmEdQ/s320/35FEC895-0E3A-4727-9A1C-2ED4D2EDC538.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cascades</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi04CetQwlADnMRsmYE4acRXhLI3D0WMqSjPycE4-TuxQaSuOpHtKtfj9SgdBUEjVUEve7wW_4NgkeeLn_JM_YxXbvDF0rikL0gnBU_uCZOIjNxudNuhTFt6QlypMM3LpfhOGtNUWlAzcXR2LHDbXVo66-MsNtKhtTZ8cKXzhemc7KKlIBetcPnZOKcuQ/s4032/997C1D55-DDEE-41BA-8E28-2BE8E1960926.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi04CetQwlADnMRsmYE4acRXhLI3D0WMqSjPycE4-TuxQaSuOpHtKtfj9SgdBUEjVUEve7wW_4NgkeeLn_JM_YxXbvDF0rikL0gnBU_uCZOIjNxudNuhTFt6QlypMM3LpfhOGtNUWlAzcXR2LHDbXVo66-MsNtKhtTZ8cKXzhemc7KKlIBetcPnZOKcuQ/s320/997C1D55-DDEE-41BA-8E28-2BE8E1960926.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cascades</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXDGRjT7ZIzKwwSuyZLYEMlXeK9fGJgGI0r7eXANXA2aHinJLv_p2AafA3alDz2ikT90x5wJEBLmTCdjqy5mAOuOrWquhm6R-cHi3j4TUPck5dw-j6diPbfJz3V9IzhJgOLIs8DdtnCU-m4VUNlGINQL7NjdTN6ovyyjDzDKLx-QUpKs-nOofoKM7ExA/s4032/74944E51-3F8A-4800-8403-397D35830B37.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXDGRjT7ZIzKwwSuyZLYEMlXeK9fGJgGI0r7eXANXA2aHinJLv_p2AafA3alDz2ikT90x5wJEBLmTCdjqy5mAOuOrWquhm6R-cHi3j4TUPck5dw-j6diPbfJz3V9IzhJgOLIs8DdtnCU-m4VUNlGINQL7NjdTN6ovyyjDzDKLx-QUpKs-nOofoKM7ExA/s320/74944E51-3F8A-4800-8403-397D35830B37.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cascades</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I would have to say that Litchfield reasserted itself as one of my favourite National Parks...so far. After 3 nights of camp fires, stars and raucous cockatoos, new friends and a bit of four wheel driving including a river crossing it was time to pack up and say goodbye....for now, and make for Darwin.</div><div><br /></div><div>Darwin (23, 24 & 25) - Andy covered our Darwin stop and I don't have much to add except to insert some of my own pics. <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2MQXslgrrMzN-T-bT7PZ4udqHaOkx6JvYOxysfA8ypFQnnWaUWG2_afg1D1UYVsDqPkbFBP3j2OJqwy4UDh4gMqJUBOTwv_iKW5gy2_gS6OnXP7wvT70mHzrAFy3M1t-7hgKk1gne8WapXEl9RlSVgP4p3U2N7l273CCSqdADekvYtgnPWmUzitUfcw/s4032/94CAFC0D-8D42-4920-92EC-6910A4C08283.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2MQXslgrrMzN-T-bT7PZ4udqHaOkx6JvYOxysfA8ypFQnnWaUWG2_afg1D1UYVsDqPkbFBP3j2OJqwy4UDh4gMqJUBOTwv_iKW5gy2_gS6OnXP7wvT70mHzrAFy3M1t-7hgKk1gne8WapXEl9RlSVgP4p3U2N7l273CCSqdADekvYtgnPWmUzitUfcw/s320/94CAFC0D-8D42-4920-92EC-6910A4C08283.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watermelon and Lychee slushie at Mindil Beach - was so cold and sweet</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9cThPL2hIky1NSqCmxdXwXSxVqByKZ2taoM7R8D6Qrzg-MnvCtJsBa5evR2-DgyeOWDk9VODs4ZxwzUdgYL8b9-f8PvI7-stDdfr8DkjVZztzfXDUBPixwHMXq34yQmeTg7PvKDtzYCaTFAgc4vYtY9m9LIW2mvXqZt95oe_iD45esqllVVDHPqbhg/s4032/1D209C4C-EE48-4FC0-B41B-B3A4CEE722C8.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9cThPL2hIky1NSqCmxdXwXSxVqByKZ2taoM7R8D6Qrzg-MnvCtJsBa5evR2-DgyeOWDk9VODs4ZxwzUdgYL8b9-f8PvI7-stDdfr8DkjVZztzfXDUBPixwHMXq34yQmeTg7PvKDtzYCaTFAgc4vYtY9m9LIW2mvXqZt95oe_iD45esqllVVDHPqbhg/s320/1D209C4C-EE48-4FC0-B41B-B3A4CEE722C8.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue fin tacos at Mindil Beach markets - soooooooooo good! Best $20 I have spent in ages</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc-vL5Jxish32HuW-SXjOh8sEBXYURDBfoMCj8zB2V0KnSoro7tX8PmMoQmLKLv_JZf_C23tBxygwXzY1-CGB4Qyu5v8skB8XnYoTA1xbjA5za5Fb8uR-JE4p4k60yjlu5DufOtS2SaaPl3hHZPJH0RAUiylg_HQ8x2UZTnsccO90W4OYAsUVObSzw8w/s4032/E3BE4BE2-E716-4CF4-AE11-E508B1AC91F5.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc-vL5Jxish32HuW-SXjOh8sEBXYURDBfoMCj8zB2V0KnSoro7tX8PmMoQmLKLv_JZf_C23tBxygwXzY1-CGB4Qyu5v8skB8XnYoTA1xbjA5za5Fb8uR-JE4p4k60yjlu5DufOtS2SaaPl3hHZPJH0RAUiylg_HQ8x2UZTnsccO90W4OYAsUVObSzw8w/s320/E3BE4BE2-E716-4CF4-AE11-E508B1AC91F5.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was a food truck just for calamari - perfect! Mindil Beach</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_gF_HFlP8c9lJF1cwwgKe--7BFf-Wl-owVeQhI9FuEQ4uVCPIZNMGXyzmx4ScMIXVkQIw79w6XGytxcvFlgJ9TSxIFY8Gg6HMAPhDrDCaRmGwZdLu8hwBiAy-gbNJr1fYdOVDX5ZZiNe7IKyM8_dUOI8gIi1dn3LpX7OjHdnjvOGF_dYmHBTd1nwOQg/s4032/1108ED91-3E3F-4D82-A7B3-61773EE637FD.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_gF_HFlP8c9lJF1cwwgKe--7BFf-Wl-owVeQhI9FuEQ4uVCPIZNMGXyzmx4ScMIXVkQIw79w6XGytxcvFlgJ9TSxIFY8Gg6HMAPhDrDCaRmGwZdLu8hwBiAy-gbNJr1fYdOVDX5ZZiNe7IKyM8_dUOI8gIi1dn3LpX7OjHdnjvOGF_dYmHBTd1nwOQg/s320/1108ED91-3E3F-4D82-A7B3-61773EE637FD.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mindil Beach sunset</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ0EsMtxOvOyZ_azRTa8n6-PUC7HBUQkzteX0tdVVyd9uvnZEp0rph6L79ckfVuP3JXvyLyaMV1PTu3ZawbEzibG4x3w5Uxg6iIvor_ZGI8NriBggur_TshkfrPnuX_d1P-es7wlXkq20wxB9-ebfdHB1QzEEuX48cTNvVb3o3IBaoEoa3fxyp8wtK-w/s4032/1EA60D61-3CEA-40F6-83EC-D6012ACADBC5.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ0EsMtxOvOyZ_azRTa8n6-PUC7HBUQkzteX0tdVVyd9uvnZEp0rph6L79ckfVuP3JXvyLyaMV1PTu3ZawbEzibG4x3w5Uxg6iIvor_ZGI8NriBggur_TshkfrPnuX_d1P-es7wlXkq20wxB9-ebfdHB1QzEEuX48cTNvVb3o3IBaoEoa3fxyp8wtK-w/s320/1EA60D61-3CEA-40F6-83EC-D6012ACADBC5.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kids before Jumping Crocodile Cruise</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhhhYqfwgUKiQgXcp32CXHgrHKU4XGJiWT0s8Q9MMxipvP05YUWHLbmD20LEf0ALHfWLp_DX67HtrTZvpb2BuJR-q1iPTLBPgzICcF9mLi3WLcsWS0TlP4esqGamWZiIrYe-GjQ8fKjZdMvNy13UcdJuvqTapG4oamo3P7u9dIqaeIqpPt4Qf2fzqvrw/s4032/4FD12CD2-D4DD-4624-A290-73E35F1E5389.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhhhYqfwgUKiQgXcp32CXHgrHKU4XGJiWT0s8Q9MMxipvP05YUWHLbmD20LEf0ALHfWLp_DX67HtrTZvpb2BuJR-q1iPTLBPgzICcF9mLi3WLcsWS0TlP4esqGamWZiIrYe-GjQ8fKjZdMvNy13UcdJuvqTapG4oamo3P7u9dIqaeIqpPt4Qf2fzqvrw/s320/4FD12CD2-D4DD-4624-A290-73E35F1E5389.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jem on the Croc Cruise doing everything she can to keep all arms and legs away from crocodiles</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq6mDNw4Y8pqQV7tayzWrzBmMcXKcU0VsxhGp08qSIsLbecBoRAKXiY3D-kD5ehtBnd8D1hbQ2_zv-EK9USQP0VYuumwbEjMzqTokOr4b10YvUPz0ipLDEfgOxiDcawfUa2PK4yOMeKR2LKb8BrsL-fgIjtxusEqEG_W0IdUBviTKZ8ND_2P3CXYPahQ/s4032/03CF226F-88CF-46D6-B838-C38C270CE702.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq6mDNw4Y8pqQV7tayzWrzBmMcXKcU0VsxhGp08qSIsLbecBoRAKXiY3D-kD5ehtBnd8D1hbQ2_zv-EK9USQP0VYuumwbEjMzqTokOr4b10YvUPz0ipLDEfgOxiDcawfUa2PK4yOMeKR2LKb8BrsL-fgIjtxusEqEG_W0IdUBviTKZ8ND_2P3CXYPahQ/s320/03CF226F-88CF-46D6-B838-C38C270CE702.heic" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A big one</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhp0tAnYzg8hNY6avyk3kfeAwV2dtgYVvcU9hWyyDnJKweC8jgKDxX_8QEsnCmra3_051nx0RnuuGtNjoisycBv-fpw28-X95oMWJYWAjWUvuXVu-5yAWoOF4Fn8C4UPxM8xGYcRdI0qbJQXXQ1pRnnoLmvLQAlo0EQoMtZlaU2oI2f70K9Yy5J6-gIQ/s4032/D9A91744-DE0C-4E14-86D8-673DE6CC6B0F.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhp0tAnYzg8hNY6avyk3kfeAwV2dtgYVvcU9hWyyDnJKweC8jgKDxX_8QEsnCmra3_051nx0RnuuGtNjoisycBv-fpw28-X95oMWJYWAjWUvuXVu-5yAWoOF4Fn8C4UPxM8xGYcRdI0qbJQXXQ1pRnnoLmvLQAlo0EQoMtZlaU2oI2f70K9Yy5J6-gIQ/s320/D9A91744-DE0C-4E14-86D8-673DE6CC6B0F.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jumping for a treat</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgZ3e_O6S6nU1NUmAf-fQTf4LpnGuaHMFvQXAIX_cItwDqWO1m75c3gcBhc85_iuMzTtfYX30qFO6IxQxfKNwoqI3p-iuAu76dTYL5PtEn3HoxcXyid9CcBkfchKq6cfGijvyQEHeuqr1vvrwJfUBR6qQ1_-H11CxnXeBsIJyVns7Ox8zbWF3I7-kkAA/s4032/1AD3F038-2DC7-440C-B928-849932DF9188.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgZ3e_O6S6nU1NUmAf-fQTf4LpnGuaHMFvQXAIX_cItwDqWO1m75c3gcBhc85_iuMzTtfYX30qFO6IxQxfKNwoqI3p-iuAu76dTYL5PtEn3HoxcXyid9CcBkfchKq6cfGijvyQEHeuqr1vvrwJfUBR6qQ1_-H11CxnXeBsIJyVns7Ox8zbWF3I7-kkAA/s320/1AD3F038-2DC7-440C-B928-849932DF9188.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fairy Garden, Darwin BIG4</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXY9j1GhN4HuBYIPHC1R6N3cOiHPiq68lSS3WUw0F_WSW5rDzGlyjT89tvKeQNLbz0_PpECa-1-p2IwP7RO6_sx8iT3RNh7S4rw-z6fuQtRMFAAf6h2G8LbA11cOUlt5t33Xi0MCTiczM6d2AethnnbRHS1NEj79MQ-s3JirL48HnxTosFhXlwH-bhBg/s4032/349035ED-95AC-4988-887C-24CC2972B209.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXY9j1GhN4HuBYIPHC1R6N3cOiHPiq68lSS3WUw0F_WSW5rDzGlyjT89tvKeQNLbz0_PpECa-1-p2IwP7RO6_sx8iT3RNh7S4rw-z6fuQtRMFAAf6h2G8LbA11cOUlt5t33Xi0MCTiczM6d2AethnnbRHS1NEj79MQ-s3JirL48HnxTosFhXlwH-bhBg/s320/349035ED-95AC-4988-887C-24CC2972B209.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Restock in Darwin before Kakadu adventures</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I will leave it there for now. Next stop is Kakdu.<br /><br /> <p></p></div></div>Nessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743234057904783218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3636767330920619181.post-19831231628450943282022-07-21T15:14:00.005+10:002022-07-21T15:21:20.033+10:00Spiky, venomous or trying to eat you....<p><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">I know I am a little behind on the blog so will do my best to catch up on Days 9-23 of our trip. The truth is we get the best coverage when we are in towns, which means caravan parks, and that translates into getting chores done. We have been in Darwin for the last 3 nights and each morning has been a flurry of loads of washing, breakfasting, folding and putting laundry away, cleaning out the fridge (spilt milk, broccoli buds and meat juice has been swishing about for weeks), organising and planning for our next little jaunt into National Parks, and then sight-seeing.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;">Where was I up to? Again, I will not go over all details as Andy has covered a lot in his last few posts, but we do have slightly different perspectives and experiences that I though you might like to read ( the numbers help me to keep track)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;">KINGS CANYON (9&10) – we pulled into the Kings Canyon Discovery Park and were somewhat dismayed to find it looked like another caravan/trailer convention. Kings Canyon Resort has invested umpteen million $ in the resort in the last 18 months as demand continues to increase. Some things don’t change;</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> nightly visits from dingoes who seem completely unfazed by us humans are a feature I recall from our previous visit. <o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;">A wonderful addition to the resort is the ‘Sunset Club’ – a wooden platform overlooking the incredible Carmichael Crag and the George Gill Range in the Watarrka National Park. Drinks were available for cash from 5-7pm from a caravan and there was with a singer making for a great atmosphere.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><br style="text-align: center;" /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeGWtvjnliDwqgJZHYEVnl-uKA6KBujwxNjVqofJvExcFA4Q0J876L-g7Gg1WwMNHIUIjD1-LYVstxyyFWuCRDa8NZfM1RzTghIEGczolu-91WLduFYobdY2iY5QeWXvU90mcSVvsebL8t4ScPm-xu2Zi9lYkHakL9auK8ssG73COzuD_6RPRF2lYaAA/s4032/50C2A423-AAC9-4EB5-AD63-BD3D5C789702.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeGWtvjnliDwqgJZHYEVnl-uKA6KBujwxNjVqofJvExcFA4Q0J876L-g7Gg1WwMNHIUIjD1-LYVstxyyFWuCRDa8NZfM1RzTghIEGczolu-91WLduFYobdY2iY5QeWXvU90mcSVvsebL8t4ScPm-xu2Zi9lYkHakL9auK8ssG73COzuD_6RPRF2lYaAA/s320/50C2A423-AAC9-4EB5-AD63-BD3D5C789702.heic" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sunset Club, Kings Canyon Resort<span> </span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_rPmhYe-r7AOtOvitJgKVmjq1pyP-8gIr8KjvuFY_kaY8HFRRpiQcGp45xqAp9Qx6883ArpjKGfZyTcuHSomoOuKHS709oU5KhySvy5_AztKkCRS1PFycYA-MP49babFkxwOi8ntW-VSQfG4W5aATNbt_c1nCkAMJHLbBgMno9tVDHqdb4TLk72XmvA/s320/D8CC65C9-0EA3-4BED-80F8-5197FEC585B1.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset Club - yes it was cold<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Hp4X4gHLTTgrfKrwyMEgulF6JmViNLN6NfMybcY5YtVnOaxGZgD7p5EQ3DQFXb9ibzZE9Vsr7H6b5fqYTJP1yVE6lQgq8XZvyL-4wKKpOXrZd85AvzlSYQyABXnFyxLnNZs4NZRKkIUk63CAitKRhWi_EchQhE7K5eYF2L3zv9ar8qzNB3nz25owGw/s4032/BA725D81-BEAD-4F77-8BF5-C92919B57BBC.heic" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Hp4X4gHLTTgrfKrwyMEgulF6JmViNLN6NfMybcY5YtVnOaxGZgD7p5EQ3DQFXb9ibzZE9Vsr7H6b5fqYTJP1yVE6lQgq8XZvyL-4wKKpOXrZd85AvzlSYQyABXnFyxLnNZs4NZRKkIUk63CAitKRhWi_EchQhE7K5eYF2L3zv9ar8qzNB3nz25owGw/s320/BA725D81-BEAD-4F77-8BF5-C92919B57BBC.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cuppa with a view - sunrise over George Gill Range, and yes ice on the bannister<span> </span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_rPmhYe-r7AOtOvitJgKVmjq1pyP-8gIr8KjvuFY_kaY8HFRRpiQcGp45xqAp9Qx6883ArpjKGfZyTcuHSomoOuKHS709oU5KhySvy5_AztKkCRS1PFycYA-MP49babFkxwOi8ntW-VSQfG4W5aATNbt_c1nCkAMJHLbBgMno9tVDHqdb4TLk72XmvA/s4032/D8CC65C9-0EA3-4BED-80F8-5197FEC585B1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;">The kids made a fast friend in Natalie who had been travelling with her Dad for several weeks and starved of kid company. James and Jem were only too happy to teach her how to play Monopoly Deal in the comfort of our tent – which they did for hours. They were on their way to Alice Springs for Natalie to take a flight home to Brisbane (I think) while her Dad and other travel buddies took on the Simpson Desert (a dream of Andy’s and mine from our last travels, so we were happy to indulge him while he mused on fuel economy and the various logistics in the planning of such a trek).<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;">After a quick good-bye and exchange of Messenger Kids ID the next morning we got organised for the walk we had come to do, Kings Canyon Rim Walk, a 6km, 3-4hr loop walk up to the top of Kings Canyon and around the rim as the name suggests. The first section is vertical, getting you to the top in short order with views back across the plain, cars in the car park looking like matchbox cars according to the kids. Got our hearts "beeping" as Jem says.<o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbAT2qnRPfytZDTDZiDwwK7kKasuBDrMfb5uSzLTQCY0bEMgPebjXHIdFpV0deO4-kjPLiB8focYI3rw0Fzrjk-g55jhYjxfzx7MdT0gt-398IdVPHQmajBdEO5X5eJy2DDPSJUr3faZQHc5LwZRZh2XqiGiu-9di0U_tGfGLm7RKZZ9QDFxO5EIRlDA/s4032/8EB56DD5-9BFB-49DC-8B64-14F0DF9ACEA3.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbAT2qnRPfytZDTDZiDwwK7kKasuBDrMfb5uSzLTQCY0bEMgPebjXHIdFpV0deO4-kjPLiB8focYI3rw0Fzrjk-g55jhYjxfzx7MdT0gt-398IdVPHQmajBdEO5X5eJy2DDPSJUr3faZQHc5LwZRZh2XqiGiu-9di0U_tGfGLm7RKZZ9QDFxO5EIRlDA/s320/8EB56DD5-9BFB-49DC-8B64-14F0DF9ACEA3.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ascent from carpark up to Kings Canyon rim walk is hard to capture</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><br /></p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT7lu_ggQ43jl73R3Db0CAAVaWe7eQ388AHmeM0FFlPWv6s-qIUiPvk6kgk6GM_AdGbKahzD8WY52v6vg3-9e08wqd5yoM_dgxB8oqatnQQGzPrATwYovg-WMdmK9u4f01QrA-98D69q2K4kxKkM8oTKFiwXfcmI7j_7AekcwtoA9AI2ttHxooREFKnQ/s3088/8FDFF35F-1B36-4B52-AEEF-9FE240E1FD20.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2320" data-original-width="3088" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT7lu_ggQ43jl73R3Db0CAAVaWe7eQ388AHmeM0FFlPWv6s-qIUiPvk6kgk6GM_AdGbKahzD8WY52v6vg3-9e08wqd5yoM_dgxB8oqatnQQGzPrATwYovg-WMdmK9u4f01QrA-98D69q2K4kxKkM8oTKFiwXfcmI7j_7AekcwtoA9AI2ttHxooREFKnQ/s320/8FDFF35F-1B36-4B52-AEEF-9FE240E1FD20.heic" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Selfie with a view<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK6nkIUHXBIWtsgeZ0mWkpUMezkSRCq8fXz4vpSE_J8FAu5gY8YsE45Ku4iQebucsegkS745WDETpTTBhsBAaEKs0Tswfd4nTs-lG_IxeK8i9X89C1xJrMGeAuYRVHvMpIs98pOlVmHQzogxXDTfEZ3EHYQkc-rLnv5pZFdoGgO9SlNXOzhLfx4eQaSA/s4032/D14466D7-BF0E-40EE-B61B-238DB9253697.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK6nkIUHXBIWtsgeZ0mWkpUMezkSRCq8fXz4vpSE_J8FAu5gY8YsE45Ku4iQebucsegkS745WDETpTTBhsBAaEKs0Tswfd4nTs-lG_IxeK8i9X89C1xJrMGeAuYRVHvMpIs98pOlVmHQzogxXDTfEZ3EHYQkc-rLnv5pZFdoGgO9SlNXOzhLfx4eQaSA/s320/D14466D7-BF0E-40EE-B61B-238DB9253697.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">James took a keen interest in various rocks along the walk</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br style="text-align: left;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoOE0lcRLs0qf3tjLiRcKu4ktGawMgKcD2ve6Q6PD7TeAbY2T9uimg7mMT51khf8cKNkm4s2VBrraPBjsY418C96znVkd4XcX-zWTcxxhPCWZHK4iKaY9C2GoDYJIbnAIcdFnRZZgWT-II0ZaCoTBJ5MzVbPVlB_a_8jmXzmOb9-WutwHArfRTUMFmIA/s4032/45A59947-430A-4B6B-AC6E-23249000D94C.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoOE0lcRLs0qf3tjLiRcKu4ktGawMgKcD2ve6Q6PD7TeAbY2T9uimg7mMT51khf8cKNkm4s2VBrraPBjsY418C96znVkd4XcX-zWTcxxhPCWZHK4iKaY9C2GoDYJIbnAIcdFnRZZgWT-II0ZaCoTBJ5MzVbPVlB_a_8jmXzmOb9-WutwHArfRTUMFmIA/s320/45A59947-430A-4B6B-AC6E-23249000D94C.heic" width="320" /></a></div></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;">I would like to take a moment here to credit the kids. At home my kiddos are generally walk averse, and all walking is accompanied with much whingeing. Perhaps it’s because there is usually a time-pressure in our normal lives, and we are currently walking for the pure pleasure of it, with time to watch the birds and ants etc, that there has been zero complaining. It has made walking with them a pleasurable experience and has forced Andy and I to slow down too.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;">The Kings Canyon rim walk is an exceptional walk with something different around every corner. As we walked, we noticed helicopters buzzing around doing scenic flights and I wondered aloud if anyone might be interested in going up if we could jag a flight at short notice. Jemma was 100% NOT keen (predictable) but James was. We pulled into the chopper office on return from our walk to ask about availability – they had 2 spots available 3:45pm that afternoon – just enough time for a quick shower and return for our flight. I do love helicopters, and James had never been up in one and as always was up for something new. The flight was incredible, and the pilot provided commentary as we went along. At one point we could see as far as Uluru one way and the West MacDonell Ranges the other.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSAK1VptDuPBh4nESJ5VkCKBPLF_9HBEg4isXOLa9Ak33ySoG1HozWdmkgxYzlph8SA2wKC9jz4BHJnd0SvrarY3S5rqK6D1AH4PdTn5OU11Sz6hQX55BYRzeXJnxnWKz4vAfv-rGjBcpRv49vDmryCeNIHWNFpH3v00wtxnil15pMRBJ9DwDXj4qD-Q/s3088/05C96000-8968-4496-9CBC-9996B8547240.heic" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2320" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSAK1VptDuPBh4nESJ5VkCKBPLF_9HBEg4isXOLa9Ak33ySoG1HozWdmkgxYzlph8SA2wKC9jz4BHJnd0SvrarY3S5rqK6D1AH4PdTn5OU11Sz6hQX55BYRzeXJnxnWKz4vAfv-rGjBcpRv49vDmryCeNIHWNFpH3v00wtxnil15pMRBJ9DwDXj4qD-Q/s320/05C96000-8968-4496-9CBC-9996B8547240.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">About to take off</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8dIzs-XI2N0tdjRlqyTuVh6x7IvLt3BmYyA6XCsRvxWiMdxs_l7vloJ-kHWjZEfO0R9fkkObcn-sQRQcga43G7HzgbzfM547zJiILpmYGfH60TDfxLUVL7yuAVJsdxW8EA4hXkqNdRjPrCsL26ZRllJEUILg2p5JuKbF-9dX0_EYjibnHq_OgSHal9w/s4032/AFFB8F12-3EF4-468C-BD00-1B3C80242BB5.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8dIzs-XI2N0tdjRlqyTuVh6x7IvLt3BmYyA6XCsRvxWiMdxs_l7vloJ-kHWjZEfO0R9fkkObcn-sQRQcga43G7HzgbzfM547zJiILpmYGfH60TDfxLUVL7yuAVJsdxW8EA4hXkqNdRjPrCsL26ZRllJEUILg2p5JuKbF-9dX0_EYjibnHq_OgSHal9w/w150-h200/AFFB8F12-3EF4-468C-BD00-1B3C80242BB5.heic" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">James and I before our flight</td></tr></tbody></table><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_5KAeNKurYoWwGP358CcYDwSPJCupcZfrl4cVTzRBAUJD1ZlfNd_N-fTB_vWS8GmQGSEWDhYjDLvekBC0bnZ09gwEedonIbK6fSCcFSQ2P7YPSZUgBTo4dUAatcup4oGhEvCg64qQsJFbPO2mbZpvr85ja8E2nBIURVDIUz4Denv_UFYyyYH68RHH9g/s4032/0493261D-6A42-414C-AC28-5BEF12CD1102.heic" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_5KAeNKurYoWwGP358CcYDwSPJCupcZfrl4cVTzRBAUJD1ZlfNd_N-fTB_vWS8GmQGSEWDhYjDLvekBC0bnZ09gwEedonIbK6fSCcFSQ2P7YPSZUgBTo4dUAatcup4oGhEvCg64qQsJFbPO2mbZpvr85ja8E2nBIURVDIUz4Denv_UFYyyYH68RHH9g/s320/0493261D-6A42-414C-AC28-5BEF12CD1102.heic" width="320" /></a><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglFArXHfgN_Xduf7wBNkQnsMfWLRTypjQ16SN6kQ0xdZygRXCyFGPThe2Njjsq3eHpVyZ-PPqgZm1_5wXPiE2vX5bpy_zyWavi4Y3YA0v-kEzSF_CciaiOwwKaDBe63_xkK3-Bnu2Lk_YmAON_lHyjcM6PtK4Ov6Udl8sA2Ne_YQtou474IhpMURFV9w/s4032/4DA16A17-569C-4CE5-8816-F5A259DD779D.heic" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglFArXHfgN_Xduf7wBNkQnsMfWLRTypjQ16SN6kQ0xdZygRXCyFGPThe2Njjsq3eHpVyZ-PPqgZm1_5wXPiE2vX5bpy_zyWavi4Y3YA0v-kEzSF_CciaiOwwKaDBe63_xkK3-Bnu2Lk_YmAON_lHyjcM6PtK4Ov6Udl8sA2Ne_YQtou474IhpMURFV9w/s320/4DA16A17-569C-4CE5-8816-F5A259DD779D.heic" width="240" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;">A very good day. We decided that it was too cold to just hang out in the campground for the evening, so we headed to the pub for a great meal, some red wine and some silly dancing.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;">Redbank Gorge (11, 12 & 13) </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;">Another frost at Kings Canyon meant ice all over the tent and camping gear, making packing up and getting going take a little longer. Cold hands and faces and general reluctance to get out of bed delays things further.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXK-8GgutlOOaqe8RJtccDQT9qYC4-RMPjbNz4GW_EdBrbseaSglXQPGNNA0KTSxV7YCpW2y5KH4SrAWAwqvoxcB4uQDmqpLc6hbe7f3aLIUFDmmUSD-96mk7c2h_OkIxdOJ-QJT07oZFJ7MZw3cnm2zalnyqtd5rVqIhLIXo0ogxXMCmkci4dT9QXbw/s4032/C626E0C4-723D-4406-A7C5-46BCB40048ED.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXK-8GgutlOOaqe8RJtccDQT9qYC4-RMPjbNz4GW_EdBrbseaSglXQPGNNA0KTSxV7YCpW2y5KH4SrAWAwqvoxcB4uQDmqpLc6hbe7f3aLIUFDmmUSD-96mk7c2h_OkIxdOJ-QJT07oZFJ7MZw3cnm2zalnyqtd5rVqIhLIXo0ogxXMCmkci4dT9QXbw/s320/C626E0C4-723D-4406-A7C5-46BCB40048ED.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glen Helen</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglF3B_KY8J6B0Nf9J0d5PDZtu0RYaVnWYqI38ICFRukDgpw0cRtbfHXZPA9NJGfo4VgWcQ8d8TMUnsIjjAU1ZSwPy5W0rBcqihDoKi37Yp3DspQ9ms2awaVwvjkvIAKcJIOFQICPxFo8nEAbLMqb-5H35_ZM9pVxUXpDZZiNw1IdByxRtOSBDtaXf4qA/s4032/D4746255-FA66-45DF-A641-FE06469B7D3F.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglF3B_KY8J6B0Nf9J0d5PDZtu0RYaVnWYqI38ICFRukDgpw0cRtbfHXZPA9NJGfo4VgWcQ8d8TMUnsIjjAU1ZSwPy5W0rBcqihDoKi37Yp3DspQ9ms2awaVwvjkvIAKcJIOFQICPxFo8nEAbLMqb-5H35_ZM9pVxUXpDZZiNw1IdByxRtOSBDtaXf4qA/s320/D4746255-FA66-45DF-A641-FE06469B7D3F.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunch at Glen Helen Resort</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwib9ohTrdjlzdhprNWnJ0MMsWiLcwqCmOS_0rmiijKKZUrZoaTWHzBLGMHeT9w4HDF4tJFrktcjKsKMx5J9l7nNmUrFVBagB7QH1JbcQkGmG-FV1YlOVktu1K-jhqkoK8zs6d3ATLqGwRwks3KNcUF7XzDfINvP7-jyPACv_zrpKMHefjR3opMW4i9w/s4032/DFC18EF4-AB37-4D66-875E-DD76F6CA689D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwib9ohTrdjlzdhprNWnJ0MMsWiLcwqCmOS_0rmiijKKZUrZoaTWHzBLGMHeT9w4HDF4tJFrktcjKsKMx5J9l7nNmUrFVBagB7QH1JbcQkGmG-FV1YlOVktu1K-jhqkoK8zs6d3ATLqGwRwks3KNcUF7XzDfINvP7-jyPACv_zrpKMHefjR3opMW4i9w/s320/DFC18EF4-AB37-4D66-875E-DD76F6CA689D.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Damper - bit burnt but tasted yummy</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNQTlIJWOuj3td_ket2JnsGIlReXUxVT3_HogmffKpIWRN_b2kwbhOhOs5_5hMz5oTQN2Emlivds4_magX24MaqRYhI6eHHM1DRu1who2Zb_ap7ffu65zagN9ywSrtf8Qqqr7QM-6s_gH5TTAYNo4qqM4B79x3QkkA0ogmruLCiCWdKBg3YlMeh4vhCw/s4032/F0A8078C-86D0-4E5E-844B-CF5745800987.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNQTlIJWOuj3td_ket2JnsGIlReXUxVT3_HogmffKpIWRN_b2kwbhOhOs5_5hMz5oTQN2Emlivds4_magX24MaqRYhI6eHHM1DRu1who2Zb_ap7ffu65zagN9ywSrtf8Qqqr7QM-6s_gH5TTAYNo4qqM4B79x3QkkA0ogmruLCiCWdKBg3YlMeh4vhCw/s320/F0A8078C-86D0-4E5E-844B-CF5745800987.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All trees need to be climbed</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggFomQKABC9JmLs-a9O74JOez6jiMNLR3bE_zKHxTWjjVyYuex0BVd-HVEtKJZln72BJ73UComRP1Hb6QmZ464Miz1bvCEZ1xtzzAykEXdY4SbIHqLOftTLPwcIJ9kKGqVMTClVSMQpfig2lj8LtHtD-eXiCLrxhNYzcUM-6YP41XxlmI6uWije5XC6Q/s4032/5C51867E-8B8F-4F78-93F4-735E8F8C6538.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggFomQKABC9JmLs-a9O74JOez6jiMNLR3bE_zKHxTWjjVyYuex0BVd-HVEtKJZln72BJ73UComRP1Hb6QmZ464Miz1bvCEZ1xtzzAykEXdY4SbIHqLOftTLPwcIJ9kKGqVMTClVSMQpfig2lj8LtHtD-eXiCLrxhNYzcUM-6YP41XxlmI6uWije5XC6Q/s320/5C51867E-8B8F-4F78-93F4-735E8F8C6538.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Noodles for breakfast - it's a thing</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBox9eG-32G_xxeh8kj3mK-USa-lh-bw_kKaYlNjjoNG43QPuwhQW8eqtJN38xWdgzXDg0pqhW_t7XGb2E71QYZkRAcB5ERJWwRzKzl52-R5JvEeLq9K7oR0DapFzzKL7IgCIJ4pZdlgBoW3XRImsgI78WgwXYLVty443sQ2ybqxY05l4_T41XLiG_uQ/s4032/81C74978-DBE9-417C-97A4-371454F427CC.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBox9eG-32G_xxeh8kj3mK-USa-lh-bw_kKaYlNjjoNG43QPuwhQW8eqtJN38xWdgzXDg0pqhW_t7XGb2E71QYZkRAcB5ERJWwRzKzl52-R5JvEeLq9K7oR0DapFzzKL7IgCIJ4pZdlgBoW3XRImsgI78WgwXYLVty443sQ2ybqxY05l4_T41XLiG_uQ/s320/81C74978-DBE9-417C-97A4-371454F427CC.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ormiston Gorge</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2o316KKCzNrB4SMlWh7wyxrQvlpgDvBS6k0cWFIuoh_wp3ncC8Kk1JlAuZhF-bi6h1NrPDIegXj9Sdh0hiBLqhfKyDZpc9igM3lJOYD785OBO8QlSFu0ZXnjoKBdoU_ITdivs8t_vr-xjaxpAYXUKUPyvgg-WY-YYCqYY28dysq8skWH33cMGERGISw/s4032/AC486CE6-9FD1-4BF9-B89F-21DC982F4E5E.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2o316KKCzNrB4SMlWh7wyxrQvlpgDvBS6k0cWFIuoh_wp3ncC8Kk1JlAuZhF-bi6h1NrPDIegXj9Sdh0hiBLqhfKyDZpc9igM3lJOYD785OBO8QlSFu0ZXnjoKBdoU_ITdivs8t_vr-xjaxpAYXUKUPyvgg-WY-YYCqYY28dysq8skWH33cMGERGISw/s320/AC486CE6-9FD1-4BF9-B89F-21DC982F4E5E.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Proper quiet time attempt 2</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjucNKJEO2RoFEmXcCwsjsFJ6ix9BbX3AY5-t6UG2J1ZXndOt5_WYYPTEpKmKB4T1l8DQ6gXVSkcYPW5hRZyuNevUfCntl0IjwqVt2QcADCirjZjjpbjJhH9CHY1OCxH0wdZE5x82DqdhKFvN1gAb3uIdUw_PqnLP2mJZYEiysegUSrZt2yZotmxl0JDw/s4032/C0F33412-592A-45C8-ABB3-AC4CDA369C3D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjucNKJEO2RoFEmXcCwsjsFJ6ix9BbX3AY5-t6UG2J1ZXndOt5_WYYPTEpKmKB4T1l8DQ6gXVSkcYPW5hRZyuNevUfCntl0IjwqVt2QcADCirjZjjpbjJhH9CHY1OCxH0wdZE5x82DqdhKFvN1gAb3uIdUw_PqnLP2mJZYEiysegUSrZt2yZotmxl0JDw/s320/C0F33412-592A-45C8-ABB3-AC4CDA369C3D.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Proper quiet time attempt 2</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFz6-Hz8CqNpPRPqX9yAhSs5p9xvvMkZMin9pxcMFnKjVzN9M5UXz4UjWq8FU5HPn71AxXLFfTQVdb_PZJsCQFDO327pLAxBGZeSRnPgFnIxC1bPpNjpRmwzpgzJIH75-OqjfMGf42HJr0vp7H55unU24cGHGYqqaPsnbYSR19z7M61HquXHWHumtBhA/s4032/E9877734-AE1A-41D2-9CD7-C69C79676C29.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFz6-Hz8CqNpPRPqX9yAhSs5p9xvvMkZMin9pxcMFnKjVzN9M5UXz4UjWq8FU5HPn71AxXLFfTQVdb_PZJsCQFDO327pLAxBGZeSRnPgFnIxC1bPpNjpRmwzpgzJIH75-OqjfMGf42HJr0vp7H55unU24cGHGYqqaPsnbYSR19z7M61HquXHWHumtBhA/s320/E9877734-AE1A-41D2-9CD7-C69C79676C29.heic" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ochre Pits</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7mnMcy2NwQDGbRfTS2CVe8TCP7g7sqdO1gaup2UOFBqS7Zxzy7A7qDqOoxq0qx7HEmZIaRq8DYdrIZ9t_9zYva3-UhWdiLvlvZ5z8hPFHT7ZQ9BxbJBuiz3GVpB7tv6KrIf6vKuBd2BgdZkIhpMVmsNBl_hhdqkPkwYuediBYE1eef2yx4PLtTGOkOw/s4032/CF747E5A-4137-4640-AEE2-78BCDB082156.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7mnMcy2NwQDGbRfTS2CVe8TCP7g7sqdO1gaup2UOFBqS7Zxzy7A7qDqOoxq0qx7HEmZIaRq8DYdrIZ9t_9zYva3-UhWdiLvlvZ5z8hPFHT7ZQ9BxbJBuiz3GVpB7tv6KrIf6vKuBd2BgdZkIhpMVmsNBl_hhdqkPkwYuediBYE1eef2yx4PLtTGOkOw/s320/CF747E5A-4137-4640-AEE2-78BCDB082156.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Standley Chasm</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;">We acquired a permit to drive the Mereenie Loop road which is a ‘shortcut’ through Aboriginal lands between Kings Canyon and Alice Springs. It is a gravel road and a bit rough in places so slower going than the highway option. We started to see big piles of poo on the side of the road and had seen a sign warning of camels, so we were hopeful of seeing some wild ones. More poo and no camels – where could they be? It turns out the poo belonged to a herd of donkeys; if it was camels, we never saw them. And horses, wild horses running in the bush.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;">We made a quick 4WD detour to Gosse Bluff – site of meteorite impact hundreds of millions of years old for a leg stretch and lunch.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;">The Woodland campground at Redbank Gorge in the West MacDonnell Ranges NP was great; drop toilet, firepits provided and good wood collecting opportunities in the creek beds just outside the NP boundary. A highlight of this campground was the birds; especially the flocks of splendid fairy wrens and noisy zebra finches that were present almost all of the time, as well as soaring raptors like Wedge tail eagles and kites.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;">It was also cold. Really cold. Being able to have a fire prolonged our outside presence by a few hours, and there was ice on the tent every morning we were there. One morning 5cm of water in a saucepan had frozen solid, not just the surface, solid. Little did we know it was to get colder yet.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;">We have not been cold in our tent at night. We were sleeping in pants, socks (sometimes two pairs), t-shirt, long sleeved jumper, then a fleece over the top of that, and a beanie. Jackets are then needed when you get up as the coldest part of the day is yet to come.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;">Redbank Gorge was a super spot from which to explore Tjoritja NP (West MacDonnell Ranges) (unfortunately no time for the East Macs, we will save that for the next trip) and we visited Redbank Gorge, Ellery Creek Big Hole, Ochre Pits and Glen Helen Gorge Resort (no fuel), Ormiston Gorge and Standley Chasm. I think Andy would really have liked to take on some of the Larapinta trail treks, but we really aren’t geared up for serious hiking – Jemma does all her walks in light-up shoes! <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;">We had 3 lovely nights at Redbank Gorge, exploring in the mornings, not too early as we needed to wait for the weak sun to do its best to warm the world, and relaxing in the afternoons. The first afternoon of prescribed ‘free time’ did not go very well as it was really the first such opportunity, the kids had hammocks up and were noisy and excited and not really down with the chillax, asking lots of questions and distracting the grown-ups from what we were trying to achieve – peace at last. Day two of free time went much better with the kids all set with hammocks, books and pillows. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;">We knew the good times at Redbank couldn’t last forever and the time came to pack up, again after an icy morning. Next stop is Alice Springs where we had a few jobs to do…<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;">Alice Springs (14 & 15)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;">After a quick change of heart regarding the Caravan Park I had booked online months ago without doing any research we ended up in the Alice Springs Discovery Park with a powered site right next to camp kitchen and amenities. While this might not sound ideal to all you die-hard bush-campers (us included) it makes for very convenient camping when its freezing cold and Queen of the Toilet is travelling with you.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;">The park I had booked was dodgy to say the very least and we just did not have a good feeling about it, not least it was out the back of a pub with a drive through regulated by NT coppers.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;">We arrived in Alice on Friday afternoon and while Andy checked us in, I called a clinic and booked an appointment to have my stitches removed Saturday morning at 9:10am. My hand had improved massively, with no signs of infection and I was using it more and more but was still anxious to see how it was healing and keen to get the stitches out. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;">I made a laughable attempt at doing some shopping at Alice Springs Coles at 4pm on a Friday afternoon – laughable as you could barely get in the doors, I don’t think I have ever seen so many trolleys queued in one place before. I didn’t even bother going in – we picked up the essential tin of Milo at a servo instead. The shopping was now scheduled for 7:30am Saturday.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;">Low on supplies and in a big town for the first time in a few weeks Andy booked a table at the Alice Springs Golf Club which turned out to be a great option – and kept us out of the freezing Alice Springs evening for a few extra hours. This we felt was a cunning strategy we used time and again – go to a club, pub, or restaurant, have a meal and stay for as long as is polite/possible.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;">On Saturday morning I got the shopping done while Andy took the kids off in search of breakfast. Andy and the kids then dropped me at the clinic to have my stitches out. The GP listened to my story of being stitched up in the campground laundry and assured me that it wouldn’t hurt a bit. However, the stitches were now embedded in the wound and required significant poking and tugging and each one hurt more than the last. Overall, this process hurt more than any other, and my hand felt like it had regressed a few days. The GP said it looked fine, gave it a good clean, stuck some steri strips on it and sent me on my way.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmbSiKVMSaTZ32JLoCankGkBMcZECwgpdhMZwqm2a8lo1-2yv3eyXtQ-bjJaQd7Gvl2BfQjuzAzRRSOiQczOVMvvHp6vWVYW0s2dg8994uA2SshgcbVu33y99fddQea7-QTqMzHQuz8175m1hOdhBVjvE4rHFaq_6I4OqUO-PWp06hzwVX7bUSZfX5Qw/s4032/D74F97A6-297D-4614-88C0-6FEA95B5D147.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmbSiKVMSaTZ32JLoCankGkBMcZECwgpdhMZwqm2a8lo1-2yv3eyXtQ-bjJaQd7Gvl2BfQjuzAzRRSOiQczOVMvvHp6vWVYW0s2dg8994uA2SshgcbVu33y99fddQea7-QTqMzHQuz8175m1hOdhBVjvE4rHFaq_6I4OqUO-PWp06hzwVX7bUSZfX5Qw/s320/D74F97A6-297D-4614-88C0-6FEA95B5D147.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stitches out!</td></tr></tbody></table></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;">While I was at the doctors Andy managed to have the left head lamp replaced - a very successful morning!!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;">Later that day we visited the Alice Springs Desert Park which showcases the various arid land habitats and the plants and animals that live there. It also inspired the title for this blog post after one of the kids brushed up against a plant and said ' careful that one is spiky'. I said to be careful of all living things, plants and animals, from now as they will likely be spiky, venomous or trying to eat you. This is my new mantra.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;">The Desert Park also had aviaries dotted around the park, some of them walk-through, with fantastic information boards. The diversity of bird life in arid Australia is astounding and we were all in our elements spotting the various birds – most of which we would never have seen or noticed in the wilds. Some special highlights were Princess Parrots and a pair of Bourke’s parrots. The nocturnal house had a ‘keeper talk’ happening about Mala, echidnas and bandicoots. My personal favourites in the park were the numbats!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;">And a free-flight bird show – a willie wagtail tried to steal the show, but the real stars were the kites showing off their speed and agility catching treats and eating them on the fly (one of the few birds that can do this I later learnt on the croc cruise). <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;">As it was freezing again, and forecast for sub-zero overnight, we decided to spend our second and last evening in Alice at the Alice Springs Brewing Company brewery in the warmth with yummy pizzas and a foosball table for fun. At one time I reckon Jem & James were two of eight kids around the table having a whale of a time until their respective families called them for dinner.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGnoovAfM-E9AjKnbPM8zTLa0XyiXxoQ9_is_6Je53jIzoueJitMNsJZWtjVV3Zqi-gGcBkALzdUkK26_rsEYIFUiLIxdEpSPp1sjRVK6rsLRze_6AV2LqgatoTKXzl_DjIFvXLP3NW3IJmggRZw6-99ZDo40NoYozjr9nffawnmK_P7kHAX8RJzvt0A/s4032/8CF380F0-EFF4-45DE-BF9F-5A93A8D7B4CE.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGnoovAfM-E9AjKnbPM8zTLa0XyiXxoQ9_is_6Je53jIzoueJitMNsJZWtjVV3Zqi-gGcBkALzdUkK26_rsEYIFUiLIxdEpSPp1sjRVK6rsLRze_6AV2LqgatoTKXzl_DjIFvXLP3NW3IJmggRZw6-99ZDo40NoYozjr9nffawnmK_P7kHAX8RJzvt0A/s320/8CF380F0-EFF4-45DE-BF9F-5A93A8D7B4CE.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alice Springs Desert Park<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3cS_5sbUmiwVG6QOck812jzWECp_ceE656AX3JlnxewcNXyhRd4r3M4lNFLSJkgH7pxmcgqMuczDCtfbwGnIZ9whpqt7FEEWYif6cGYaVJdUN_nYcRHipjS74PoDAs-kae-cqvkEVQa8t3E0UHce2Rd05hcPgTNZHg45HcRCyoSqkpVAMbFzNKQlwcw/s4032/70239CD4-22F8-48F7-A545-DA43F853CE95.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3cS_5sbUmiwVG6QOck812jzWECp_ceE656AX3JlnxewcNXyhRd4r3M4lNFLSJkgH7pxmcgqMuczDCtfbwGnIZ9whpqt7FEEWYif6cGYaVJdUN_nYcRHipjS74PoDAs-kae-cqvkEVQa8t3E0UHce2Rd05hcPgTNZHg45HcRCyoSqkpVAMbFzNKQlwcw/s320/70239CD4-22F8-48F7-A545-DA43F853CE95.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">James's wingspan compared with the enormous wedgie's</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaNsI1fVgOsX8_dENmuCY6IWSz5X9iOzwOPKlykSAfAZSjbVUkhpEr35d9x-RFA-gFrcwwwWz8DQjr7VMpbCaS_CBQLeRFhn_w8AS4mGhjaT-JiVB7EORCYFw_rRpLagQVPVDGHXRNcfyObywNe-4Buem6s0NeSCZ8cNh83NJCKRE7q6SZBsNYXCUvVA/s3088/6A4D9658-41B9-4200-AAF9-C8424FA7E86C.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2320" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaNsI1fVgOsX8_dENmuCY6IWSz5X9iOzwOPKlykSAfAZSjbVUkhpEr35d9x-RFA-gFrcwwwWz8DQjr7VMpbCaS_CBQLeRFhn_w8AS4mGhjaT-JiVB7EORCYFw_rRpLagQVPVDGHXRNcfyObywNe-4Buem6s0NeSCZ8cNh83NJCKRE7q6SZBsNYXCUvVA/s320/6A4D9658-41B9-4200-AAF9-C8424FA7E86C.heic" width="240" /></a> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><br /></p><br style="text-align: center;" /><br /><br style="text-align: center;" /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDkwOnJr6z4js5S2jpxKW1yjCUXZ2thC4WycCon50pClULdZPEEzGATHE6yE0d7GYiMRiCqydrEDAahqc_yTAtA9BZdBSCe1y_GuQRSqLnc_q0R3UPwpvKejObcHREO3TM6damIu3XWcOU2v1KvsmexOQYoQZDmIYqjsRvOcTCXWsIc46pSwv0Z0nWlw/s4032/44B0CCE5-01B4-47FF-8446-4ED03B034BE2.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDkwOnJr6z4js5S2jpxKW1yjCUXZ2thC4WycCon50pClULdZPEEzGATHE6yE0d7GYiMRiCqydrEDAahqc_yTAtA9BZdBSCe1y_GuQRSqLnc_q0R3UPwpvKejObcHREO3TM6damIu3XWcOU2v1KvsmexOQYoQZDmIYqjsRvOcTCXWsIc46pSwv0Z0nWlw/s320/44B0CCE5-01B4-47FF-8446-4ED03B034BE2.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Free flying kites</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIwLqQmRk5EOhN6A-bWzda4PpJFIdxCfYNRcw9-Ur5wg0FQV-rDo2M5tyYFjQgAWCePzFqUMRSJhBxhQHEfL662KbLuOhbSua2C4C2QA0plMDvT5I4LRRxlSvcZ6VPit_IqFkX1EXI_E0hb6jjjoEqTjuyWeNHYK82fIV8GAMJudXS_FDu12WC7yZXCA/s4032/A75E5872-41D6-4DB0-823E-7BB78A1C395B.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIwLqQmRk5EOhN6A-bWzda4PpJFIdxCfYNRcw9-Ur5wg0FQV-rDo2M5tyYFjQgAWCePzFqUMRSJhBxhQHEfL662KbLuOhbSua2C4C2QA0plMDvT5I4LRRxlSvcZ6VPit_IqFkX1EXI_E0hb6jjjoEqTjuyWeNHYK82fIV8GAMJudXS_FDu12WC7yZXCA/s320/A75E5872-41D6-4DB0-823E-7BB78A1C395B.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brown breasted buzzard - one of the few birds to use tools; they use a stone to smash open emu eggs to get to the good inside</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdJP9AFlr48UBnkn1HrfKLwdTiDz4kv1hcosHtGYRboI4W8r4b0cYHGMqlVud2Bqg1BDF1wl1PRm6A1JzG4j9xC4spHbMQo0KkqYVDbzvDM8ncClvRId0g66l7IXGOXZ6iy4AvDltsGPAQdNo_3_w7jnJcHOuKt-VF51U5IsGb3ALu3UxNbWVM5AD0ig/s4032/BF441518-CB65-4D57-9320-2562F3FE1A88.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdJP9AFlr48UBnkn1HrfKLwdTiDz4kv1hcosHtGYRboI4W8r4b0cYHGMqlVud2Bqg1BDF1wl1PRm6A1JzG4j9xC4spHbMQo0KkqYVDbzvDM8ncClvRId0g66l7IXGOXZ6iy4AvDltsGPAQdNo_3_w7jnJcHOuKt-VF51U5IsGb3ALu3UxNbWVM5AD0ig/s320/BF441518-CB65-4D57-9320-2562F3FE1A88.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Foosball at the brewery in Alice Springs - second night</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMoS3kzYmdhXFbgDeRN1ZIclA3GP9xuz0u0DOGEQMJ4ZlMZ3WyGWG24H0A8VGzruY9rBau1iEIDW6jTXyqLp-twh14SSgQk5iOU8mJ-tQ2GGebPF4VeOp16tln-au491NuX77QDicuoqvy_GF7YSYtb9xkW-lNYYmXIbHMnYWoVy9s9CpApQIsFXAGdw/s4032/A2060892-1837-4363-AD4B-615E4ADD467C.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMoS3kzYmdhXFbgDeRN1ZIclA3GP9xuz0u0DOGEQMJ4ZlMZ3WyGWG24H0A8VGzruY9rBau1iEIDW6jTXyqLp-twh14SSgQk5iOU8mJ-tQ2GGebPF4VeOp16tln-au491NuX77QDicuoqvy_GF7YSYtb9xkW-lNYYmXIbHMnYWoVy9s9CpApQIsFXAGdw/s320/A2060892-1837-4363-AD4B-615E4ADD467C.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Icy windscreen on our last morning in Alice Springs- brrrrr</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><br /></p></div></div>Nessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743234057904783218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3636767330920619181.post-17268413303977021912022-07-21T08:32:00.007+10:002022-07-21T09:25:36.667+10:00Tops off, tools down in Darwin<p>It’s been Chateau Relaxo here in Darwin - a really great and varied stop. Crocodiles one day, wave pools and museums, dinner by sunset the next. Could not recommend Darwin more highly for a warm winter getaway. The weather is far more reliable than Cairns and the prices generally and eating out were really reasonable.</p><p>We’d arrived in time for Mindil Beach Sunset markets on Sunday. We’d enjoyed the markets from our last trip but our timing was fortunate as they only run on Thursday and Sunday and we were heading back out of town on Wednesday. The market was almost unchanged from when were last here. There are amazing food truck choices. This meant we could all get what we wanted, but longish queues as the market was BUSY. Top pick was Nessa’s yellow fin tuna tacos, but it was all great. We wrapped up with poffertjes and fruit down on the beach to watch the sunset over the Arafura sea. This had been our first view of the ocean for three weeks, and we won’t see it again until Port Macquarie in a month. Which is quite weird when we’re used to seeing it every day. The sunset received a spontaneous round of applause from the thousands of people on the beach.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2NNBoz4DUd_bLG8i8TwXhUG2i8S3q--GakhTrzEnUUylKcQqF4cGPXWOdGNQtYCLe_XF_Jkmiu173k0aaYGjE8BJEUu5FZ1HkcJvOnMZ5ZvIo1oAxbtEepxJS6FjZORv1cIYjjwNNwLgr7IamSCvkMhfDFCjVKu1LmCjv3FSUSzPl0F0sStpgiqUzCw/s4032/01A2BF2B-EAA6-4074-91F4-572CC0494A61.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2NNBoz4DUd_bLG8i8TwXhUG2i8S3q--GakhTrzEnUUylKcQqF4cGPXWOdGNQtYCLe_XF_Jkmiu173k0aaYGjE8BJEUu5FZ1HkcJvOnMZ5ZvIo1oAxbtEepxJS6FjZORv1cIYjjwNNwLgr7IamSCvkMhfDFCjVKu1LmCjv3FSUSzPl0F0sStpgiqUzCw/s320/01A2BF2B-EAA6-4074-91F4-572CC0494A61.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicffHxxWkJYbu7Tl46ZYEmAT9hTZZmreN2dptvOgsyQbWuxQxfVEzzJHqekyLn6v5s3J9YA1d-GQLrDttcGTMjFOiw5_Hja7j-fgFoMTTREqPHiGIXDGc7WkRlcdLQF0N-fxVSvrJ4K5YEjYIA16ldBt8aHWg9Ai5_0H9H-cHtWxpxnGfo1s2r1Yinnw/s4032/16BE1D8C-3A9E-4079-96AF-55E2D5179446.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicffHxxWkJYbu7Tl46ZYEmAT9hTZZmreN2dptvOgsyQbWuxQxfVEzzJHqekyLn6v5s3J9YA1d-GQLrDttcGTMjFOiw5_Hja7j-fgFoMTTREqPHiGIXDGc7WkRlcdLQF0N-fxVSvrJ4K5YEjYIA16ldBt8aHWg9Ai5_0H9H-cHtWxpxnGfo1s2r1Yinnw/s320/16BE1D8C-3A9E-4079-96AF-55E2D5179446.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDQrjoEchFo3zvjI2hR4wy-XMmRgCTkmwEVQI2CfcWWRvEY3Dghq4HuKLM4hXp1k9WwsR4sfh1OPbqZh_3pwgzYCyBUOVUWlV05VV0Eez6F571L9XaFYXOjmG3qO5Hsw0nOO6HHWAvsc_0G0Z7YMp6s0I7i6zdaH9WjQQc9qK6wI5XMb8H8BjAvGLS4Q/s3088/306BF504-A48D-4C3E-BAAC-284DD4542C44.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDQrjoEchFo3zvjI2hR4wy-XMmRgCTkmwEVQI2CfcWWRvEY3Dghq4HuKLM4hXp1k9WwsR4sfh1OPbqZh_3pwgzYCyBUOVUWlV05VV0Eez6F571L9XaFYXOjmG3qO5Hsw0nOO6HHWAvsc_0G0Z7YMp6s0I7i6zdaH9WjQQc9qK6wI5XMb8H8BjAvGLS4Q/s320/306BF504-A48D-4C3E-BAAC-284DD4542C44.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNEs2p_CDWnQrg2ijdFzLehgv3bbuHKS1zrZ_R5sx1COzrx-KHWfr08jtrxUyYYxLD4L2NLbClBmUEDIUhVbaJt0HRKxuWhVcFmrPPTwT1M2KmllVwUm8bftBk8EbjI4OVkw41afwAJE3_ttyZ7bo3Jpo7mEk4QxvJM89EIAeu7r9eFHS4o5yC-yhfKg/s4032/C1E12A45-C719-4CEA-B092-1D57A50CF1A4.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNEs2p_CDWnQrg2ijdFzLehgv3bbuHKS1zrZ_R5sx1COzrx-KHWfr08jtrxUyYYxLD4L2NLbClBmUEDIUhVbaJt0HRKxuWhVcFmrPPTwT1M2KmllVwUm8bftBk8EbjI4OVkw41afwAJE3_ttyZ7bo3Jpo7mEk4QxvJM89EIAeu7r9eFHS4o5yC-yhfKg/s320/C1E12A45-C719-4CEA-B092-1D57A50CF1A4.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>We headed out for the jumping croc tour on Monday morning. Jemma had been more than nervous about this activity from the moment I booked it two months ago. As Monday approached she asked more and more questions about the size of the boat, whether the crocodiles would be jumping over the boat etc. Fair to say that safety measures had been upgraded over the last 15 years and it was a fully seated affair. There are an estimated 10,000 saltwater crocodiles in the Adelaide River alone, which is incredible seeing they’d almost been shot to extinction when I was born. A great trip and a very informed guide.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg3yASfL1899uAbMGpt5ZpaL3TpKowHZ6dxItjop7PA-27_1No78ta7fCyls6hDl0q6bx6hH0bcL-C_qEAv7I0oc5d1WsffxfVfMFwqRsaW4rjPiXpMKQNQ9yhMsuj_MIEe7p5wOArGcG3vEcBQOHzcBrCf0ia6dCAURWV66akCdqU_kWopRpfChyW6g/s4032/169DD414-5EB1-41DC-902D-520AC4E8CE6B.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg3yASfL1899uAbMGpt5ZpaL3TpKowHZ6dxItjop7PA-27_1No78ta7fCyls6hDl0q6bx6hH0bcL-C_qEAv7I0oc5d1WsffxfVfMFwqRsaW4rjPiXpMKQNQ9yhMsuj_MIEe7p5wOArGcG3vEcBQOHzcBrCf0ia6dCAURWV66akCdqU_kWopRpfChyW6g/s320/169DD414-5EB1-41DC-902D-520AC4E8CE6B.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGLKlW4rhzu4RFc3lj1mXpm_j2s7yhK84Yg-E18aut8QAQslRLDsxj5aQV3OfpaMXGucFyUeXm5KjeQ5lQ-1YfoDMnLGEVDSomtVzfFi1wQji_C-gFsMqlYn5R2oO6NCQzVQipj_uDdGnZsoQ5GgOV0c84bjZVSSxZwa4wU40V8FaM6Hyr9ll56hPJzA/s4032/624BA636-3909-4B6F-95A6-ACC58795E326.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGLKlW4rhzu4RFc3lj1mXpm_j2s7yhK84Yg-E18aut8QAQslRLDsxj5aQV3OfpaMXGucFyUeXm5KjeQ5lQ-1YfoDMnLGEVDSomtVzfFi1wQji_C-gFsMqlYn5R2oO6NCQzVQipj_uDdGnZsoQ5GgOV0c84bjZVSSxZwa4wU40V8FaM6Hyr9ll56hPJzA/s320/624BA636-3909-4B6F-95A6-ACC58795E326.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>On Tuesday we had Darwin Day, starting at the free-entry Museum and Art Gallery which was absolutely brilliant and had exhibitions varying from wildlife, boats, cyclone Tracy, turtles and aboriginal art.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj5O5FBrJCeuC85wbdihLcGDtyOgEN5GJ3fX3txS9_z3rAJoKsF8WdDIVRkWSBoq5qtFx3iSd_9UajbWlWtWOMeA4DXz-_jsn-khEFgMuDxEUXRU81QSDN5gK_BCbfw4QGocrpjUu_N20G4KDW-Z4qLRHfHODf6lWCHLHhuq11VqnYKbPVz-BLUNoeUw/s4032/D0453EF1-B0A8-4791-BA27-987B55332923.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj5O5FBrJCeuC85wbdihLcGDtyOgEN5GJ3fX3txS9_z3rAJoKsF8WdDIVRkWSBoq5qtFx3iSd_9UajbWlWtWOMeA4DXz-_jsn-khEFgMuDxEUXRU81QSDN5gK_BCbfw4QGocrpjUu_N20G4KDW-Z4qLRHfHODf6lWCHLHhuq11VqnYKbPVz-BLUNoeUw/s320/D0453EF1-B0A8-4791-BA27-987B55332923.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieKPvoxyXeQTU6nXJmg0sl5XZzq4Qf-HNEZdHJM50UJfD21g8LL6xCA0McSJVKK3bswSpdARab6YHhOSOtnWVlMWubElUPkM3Mw5fRqvi1lEiYOjxTsH9_YPChfHhhqbed_qrFYXMWHWBkFKcb89pyI4ixJsMwWIiGSuZX66683HjwhJ69RTF6UvQsOg/s4032/DCD8A923-6DEE-4C87-82E8-5FF05009EA41.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieKPvoxyXeQTU6nXJmg0sl5XZzq4Qf-HNEZdHJM50UJfD21g8LL6xCA0McSJVKK3bswSpdARab6YHhOSOtnWVlMWubElUPkM3Mw5fRqvi1lEiYOjxTsH9_YPChfHhhqbed_qrFYXMWHWBkFKcb89pyI4ixJsMwWIiGSuZX66683HjwhJ69RTF6UvQsOg/s320/DCD8A923-6DEE-4C87-82E8-5FF05009EA41.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;">We then moved on to Stokes Hill Wharf for a look around the Royal Flying Doctors Service Exhibition which had been recommended by a fellow camper. It was $70 for a family entry which nearly put us off but it was an hour so really well spent. They’ve used technology really well and there are numerous virtual reality exhibitions on the bombing of Darwin and the flying doctors. My favourite was where you could sit alongside a pilot from the flying doctors and then fly over the West McDonnell ranges, the Gosses Bluff meteorite site and Kings Canyon. The detail was incredible - you could even see the small 4WD track we’d driven into the meteorite crate on and the walking tracks on top of Kings Canyon. Much cheaper than a helicopter ride.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;">After a great lunch on the wharf ($25 for a t-bone), the afternoon was spent at the Darwin wave pool - $25 entry for the family. The kids had a few active hours in the water and the chlorine finally got my feet and legs clean.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91kMZrd665FqoNI87HbbfomEEWsuKpVevNvxXAKJYlI-TdcjlOmnFz88cJKSOuG1G7ZiFPej415k2cKE4gNYLj5A3Yiwt5o-6PhdRWlgskVf5Bf15Oc_4StHqy57CKNCxO3un8PflOQ9WTPmRzsbvyvGTaaEfUg2zkmIWW1P71WZZbGJkCT-S4PeExw/s4032/909DCC36-7948-4DB3-BB89-4F4F94831BE6.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91kMZrd665FqoNI87HbbfomEEWsuKpVevNvxXAKJYlI-TdcjlOmnFz88cJKSOuG1G7ZiFPej415k2cKE4gNYLj5A3Yiwt5o-6PhdRWlgskVf5Bf15Oc_4StHqy57CKNCxO3un8PflOQ9WTPmRzsbvyvGTaaEfUg2zkmIWW1P71WZZbGJkCT-S4PeExw/s320/909DCC36-7948-4DB3-BB89-4F4F94831BE6.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0HlJk9aPh1pmS1M3CMoN4pk6Pfc-FcU2fLfAuniwptUlp308KBVf2r36KDLFeFVn3aCXX_Z8KWt7WKZOOlQxOHDpItsMfquLAPF73R4PqCgIqiOG6FMiVed3qGaNdO1_VkUvOmE-4GF9aFrobA161vEenxgTcFxqvHNoEvZTeg3SDvnoGSqJuFhXtfg/s4032/3029A989-B49B-49D4-B88E-CB3B32319562.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0HlJk9aPh1pmS1M3CMoN4pk6Pfc-FcU2fLfAuniwptUlp308KBVf2r36KDLFeFVn3aCXX_Z8KWt7WKZOOlQxOHDpItsMfquLAPF73R4PqCgIqiOG6FMiVed3qGaNdO1_VkUvOmE-4GF9aFrobA161vEenxgTcFxqvHNoEvZTeg3SDvnoGSqJuFhXtfg/s320/3029A989-B49B-49D4-B88E-CB3B32319562.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj45nHar4rnCjKxtWAnb7hC5RTMUzCtfW1GaFXHmqHvhwQgK-O2qrkV7jBVDCfoKrk0ZItMYRiNm3iN0n3HXXASztzGOtHzwh1ScHCdAfhxKHzqf66v7pMojaYw-V236fTP71Xn75_L8bLdzJoSDYiO856qtaXnsfxZZP-nuDwOvMJ9j31W6R680LibJQ/s4032/451929F0-B8AF-49A6-BD63-88147AAA84CA.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj45nHar4rnCjKxtWAnb7hC5RTMUzCtfW1GaFXHmqHvhwQgK-O2qrkV7jBVDCfoKrk0ZItMYRiNm3iN0n3HXXASztzGOtHzwh1ScHCdAfhxKHzqf66v7pMojaYw-V236fTP71Xn75_L8bLdzJoSDYiO856qtaXnsfxZZP-nuDwOvMJ9j31W6R680LibJQ/s320/451929F0-B8AF-49A6-BD63-88147AAA84CA.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">Ness had spotted a great place for dinner next to the museum earlier on and we’d made a reservation to align with sunset. The Darwin Ski Club has absolute water frontage, $6 schooners and great burgers. No applause this time for the sunset, which seemed unfair as it was an absolute ripper.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Our stay at the Hidden Valley Big 4 has been amazing. One of my favourite caravan parks in Australia (up there with Coral Bay and Narooma). The staff have been so friendly and helpful throughout, from the late booking when we were at Edith Falls through to shutting down some noisy NSW punters. The facilities were great. The park has been extended and we were fortunate to be in the shady older section. The new section looks like Coober Pedy - not a tree in sight. </p><p style="text-align: left;">We are off to Kakadu next which I’m excited for, but Darwin has been an excellent stop and I reckon will feature as a future escape from the Adelaide winter cold. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0p6HSXReelP1CAGHHBMhzh9I8BJ0CBCBfNwLT7lVtIWhCUBFmYMwCW5fSv7sAxnLYhjHExfv4Sp9uYuP4t6TAwNGWPvUmOzT9Wwr4wmR53RmKcrIyMxZoTy0jydVIA3S40OaTj7thnswEuoQdJMnz73rfsrxML8KsME6UlTrKEevzNc1n60-FJDmKWA/s4032/784DE3A7-4D5D-40CC-AC73-242AED3DC214.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0p6HSXReelP1CAGHHBMhzh9I8BJ0CBCBfNwLT7lVtIWhCUBFmYMwCW5fSv7sAxnLYhjHExfv4Sp9uYuP4t6TAwNGWPvUmOzT9Wwr4wmR53RmKcrIyMxZoTy0jydVIA3S40OaTj7thnswEuoQdJMnz73rfsrxML8KsME6UlTrKEevzNc1n60-FJDmKWA/s320/784DE3A7-4D5D-40CC-AC73-242AED3DC214.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4LGqXzutJLIZsW4VjK2RVwk3qyJxz1Fq36SZyH3urdJvzxzVE6bABhtu7JoBPeW7N8B6eriBxy5kDH7G2rV_HhURr8ah7TxePoX3o-JonQ3_Y81sQSj7ABuquVgQM78U0BBaniFpOI9_6ZTzWfJctVdr81LCOOM-0u8098VomVNU7ep_VLcF3Hr1IQA/s4032/850AAB43-2541-4305-B545-35FCF2E46EEB.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4LGqXzutJLIZsW4VjK2RVwk3qyJxz1Fq36SZyH3urdJvzxzVE6bABhtu7JoBPeW7N8B6eriBxy5kDH7G2rV_HhURr8ah7TxePoX3o-JonQ3_Y81sQSj7ABuquVgQM78U0BBaniFpOI9_6ZTzWfJctVdr81LCOOM-0u8098VomVNU7ep_VLcF3Hr1IQA/s320/850AAB43-2541-4305-B545-35FCF2E46EEB.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2RxSXWpESFl1Uf3RCs9P6AYbW9mEAaqiw5be3_9AAMq0Ga3L3cf3uRkBOifKURJhfw3VwC-bFLFU60GLYWQvMY5kyZF37C4krDgB2fUiloZwBPzl7qdodO8q2fgehdcPORwD47j1DYqzqA4qwB758ZlfOmxgxDIWyvsJIhYi-TydrRJEYp4EnO_VLA/s4032/CFDE252D-9146-491B-AFDB-BD47B59E49A4.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2RxSXWpESFl1Uf3RCs9P6AYbW9mEAaqiw5be3_9AAMq0Ga3L3cf3uRkBOifKURJhfw3VwC-bFLFU60GLYWQvMY5kyZF37C4krDgB2fUiloZwBPzl7qdodO8q2fgehdcPORwD47j1DYqzqA4qwB758ZlfOmxgxDIWyvsJIhYi-TydrRJEYp4EnO_VLA/s320/CFDE252D-9146-491B-AFDB-BD47B59E49A4.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdc-a1Ny2YLlw0VuFcSJpAj6h_UTfzZ2givsBM_9crrON-3qo_sTtBSGOjZb5CiKp5Tc4KOkTd_glB8CCuB3QshdKez2Cpy4tC29HGz5vfuwu3bQi-XuOX-1YoFrcATgf36eiWNqcCN9-lRFQdOKzhXeTI4M_RKG7828_Hi3K2ItfUekdxTdo1oGSLQg/s4032/FFEE08CE-FE09-47C4-958C-C42C39F633EF.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdc-a1Ny2YLlw0VuFcSJpAj6h_UTfzZ2givsBM_9crrON-3qo_sTtBSGOjZb5CiKp5Tc4KOkTd_glB8CCuB3QshdKez2Cpy4tC29HGz5vfuwu3bQi-XuOX-1YoFrcATgf36eiWNqcCN9-lRFQdOKzhXeTI4M_RKG7828_Hi3K2ItfUekdxTdo1oGSLQg/s320/FFEE08CE-FE09-47C4-958C-C42C39F633EF.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04142224789928286977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3636767330920619181.post-68139851950958101322022-07-20T08:16:00.005+10:002022-07-20T08:18:47.695+10:00The kids interview - Darwin edition<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDoiG7FcYtq2E2HK8jrW9iwhqKV-ldyoxkNTFLPBUc_EogLsk4SpOoXQiTEsl2gUO6tUUsFBsjPc3X2nTlGseysRsRAeEkFy8uSbkO5sb5UOYxuP5FdTiQJ7naVoBI4d8l6AgH24UwvhXuYjCSQZF-73v1ymoFmblEQKqhOfQc-QdjN4pzL6e-uk56Lg/s1708/96173CDC-2C0D-4A77-894C-86EAE9A6DF36.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1708" data-original-width="1546" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDoiG7FcYtq2E2HK8jrW9iwhqKV-ldyoxkNTFLPBUc_EogLsk4SpOoXQiTEsl2gUO6tUUsFBsjPc3X2nTlGseysRsRAeEkFy8uSbkO5sb5UOYxuP5FdTiQJ7naVoBI4d8l6AgH24UwvhXuYjCSQZF-73v1ymoFmblEQKqhOfQc-QdjN4pzL6e-uk56Lg/s320/96173CDC-2C0D-4A77-894C-86EAE9A6DF36.jpeg" width="290" /></a></div><br /><p>The kids have been reluctant bloggers so we had an intervention in Darwin and a quick fire interview, Here are the results for the trip so far …</p><span></span><p><b><u>Best to thing so far?</u></b></p><p>James: Crocodile Tour, Helicopter ride, Star gazing – looking for satellites and shooting stars, Playing Foosball at Alice Springs Brewery, making new friends</p><p>Jemma: Swimming in the water holes and the pools, seeing all the animals, Sunsets and watching the moon at different times, Making Friends</p><p><b><u>Worst thing so far?</u></b></p><p>James: Hurting myself, the cold, falling over </p><p>Jemma: The cold</p><p><b><u>Coolest place you’ve been to?</u></b></p><p>James: Redbank Gorge for campfires, seeing emus going into Mambray Creek, Edith Falls swimming hole</p><p>Jemma: Mambray Creek playing on the big tree</p><p><b><u>Favourite animal seen so far?</u></b></p><p>James: Crocodile</p><p>Jemma: Crocodile, Wallabies, Hopping Mice</p><p><b><u>Favourite bird seen so far?</u></b></p><p>James: Kites, Curlew (screaming bird)</p><p>Jemma: Rainbow Bee Eater</p><p><b><u>What I’ve missed the most?</u></b></p><p>James: Dogs, Friends</p><p>Jemma: Dogs and House and Toys, Friends</p><p><b><u>Learned on the trip?</u></b></p><p>James: Crocodiles have scutes on their tails made of bone, crocodile legs don’t grow back</p><p><b><u>Favourite thing to do in the car?</u></b></p><p>James: Playing News, Getting excited about next destination<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Look out the window</p><p>Jemma: Playing News</p><p><u><b>Worst place we’ve been to?</b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></u></p><p>James: Tennant Creek</p><p>Jemma: Tennant Creek</p><p><u><b>Favourite thing you brought from home?</b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></u></p><p>James: My guys</p><p>Jemma: Pandy</p><p><b><u>Favourite card game?</u></b></p><p>James: Monopoly Deal</p><p>Jemma: 7s and Saboteur</p><p><b><u>Favourite thing to do around the campsite?</u></b></p><p>James: Get a ball out and play, looking for animal tracks, bird watching</p><p>Jemma: Tennis ball, looking for animal tracks, exploring & making fairy gardens</p><p><b><u>Something you’ve learned to do or gotten better at?</u></b></p><p>James: Teaching kids to play monopoly deal<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p><b><u>Favourite thing to do to help around the camp site?</u></b></p><p>James: Open up the chairs, opening the mattresses, opening the tables</p><p>Jemma: Unpacking, washing up</p><p><b><u>Favourite podcast to listen to in the car?</u></b></p><p>Jemma: But Why podcast (Why are pandas black and white episode)</p><p><u><b>Favourite book so far?</b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></u></p><p>James: Tom Appleby</p><p>Jemma: Babysitter club</p><p><b><u>Rating out of 10 so far?</u></b></p><p>James: 50</p><p>Jemma: 1000</p><p><b><u>One you could change to make it better?</u></b></p><p>Both: shorter car trips, play more family games</p>Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04142224789928286977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3636767330920619181.post-62075020475530035622022-07-18T18:28:00.008+10:002022-07-19T17:23:12.868+10:00Up the guts part 3 - to Darwin<p>We left Alice on Sunday morning. We’re pretty good at a calm and productive pack up, even when the gear is covered in ice and the fly is frozen to the main tent. There was more moisture in the air in Alice compared to our previous camps, resulting in a thick frost. We all go quietly about our work during pack up, it’s actually quite meditative. The kids are under instruction that if they can’t do anything helpful, they are not make things any harder. Somehow this morning James managed to hit his head on the tap while filling up our water jerry cans and has a Harry Potter-esque scar to prove it. </p><p>The Coleman tent isn’t quite the ‘instant’ its branding promises, but I’ve gotten it down to around 15 minutes – which for a 16 square metre (10 person), three room tent with built-in strip lighting is pretty good. The job I least look forward to is getting the air out of the two double self-inflating mattresses. I’m getting better at it, but it’s a wrestle to get enough out that they fit back into their bags. It’s important that there’s room to spare as after a day on the roof copping full sun they expand noticeably and won’t come out of their bags.</p><p>The previous night represented the last cold camping night until the Warrumbungles towards the end of August. The kids have been incredible and have not complained of the cold. We were all though very excited to finally get to the warmer weather.</p><p>Our destination for Sunday night was the Motel El Dorado in Tennant Creek. Our original itinerary had us camping at Devil’s Marbles, just off the Stuart Highway. Sadly that would have left a further 10 hours of driving to Edith Falls, north of Katherine where were booked for three nights from the Monday. With frequent stops 10 hours can quickly become 12, so way too much for one day. We’d missed this in our planning but the problem was quickly resolved over a couple of beers at the Eldo Hotel in Woomera while we’d had internet coverage. We booked a motel further up the highway to better (not completely) even the two days driving out, forfeiting the camping fee at Devil’s Marbles. We did do the right thing and cancel the camping as most places are really busy and someone might need the spot.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh0g8PkcQtn7nDLRrIB093en7xmx_NllGdrF7hkW9txHvat53T8vh3GaGMGIQowST-i229lCUu1tcArwISUusp6-yzlvpZmAh-jtjmd9O14yLGwwXf9nuMk9d0DHILiL2ThTHdQIb7ontZkLbAhyVGIwBONC0MoR5B8m-l790axjc39PepP_OCcURHWA/s4032/24DC3D9F-5278-4541-B310-C99CF7B4A4DA.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh0g8PkcQtn7nDLRrIB093en7xmx_NllGdrF7hkW9txHvat53T8vh3GaGMGIQowST-i229lCUu1tcArwISUusp6-yzlvpZmAh-jtjmd9O14yLGwwXf9nuMk9d0DHILiL2ThTHdQIb7ontZkLbAhyVGIwBONC0MoR5B8m-l790axjc39PepP_OCcURHWA/s320/24DC3D9F-5278-4541-B310-C99CF7B4A4DA.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The two day drive to Edith Falls was 1,240km, with day 1 to Tennant Creek taking out around 520km, leaving 720km for Monday. It was still a long second day but do-able after a restful night indoors for the first time for three weeks. The Stuart Highway driving was easy and the backdrop more interesting and variable than expected, regularly rotating through low scrub desert to river plain with larger trees and the occasional range. The road is generally narrower than south of Alice Springs which made some of the road train overtakes quite exciting (them overtaking us as they were doing 130kph and we were doing around 100kph). You really have no idea until it’s over how long they are going to be, some of them just seem to keep on coming. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzwLRCdoC_iD6eg-lFJgLi0PgWG2nKBVEwm3qKgzV40WhM79uSxuA-44K6ywlhvYoAj-9mc-6Ni09ARdnGpBw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p>Devils Marbles were impressive, but during the short walk around Ness and I noted the large number of flies, largely absent with the cold further south. We didn’t say anything to the kids.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6MmNacEKcBtfWWKFWyxoVksYswT1DxApyQQ-11mEiQ0Nv0UYbiA3gd7drcK2zTWcaOBBCzRRdumscvFDRUi2kQ3d2eu9ndr46b9uuzSIlqMBpzUUKjk1Gg70wLu-oArg3TIGX13IBfuhjllNwB6Q5miliTFd7yG6g7u2zBRSbs-9Q8dKeLNx5Esu9qQ/s4032/0B6BE91E-03F0-4C91-A67A-21D3E900F846.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6MmNacEKcBtfWWKFWyxoVksYswT1DxApyQQ-11mEiQ0Nv0UYbiA3gd7drcK2zTWcaOBBCzRRdumscvFDRUi2kQ3d2eu9ndr46b9uuzSIlqMBpzUUKjk1Gg70wLu-oArg3TIGX13IBfuhjllNwB6Q5miliTFd7yG6g7u2zBRSbs-9Q8dKeLNx5Esu9qQ/s320/0B6BE91E-03F0-4C91-A67A-21D3E900F846.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr6nnICSyYsqP9C4rBhYTUw6GwcSJO2sM7HNUp_lrB1b9t-7g3v8BPJoGtxwj7vDSe_Sf3uM6KJnTXoNPmlP5ImMTkiAm-9YEvWiO41EDsucqTJcVqTRAQufeQVY-_oCBEMGUNULdrLnYuE720tLtvhRXpRKTGJg_XJQ8MlAtGpFi3G4m4ncDzsyKuSg/s4032/B9C97E85-75E7-4524-B6CF-DBBBF7CB5AC5.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr6nnICSyYsqP9C4rBhYTUw6GwcSJO2sM7HNUp_lrB1b9t-7g3v8BPJoGtxwj7vDSe_Sf3uM6KJnTXoNPmlP5ImMTkiAm-9YEvWiO41EDsucqTJcVqTRAQufeQVY-_oCBEMGUNULdrLnYuE720tLtvhRXpRKTGJg_XJQ8MlAtGpFi3G4m4ncDzsyKuSg/s320/B9C97E85-75E7-4524-B6CF-DBBBF7CB5AC5.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>We rolled in to Tennant Creek around 5pm, excited to be off the road and into what promised from the photos on Wotif at least to be an oasis with an in ground pool and on site Chinese restaurant. The motel room was clean and the beds were comfortable, but the pool was empty and there was no sign of the restaurant. There was hot water and some of the power sockets worked. The manager gave me some security advice adding the colder weather this time of year kept most of the wandering youth off the streets. Recent reviews of the Motel El Dorado were very harsh. I suspect most were really reviews of Tennant Creek. It’s a town with plenty of problems, extreme poverty and drug and alcohol fuelled violence. The murder rate is 30 times that of the US. Even a pool full of water and an on site restaurant would have struggled to make up for the general feel of the place. No easy answers I’m sure but it’s pretty disgusting that in 2022 a town in Australia relies on grandmothers sitting out all night at the BP service station to stop it being <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-22/grandmothers-of-tennant-creek-unite-against-crime/13265750" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">vandalised</a>. </p><p>We had a very forgettable counter meal at the Memories Bistro at the RSL. The hour wait for our food did however provide good people watching opportunities. We slept poorly with one eye open but I gave Eldorado a four star review, noting that if we’re back this way in future it might be worth pushing on to Renner Springs.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_yobLyX2Rx7bXAoAM3utkrUXg0WoBT7SD_ofjWStEF5OOqalclX0hL5kZY-4RtB6PIZOdkR_tiKEp-RiwRvn0iZysh1mgDWJkhjAVN9sawGIUaWRmItXS2jXe1VrUM622KRouzvYsLg8aoMByqCt7We-EzVTvDv_jL2KyjOxFKWsBjJxW6qW7SIkqaw/s4032/CC8AC214-FA6A-41FD-9338-509DBF35A12E.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_yobLyX2Rx7bXAoAM3utkrUXg0WoBT7SD_ofjWStEF5OOqalclX0hL5kZY-4RtB6PIZOdkR_tiKEp-RiwRvn0iZysh1mgDWJkhjAVN9sawGIUaWRmItXS2jXe1VrUM622KRouzvYsLg8aoMByqCt7We-EzVTvDv_jL2KyjOxFKWsBjJxW6qW7SIkqaw/s320/CC8AC214-FA6A-41FD-9338-509DBF35A12E.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>At least we were back on the road early, choosing to skip the BP service station and instead fill up at Daly Waters, 400km further up the highway. We easily had enough to make it to Daly Waters and passed a few road houses on the way, including the extremely busy Dunmarra about 40kms short of Daly Waters. They were queuing out on to the highway to fill up. Just why became apparent when we got to Daly Waters – no diesel at the roadhouse or the pub, and no idea when it would be coming. Gas guzzling four wheel drives pulling caravans were turning around and heading back to Dunmarra as the next station north was 170kms away at Mataranka. We’d done 900kms since filling up in Alice Springs, so it was touch and go whether we’d make it. </p><p>It had taken us nearly two years of owning our old Troopy before we ran out fuel. Trouble hit on our honeymoon when we drove out to Lake Eyre. We were heading from William Creek to Marree on the remote Oodnadatta Track and fell short by around 10kms, cruelled by a stronger than expected headwind, and finally undone by an extended rise. Being a man of action I did what you’re not supposed to do and left Ness jerry can in hand to start the walk through the hot gibber plain to Marree. The day time maximum was heading to 35 degrees, but fortunately after an hour or so a car appeared from the south and its young Scandinavian occupants offered me a lift the remaining distance to the servo at Marree and then back to the Troopy. </p><p>All ended well but these experiences leave a mark, and Ness and I were really in a bit of quandary.</p><p>If we headed back to Dunmarra there was no guarantee they’d still have diesel given the queues we’d seen. Even if they did we’d be adding a good hour and a half to our already long day. If we ran out on the way to Mataranka then we’d add a lot more than an hour to our day.</p><p>So it was calculators out and we analysed the problem from every angle, using every data point we had from our log. </p><p>We’d done 900kms since our last fill. At 7.5kms per litre, the 147 litre main tank should give us 1,102 km meaning notionally we had 200kms left in the tank for the 169km journey to Mataranka. But what if we’d not been getting 7.5kms per litre? We’d had the air conditioning on as it had been hotter (and it’s a big windscreen pointing straight at the sun most of the way to Darwin). It also felt like we were always going up hill. We’ve only had the car for a few months so don’t really have a reliable measure for different conditions, but we felt we’d be OK so pushed on.</p><p>The next couple of hours were fairly tense, driving at 80kph to maximise economy and hot as we didn’t want to waste precious fuel on air conditioning. The needle had been on a quarter tank when we left Daly Waters, but that means very little with this car. We’ve since measured it takes around 156kms to go from beyond full to the full line, and then just 111kms to go from full to three quarters and then 228kms to go from three quarters to a half. The warning light eventually came on around 30kms short of Mataranka when the needle was on E. We continued the maths working out how many litres we’d need to make it and how there had to be that many left. We made town and the fill was 127.32 litres – so there had actually been almost 20 litres left. Our economy had been 8.3l/100kms. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhImsRb5ZfJYnclKvcvr5igrHV2IlxJNz7e0-5UZHje3pYtrwjJk2HsM4wEFwtlRVjzA9z2AQKkw2PxVuXlohzGryMVWolawkjZ2AQ-HLaBPCD1srIiWUdsl8LlRQmacrpoHm677nnOHQRhYcdeSZZ9mTUA5tW5Xb4hK8p2omNUpc2tTHyqjJ5ktiFqgA/s4032/C91BF045-9790-40EF-B4A9-73547FD8FA7F.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhImsRb5ZfJYnclKvcvr5igrHV2IlxJNz7e0-5UZHje3pYtrwjJk2HsM4wEFwtlRVjzA9z2AQKkw2PxVuXlohzGryMVWolawkjZ2AQ-HLaBPCD1srIiWUdsl8LlRQmacrpoHm677nnOHQRhYcdeSZZ9mTUA5tW5Xb4hK8p2omNUpc2tTHyqjJ5ktiFqgA/s320/C91BF045-9790-40EF-B4A9-73547FD8FA7F.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>We celebrated with pies, ice-creams, some booze from the general store for later and air conditioning on for the remainder of the trip to Edith Falls which we made in time to set up camp before night fell.</p><p>We’d decided not visit Katherine Gorge this time as the commercially run campground was a bit of a zoo when we were last there, The campground at Edith was within the national park and offers grassy shady sites just a short walk from the waterhole. The walking options are great and there is a plunge pool below the lower falls and multiple options higher up. The kids made instant friends with most of the campsite rabble and had an absolute ball. They’ve become so good at making fast friends and then saying goodbye, which has been a huge shift for Jemma. We had a beautiful three nights, warm at last. Our walking and general pace slowed to reflect our new climate. We all did the walk up to the second falls and on day two James and I set off early for the longer walk up to Sweetwater which we basically had to ourselves. I do love walking with James. He’s normally fairly engaged on the way there, identifying anything that moves on the ground or air, but on the way back he normally likes some solitude and some time to scuttle. In between the walking and swimming, Edith Falls gave us some proper reading and hammock time. And gloriously still no phone coverage other than on the top of the ascent to the second falls.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd4fJxRrEhtq6dUcVE_d5z12LaVXjLWlj32MpL4CGu-IaTkYphAPWBX3flbNORvu9eUH91upqi3ulijKWzNGzPDFNnKaritYnLQSFwZ2H0_PTSrlf8pqbMJtKrx9Kd37LTjaXobQ6IF0gNoov0bC7vb5Ay_sEMgfcKFy4PnRhhxvTRXcB6dWqJmtfuOQ/s4032/28F412AD-C793-46AE-A6DD-2ED13399969E.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd4fJxRrEhtq6dUcVE_d5z12LaVXjLWlj32MpL4CGu-IaTkYphAPWBX3flbNORvu9eUH91upqi3ulijKWzNGzPDFNnKaritYnLQSFwZ2H0_PTSrlf8pqbMJtKrx9Kd37LTjaXobQ6IF0gNoov0bC7vb5Ay_sEMgfcKFy4PnRhhxvTRXcB6dWqJmtfuOQ/s320/28F412AD-C793-46AE-A6DD-2ED13399969E.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO8Wt2WJcFNzkrZIhHB0elclEn2IrAvlMgtPyjr-T4RRcfCixYqDTafsuzjm5adDztK_8rfpzBDNTU8pNLQkb7OHKJu4DEJAZLloao6OUzuHYhbeCTalP_wNU_Ax81oPLoDNpgd5FY69wuKy78JYvukI27WDKYIPEpk4k68Zvg1f6FxSxCzSmGp9RgGQ/s4032/84B75B35-B2E5-49BC-919C-F16261C04D6F.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO8Wt2WJcFNzkrZIhHB0elclEn2IrAvlMgtPyjr-T4RRcfCixYqDTafsuzjm5adDztK_8rfpzBDNTU8pNLQkb7OHKJu4DEJAZLloao6OUzuHYhbeCTalP_wNU_Ax81oPLoDNpgd5FY69wuKy78JYvukI27WDKYIPEpk4k68Zvg1f6FxSxCzSmGp9RgGQ/s320/84B75B35-B2E5-49BC-919C-F16261C04D6F.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnkiiJYESUBwKdZQoCBb8FnlTsS4AtBfEtHRz-iAESI75ESjAoFaJTPc9F4O-33fUSYn99uWgpSjs5mjVCgl12nt7nmZqrV51eXKRuT4aERykLgZl7hWckVcctrKea6gkNyTHNN4LUHI8y2GDxw-4yObxGGj-IcYJyBuVTkLpH_PKZXXIb7kBGys_vAg/s4032/352CFBDE-B30A-4C65-8BB7-D4C428FCEE9F.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnkiiJYESUBwKdZQoCBb8FnlTsS4AtBfEtHRz-iAESI75ESjAoFaJTPc9F4O-33fUSYn99uWgpSjs5mjVCgl12nt7nmZqrV51eXKRuT4aERykLgZl7hWckVcctrKea6gkNyTHNN4LUHI8y2GDxw-4yObxGGj-IcYJyBuVTkLpH_PKZXXIb7kBGys_vAg/s320/352CFBDE-B30A-4C65-8BB7-D4C428FCEE9F.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijuiYmb64F8_6DaLiVNzW8mVWZCKW9QA9SLpuFYV6Re4MKs3iFLBBowEWm7o8iytkG0Y94tNbNfV9GDwYy4TWaN4C4IGSIkj-8Y_JYdd6j0kDWWedeCiBmRN5gAuZhxVb5k-Se-1zrMra3JNz9AjJvUbYuf62pmilUWI4fQHI0n5ugnYGnYj2lVj8nQw/s4032/D45A3CB0-6724-4C0A-80CD-958E2C37EF39.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijuiYmb64F8_6DaLiVNzW8mVWZCKW9QA9SLpuFYV6Re4MKs3iFLBBowEWm7o8iytkG0Y94tNbNfV9GDwYy4TWaN4C4IGSIkj-8Y_JYdd6j0kDWWedeCiBmRN5gAuZhxVb5k-Se-1zrMra3JNz9AjJvUbYuf62pmilUWI4fQHI0n5ugnYGnYj2lVj8nQw/s320/D45A3CB0-6724-4C0A-80CD-958E2C37EF39.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieS7IHXXIrZaOFxN524iCW7BRzhA3O4u2xfXlz9VEslHmYAM0zn6afp9ZOnPJcZIx_Y9s8JWKgwRrSG4Zc0wlSp-r5CwcFjmzqQ0O-W75dp98diu5YWmMQQroFVLTrYg6Zsa_5Qjb-UamPa7TX8JsLzmkVtDFiAbNp6qbIN0ZL4pq9pH8Kl-g6xCAdrQ/s4032/F14CF95B-D1D8-4F92-B690-B68D23F801B1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieS7IHXXIrZaOFxN524iCW7BRzhA3O4u2xfXlz9VEslHmYAM0zn6afp9ZOnPJcZIx_Y9s8JWKgwRrSG4Zc0wlSp-r5CwcFjmzqQ0O-W75dp98diu5YWmMQQroFVLTrYg6Zsa_5Qjb-UamPa7TX8JsLzmkVtDFiAbNp6qbIN0ZL4pq9pH8Kl-g6xCAdrQ/s320/F14CF95B-D1D8-4F92-B690-B68D23F801B1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>We were a bit sad when Thursday came around, but the first hot weather pack went well and we were off on our way to Litchfield. Our destination was Tjaynera / Sandy Creek, away from the well beaten Litchfield track which takes in perhaps just the top quarter of the park. To reach the rest you need a 4WD, and we were headed down the 4WD Reynolds Track to one of our favourite spots from our last big trip. On the way we stopped at a few points of interest including the beautiful Tolmer Falls and some giant termite mounds having restocked at Batchelor (where they will sell you as much booze as you can carry according to the cashier).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho6m2ULFX5x1t2C1pC501mO7H2NOKkssaJclh5ziD7_gbrMFBUQewJujb3fPknA0ImA3ed-pynS4e2qOU_6wmLYNT1ouVWw3Cge1n7OdqVDgF6SZHn6JxIYyPHw_7oXs_Sk0T7AAzR_yKNESuAq6eST2z3MF6-ZLQRBz5tN7SgFtuci6S7qfvGhohcPg/s4032/0EE71F92-C52F-4843-82E0-5CE448379C3A.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho6m2ULFX5x1t2C1pC501mO7H2NOKkssaJclh5ziD7_gbrMFBUQewJujb3fPknA0ImA3ed-pynS4e2qOU_6wmLYNT1ouVWw3Cge1n7OdqVDgF6SZHn6JxIYyPHw_7oXs_Sk0T7AAzR_yKNESuAq6eST2z3MF6-ZLQRBz5tN7SgFtuci6S7qfvGhohcPg/s320/0EE71F92-C52F-4843-82E0-5CE448379C3A.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPLl3fCxyZnBm693q7Jtmnrgug9FTcbVt94Um71Na1AWK8lzEH4MWczlmfoV7v0k1FV6FTHgzdHtNjK-tcx5O-ngZoHkcrmsv8WK2jS1H20DSFS8DAcgeMkEKKcgmXpqILtx2D0wv0sVLYUBan2TW-Ps_NYwYrE1vMkSRFVW_Hi9komhkRiU4sgBBVlA/s4032/29A9E7CE-41FA-4B35-98B2-D47D0C97FDA4.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPLl3fCxyZnBm693q7Jtmnrgug9FTcbVt94Um71Na1AWK8lzEH4MWczlmfoV7v0k1FV6FTHgzdHtNjK-tcx5O-ngZoHkcrmsv8WK2jS1H20DSFS8DAcgeMkEKKcgmXpqILtx2D0wv0sVLYUBan2TW-Ps_NYwYrE1vMkSRFVW_Hi9komhkRiU4sgBBVlA/s320/29A9E7CE-41FA-4B35-98B2-D47D0C97FDA4.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOPRinhIYzmhFMzSucuidI1oIvaXVaCph4l0ezj2lYd-NpGLUgf2uYxvqRaigodvA8G7vdAzn-cNdsGIvwTC0wdmqmGR0UB02KCzEo9Av3l7655DmUHZqDUryrgn1xQ0t2p8j6h0o4_4eC1tTxQFfVgmPaIBEzU9TdyNBlyeiiqAxM6y56eclE66jgfw/s4032/68FA242F-22D4-4F31-9A04-F9204A188367.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOPRinhIYzmhFMzSucuidI1oIvaXVaCph4l0ezj2lYd-NpGLUgf2uYxvqRaigodvA8G7vdAzn-cNdsGIvwTC0wdmqmGR0UB02KCzEo9Av3l7655DmUHZqDUryrgn1xQ0t2p8j6h0o4_4eC1tTxQFfVgmPaIBEzU9TdyNBlyeiiqAxM6y56eclE66jgfw/s320/68FA242F-22D4-4F31-9A04-F9204A188367.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>We turned off the bitumen and into 4WD – a new and exciting light came on the dashboard. Sadly the first creek crossing was only 60cm deep. Enough to test the door seals but well below the 1m over the bonnet depth we’d enjoyed 13 years ago. The campground and day use facilities had been upgraded to cater for the now 30,000 visitors per year Sandy Creek and the falls apparently get. There are now 13 camping spots, large shady spots that are impenetrable to tent pegs. Firewood is easily (and allowed to be) collected and we had fires each night and two dampers. The first day we walked to the falls (coldest water in the park according to everyone who went in – I didn’t). James had a long swim and went over to the waterfall. He ignored the peer pressure of some camp mates to climb up the falls to jump in. Even James said he was cold. Jemma had a short dip and got stranded on a rock and Ness had to go in to rescue her.</p><p>The water at Florence Falls the next day was apparently warmer (I still didn’t go in but everyone else did) and we enjoyed a great walk at Wangi Falls, with the added excitement of hazard reduction fires close to the track and kites hunting the escaping reptiles.</p><p>The kids made some great friends (Indigo and Si) as well as the children of the camp hosts. A really great stop and with the full moon rising a little later the stars were excellent too. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggMveyng95Ar0I-xF0xqjJJ5MdsQBsF2xcpeeAor9bKsAIk-kV9BCwlkLoeuTWLNAAs8KxBrqRjEQaJw157Ks0lnMgY_dI0VAG_RO-EE8L58RqnXT5thwUmlFoCzCNA5ySRlmHYkbyr_A9M9derRHR0RbPanKg72SCmS5--zDnhNMhmRIkL-SUnCYs8w/s4032/8F3547D8-9B71-4A22-AFCB-9D52FF5616A5.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggMveyng95Ar0I-xF0xqjJJ5MdsQBsF2xcpeeAor9bKsAIk-kV9BCwlkLoeuTWLNAAs8KxBrqRjEQaJw157Ks0lnMgY_dI0VAG_RO-EE8L58RqnXT5thwUmlFoCzCNA5ySRlmHYkbyr_A9M9derRHR0RbPanKg72SCmS5--zDnhNMhmRIkL-SUnCYs8w/s320/8F3547D8-9B71-4A22-AFCB-9D52FF5616A5.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBIl-f9N0IMmV__A7d7k6GvZSdv9hYM9ekaprFA5O5ls5hEtPKJWIVB7fjJCSrzFQiittW9zQydc8-xQ4oPTmAoa_N2R34QnChkwupJhKq1oCkUjhyfSdyOqSkPMcVRNo7coTD8tshtypuuppEqeRLTQSqwHxdQFW3cjeUpEh9eRY0z7sqRP5sTUv-8Q/s4032/9CEE1A9C-9023-43E3-91D5-F1F231AAAE4B.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBIl-f9N0IMmV__A7d7k6GvZSdv9hYM9ekaprFA5O5ls5hEtPKJWIVB7fjJCSrzFQiittW9zQydc8-xQ4oPTmAoa_N2R34QnChkwupJhKq1oCkUjhyfSdyOqSkPMcVRNo7coTD8tshtypuuppEqeRLTQSqwHxdQFW3cjeUpEh9eRY0z7sqRP5sTUv-8Q/s320/9CEE1A9C-9023-43E3-91D5-F1F231AAAE4B.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMRR5gCfR267UaGAshHkbeKvQ-UglNkuVgEJUEYXf_ta6sb6PLnuT-4XJvlc-YcSfW1QkCaR4wNqGWH8GpE_Q9g_7Q-I1ORbRzuqhFUcYRRu-10-VglvaY1khpBs93eFkrAZuFhruYl6eUJq-V8PQ3RBIlDc2399XU-Wr6ZpXIDmibkOMtTD3n98NHyA/s3088/059BF323-16B1-413E-A106-59E8F027ED3D.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2316" data-original-width="3088" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMRR5gCfR267UaGAshHkbeKvQ-UglNkuVgEJUEYXf_ta6sb6PLnuT-4XJvlc-YcSfW1QkCaR4wNqGWH8GpE_Q9g_7Q-I1ORbRzuqhFUcYRRu-10-VglvaY1khpBs93eFkrAZuFhruYl6eUJq-V8PQ3RBIlDc2399XU-Wr6ZpXIDmibkOMtTD3n98NHyA/s320/059BF323-16B1-413E-A106-59E8F027ED3D.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM_hKvky94rOr4tmu-scxT0Y2aJwnRizMnK7wxvjskOXytxg06VRtcbv5G8ayBhyhc3SOGxXTpH7p9xH730bsMf27qsj1a5qrnusT8DYMzWae913G24H3T_Z6c0F4QbKP9YI3lXVootKLwgtNr0jRzIOk9g14IdoxQgARk4fPyocAkgu1wfkT9vigm-w/s4032/643D592D-E247-4A65-9841-D8950B2C6D4C.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM_hKvky94rOr4tmu-scxT0Y2aJwnRizMnK7wxvjskOXytxg06VRtcbv5G8ayBhyhc3SOGxXTpH7p9xH730bsMf27qsj1a5qrnusT8DYMzWae913G24H3T_Z6c0F4QbKP9YI3lXVootKLwgtNr0jRzIOk9g14IdoxQgARk4fPyocAkgu1wfkT9vigm-w/s320/643D592D-E247-4A65-9841-D8950B2C6D4C.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihaKGso2XnqhMJOn9U6yJo31xvv44_Qe5WOhr5-dXnLHXTPDkBrhLhAbt-UoaEUGC5G_eZ6Q0guKdWGYc7Gs56RCBAnfPx2raPtlI0Plk7jY_oPiJlLtyV7j9w5jx56lDfNhYQj1A2c8-kuflWuEXdFGTj_oHCkd-jBhsRgSQONDR7Lk_cR7wteCwsXA/s4032/71980194-C2E1-4C4E-BF43-CBF78D522BB6.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihaKGso2XnqhMJOn9U6yJo31xvv44_Qe5WOhr5-dXnLHXTPDkBrhLhAbt-UoaEUGC5G_eZ6Q0guKdWGYc7Gs56RCBAnfPx2raPtlI0Plk7jY_oPiJlLtyV7j9w5jx56lDfNhYQj1A2c8-kuflWuEXdFGTj_oHCkd-jBhsRgSQONDR7Lk_cR7wteCwsXA/s320/71980194-C2E1-4C4E-BF43-CBF78D522BB6.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwwu_54WDKGkwvi9Az_5gXxPKhCAUVZuPAU0e9opql6ubpTe-hemOznWo7SaD92tyRPWwudBT8urPS7Zb3BlitZRmhKFGBk2LQ05j25id_HJMeOzsihQodXY8takFHhI7ofiKgQRBB6zb-_oRVqTQ3bYAgyxoaeuXbB4pe63LtD_Od-rpgAH92AiSKpQ/s4032/C4A3C1EB-A0C2-4452-8234-1C1B99F989B8.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwwu_54WDKGkwvi9Az_5gXxPKhCAUVZuPAU0e9opql6ubpTe-hemOznWo7SaD92tyRPWwudBT8urPS7Zb3BlitZRmhKFGBk2LQ05j25id_HJMeOzsihQodXY8takFHhI7ofiKgQRBB6zb-_oRVqTQ3bYAgyxoaeuXbB4pe63LtD_Od-rpgAH92AiSKpQ/s320/C4A3C1EB-A0C2-4452-8234-1C1B99F989B8.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-4caGjoYQP7CE34qBWb-X0lnEJg_hYcSsOnn0iSmucptXA3X_EKmGNOKuRcH3drvl0tp5GKznVBPYJZauLMFe-zooMZwdV7qqNLvXX45YKv_7mGgMB7on026vcAa2tl2BKc7Q9Vgx-oAK-c7R5MGU_33x1MKX722-OEbRk-Uy-WiKqVd7jFOlTX6mg/s4032/DD5B5D7C-53FF-4D0B-BA38-B6F3968D58DE.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-4caGjoYQP7CE34qBWb-X0lnEJg_hYcSsOnn0iSmucptXA3X_EKmGNOKuRcH3drvl0tp5GKznVBPYJZauLMFe-zooMZwdV7qqNLvXX45YKv_7mGgMB7on026vcAa2tl2BKc7Q9Vgx-oAK-c7R5MGU_33x1MKX722-OEbRk-Uy-WiKqVd7jFOlTX6mg/s320/DD5B5D7C-53FF-4D0B-BA38-B6F3968D58DE.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>The decision to retire the Volvo and go 4WD was completely vindicated by the trip to Sandy Creek. We have some incredible driving ahead and destinations we couldn’t have gotten into. But before that we are now relaxing in Darwin for sunsets, crocodile tours and a well earned shower (maybe more than one because I genuinely stink).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZsQQSt_2hiQ43ucEo1mH9hjNQNVdv0N1_slhiJg3WTcb9CGIfF4tIX1G_mw-Ux7UctvILaW1k6bFtrpSsGuQMOqzdPiwdbW_A8H4DmDoWcnPKxsQ7ZRChuVzm1oIMLq3PF0o2azkALQEkhHjfUulq_q6E57_Z9Vb2GhwsLTYd69yfir1DvyPhwrbRfQ/s4032/8E735ADF-801F-4BDE-B92C-9734ED322DD5.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZsQQSt_2hiQ43ucEo1mH9hjNQNVdv0N1_slhiJg3WTcb9CGIfF4tIX1G_mw-Ux7UctvILaW1k6bFtrpSsGuQMOqzdPiwdbW_A8H4DmDoWcnPKxsQ7ZRChuVzm1oIMLq3PF0o2azkALQEkhHjfUulq_q6E57_Z9Vb2GhwsLTYd69yfir1DvyPhwrbRfQ/s320/8E735ADF-801F-4BDE-B92C-9734ED322DD5.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3j3soxEQs3AsgBRI6c5r2rwbWU8pl5gcCdWdnS418jXf43MR4H5xHpejI-ez1LhPrNdhiiTLTzGFnQUSbkY5sX9kyq0zvfJ6DrJS8Y4wdEnrwSd_3K2LZSe_BwAlLOB_qS1QWqSOJkvy7z7vGdmZPMFjHRrcmbqbVJU-lC9jnoq_O1Apf5n0Z7cNhsA/s4032/C6443380-A015-4FCA-BC38-19707C77664E.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3j3soxEQs3AsgBRI6c5r2rwbWU8pl5gcCdWdnS418jXf43MR4H5xHpejI-ez1LhPrNdhiiTLTzGFnQUSbkY5sX9kyq0zvfJ6DrJS8Y4wdEnrwSd_3K2LZSe_BwAlLOB_qS1QWqSOJkvy7z7vGdmZPMFjHRrcmbqbVJU-lC9jnoq_O1Apf5n0Z7cNhsA/s320/C6443380-A015-4FCA-BC38-19707C77664E.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><div><br /></div>Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04142224789928286977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3636767330920619181.post-5424439685095543272022-07-09T18:36:00.003+10:002022-07-09T18:38:14.111+10:00Up the guts part 2, to All-ice Springs<p> </p><p>We are now two weeks into our trip. Yesterday we landed in Alice to restock, have stitches out, shower, wash clothes, replenish provisions, buy what alcohol we can, fix headlamps and do a few other chores before we head on north to finally warmer weather. </p><p>The days have been bright and sunny - we haven’t seen a single cloud in over a week. They’ve also been reasonably warm out of the wind (shorts and t-shirts in the afternoons). Nights however have been cold the whole trip, but the last week has been something else. We had our first proper icy frost (ice on tent) at Uluru last week and since then it’s got steadily colder as our altitude increased through Kings Canyon, the West McDonnell ranges and now in Alice. The other night our saucepan of water on the stove froze solid overnight. We’ve been going to bed progressively later and only rising after the sun has warmed things up a bit. I’ve been sleeping in the same t-shirt, long sleeve polo shirt, thin cotton jumper and two woollen jumpers since Kings Canyon. It’s pretty snug under the doona but the night time wee can become a bit tricky with so many layers to get through. The kids have been amazing and haven’t complained of the cold. They don’t seem to notice it as much as we do. </p><p>Our trip to Uluṟu Kata-Tjuta finished with a couple of walks through the Olgas; the Valley of the Winds (aptly named) and then Waḻpa Gorge, which had a lovely waterhole at the end.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAqVyuGSnzWlWgFMw8Ny2mbs6lI0a3P2v12Tca7IrZ5xptft1OeGtZLHaQGhvX6wN-fBd5ayaZXB7S-4OsLZIHXIWeuvqh5To_xImnwY3fYNDXr0jeW8tMeb--WYk7KhGSK8C3uTcqew3SvwU9xgyAG_oQ1NRTyLTkta3QiPC0F0-yu3_oh86y1RwQOA/s2534/0245C94C-9596-4A9C-981E-06B262D3E1FA.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1806" data-original-width="2534" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAqVyuGSnzWlWgFMw8Ny2mbs6lI0a3P2v12Tca7IrZ5xptft1OeGtZLHaQGhvX6wN-fBd5ayaZXB7S-4OsLZIHXIWeuvqh5To_xImnwY3fYNDXr0jeW8tMeb--WYk7KhGSK8C3uTcqew3SvwU9xgyAG_oQ1NRTyLTkta3QiPC0F0-yu3_oh86y1RwQOA/s320/0245C94C-9596-4A9C-981E-06B262D3E1FA.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Kata-Tjuta from the sunset viewing area</i><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9tY9bKcf5tzFBhPHLcjsbpKCNnaRwrKU03eKlT7Zm_2Om_pOkmLGYR2lHYrOYkjcEXUsqP5mqQSQ_M73vS1CqOKREe2qM6NebNs9VxbbPJrJZTP4pMYFq6k2uTOSDX26y2n4p0UoJol_HEdizuUok9W9wC0ccrlzGsC9w6hbTXVcMQTyo872Dh9km3Q/s4032/E2A4D733-6DFD-46A3-9668-072BFA83257A.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9tY9bKcf5tzFBhPHLcjsbpKCNnaRwrKU03eKlT7Zm_2Om_pOkmLGYR2lHYrOYkjcEXUsqP5mqQSQ_M73vS1CqOKREe2qM6NebNs9VxbbPJrJZTP4pMYFq6k2uTOSDX26y2n4p0UoJol_HEdizuUok9W9wC0ccrlzGsC9w6hbTXVcMQTyo872Dh9km3Q/s320/E2A4D733-6DFD-46A3-9668-072BFA83257A.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Walpa Gorge, particularly cold once in the shade. Wind directly in our faces both going in to the gorge and also unfairly on the way back out</i></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj74ST8Qu5nTipFB3rzvoBlahCerMdvn2R9sBWChssag16B16WcNK2Ij6mMUtbvL-GaTaVXg9EaRNuir9PXsXvcSlvhzp--z0LHXgzvhCQisOFVi982FPZ6hg0xzHJKKGjxLH2KmJQuCQ9JUlgnCnt90kUoovKAPqgQAhfaVOwtskadOq_9y8HxudIOEA/s4032/AC7A3615-E117-40E0-B948-7F54E859D24B.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj74ST8Qu5nTipFB3rzvoBlahCerMdvn2R9sBWChssag16B16WcNK2Ij6mMUtbvL-GaTaVXg9EaRNuir9PXsXvcSlvhzp--z0LHXgzvhCQisOFVi982FPZ6hg0xzHJKKGjxLH2KmJQuCQ9JUlgnCnt90kUoovKAPqgQAhfaVOwtskadOq_9y8HxudIOEA/s320/AC7A3615-E117-40E0-B948-7F54E859D24B.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Jem hopping in for a morning snuggle</i></div><div><br /></div>On Sunday we left mobile coverage behind and headed on to Kings Canyon. The kids were sad to say goodbye to some friends they had made in Uluṟu but the good thing about the loop we have been on is you keep bumping in to the same people at later stops. Kings Canyon resort was much more developed than when we last visited. The only room for us, despite pre-booking, was next to a shower block - not the most picturesque of camping spots, but that wasn’t the main event here. Our phones showed we had 4G coverage, but it only seemed to work sporadically early in the morning while we were asleep - our phones would have numerous notifications which we could then not open when we woke up. Bliss really.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwUx6MoiK8kEkpNPsqEMKgTPqBt4MlrJ_431DK6cTP_GQZuT1vfojTit7YG8KLyUM7Xrlk1XdQGNxm6slXF5MlWZUZLj2cXMSxh_DE8VLjAJhViv0V-1zg3HOzVJHhrUEbP_NICuwHnxxkmfdPnzygfH_l7nDnBGTLPac-7AmjEP_3EXm7LlwUSX-9nw/s2436/2A56A3BA-F8B8-43B3-95A9-1985AC8B3251.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1269" data-original-width="2436" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwUx6MoiK8kEkpNPsqEMKgTPqBt4MlrJ_431DK6cTP_GQZuT1vfojTit7YG8KLyUM7Xrlk1XdQGNxm6slXF5MlWZUZLj2cXMSxh_DE8VLjAJhViv0V-1zg3HOzVJHhrUEbP_NICuwHnxxkmfdPnzygfH_l7nDnBGTLPac-7AmjEP_3EXm7LlwUSX-9nw/s320/2A56A3BA-F8B8-43B3-95A9-1985AC8B3251.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>The distances are pretty big out here</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After enjoying sunset drinks overlooking Carmichael’s Crag we headed back to our tent with a new friend Natalie who James and Jemma played cards with until quite late. We got up early the next morning to do the Kings Canyon Rim Walk - an approximately 4 hour walk around the sandstone domes of Kings Canyon. The walk is rated as moderate, other than the first stage where you clamber up from the entrance of the Canyon to the plateau above. This walk, along with the Mitchell Falls walks, is probably my favourite in Australia. If sandstone domes against brilliant blue skies, hidden gardens of eden and 400 year old cycads are your thing then you really should come here.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The scenery and whole walk is just breathtaking, you just don’t want it to stop. Elated after our walk we headed back to the resort and Ness and James booked in for a helicopter ride, which no doubt Ness will write about. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjABRhkvQhpwMP_vyw4GzMaVUBvteyB5aKaL7ypnbOUWko9UUEuwHKftxYn4S8Uy0-U7UofV6yHW5WOkRGXCRotALo_aWuvf_rUUYSq9UOtczD429gZT4jMmbAzk4kNeydMl5MF5MWHtQzJdVjBIS24NhAZ1zWdzEMrf0qRrxL3WS52u2xtK6IXvsJPwA/s4032/6C0DAFAD-9345-4E8C-A2C9-71E9A80436B1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjABRhkvQhpwMP_vyw4GzMaVUBvteyB5aKaL7ypnbOUWko9UUEuwHKftxYn4S8Uy0-U7UofV6yHW5WOkRGXCRotALo_aWuvf_rUUYSq9UOtczD429gZT4jMmbAzk4kNeydMl5MF5MWHtQzJdVjBIS24NhAZ1zWdzEMrf0qRrxL3WS52u2xtK6IXvsJPwA/s320/6C0DAFAD-9345-4E8C-A2C9-71E9A80436B1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><i>The scramble up to the top of Kings Canyon is a lot steeper than it looks in any photo I took …</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkORsJP-uYaE_5EniQLfXrpifU3V-4cLeChVVwCaBsIs52UKMLeYCYLBaxOQ5iWGSdyWzU3JWsiWgDvWI2h0MI-X6omYFj6-bVE9F7-FdZnaXbia5xhlc2EMkba2vr0COS8Bzc8Tpii5EVJ5ALUFxqlWC1NMd1dwEucue37mjK57u0C1QrTD2msWPDpQ/s4032/7A217FED-C4B5-4D00-8DAC-666A953B8754.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkORsJP-uYaE_5EniQLfXrpifU3V-4cLeChVVwCaBsIs52UKMLeYCYLBaxOQ5iWGSdyWzU3JWsiWgDvWI2h0MI-X6omYFj6-bVE9F7-FdZnaXbia5xhlc2EMkba2vr0COS8Bzc8Tpii5EVJ5ALUFxqlWC1NMd1dwEucue37mjK57u0C1QrTD2msWPDpQ/s320/7A217FED-C4B5-4D00-8DAC-666A953B8754.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><i>… but once you’re up, the walk meanders through sandstone domes, over fossilised sand dunes, past waterholes and gum trees and cycads that somehow manage to cling on.</i></div><div><i><br /></i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVKJYGyXltZ6YB81KSMxKr7SJFAwD-69ngler4s87rkpBmA62_FCiSnz4yOhWtuYrZ9Dai4fnmOCh1WOXrhPTNyDuYVdgWncYn-eelZjSm1p4Li-QuvZg6342oNFaz2jzirr2eVcH_ltLXUOgQYxUJ8--rzNF_fGpMFNAhLBnNAJDqEXNYpdVN701qOA/s4032/073E4E85-0A4A-4964-A110-EED21EC1ACA6.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVKJYGyXltZ6YB81KSMxKr7SJFAwD-69ngler4s87rkpBmA62_FCiSnz4yOhWtuYrZ9Dai4fnmOCh1WOXrhPTNyDuYVdgWncYn-eelZjSm1p4Li-QuvZg6342oNFaz2jzirr2eVcH_ltLXUOgQYxUJ8--rzNF_fGpMFNAhLBnNAJDqEXNYpdVN701qOA/s320/073E4E85-0A4A-4964-A110-EED21EC1ACA6.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQsKvY8HJhTytHC_weXO0vQMs5hVAr8Lofiu9SctVGCeO9UqS0fBazOVfzBa8xQ_sMut5gM-9n2o5A6a-reB50RDsW8T_iyH4qudr4ruX0o0a8NPlgKni45pvjMj3TrgysYaIRdJ-HFi_9hjpF5_5GRkADf9h-W5o3r4Zys4Y4fC97B9lBkQpSYAgP_A/s4032/B1BBAB94-678B-4214-9941-34A7207A0D45.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKlGxahx3kws645yAMBHmSKwHrs1THNYT4KN0zUt12-E97Q1C_6fi-XskVxvzisCcZrlqSn42S7lTH4ZyyyU0y0Y9_QR1BiJE585jPt67bmeb_p35n3Wfq62wq_uKpdnRCi5rhd_cfJOzEdR5uMRezRwQeSIw_4lruyPXW2hYsHWEQwOsaWTuzHRq24w/s320/952FDB12-0E92-4B44-A5FF-71521C0939B3.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0k29Y1W9wUfKMK9GA7bfseHyNp5PGl7MRjWInUgojb4kUzrZiKQtjfEMJ7WyVPSwZeB5WWlZ-6VcZkavbwKB-X9VAXIjJzkGsWiP0HEjm76GFAySZoXupDE3xvWlLlrMlNLt5-Jcqm3p4vFJxvAkJgviUONSdbWbjGkY2Unz0Z4pLgZO9Xm-dA6ikJA/s4032/0C0A8337-37D4-4306-BAFE-235A4147FF81.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0k29Y1W9wUfKMK9GA7bfseHyNp5PGl7MRjWInUgojb4kUzrZiKQtjfEMJ7WyVPSwZeB5WWlZ-6VcZkavbwKB-X9VAXIjJzkGsWiP0HEjm76GFAySZoXupDE3xvWlLlrMlNLt5-Jcqm3p4vFJxvAkJgviUONSdbWbjGkY2Unz0Z4pLgZO9Xm-dA6ikJA/s320/0C0A8337-37D4-4306-BAFE-235A4147FF81.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0XAZDhQaV9DPJYbRSZbooSo3DFXD8kyFLhz6gbXTGtPX6HHJiG-PQD_gld3ILnzXXD_DmOKi7nB5IR8F7Kps0nKuXdFzBmPQ9FkO1hJhr2cpJP9lkWucREXw8G7cFliuKWKPJbv985abUm8XE-_kEjZBdCZnwswZkZ-NFG8sSpyC7IcwY4X_QukC8Lw/s4032/34681CCB-544F-4846-BB76-27406A639CC9.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0XAZDhQaV9DPJYbRSZbooSo3DFXD8kyFLhz6gbXTGtPX6HHJiG-PQD_gld3ILnzXXD_DmOKi7nB5IR8F7Kps0nKuXdFzBmPQ9FkO1hJhr2cpJP9lkWucREXw8G7cFliuKWKPJbv985abUm8XE-_kEjZBdCZnwswZkZ-NFG8sSpyC7IcwY4X_QukC8Lw/s320/34681CCB-544F-4846-BB76-27406A639CC9.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A day as good as this was too good to see out sitting in a cold campground, so we headed to the bar for dinner, a couple of bottles of red followed by lots of dancing. Safe to say this has been one of the best days of the trip (so far).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The next day we packed up our gear, slower than usual due to being slightly hungover. We filled up with diesel ($3.02/litre) and headed up the corrugated and remote Mereenie Loop Road to the West McDonnells. You need a permit to use the road as it goes through protected Aboriginal Land. We had the road pretty much to ourselves given our slow getaway. Stops are not permitted other than in a couple of spots. It was a good lesson for the kids in how bouncy the car can be with its air suspension. The road was in very poor condition in parts, especially the frequent floodplains and (dry) creek crossings, but because it was fairly random you had to stay on your toes the whole time when driving. It also made for slow progress and we kept it under 80km/h. The driving was however great fun and a good taste of some of the roads we have ahead of us after Kakadu. Amazingly the eggs survived, but the Guinness was still very fizzy hours later.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_friYsG-K8dzfIBp1k5WL3YZRsoDj2y9QbyMQbwCf5SIGYjK5H21VF7wOTA_NW6g6CccgFqmLU4y_H_CG10r192tCmvaVc1h8BiQ_aVr-zQJLQUDDo3RY4_8HM2kqAJqlcJ7SClNPJ8s4zuVyIxZYR8JWVdn9ZO0QqThaqqk-a-BqaKFGzVHLjaCDjA/s4032/59A5EAF1-A3E9-4241-8460-0A01D0E97145.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_friYsG-K8dzfIBp1k5WL3YZRsoDj2y9QbyMQbwCf5SIGYjK5H21VF7wOTA_NW6g6CccgFqmLU4y_H_CG10r192tCmvaVc1h8BiQ_aVr-zQJLQUDDo3RY4_8HM2kqAJqlcJ7SClNPJ8s4zuVyIxZYR8JWVdn9ZO0QqThaqqk-a-BqaKFGzVHLjaCDjA/s320/59A5EAF1-A3E9-4241-8460-0A01D0E97145.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><i>The Mereenie Loop Road</i></div><div><i><br /></i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGFVd6biAMcg2_GEBxUo3izsix4y9u7xGTRdEk7Lf-hee9S9AiDxkz-Sn6BZWj5Ja4DXSAZdepxR_0qbR3C2JE_DocHoMK6EeEaPRqqOau5NSWZaJI3I-5davz14Xa4CCIRYMG_JqJ6RU7Nfd5dA5SknticOGXpTEP0HO-TYAeeSsLAps7UykTU7O15w/s4032/B0F928A4-1D63-41BD-8F36-BCA0D43A2FDF.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGFVd6biAMcg2_GEBxUo3izsix4y9u7xGTRdEk7Lf-hee9S9AiDxkz-Sn6BZWj5Ja4DXSAZdepxR_0qbR3C2JE_DocHoMK6EeEaPRqqOau5NSWZaJI3I-5davz14Xa4CCIRYMG_JqJ6RU7Nfd5dA5SknticOGXpTEP0HO-TYAeeSsLAps7UykTU7O15w/s320/B0F928A4-1D63-41BD-8F36-BCA0D43A2FDF.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw1LksOx_bChCXa5JjozGzcYXUZcheeSCLwzGH7hnbCCNoZkMbrhO91nz4z6aUlLH1ImcqvSsQ5p_IdyBfUf-DvFKWmVxVAZEOi6-Kph-LUUDmx8WBem0iDTd6rz5bMcLfodkZu9WZkw2OwC9LEkWLDH-g3h0uYGZi0SIDtP5Cd8inCZoABBtRkFrA7g/s4032/B917D9E3-85F2-4F05-8B75-E7132DDBF11D.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw1LksOx_bChCXa5JjozGzcYXUZcheeSCLwzGH7hnbCCNoZkMbrhO91nz4z6aUlLH1ImcqvSsQ5p_IdyBfUf-DvFKWmVxVAZEOi6-Kph-LUUDmx8WBem0iDTd6rz5bMcLfodkZu9WZkw2OwC9LEkWLDH-g3h0uYGZi0SIDtP5Cd8inCZoABBtRkFrA7g/s320/B917D9E3-85F2-4F05-8B75-E7132DDBF11D.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>One of the few spots you are allowed to stop is the Thorala / Gosse Bluff Meteorite site. You drive in on a rough 6kms 4WD track through the crater rim, which is tempting to drive past as the main road had just switched back to bitumen. Thorala is a significant site - one of the largest meteorite craters in Australia. The rim was originally 22km in diameter (the meteorite was 1kms in diameter). Over the subsequent 140million years the crater has slowly eroded but again its a very impressive stop if you get the chance. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Our camping destination was Redbanks Woodland campground, our first true national park bush camp since Mambray Creek. And what a little ripper of a camp spot she is. Just inside the national park border means there is ready access to firewood in the creek beds only 5kms away, and we were able to have our first camp fires since Mambray Creek. The spot was well appointed with a table and fire-pit, and trees well spaced to put the hammocks up for the kids.</div><div><br /></div><div>We used Redbanks as a base to explore some of the many gorges along the West McDonnell range, starting with Redbanks itself and over the next two days we went out to Ellery Creek Big Hole, Ormiston Gorge (where we bumped in to Megan Christiansen a former work colleague of mine from Oil Search who had been walking the Larapinta Trail), the Ochre Pits and Glen Helen. The gorges are stunning, all had some water at the end, but sadly we were here at the time in the cycle where the fish die naturally from the cold.</div><div><br /></div><div>Each day we made sure we got back to camp in time to collect wood and have relaxing time to read and for the kids to play. Life on the road gets busy so you need to build in some quiet time.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUZdOQ88mIWkbMzK_Asrk4Qg65pHv0leJXb6_UI_P-DUQLmBarXx6vteE1roANNfWo5a3dFDERvFEMO2iYqa1OG8dFq6p1CgsPB9fhJ5UqzU-rUlBFBSEAQOnJQLwJI01nYcqSNce69xLWAv8QVTqBaB3rTbG27x6SnAPljKtaq4GYM08Z32L1bW6bNw/s4032/20EC3B7D-899B-47B2-9CC2-2D5430EE588F.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUZdOQ88mIWkbMzK_Asrk4Qg65pHv0leJXb6_UI_P-DUQLmBarXx6vteE1roANNfWo5a3dFDERvFEMO2iYqa1OG8dFq6p1CgsPB9fhJ5UqzU-rUlBFBSEAQOnJQLwJI01nYcqSNce69xLWAv8QVTqBaB3rTbG27x6SnAPljKtaq4GYM08Z32L1bW6bNw/s320/20EC3B7D-899B-47B2-9CC2-2D5430EE588F.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigYs_wdvxkK4QUJCJsbiOYfNI_HODjNkmUSYwPk7xtl0aDvnXx78Xs7Ji9jNI7uoIdSy_ye6guYEPadL0vVYbwScj1XqpGcuilSH8xo_Jb95hjmE4rkI4C-Jyk_xRJKvwE5SceMxYimJKlGUJ4ekQYq6s4G0h_RH7eVoUcu6gkfKJcXaZf4LaI8zKSAA/s4032/431F389D-8A88-4F7B-A529-5B65A67F9305.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigYs_wdvxkK4QUJCJsbiOYfNI_HODjNkmUSYwPk7xtl0aDvnXx78Xs7Ji9jNI7uoIdSy_ye6guYEPadL0vVYbwScj1XqpGcuilSH8xo_Jb95hjmE4rkI4C-Jyk_xRJKvwE5SceMxYimJKlGUJ4ekQYq6s4G0h_RH7eVoUcu6gkfKJcXaZf4LaI8zKSAA/s320/431F389D-8A88-4F7B-A529-5B65A67F9305.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDZ9LFBr155Fq0Mpj7Xh4OO2PF7ujJnSWA4k2Mj1OXyb2Ds256BSpDnhsydEblvtrt5NCbUtemqI9cauneq53ymGYmx5UOWeaNiR5y3HFQUYy7b10KdxVCap-xI5o3Y--zzAOqezzGabQOsttZPUjVfe4BM6kXNj4HKxAig-4iQviaY45P50K-kB1P2w/s4032/1608ADC4-5D7B-49F4-82ED-0364006B94D8.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDZ9LFBr155Fq0Mpj7Xh4OO2PF7ujJnSWA4k2Mj1OXyb2Ds256BSpDnhsydEblvtrt5NCbUtemqI9cauneq53ymGYmx5UOWeaNiR5y3HFQUYy7b10KdxVCap-xI5o3Y--zzAOqezzGabQOsttZPUjVfe4BM6kXNj4HKxAig-4iQviaY45P50K-kB1P2w/s320/1608ADC4-5D7B-49F4-82ED-0364006B94D8.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTcPP3B2tFy_Q91DOj8QWoQKWr7G1EjzTqXQaX8an4pxWBcdxZp_W1hk65_YUr2LuzBkP20VzFmZFAUVSnxS-L_E7EbIuch7CrOjlqNdQjJC2zzBtd86dbvuvIN4yq5tB2NXQnL1CXZl2o-64E5tkUnZL4Hf6vc31_QWRpp0QUNM0vuWdSLMOwPpPvrA/s4032/C12BE84B-F0B8-45CB-8916-3784471A1642.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTcPP3B2tFy_Q91DOj8QWoQKWr7G1EjzTqXQaX8an4pxWBcdxZp_W1hk65_YUr2LuzBkP20VzFmZFAUVSnxS-L_E7EbIuch7CrOjlqNdQjJC2zzBtd86dbvuvIN4yq5tB2NXQnL1CXZl2o-64E5tkUnZL4Hf6vc31_QWRpp0QUNM0vuWdSLMOwPpPvrA/s320/C12BE84B-F0B8-45CB-8916-3784471A1642.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgueQ0ENlZDOkMPS2sVhF11iNxJ8dCktmtmIbGHtKPtD1kRoIQYV1BmpH8YxUmvorY7jqqUKT17cU1qKFsyz0Lnmomy9SZYl3FbglrteCnrJo5lN8_lrzj8dNKvRXwENN4cD6tHv-1mSHZbj8AMpMZxs6Rp5uG-uDtZCFD_3-7sl7vk5x9dlUq3T8u3Yw/s4032/EC072BDF-14AF-4A3F-9F0D-62828B2599B1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgueQ0ENlZDOkMPS2sVhF11iNxJ8dCktmtmIbGHtKPtD1kRoIQYV1BmpH8YxUmvorY7jqqUKT17cU1qKFsyz0Lnmomy9SZYl3FbglrteCnrJo5lN8_lrzj8dNKvRXwENN4cD6tHv-1mSHZbj8AMpMZxs6Rp5uG-uDtZCFD_3-7sl7vk5x9dlUq3T8u3Yw/s320/EC072BDF-14AF-4A3F-9F0D-62828B2599B1.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjif3KACCGHK4EN3tjouW1_D0PzfErBILwVxIrxB18zT28zSrIF9W3hHi2pX8UMwTGtPAQ0TGgcxdIiUwc6CPvJjL9z5ey3fLgjCYJwF2rHP_jgnykFcOTqSwH2V1CFNpWJgnNcNlq7n3hSCVBc2SF7J63aQ9ljZjEaMTzNjUlrXPgYub8-Oo56SEyGKg/s3088/26F13013-B6B9-4099-9BFC-9DE5174FD043.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2316" data-original-width="3088" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjif3KACCGHK4EN3tjouW1_D0PzfErBILwVxIrxB18zT28zSrIF9W3hHi2pX8UMwTGtPAQ0TGgcxdIiUwc6CPvJjL9z5ey3fLgjCYJwF2rHP_jgnykFcOTqSwH2V1CFNpWJgnNcNlq7n3hSCVBc2SF7J63aQ9ljZjEaMTzNjUlrXPgYub8-Oo56SEyGKg/s320/26F13013-B6B9-4099-9BFC-9DE5174FD043.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbJjPIqTMwNscMmDJtXSxMln9XDw_hDNElfUx4_QUr9A2qLyRSJjP9d_Ljgb2-s3RzO5_UIX5U2JhWtgU3dSvHJkvzJ2s25LTnseplc3AclvPl2Pf60eG_BBlssGuhyKj55QeeICqGZXwjdDBCFOBG50ou9CKA1_fTN_gwVZJVXUyy2xnva2Wf7CUEvA/s4032/16006059-0959-4520-9D18-3A928FACA74D.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbJjPIqTMwNscMmDJtXSxMln9XDw_hDNElfUx4_QUr9A2qLyRSJjP9d_Ljgb2-s3RzO5_UIX5U2JhWtgU3dSvHJkvzJ2s25LTnseplc3AclvPl2Pf60eG_BBlssGuhyKj55QeeICqGZXwjdDBCFOBG50ou9CKA1_fTN_gwVZJVXUyy2xnva2Wf7CUEvA/s320/16006059-0959-4520-9D18-3A928FACA74D.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Ellery Creek Big Hole</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje14lFER8L_iVoRn_iTLmTDTN-tjijEJGNcYxzQ370Oh1oIQk8vYAtaDoPwzufKE5XMVQ_03Pp9c0315M1vqJyWBzAw-XC5lEC_ZomTMU0HWJT8WnyiWI9yH9JEPKWzXZwAcylA04C0X-h2S2yzUdQGLKKtYo2GHvZzgcfn_oGF1XblastaCBqO5EBzg/s4032/75503122-8FF1-48F5-9B91-021FAEECBA65.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje14lFER8L_iVoRn_iTLmTDTN-tjijEJGNcYxzQ370Oh1oIQk8vYAtaDoPwzufKE5XMVQ_03Pp9c0315M1vqJyWBzAw-XC5lEC_ZomTMU0HWJT8WnyiWI9yH9JEPKWzXZwAcylA04C0X-h2S2yzUdQGLKKtYo2GHvZzgcfn_oGF1XblastaCBqO5EBzg/s320/75503122-8FF1-48F5-9B91-021FAEECBA65.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFjVF_rZVk68Pze_NV1ESawRK7CfzqNDKNPVoCEpoObeF6ijEepfbJrEZqHxe1Pax-CFGJWUj5laRlayLj06R8ryG1SynyvDg786SsseFpYaCrzytyr34cpEvr_ki4dVTpH3WHZT3sbxsSir3OcgVTTE4u4q1aos8jJQXZx6SdqBM6ZEnPSZdkUfIypw/s4032/C7769456-A997-4BB5-AA84-4D236BE7A502.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFjVF_rZVk68Pze_NV1ESawRK7CfzqNDKNPVoCEpoObeF6ijEepfbJrEZqHxe1Pax-CFGJWUj5laRlayLj06R8ryG1SynyvDg786SsseFpYaCrzytyr34cpEvr_ki4dVTpH3WHZT3sbxsSir3OcgVTTE4u4q1aos8jJQXZx6SdqBM6ZEnPSZdkUfIypw/s320/C7769456-A997-4BB5-AA84-4D236BE7A502.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><i>Ormiston Gorge</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim82CyX25ZhcqdJqtWWJVpNW1IB_3nRmFrxxzD5eIjhe92Rvau2iXv-DIKi2r3di0AxprSWUiOA0TBZoCymIunjNLklkLNuv_3dA0TyFDuZmCS2WR0Hh6CEezT3UMXh6WuF4Z_8cd1K-ji8iUApjayEPnAuWLASkrhNsfE8SHNazHfQbYi_T8yHoNSLA/s4032/181CA096-17B5-40A3-ABC4-E0D9085023C4.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim82CyX25ZhcqdJqtWWJVpNW1IB_3nRmFrxxzD5eIjhe92Rvau2iXv-DIKi2r3di0AxprSWUiOA0TBZoCymIunjNLklkLNuv_3dA0TyFDuZmCS2WR0Hh6CEezT3UMXh6WuF4Z_8cd1K-ji8iUApjayEPnAuWLASkrhNsfE8SHNazHfQbYi_T8yHoNSLA/s320/181CA096-17B5-40A3-ABC4-E0D9085023C4.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Having a fire meant we, or rather Ness could have a crack at her famous damper. First night made with beer and the second night made with milk. Both were exceptional but the kids preferred the milk one.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJh_PI-LWs6fVd2PevQON9t9pOjTmYvfsgXe2O3UVh1x3BWc-wVWr5D-mqmkYlBD3Z1XoErK_QSadhJMY5qZayTr3gwfqYuMkNJF7nmBlSTHjndE7mwjqzyyhlbhF2PWWd1zdv0HMLoyKhEpnaKOWM3ldoSzmjk9lvN6zYzyJS6J5c0LroOFCgy7-Sw/s4032/F89EB055-906A-47C4-9F8B-84B97ED45282.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJh_PI-LWs6fVd2PevQON9t9pOjTmYvfsgXe2O3UVh1x3BWc-wVWr5D-mqmkYlBD3Z1XoErK_QSadhJMY5qZayTr3gwfqYuMkNJF7nmBlSTHjndE7mwjqzyyhlbhF2PWWd1zdv0HMLoyKhEpnaKOWM3ldoSzmjk9lvN6zYzyJS6J5c0LroOFCgy7-Sw/s320/F89EB055-906A-47C4-9F8B-84B97ED45282.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On the way out to Alice (only yesterday, but seems longer) we stopped at Standley Chasm, operated by local indigenous Arrernte. It’s an easy walk to a stunning chasm which we hit just as the midday sun was shining through on the perpendicular (we got there earlier in the day all those years ago). Standley Chasm had 4G reception and we caught up on 5 days worth of news, including the satisfying headlines that Boris had finally gone. I’d heard a snippet when trying to find radio coverage that Dishy Rishi had resigned but a few days before but had literally had radio silence ever since. We downloaded a newscast to get the details on the rest of the way to Alice.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGaKcsgy-Gr04-Ja5gW129o6nvd78zereI9tfAHUh0lAtygtuQYf6LiZoEY4u6pWtR_YW-vujSogkGX0pJuczk7HGWf6H42lI6otcCG6lqFDjwljke5pz9AUQ95mCD1cHbiiIbO5q2tON21r4UVmNvpSFK10FSSVJYb5e1FbNSHG_9rWVcAEC5V4kytA/s4032/0D1051EE-A481-4636-A724-E236726505DF.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGaKcsgy-Gr04-Ja5gW129o6nvd78zereI9tfAHUh0lAtygtuQYf6LiZoEY4u6pWtR_YW-vujSogkGX0pJuczk7HGWf6H42lI6otcCG6lqFDjwljke5pz9AUQ95mCD1cHbiiIbO5q2tON21r4UVmNvpSFK10FSSVJYb5e1FbNSHG_9rWVcAEC5V4kytA/s320/0D1051EE-A481-4636-A724-E236726505DF.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1LyGNi1wCNN_TE8KwrMAomXfTTA7Uc1e7W078yO5YuD_8sxYkwoxEbeNV8a-DpOZdKAmTWaWQqa_hYCPRIYN5lQFMeElX_DWL7yK0LzZXLCj2LK7S070tvM5STO4XRUydn19sP2fgDpk8BXB7qoR6MkYgwNgP5Q7YD2o-gTxPAGsazNra741Sv-cLtA/s4032/3194BF72-D225-42A3-B67B-25D9B2815A21.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1LyGNi1wCNN_TE8KwrMAomXfTTA7Uc1e7W078yO5YuD_8sxYkwoxEbeNV8a-DpOZdKAmTWaWQqa_hYCPRIYN5lQFMeElX_DWL7yK0LzZXLCj2LK7S070tvM5STO4XRUydn19sP2fgDpk8BXB7qoR6MkYgwNgP5Q7YD2o-gTxPAGsazNra741Sv-cLtA/s320/3194BF72-D225-42A3-B67B-25D9B2815A21.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We pulled in to The Gap Hotel Campsite around 2pm to find a line of cars waiting for the drive through bottle shop to open. The police were on hand to manage the chaos and check IDs. Fairly confronting. The campsite itself was tired and didn’t look especially safe so we made a quick decision to forfeit the fees paid months ago and find a better option - which we did for $70 per night at the Discovery Park The unpowered site offered was on a gravel hill so we upgraded to powered even though we didn’t need it. The grassy pitch was deceiving - and the pegs went in about 2cm each. Ah well, we were in town to do some choring.</div><div><br /></div><div>Each move of camp has a certain amount of grief associated with it. The move from here won’t have much for me, but we’ve certainly achieved what we needed to. We also got to the Desert Park which is exceptional. James shares Nessa’s love of all things wild and in particular birds and was enthralled for three hours. Ness will no doubt tell you about her stitches coming out while me and kids were off getting the headlight fixed, but let’s just say she burst into tears when we picked her up. Her left hand is out of action for a few more days.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdsMc5Bvw0mOB9oIItj8rBiXoFK6t9VplGbPuGszaM0DMM8AV2ymScCcf_LAd1VJk0SvMC7egiptCyhkkYTPceZE-Ysu5TSXOYT3LlPJ6lxbafEsAIGiBrwXWpuRidfjGWLf1buTWeBvTsR1H9xLWcVSSpneQ9lIKu2eUco9XIQZQ4yPU15hwWP95GMQ/s4032/CE6BE891-69AC-48F9-BB3C-868B1BED0567.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdsMc5Bvw0mOB9oIItj8rBiXoFK6t9VplGbPuGszaM0DMM8AV2ymScCcf_LAd1VJk0SvMC7egiptCyhkkYTPceZE-Ysu5TSXOYT3LlPJ6lxbafEsAIGiBrwXWpuRidfjGWLf1buTWeBvTsR1H9xLWcVSSpneQ9lIKu2eUco9XIQZQ4yPU15hwWP95GMQ/s320/CE6BE891-69AC-48F9-BB3C-868B1BED0567.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcnjT1FCgXbI3WfLA5AUYKLAqBJruWH8qnySEv6ZSccz_X6h04njVaNEgD2uXDN-WlFLmDk47uvW_9WfBej4JxmN8HilqwOvNi4FcCOa2s_dO-lPtrAWSTI_9OLPKg6rzj-NHJ-163y_NRirI1TTZHxAcDL9iNUMK_zTcLir6umHTFOkp2-854MvFmWQ/s4032/EE419E41-87C3-4187-9AAF-0FE75D4EF381.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcnjT1FCgXbI3WfLA5AUYKLAqBJruWH8qnySEv6ZSccz_X6h04njVaNEgD2uXDN-WlFLmDk47uvW_9WfBej4JxmN8HilqwOvNi4FcCOa2s_dO-lPtrAWSTI_9OLPKg6rzj-NHJ-163y_NRirI1TTZHxAcDL9iNUMK_zTcLir6umHTFOkp2-854MvFmWQ/s320/EE419E41-87C3-4187-9AAF-0FE75D4EF381.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Campsite fashion and plenty of campsite fun including the jumping pillow while I got some time to write this. There was a fairly significant frost overnight, not as cold as Redbanks but much more moisture in the air so the windscreen was thick with ice this morning and the car, now named Nissy P, put up a bit of fight to start. The pan of water had also frozen again. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One more night of cold and a cabin in Tennant Creek before we get to Edith Falls near Katherine for some hot weather. We will be heading almost 1,100 kms due north over the next two days before six days of bush camping, three at Edith and three at Sandy Creek in Litchfield (a 4WD site which will involve our first water over the bonnet crossing of the trip (and, potentially, crocodiles). We are heading to the Alice Springs Brewery for dinner tonight and I’ll be doing all I can to stay in the warmth there as long as possible .,.,.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4aBG4dPFysGtzARq-k3DcnaAELXWhQNvdkj-OIy-NeGZgytGlHQTdC5sYNOiCL55NpwwOrD3RnZn-Gu29DFwmM36R1ejaM2vcHdTBOvM6yxB6g4TnR3D7vN-TbHoGi0CtWdE6QqgJn6sra1KsN8z9yGkb_j_C92yEobkYIYaeqQ1VEE6fG24pvIUWeQ/s4032/D9D0AA89-9123-4384-9A95-6324073EE6B1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4aBG4dPFysGtzARq-k3DcnaAELXWhQNvdkj-OIy-NeGZgytGlHQTdC5sYNOiCL55NpwwOrD3RnZn-Gu29DFwmM36R1ejaM2vcHdTBOvM6yxB6g4TnR3D7vN-TbHoGi0CtWdE6QqgJn6sra1KsN8z9yGkb_j_C92yEobkYIYaeqQ1VEE6fG24pvIUWeQ/s320/D9D0AA89-9123-4384-9A95-6324073EE6B1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What’s a spider’s favourite camera? A web cam. Boom Boom.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04142224789928286977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3636767330920619181.post-38953175823153818472022-07-02T17:58:00.000+10:002022-07-02T17:58:38.916+10:00One week in...<p> I know Andy only posted yesterday but thought I'd follow up with some extra photos and thoughts on our trip so far, one week in.</p><p>A quick summary and rehash of stops and visits, and to add my 2 cents.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKsBM1ZbJ1BP13RIpqb1_FmROpOIh6nDhKF9tRy2xYVp4nJ7gPzOg8lqvp1yl6GlS34V7BhkMCx0aWNkO9NCTIPdGNMQ0y12xeCFU4-VieefyXbnFuCIjLQ4HDXaiHXH2hxMQOu6tJeMPId_6LHYO5yWzEESaebl5ugV5BTQQGX8F30_SXmxTMT-rLIg/s4032/23507092-9373-4EBB-94CF-75A22A9B0194.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKsBM1ZbJ1BP13RIpqb1_FmROpOIh6nDhKF9tRy2xYVp4nJ7gPzOg8lqvp1yl6GlS34V7BhkMCx0aWNkO9NCTIPdGNMQ0y12xeCFU4-VieefyXbnFuCIjLQ4HDXaiHXH2hxMQOu6tJeMPId_6LHYO5yWzEESaebl5ugV5BTQQGX8F30_SXmxTMT-rLIg/s320/23507092-9373-4EBB-94CF-75A22A9B0194.heic" width="240" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbedhq7N99k1dQrL0Ld6LIn1JoBLDu6DHOdbvVBsP51dyFf3CIRuRfe5eVOq9g2GAjfqszNEe4UtAsqs64v6y5IIDu77kxM2CSIwmpGaG09oo4vwxxwxhdOH6O3GSLPgv4iwy0o1iYuMzolPM9W-zrV31T9vgteK6EvF2GfAyCnptB6Y_lPKg5DdzbLQ/s4032/4DF74289-A082-495B-B1E9-2CB9B81F8CAB.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbedhq7N99k1dQrL0Ld6LIn1JoBLDu6DHOdbvVBsP51dyFf3CIRuRfe5eVOq9g2GAjfqszNEe4UtAsqs64v6y5IIDu77kxM2CSIwmpGaG09oo4vwxxwxhdOH6O3GSLPgv4iwy0o1iYuMzolPM9W-zrV31T9vgteK6EvF2GfAyCnptB6Y_lPKg5DdzbLQ/w240-h320/4DF74289-A082-495B-B1E9-2CB9B81F8CAB.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Departed Saturday 25 June and stayed one night at Mambray Creek C/G Mt Remarkable NP. Jemma has decided that all camp sites need a fairy garden and busies herself in the dirt or sand with rocks and leaves and pebbles and whatever else is handy.<p></p><br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ99FMxCDI9dDz3lXgnj9n3Raq7eCpKc77g1IAtLJc26fgsjP-P1AoBEddetRwoH48gljS82XQJfTIWPw8xeQYtofQOoSNf0wv_P1yA7lWOBXpvcho4f52T1AM-F6BlB6GajElKVzC-BcBhL1pAQAiiaa2ngqOWgo6jkMJ7cw109JXWDVCWTkHFUFM7g/s4032/54D896DA-4790-48F2-AADA-4D0973DD93BA.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ99FMxCDI9dDz3lXgnj9n3Raq7eCpKc77g1IAtLJc26fgsjP-P1AoBEddetRwoH48gljS82XQJfTIWPw8xeQYtofQOoSNf0wv_P1yA7lWOBXpvcho4f52T1AM-F6BlB6GajElKVzC-BcBhL1pAQAiiaa2ngqOWgo6jkMJ7cw109JXWDVCWTkHFUFM7g/s320/54D896DA-4790-48F2-AADA-4D0973DD93BA.heic" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGQ-ddrECkuCO1lOJ1-mLwibq_xLJi5fb3Dla_rkgzG_52n3cd63x0YtHoK8VMZtGaOi0KJOQf6oEHY6wJvRK-V0F1H86Gw-UTDh97ZQXNYXvEDScqaOtf_qSXY_EkylXlRXw9w7AmeGycVlcuKTw78kyqTMs78TPlXzsYEVNnXMWzBW6pHeOAUKp6eg/s4032/A74641BC-15B8-493B-ACED-3353DAF7782B.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGQ-ddrECkuCO1lOJ1-mLwibq_xLJi5fb3Dla_rkgzG_52n3cd63x0YtHoK8VMZtGaOi0KJOQf6oEHY6wJvRK-V0F1H86Gw-UTDh97ZQXNYXvEDScqaOtf_qSXY_EkylXlRXw9w7AmeGycVlcuKTw78kyqTMs78TPlXzsYEVNnXMWzBW6pHeOAUKp6eg/s320/A74641BC-15B8-493B-ACED-3353DAF7782B.heic" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEMf3PsXFfL2XUJdJ6QJLobU82Ge2ZSNpDqdgormfl_jQVHglz_Hhr78jDWgv-ykf661MvgHOxpgwekemPpWm-oCFaXqSBdFZRjluTcecQylyDkkB4lpyER_uUfd_fR4l_Ho5QmukaCO-3Pjwe5TWXB0Zxc4SmPG5mLyyQQCOWhdE1ZXAaIyF8I_ay7w/s4032/EE1A4833-EA86-4F23-A6D0-4E0C53C3FE06.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEMf3PsXFfL2XUJdJ6QJLobU82Ge2ZSNpDqdgormfl_jQVHglz_Hhr78jDWgv-ykf661MvgHOxpgwekemPpWm-oCFaXqSBdFZRjluTcecQylyDkkB4lpyER_uUfd_fR4l_Ho5QmukaCO-3Pjwe5TWXB0Zxc4SmPG5mLyyQQCOWhdE1ZXAaIyF8I_ay7w/s320/EE1A4833-EA86-4F23-A6D0-4E0C53C3FE06.heic" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Day 2 got us to Woomera which was curious, cold and foggy, and the site of the first hot shower, and last for many days...another fairy garden by Jemma and the beginning of the red dirt.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrVt8TlqlKgBqWWPcNSWVlGAdvXSbtXNJlLIOvUjJXVEL8o-ycJvgWhtdGFy3ENra-3kdMSqOTutTzsTjtkp3Xix76ru7aN5yRjJupsL5QhD5owOkBeFmnBY54A2yzupqdYBwzmN7gmcGtMw-JlxmJiQ1qL4a1OvsCXPxeuxHOoNYzlkyPzb_DqvKK2g/s4032/4DFF07F2-B45A-4FE8-91E9-2472794B2F28.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrVt8TlqlKgBqWWPcNSWVlGAdvXSbtXNJlLIOvUjJXVEL8o-ycJvgWhtdGFy3ENra-3kdMSqOTutTzsTjtkp3Xix76ru7aN5yRjJupsL5QhD5owOkBeFmnBY54A2yzupqdYBwzmN7gmcGtMw-JlxmJiQ1qL4a1OvsCXPxeuxHOoNYzlkyPzb_DqvKK2g/s320/4DFF07F2-B45A-4FE8-91E9-2472794B2F28.heic" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4f8-OfQOg_RF8ElOhWZdjouU1rQ4pxK1TC08N0lsaXaa7RpU1fNQaoROV9GQdsUNMdoQWqZXIjzEmigIisrctHYgLL7ly7096cTSe1LgH1Jj40bDzHcRoF1RzlAiCZQZNnmEiD2_OHxyv0jh76aXdUaNlf2KR6oMVCJKwDmqNZhvDs3wRuPJeXQ0F0Q/s4032/428D7DA1-BA74-40F2-90F9-3AAE157A6EED.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4f8-OfQOg_RF8ElOhWZdjouU1rQ4pxK1TC08N0lsaXaa7RpU1fNQaoROV9GQdsUNMdoQWqZXIjzEmigIisrctHYgLL7ly7096cTSe1LgH1Jj40bDzHcRoF1RzlAiCZQZNnmEiD2_OHxyv0jh76aXdUaNlf2KR6oMVCJKwDmqNZhvDs3wRuPJeXQ0F0Q/s320/428D7DA1-BA74-40F2-90F9-3AAE157A6EED.heic" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20UAQUcIfECjHmQ8XJNY2jx1Bgf1jj92OuYu8Zdw2tQs02s2xAJpK8wGEpkFFING2aeTNrUXWrpZWR5DxnlWCbGvWBf3OBeaG5V6khdjhkrNfWqKG4j84VLu5aLa4xtfDckY48nZ79BngGQA3s_Xt8CMXu_s8OQ2k98nRvSO0bjeBIxLE7QpkIjQh1Q/s4032/AFBA4733-F7D0-41C7-AD23-6D302E9A62FB.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20UAQUcIfECjHmQ8XJNY2jx1Bgf1jj92OuYu8Zdw2tQs02s2xAJpK8wGEpkFFING2aeTNrUXWrpZWR5DxnlWCbGvWBf3OBeaG5V6khdjhkrNfWqKG4j84VLu5aLa4xtfDckY48nZ79BngGQA3s_Xt8CMXu_s8OQ2k98nRvSO0bjeBIxLE7QpkIjQh1Q/s320/AFBA4733-F7D0-41C7-AD23-6D302E9A62FB.heic" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Day 3 & 4 we arrived in Coober Pedy where we stayed for 2 nights at the BIG4. We utilised the day off from travel to revisit The Old Timers Mine and The Breakaways and dog fence. Coober Pedy is really a place like no other and I am sure it is at times a sleepy mining town but at the moment it looks like a 4WD and caravan/trailer expo. Years of border closures and postponed bucket-list road-trips is making everywhere BUSY. Certainly much busier than Andy and I remember from our travels back in 2008/9.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9D9jBlB7E3Pr1do-YgNDCcnKlrNlZ1Ax63cdBg502JrdkKzbIpUubaH5AtBr4blwR0OvLmNbn260jmz-06j5S82GzSrNWC4IA9a6s-AgUX9LwQP43fvu--WzhdDpiR9pqmNMMly3Hujzy8onpep4J7jFOmKXV0qCN0-AdtIf80QKwVuDmTCNNaj4TvQ/s4032/A9BA6FA1-F68B-40C5-9ACD-A124EA79D0F4.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9D9jBlB7E3Pr1do-YgNDCcnKlrNlZ1Ax63cdBg502JrdkKzbIpUubaH5AtBr4blwR0OvLmNbn260jmz-06j5S82GzSrNWC4IA9a6s-AgUX9LwQP43fvu--WzhdDpiR9pqmNMMly3Hujzy8onpep4J7jFOmKXV0qCN0-AdtIf80QKwVuDmTCNNaj4TvQ/s320/A9BA6FA1-F68B-40C5-9ACD-A124EA79D0F4.heic" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0O6Yiffo4_AsmqN2jez2GWiuQri4q0K7adQ8pPL4qvuAN7xCZqN1-iWY1wlUN2xhl-X9uYtiuXd1AIfCT3ZeVqwx8Yjfvv39uGkgL2vglje1-nPLo52xKbF_zni69DSFlt0DtDd0VrIjo2ljruy0K-I_XDkG_OawN2sB_K3xNxjuGx3yIluWoNevKog/s4032/A550A9D2-584A-4DBB-BE06-E6277DC336DF.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0O6Yiffo4_AsmqN2jez2GWiuQri4q0K7adQ8pPL4qvuAN7xCZqN1-iWY1wlUN2xhl-X9uYtiuXd1AIfCT3ZeVqwx8Yjfvv39uGkgL2vglje1-nPLo52xKbF_zni69DSFlt0DtDd0VrIjo2ljruy0K-I_XDkG_OawN2sB_K3xNxjuGx3yIluWoNevKog/s320/A550A9D2-584A-4DBB-BE06-E6277DC336DF.heic" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_avZz1N3k5bO2MUiO80iWYnZMq2z8Phmr6kfS-l_7HYWrWjRiWZ5xqseyQ85JpYAdR8i-GgAyFy4_2b-za_iMNAIVDy-jElRjJJXlBUGepgmtN01TR4HuI4gSsYE0Sb9UnQGyNjHa1n6wpKiLC27XmV9vUF6OzXYxWiHEnIQmwkcoQwiUDuwWfTiFNQ/s4032/DB9E8CA6-DE89-48DF-AF0E-EBF6A4024F20.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_avZz1N3k5bO2MUiO80iWYnZMq2z8Phmr6kfS-l_7HYWrWjRiWZ5xqseyQ85JpYAdR8i-GgAyFy4_2b-za_iMNAIVDy-jElRjJJXlBUGepgmtN01TR4HuI4gSsYE0Sb9UnQGyNjHa1n6wpKiLC27XmV9vUF6OzXYxWiHEnIQmwkcoQwiUDuwWfTiFNQ/s320/DB9E8CA6-DE89-48DF-AF0E-EBF6A4024F20.heic" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Day 5 we crossed the border into the NT and stopped in Kulgera for the night for an exciting night for all the wrong reasons. Andy and I stopped in Kulgera on our previous tour but approached from the north last time. </p><p>The excitement came in the form of stupidity by me (holding bread rolls in the palm of my hand to slice open with a super sharp, brand new serrated knife) leading to me also slicing the palm of my hand. I knew it was pretty nasty; for one I barley felt it, for two there was a LOT of blood, and for three the bleeding would not stop. I continued to prepare dinner trying to keep pressure on the cut with a tea towel wrapped around my hand but it turned out to be inadequate. </p><p>Jemma requested to be taken to the loo ( a very big part of camping with kids is back and forth to the loo) and while I was waiting for her I got extremely lucky. The tea towel covered in blood was a bit of a give away, and possibly the look on my face said that all was not well, and a super kind GP we will call Dr Kate ( it is her name) asked to take a look. She immediately offered medical assistance including stitching me up if it needed it ( at this point I honestly hoped that it would just stop bleeding and be OK). </p><p>I was told to keep the pressure on and revisit her in the toilet block in 15 mins where she would be ready with her kit to see me and have a proper look. She took a look and decided we needed a chair as I was about to be stitched up in the laundry of the toilet block at Kulgera Roadhouse (the first and last pub in the NT). </p><p>A better story would have me taking swigs of whiskey with a good lug poured into the wound for cleaning, me biting down on some fabric while I was stitched up, but no, Dr Kate was equipped with almost everything she needed including local anaesthetic (which stung so much more than the original cut before or since). Her lovely brother tried to distract me as she put FOUR!!!!!! stitches into my hand without suture forceps which was a new skill for Dr Kate and I cannot recommend as an option as it put a lot more pressure on the sewing bit. I was sent back to camp with a dressing and a numb hand, told to keep it dry for 3 days and as clean as possible (hahahahaha camping), and to have the stitches out in 8-10 days which coincides nicely with our stay in Alice Springs (alternatively Candi has offered to FIFO, or worst case scenario is Andy will do it after a YouTube tutorial...or not). Dr Kate and helper brother came and checked on me the next morning before setting off, and they were pleased to see that it, and I, appeared to be OK.</p><p>It is now day 3 after the stitches were put in and it looks OK. I am looking forward to being back to full capacity in a week or so as it has put an extra load on Andy as I really cannot do many of the big things at the moment. Andy has been a trooper and barely complained :)</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKky2dsxXdlD8VjS8xLan5JK2tylpbQ_-souFoAsXAuGwPQshP3JFbNwjHRaD0hGoumD-14qeUFJMzLLSU7Wi3W9J7qeNbxDDjGAuXyoNwGu0Yf5-sFDtVE-pg6F7STKdDXvhKDgKPz32EfYiROy9XiZsOouk5cvOsscY4X3goWVV_p85NqEEu_Ir_EA/s4032/1ED17C66-9C2A-43F3-A763-2E3D90AA5F34.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKky2dsxXdlD8VjS8xLan5JK2tylpbQ_-souFoAsXAuGwPQshP3JFbNwjHRaD0hGoumD-14qeUFJMzLLSU7Wi3W9J7qeNbxDDjGAuXyoNwGu0Yf5-sFDtVE-pg6F7STKdDXvhKDgKPz32EfYiROy9XiZsOouk5cvOsscY4X3goWVV_p85NqEEu_Ir_EA/s320/1ED17C66-9C2A-43F3-A763-2E3D90AA5F34.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn75aQpDbzxOWcqNa4epzDJmYW7BsEIaIFtoe14S6tpzHsbEffIuhVTFc3OoIeu5v8G-YR4NGfVwkmMUEYU117qUJp-el2v_4D7U2DLBsrYUIPE5pZYG2N8mOBGpocqjeVjME8VyCv3_NBy5Ll_kuJykCctCrW8gk8I6HKRle2qQ_uCmoTiqPA-vEjdA/s3088/C379D26A-2A9F-4217-B882-B11FAD4A99DF.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2320" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn75aQpDbzxOWcqNa4epzDJmYW7BsEIaIFtoe14S6tpzHsbEffIuhVTFc3OoIeu5v8G-YR4NGfVwkmMUEYU117qUJp-el2v_4D7U2DLBsrYUIPE5pZYG2N8mOBGpocqjeVjME8VyCv3_NBy5Ll_kuJykCctCrW8gk8I6HKRle2qQ_uCmoTiqPA-vEjdA/s320/C379D26A-2A9F-4217-B882-B11FAD4A99DF.heic" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgJ-ByUF-35GrNW4wLyyK6pUXg1bThZJi2KEuKh9PprRejF10yiW_0PU630vPCfQnecYwTIe8F8fU5rBkd8m1SHxEbQN5ngkgWULOZH5w7TqXz64kT3ZRHKtIiPCd_-VeuUISy-kP-KfO4E2K1JJmuKDzLCMMIf6EVmxSKYcKZItctSYUWEIF3olT8vA/s3088/90207F5E-BC44-441B-887C-A79EFEF3E87D.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2320" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgJ-ByUF-35GrNW4wLyyK6pUXg1bThZJi2KEuKh9PprRejF10yiW_0PU630vPCfQnecYwTIe8F8fU5rBkd8m1SHxEbQN5ngkgWULOZH5w7TqXz64kT3ZRHKtIiPCd_-VeuUISy-kP-KfO4E2K1JJmuKDzLCMMIf6EVmxSKYcKZItctSYUWEIF3olT8vA/s320/90207F5E-BC44-441B-887C-A79EFEF3E87D.heic" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>From Kulgera we travelled to Yulara - the resort that allows camping closest to Uluru and Kata-Tjuta where we are on the last of 3 nights (Days 6, 7 & 8). We did the base walk around Uluru yesterday 10.6km as well as sunset at the rock - it is such a special place to visit. It is freezing at night, meant to get down to 0C tonight with possible frost, but the days are crystal clear and warmish which is great for walking. The light is soft and pretty. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjub0ZGxPqQTUw3A-UZu5wKKYfpsIq-6PixSjgqCEN8rHxeiUSv2zUj7M3k-H-e1tShSBXPBT1U6W4Rfvdb1G7TzbjioRLpGfFuwk_ER5yu5YcJOgRlG6fsCvUvnH1aon95EfEnk6hxFHCJJIlErp-SuklDnH_wuosqJiu36wjbkYjJ4Q8ECWGTv6vWig/s4032/111980E9-0AC7-4980-941A-884D3D3693DA.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjub0ZGxPqQTUw3A-UZu5wKKYfpsIq-6PixSjgqCEN8rHxeiUSv2zUj7M3k-H-e1tShSBXPBT1U6W4Rfvdb1G7TzbjioRLpGfFuwk_ER5yu5YcJOgRlG6fsCvUvnH1aon95EfEnk6hxFHCJJIlErp-SuklDnH_wuosqJiu36wjbkYjJ4Q8ECWGTv6vWig/s320/111980E9-0AC7-4980-941A-884D3D3693DA.heic" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0P70r_1xqZLAMdu8UfzFGRygc4_zRbmcPrfnP1ofjQLWUIo7GFwf5a5Hh631H_Eend3PdV0jtOQZNksclX7P4MrM-WCy1jxACAdQJ9B_3V0hsTaLYWIA453ys9ECymGJ3Iv14uaNLQB2xDr4RHHMtly98JJt9ncyd41-LfT812ITTWCi-fYEwkFco6g/s4032/B84E7C1C-0C91-4AC6-858A-797EECE6F74D.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0P70r_1xqZLAMdu8UfzFGRygc4_zRbmcPrfnP1ofjQLWUIo7GFwf5a5Hh631H_Eend3PdV0jtOQZNksclX7P4MrM-WCy1jxACAdQJ9B_3V0hsTaLYWIA453ys9ECymGJ3Iv14uaNLQB2xDr4RHHMtly98JJt9ncyd41-LfT812ITTWCi-fYEwkFco6g/s320/B84E7C1C-0C91-4AC6-858A-797EECE6F74D.heic" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDzct2zts00yXCq7zw_-EAPSxTOUtyW_FV3IbYN9Arik-9kj6sejB8-ln-Fb6jKGWjObDI5NAA03LYYoSrL9mvowGjYzuyXJk5NYw6vG7qwOhCooEL42wkzQoFC0pEbuXRd6Nem-aAZiXidQJlxAFEfKOcBAL4ZBZi01P4PPTpfyZGo3-VN-E6MIbPpw/s3088/CED836CE-FD0E-4C66-A865-9C680A88F036.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2320" data-original-width="3088" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDzct2zts00yXCq7zw_-EAPSxTOUtyW_FV3IbYN9Arik-9kj6sejB8-ln-Fb6jKGWjObDI5NAA03LYYoSrL9mvowGjYzuyXJk5NYw6vG7qwOhCooEL42wkzQoFC0pEbuXRd6Nem-aAZiXidQJlxAFEfKOcBAL4ZBZi01P4PPTpfyZGo3-VN-E6MIbPpw/s320/CED836CE-FD0E-4C66-A865-9C680A88F036.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz-IS068PGv6iCN7VN2buB67SuNPY5CUbR1syWnpWZaXX9oh6LED27OlE70FFaE1ptHObaovfglk0YOSJXmjwoPMeewbIbM0vT5oOG_XDqW_k-gu8rZaNNsg4jp-WWMbgAq0bV3dcPe3EBWjo-ALUWlJJSwLmQ1_pvUquZNz1LaTgK94Op70qilAAALQ/s4032/F07C7170-62BF-45E9-A554-569E7E7DE6E1.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz-IS068PGv6iCN7VN2buB67SuNPY5CUbR1syWnpWZaXX9oh6LED27OlE70FFaE1ptHObaovfglk0YOSJXmjwoPMeewbIbM0vT5oOG_XDqW_k-gu8rZaNNsg4jp-WWMbgAq0bV3dcPe3EBWjo-ALUWlJJSwLmQ1_pvUquZNz1LaTgK94Op70qilAAALQ/s320/F07C7170-62BF-45E9-A554-569E7E7DE6E1.heic" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihCsJr_en8BP7zhU3Pp6luWPO6PTSxcV5DlZp5k_2RJQl7M-DGsr8wnNBXKSkO-yVAUGcwcKgsd9HYNuOVhZmag3Vg-ESwEdpZqzyXlMieRwJGw2wbEGo5TVDRGhc4D-pZcZBZ0Rkl6iJcb3MDMvUTWFsafDqSal712iJKXmpdTa0qbaPCiuh9MzwiyQ/s4032/50D9AB63-ED27-4A7B-B31E-302F9DA1716F.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihCsJr_en8BP7zhU3Pp6luWPO6PTSxcV5DlZp5k_2RJQl7M-DGsr8wnNBXKSkO-yVAUGcwcKgsd9HYNuOVhZmag3Vg-ESwEdpZqzyXlMieRwJGw2wbEGo5TVDRGhc4D-pZcZBZ0Rkl6iJcb3MDMvUTWFsafDqSal712iJKXmpdTa0qbaPCiuh9MzwiyQ/s320/50D9AB63-ED27-4A7B-B31E-302F9DA1716F.heic" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji-N5AoRdKkSl-I6__J0G4ieEFk3rhlt3BLMBIS06x4x79El7j4by8tzyMW-Zf_Z0JGI12m94u5IhPGiP7FuzSgFuyEq-IHqHHhYms4ZBD45uBkNvmi_JcywNHZrp3K2dAO4olVmFWqipCYtlYmJydH2dtZ_5nopbKYEimIhZPIpJ0R0EHuYnVZvR1-w/s4032/414E1DDC-2761-4AD9-B303-CFF274C32843.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji-N5AoRdKkSl-I6__J0G4ieEFk3rhlt3BLMBIS06x4x79El7j4by8tzyMW-Zf_Z0JGI12m94u5IhPGiP7FuzSgFuyEq-IHqHHhYms4ZBD45uBkNvmi_JcywNHZrp3K2dAO4olVmFWqipCYtlYmJydH2dtZ_5nopbKYEimIhZPIpJ0R0EHuYnVZvR1-w/s320/414E1DDC-2761-4AD9-B303-CFF274C32843.heic" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Today we visited Kata-Tjuta, about 70km from Yulara and did two shorter more rugged walks; Walpa Gorge and Valley of the Winds ( gales), and picnicked there as well. </p><p>Tomorrow we move on to Kings Canyon for 2 nights before heading to the bush proper for 3 nights in the West MacDonnell ranges west of Alice Springs. </p><p>I have just shopped at the Yulara IGA for 5 nights camping which as you might imagine charges at premium prices. 5 nights camping for a family of 4, 3 meals per day + snacks equates to 60 meals. Before we left Adelaide I prepared and froze meals but they have run out now and things are about to get pretty basic. We are operating out of a 40L fridge plus car drawers for pantry items and dry goods...about to put my meal planning and maths to the test.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVRpOTpDi4WqlkUos6KAaFuW3huPL2V4gE-m_hAbB6CAboKK_XxZeNzI84NCHHzziUmHqc4vHCitVW0zQs0cxMbxQif8NvU-J-irKvd42V6sPxmp2z0ROJ02CN-9wzx3oOUKBnjkBUXzccCyYBiHd0dnz0jTLqoY3Z5hxiNLbEm_vPzXu3Jz4Bhdr30A/s4032/9F273698-2430-4820-BD4A-8F01CDFB91DC.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVRpOTpDi4WqlkUos6KAaFuW3huPL2V4gE-m_hAbB6CAboKK_XxZeNzI84NCHHzziUmHqc4vHCitVW0zQs0cxMbxQif8NvU-J-irKvd42V6sPxmp2z0ROJ02CN-9wzx3oOUKBnjkBUXzccCyYBiHd0dnz0jTLqoY3Z5hxiNLbEm_vPzXu3Jz4Bhdr30A/s320/9F273698-2430-4820-BD4A-8F01CDFB91DC.heic" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>The kids have settled into this camping life pretty well, making friends and helping out in their own way. We have tried to separate big driving days with a few days stop but it isn't always possible in this country. They are both enjoying playing lots of card games and just being grubby kids, and we are loving showing them such special parts of Australia.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUmyFnPZvDDqV3-iLE_qIBJlRFUvYlQ_APYRS7aRWfyPTU1VdkvY9skVsCsZN5RBzX4o8-5U2ExypU7MVd-QpQX7R-38IBKTyc7DWbYqWGWxTXrESIPh_J8sF_fxCOSJCvsdl_SILohpEDil7i9DHfkBtoNsN0UXeDkRinRNHvxoHOWNJSO2Z466SiQ/s4032/7A2202A3-F75D-46C4-8C64-950695F39DCC.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUmyFnPZvDDqV3-iLE_qIBJlRFUvYlQ_APYRS7aRWfyPTU1VdkvY9skVsCsZN5RBzX4o8-5U2ExypU7MVd-QpQX7R-38IBKTyc7DWbYqWGWxTXrESIPh_J8sF_fxCOSJCvsdl_SILohpEDil7i9DHfkBtoNsN0UXeDkRinRNHvxoHOWNJSO2Z466SiQ/s320/7A2202A3-F75D-46C4-8C64-950695F39DCC.heic" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOc12XDVVnKmGaQoUOMCEeAuEIC1rkNE3Sy6SKQm2eA9J0Aoa9Lwcw2SoKsyRQKpUPuK5oCNy_cxhc7rlbaIzNdrowtVg3811qOgCmfPoHtnn0dL-6Mz4TFD2IDGwGhCqpYr1MbcHKdcGTPGVCR1gOQNty0K2F_qjbN4JaRgRbCen-GRWnJr9abiKFbA/s4032/BB4986DF-F415-4F6F-A508-F076B3E7054E.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOc12XDVVnKmGaQoUOMCEeAuEIC1rkNE3Sy6SKQm2eA9J0Aoa9Lwcw2SoKsyRQKpUPuK5oCNy_cxhc7rlbaIzNdrowtVg3811qOgCmfPoHtnn0dL-6Mz4TFD2IDGwGhCqpYr1MbcHKdcGTPGVCR1gOQNty0K2F_qjbN4JaRgRbCen-GRWnJr9abiKFbA/s320/BB4986DF-F415-4F6F-A508-F076B3E7054E.heic" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRuASdIw-PYD-9HVBwFPGKZtMKDPW2aQyCfpem0cBFITMhu2mMEW-C_87ga-Kt3MF_k-dw4sumViZCXVAUuTSwv2pmPy5LtPaPtOZ0Ad5oR5E1TRkiR_KYkLEVNqGrzv6nd8GIjjmLdTox0aOsE06AoqYgbsdCLhgHwvO-oz-W4G2d51wv0gmqthJERg/s4032/C8B96A9C-A2F9-4BBA-A3BA-7CCB47A23B00.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRuASdIw-PYD-9HVBwFPGKZtMKDPW2aQyCfpem0cBFITMhu2mMEW-C_87ga-Kt3MF_k-dw4sumViZCXVAUuTSwv2pmPy5LtPaPtOZ0Ad5oR5E1TRkiR_KYkLEVNqGrzv6nd8GIjjmLdTox0aOsE06AoqYgbsdCLhgHwvO-oz-W4G2d51wv0gmqthJERg/s320/C8B96A9C-A2F9-4BBA-A3BA-7CCB47A23B00.heic" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Nessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743234057904783218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3636767330920619181.post-66602699542800618702022-07-01T17:29:00.005+10:002022-07-02T17:32:21.837+10:00Up the guts, part 1<p> </p><p>It’s now day 6 of our trip and finally getting some time to relax. </p><p>We got away pretty well on Saturday. Happily our house-sitters Dido and Katrina arrived bang on time and our practice packing and optimising had paid off. I’d filled the car up on the Thursday - 93 litres to fill the main tank from around a quarter full which seemed too much as we thought the main tank only held 90 litres. I checked under the car to see if I’d blown the tank, but it turned out the main tank holds 147 litres. The second holds 30 litres. So a cool $529 to fill from empty based on the price at Kulgera yesterday ($2.99 per litre, the cheapest for a long way around).</p><p>Our first stop was Mambray Creek, a revisit for Ness and I. It’s a beautiful site in Mount Remarkable National Park a few hours north of Adelaide. An easy drive, with a short stop at Snowtown for lunch and a road stop to pick up some firewood. The first set up went pretty well, a bit of a rush as the light was failing and the temperature dropping, but within an hour we were set up and sat down with wine in hand. A quick stroll around the campground and river bed and then back for dinner and a fire. The sky was clear and the stars were sensational - way more satellites than we’d seen in the past, some shooting stars as well.</p><p>It was a cold night. They’ve all been cold so far, and will be until we get to Katherine in a week or so’s time. They don’t feel quite as cold now we’re getting used to them, but typically getting down to 3-5 degrees and with the wind chill that’s pretty cold. It’s been getting dark between 6 and 6.30 and light again around 7, so plenty of night to contend with.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdckcX9zRf82-BYIOyyOFJQ5YgMaEcX0gd-TiVFjE2Z15X2881PMWXRhnbigET7qIB1oOModKhS7--Bfkr-vCEtNgogaJcrQnB0KBl6cqsd49hH-r904Nm2SiqGu__mBFEe9_kXuj_wLy77IoutxoFDtDlI-pjUk9UJPAamdehm8HMR5gmO7zxHMFuVA/s4032/D938847B-D7AA-4ADB-942E-F3E60D3A4C68.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdckcX9zRf82-BYIOyyOFJQ5YgMaEcX0gd-TiVFjE2Z15X2881PMWXRhnbigET7qIB1oOModKhS7--Bfkr-vCEtNgogaJcrQnB0KBl6cqsd49hH-r904Nm2SiqGu__mBFEe9_kXuj_wLy77IoutxoFDtDlI-pjUk9UJPAamdehm8HMR5gmO7zxHMFuVA/s320/D938847B-D7AA-4ADB-942E-F3E60D3A4C68.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTBqY4P_IJ9N_xT7XomLoiO-xCEM95WEMkyda1SKjMT5TfFM9UUBmQPNcpNdEYHi41Gegq7TODR-DP1Phv4rr-LteKm9_f93hENPfokbwED0vulRr0oaYCcRe1txG9W0Rgv7g5SlFDDdIubZYJuKakR0OHeqd49-l5TNmLx2YZkN1Bbm9xSRvW6Xy9pA/s4032/5BEB29E0-40B2-4959-8B90-817F85BBF6B2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTBqY4P_IJ9N_xT7XomLoiO-xCEM95WEMkyda1SKjMT5TfFM9UUBmQPNcpNdEYHi41Gegq7TODR-DP1Phv4rr-LteKm9_f93hENPfokbwED0vulRr0oaYCcRe1txG9W0Rgv7g5SlFDDdIubZYJuKakR0OHeqd49-l5TNmLx2YZkN1Bbm9xSRvW6Xy9pA/s320/5BEB29E0-40B2-4959-8B90-817F85BBF6B2.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMPdarHeokRlf4a9RxhdrMdAR-px6lsFiqIToCSmRlLZUeXTmICZbgFopLr7NlMgLJNurBdhE8iKVkpzhNtj0g8RwqPJH3L42hWXxmxCKUmoySEGVJEvT8BFROZXsWo2GKlJY2vZMyFL1xkXUVvnDMMRk98dvZJbE0znISZhoLxDU6xzNfWygewvjqew/s4032/D53A9DDD-CCD4-450C-834A-2BA0F311F9F1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMPdarHeokRlf4a9RxhdrMdAR-px6lsFiqIToCSmRlLZUeXTmICZbgFopLr7NlMgLJNurBdhE8iKVkpzhNtj0g8RwqPJH3L42hWXxmxCKUmoySEGVJEvT8BFROZXsWo2GKlJY2vZMyFL1xkXUVvnDMMRk98dvZJbE0znISZhoLxDU6xzNfWygewvjqew/s320/D53A9DDD-CCD4-450C-834A-2BA0F311F9F1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Pack up was similarly around an hour, not much help from the kids, but they are getting better. The tent is not ideally suited to touring - it’s a great tent for four, luxurious size with internal strip LEDs. We bought it a couple of years ago and were disappointed to find that most of the legs had been screwed in the wrong way around and you needed a screwdriver to fix it up, which we didn’t have with us. I’ve since removed all of the screws and she packs up much more easily. The biggest issue is the weight - around 30kgs which is a bit of a lift to get on the roof.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our next stop was Woomera. Not much of a destination, but we had kms to cover and there aren’t that many places on the way up to the territory. It’s where the UK and Australia used to test missiles and nuclear bombs. Civilians have only been allowed in fairly recently. The caravan park was reasonably expensive for an unpowered site but that seems to be the way of things now. I think it was around $40. The sunset was awesome and the stars were again really great. We woke after a very cold night to a damp fog that took almost an hour of sunlight to clear.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgZOtljM7sbadHGu9ZdnPc3RjtKgynMv6ELE8p7jTNe9gaKuthBBXID06BlxfmrFOaE3QX8i3yeJO4Q5RZd4b1qW0vcpP2p2NzYS9PrLSVLRlKPYGQHt399cHJXr5JCkqoekt4bDbsrXZm7VZmy9hCoCpkxdXhNiyArsgx3juVcyDzNUkH3FJUXmwiJQ/s4032/871B69E9-6195-4D36-AA17-3981338F0BE2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgZOtljM7sbadHGu9ZdnPc3RjtKgynMv6ELE8p7jTNe9gaKuthBBXID06BlxfmrFOaE3QX8i3yeJO4Q5RZd4b1qW0vcpP2p2NzYS9PrLSVLRlKPYGQHt399cHJXr5JCkqoekt4bDbsrXZm7VZmy9hCoCpkxdXhNiyArsgx3juVcyDzNUkH3FJUXmwiJQ/s320/871B69E9-6195-4D36-AA17-3981338F0BE2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Woomera outdoor missile museum</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrXFUDx4Z--FYdt14piwV-69Ot94SfVbFsDSrvv1KY3wO5kAeMhxNYSmS8n4GaX7xpcFm1XVHTs1joE3_8S1XUImokvFOi0bwhOZ6THHwMkdtg94pky-cKUo71tt57b6PzMcP6DrMpacq_HyHiIpHz4uybicZ5b627v--8A0ejk0Xnza4krOieAUqMQw/s4032/A1EB7919-8448-454D-B8DD-AF6263066551.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrXFUDx4Z--FYdt14piwV-69Ot94SfVbFsDSrvv1KY3wO5kAeMhxNYSmS8n4GaX7xpcFm1XVHTs1joE3_8S1XUImokvFOi0bwhOZ6THHwMkdtg94pky-cKUo71tt57b6PzMcP6DrMpacq_HyHiIpHz4uybicZ5b627v--8A0ejk0Xnza4krOieAUqMQw/s320/A1EB7919-8448-454D-B8DD-AF6263066551.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ViJDaJqEJ_94FdVDHwdegDnt1RKw7VhgFN1oCWOH8CevAWXoOObf_aoda4i0DiCjeVm8Sh_tjvzJ2ZCXbkLSLT1HTJZMO3r2mgKdrL5WUYdSBgPYNmbiof7jMMpvkRwZAmofS-4IM0EHjyySfre5KrEbwBCYQMdiEHgXGWYegRvULL-ELKq-TucsUw/s4032/ACC8C897-C866-4590-9D63-DB3F6D204BA8.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ViJDaJqEJ_94FdVDHwdegDnt1RKw7VhgFN1oCWOH8CevAWXoOObf_aoda4i0DiCjeVm8Sh_tjvzJ2ZCXbkLSLT1HTJZMO3r2mgKdrL5WUYdSBgPYNmbiof7jMMpvkRwZAmofS-4IM0EHjyySfre5KrEbwBCYQMdiEHgXGWYegRvULL-ELKq-TucsUw/s320/ACC8C897-C866-4590-9D63-DB3F6D204BA8.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On Monday we packed up in around 45 minutes and started the drive up to Coober Pedy, to the Big 4 Resort with heated pool. Coober Pedy, named appropriately by indigenous folk as White Man’s hole. Opal mining capital of the world, and ground soft enough that it can be dug out by hand. All the sensible people live underground where the temperature is around 20 degrees all year round. Above ground in our dusty campground it was close to freezing. Sleep was difficult with the constant barking of stray dogs. The highlight was a tour of Old Timers Opal Mine and then a trip out to the Breakaways and Dog Fence. And dinner at the servo.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was nice to have two nights so we didn’t have to pack and set up for a day, but the Big 4 was disappointing. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhraQAVnS8GogbDNYe_6s_pLtf1xl6tLJuzo0QvLgwzJ57pfEO5NmPoSGIkEhwl1xFRR4FMVMctdi-GGIvnkTTHgyehFJxNi7f5EbM5o3CN9dfinTi1FW-6Eukzrkru2tCQp42wtHFF1PM7rXfujDV-RGE0ypITYynusVKhMwFKZUP0vxIFKnaS5d2T6A/s4032/64D9E0F5-4E95-4888-9D74-CE509CEA57C6.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhraQAVnS8GogbDNYe_6s_pLtf1xl6tLJuzo0QvLgwzJ57pfEO5NmPoSGIkEhwl1xFRR4FMVMctdi-GGIvnkTTHgyehFJxNi7f5EbM5o3CN9dfinTi1FW-6Eukzrkru2tCQp42wtHFF1PM7rXfujDV-RGE0ypITYynusVKhMwFKZUP0vxIFKnaS5d2T6A/s320/64D9E0F5-4E95-4888-9D74-CE509CEA57C6.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><i>Walking up the sand dune to view Lake Hart, which was full of water</i><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ii4EXqr8yipFyOwp2nxHs4JunNmDaRXhy8PJHRpmJcdwuZcfzJy1IZ5OjQ06GJiE5fVmYJpWWh9txV7XKr2ppWAXJ_n-2lalCrj0kNGGOZ2qqHIi5Hwk3JJkyzTRP4WOkKZ6THndj8bb0TBYz3uipZki8gKbJTDImEGksDbfmdwgSY-hP_zy-pkLew/s4032/DC45F7B7-F29A-40FB-BECF-5DE64C0E4D5F.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ii4EXqr8yipFyOwp2nxHs4JunNmDaRXhy8PJHRpmJcdwuZcfzJy1IZ5OjQ06GJiE5fVmYJpWWh9txV7XKr2ppWAXJ_n-2lalCrj0kNGGOZ2qqHIi5Hwk3JJkyzTRP4WOkKZ6THndj8bb0TBYz3uipZki8gKbJTDImEGksDbfmdwgSY-hP_zy-pkLew/s320/DC45F7B7-F29A-40FB-BECF-5DE64C0E4D5F.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><i>Bridge repair underway at Island Lagoon</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAdt39Gg6PHGYqZ3H1JhbVCf4grJdNOMvIFpbGctAe-3Fmdz8sh-JYwfDgaj-Yc8Fv-OAFbbbrNJmKVwUZIGBvR6UxMVIQVbXqf3SnmE-CQ7IeFhHoCdvDu90SwDE6DSLdnrTufNLxRTbbYkyFX6rBYI4tHrrUeFIKfC74BCxftF2qAkk4t2HtpfAN7A/s4032/52FE506F-B239-475F-8775-840373E645EE.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAdt39Gg6PHGYqZ3H1JhbVCf4grJdNOMvIFpbGctAe-3Fmdz8sh-JYwfDgaj-Yc8Fv-OAFbbbrNJmKVwUZIGBvR6UxMVIQVbXqf3SnmE-CQ7IeFhHoCdvDu90SwDE6DSLdnrTufNLxRTbbYkyFX6rBYI4tHrrUeFIKfC74BCxftF2qAkk4t2HtpfAN7A/s320/52FE506F-B239-475F-8775-840373E645EE.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><i>The ‘resort’ at Coober Pedy</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFAsrAXgrUCIo_HaISbZsp7w26d14tGiZd4de-VTtZBYMqHgMbbjDu1XC0yKCpSGzz1Gdk1YfZVXDOE61yYXABhcDnWJl4LjAz6uQH67JRwL5MZv6-qZQ2GD9e83KnHDuLJuKUThtx5G_pqfKeDD5mG31HIpUl4tV4uUqEqyTPBZhj1MQjSrjQx5w7vQ/s3865/C2A59551-8C63-4CCF-9C38-488622B20F66.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2899" data-original-width="3865" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFAsrAXgrUCIo_HaISbZsp7w26d14tGiZd4de-VTtZBYMqHgMbbjDu1XC0yKCpSGzz1Gdk1YfZVXDOE61yYXABhcDnWJl4LjAz6uQH67JRwL5MZv6-qZQ2GD9e83KnHDuLJuKUThtx5G_pqfKeDD5mG31HIpUl4tV4uUqEqyTPBZhj1MQjSrjQx5w7vQ/s320/C2A59551-8C63-4CCF-9C38-488622B20F66.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><i><div><i>Sunset at The Big Winch, Coober Pedy</i></div></i></div><div><i><br /></i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXkBioZ_ESSmKO-KPDKzWVAjtXd0eRGNpgkiyUvutCVK7TpdSpF-An3bxn7F0BVXMJMdO-tuF5NOXDxtkg_CsQQ1oOR9XmTImGnknern8YNy8Yo-kMdF1J92a8HOIaSQLi9-P8md3TX2ipXh9Q5YCr4aP_NWFLglyaIZBnoMM_fJyb7dJkelyDVDT22Q/s4032/FB5A82C5-3668-4E3B-B009-CD8544140D69.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXkBioZ_ESSmKO-KPDKzWVAjtXd0eRGNpgkiyUvutCVK7TpdSpF-An3bxn7F0BVXMJMdO-tuF5NOXDxtkg_CsQQ1oOR9XmTImGnknern8YNy8Yo-kMdF1J92a8HOIaSQLi9-P8md3TX2ipXh9Q5YCr4aP_NWFLglyaIZBnoMM_fJyb7dJkelyDVDT22Q/s320/FB5A82C5-3668-4E3B-B009-CD8544140D69.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>The Old Timers Mine Tour (fantastic)</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3wiI3RIOGdJPg9x-jQb8CAQjEJ6IIwsubHOaJ08i_rlSSNluDhH7FYTn4YSGjtRSSeqiqk-v2aMaahmAO8TeQCOZXdsFWdl-vInRRoeRhrfqehrRd3qmHZ9a91VRmmgDKc7SDWUzfqVMPEvknVMJWRQpsR8vYpbSEI_EcOorrf1oxJjhOVI60z2A-Eg/s4032/18F415BF-B855-4F51-BBF7-E79607E30167.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3wiI3RIOGdJPg9x-jQb8CAQjEJ6IIwsubHOaJ08i_rlSSNluDhH7FYTn4YSGjtRSSeqiqk-v2aMaahmAO8TeQCOZXdsFWdl-vInRRoeRhrfqehrRd3qmHZ9a91VRmmgDKc7SDWUzfqVMPEvknVMJWRQpsR8vYpbSEI_EcOorrf1oxJjhOVI60z2A-Eg/s320/18F415BF-B855-4F51-BBF7-E79607E30167.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieZxfuRcpwTMuUZreFCfThNZZox_zfScTHIWHy2gPtBYe-Q9Y8EuyYXX34d6fU2WZeodxZx2U3qVW3vqIk2K3OWvGMZ8uXVWkPXPQgdFA3BUXge0MUGnzjm-8KRV6no925KZjJgXNwjfS8_wRVBDjFe5emr5cSnYMLXJyHKV2-qib0yBO0kbaUzcd49A/s4032/70F761BA-75E8-4D7E-BB02-3A4160D116F7.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieZxfuRcpwTMuUZreFCfThNZZox_zfScTHIWHy2gPtBYe-Q9Y8EuyYXX34d6fU2WZeodxZx2U3qVW3vqIk2K3OWvGMZ8uXVWkPXPQgdFA3BUXge0MUGnzjm-8KRV6no925KZjJgXNwjfS8_wRVBDjFe5emr5cSnYMLXJyHKV2-qib0yBO0kbaUzcd49A/s320/70F761BA-75E8-4D7E-BB02-3A4160D116F7.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP1XEqh6FMXjN4kC090fzKU93LNEkawIM9TbzFpKRsKBMaSCMQfYSEuZm1P_hqKCqv3pX7Fj7l0bQ3nmYMEa8n0SIryreg9Ezaqao0wLQ_c_GHnc1q3fFDFO5zjEItyWMlW_sGPih-iniNpUqEawmkuPgmsZflUz6ll_XjYTLHOuwnm8rN2DMiMvVtyA/s4032/C7CF79CF-A7F6-4BBF-81A6-47DFF3D43D60.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP1XEqh6FMXjN4kC090fzKU93LNEkawIM9TbzFpKRsKBMaSCMQfYSEuZm1P_hqKCqv3pX7Fj7l0bQ3nmYMEa8n0SIryreg9Ezaqao0wLQ_c_GHnc1q3fFDFO5zjEItyWMlW_sGPih-iniNpUqEawmkuPgmsZflUz6ll_XjYTLHOuwnm8rN2DMiMvVtyA/s320/C7CF79CF-A7F6-4BBF-81A6-47DFF3D43D60.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Some shots from the Breakways</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On Wednesday we set off for Kulgera, just inside the NT border. A simple roadhouse, with a great pub (the first and last in the NT) and pleasant campground with good facilities. It’s set back a bit further from the highway than the Big 4 at Coober Pedy so sleep was better too. Not so much for Ness who was in some pain following an attempted amputation of her left hand when cutting bread rolls the way people always tell you not to with our brand new kitchen knife. The bleeding was profuse. Amazingly there was a doctor on hand (visiting from Victor Harbor) who happened to be in the toilets when Ness took Jemma over for a wee. Let me have a look at she said, and 10 minutes a later an operating theatre had been assembled in the light of the laundry and Doctor Kate stitched up Nessa’s hand. It took four stitches and a local anaesthetic. Real stitches too, with needle and string. How exciting! I will post a photo when the stitches come out in Alice Springs (or earlier if there’s an infection). Candice has offered her nursing services on a FIFO basis. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkUAGsn6ECJd2XYLRgywodSL2sOWbv0gAJoFRppDeVT2jCB3-Ttfzm92Qf5UvS2l6ifCipI6V4bujOb2R35-FsptTGxx73WuwCPyY3OuiieILANo_vN3t-rxTZkl7KS2WBCNWposCG2VzZUiUUyvuzD5e9IdpIz_RRdE7osG9GbvGa-zku1Xv8M6v6Hg/s4032/8DC75906-DA42-4626-86F5-4D76E94B780B.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkUAGsn6ECJd2XYLRgywodSL2sOWbv0gAJoFRppDeVT2jCB3-Ttfzm92Qf5UvS2l6ifCipI6V4bujOb2R35-FsptTGxx73WuwCPyY3OuiieILANo_vN3t-rxTZkl7KS2WBCNWposCG2VzZUiUUyvuzD5e9IdpIz_RRdE7osG9GbvGa-zku1Xv8M6v6Hg/s320/8DC75906-DA42-4626-86F5-4D76E94B780B.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Camping at Kulgera</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCurofWTm6HO03KqgvltajvHNYnx3fNxCHlokp8oiskV_lffrjV5Qj_FFoJr406sPU4dtf5cdSdeg8JKKAKh7-DQBjH1WihgHEjM79yqKt9bDuLJoK6HMmFIh9esVrnWhIgS2go0muNRSL6i4CrksyuA-pJ9EPvBQIb-VZxe2zQBp6U_-WVRXS4OavVw/s4032/FF72D34A-B4C2-4BE9-BE1B-4562096E2B58.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCurofWTm6HO03KqgvltajvHNYnx3fNxCHlokp8oiskV_lffrjV5Qj_FFoJr406sPU4dtf5cdSdeg8JKKAKh7-DQBjH1WihgHEjM79yqKt9bDuLJoK6HMmFIh9esVrnWhIgS2go0muNRSL6i4CrksyuA-pJ9EPvBQIb-VZxe2zQBp6U_-WVRXS4OavVw/s320/FF72D34A-B4C2-4BE9-BE1B-4562096E2B58.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>The SA/NT border</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We are very grateful to Doctor Kate. This could have been the end of our trip, or worse. Ness has been very brave but is operating with one hand - not ideal given the amount of opening and closing, zipping and unzipping. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The other exciting feature of Kulgera this time around was a full in-swing mouse plague. Cute little hopping mice in large numbers, particularly after dark. They were everywhere. You could hear them trying to get into the tent I think I did very well to only squash one on the pack up the next day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thursday saw another early pack up and we drove the next 350kms or so to Yulara, which is around 20kms north of Uluṟu. It’s weird but Chrome autocorrects to put the line under the r, and then says it’s misspelt. Anyhow we have three nights here. This is a proper ‘resort’ - great facilities, a decent pub, hot showers, water, recycling, and Uluṟu /Kata-Tjuta. Prices to match and fairly severe restrictions on takeaway alcohol.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Today (Friday 1 July) is Territory Day - the one day of the year when Territorians can light fireworks. After a great sleep, probably the best of the trip so far and marginally less cold than previous nights, we did the base walk around the rock. It’s just short of 11kms, but flat. Significantly cooler than when Ness and I did it at the end of October 2007. The kids did really well, especially Jemma. We have had the most amazing blue skies, and the days are warming up a bit (we are now around 1600 kms from home, most of which is north). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tomorrow we head out to Kata-Tjuta for a walk around the Olgas. After that we are hoping for another lazy day before packing up on Sunday to move on to Kings Canyon. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It’s certainly a different experience doing this with the kids compared to when it was just us all those years ago. We’ve remembered a lot of the tricks of the trade and things are going pretty smoothly on the camping side of life. I don’t want to tempt fate, but the Patrol has been awesome so far. Very well appointed, lots of little customisations that Brett has made over the year that make a big difference.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I’ll finish with a joke - What’s Blue and not heavy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Light Blue. Boom Boom.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYzQlFOtcJdYUSjAwqhuUGImdB8C2DHuA_YlJY0Ftr9gUKMW7MO9jDUx-JKbPbdL8ZEJFLGJQ5zLrMZQDc6s2M5gaKj7opGqsTt5Gzu25R7E7GmwMkYmOu22L-zJbA-p1SesuWcuEQDnhrtL1OF2klAg-aUfZS6Kdvh37KLgwsNLdQVHwG3yrZ7jfhJw/s4032/45FCCA84-8C13-45F6-B274-3388F4D3465E.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYzQlFOtcJdYUSjAwqhuUGImdB8C2DHuA_YlJY0Ftr9gUKMW7MO9jDUx-JKbPbdL8ZEJFLGJQ5zLrMZQDc6s2M5gaKj7opGqsTt5Gzu25R7E7GmwMkYmOu22L-zJbA-p1SesuWcuEQDnhrtL1OF2klAg-aUfZS6Kdvh37KLgwsNLdQVHwG3yrZ7jfhJw/s320/45FCCA84-8C13-45F6-B274-3388F4D3465E.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEjDeyyHiLcOO6w1y7Ko6f3-2CIrYeVEhvvYIvauJcOqPW_8lDmLt8osttsquQpbW9q2r7FXMeHZWpxnZ8_TiiiwQ4TE38SEx1eTi0Ay3xHMnGlEvOSQodWxCBnrQvU0mfqOs1GiwYkVhoP8uEqAtUX7KueZnn2n0PQuWiFza7Vkvs9zc57ij8bbJ-MA/s4032/62B9DBEE-6AF2-4694-98A4-FE7C334F4891.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEjDeyyHiLcOO6w1y7Ko6f3-2CIrYeVEhvvYIvauJcOqPW_8lDmLt8osttsquQpbW9q2r7FXMeHZWpxnZ8_TiiiwQ4TE38SEx1eTi0Ay3xHMnGlEvOSQodWxCBnrQvU0mfqOs1GiwYkVhoP8uEqAtUX7KueZnn2n0PQuWiFza7Vkvs9zc57ij8bbJ-MA/s320/62B9DBEE-6AF2-4694-98A4-FE7C334F4891.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQJtgeiuGfRlu-iiDlAA-aBWKtPL8EmU5TJjAUuFE_mZcgMrIFBPpL6ATdZaj_iQKdJ6aJTrcP0lkFALPSC1bpbJcgOiGuXvTEyNxqVTqS3sZXRu5VG9Hnk4NicaulNPB0MaG7Va1SRGH27yqspE4scSPsK4vMhy1VzBQowYavh5LZ1Wth7LJGSR9ifA/s4032/67DF08FA-46DC-4E8F-9D91-537B47451394.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQJtgeiuGfRlu-iiDlAA-aBWKtPL8EmU5TJjAUuFE_mZcgMrIFBPpL6ATdZaj_iQKdJ6aJTrcP0lkFALPSC1bpbJcgOiGuXvTEyNxqVTqS3sZXRu5VG9Hnk4NicaulNPB0MaG7Va1SRGH27yqspE4scSPsK4vMhy1VzBQowYavh5LZ1Wth7LJGSR9ifA/s320/67DF08FA-46DC-4E8F-9D91-537B47451394.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFzWb7oUrDNiaxrVPjL7C8FWJmDoClSW0H-rX3DRnqr6rdgoWVt2_gjn3mw2z_ERR4WFXsk1m7DyH744Kn7E9t9ma08Fa1yEYDBGVQQXKvAO-FLC6Shf3c0-knMLCiwbzMF1A9K5gC1hJvS6zeTpC7DEJ_m1FP4jSLrH4j4aR3MKuAaQ0Re1kCPqSwNA/s4032/96E94D62-74BD-4DB3-B1AB-DE172F4D1510.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFzWb7oUrDNiaxrVPjL7C8FWJmDoClSW0H-rX3DRnqr6rdgoWVt2_gjn3mw2z_ERR4WFXsk1m7DyH744Kn7E9t9ma08Fa1yEYDBGVQQXKvAO-FLC6Shf3c0-knMLCiwbzMF1A9K5gC1hJvS6zeTpC7DEJ_m1FP4jSLrH4j4aR3MKuAaQ0Re1kCPqSwNA/s320/96E94D62-74BD-4DB3-B1AB-DE172F4D1510.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1447" data-original-width="1155" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOUNAwTuJ8Pmk-5YZMtzckK2zZH6Td7HUpbcEILxNoFKWeiiQTlvnlYanuec0Aq7S1OOVMHko285NHCYNmUS7pDuEtflePy24DvSCk6zJO1e9sqEW-ch1jwiWfRNC87f8Q83sD8QTTxvMSx2bDLSUxiNQfflV8hnUyFbUU9-YD4cWPj1ZmBhvPrKYvBg/s320/DD34D966-77BA-4876-8342-9D4DEDA7FC25.jpeg" width="255" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0RXlrs7J-wMJe2C8Zuwy7mlQVtygu4FdFFsNT5aOBiQn6d-k6YgAGoy-cqBcZ_feTstAdzbqO9V3YvyhmKAKjcfHHQlL7jcsFf4B51B2SLZKWdEQhf2apkLSCzv6C_Fs8Yc2zPQc8GBXoS-kY6msDHE5WQIKZtGOcX9gp7NTgJ_B52BTa2c_zaFtDWA/s3088/F5CA031C-FB3E-4A27-95BB-46F677D2F299.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2316" data-original-width="3088" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0RXlrs7J-wMJe2C8Zuwy7mlQVtygu4FdFFsNT5aOBiQn6d-k6YgAGoy-cqBcZ_feTstAdzbqO9V3YvyhmKAKjcfHHQlL7jcsFf4B51B2SLZKWdEQhf2apkLSCzv6C_Fs8Yc2zPQc8GBXoS-kY6msDHE5WQIKZtGOcX9gp7NTgJ_B52BTa2c_zaFtDWA/s320/F5CA031C-FB3E-4A27-95BB-46F677D2F299.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Mount Connor, aka Foolero, marginally less impressive than the real thing</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXArvq2qlHQAgcI8yzUeobHViJPrcI9j4WLs0e96i3SzLlCNH_kinm1V3pSy-B_qZM-mLZEgO3ZJVfCR-DCtGzxw-wQDI_OoehFYWFdbr_mSsiClzIXvUAS_0BoneOUCneKq2I1U5Uh50qxzewFI_ZFi7CW1npJeOvwZBnKfnmPgyGtM6PlrHEch5QaA/s4032/F08C6809-A717-4D3F-A343-CBE6D9FBE5BD.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXArvq2qlHQAgcI8yzUeobHViJPrcI9j4WLs0e96i3SzLlCNH_kinm1V3pSy-B_qZM-mLZEgO3ZJVfCR-DCtGzxw-wQDI_OoehFYWFdbr_mSsiClzIXvUAS_0BoneOUCneKq2I1U5Uh50qxzewFI_ZFi7CW1npJeOvwZBnKfnmPgyGtM6PlrHEch5QaA/s320/F08C6809-A717-4D3F-A343-CBE6D9FBE5BD.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><i>The Olgas (Kata Tjuta)</i></div><div><i><br /></i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAyvrsWrc_54WmozmhqWPUvhMCewWr8IZMhD7F8sHyzMa91SgAu2k37sWv9LrWW7T7O5vwd1RI6CpiWrE5d_vlKNwOqQIV9UO9Gj1f1GdEYAey9W9pg34mPWjTvX101CB3HRXTA4qcI0buKURkpdQJPgtsUsDQo5yJWaYCFzku7YHSsd3KqRC9dFipfg/s4032/F7706C05-4F9B-4579-8C7C-1FA1DE2B1DFD.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAyvrsWrc_54WmozmhqWPUvhMCewWr8IZMhD7F8sHyzMa91SgAu2k37sWv9LrWW7T7O5vwd1RI6CpiWrE5d_vlKNwOqQIV9UO9Gj1f1GdEYAey9W9pg34mPWjTvX101CB3HRXTA4qcI0buKURkpdQJPgtsUsDQo5yJWaYCFzku7YHSsd3KqRC9dFipfg/s320/F7706C05-4F9B-4579-8C7C-1FA1DE2B1DFD.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04142224789928286977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3636767330920619181.post-62737061721483812462022-06-21T12:21:00.004+10:002022-06-21T13:41:00.415+10:00Back on the road again ...It’s been almost thirteen years since our big lap. It’s been busy. We got married, had two kids, renovated and extended our forever home before moving interstate a year later, farewelled Millie and welcomed Scout and now Sailor, beautiful brown labs into our life.<div><br /><div>We now find ourselves just a few days away from hitting the road again for another adventure. Not quite the full lap, but we do have two months of open road, remote national parks and big skies. Up the guts, then across the top and down through Queensland and back home via Port Macquarie at the end of August.<div><br /></div><div>We'd always talked about doing a big trip with the kids, to share with them the vastness of our country and to build an experience together as a family that would launch a lifelong passion in them for the outdoors life. Things however seemed to be conspiring against us. Until only very recently it felt destined to be one of life's unfulfilled dreams. James starts high school next February and will have lots of transition challenges and activities towards the end of the year. Our window was slowly closing.</div><div><br /></div><div>I took a break from full time work at the end of March to focus on getting my mojo back after a few tough years, and to enable me to spend some extended post COVID time back with my mum in the UK. </div><div><br /></div><div>I was initially thinking to take just 3 months off, but these opportunities don’t come up that often and it’s amazing how quickly the calendar fills up. I’m now not sure I can reasonably go back to work until next year. Ness and I started talking about whether we could make something work during my sabbatical, and then in the matter of a rainy bank holiday Monday we'd advertised for house sitters and identified a 4WD. </div><div><br /></div><div>The next day James and I drove to meet Brett, the owner of the 4WD, at Snowtown - roughly half-way between our place and his on the end of the Yorke peninsula. I don’t really know the first thing about cars, but it started first time and Brett was a really decent guy who had been frustrated by a couple of fraudsters wasting his time on Carsales, After a quick drive around town we shook hands on the deal and Brett delivered our new Patrol to our place a few weeks later while I was in the UK. </div><div><br /></div><div>She doesn’t have a name from us yet, but she’s a well loved girl with plenty of experience. Brett and his wife were very sad to say goodbye to her - lots of memories from the last 11 years and 260,000kms. She’s been very well looked after and has plenty of surprise customisations and things that will make our trip that little bit more comfortable. There’s pull out drawers and fridge slide in the back, Anderson connection to reduce the chance of the fridge plug bouncing out on corrugations. There’s an AC inverter for small 240v appliances, UHF radio, built in winch and 4WD GPS maps. The only thing we needed to add was a fridge, and we’ve gone with a 40 litre Engel.</div><div><br /></div><div>We had thought for a moment of taking on the trip in the Volvo. It has the space but when it came down to it there were places we wanted to go that really need a more robust car. Our route planning and camping options have been vastly improved by having the Patrol. Not that we plan on doing massive 4WDing, but there will be plenty of long unsealed corrugated roads and there are some water crossings we need the snorkel for. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhIjXsjnez_Jh1rGDyRsAwqqjhHpbY-LLa-xSgD2qmFHaREUlMRlawN10PoQXL-_thp_C4va4KRyjlusqOHHATJC96PrEODD7J2cZy9_pjhtfUlV6_KNpKqEvpZ1OxcrKmty5g5utJQXkGdwwzWi6Kk5rNrxFXPfJCLVBTx3ZqsgD3wcF_20xSgMjA1A/s640/IMG_4395.PNG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhIjXsjnez_Jh1rGDyRsAwqqjhHpbY-LLa-xSgD2qmFHaREUlMRlawN10PoQXL-_thp_C4va4KRyjlusqOHHATJC96PrEODD7J2cZy9_pjhtfUlV6_KNpKqEvpZ1OxcrKmty5g5utJQXkGdwwzWi6Kk5rNrxFXPfJCLVBTx3ZqsgD3wcF_20xSgMjA1A/s320/IMG_4395.PNG" width="320" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div>So sadly the Volvo had to go. The kids were pretty upset as we’ve had great memories and trips, but they do already love the Patrol, especially the bouncy suspension and the mid-seat cupholder. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTjLazld1Iy6s_Nh4mx9JTsZhz1bYqSekK27tV6VFP2qIN3A7ieuwu5G5Zm4OYY8V7Gz8GV137R6y2Yfk4Xcon_y0COdYD6tuk3RhDj2aQ_zCunw8juL3sHx8i3GOJg8vN3q456DGg7FKZhhtd7W0mj99Qv8Bp8l-SVV3G-uFgqWYnXl4Lnq1fl5hwog/s4032/4461A945-4860-4AEA-8D16-A13A0F10147E.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTjLazld1Iy6s_Nh4mx9JTsZhz1bYqSekK27tV6VFP2qIN3A7ieuwu5G5Zm4OYY8V7Gz8GV137R6y2Yfk4Xcon_y0COdYD6tuk3RhDj2aQ_zCunw8juL3sHx8i3GOJg8vN3q456DGg7FKZhhtd7W0mj99Qv8Bp8l-SVV3G-uFgqWYnXl4Lnq1fl5hwog/s320/4461A945-4860-4AEA-8D16-A13A0F10147E.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><span style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>We did a trial pack last week and picked up a couple of extra things - a bigger camp stove, a small card table and another double deluxe self-inflating mattress. But other than that we’re pretty good to go.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH9fMybZdr4zKEr_ojMQ6EJsTXn4kqf3_svZmzsCHOvHbwshOg098LcMLHoP_jzb3cc8JCr7tf9P2fmu0O_H5qMG4SbO-gQ9fLt2FVESXqW0zS75ZoJU0vIJHIVRGzysQxTZs03SHcirqWZSgwVKEoGJbEjlDUf_yVD3wXj_UDFa9NbRPZA6xnN2Nzyg/s4032/CF535FFB-19BC-4B66-8B6B-CEFBE192126D.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH9fMybZdr4zKEr_ojMQ6EJsTXn4kqf3_svZmzsCHOvHbwshOg098LcMLHoP_jzb3cc8JCr7tf9P2fmu0O_H5qMG4SbO-gQ9fLt2FVESXqW0zS75ZoJU0vIJHIVRGzysQxTZs03SHcirqWZSgwVKEoGJbEjlDUf_yVD3wXj_UDFa9NbRPZA6xnN2Nzyg/s320/CF535FFB-19BC-4B66-8B6B-CEFBE192126D.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div>So needless to say we’re getting pretty excited. James had has had a cold the last few days so has been off school. We took advantage of a break in the weather yesterday and went for a bush walk down into Onkaparinga Gorge. A taste of national parks and the many many walks ahead….</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio6r8KO4CVq7KpdAP6X0qwZ0TWyN1WeD1JkXlD_SfvKtA3Zmgs97XKwd59YFFT9cWKOQOw5GQg9CNyShRnYtbt8Y76qMWgip_WGSF2DuenUYdH-SfNQOMjVoWL65ADChj_12ghbf9yekCEzVk6UWBwLx6UZ2c3toWgUk6e-lAN-yIB-rPfHRChhbsR1w/s4032/B5F88773-5A5C-47F1-B3FE-476F71ADCAD0.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio6r8KO4CVq7KpdAP6X0qwZ0TWyN1WeD1JkXlD_SfvKtA3Zmgs97XKwd59YFFT9cWKOQOw5GQg9CNyShRnYtbt8Y76qMWgip_WGSF2DuenUYdH-SfNQOMjVoWL65ADChj_12ghbf9yekCEzVk6UWBwLx6UZ2c3toWgUk6e-lAN-yIB-rPfHRChhbsR1w/s320/B5F88773-5A5C-47F1-B3FE-476F71ADCAD0.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-QL9WQXwGBER67Z61LI62CtIaJiOeozRp_8hPveSLDqvAY2oJXAO26ebBSYVFkhi4eb827Zzh90NB_HQ5cWb34e8JNj4posGqnfGZPVTS7dW0ZRaUbBMmHM4a9p8G3g-L5MJ_3KorMnbdJp5rKS_1erNt0zDNB7K6saAOi2dAajdROFlOFM1o8nX7ig/s4032/D1FA968A-E59E-4508-A16B-55F31B62953D.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-QL9WQXwGBER67Z61LI62CtIaJiOeozRp_8hPveSLDqvAY2oJXAO26ebBSYVFkhi4eb827Zzh90NB_HQ5cWb34e8JNj4posGqnfGZPVTS7dW0ZRaUbBMmHM4a9p8G3g-L5MJ_3KorMnbdJp5rKS_1erNt0zDNB7K6saAOi2dAajdROFlOFM1o8nX7ig/s320/D1FA968A-E59E-4508-A16B-55F31B62953D.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div></div></div></div></div><p>The house-sitters are new to Adelaide and love dogs so we know that Scout and Sailor will be in good hands. They arrive on Saturday morning, and then we are off, back on the road, and heading up to our first stop at <a href="https://www.parks.sa.gov.au/parks/mount-remarkable-national-park" target="_blank">Mambray Creek</a> in Mount Remarkable National Park. Very excited about what lies ahead …</p><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj25onuDLvC2dRneX6YCQ93qKfLqBtoHPuFEPz6F8rYYXPkgIMJ1KIL-w_sW1nUS2Tl9DHNMpUKA4rBBbNTLET3mcaxNGqxbu33kia4gpRcPNrW9H6tg0EmbZJOhSnM1X5hNa-VC4tnjifrZbAmz4FFhMjxDBYTDpXEc2hAv4jmBRNT2QZhxao7LT9f-A/s640/IMG_3547.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></a></div></div>Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04142224789928286977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3636767330920619181.post-67764305144539887122009-10-31T12:48:00.020+11:002009-10-31T14:54:00.889+11:00There and back again<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr0R5JWBMJYFmRZnV29H2dYUUCq1VS1B3ePuR1lMnSaco7i0fvaDaOIkJF6h1WkrpulT_r8vEbIe8XKh-ew3-jmvJFl5k9p5W_9p9jQi9V6wxfkBC9ZTSSbf9omidQ211iEbsJMbBeawij/s1600-h/finalblog1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr0R5JWBMJYFmRZnV29H2dYUUCq1VS1B3ePuR1lMnSaco7i0fvaDaOIkJF6h1WkrpulT_r8vEbIe8XKh-ew3-jmvJFl5k9p5W_9p9jQi9V6wxfkBC9ZTSSbf9omidQ211iEbsJMbBeawij/s320/finalblog1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398577220460602882" border="0" /></a>We've been back from our trip for a month now.<br /><br />I wanted to close my contribution to our blog with an entry after I'd had some time to reflect on what the trip had meant to us, what it was like to be back and how we were settling back into our non mobile home on Dangar Island.<br /><br />The past twelve months have been without any doubt the most amazing period of my life so far.<br /><br />To get out of the city and to see so much of our great country was an incredible opportunity.<br /><br />To have made it all the way around Australia with only one puncture and no mechanical problems at all is almost a miracle. The Troopy was amazing. To have traveled 48,000kms without hitting anyone else, any wildlife (excluding a couple of birds), or even getting a speeding ticket also surprises me. The laptop made it round without dying, my iphone lasted long enough to get replaced for free when I took it to the apple store and complained about a crack in the back, and the camera gear survived the vibrations.<br /><br />We made a pact well before the end of the trip that we should not let the trip be defined or soured by how difficult it was going to be to transition back into 'normal' life back in Sydney.<br /><br />This has worked pretty well up to a point, but I think a huge factor in that has been coming back to the peace of Dangar Island rather than bustling Newtown.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTPgYo_vm9YbhmiPAyzrqVfjs_fAk0RwW345afOq5DGBZHhORyPys5vyD7EB1qdAIT1oIjmv29oY7b3zu19WQHIi2infLj30bGwc3ahIAT6GFatyyr8viPBwgwn4cs5LXCE2ZHgTwMUT4a/s1600-h/finalblog3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 168px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTPgYo_vm9YbhmiPAyzrqVfjs_fAk0RwW345afOq5DGBZHhORyPys5vyD7EB1qdAIT1oIjmv29oY7b3zu19WQHIi2infLj30bGwc3ahIAT6GFatyyr8viPBwgwn4cs5LXCE2ZHgTwMUT4a/s320/finalblog3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398577133783415442" border="0" /></a>Dangar Island is in the Hawkesbury River around 55kms north of Sydney CBD.<br /><br />The Island is surrounded by three National Parks and the river system is just stunning.<br /><br />We share the island with around 250 other people. There are no cars on the island, just a fire truck and a ute for collecting the rubbish. Locals transport their goods from the ferry wharf to their houses in wheelbarrows. The place feels a little like Hobbiton without the hairy feet.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbd9H3hvARm7Rvel0il6uoivP3G8aBudNErUo854jU0E3RRo4FWNo6Z_-wQdcbQN3bzCD2KwW9f6xGf0qG1-466dB_gnK_oqJroFtHm_VOLFjfJSJwcg3P4CkYzSDpg2ZL2WnqSEnWuSRo/s1600-h/finalblog2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 155px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbd9H3hvARm7Rvel0il6uoivP3G8aBudNErUo854jU0E3RRo4FWNo6Z_-wQdcbQN3bzCD2KwW9f6xGf0qG1-466dB_gnK_oqJroFtHm_VOLFjfJSJwcg3P4CkYzSDpg2ZL2WnqSEnWuSRo/s320/finalblog2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398577123483985906" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1CmAzdGguXJnnjfEvFWyP1M4r9MXEDQW1omLTLO1WgnhXB6Bv0ezwq74vmOgcBfKueWHa87eud9auI4WO5_n-IOsXjkIIRJlSi5L5-ImJRAsqkO9WgTE3fyoAA-wnGgjkB5q9pXEeDz_U/s1600-h/finalblog4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1CmAzdGguXJnnjfEvFWyP1M4r9MXEDQW1omLTLO1WgnhXB6Bv0ezwq74vmOgcBfKueWHa87eud9auI4WO5_n-IOsXjkIIRJlSi5L5-ImJRAsqkO9WgTE3fyoAA-wnGgjkB5q9pXEeDz_U/s320/finalblog4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398577129259846866" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Candi & Steffen had been house sitting for us for the last six months of our trip and largely undid five years of complete neglect of the garden.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw1CawkvHXtZ1GFN49Zvki2jLWX1SnlYi1C98oSU3oLqsNLOa2zmzhG7DW3511e0ciSyhfuEvulyDwAl-jT853Mj7hhNP6ZY0vfMc_a2aCTCjfYYc0SlZuGDAqoYsLpIGkmgvAvpjKTPhY/s1600-h/finalblog13.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw1CawkvHXtZ1GFN49Zvki2jLWX1SnlYi1C98oSU3oLqsNLOa2zmzhG7DW3511e0ciSyhfuEvulyDwAl-jT853Mj7hhNP6ZY0vfMc_a2aCTCjfYYc0SlZuGDAqoYsLpIGkmgvAvpjKTPhY/s320/finalblog13.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398577117803657026" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU_HLhqJNirum7zxy0TTe2WwORtFie7o_fWmsIRYEWpeb2mIPKPGSFlGL-b17u8VGfxiKG3DdG2Yey5jYSfy1hWwP5Jv1S5aBzWa81k_Koc_7JXcbuMxeBCOPKfl1hsKc54tXh1MYRr3WA/s1600-h/finalblog17.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU_HLhqJNirum7zxy0TTe2WwORtFie7o_fWmsIRYEWpeb2mIPKPGSFlGL-b17u8VGfxiKG3DdG2Yey5jYSfy1hWwP5Jv1S5aBzWa81k_Koc_7JXcbuMxeBCOPKfl1hsKc54tXh1MYRr3WA/s320/finalblog17.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398577113322027970" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsq5_WU4zMVOFapnoPUvu6tIzzSip5u85bG71F9Eerb3oF6ISHBZK74XPLl6V9xC_3d1aPOg4S8YhgZlQbH-zqkbp10rqvOA-2Nz52HNCwsG0xVR66o3tvQaHAt8zcUUZi2p7AUzqZJtnK/s1600-h/finalblog5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsq5_WU4zMVOFapnoPUvu6tIzzSip5u85bG71F9Eerb3oF6ISHBZK74XPLl6V9xC_3d1aPOg4S8YhgZlQbH-zqkbp10rqvOA-2Nz52HNCwsG0xVR66o3tvQaHAt8zcUUZi2p7AUzqZJtnK/s320/finalblog5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398576831480880514" border="0" /></a><br />Dangar is an incredibly fertile island, things just grow and quickly get out of hand. Our place (880 square meters) was almost entirely covered by wandering jew.<br /><br />When we were all here at Christmas time you could barely get up the front path.<br /><br />Candice & Steffen (with help from Ken & Jean) ripped out all of the wandering jew and cleared a lot of the undergrowth and removed a lot of fuel in good time for fire season.<br /><br />Ness is now keeping herself busy in the garden and the place is looking better than it has in years. Next step is to get some chickens!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRW_93MEV__lWjzH2-prK_Ujh8918wPTN1N-h4y2eOthHmg-Q68nths02tiUle5A7OS6hhG4DTbKuNuBfgc8Z2hkXpkV8uShq3vD54oNLZ_8hztDfdenyJk5oFQlgyZAiDNJ7PfG0e05oX/s1600-h/finalblog12.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRW_93MEV__lWjzH2-prK_Ujh8918wPTN1N-h4y2eOthHmg-Q68nths02tiUle5A7OS6hhG4DTbKuNuBfgc8Z2hkXpkV8uShq3vD54oNLZ_8hztDfdenyJk5oFQlgyZAiDNJ7PfG0e05oX/s320/finalblog12.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398576829729547266" border="0" /></a>The addition of a bird feeder at Christmas has attracted even more of the local birdlife up to the house.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The carrots went in today and will hopefully be ready around new years.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6apiH_-s3c7s_4sKQ1x5yoAY-ChG2BssjLmjqAzHedZTGNZ2sMA9sTgwD2Pt8q3UJ65KQqbA9gB7BDX2314pJTehZZnJG8VBaNSZlz5ONOsN0ytbUJzEsIawGDWjVAL_VttobWQI9xP1F/s1600-h/finalblog14.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6apiH_-s3c7s_4sKQ1x5yoAY-ChG2BssjLmjqAzHedZTGNZ2sMA9sTgwD2Pt8q3UJ65KQqbA9gB7BDX2314pJTehZZnJG8VBaNSZlz5ONOsN0ytbUJzEsIawGDWjVAL_VttobWQI9xP1F/s320/finalblog14.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398576825647999218" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz3YcZbdWlelLbtl8DsxQa-Ui-o61ktPG2xdaXme6Q_FW3BQ6nF-RIhyQ8oF0EsOXqnQHcLkFAJWLmCPi77OepazBJy5trt-zNmeH-KSg7_lFhVQPEq07FMUt8YQJMb8WmZxh0w4XS1sLJ/s1600-h/finalblog15.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz3YcZbdWlelLbtl8DsxQa-Ui-o61ktPG2xdaXme6Q_FW3BQ6nF-RIhyQ8oF0EsOXqnQHcLkFAJWLmCPi77OepazBJy5trt-zNmeH-KSg7_lFhVQPEq07FMUt8YQJMb8WmZxh0w4XS1sLJ/s320/finalblog15.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398576818138689026" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-lGjxStjGiw7atsCypfMdhImEuviMFZ9egkLGe9-k7hoTkMv2CJuErQ_Q3GnHh3L07T7x0q6WcQfznACobQ4KPq9IZTNevjqOq70XIimH8VLboqXOK6nsNafMGpJ9C30bFqW5Hz9XM6ih/s1600-h/finalblog18.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-lGjxStjGiw7atsCypfMdhImEuviMFZ9egkLGe9-k7hoTkMv2CJuErQ_Q3GnHh3L07T7x0q6WcQfznACobQ4KPq9IZTNevjqOq70XIimH8VLboqXOK6nsNafMGpJ9C30bFqW5Hz9XM6ih/s320/finalblog18.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398576812624040642" border="0" /></a>The cabin up at the back of our place. Now painted inside and very acceptable additional accommodation for guests.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhB_4DEuMkll5ZTp_gAVrinvz6yNUBe_nz9g-AdZXpQubfSgCN5DlriAtiB8yIHL7Nc7QUXVqQHqPHypLFgUBh9NeFabPI6Uw-Ot1V2w3AY1RE5XykHBZpJnJ_RL466Dc-oDj3V_dcjxQg/s1600-h/finalblog16.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhB_4DEuMkll5ZTp_gAVrinvz6yNUBe_nz9g-AdZXpQubfSgCN5DlriAtiB8yIHL7Nc7QUXVqQHqPHypLFgUBh9NeFabPI6Uw-Ot1V2w3AY1RE5XykHBZpJnJ_RL466Dc-oDj3V_dcjxQg/s320/finalblog16.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398576492370925378" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy9k48u9GAwVlbmh7u2CuNID-nVhHFanzBqcQDlMvNodbqmV0KmcPOhLaRgLGfkAIR9PD4jPAVmhy_YU6wpkh3vaH2rvT4qPsxjb-mcs2op4rFzhRh9Zahmw-mHG7xJDeCjQYlUj1MpX1Q/s1600-h/finalblog19.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy9k48u9GAwVlbmh7u2CuNID-nVhHFanzBqcQDlMvNodbqmV0KmcPOhLaRgLGfkAIR9PD4jPAVmhy_YU6wpkh3vaH2rvT4qPsxjb-mcs2op4rFzhRh9Zahmw-mHG7xJDeCjQYlUj1MpX1Q/s320/finalblog19.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398576486872408338" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Our next door neighbour was good enough to chainsaw his way through one of the trees we had cut down a couple of years ago. This will provide enough winter heating fuel for a couple of years at least!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWBcWiMGcesRNQaXhmLq_zQ9sNEyYdxkzLO3hVvIPYX9WJTa2P6t-Zgzu-LJD8DeyE-K8eLS9VjI1YWeIeDcc1yqn7DvXrvmkklkAt6KzL6kpfcNDinGRrZaTblyoAINltwfb8GWbKqvar/s1600-h/finalblog20.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWBcWiMGcesRNQaXhmLq_zQ9sNEyYdxkzLO3hVvIPYX9WJTa2P6t-Zgzu-LJD8DeyE-K8eLS9VjI1YWeIeDcc1yqn7DvXrvmkklkAt6KzL6kpfcNDinGRrZaTblyoAINltwfb8GWbKqvar/s320/finalblog20.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398576483027044002" border="0" /></a>Green waste is collected every two weeks but we have found out that there is an approximate two bag limit. We still have around twenty bags to go so this could take a while yet to get rid of (we're now well and truly in fire season so we can't just burn it).<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX_2vfvUpjGOjVTNb0i9fSuRJxRCGAYWBWaaCu49SblZg4kYu9q9Bz363KbqPRuGCZYv8738IjMJxi4aCicGuO_jKsCEY2N1SsSA1ugPLjIwkykGhwaBP256ripFP003fn5IA4gnVuIKzi/s1600-h/finalblog22.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX_2vfvUpjGOjVTNb0i9fSuRJxRCGAYWBWaaCu49SblZg4kYu9q9Bz363KbqPRuGCZYv8738IjMJxi4aCicGuO_jKsCEY2N1SsSA1ugPLjIwkykGhwaBP256ripFP003fn5IA4gnVuIKzi/s320/finalblog22.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398576478384502562" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGao7wzK9eFxgeTyfD-5vAiQeIAtn9_yU6V0OPkAlodlBHiirgKcbS_qXcWGp1cITIYMVpz2sHkHryEjZnThQg7H249olLRWXgfnykTTidVpiExxOEKAA5EP53L_GQ9F3ppXEo2I_JILVZ/s1600-h/finalblog24.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGao7wzK9eFxgeTyfD-5vAiQeIAtn9_yU6V0OPkAlodlBHiirgKcbS_qXcWGp1cITIYMVpz2sHkHryEjZnThQg7H249olLRWXgfnykTTidVpiExxOEKAA5EP53L_GQ9F3ppXEo2I_JILVZ/s320/finalblog24.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398576474306593170" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAjr1Vy3FIR_HkwPpBiaSbt_uKr4xBZ9rGRbaRwGSZzpJqfmFEmcQYf9OWgfdEw7ncg1oKZ1UCvTPQtczlyTxkboTzQ5MeNIOnMnNVi5DPJ7ff702m0QmVRcOCJC53Qlu3FdG0H7jzoanT/s1600-h/finalblog23.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAjr1Vy3FIR_HkwPpBiaSbt_uKr4xBZ9rGRbaRwGSZzpJqfmFEmcQYf9OWgfdEw7ncg1oKZ1UCvTPQtczlyTxkboTzQ5MeNIOnMnNVi5DPJ7ff702m0QmVRcOCJC53Qlu3FdG0H7jzoanT/s320/finalblog23.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398576174749849506" border="0" /></a><br />Now we are on the island full time it gives us much more opportunity to get involved with the community. I have come back on to the board of the bowling club, and am now on the committee for the Dangar Island League.<br /><br />Ness made her first contribution to the local island newspaper (The Mullet Mail) by writing a piece reminding people about responsible dog ownership.<br /><br />We have also signed up to join the Dangar Island Bush Fire Brigade.<br /><br />There's also been a wedding to plan. Busy, busy, busy.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />It's been fantastic to be able to get back into lawn bowling after such a long break. There are very few better ways I can think of for spending a sunny sunday afternoon with good mates and few too many beers.<br /><br />Our wedding is now only six weeks away and we are really excited that so many of our friends and family are able to come along. Being away from Sydney has meant we've been a bit slack in catching up with people.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK_24-SiMMBUNk5YG04u9dXtJFbPN8a9WoidQyqG6R5uUeZ9CKQkrqWi6ZpNVZRAcwveKT4Tix24nenpUdIeEdL69SlwHZZAKlmqu0C-SrDyPo4TqvE3qAGE7CTRjpBmX9HkGEF8An-Fbk/s1600-h/finalblog21.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK_24-SiMMBUNk5YG04u9dXtJFbPN8a9WoidQyqG6R5uUeZ9CKQkrqWi6ZpNVZRAcwveKT4Tix24nenpUdIeEdL69SlwHZZAKlmqu0C-SrDyPo4TqvE3qAGE7CTRjpBmX9HkGEF8An-Fbk/s320/finalblog21.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398576171995468882" border="0" /></a>The commute to work is quite a different proposition compared to the ten minute each way from Newtown.<br /><br />The alarm now goes off at 5.30 and I'm on the 6.10 ferry off the island and then the train has me into work at around 7.40.<br /><br />As far as commutes go though I can't really complain. The ferry trip still hasn't lost its novelty for people who've been commuting for years and years.<br /><br />There's normally someone with a six pack on the ferry coming back on a Friday night to turn it in to a booze cruise.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzuGf1wETRR4Zr92_L6zfWMAaKaEbf7I6-z3i9Rr45Z0iSt0awCGYkAXGcnOpLlnQTXpKkw2vEtvx2BXUzfx892kQwrMBalZIVk-4vchMduOQC7W_uwHS7d1WUqzY9ZiN75Lj-v17j0hB/s1600-h/finalblog7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzuGf1wETRR4Zr92_L6zfWMAaKaEbf7I6-z3i9Rr45Z0iSt0awCGYkAXGcnOpLlnQTXpKkw2vEtvx2BXUzfx892kQwrMBalZIVk-4vchMduOQC7W_uwHS7d1WUqzY9ZiN75Lj-v17j0hB/s320/finalblog7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398576164379253586" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiTgqmZu7PJX3TTuGVvXc8oTjXvxXpNSqP3PjH9xQbBWuAMfI7cZA2D7O2-qZYuvppYnQPhIhnfkp_9G6s4Z1xtgg_TNZYz_tKrd48m_mwcJG4mTmxJa63LbiGB3db96Zkz5RDJt6zAy9K/s1600-h/finalblog8.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiTgqmZu7PJX3TTuGVvXc8oTjXvxXpNSqP3PjH9xQbBWuAMfI7cZA2D7O2-qZYuvppYnQPhIhnfkp_9G6s4Z1xtgg_TNZYz_tKrd48m_mwcJG4mTmxJa63LbiGB3db96Zkz5RDJt6zAy9K/s320/finalblog8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398576159474701554" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The view from Hawkesbury River Railway Station isn't too shabby either. A very peaceful way to start the day, although I'm sure things will seem a little harder once we get into winter.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPWrpHqomzMOxN8-yjpln10a7-qIibrXc2xztyfnFSkB3cL83xiadIhmH6DBrYiZwTGSLd7IMt_knWl3ixE-cC8oU65555N3Ad40gHBxfHOsLKpyAAKp0MqVVeMwGTqBDMBvSkHCcq4khj/s1600-h/finalblog10.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPWrpHqomzMOxN8-yjpln10a7-qIibrXc2xztyfnFSkB3cL83xiadIhmH6DBrYiZwTGSLd7IMt_knWl3ixE-cC8oU65555N3Ad40gHBxfHOsLKpyAAKp0MqVVeMwGTqBDMBvSkHCcq4khj/s320/finalblog10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398575806370080130" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdfiARpb8q0LfAYrVhe-NC9r5uQHCDbg65jXT0a65HGYtgXb0vT0NEm-TP49yS57jfOcrCRgeAaKS1Bfl_zjUBS5ewAw71-syWctzbWbyefkuk5KrdG9f58iDV_mebD5qUzIqCwgzWFG6a/s1600-h/finalblog9.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdfiARpb8q0LfAYrVhe-NC9r5uQHCDbg65jXT0a65HGYtgXb0vT0NEm-TP49yS57jfOcrCRgeAaKS1Bfl_zjUBS5ewAw71-syWctzbWbyefkuk5KrdG9f58iDV_mebD5qUzIqCwgzWFG6a/s320/finalblog9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398576159353303458" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />It's not been nearly as bad as you might have imagined for me getting back into working full time. Things would have been quite different I think had I not done any work on our way around. As it was I've largely been able to keep up with developments and what I need to be focusing on.<br /><br />I'm also lucky to work in a dynamic team and in a job where this never a dull moment. No time to get bored here and the days just fly by. As much as I love my job though, it is always great to leave the city behind and head back to the island.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQQtP8raAkqXDzLgkDSRCYIoWvvVsFV4mISFFItNfezquvAeBBJxL_gwJqhgfE2ctAmFgkEEgEitiXnEwmorbTIgv91QTWAIA24sJYN99c92S4KbvmA2KnTcmxVWcBPK5oIAHiNfPSdfDn/s1600-h/finalblog6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQQtP8raAkqXDzLgkDSRCYIoWvvVsFV4mISFFItNfezquvAeBBJxL_gwJqhgfE2ctAmFgkEEgEitiXnEwmorbTIgv91QTWAIA24sJYN99c92S4KbvmA2KnTcmxVWcBPK5oIAHiNfPSdfDn/s320/finalblog6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398575802725470466" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7m4-DqnKMrXsrxersEDrR4s80FTKQ1jSywDx7uACWtZJpP9O-rh8i6tT-9V2WerNEP_qlMapBnIOHxyx7lWBDIqxeRdjZvcjd-3H1XLciaaVqLCfjzQHjauFn24uvOioL6_4SiN8m8fGS/s1600-h/finalblog11.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7m4-DqnKMrXsrxersEDrR4s80FTKQ1jSywDx7uACWtZJpP9O-rh8i6tT-9V2WerNEP_qlMapBnIOHxyx7lWBDIqxeRdjZvcjd-3H1XLciaaVqLCfjzQHjauFn24uvOioL6_4SiN8m8fGS/s320/finalblog11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398575791356950338" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Candice & Steffen are moving out in a couple of weeks and the great news is they will be living right next door. Even more exciting than that, Candi picked up a wicked little boat on ebay last week. Despite dramas last week (motor not starting, rowing it across instead, falling in the river etc) the motor is apparently in good shape and she should be getting it back next week.<br /><br />So that I think brings everything up to date. While it is very different being home now, we have come back to an awesome life in a beautiful spot. And you can't really ask for more than that.<br /><br />Thanks to everyone who gave us advice and support before and during our big adventure. We hope we can provide inspiration to others to take the trip on and we're both happy to talk for hours about the practicalities if anyone wants to listen! <br /><br />We are of course now saving for our next adventure - a crossing of the Simpson Desert for our honeymoon. We have to wait until the end of summer for things to cool down enough for us to make the attempt. We're both looking forward to being back on the road again ...<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf7GbseskXujT98KGPyGEl-ksQWz73Hmn2KaXRMfg_s8ve6pCG6NOYXQCRe_FbmIATkQ_nzS2ZjSRaAo008d-t7cEQgUYZlcLS8DvL6fkLZnIE7Wtn5jnwtAWqa24Uy0lxcA8ZUgf8pOta/s1600-h/finalblog25.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf7GbseskXujT98KGPyGEl-ksQWz73Hmn2KaXRMfg_s8ve6pCG6NOYXQCRe_FbmIATkQ_nzS2ZjSRaAo008d-t7cEQgUYZlcLS8DvL6fkLZnIE7Wtn5jnwtAWqa24Uy0lxcA8ZUgf8pOta/s320/finalblog25.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398575789559127426" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVIkp73eFMaEPSy__qxOJn33kmRRuL9NLPFR0g1AlOkIYiak5Xm9ynCwYz6M-nr8acdcnK9nksckf58kVM7AuW_Tu4zn5cfz7pI8RBPsRAvsO8wkrNCoUKKczcxD4Pc5rrX5Q7UtzyqfPv/s1600-h/finalblog26.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVIkp73eFMaEPSy__qxOJn33kmRRuL9NLPFR0g1AlOkIYiak5Xm9ynCwYz6M-nr8acdcnK9nksckf58kVM7AuW_Tu4zn5cfz7pI8RBPsRAvsO8wkrNCoUKKczcxD4Pc5rrX5Q7UtzyqfPv/s320/finalblog26.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398575785566318530" border="0" /></a>Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04142224789928286977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3636767330920619181.post-1386426747512657322009-10-03T08:48:00.013+10:002009-10-14T18:36:12.619+11:00Fraser Finale....FinallyYou'd think that after 12 months of blogging on the road we should be able to do this kind of stuff ind<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-5Na54zDI/AAAAAAAABJI/awtmPSFEmhs/s1600-h/DSC_0002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-5Na54zDI/AAAAAAAABJI/awtmPSFEmhs/s320/DSC_0002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390730919197330482" border="0" /></a>oors in a heartbeat. Not so! We've had some small dramas uploading the photos but we've worked it out now.<br /><br />We've been home on Dangar for just on 2 weeks now so and Fraser Island seems so long ago. Luckily Payniac took a squillion pictures to prompt the memory.<br /><br />*The Zipple Bar on 75 Mile Beach on Fraser Island. Some very industrious boys had brought the makings and constructed this bar at their camp. As more people arrived the bar got ever more decorated - the last time we went past it it had flashing lights!<br /><br />Fraser Island was a real highlight and surprised us both with its beauty and diversity. A great thing when a 12 month trip is coming to an end and you think you've seen all the "good stuff". We had initially booked ourselves on for 7 nights<br />but got there a day late due to some unexpected<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-5M0VRzoI/AAAAAAAABJA/r06f4qL8RkU/s1600-h/DSC_0003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-5M0VRzoI/AAAAAAAABJA/r06f4qL8RkU/s320/DSC_0003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390730908843232898" border="0" /></a>delays and especially long days in the car. We had a lovely, and much needed, stop in Rainbow Beach before heading over on a morning barge. We were booked in for a weeks beach camping which equalled no water supply for drinking OR washing. Washing (clothes and bodies) and obtaining enough drinking water for the week were a priority!<br /><br />*The main drag on Fraser Island is 75 mile beach. At low tide it's like the F3, a couple of hours after low tide the driving becomes quite interesting and at high tide there is risk of becoming bogged. This didn't stop the infamous Fraser Island backpackers! It certainly made for some great entertainment.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-5Mnl2LQI/AAAAAAAABI4/9XEg2HL5WoI/s1600-h/DSC_0012.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-5Mnl2LQI/AAAAAAAABI4/9XEg2HL5WoI/s320/DSC_0012.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390730905423064322" border="0" /></a><br />*The beach is also the airstrip for tourist flights. It's quite unnerving to be hooning along the beach and to be swooped by a little plane - their way of letting you know they intend to land. Of course you can't hear these little buggers over the sound of the surf.<br /><br />The day we arrived it was glorious and the forecast was just looking bettter and better for each day. Warm, sunny days with very little wind - this is the perfect Queensland weather we expected.<br />We timed our arrival (unknowingly) with an incoming tide making the southern beach inaccessible. This was ascertained AFTER driving off the barge, onto the beach and directly north until the beach narrowed to such a point that the options were surf or dune vegetation. After a quick perusal of our tide chart (I know, I know, cleverer people would've checked this first) we made a nerve wracking 3 point turn and took the crappy "high tide bypass road".<br /><br />I must confess I was terrified for the first 2 days we were on Fraser. With just 3 weeks of this huge adventure to go I had terrible visions of the troopy being engulfed by the ocean or tipping over on a dune. The sound of the sand as we squeaked along the beach was not helping. In hindsight this fear was irrational after all we've seen and done - we've done the Old Telegraph Track. The troopy just loved every second of Fraser Island and at no time did it look like we were going to get stuck. The same could not be said for many others however.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-5MI4nTkI/AAAAAAAABIw/b3sv-eSVAmc/s1600-h/DSC_0016.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-5MI4nTkI/AAAAAAAABIw/b3sv-eSVAmc/s320/DSC_0016.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390730897180282434" border="0" /></a><br />*Fraser is a fishing mecca. A shame that Payniac's little telescopic rod wouldn't have held the bait in the surf let alone a big fish. We know for next time. I would say the majority of visitors to Fraser Island are Aussie guys on fishing trips with big 4WDs and big fishing rods.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-3DaaReJI/AAAAAAAABIg/zZC-Lq9kwyU/s1600-h/DSC_0021-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-3DaaReJI/AAAAAAAABIg/zZC-Lq9kwyU/s320/DSC_0021-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390728548242782354" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />*The wildlife was pretty interesting too. While Andy was off fishing this snake gave me a surprise! It was pretty big and I preferred it when I could see it to when I couldn't. I saw a snake, the same one or no I'm not sure, in our camp 3 days in a row.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-5LTdiOMI/AAAAAAAABIo/dd3Wfz-PBc8/s1600-h/DSC_0017.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-5LTdiOMI/AAAAAAAABIo/dd3Wfz-PBc8/s320/DSC_0017.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390730882839623874" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />*The pink troopy! I couldn't resist including this one.<br /><br /><br />*Sunrise on 75 mile beach<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-3C6HTkyI/AAAAAAAABIY/ywJvbuzkLlI/s1600-h/DSC_0021.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-3C6HTkyI/AAAAAAAABIY/ywJvbuzkLlI/s320/DSC_0021.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390728539573293858" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />After a few days on Fraser and the weather forecast looking sweet we decided to extend our stay by another 3 nights. It's that good! These 3 days would eat into our home run making it more of a dash than either of us envisaged but we felt extremely relaxed and were just loving that holiday feeling. We learned early on that if we were loving a spot and could stay then, why not? I'm so pleased we did.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-3BiqL-cI/AAAAAAAABIA/L0LNW48LlB4/s1600-h/DSC_0031-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-3BiqL-cI/AAAAAAAABIA/L0LNW48LlB4/s320/DSC_0031-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390728516097276354" border="0" /></a>*Star jumps on the beach. This became a bit of fad for us on Fraser - I wish we'd discovered it earlier as it's heaps of fun.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />*Yay - we're going to Fraser Island!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-2GFJahXI/AAAAAAAABH4/r5pd_Ug60os/s1600-h/DSC_0031.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-2GFJahXI/AAAAAAAABH4/r5pd_Ug60os/s320/DSC_0031.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390727494562907506" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-2FPNiI6I/AAAAAAAABHo/Ddel1xd6fHM/s1600-h/DSC_0037.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-2FPNiI6I/AAAAAAAABHo/Ddel1xd6fHM/s320/DSC_0037.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390727480084669346" border="0" /></a>*Driving along Fraser Islands main drag<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-2ETRAT4I/AAAAAAAABHg/KllrzOH-ZkY/s1600-h/DSC_0039.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-2ETRAT4I/AAAAAAAABHg/KllrzOH-ZkY/s320/DSC_0039.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390727463993102210" border="0" /></a>*The Maheno wreck - we spent 5 nights camped in a section of the beach about 500m from this wreck and so were able to walk down and take photos without a thousand other people around.<br />One downside to the beach camping was there were no facilities and it was a 6km round trip to the closest loos.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-2D7lDTtI/AAAAAAAABHY/YEDDSQRgv4Q/s1600-h/DSC_0046.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-2D7lDTtI/AAAAAAAABHY/YEDDSQRgv4Q/s320/DSC_0046.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390727457634733778" border="0" /></a>*Treachorous, and very entertaining, Indian Head Bypass Road.<br />This is what happens when you have too much puff in your tyres, or you're too heavy, or not going fast enough, or you're in the wrong gear. This particular stretch of "road" provided great entertainment with a large group of guys sitting on top of a dune with chairs and beers cheering on the motorists. We joined them for a while and got some funny video footage of various attempts to get through the wheel deep sand.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-01PYyPuI/AAAAAAAABHQ/nk4DSWJWkTQ/s1600-h/DSC_0051.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-01PYyPuI/AAAAAAAABHQ/nk4DSWJWkTQ/s320/DSC_0051.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390726105742327522" border="0" /></a><br />*Having a dip in the crystal clear waters of Lake Mackenzie. The water was a bit chilly but it was good to get the sand off.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-2FhOHXFI/AAAAAAAABHw/6kzP8Z5SWgE/s1600-h/DSC_0032.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-2FhOHXFI/AAAAAAAABHw/6kzP8Z5SWgE/s320/DSC_0032.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390727484918946898" border="0" /></a><br />*What not to do when the barge arrives - get stuck. Nuts!<br /><br />*Sand formations known as The Cathedral on 75 mile beach.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-00pazm1I/AAAAAAAABHI/Pq3ODXJZZys/s1600-h/DSC_0060.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-00pazm1I/AAAAAAAABHI/Pq3ODXJZZys/s320/DSC_0060.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390726095550258002" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-00MZlCAI/AAAAAAAABHA/RucwqqIgv5s/s1600-h/DSC_0063.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-00MZlCAI/AAAAAAAABHA/RucwqqIgv5s/s320/DSC_0063.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390726087760480258" border="0" /></a>*Amazing views from Indian Head - I wanted to go here every day! Turtles, sharks, a manta ray, pods of dolphins and the migrating humpbacks.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-0zj1bjwI/AAAAAAAABG4/3dUSQ8bZwk8/s1600-h/DSC_0068.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-0zj1bjwI/AAAAAAAABG4/3dUSQ8bZwk8/s320/DSC_0068.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390726076871446274" border="0" /></a><br /><br />*Another choice beach camp.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-0zNTTXLI/AAAAAAAABGw/_0T8cqbOfC0/s1600-h/DSC_0071.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-0zNTTXLI/AAAAAAAABGw/_0T8cqbOfC0/s320/DSC_0071.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390726070822722738" border="0" /></a><br /><br />*Andy having fun!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-zlQ3oP2I/AAAAAAAABGo/PW21nzcHk30/s1600-h/DSC_0078.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-zlQ3oP2I/AAAAAAAABGo/PW21nzcHk30/s320/DSC_0078.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390724731750596450" border="0" /></a><br />*More star jumps.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-zkYv3NkI/AAAAAAAABGY/N2FaVj_pKrc/s1600-h/DSC_0084.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 174px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-zkYv3NkI/AAAAAAAABGY/N2FaVj_pKrc/s320/DSC_0084.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390724716685637186" border="0" /></a><br /><br />*A very healthy Fraser Island dingo. There were a lot of warning about dingoes around the island as it was pupping season and the mother dingoes were teaching the pups how to hunt. At this stage of a dingo pups life it's very important that they don't associate people with food as this leads to potentially aggressive and dangerous animals that might ultimately need to be destroyed. We didn't see a lot of dingoes on the beach and we tried to keep a tidier than normal camp to prevent attracting them. The more popular, inland camp grounds have been dingo proofed with grids, high fences and gates to stop them getting into mischief, or worse.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-zj_eLeQI/AAAAAAAABGQ/1kkV3WL5Kew/s1600-h/DSC_0097.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-zj_eLeQI/AAAAAAAABGQ/1kkV3WL5Kew/s320/DSC_0097.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390724709900581122" border="0" /></a>*Troopy park.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-zjRVxQcI/AAAAAAAABGI/hH9gpNnSgO8/s1600-h/DSC_0098.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-zjRVxQcI/AAAAAAAABGI/hH9gpNnSgO8/s320/DSC_0098.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390724697517277634" border="0" /></a><br />*Mother and calf humpback breaching and tail slapping out the front of our camping area.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-xkrmTeaI/AAAAAAAABGA/9Q0xVErILs8/s1600-h/DSC_0100.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-xkrmTeaI/AAAAAAAABGA/9Q0xVErILs8/s320/DSC_0100.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390722522722564514" border="0" /></a>*Champagne Pools lookout with Indian Head in the background. Another gorgeous day!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-xkKrK60I/AAAAAAAABF4/tFtsBg_hg54/s1600-h/DSC_0106.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-xkKrK60I/AAAAAAAABF4/tFtsBg_hg54/s320/DSC_0106.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390722513884605250" border="0" /></a><br />*A pair of pied oyster catchers make a nice portrait.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-xjtwpPMI/AAAAAAAABFw/fecNILOao68/s1600-h/DSC_0108.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-xjtwpPMI/AAAAAAAABFw/fecNILOao68/s320/DSC_0108.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390722506122935490" border="0" /></a><br />*Andy in the office<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-xjKZNOaI/AAAAAAAABFo/V7kab9G5Q0k/s1600-h/DSC_0148.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-xjKZNOaI/AAAAAAAABFo/V7kab9G5Q0k/s320/DSC_0148.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390722496629389730" border="0" /></a><br />*At a lookout. A friendly tour guide took this snap for us. We'll file it in the very small file of non-selfies.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-xit82TUI/AAAAAAAABFg/gEB7c1QYPYo/s1600-h/DSC_0186.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-xit82TUI/AAAAAAAABFg/gEB7c1QYPYo/s320/DSC_0186.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390722488994254146" border="0" /></a>*The view from the tent - not too dusty, eh?<br /><br />*Sunrise on the Maheno<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-xH7Qb_fI/AAAAAAAABFQ/Q1fjDE7Week/s1600-h/DSC_0236.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-xH7Qb_fI/AAAAAAAABFQ/Q1fjDE7Week/s320/DSC_0236.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390722028709608946" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />What did we do for 9 days on Fraser Island? We explored the inland tracks, went for swims in beautiful lakes, walked along the beach, walked in the forest, fished, read, watched some entertaining driving, played<br />silly buggers, and did a whole lot of nature watching! It was a wonderful finale to such and incredible adventure.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-xIX8OcxI/AAAAAAAABFY/UNJcHl-5HnA/s1600-h/DSC_0201.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-xIX8OcxI/AAAAAAAABFY/UNJcHl-5HnA/s320/DSC_0201.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390722036409463570" border="0" /></a><br /><br />*Beautiful Lake Mackenzie. Can you believe those blues?<br /><br />As I said earlier Fraser really surprised us. Away from the beautiful beach there were lowland melaleuca forests, pristine creeks, perched lakes, and rainforest pockets - a real naturalists paradise. The bird life was also super with daily sightings of my new favourite bird, Brahminy Kites as well as Ospreys, whistling kites and white bellied sea eagles.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-xHbIrw1I/AAAAAAAABFI/9gq5LNwAZNs/s1600-h/DSC_0315.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-xHbIrw1I/AAAAAAAABFI/9gq5LNwAZNs/s320/DSC_0315.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390722020087153490" border="0" /></a><br />*Making tracks for the barge at almost-high-tide...yikes!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-xG9S7ZDI/AAAAAAAABFA/YIPg3p2ZJYU/s1600-h/DSC_0339.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Ss-xG9S7ZDI/AAAAAAAABFA/YIPg3p2ZJYU/s320/DSC_0339.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390722012077057074" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />*Our beautiful home in "Pandanus Grove" in the Maheno section of 75 mile beach. It was a little off the beach and our driveway was a bit steep and sandy but we had all day shade and every day whales!!Almost every time I looked at the ocean for a couple of minutes I saw humpback whales so as you can imagine I had a busy few days watching them play and frolic.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />A FEW STATISTICS FROM THE TRIP<br /><br />Most expensive diesel : Mt Dare $2.22/L<br />Average diesel price: $1.495/L<br />Total kilometres travelled: 47,900km<br />Average daily camping costs: $16.91<br />Cakes of soap: 12!<br />Longest number of days without a shower(cat washes not counted): 8 days. In the summer time.<br />Days spent in each state: NSW 66, Qld 101, SA 22, NT 46, Vic 31 and WA 96<br />Total nights away: 362<br />Number of nights spent in National Parks, Reserves or other non-privately run camp grounds: 194<br />Most paid for a case of beer (XXXX Gold 30 pack): about $65 somewhere in Central Australia - this was Payniac's department hence the vagueness<br />Number of inedible dampers: 2 (when Candi visited)<br />Ham sandwiches: too many to count<br /><br />In preparation for this most amazing all Aussie adventure we found this kind of info useful, thanks to Si and Charl for answering endless questions about life on the road. If anyone gets it into their head that they might like to hit the bitumen Andy and I would just love a chance to talk about our experiences (all family and friends get vacant looks when we reminisce about the...Pascoe River crossing, swimming with the wahalesharks, diving the Great Barrier Reef, camping on deserted beaches, the stars in the desert, driving on the beach on Fraser...I could go on forever), and we would love to help.<br /><br />Stay tuned for the next instalment of our adventures; life in the Hawkesbury and our honeymoon ambitions to cross the Simpson Desert.Nessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743234057904783218noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3636767330920619181.post-61369567823704572182009-09-24T05:08:00.006+10:002009-09-24T06:23:09.576+10:00Diving the S.S Yongala (fish photo warning)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Srp057SeNXI/AAAAAAAABEw/oJqJDXALZh4/s1600-h/DSC00593.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Srp057SeNXI/AAAAAAAABEw/oJqJDXALZh4/s320/DSC00593.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384744842991383922" border="0" /></a>At the beginning of September as we made our way down the Qld coast I enquired with Yongala Dive as to their availability for a couple of dives on the famous S.S Yongala. They had one spot left on the day I was asking about. Did I want it? A quick conference with Payniac and a credit card to secure the booking and it was done.<br /><br />*The beginning of my adventures on the high seas.<br /><br />Now all we needed to do was find a nice spot to camp for the night. Unfortunately it was not to be with all bush camping options deemed unsuitable due to being too exposed, too swampy (=sandflies & mozzies), too smelly etc. And so began a 3 day unscheduled stopover in Alva Beach.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Srpz56JLisI/AAAAAAAABEo/42s0qRc0Myo/s1600-h/DSC00595.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Srpz56JLisI/AAAAAAAABEo/42s0qRc0Myo/s320/DSC00595.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384743743172348610" border="0" /></a>*Turtle snacking<br /><br />Alva Beach is East of Ayr which is South of Townesville. It is the closest diving option to the Yongala. It's a tiny community with a caravan park, dive shop and a 'food shak' opened sometimes (not often). It's situated between a beach and a swampy wetland. The mozzies & sandflies were something else! It did have phone/internet reception so Payniac was able to do some work. Apparently the fishing is also very good. I was here to dive the wreck of the Yongala.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Srpz5H6DOCI/AAAAAAAABEg/_TaqdB4wuy8/s1600-h/DSC00596.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Srpz5H6DOCI/AAAAAAAABEg/_TaqdB4wuy8/s320/DSC00596.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384743729687115810" border="0" /></a>The S.S Yongala was a passenger and cargo ship on her way to Cairns in March 1911. A time before compulsory radios on ships. When she passed through the Whitsundays she never got word of the Category 5 cyclone they were heading into (Katrina was a Cat 5). All land communications had been lost and the Whitsunday lighthouse operator didn't know any different when he waved her through the passage.<br /><br />On 23 March 1911 the Yongala sank to the bottom of the Coral Sea with all 122 souls on board, a prize bull and a stallion. The stallion was the only body that washed up.It is still considered the greatest Australian maritime disaster. The final resting place of the Yongala was unknown until the Americans discovered a "reef", a navigational hazard, in the 1943 during a minesweeping operation. It wasn't dived and confirmed as the Yongala until the Chubb safe was recovered from the vessel by an expedition in 1958.<br /><br /><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span>*Fishscapes on the wreck itself. A very, very fishy dive this one.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Srpz3zz-BGI/AAAAAAAABEQ/hg4p3h5hV50/s1600-h/DSC00600.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Srpz3zz-BGI/AAAAAAAABEQ/hg4p3h5hV50/s320/DSC00600.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384743707113030754" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Since then tens of thousands of recreational divers have been able to dive this piece of Australian history. It's considered to be one of the best wreck dives in the world.<br /><br />The S.S Yongala sits in about 30m of open ocean 12 nautical miles from Cape Bowling Green. Nothing but sand for kilometres and oh, boy does it attract some life. With nothing around and regularly (and notoriously) washed with strong currents it supports a surprising amount of very large life.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Srpz3Xs1zfI/AAAAAAAABEI/-DTPcMJ-TKw/s1600-h/DSC00606.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Srpz3Xs1zfI/AAAAAAAABEI/-DTPcMJ-TKw/s320/DSC00606.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384743699566939634" border="0" /></a>*More fish. Heaps of soft corals and sponges just covered the wreck.<br /><br />Diving the Yongala is one giant adventure From the 4WD trip down to the beach to the RIB being towed by a tractor into the surf to the exhilerating/bone shattering 35min ride to the mooring in the middle of nowhere and then the descent down the line when she looms up out of the gloom.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Srpy7ZO4n8I/AAAAAAAABEA/AeyQq4EEKQw/s1600-h/DSC00607.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Srpy7ZO4n8I/AAAAAAAABEA/AeyQq4EEKQw/s320/DSC00607.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384742669186015170" border="0" /></a>*A gigantic Maori Wrasse. Everything on the Yongala seems to bigger than average.<br /><br />Dropping down to the sand we (my buddy for the day was Trevor) immediately saw olive green sea snakes, highly venomous but non-aggressive. Giant turtles, marbled rays as big as a queen sized mattress and a 4m tawny nurse shark resting inside the wreck plus a carpet of invertebrates covering every possible surface of the wreck. There was also a Qld groper the size of a small car. I quickly forgot my eneasiness about it being a grave and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Trevor and I managed two lovely long dives by swimming against the current in the protection of the deck and then drifting back to the mooring.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Srpy6hi6mGI/AAAAAAAABD4/cxVaKv9io7M/s1600-h/DSC00611.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Srpy6hi6mGI/AAAAAAAABD4/cxVaKv9io7M/s320/DSC00611.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384742654237644898" border="0" /></a>*Olive Green Sea Snake - again, oversized.<br /><br />*An enormous turtle glides past.<br /><br />My usual buddy, Andy, couldn't join me as it's an advanced or deep dive. Although he's an experienced diver he doesn't have the right certification. Besides it probably would have been too cold for him.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Srpy5zyDX_I/AAAAAAAABDw/wM34mmxyMFI/s1600-h/DSC00612.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Srpy5zyDX_I/AAAAAAAABDw/wM34mmxyMFI/s320/DSC00612.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384742641953103858" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Srpy5QLOi9I/AAAAAAAABDo/rLyGyF5bY8c/s1600-h/DSC00613.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Srpy5QLOi9I/AAAAAAAABDo/rLyGyF5bY8c/s320/DSC00613.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384742632395017170" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Srpy4jYqoUI/AAAAAAAABDg/eLaHQQJNd9E/s1600-h/DSC00615_2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 269px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/Srpy4jYqoUI/AAAAAAAABDg/eLaHQQJNd9E/s320/DSC00615_2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384742620371788098" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />*Close up detail of some soft coral - so pretty.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />That was my day on the Yongala. A fantastic day and well worth the effort if you're in the area.<br /><br />That was way back in the beginning of September. We've grown tardy with the blog I'm afraid. There are at least 2 more posts but they will most likely be published after we get home. Our extended holiday on Fraser Island with limited reception and power (poor little us) put an end to blogging ambitions.<br /><br />Today is our very last day of this round of our all Aussie adventure. We've learned heaps about ourselves, Australia, 4WDing and how not to cook a damper, and that sitting hammock style in the camp chairs is very bad for them. We've eaten countless ham sandwiches, weetbix and snags. We've been hot, cold, dusty, fly blown, infested by shield beetles, tired, stuck, frightened and loved almost every minute of it. It's hard to believe it's nearly all over. Looking forward to catching up with friends and family and looking back on this most incredible, awesome adventure with you Andy!<br /><br />Stay tuned as we will have our run down the coast, the Fraser Island finale and probably some really cool statistics from the trip (like how few cakes of soap we've been through, most expensive case of beer in Oz etc).Nessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743234057904783218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3636767330920619181.post-2285296283693149602009-09-11T08:03:00.012+10:002009-09-27T10:18:10.809+10:00Whitsundays weekend<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgswEIfnjs-8ByFbgUjLyb8TGwKg_7UsRFGPcrNPe02CHsOFlll2NnNL35IF5FJpc68K1-Wrw9Dm0sXOXDlZ2XPERi8Y2y7FSTAYs7Fmj3BAsBpD1wYY8Sg-7fQCe4iTQSUYQs-EmewtHqd/s1600-h/1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 186px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgswEIfnjs-8ByFbgUjLyb8TGwKg_7UsRFGPcrNPe02CHsOFlll2NnNL35IF5FJpc68K1-Wrw9Dm0sXOXDlZ2XPERi8Y2y7FSTAYs7Fmj3BAsBpD1wYY8Sg-7fQCe4iTQSUYQs-EmewtHqd/s320/1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379964660243834194" border="0" /></a>I'm not really sure when it started, but it has definitely been feeling recently like the wheels of the trip are starting to come loose. Not falling off yet, but definitely wobbling a bit.<br /><br />If I'm being honest it was probably after my trip back to Sydney, but things have slowly become less coordinated than usual, planning where to stay has become more of a chore and I've struggled with the non existent boundaries between work and personal time. It sounds ridiculous but I long for weekends even though I am only supposed to be working 1 day per week. We even managed to leave our saucepan behind at Alva Beach, which is the first thing we've lost since before Christmas.<br /><br />So the other day we each focused on things we were looking forward to when we got back to Sydney, and also the things we will miss the most from the trip. Thankfully both were long lists!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiAvh7kvjReGELlaN7_Evqgh53G5hdS3aHJd3lIdiIboPZq_ajx_-oNfBDGHLs4v-Z1Uq4Cs4ax9xKlVxG5HVUJhFt6x1XyZPGKiPc47xUeE8H_8VnnU1V4guRfx6TNvx4QoawbESE7inr/s1600-h/2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiAvh7kvjReGELlaN7_Evqgh53G5hdS3aHJd3lIdiIboPZq_ajx_-oNfBDGHLs4v-Z1Uq4Cs4ax9xKlVxG5HVUJhFt6x1XyZPGKiPc47xUeE8H_8VnnU1V4guRfx6TNvx4QoawbESE7inr/s320/2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379964651951760098" border="0" /></a>We last wrote from Alva Beach where Ness was launching out on to the Yongala wreck for a dive.<br /><br />This freed me up for the day to go exploring on land.<br /><br />I looked at the map and decided to make my way to Burdekin Falls Dam, Queensland's largest. It turned out to be a mere 460km round trip from Alva and to be honest probably wasn't worth the trip. Poor research from me but I did get to listen to Dr Karl on Triple J and also managed to read the whole paper in peace and quiet while scoffing Maccas when I got back to Ayr.<br /><br />We were both pretty glad to be pushing on from Alva Beach caravan park. Definitely one of the better value facilities we've stayed at, and none of the pretension of Mission Beach, but we did have a few issues. Be wary of any place with signs in the dunnies advising the old people that it's unhygienic to wash out pisspots in the hand basins.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Qmgriehy5fftmDK1di2fT_tqmdUbcz8cGjV72oRIdAaqaouYJ4edzt9oQNaXz2d1mHG41hy-G8UZSGGSIhxnL8_mM7Oxn05bbBsEfnAaDd1eXrcqcl3ohV806g3S8QI4cfoaXXD_rS_w/s1600-h/3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Qmgriehy5fftmDK1di2fT_tqmdUbcz8cGjV72oRIdAaqaouYJ4edzt9oQNaXz2d1mHG41hy-G8UZSGGSIhxnL8_mM7Oxn05bbBsEfnAaDd1eXrcqcl3ohV806g3S8QI4cfoaXXD_rS_w/s320/3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379964640255588466" border="0" /></a>An example of our poor recent planning was that first stop was Cathu State Forest, roughly 100kms past the turn off to Airlie Beach. 100kms which I promised we'd retrace the next day so we could visit the Whitsundays.<br /><br />Cathu turned out to be a beautifully quiet spot and we're glad we went there, just would have made a lot more sense to go after Airlie rather than before.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghKMPOd_oHoPTQTjm5UCPZFdtl9Ym2Ris-QXeVi8TNLkFDnCl9nZlYIO35j_zDVGkiy7kq3gEKwiLi2kPSlc-4CW8Xk5L1TijfqRUeLX6Hdh3hz6NJpijAsgp-BWl0vdRDGi5ZB3VJycLu/s1600-h/4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghKMPOd_oHoPTQTjm5UCPZFdtl9Ym2Ris-QXeVi8TNLkFDnCl9nZlYIO35j_zDVGkiy7kq3gEKwiLi2kPSlc-4CW8Xk5L1TijfqRUeLX6Hdh3hz6NJpijAsgp-BWl0vdRDGi5ZB3VJycLu/s320/4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379964637081183602" border="0" /></a>It was well worth making the trip back to Airlie. After a relaxing afternoon of Ness washing clothes and me doing work we booked ourselves on a tour for the following day and then headed over the road for another counter meal.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbJ3qYVlOw30WUvPMIOxvxVE1EZd7PYoEGXotwcEP9zKaXTIUf2RRRzyz4v0nj3QxRAiXQUucq9kZuMbFPPOL_v2oIOILLu6zrnD0Z3YDDv7FLyrOo2PUMwjls_RZLjCfkdxK1IJVEPX4j/s1600-h/11.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbJ3qYVlOw30WUvPMIOxvxVE1EZd7PYoEGXotwcEP9zKaXTIUf2RRRzyz4v0nj3QxRAiXQUucq9kZuMbFPPOL_v2oIOILLu6zrnD0Z3YDDv7FLyrOo2PUMwjls_RZLjCfkdxK1IJVEPX4j/s320/11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379964330064355234" border="0" /></a>The tour was absolutely sensational and we were blessed with a clear and calm day. First stop was Tongue Bay for the short stroll up to the Hill Inlet lookout. Next back on the boat for the cruise round to Whitehaven Beach for some time to relax and for Ness clean her jewelry in the fine white sand.<br /> <br />After lunch we headed around to the North side of Hook Island for some snorkel action. To top things off we were treated to some whale action on the cruise home.<br /><br /><br />WHAT A FANTASTIC DAY!<br /><br />Next time Russell, Freddy and Paul invite me on a sailing holiday in the Whitsunday's I hope I have the common sense to accept!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuok-1JkR6s04VwZVa8rCTwWrR7rzQxBRof1fFOGGmIxdJkuaGVdM5hJXiUnC-a_laC-KA9u7Ssqy2eciBS7SYI2lbZdx-vJU58T5R9Mspx2XmL295z2apLEhQvA1P1kOe_V7ARgTuvgtK/s1600-h/5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuok-1JkR6s04VwZVa8rCTwWrR7rzQxBRof1fFOGGmIxdJkuaGVdM5hJXiUnC-a_laC-KA9u7Ssqy2eciBS7SYI2lbZdx-vJU58T5R9Mspx2XmL295z2apLEhQvA1P1kOe_V7ARgTuvgtK/s320/5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379964312628691250" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-I865xc-22MRQ_3R3Sot6sy5Tp-nGkXpMBIXv-etIxqnV-Ya4G8QKjupT6u6A7q8TAAZpCh010kgJyij2DK_HuBDKjhqyH8xL1jB2q140XBguK0pTwiBE68TGAlCepLJXhw4zJZOc8ImH/s1600-h/10.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-I865xc-22MRQ_3R3Sot6sy5Tp-nGkXpMBIXv-etIxqnV-Ya4G8QKjupT6u6A7q8TAAZpCh010kgJyij2DK_HuBDKjhqyH8xL1jB2q140XBguK0pTwiBE68TGAlCepLJXhw4zJZOc8ImH/s320/10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379964320965028818" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP88oJlRj0Bw87EC69YShZz-oNlJsoL48T6Tps07XHvjfl7WUc0D2sb83A3_mgh_pH4gqlHcVg0PLNQeOIifBIy-HtRCMAJxsTq0KKF_xFhwI8lQp2PUnVDFmIUGyRq5qU9Us_YwFjWTnF/s1600-h/13.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP88oJlRj0Bw87EC69YShZz-oNlJsoL48T6Tps07XHvjfl7WUc0D2sb83A3_mgh_pH4gqlHcVg0PLNQeOIifBIy-HtRCMAJxsTq0KKF_xFhwI8lQp2PUnVDFmIUGyRq5qU9Us_YwFjWTnF/s320/13.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379964305710438514" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjubpgf8dj7XdBbw0mUMqBIoB9UwNVaU1qQuQolv9yFVEVlQm9F_lIKXu0itNdvr2W86lL4MeCjJj3y9VHDq7CIxLoLzhK9T2fbMTTN9tzXWFXWRminqd5XT5TdRY0_thPppTxTXweMdXNO/s1600-h/12.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjubpgf8dj7XdBbw0mUMqBIoB9UwNVaU1qQuQolv9yFVEVlQm9F_lIKXu0itNdvr2W86lL4MeCjJj3y9VHDq7CIxLoLzhK9T2fbMTTN9tzXWFXWRminqd5XT5TdRY0_thPppTxTXweMdXNO/s320/12.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379964298162496610" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0XhDKVoECmNyK7MsC8kelYR65f1AfxjwyohVWloqxcC3qAvZNlC1D0YCB_WH79bCfKiQYa3h6fqBjPO-szl4k7gnXP5Z9klDIZzgx4FTIw06vtyRdc4zI7hRHVWhbxPznSDOgAG-3cjme/s1600-h/9.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 174px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0XhDKVoECmNyK7MsC8kelYR65f1AfxjwyohVWloqxcC3qAvZNlC1D0YCB_WH79bCfKiQYa3h6fqBjPO-szl4k7gnXP5Z9klDIZzgx4FTIw06vtyRdc4zI7hRHVWhbxPznSDOgAG-3cjme/s320/9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379964008425037842" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI9SEafhSYMg7Kz-AKjyc2I7o-FROfo-67ncRrZJC7g8QwEIPBa75jaZDq-1DT8pwTbyRNqbav59NkZSlrxGDkjHhO6R9agT-0ip6BU1ri472YPaQHXu3odO5EG9k0evRztszs8lE6tmZj/s1600-h/8.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI9SEafhSYMg7Kz-AKjyc2I7o-FROfo-67ncRrZJC7g8QwEIPBa75jaZDq-1DT8pwTbyRNqbav59NkZSlrxGDkjHhO6R9agT-0ip6BU1ri472YPaQHXu3odO5EG9k0evRztszs8lE6tmZj/s320/8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379963998855224610" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTUKPWIfVz06YyMcu2bWBWDYQHjXpyWHLi7nZou8mWabbqN5zpRxFgd1F7YMb9fS0_f8hBIiwd_PtpHv0HREIATkjLGsUogd0Xu7lXzHgGsoSn_3PHm38Ylu-hfp2gObw7DFikklB4ALB-/s1600-h/7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTUKPWIfVz06YyMcu2bWBWDYQHjXpyWHLi7nZou8mWabbqN5zpRxFgd1F7YMb9fS0_f8hBIiwd_PtpHv0HREIATkjLGsUogd0Xu7lXzHgGsoSn_3PHm38Ylu-hfp2gObw7DFikklB4ALB-/s320/7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379963988098543938" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqIKHsEJol9tt19GJKWX_I4zANJ9Q7fW79GOfFDKTzFpUjxp8iljz7Ek3dZPUUyMjGGScG-qci0iWwwvZaPi_XYaW8dzsukgP1gcETaQ6OpLGPyLIZt8AjBf258H65dWlwvJ7xvwTPSo9e/s1600-h/6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqIKHsEJol9tt19GJKWX_I4zANJ9Q7fW79GOfFDKTzFpUjxp8iljz7Ek3dZPUUyMjGGScG-qci0iWwwvZaPi_XYaW8dzsukgP1gcETaQ6OpLGPyLIZt8AjBf258H65dWlwvJ7xvwTPSo9e/s320/6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379963980882654594" border="0" /></a><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 /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Eyb4DcpSgtBpt5KMi-Y6wL_GJfWP06YkzJOty6JZU2c3aK1LXrDiFw7-o74O-n-Ncy9ChUXU0Q2Jt9aBCuX16qSSKrDm1SFzydFkai3gF5UcyqfB9NCxR6Pvs3ViOuSgJ1UUwo4pnMPa/s1600-h/14.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Eyb4DcpSgtBpt5KMi-Y6wL_GJfWP06YkzJOty6JZU2c3aK1LXrDiFw7-o74O-n-Ncy9ChUXU0Q2Jt9aBCuX16qSSKrDm1SFzydFkai3gF5UcyqfB9NCxR6Pvs3ViOuSgJ1UUwo4pnMPa/s320/14.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379963977608867762" border="0" /></a>We sneaked out of Airlie Beach early on the Sunday morning and headed down and then inland to Eungella National Park.<br /><br />After watching lots of turtles (but no Platypus this time) at the Platypus viewing platform on Broken River, we got back on the dirt roads to seek out a quiet bushcamp at The Diggings.<br /><br />After the hustle and bustle of Airlie it was awesome to be away from the crowds again, the rainforest was amazing, and the sun was streaming through the tree tops. The seemed to be a slight mist as we headed round a bend which made the sunlight look even more beautiful. As we rounded the corner however we realised it was smoke from a ute which had overturned after coming the other way too quickly and hitting the bank (if they'd gone the other side it was an almost vertical drop down with no crash barriers).<br /><br />We couldn't see anyone at first but luckily everyone was OK. We lent them our winch extension strap and they were able to right the ute, and then drag it to the side of the road (they'd bent both axles and oil was coming out of the exhaust so they weren't going to take it far).<br /><br />Excitement over we carried on our way to find the only others at The Diggings were a family of daytrippers having a picnic. There was even a nice pile of timber ready to go next to a firespot so we were able to take the chill out of the mountain air.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-oO_aC4HwvdhomI_G9D5Jnww5ZaDedk7o1hRcQgEH95yU2iZuHfIljMWfg3BeTs4xA2JOIRmjv0YL0owiI8PaWHtMRkacFg3XAbdWti06je2eCIZqguuFSzydfIVd2dspjN3LZk8MRqs/s1600-h/15.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-oO_aC4HwvdhomI_G9D5Jnww5ZaDedk7o1hRcQgEH95yU2iZuHfIljMWfg3BeTs4xA2JOIRmjv0YL0owiI8PaWHtMRkacFg3XAbdWti06je2eCIZqguuFSzydfIVd2dspjN3LZk8MRqs/s320/15.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379963503571808338" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5MoypmauD82cIKOSbg_rLmWVbydsugkUfp9UldgPJwD6hefhQCI9-EP1rkuka6aJwne0Mqny_z-OzxLCScJqIIn8GqOYnVLqAjsYHKFyxFqd4QE-1rtSD-6my-j2gil-TvJS05ChKEYs6/s1600-h/16.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5MoypmauD82cIKOSbg_rLmWVbydsugkUfp9UldgPJwD6hefhQCI9-EP1rkuka6aJwne0Mqny_z-OzxLCScJqIIn8GqOYnVLqAjsYHKFyxFqd4QE-1rtSD-6my-j2gil-TvJS05ChKEYs6/s320/16.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379963496476424786" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />If you're ever up this way we definitely recommend this as a top spot for a bush camp. Sheltered from the strong winds, and wildlife galore. Just beautiful.<br /><br />We strongly considered stopping an extra night, but we had to push on for our date with Fraser Island (which had been prebooked since June). We headed back to the Bruce Highway through more stunning Queensland agricultural land (mainly sugar cane fields) and then on to Byfield National Park, just short of Rockhampton.<br /><br />We stopped at Upper Stoney Creek in the State Forest which was a beautiful spot to ride out a couple of days of unusually ordinary weather. The camp site was set under pine trees, which had thousands of pine cones on them. Less each morning as the strong winds shook them free, some of them hitting the car (and putting a nice dent in the roof). Never a dull moment.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjajSQ_M-wjVf8zx5hHcDYRSx-dTrGPusnrdyEdK5wxi9Z53HcCMT9ho3AuYSD-Fn_CQHPEbi1kVTyCaCh0ebydzRWZC6ppgIij-a-hJm3Nq2SGkN3FBwe_DztRmxlVKZEKpPe0kfsBAlx1/s1600-h/18.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjajSQ_M-wjVf8zx5hHcDYRSx-dTrGPusnrdyEdK5wxi9Z53HcCMT9ho3AuYSD-Fn_CQHPEbi1kVTyCaCh0ebydzRWZC6ppgIij-a-hJm3Nq2SGkN3FBwe_DztRmxlVKZEKpPe0kfsBAlx1/s320/18.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379963488269115218" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRz8n4gt_dgaELz7AzZk_tWBGDz5Bvzku9HmDN9rNS9EafAQt5T8WiWXpuT7tzlZFzO4PYYF4g54P9fsR-LglrjzyP5r9yS8P_4GsK9Oc4CFqF7oAOd4wgMD1ovyoHItUIQRHPQdv4FtF/s1600-h/17.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRz8n4gt_dgaELz7AzZk_tWBGDz5Bvzku9HmDN9rNS9EafAQt5T8WiWXpuT7tzlZFzO4PYYF4g54P9fsR-LglrjzyP5r9yS8P_4GsK9Oc4CFqF7oAOd4wgMD1ovyoHItUIQRHPQdv4FtF/s320/17.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379963477128179330" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Next day we headed on further south past Bundaberg (home of Bundy Bear) and on to Woodgate Section of the Burrum Coast National Park. While the Bruce is in parts a fairly boring road, we spiced things up with a few experiments with the car.<br /><br />The first one was to test our long held theory that when the fuel light comes on there is still 15 litres in the tank (as it usually takes 75 to fill her up if you go straight to a servo). When the light came on we were over 80kms from the nearest station, which per the theory should be OK if you stick to 80kms/hour and turn the air conditioning off. (The theory would predict that 15 litres x 6 km/l = 90kms range). Of course this depended on the road being flat (so there was no sloshing of fuel around the tank), and the fuel intake being at the lowest point of the tank.<br /><br />Cut a long story short we finally made it to a servo, despite a long slow up hill for the last 10 or so kilometers. But it was a close call, and one you'd think we'd try to avoid again, but the same thing happened the next day! When you get used to there not being any servos you are a lot more careful. When you see them every day you get complacent.<br /><br />Burrum Point provided another example of the shortcomings of the Queensland EPA's online camping booking system in that obviously when the system is down you can't book. And if you phone in your booking they use the same system so can't book you either. The helpful lady recommended finding a caravan park or risk being fined by a ranger. Luckily the awkward converasation with the range never eventuated and we got some all important sand driving practice in the way in and out of Burrum.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSl-rc8YcGi_weV3L7p9ME36mkDhTLqUjk_RBmGT3DOaXBQciHkwsuBPOh51Xsg8GtnBh3oV2rOIN9aJCPSUWRbaADE149TLhs-wc43ZzhcoEFrqMyKOqmOSbSELjHtv9j3zx9DGrQs8v/s1600-h/19.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSl-rc8YcGi_weV3L7p9ME36mkDhTLqUjk_RBmGT3DOaXBQciHkwsuBPOh51Xsg8GtnBh3oV2rOIN9aJCPSUWRbaADE149TLhs-wc43ZzhcoEFrqMyKOqmOSbSELjHtv9j3zx9DGrQs8v/s320/19.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379963471400071970" border="0" /></a>Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04142224789928286977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3636767330920619181.post-79435763431719301422009-09-01T11:45:00.010+10:002009-09-01T17:20:01.136+10:00Winding our way home<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjysFBRq9VprD3I7snhTkvMgHSnpzjBdGKDCvn1zf0l3HztsrdGk9ZRmuXjJTkDVZPTD6RKOEXU2YX8jav-4F4KIWPUmt4ulhiFCUiU8QKwGGEMAg0PTiKCUoI9Wi6ItudJ4eEOC9KlreYf/s1600-h/1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 186px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjysFBRq9VprD3I7snhTkvMgHSnpzjBdGKDCvn1zf0l3HztsrdGk9ZRmuXjJTkDVZPTD6RKOEXU2YX8jav-4F4KIWPUmt4ulhiFCUiU8QKwGGEMAg0PTiKCUoI9Wi6ItudJ4eEOC9KlreYf/s320/1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376325791857054930" border="0" /></a>And so, the end is near; and so I face my final blog entry ...<br /><br />Not quite folks, we've got just over three weeks to get back to Sydney and plan to squeeze as much in as we possibly can. But it is starting to feel like.<br /><br />Some hippie friends of mine are setting off on their big lap adventure today so we'll have someone to follow when we get back (earthnest.blogspot.com if you're interested).<br /><br />They are "a family of four on a journey through Australia, powered by waste vegetable oil and a touch of solar". With us having only got this far with the benefit of a huge inefficient diesel engine, I'd say their blog is definitely worth keeping track of. Unlike us, they do have a satellite phone (what are hippies coming to?). Good luck Brett, Nicole, Kaiden and Jamala - hope you have an awesome adventure and looking forward to seeing some photos!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYXbgVhLgCgYfN-57WeXv5OXYKr4I0dLa2sEX3Rdx47TE_zZCXex2sGOQmdOkh8FBdcKt9t6VKpY8PEc69NgTO5GpVxNsFYO3zggPQzMHr7W46yCmnItsB7OlBJzPrA9riyE4YV1oaHkCf/s1600-h/2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYXbgVhLgCgYfN-57WeXv5OXYKr4I0dLa2sEX3Rdx47TE_zZCXex2sGOQmdOkh8FBdcKt9t6VKpY8PEc69NgTO5GpVxNsFYO3zggPQzMHr7W46yCmnItsB7OlBJzPrA9riyE4YV1oaHkCf/s320/2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376325782967624930" border="0" /></a>We are currently holed up at Alva Beach, departure point for Ness's trip to dive the wreck of the Yongala tomorrow. The Yongala is another one of the hundreds of Top 10 dive sites.<br /><br />Despite having completed 110 dives, I'm only PADI certified (aka allowed) to dive to 18m. While this certainly isn't a problem at the more relaxed resorts in Indonesia, and even in WA, they take things a bit more seriously in Queensland and it did mean I was capped on Taka and I don't want to hold Ness back (the wreck is at 15m at its shallowest). It's not, repeat not, because I'm scared.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZuGwvBkqz2NOTp0G6TKCLdtezHBZgVSzsRWp4qcFSdFjH3EG4mhUZXr3-x6SzP_Mvehx6GwehJc7fLGQm5ecC1j3EhEO4pCEowcYRaOalT0iU21nk_gAYV9BkYxyOtI2VbkJZioNSn3wm/s1600-h/5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZuGwvBkqz2NOTp0G6TKCLdtezHBZgVSzsRWp4qcFSdFjH3EG4mhUZXr3-x6SzP_Mvehx6GwehJc7fLGQm5ecC1j3EhEO4pCEowcYRaOalT0iU21nk_gAYV9BkYxyOtI2VbkJZioNSn3wm/s320/5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376325551938800722" border="0" /></a>Our first stop after dropping Jimmy at the airport was Mission Beach Hideaway caravan park. This was the first van park of the trip where I felt seriously under-dressed. Being priced for the overly wealthy end of the nomad spectrum ($42 per night), there was a distinct lack of riff-raff, but there was lot of peace and quiet.<br /><br />Despite the promise of three bars on my mobile phone, the next G internet was appalling, coming and going on the breeze and frustrating the bejesus out of me. What should have been a pretty simple piece of work took hours. Dealing with the odd IT issue in the office will be a breeze after this.<br /><br />Tourism numbers are down apparently 25-40% which meant the bars and restaurants along the strip were all pretty quiet. We did our bit for the recovery and my stress levels by eating and drinking out every night.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTYwHJ7BEYmFW6w5m88zOmcvQopHHronmRxmDLl9KM7MMUx3Q3w4MNLbjhpCesLYZ4lI_-2NYDi-VtcTxKYAk-82A5pUDzTOf3-LpYxmIiKBj-B7SqldVWgbFp8L8xBa-IMywiYKL2pddr/s1600-h/4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTYwHJ7BEYmFW6w5m88zOmcvQopHHronmRxmDLl9KM7MMUx3Q3w4MNLbjhpCesLYZ4lI_-2NYDi-VtcTxKYAk-82A5pUDzTOf3-LpYxmIiKBj-B7SqldVWgbFp8L8xBa-IMywiYKL2pddr/s320/4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376325543625576434" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP3Lizc0LbspWIOGZSYcHGDSiuGsX1cFzrYLITrK_X2yKHcYlGPdy4huzVi4_dOD1bdzRxflu14XCT79TCRRW0aLMhlhjWvEoD-vMdl-AuigoN0TgCVP3ldLhyphenhyphenF0DHAK5pMwqZ0zdwWzQ1/s1600-h/3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP3Lizc0LbspWIOGZSYcHGDSiuGsX1cFzrYLITrK_X2yKHcYlGPdy4huzVi4_dOD1bdzRxflu14XCT79TCRRW0aLMhlhjWvEoD-vMdl-AuigoN0TgCVP3ldLhyphenhyphenF0DHAK5pMwqZ0zdwWzQ1/s320/3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376325534704750962" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />We didn't see a Cassowary during our time on the Cassowary Coast. <br /><br />Apparently there are only 1500 left in the wild (compared with 3000 giant pandas - which have also eluded us so far), which means there would have to be significantly more signs warning of cassowaries than cassowaries themselves. <br /><br />We did drive carefully though - hitting a roo is one thing, but a cassowary would be pretty tough on the conscience (although probably easier on the troopie than hitting two giant pandas).<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCKoqGe7OkSNTlAwogDrTrdhqvqcw3u3Oy2nKa0NMzImYItF5fbzob4AGhpM8IoA4KSuXsCz8GY5pori1bGQkkWFd-KjuniBPVTa2oLg3d3PdEgIIabE0iJv2Mxi1CbTnqyCeKyUged6xo/s1600-h/6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCKoqGe7OkSNTlAwogDrTrdhqvqcw3u3Oy2nKa0NMzImYItF5fbzob4AGhpM8IoA4KSuXsCz8GY5pori1bGQkkWFd-KjuniBPVTa2oLg3d3PdEgIIabE0iJv2Mxi1CbTnqyCeKyUged6xo/s320/6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376325525979370482" border="0" /></a>The local towns on the Cassowary coast compete for the annual Golden Gumboot award - which goes to the town with the highest rainfall .<br /><br />Tully got 7.9m in 1950, which compares to the average 750mm for London and 1250mm for Sydney. Who would have thought that Sydney gets more than 50% more rain each year than London?<br /><br />The big difference with Sydney I suppose is it tends to fall in big downpours, and rarely when Australia are in front in the cricket.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXDOyS1ptMZxifi5VOE3JP_tcd7hb1EJQ0Rdwa0tTB8jIGJkL9eurC0J4c1DclXynW3j-MIWe1qfaIgNBSUNYuFkQM51tCokhSjKV34OO5HcIHYn1OeEGeOLQM4GVSLn3WTiJQWqKWkHxN/s1600-h/7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXDOyS1ptMZxifi5VOE3JP_tcd7hb1EJQ0Rdwa0tTB8jIGJkL9eurC0J4c1DclXynW3j-MIWe1qfaIgNBSUNYuFkQM51tCokhSjKV34OO5HcIHYn1OeEGeOLQM4GVSLn3WTiJQWqKWkHxN/s320/7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376325522499537794" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh78hlWW7NVyA6vH1vSrVdpd8B5XAwNIVn7ZzoMaRhlg9uADoHOh9lWcDFsMJM0iQqhUfAT9heMnE6LQZloL8plpFF3q39qll_SwJfCTYtrJd2mK-D7Y7GmfNvpvBsQxBOpsj2BC_VDExkx/s1600-h/8.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh78hlWW7NVyA6vH1vSrVdpd8B5XAwNIVn7ZzoMaRhlg9uADoHOh9lWcDFsMJM0iQqhUfAT9heMnE6LQZloL8plpFF3q39qll_SwJfCTYtrJd2mK-D7Y7GmfNvpvBsQxBOpsj2BC_VDExkx/s320/8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376324928461187618" border="0" /></a>We had a very peaceful night at the campground in Tully Gorge and drove up to the end of the gorge the next morning and watched some of the white water rafts being lowered down in to the river.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsYvhoL7tnwA8zKDPDTg0LxQHrWfla_hRx0LNPz9-ssIts22xz0eITnUICR8bDaqBfjjflw6xjsNdShGszMxcD1ELOxc4fpgNtEcflNy9h5nLAbM0iI7jbOLP-JA0Aqr2P9PKp6KW1viwe/s1600-h/9.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsYvhoL7tnwA8zKDPDTg0LxQHrWfla_hRx0LNPz9-ssIts22xz0eITnUICR8bDaqBfjjflw6xjsNdShGszMxcD1ELOxc4fpgNtEcflNy9h5nLAbM0iI7jbOLP-JA0Aqr2P9PKp6KW1viwe/s320/9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376324916996615842" border="0" /></a>The pier at Cardwell, with a glimpse of Hinchinbrook Island to the right (the largest island national park in Australia).<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP9JtsweBJXusGgbw1agKE3RlMQkvqxyn5PtBPKF_eKnQ4r3ujAbaWUbmxP3yBw9TDtqy5-_QpyJNjl2Es52hwa9wYe9qKqMnxLfpHx4y_OYdERw98E0HfBdwJiD1vfgPZ0JMn3BZwi36g/s1600-h/10.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP9JtsweBJXusGgbw1agKE3RlMQkvqxyn5PtBPKF_eKnQ4r3ujAbaWUbmxP3yBw9TDtqy5-_QpyJNjl2Es52hwa9wYe9qKqMnxLfpHx4y_OYdERw98E0HfBdwJiD1vfgPZ0JMn3BZwi36g/s320/10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376324909979642642" border="0" /></a>On Saturday we moved on to Wallaman Falls campground in Girringun National Park. At 268m, Wallaman Falls are the highest single drop falls in Australia.<br /><br />We walked briskly down to the foot of the falls - 1.6km in around 35 minutes. Despite being off the gaspers for over two months, the climb back up nearly killed me and took quite a bit longer than they way down.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeW8R8vhaKmiM3yw0DNm0N1-pV7v1soNcGGpVZZ1Bjs0Rzmsg5O-IFlxJ6ao-pRDsImHqTUJDt602B7ZqhvTKwcD0IWRi4y96JkWTIX3RYN2JScgnx8_FYG2EHzACeaRUZOpMzUlGftwh0/s1600-h/11.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeW8R8vhaKmiM3yw0DNm0N1-pV7v1soNcGGpVZZ1Bjs0Rzmsg5O-IFlxJ6ao-pRDsImHqTUJDt602B7ZqhvTKwcD0IWRi4y96JkWTIX3RYN2JScgnx8_FYG2EHzACeaRUZOpMzUlGftwh0/s320/11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376324897008461826" border="0" /></a>Some inquisitive turtles came to check us out on the Banggurru walk - a much gentler proposition adjacent to the campground.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghvu_C1vSxzwxK-POIWxjPM57ZdyQEsKmzS2haE222kox4dHRjjwBNO2_8R4RjBAUgTtQ6ZKkp3FCTdbYK8dv50ywhoX4v47UzPEgURzQi6WFMGDKyVNK2GHF0YT0ezno_4YQfiBVIowwa/s1600-h/12.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghvu_C1vSxzwxK-POIWxjPM57ZdyQEsKmzS2haE222kox4dHRjjwBNO2_8R4RjBAUgTtQ6ZKkp3FCTdbYK8dv50ywhoX4v47UzPEgURzQi6WFMGDKyVNK2GHF0YT0ezno_4YQfiBVIowwa/s320/12.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376324890278974834" border="0" /></a>A beautiful white-lipped green tree frog at Jourama Falls.<br /><br />At Jourama we camped under a very productive fig tree which seemed to be fueling a brush turkey population explosion. We had at least a dozen of them scratching away all afternoon, taking it in turns to fly up into the branches to dislodge more fruit to the waiting hordes below.<br /><br />All of the camping in the wet tropics has been sensational, Jourama only ruined by some inconsiderate irish/pommie chavs carrying on like pork chops well into the night.<br /><br />As time is precious we now need to plan very carefully how we spend the next few weeks. We have a week booked on Fraser Island and we're hoping to get a couple of nights on Whitsunday Island camping on the beach. Any suggestions on must see destinations between here and home very welcome!Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04142224789928286977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3636767330920619181.post-3655392104323012462009-08-26T18:42:00.010+10:002009-08-27T09:12:02.608+10:00Diving the Coral Sea & Great Barrier Reef<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/SpT3PL5rKCI/AAAAAAAABDQ/k6ulr2CQFNs/s1600-h/DSC00589.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/SpT3PL5rKCI/AAAAAAAABDQ/k6ulr2CQFNs/s320/DSC00589.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374192095624636450" border="0" /></a>We have just had 4 nights on board Taka out of Cairns. A dive boat especially built to take on the crossing to Osprey Reef in the Coral Sea. We found this boat to be very comfy when we last did the trip in 2007, with outstanding diving and so did not hesitate when we booked this time. We were not disappointed even though Taka has been bought by another, larger dive training company.<br /><br />*Wally the Maori Wrasse, a large and inquisitive fish at "Troppos Lounge".<br /><br />Departure was on a Friday and we'd been camping for the night in Wooroonooran National Park. A 2 hour turnaround was not quite enough with a few essentials being forgotten - Andy's earphones the most notable of the ommissions. I don't want you guys feeling sorry for us but it is one thing packing for a dive trip and getting on a plane from your house, and another very different and somewhat difficult experience trying to achieve the same from the back of the car.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/SpT3Olwfy2I/AAAAAAAABDI/tX9BXS54U8A/s1600-h/DSC00585.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/SpT3Olwfy2I/AAAAAAAABDI/tX9BXS54U8A/s320/DSC00585.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374192085385595746" border="0" /></a>Everything had to come out of the car, it was very hot and we still had to get Jimmy from the airport as he would be joining us for the trip. With time running short I was left at the caravan park with a pile of our stuff, finishing off loads of washing etc. As it turned out it was quite lucky the troopy was empty cos Jimmy's gear bag was ginormous.<br /><br />*Payniac's encounter with Wally.<br /><br />After sorting the gear the boys dropped it all at the dive shop ( a miracle the right stuff ended up on the boat if you ask me). Then we quick marched to the pub for lunch - $10 for a schnitty,<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/SpT3OCtsMhI/AAAAAAAABDA/HkLI4RcLlSo/s1600-h/DSC00550.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/SpT3OCtsMhI/AAAAAAAABDA/HkLI4RcLlSo/s320/DSC00550.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374192075978584594" border="0" /></a>chips and salad AND a pint of beer, VALUE!<br /><br />Andy and I had been anxiously watching the weather forecasts for weeks. The ghastly winds had died down and seas were projected to be calm, inside the reef that is, and sun, sun,sun. At one point we did wonder if we'd get to Osprey at all as rough seas and high winds negate the crossing. Fingers were crossed, we were all here to dive with the sharks after all.<br /><br />*Andy executes an almost perfect giant stride entry. He couldn't help himself most times and would inject some personal flair that had crew and punters giggling.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/SpT3Nsoxa7I/AAAAAAAABC4/VrFBfRvB6xs/s1600-h/DSC00523.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/SpT3Nsoxa7I/AAAAAAAABC4/VrFBfRvB6xs/s320/DSC00523.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374192070052375474" border="0" /></a>The first night is filled with paperwork, showing of cert cards, safety briefings, dive briefings, meet the crew and other guests. It is also generally an early night as most are a little anxious to be on top form for the first days diving at least. I am one of these anxious types and retired leaving Andy and Jimmy smashing beers on the back deck hoping to get cricket on the radio. This was a recurring theme.<br />*A stunning cuttlefish at a dive site called "Two and two thirds".<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/SpT17HkYYBI/AAAAAAAABAg/v_OFOTcd2hQ/s1600-h/DSC00083.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/SpT17HkYYBI/AAAAAAAABAg/v_OFOTcd2hQ/s320/DSC00083.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374190651352571922" border="0" /></a>Day 1 of diving was at the Cod Hole which is a world famous dive site near Lizard Island. Famous for the great big potato cod that have been fed by dive boats for about 20 years. This site was recognized by diving legends Ron and Val Taylor and was instrumental in the establishment of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The fish are used to divers and love to pose for photos.<br />* A large cod at a cleaning station.<br /><br />*VJ with a large potato cod<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/SpWxGAymeFI/AAAAAAAABDY/WsG4nXxf1jQ/s1600-h/P8220052.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/SpWxGAymeFI/AAAAAAAABDY/WsG4nXxf1jQ/s320/P8220052.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374396447186122834" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/SpT265EYB8I/AAAAAAAABCg/RR-Lj2jKzkU/s1600-h/DSC00483.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/SpT265EYB8I/AAAAAAAABCg/RR-Lj2jKzkU/s320/DSC00483.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374191746971862978" border="0" /></a><br />The cod feed itself is not really my cup of tea but it does provide good photo ops<br /><br />*Payniac showing us how it's done.<br /><br />Day 1 also included a night dive at Challenger Bay. Andy passed on both the offered night dives, but he is NOT afraid. Jimmy and I had a super dive amongst the hunting Giant Trevallys and Red Snapper. For me night diving is generally a very relaxing and calming affair, this was no exception. Jimmy James excelled in the dark considering he has very little night diving experience<br /><br />Day 2 is shark diving day. "North Horn" on Osprey Reef is arguably one of the most exciting dives I've ever done and I've dived it 6 times now. Imagine dropping into gin clear, blue water over a kilometre deep with a sheer wall coming up out of the blue almost to the surface just covered in life, and dozens of reef sharks patrolling the edges knowing they will be fed in the next few hours. It is thrilling. Hammerheads, Grey Reef Sharks, White Tip Reef Sharks and most exciting of all a huge Silvertip Shark at the end of the shark feed.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/SpT2QV8eKeI/AAAAAAAABBQ/TpSchHMlEpk/s1600-h/P8230114.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/SpT2QV8eKeI/AAAAAAAABBQ/TpSchHMlEpk/s320/P8230114.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374191015988963810" border="0" /></a>The sharks are fed regularly by the dive boats. A wheelie bin full of tuna heads affixed to a chain is lowered down into the water and secured to the top of a bommie. We all sit around a natural underwater amphitheatre guzzling air in anticipation. The lid is opened, the tuna released and the sharks go beserk. It is awesome!<br /><br />*Grey Reef sharks get more and more excited waiting for their free feed.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/SpT2P1L8kfI/AAAAAAAABBI/FjSYunHywIE/s1600-h/DSC00245.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/SpT2P1L8kfI/AAAAAAAABBI/FjSYunHywIE/s320/DSC00245.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374191007195501042" border="0" /></a><br />*A bit blurry but I couldn't resist. A silvertip shark, mush bigger than any of the other sharks involved in the feed. It only hung around for a minute or so unfortunately before heading back out into the blue.<br /><br />I should mention that for some guests the crossing to Osprey (350km from Cairns) which is a full nights steam from the Cod Hole was rather uncomfortable. It was a little bumpy but as we were in steerage we didn't get the raise-you-out-of-your-bed-and-slam-you-back-down experience that some did. We did take preventative measures against sea sickness just in case but all three of us were just fine.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/SpT26bv6XCI/AAAAAAAABCY/3D4hBNb7SSA/s1600-h/DSC00478.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/SpT26bv6XCI/AAAAAAAABCY/3D4hBNb7SSA/s320/DSC00478.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374191739101404194" border="0" /></a>After diving North Horn it's hard to believe there could be anything better but I think there is - "Steve's Bommie" is probably my favouritist dive site EVER. It's got it all, a sea mount in the middle of nowhere, exposed to nutrient rich currents, it supports a huge amount of very colourful life.<br /><br />*Nudibranch<br /><br />*Reefscape at Steve's<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/SpT251mfACI/AAAAAAAABCQ/DzlARQRe3LY/s1600-h/DSC00450.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/SpT251mfACI/AAAAAAAABCQ/DzlARQRe3LY/s320/DSC00450.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374191728861315106" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/SpT2lGD3LfI/AAAAAAAABCI/S537T5KMo_k/s1600-h/DSC00449.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/SpT2lGD3LfI/AAAAAAAABCI/S537T5KMo_k/s320/DSC00449.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374191372502248946" border="0" /></a>*Lionfish<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/SpT2ksMqWtI/AAAAAAAABCA/Z6U_ZqIXaz4/s1600-h/DSC00447.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/SpT2ksMqWtI/AAAAAAAABCA/Z6U_ZqIXaz4/s320/DSC00447.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374191365559835346" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/SpT2jx56KrI/AAAAAAAABB4/_qKbJsiTiMs/s1600-h/DSC00446.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/SpT2jx56KrI/AAAAAAAABB4/_qKbJsiTiMs/s320/DSC00446.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374191349911923378" border="0" /></a><br /><br />*2 different coloured Leafy Scorpionfish - venomous as the name suggests<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />*Clownfish in their anemone home on Steve's<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/SpT2jsAJ8DI/AAAAAAAABBw/abalMOTr-Zw/s1600-h/DSC00400.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/SpT2jsAJ8DI/AAAAAAAABBw/abalMOTr-Zw/s320/DSC00400.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374191348327510066" border="0" /></a>Bommie<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/SpT2i78DQ8I/AAAAAAAABBo/fra82_Cdvog/s1600-h/DSC00395.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/SpT2i78DQ8I/AAAAAAAABBo/fra82_Cdvog/s320/DSC00395.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374191335425393602" border="0" /></a>*Scuba-VJ<br /><br />Other highlights of our time on Taka include a second Jimmy-Nessa night dive, this time on "Beer Gardens". This was the scene of a mild panic attack last time Andy and I were here and I had some anxious deja vu. For the most part the dive went off without a hitch until the very end when Jimmy's fin came off (I missed this as I was leading back to the boat) and he got caught up in the group behind us. I could see him the whole time but he could not see me due to background light. It's so easy to get confused on a night dive and we were lucky this happened right at the end of the dive. I had already been in trouble earlier in the day for surfacing after my buddy. It all worked out though and we were able to laugh about it and chalk it up to experience over a few beers.<br /><br />Overall we really lucked out on this trip with very calm conditions and no current to contend with. A great introduction for Jimmy to tropical diving. It was really fun diving with Andy and James and apart from the night dive we had no dramas at all. There's a lot to be said for diving with people you know and trust, it also helps that I've been diving with these guys since they were certified. Thank you Andy and James for being such great buddies. Diving is a continuous learning curve and by the end of the 14 dives on Taka I think we all felt very much at home in the ocean. Overall the level of diving on board was very good and we were pretty much left to ourselves to organise our dives.<br />As we were a threesome we often had a spare buddy join us for a dive; Vilius from Lithuania, Ciara from Italy and Mariana from Portugal - also our roomy. Our closeness and familiarity led some guests to speculate about our relationship, one particularly nosy parker asked if we were a threesome in the other way!!<br /><br />On the last day we did two lovely shallow dives at "Troppos", a great way to finish an incredible few days diving.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/SpT2RWtXfII/AAAAAAAABBg/bi7Hzk5SywQ/s1600-h/DSC00366.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/SpT2RWtXfII/AAAAAAAABBg/bi7Hzk5SywQ/s320/DSC00366.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374191033373916290" border="0" /></a><br />*Jimmy James showing perfect buoyancy skills, nice one!<br /><br />*Payniac intrigued by something on the reef<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/SpT2QqcwBGI/AAAAAAAABBY/vgpIyqBDd7g/s1600-h/DSC00254.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/SpT2QqcwBGI/AAAAAAAABBY/vgpIyqBDd7g/s320/DSC00254.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374191021493060706" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/SpT18rWt3XI/AAAAAAAABA4/ohlMxtSrrb4/s1600-h/DSC00090.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/SpT18rWt3XI/AAAAAAAABA4/ohlMxtSrrb4/s320/DSC00090.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374190678138805618" border="0" /></a>*Andy and Jimmy just before descending on a dive.<br /><br /><br /><br />*Payniac on top deck looking every bit the wild man<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/SpT18OxLYRI/AAAAAAAABAw/fNy1LPRvd20/s1600-h/DSC_0018.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/SpT18OxLYRI/AAAAAAAABAw/fNy1LPRvd20/s320/DSC_0018.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374190670465163538" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/SpT17qh5z1I/AAAAAAAABAo/AWmtaH81poU/s1600-h/DSC_0010.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OGSkW88S9xw/SpT17qh5z1I/AAAAAAAABAo/AWmtaH81poU/s320/DSC_0010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374190660737421138" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />*Great Barrier Reef from above<br /><br />We booked the Taka trip way back in April and so had been looking forward to it for months, it was sad for it to be all over and to say goodbye to Jimmy James in Cairns yesterday. It also signals that we have 4 weeks to go on this 12 month adventure around Australia. We intend to make the most of it.<br /><br />Currently in beautiful Mission Beach in one of the ritziest cazza parks we have stayed in, the gardens are like a resort. It's a 100m walk to the famous beach and you can swim here - the first beach in thousands of kms!!<br /><br />See you all soon!Nessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743234057904783218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3636767330920619181.post-36296372229135739292009-08-21T10:28:00.008+10:002009-08-21T10:40:57.550+10:00Trip to the mechanical gardens<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqPCANgnX6_uuzncv-v1P7Q33uVmm2Hyozv3ykb3XCaVhIcHFn_EtKUmLLE0ozFYkhj8D331-7eVqUPkIsIRiErcZKJ96tZBQI31fKYctRVWsE_Lmzp0CuoQslCymPmQbVqCkm6KtnQKal/s1600-h/DSC_0098.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqPCANgnX6_uuzncv-v1P7Q33uVmm2Hyozv3ykb3XCaVhIcHFn_EtKUmLLE0ozFYkhj8D331-7eVqUPkIsIRiErcZKJ96tZBQI31fKYctRVWsE_Lmzp0CuoQslCymPmQbVqCkm6KtnQKal/s320/DSC_0098.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372209540112524466" border="0" /></a>As well as being 'Gateway to the Great Barrier Reef', Cairns is also 'The City in a Garden'.<br /><br />Yesterday we visited the beautiful botanical gardens and this is a (very small) selection of the photos we took.<br /><br />Today Jimmy James arrives and we head out on Taka. Weather is fine, the wind has dropped and it looks good for the crossing to Osprey Reef! Last time we were on Taka I missed the new year's eve-esque celebrations when K-Rudd got elected. This time, almost certainly, I'll be missing the Ashes celebrations. Even Roebuck is backing us to win!<br /><br />Hope you enjoy the photos and we'll have lots of divey ones up by the middle of next week!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB-FZRWp_08gUS5NK743FYYPgKxfBQw9zmn-PGuT0R-6VqGI9IPFBf18f_UG84aUsjrooHTCnACL2ud2raxq3qjr5T__EmGHkg_9rdmMuoVXgvgIClcu4CNf0tmBlGZ0U2DYfsvl6PNnGc/s1600-h/DSC_0002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB-FZRWp_08gUS5NK743FYYPgKxfBQw9zmn-PGuT0R-6VqGI9IPFBf18f_UG84aUsjrooHTCnACL2ud2raxq3qjr5T__EmGHkg_9rdmMuoVXgvgIClcu4CNf0tmBlGZ0U2DYfsvl6PNnGc/s320/DSC_0002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372209360850653810" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1oCb1cI48pWHkeZ_V40JshyvQZ59Iw6xjIa5HEzInGDBmTda7cwiyqADHVZE-ltxkDaEsjAsYOVa_vs6FC4-NoTA1KCVkVKqIIIgCIe8nFG_u5rjfu7auxqsJTamgfcmm_ZGrwjCjXJi/s1600-h/DSC_0005.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1oCb1cI48pWHkeZ_V40JshyvQZ59Iw6xjIa5HEzInGDBmTda7cwiyqADHVZE-ltxkDaEsjAsYOVa_vs6FC4-NoTA1KCVkVKqIIIgCIe8nFG_u5rjfu7auxqsJTamgfcmm_ZGrwjCjXJi/s320/DSC_0005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372209092705403554" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibFONrfP8Quydc41K1EGMgTFQYCthGaprY2UsTHZl5VfrsQoOc0iuiiAMozwD2BV1QiLvMP2vcENklq67Oqi9VEFvOeetifXN4cw_BrzqWmN1EdwqTi8jG6UEwfrGeDGuqgLmMgL8iKYZe/s1600-h/DSC_0023.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibFONrfP8Quydc41K1EGMgTFQYCthGaprY2UsTHZl5VfrsQoOc0iuiiAMozwD2BV1QiLvMP2vcENklq67Oqi9VEFvOeetifXN4cw_BrzqWmN1EdwqTi8jG6UEwfrGeDGuqgLmMgL8iKYZe/s320/DSC_0023.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372209080284910034" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAKcFXqDSsHe6vmYF6tfb2BMPlXmvw7BL_NJNjyQJTKO_tT5ckW_TQHIk7mpxFPDUYW0f4zstD7RnoRDyOEDsHiNjrUmgKkD39qimv0oyc1B9ZbK_PRpKM7cHnkvXFBYCgiKwIoEoIhClP/s1600-h/DSC_0025.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAKcFXqDSsHe6vmYF6tfb2BMPlXmvw7BL_NJNjyQJTKO_tT5ckW_TQHIk7mpxFPDUYW0f4zstD7RnoRDyOEDsHiNjrUmgKkD39qimv0oyc1B9ZbK_PRpKM7cHnkvXFBYCgiKwIoEoIhClP/s320/DSC_0025.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372209073507823378" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM4UqCWT7FEI6ALMMzGaAHmHRkHV4-YiE_KrhxRLleIt-GK8fjAPNS0Kzow62rrW3o8kuvKAhd5I3tbhxC4EQ6WKgwFwz6M1dcd12e46bTnsmfiWAD6ET-AaSB-Kji2ZGN6Q_QGHuCPCGP/s1600-h/DSC_0027.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM4UqCWT7FEI6ALMMzGaAHmHRkHV4-YiE_KrhxRLleIt-GK8fjAPNS0Kzow62rrW3o8kuvKAhd5I3tbhxC4EQ6WKgwFwz6M1dcd12e46bTnsmfiWAD6ET-AaSB-Kji2ZGN6Q_QGHuCPCGP/s320/DSC_0027.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372209064331419858" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmbI91aIgTnhtBdWWNhOOAEwsR1z_Dc5zi0k0n9xbSm52WQUOhFN2pMSoEbGojiJay0ZB3pO22k0SoMOYloMwf_34jEWyb-jFHYBu0RhSHGX42iMQtX3qA2Gm8DQq0iIaz8v7x7VNgNDOj/s1600-h/DSC_0033.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; 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float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0BsfHa2pWfrUp0wbnSVtsuAioll-FEd_DapZqmuxsoo2QAPNpNUXzZkYcZu3dAo1nbgghnQ5darsvoCGQYItn9q1ybzsL1QciK1wcupFAvpDdxK2GicntV-7bzsywER6OAwSMLQ-FVzDE/s320/DSC_0139.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372207902253390866" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjawIIW1YVPYrdp_0wfJ1tnjKM3l37E4ASYSkbe0oWU5ey1PpWiww9hVODytz8roPr0gMRhToplcDa2rQQBxUSWd1ILNLBdwUnzCL6OPNwe20-5FiURh2g5DVE8_nEVOgel-f3Kqisv7v7h/s1600-h/DSC_0141.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjawIIW1YVPYrdp_0wfJ1tnjKM3l37E4ASYSkbe0oWU5ey1PpWiww9hVODytz8roPr0gMRhToplcDa2rQQBxUSWd1ILNLBdwUnzCL6OPNwe20-5FiURh2g5DVE8_nEVOgel-f3Kqisv7v7h/s320/DSC_0141.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372207891963078082" border="0" /></a>Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04142224789928286977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3636767330920619181.post-43725446048585807112009-08-19T08:00:00.013+10:002009-08-19T09:18:09.302+10:00Home and back again<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG6sKocbwB7pD0TXB8884z2ij9Tqqoo3w0VbJLFA4aJfG5azHCCmEemzLAcklaeZk-GyNd29kqyOsZhmKIaXF1lwfJHxGJxIAgeYumD6M8dJ5g4DsYJqqbh5G3z5Asx9phuWSzpgqaJTA8/s1600-h/1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG6sKocbwB7pD0TXB8884z2ij9Tqqoo3w0VbJLFA4aJfG5azHCCmEemzLAcklaeZk-GyNd29kqyOsZhmKIaXF1lwfJHxGJxIAgeYumD6M8dJ5g4DsYJqqbh5G3z5Asx9phuWSzpgqaJTA8/s320/1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371429016472390098" border="0" /></a>My flying visit back to Sydney was successful on lots of levels and I can genuinely say that we have lots to look forward to when we get back.<br /><br />My time in the office was productive and proved how important it has been for me to keep my hand in over the past 12 months. Returning to corporate world after a year of feral living could I think have broken my spirit. As it is, I'm looking forward to getting stuck back in, and won't need to go on an excel refresher course.<br /><br />Six nights of flying solo meant I had plenty of time to catch up with Jimmy James (aka karaoke legend) and Army. Sensibly this time I also managed to squeeze office time either side of a weekend which gave me the chance to visit Candi & Steffen to see the backyard blitzing they've been giving 19 Riverview Avenue, Dangar Island. Five years of no gardening whatsoever had left things shall we say a little overgrown.<br /><br />I was amazed by the transformation. The place looks absolutely amazing, water glimpses have been enhanced, surprise sandstone features uncovered, wandering jew ripped up and incinerated, and new plants planted. The inside was awesome too - looking like a real house rather than the weekender it's been. What a beautiful place to be moving back to. Sitting out on the deck each night, under the stars, with a fire going was just like being on tour.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBq8pU2RsZD0hM7LhSqi89LgylcZ0jrKhl93lHZrJeJoQ-7o3EV5GUZhfyyZTv5f6vtnBFGwRbH9Np8Rz6db_hA5S0FYbgFqYAgrKVn9lgbzw0efh4MNkxiErrqi0MGvaYsAElvWtmQ4Ib/s1600-h/corporate1"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBq8pU2RsZD0hM7LhSqi89LgylcZ0jrKhl93lHZrJeJoQ-7o3EV5GUZhfyyZTv5f6vtnBFGwRbH9Np8Rz6db_hA5S0FYbgFqYAgrKVn9lgbzw0efh4MNkxiErrqi0MGvaYsAElvWtmQ4Ib/s320/corporate1" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371429953185202978" border="0" /></a>Going back to the office provided another opportunity for my co-workers to get used to the hairy thing that I've become.<br /><br />Should the beard stays or go when I get back permanently? I have been doing a bit of research.<br /><br />According to beards.org, '... the male beard communicates an heroic image of the independent, sturdy and resourceful pioneer, ready, willing and able to do manly things".<br /><br />Less partisan research is more equivocal, but the general theme seems to be I will need to keep it tidier than I have been. I think I'll keep it at least until the wedding.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK8uSduth6ayCH7EdPnvz0T37L-_vCxMCBGe_Wx4OzCH5e4922QggeczRtRQxJhtYjJ8AvwRm7c8XNRmlT5pP6b8QvAPwtDeVn9bC0LwM4G98GoB8fCWE3UV3hahmKOkFTJURqq2p9wpcz/s1600-h/corporate"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK8uSduth6ayCH7EdPnvz0T37L-_vCxMCBGe_Wx4OzCH5e4922QggeczRtRQxJhtYjJ8AvwRm7c8XNRmlT5pP6b8QvAPwtDeVn9bC0LwM4G98GoB8fCWE3UV3hahmKOkFTJURqq2p9wpcz/s320/corporate" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371429948631240930" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTDy3A-E8LxuQp5PAPBS1Y4kNNB_OKYoREASEJgfhGhQYN6gytP3rdbPbK7aYDqscwW683UqF66nAr8alF_yXql4UcCK6oERPiXELmPnmeLveyDGNuyeMuVc4bT-B3OZ0tLQrc3q9aOT1t/s1600-h/2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTDy3A-E8LxuQp5PAPBS1Y4kNNB_OKYoREASEJgfhGhQYN6gytP3rdbPbK7aYDqscwW683UqF66nAr8alF_yXql4UcCK6oERPiXELmPnmeLveyDGNuyeMuVc4bT-B3OZ0tLQrc3q9aOT1t/s320/2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371429006318434306" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs6cUdg8wIGsF4DrFDM186ZzNaxuzrK-ocIMaXI8q59djqVVtDxzrmbKOL1F9Zj5I7TkP2lsZZKdLeQs1Ur_7hTSPsgm1d58QDg6WgSdq-3re18ZoFOvRZWFIUxGehx-QWdzubjIbm2Gq9/s1600-h/3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs6cUdg8wIGsF4DrFDM186ZzNaxuzrK-ocIMaXI8q59djqVVtDxzrmbKOL1F9Zj5I7TkP2lsZZKdLeQs1Ur_7hTSPsgm1d58QDg6WgSdq-3re18ZoFOvRZWFIUxGehx-QWdzubjIbm2Gq9/s320/3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371429000887512818" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I got back to Cairns late on Wednesday night, and after a pretty big night with the Johnston's at the RSL on Thursday, Ness and I headed out of town for the weekend. First stop was Goldsborough Valley, about 60kms south east of town. Far enough off the beaten track to leave most of the tourists behind, we secured a great little spot close to the Mulgrave River.<br /><br />Goldsborough is billed as one of the greenest areas in the tropical north. And the wildlife was pretty spectacular too. Plenty of food around for the Kookaburras.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuYHP5GSMqeP9JuQsGKoJy5j_-mb8XxL1AIbaXpSx1Ff8Ya698NgiTcYk6TsEDQiwMjbiNqhAgZkR8DHCJDVjQv-Y7V8EFO5fny_9jI6fiEbiZA2DhPJ5DPicngGQq-CQ7H3fOyKJDINvr/s1600-h/4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuYHP5GSMqeP9JuQsGKoJy5j_-mb8XxL1AIbaXpSx1Ff8Ya698NgiTcYk6TsEDQiwMjbiNqhAgZkR8DHCJDVjQv-Y7V8EFO5fny_9jI6fiEbiZA2DhPJ5DPicngGQq-CQ7H3fOyKJDINvr/s320/4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371428988471018018" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb0wWPPL69c4ATpGGDg-txeZFUbOW0TCpbc3ohA_OquUzduoXotc63e1SNqOGSNFRK_Yh5OKFMTRIToROEGzNBgCO04P1g4XuljIv5aUaep1i3p3Am8caXxeqwDAngNwksy9Xe04p_kqLx/s1600-h/5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb0wWPPL69c4ATpGGDg-txeZFUbOW0TCpbc3ohA_OquUzduoXotc63e1SNqOGSNFRK_Yh5OKFMTRIToROEGzNBgCO04P1g4XuljIv5aUaep1i3p3Am8caXxeqwDAngNwksy9Xe04p_kqLx/s320/5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371428596169936114" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjs-pDJivff0H8xC9_iIDqXR1N0vQOaYLOOw6RODnzF6jknLi9I1drO9Wx-OPLqXY4zD8K9bwbcV9kbjK8UN5Ey8LyPa_t2HaAdr-5KN6NFsUcG37PV_mKh-NgDDEh2hq6t1s3lczG8D9u/s1600-h/6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjs-pDJivff0H8xC9_iIDqXR1N0vQOaYLOOw6RODnzF6jknLi9I1drO9Wx-OPLqXY4zD8K9bwbcV9kbjK8UN5Ey8LyPa_t2HaAdr-5KN6NFsUcG37PV_mKh-NgDDEh2hq6t1s3lczG8D9u/s320/6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371428592657023794" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjphV8pHQUMIHqk1eejzdReaoah5MtAR5UWc5aFrvKrryVwypsniPuohP16_fkCQ7R3mIxglCyGkQ-CB-H7aneXtBF-6jvtHmw5hgXI1sOS3XM0B0PkKIzahhQVk5e8CkyOyc_n-I2EtYB7/s1600-h/10.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjphV8pHQUMIHqk1eejzdReaoah5MtAR5UWc5aFrvKrryVwypsniPuohP16_fkCQ7R3mIxglCyGkQ-CB-H7aneXtBF-6jvtHmw5hgXI1sOS3XM0B0PkKIzahhQVk5e8CkyOyc_n-I2EtYB7/s320/10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371428584755730386" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />On Sunday we drove up and over the great dividing range up to the Atherton tablelands, stopping for a walk at the Crater Lakes national park, and then to spot Platypus at Yungaburra. The water was a little murky but you just had to follow the bubbles and then they'd pop up to the surface every couple of minutes.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUqCTLlznvHBxhyphenhyphenktWQl2y00oCXfYHZo0zpiaEKGixTVCg1zwkuK8O41muLXGdF677rtB-J8gFxxpx7tn1YHvDGjzcz3iW49kmDvMpmiM_e4KhrIVxAruAPjvjFSsCqGYA0ST18cE1v_Fv/s1600-h/7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 194px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUqCTLlznvHBxhyphenhyphenktWQl2y00oCXfYHZo0zpiaEKGixTVCg1zwkuK8O41muLXGdF677rtB-J8gFxxpx7tn1YHvDGjzcz3iW49kmDvMpmiM_e4KhrIVxAruAPjvjFSsCqGYA0ST18cE1v_Fv/s320/7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371428575106431922" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdthgtJ2rFkeYYomsRUmzPr-IKvl0aqJoQhzvYIHjcIwoyBK_7j7WXaSdtzWLlJQD_N1pRL0bA4sHhrhDO9X8RCklcx4U9Pg2em_oUYdnIklRrGDrs9cvpxeO4hfi94scK1ekfLBcEg-ru/s1600-h/8.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdthgtJ2rFkeYYomsRUmzPr-IKvl0aqJoQhzvYIHjcIwoyBK_7j7WXaSdtzWLlJQD_N1pRL0bA4sHhrhDO9X8RCklcx4U9Pg2em_oUYdnIklRrGDrs9cvpxeO4hfi94scK1ekfLBcEg-ru/s320/8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371428564353298322" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Ness spotted this tree python during our walk around Lake Eachem.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWvv_kmKgilYcAL0KBkBB5tLQG2vDRLTJCFGurtn4dyrETgrorI5ZcO9p6O5gkhs0bNQg42VROthDz17TQFBug8ucgoxAkkBZc2VjNqJ3WCYgtkUwkueMEgeHIGJ13iaLd1wNdMBjZ2R-C/s1600-h/9.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWvv_kmKgilYcAL0KBkBB5tLQG2vDRLTJCFGurtn4dyrETgrorI5ZcO9p6O5gkhs0bNQg42VROthDz17TQFBug8ucgoxAkkBZc2VjNqJ3WCYgtkUwkueMEgeHIGJ13iaLd1wNdMBjZ2R-C/s320/9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371428115472866962" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0KojJhM-paA7qEwtf8ygitMVjF31yXu0cVppwfseBPrGW_YY3GENgJEAgqOvEixz9J15zbsc3B_mblvWvGSLOlLVVJJBYIDNapS2cB7kbt1OpjyZS1vkIMaES4pBnLglI74_ZirsVws6l/s1600-h/11.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0KojJhM-paA7qEwtf8ygitMVjF31yXu0cVppwfseBPrGW_YY3GENgJEAgqOvEixz9J15zbsc3B_mblvWvGSLOlLVVJJBYIDNapS2cB7kbt1OpjyZS1vkIMaES4pBnLglI74_ZirsVws6l/s320/11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371428105823905426" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Sunday night we camped in Dinden National Park, which is up behind Kuranda. A very peaceful spot with a resident feral pig close to our camp.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj88avbnWYChWnyH8zTTBtPxZGplUcwsnERG5dTkyHQQbNqfxsvlHhEazpaInBo3yfmoJJeLeUNigtUd1pXR9pvLHHN-cVqvTF7tRM13CC7dSiWxWUh3bStHsKMleZJANkRdSL2loIZPzjF/s1600-h/12.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj88avbnWYChWnyH8zTTBtPxZGplUcwsnERG5dTkyHQQbNqfxsvlHhEazpaInBo3yfmoJJeLeUNigtUd1pXR9pvLHHN-cVqvTF7tRM13CC7dSiWxWUh3bStHsKMleZJANkRdSL2loIZPzjF/s320/12.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371428098817817026" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_X_dgjMEy7Y1dqM40rZhcT8iN30CbXS4_Zs7lBGzonKNc3CrM28fdNqBZnMz3tJpOTu79VZJDcP8GTgRdJicWIoL-EFzSwi6Z893U3SLRNTaqqg75HweYyBTyzJVEPq-JSjXuR5puR0Ya/s1600-h/13.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_X_dgjMEy7Y1dqM40rZhcT8iN30CbXS4_Zs7lBGzonKNc3CrM28fdNqBZnMz3tJpOTu79VZJDcP8GTgRdJicWIoL-EFzSwi6Z893U3SLRNTaqqg75HweYyBTyzJVEPq-JSjXuR5puR0Ya/s320/13.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371428092631653394" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPlOCxsqd3oViOGoP8s11lg2xbqi6z4Z5YOOK9gWZXjM29EF1jCeXfZkvWvhVYDWe3nUNgMwq47TneX4WHQIJznqX4WZwtuCiTx1bYF8ReM7aTSkiga-gHnFV111J1TcevW8YUJESmj8w2/s1600-h/14.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 165px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPlOCxsqd3oViOGoP8s11lg2xbqi6z4Z5YOOK9gWZXjM29EF1jCeXfZkvWvhVYDWe3nUNgMwq47TneX4WHQIJznqX4WZwtuCiTx1bYF8ReM7aTSkiga-gHnFV111J1TcevW8YUJESmj8w2/s320/14.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371428087572092466" border="0" /></a>Yesterday we all went out on the 'Great Day' fishing charter for some crabbing and fishing adventures.<br /><br />There were lots of extra freebies thrown in, including spotting this 2m salty in the mangroves where we dropped some of the crab pots, and also a huge Osprey nest on top of one of the navigation posts with the parents feeding their chicks.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnkyXpLIminWd3816VryuyiyHDDVuAo-MkL6-UqC2zRAzWvE-g9kqdLlUatJfeVxgyka7X58S2qnhaXqu5O6wzc5OF4ldNCLnkgjN1WTUuLr6tUWSFQUCocgSHOcFqH6elvxM8zoPyBL63/s1600-h/15.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnkyXpLIminWd3816VryuyiyHDDVuAo-MkL6-UqC2zRAzWvE-g9kqdLlUatJfeVxgyka7X58S2qnhaXqu5O6wzc5OF4ldNCLnkgjN1WTUuLr6tUWSFQUCocgSHOcFqH6elvxM8zoPyBL63/s320/15.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371427651826643810" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVBCd0ZVnuCH37Q2FuBDmGn08hMCE-QKcCdnzIB-gl1ZuVyPn685tKbq9edIomSh1eQqmZpDZNTMMyai6jXtSCYhDp6b_4KRuZtikAxWuhYfQrndSl9IVSZT0qcAI9QQHlJVQ-eV3NRo-j/s1600-h/16.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVBCd0ZVnuCH37Q2FuBDmGn08hMCE-QKcCdnzIB-gl1ZuVyPn685tKbq9edIomSh1eQqmZpDZNTMMyai6jXtSCYhDp6b_4KRuZtikAxWuhYfQrndSl9IVSZT0qcAI9QQHlJVQ-eV3NRo-j/s320/16.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371427643629995714" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The fishing proved quite successful too, although it was a case of quantity rather than quality. Only one of them was big enough to keep and our skipper chopped him up for sashimi.<br /><br />We had a little more luck with the crabs, hauling in a heap of mud crabs and blue swimmers. Unfortunately you have to throw back the females which left us with a couple of blue swimmers. We did get to see an impressive demonstration of how strong the claws are on mud crabs. Handle with care, or better still get someone else to do it for you.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB4o1a6GYB8TB6iVByTbS-e_uuuDB30pwTD8uYH4By6ILSJ7C22Zqbd2ZOh3fxlhx22WwR9qzfk2DHORgwJ55PdD6k4yiHNiD02YzY_XfcrbGdAXE3xlXgINC0Dhp5jhhyKmxqa9d84iwN/s1600-h/17.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB4o1a6GYB8TB6iVByTbS-e_uuuDB30pwTD8uYH4By6ILSJ7C22Zqbd2ZOh3fxlhx22WwR9qzfk2DHORgwJ55PdD6k4yiHNiD02YzY_XfcrbGdAXE3xlXgINC0Dhp5jhhyKmxqa9d84iwN/s320/17.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371427638368490898" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs4Uq8zzPgzWu_9LfWuSjGsDJU9TOrSqZxXktqb5_Aun4GMY0fKf6lkvO9OFUd84iP4U4I2wI-Zos4YniA9vl5nX0ObqkNRfT8CwEip5bJ1-iSojGzlGnCHEXWqgNN6QY0RWOVI29JzKXi/s1600-h/18.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 202px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs4Uq8zzPgzWu_9LfWuSjGsDJU9TOrSqZxXktqb5_Aun4GMY0fKf6lkvO9OFUd84iP4U4I2wI-Zos4YniA9vl5nX0ObqkNRfT8CwEip5bJ1-iSojGzlGnCHEXWqgNN6QY0RWOVI29JzKXi/s320/18.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371427628552001378" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Ness<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin_d8H2BAvXsQPY1r32uVq1wQZVsxQy08lrp-DF42cx1DZg1H9q7xiYxMubZcK-_S40DBbhANnaCmBi1V3CfWeQvRuw0Q6kkutU2A0mO8cXKqX1pN6ImZeFnaCgK6Ha4enU-QBJzyYqcho/s1600-h/19.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin_d8H2BAvXsQPY1r32uVq1wQZVsxQy08lrp-DF42cx1DZg1H9q7xiYxMubZcK-_S40DBbhANnaCmBi1V3CfWeQvRuw0Q6kkutU2A0mO8cXKqX1pN6ImZeFnaCgK6Ha4enU-QBJzyYqcho/s320/19.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371427625715656482" border="0" /></a> hooks another whopper.<br /><br />Ken & Jean depart tomorrow and then we are joined by Jimmy James and we head out on Taka for some serious scuba action. Really looking forward to getting back in the water, and have my fingers crossed that the wind stays down so we make the crossing to Osprey reef!Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04142224789928286977noreply@blogger.com0