Been awhile since I posted – too busy, lots of travelling and … couldn’t be bothered!
Quick catch up now.
After getting into the NT I spent the first night at Barkley Homestead. Always a good stop especially for their 4 to 6pm happy hours and $5 glasses of Cardboard-onnay! It’s a great time to chat and share stories with other travellers. Last time I stayed here I was surprised to see my neighbours from Bribie also in the bar.
Before heading off the next morning I checked my oil and water and noticed the coolant had decreased a little so topped her up and took off for Banka Banka Station. This is another really good place to stop. Happy hour each night at 5pm around the campfire with some sort of entertainment. This time we had an old fellow singing Australian country songs and bush ballads. He was actually pretty good.
Then on to Daly Waters where I previously have stayed behind the pub but decided to stop at the roadhouse instead. Was camped each side of me by some lovely people and we chatted and watched the bison in the paddock in front of us not to mention an abundance of bird life.
Then on to the fabulous Mataranka where I swam in the thermal springs, talked to the beautiful peacocks
plus found a great cafe. Hello Mataranka!
Then, disaster struck. Once again checked my coolant, as I was concerned it was down a bit previously, and to my horror it was down so low as to be barely visible in the bottom of the tank.
Bless you Roper River Transport for having one of your mechanics take time out to look at it for me and diagnose the need for a new water pump. It was recommended that I limp through to Darwin to get it fixed, which I did. My lovely new Delica mechanic in Brisbane sorted out the parts for me so all I had to do was collect them in Darwin and find a mechanic to do the work.
Fortunately for me, Kirsty had been staying at her cousin Jacqui’s place in Darwin, and Jacqui very generously insisted I come and stay there too which I did. Although the whole thing was a bit of a pain in the butt and I had not intended to go to Darwin, I actually had a very pleasant week there. Jacqui is a lawyer too so was busy with work during the day but we managed to head out to some nice restaurants for dinners at night.
Kirsty also very kindly drove me around to various places to do a bit of sightseeing –
the wave pool in Darwin, Fogg’s Dam to check out the birds and various great cafes.
Jacqui lives not far from Perth airport and the airforce were running exercises with their fighter jets. What a spectacular sight! Not to mention the ultrasonic roar. A much better show than Top Gun.
Finally Mitsy’s bits are fixed and we head off early on Saturday 3 September to our first camp that night at Vince Connolly/Limestone Creek Reserve. Absolutely top free camp spot. Clean drop toilets, shade, plenty of room and sufficiently off the road to not have too much noise.
Lovely scenery and plenty of birdlife along the way over the next couple of days with an overnight stop at Saddle Creek
and then in to WA at long last!
I know that’s the “leaving” WA sign but the welcome sign on the other side of the road had the quarantine station as the backdrop. Not pretty at all!