Week 6 – Top End

Day 36 – Katherine to Jabiru (Kakadu National Park) – 303.5klm

Well we finally have hit real heat. I now keep the red wine in the fridge!!

So Week 6 flew by. It seems like yesterday we were coming into the NT and now we are at the top end of it.

I have mapped our progress on an Australian Road map I have on the fridge and it coincidently is starting to look like the outline of Australia. Weird. Of course George thinks I am having one of my menopausal events and can’t see the resemblance at all.

So we set off from Katherine nice and early and fuelled up and had morning tea in Masey’s Cafe, Pine Creek. Worth the top. Lovely staff and great coffee.

We then ventured onto Kakadu Lodge in Jabiru. After setting up in our nice shady and semi grassy spot (not ants) I took a late afternoon swim and we shouted ourselves a beer and pizza by the pool.

Day 37 – Cahills Crossing and Cooinda – Kakadu National Park

On advice from the park owner we took a drive up to the East Alligator region of the Park to Ubirr and Cahills Crossing. To get the best of this trip we were told to go an hour either side of high tide and we would see the waters crossing the causeway and the crocs feeding on the fish. Well all I can say is wow! What a sight.

After our mid morning early afternoon trek, we then geared up for our Sunset cruise on the Yellow Water Billabond located at Cooinda in the Yellow Water Region of the National Park. Yellow water is part of the South Alligator River floodplain.

We were treated to many marvellous sights of both flora and fauna. It is probably the best 2 1/2 hours that we have ever spent. I will let the pictures tell the story.

So many more photos. It took us half an hour drive back to Jabiru after the cruise and was done on the edge of our seats as we had been told that the buffalo just wander out onto the road and you really can’t seem them until its too late.

Day 38 – Jabiru to Corroboree Tree – 165klms

So yes Coroborree Tree Tavern. Says it all. Didn’t even get a drink there, just stayed at the back of the Tavern.

We did a little driving around that afternoon down to the Corroboree Billabong. Whilst it was a nice drive, unfortunately not too much to see unless you took a cruise.

After heading back to our campsite, we meet up with a lovely couple, Cliff and Kay, who were full time on the road and after dinner enjoyed a drink or two with them until bed.

Day 39 – Window on the Wetlands and the Jumping Crocodiles at Wak Wak

So after packing our lunch and morning tea, we headed down to Wak Wak.

On the way we stopped at the Leaning Tree Billabond but only took a quick pic as I was too worried about being eaten by a croc.

From there, we took a look around the Window on the Wetlands information office. This was well worth the stop and gave us a good history of the area. Several types of farming had been tried over the years such as rice and coffee growing but it seems that the most successful use of the are is the controlled breeding of buffalo for export overseas.

Also, of course, tourism which we enjoyed at the Jumping Crocodile attraction.

We were treated to a full boat of overseas back packers, a very entertaining guide and of course some big bloody crocodiles. I am still of two minds on this attraction, whilst the crocs did get a feed it did seem somewhat cruel and macabre.

Day 40 – Corroboree Creek to Palmerston (Darwin)

After much deliberation we decided to stay just outside of Darwin at Palmerston. This is only a 20 minute drive from the centre of Darwin. Oasis Tourist Park.

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So after setting up in our shady no red dirt site (yah), we set to stocking up at the local shopping centre, picking up some of the things I had forgotten like summer sheets. I know I washed them before we left but must have packed them in the multiple boxes now in storage at home.

Day 41 – Palmerston to Parap Markets and Darwin Waterfront

After cooking George his brekky (taught by Gayle William’s famous poached egg teacher).

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We spent the morning at the local food and handicrafts market at Parap. Would have been great place to taste all the varieties of food from overseas but alas Georges ageing taste buds had other ideas.

So we headed into Darwin and had a lovely light lunch and a couple of drinks on the waterfront followed by a tour of the old oil tunnels used during the war.

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Day 42 – Darwin and Mindil Night Markets

So today I got up early, had my morning coffee in peace and cool whilst George had a sleep in.

We then set to dealing with our chores before heading into Darwin.

We d ecided to have lunch at the Six Tanks Brew Pub in Mitchell Street. George enjoyed the beer, of course, and the platter but not so the spicy chicken wings.

We then ventured down to the Esplanade, the National Arts Museun and finally Mindil Beach Markets before heading home.

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Well there you go. Week 6 done and dusted. We are in Darwin until Friday 14th and thinking about heading to a beach area not far from Darwin for a do nothing week (other than maybe fishing) on the water. Still to be decided.

We still have no idea what WA is doing but still have a lot to see here before we have to make a decision on whether we head west, south or east.

Yes we are still talking to each other and suprisingly enjoying each other’s company. George is definitely the socialite of our team and I am the tour director. It seems to work and I enjoy the down time whilst he is off seeking other human contact other than this old sole.

I get a bit of giggle looking back on the photos of George I have taken, his face for the food I serve him, his face when a beeer is in his hand, his “i am not asleep” but out like a light face and the face of “oh no not another selfie”.

We know our home town has been hit with really bad weather and we are both hoping everyone is staying safe. We are managing a telephone hook up with Lee and Kerry Hallett each week, so its just like a normal “covid” Wednesday for us.

I miss our awesome trio (Ty Kiandra and Jay) in Melbourne but they keep in touch with us and ensure me they are all fine. Keep it up kids, just stay well and safe.

PS Happy Birthday to all my fellow Leos and especially Sarah Eichhorn who turns 21 tomorrow.

Until next week southerners, good night!!