Last weeks Adventures

Wednesday 23rd July 2008
Well, we set off this morning with the idea we would Bush Camp along the road at where ever we get to by about 4:30pm. We arrived at Mataranka about 10:30am and decided to stop at Bitter Springs for a dip in the thermal pools... it was wonderful!!! Swam there for about an hour and a half it was so good, we both felt so energised afterwards. Back into the wagon again and headed for “Fran’s Devonshire Tea House” at Larrimah, she had a freshly baked leg of lamb in the oven and home-made Damper Rolls... this was her special for the day, Roast Lamb on a Damper Roll with gravy.... Yummo!!!!! Then we had sweets, Oh Boy!!! Ray had a home-made “Fruit Spring Roll” with home-made Ice-cream. Of course he couldn’t eat the Ice-cream so I had to eat that... double Yummo!!! I also had a home-made butter-milk scone with jam & cream... Yummo-Bumbo. Then we rolled ourselves back into the wagon and continued on our journey to ’who knows where’. Arrived at Daley Waters about 3:30pm, thought we’d drive in for a look. Then remembered that this is where the ‘singing chook man’ is – Frank, so stayed the night here, along with another 500 travellers with their caravans, mobile-homes, campers and tents, but it was a great night with Burra & Salads for dinner and Bacon Eggs & Pancakes for breakfast. Yummo-Bumbo Again!!!!

Thursday 24th July 2008
Travelled from Daley Waters to Wauchope today, big drive, after all the food we have eaten over the past 24hours, it was a very lethargic drive as well.....

Friday 25th July 2008
Arrived in Alice for lunch today, did another small shop for a few supplies, got more fuel and continued on our journey to Stuart Wells, where we booked in for 2 nights. We met a couple from Coffs Harbour who are working at the Roadhouse for a few weeks. Small world aye!!! We also met “Dinky” the signing dingo... great act for an old dingo, obviously love the sound of the piano and just goes off with his ‘singing’ howling...

Sunday 27th July 2008
On the road again after a day of R&R. We arrived at the Kings Canyon Resort about 3:30pm, and the place was chock-a-block with caravans. There we were trying to park on a tiny squishing little corner site... and we were going to be there for 3 nights, I don’t think so.... Along came a lovely little lady scooting around on a Skoda, to help us. She immediately took us to a great spot on a grassy area away from the entire crowd, and it is lovely. We have settled in here for a few days to go for the Canyon walks.

Monday 28th July 2008
Up early this morning to get our BIG walk started before it gets too hot. We did the Kings Canyon Ridge walk!!! It began with a very very steep climb up the spur of the canyon to the top. Then we walked all around the rim of the canyon, some places it was along the cliff edge, which didn’t impress Ray very much. There were some very easy places as well; a lot of work has been put into making the walk as safe as possible, with steps, boardwalks and bridges across the actual canyon. Once around the main canyon part, we descended down the other side back to the car

park.

It was a 6km loop walk and took us nearly 4 hours. About half way along the walk is the Garden of Eden, a delightful area of cool waterholes and riverine vegetation. Although I think it is dried up at the moment, as we didn’t see any waterholes. It was still very impressive just the same.

It never ceases to amaze me how this planet is put together. The land formations just across Australia along are unbelievable. After our walk this morning, we had a very lazy afternoon and an early night.

Tuesday 29th July 2008
This morning, more walking... not quite as early start but we did do 2 walks. The first one was up the Kings Creek itself. This was at the bottom of the Canyon, opposed to where we were yesterday, at the top; along the dry creek bed of the Canyon. A very easy walk along a path, about 2km and it look us about an hour. Extremely interesting to see the amazing textures and formation in the rock walls, also the way nature creates her magnificent brick work. The second walk was into Katherine Springs, it was about 2.6kms and a very dry walk, but at the dead end of the path was a large pool of spring water, although it certainly was not swimmable or drinkable. We have some very friendly wild life in our camp site here. Lots of pigeons, pee-wees, crows and dingos, all come for a wander through the camp looking for whatever they can find to eat. There are lots of signs around, warning us of the dingos and NOT to feed them or encourage them into the park. They really don’t need any encouragement though; they just come right on in up close to where we are sitting. It’s off to Ayers Rock tomorrow, hope it’s all that I’m expecting....