Day 73

Dear hubby first thing he said to me this morning was Happy Birthday....wow he remembered. Then I showed him the new handbag he had brought me in Katherine.

Bit cooler today 3/4 pants and a T shirt today bit cooler today. No air con on in the bus.

Just remembered a tip. The best place to get information from is the pool. You don't have to get in water and talk to people you just have to listen and you find out where people have been and the best spots and what or who to avoid.

Anyway on to Fitzroy Crossing for us tonight. Gerald was going to take me our for tea then that got to just going to the bar for a drink, but it looks like we will be staying in after washing the bus. He is stressing about his TV again, now he thinks his card has packed it in. We still have Austar.


There were some strange buses that we parked between its surprising that they well one in particular allowed to stay is such a nice park. I suppose it was well in the back.

Day 72

I was a lovely day yesterday. Just up set about the ending. Even when we got back to the caravan park we were suppose to move to site 35 but that was taken and there was great confusion, but they fitted us in. Just typical of the day.

Anyway we moved on today it was a bit windy and we used the petrol instead of gas in a few spot its rather hilly. Nothing about this place being flat and boring, every time you look up the landscape has changed. We even saw green grass for the first time. Saw a few wild horses, they took no notice of us at all.

We got two Choc-Wedge at Timber Creek $8.00 and not long after we actually forded a creek, the tyres got wet.

We stayed in a free camp called Spring Creek. Thank goodness for Camps 5 book. I rang and organised for the books to be sent to us at Katherine but when we looked there it was in all the bookshops and camping stores. Oh well re refer to it all the time and the Caravan Park Book too.

Day 71 Monday 27th July 2009

This is a hard entry to write.

Dropped the bus off at the Spring Works at 8am and they ran us back to the park where we picked up our tour at 8.40am. Travelled all over the town picking up people in a Tassie registered tourist bus. On to the boat and up the river the guide stopped several times, well lots of times to point out things birds, rocks, crocs. We stopped for lunch on the banks of the river where the company had a permanent site with toilets table and chairs. The guide brought ashore several eskies and in them there was a magnificent array of meats and salads hot and cold soft drinks. After lunch back on the boat and then we had to got up across the rapids....excellent the guide used to be jet boat driver in NZ. At the dam we transferred to a bus for the trip back to Kununurra, there was a DVD about the construction of the dam and in no time we were back.

Back to the spring works to be told that the bus was too big to fit in their shed. Take it to Perth.

Day 70

Up to Wyndham today. Once the meat works closed in 1988 the town seems to be gradually dying. There was once seven pubs and looking at the plans for the town in the museum it was to be huge.

Several things had be recommended to see. First the lookout and that was worth a look and the museum but we got there at 1.40pm and it closed at 2pm you needed more time. We got Barra and Chips for lunch $14.00 per serve mmmmm. A lady there told us that they are having trouble getting people to man the museum and most people left in the town are trying to do two jobs.

Day 69

Sheet washing and towels day today, the sheets were dry before I hang out the towels it's so hot.

More touristy things today. Out to where they cut and polish the Zebra rocks. They do have some wonderful colours and Gerald wanted to buy me one for my birthday. But there was nothing that I fancied and what was I going to do with it. I would rather have something more practical and I will know it when I find it.

Next was the Celebrity Tree Park where famous people have planted trees. It was lovely just walking round in the late afternoon and reading the plaques. The park is the place where all the water trips start or finish from.

In the park here there are so many permanents that live here. One couple had retired but arrived and went back to work, They had been here four years (found out that he works at Coles Liquor Mart, saw him there). Another couple said they will be here a year before they move on as they had spent five months overseas last year and had to save up. So there must be plenty of work.

Day 68

Today we looked at a lot of the things in the area. First up to Kellys Knob Lookout, its amazing how the Ord scheme has made so much land available for agriculture they grow a diverse range of crops here and you can see a lot from the look out. Next was out to Ivanhoe crossing, where we chatted to a fisherman with no fish and a lot of snags, there was also a croc warning so not too near the water.

The Hoochery Distillery for lunch ....well coffee and cake and several samples, for me anyway, Gerald was driving. While we were waiting we talked to a couple from Qld and the husband does the same thing in his shed as Gerald and we were at a distillery so they had a good old chat. Then we did the tour, they mainly make rum. They had an interesting Painting behind the bar.....

Left over Taco's for tea again tonight

Day 67

We went to a springs works in Kununurra and the guy there said that if we would commit to stay at least a week here he would fix the bus. But he couldn't work on it till Monday then he will take the bushes out and see if there any in stock that will fit if not he will make the parts.

So then we had to find a place to stay. Went to the information centre and the lady rang round and the Ivanhoe Park said they might have something. We arrived there and the only thing they had was an en suite $43 per night and we can only have that for 4 nights that gets us through till Monday morning ....if Gerald can fit the bus on the site. Because when we came over the boarder we had to surrender all our fruit and veg, we had to go shopping, but Gerald easily got the bus in the spot.

We had to book a tour on Monday so have something to do while the bus is being worked on. Its really hot here so you really need air con.

Day 66

Decided to move on, it's great not to have to be anywhere at a certain time. We fuelled up at Timber Creek. I think nearly everyone has to stop there and the LPG was the dearest yet $1.22. I don't know what ULP was but I think it might have been over $2. Two packets of sandwiches and a cup of chips were $13.00.

Saw lots of boab trees. They are said to have been the tree that has been planted upside down, and reputedly some of the trees were used to house prisoners overnight when they were moved from one place to another.

Found it very hard to find somewhere to stay in Kununurra, ended up at the Hidden Valley on an unpowered site we could run our gennie 7am till 7pm.

Day 65

Well wonders will never cease Lauren from Telstra rang me back this morning, to cut a long story short, they are sending me a new phone to Derby.

The Winnebago man rang back (great start to the day), but they don't carry spares. Rang the guy in Launceston that was suppose to have ordered the bushes in Feb...ahhh no he didn't so wonder he wouldn't ring back or come to the phone. So now we have to ring City Ford in Sydney to get them to order the parts and send them to Geoff's brother in Karratha

"On the road again" I got quite excited this morning. After seeing road kill every 50 mt. on the way to Janette and Geoff's it was noticeable on the Victoria Highway there was only one wild pig dead.

I am a Happy Chappie too today my 'o' has come right. So today has been an excellent day. We have stopped this afternoon at Victoria River Roadhouse.

Day 64 Monday 20th July 2009

Well here we are back in Katherine at Cadillac Transport Repairs. Well its back to the bushes, that the latest suggestion with the shakes.

Rang Telstra Lauren is out, but she will ring me back right.......

The 'o' on this computer is so giving me the hebi jebies. I am lucky that I have spell check, because I don't always notice that the 'o' hasn't worked.

Well while I sit here in the repair yard I will see if I can post this on the net. Just had a quick search round t see if there was any unsecured networks but alas none, I will have to use my stick.

Well it turns out that if they take the bushes out and they haven'[t got the right size and they have to be sent from USA it could be three to five weeks and you cant put the old bushes back in. Gerald rang Winnebago in Sydney they will ring him back.

Now we were almost ready to head for home..... Gerald couldn't get any TV stations on any of his set-ups. And we all know that Gerald has to have a TV on in every room of the house even if no one is watching it. But we purchased a new Satellite receiver and he got a diagram which told him that in Tassie we are 15deg off north up her its 55 to 60 deg and he adjusted the LMB pick up lease (he is telling me what to type here) that both boxes came in so once again we have all the local channels and 300 odd with the other box. Happy Chappie.

Day 63

Geralds birthday today.

Geoff headed off to Darwin to collect the girls. He was going to stay overnight there but because the irrigator is still playing up he wants to get back and make sure that it is working properly.

We were heading into Katherine for some shopping, when we saw a spout of water in the sorghum, the hose had pulled off the irritgator. He had cut the hose too short, poor bugger must have killed the irrigator chinarman.

Anyway we stocked up on food and when I went to get some wine the Wollies bottle shop wasn't open.

Had a nice tea with chocolate mud cake for desert, bought not home made, with lots of candles.

Day 62

Since we are staying here till Tuesday I caught up on the washing. Poor Geoff he is still having trouble with his irrigator he calls it his irritator. All the seals were clogged up with grease so he had to make a quick trip to Katherine about 17 km away to get a new seal kit, so once again he had a late tea.


Now I am really pi**ed off, I still havent got my phone and the reason I wanted a new one was the 6 wouldn't always work and that's the mno when texting and now typing the 'oo' on the computer wont work always. Do the ooooo really hate me!!!!

Day 61

Not a very productive day Gerald and I just read. Gerald had found an other Clive Cussler book at the Post Office when we posted off Ben's birthday present.

Its Katherine Show here so everything is closed. So I don't know how Telstra is going t be able do anything about my phone.

Day 60

Well low and behold Telstra rang me back....whopie Lauren at Telstra Alice Springs remembers having to post a phone, but can't find the paper work. As Mifty, also at Telstra Alice springs, tells me its one of the busiest stores in the Territory. Its a bugger when one company has a monopoly.

Day 59

Roast pork for tea tonight so Gerald and I went into Katherine to stock up on fresh veggies. We also stocked up on our fishing gear getting ready to get some Barra when we move on. Don't know when that will be. Gerald thought he might stock on some grog, but of course he couldn't they don't sell grog here until 2 o'clock, and then you are limited to the quantity. As they said in the fishing shop that's one of the pleasures of living in Katherine.

You see some strange vehicles travelling round Australia, we eventually figured out this one came from Western Australia,. We only found out by reading the rego sticker

Anyway the pork was so tender and we had loads of veggies enough for tea tomorrow night.

Day 58

Have to go into Katherine and see it there is a parcel for me at the Post Office Telstra rang me on the 17th of June to say it was fixed and I could pick it up....yeah right drive 1200 km. I was told that they could post it to me where ever we were no problem, so where is it???

Went on a dinner cruise up the Katherine Gorge and it was the best. First you get one boat and travel up the first gorge then walk about 500 m past rock art to another boat and you look at the second gorge. Then walk back past the rock art, which the guide explains and on to the boat set up for dining. The food was superb and the gorge at night spectacular. Would recommend this trip to anyone, especially if you have something to celebrate.

Day 57 Monday 13th July 2009

Into to Katherine today for Geoff to look at the springs on the bus. But all the combined wisdom in the world couldn't find the problem. Gerald tried ringing the Winnebago people but different time zone so he will try tomorrow.

Meantime I manned the office. It was spooky I was talking to Janette on the headset (phone she is still in Sydney) and we are both able to log into her office computer and it was a race to see who could move the mouse the quickest. Anyway got a few things sorted out for her.

We were driving past the pool and there was no one in it there wasn't even any water in it, but we keep forgetting even though we are sweating profusely its winter up here.

Day 56

Went down to the mango early this morning before it got really hot, and found that there was half of row 13 that had to have sprinkler heads too.

This afternoon more friends of Geoff's arrived with their caravan and booked into the Crowhurst Caravan Park they were a family of four.

Geoff took us over the fence to see a Bower Birds nest, and you could see all the shiny screws that it had taken from Geoffs workshop to put in its nest.

We had bush tucker for tea a magpie goose cooked over the open fire. I made potatos wrapped in foil and cooked in the coals with garlic and cheese butter to put on them. It was a yummy tea.

Day 55

Geoff had to work all day, so we had the day to ourselves. Did loads of washing and we thoroughly cleaned the inside of the bus. Hadn't been vacuum in weeks.

I rinsed the rest of the sprinkler heads as we were going to do them for Geoff but it got progressively hot and I got progressively lazy.

Gerald made fried rice and Geoff cooked the Barra that Deano gave us before we left Kakadu

Day 54

For me Kakadu has been an experience that we want to do again. Also in the wet, they tell us its spectaluar with all the water.

To day we headed back to Katherine, calling into Pine Creek there is a railway museum there, therefore a must. But as luck would have it as we arrived a large tourist bus called in, they weren't there long. They were hustled in and hustled out, we are so luck to be able to take our time. As we left Pine Creek it was interesting to see that all the traffic was made up of caravans and motor homes. It was the same on the Kakadu Highway, without tourist there would only be the mine. We spent almost $1000 in tours (worth every penny) and I suppose most people would spend that and more with more expensive accommodation.

Back to Geoff and Janettes the dogs we very pleased to see us. Zoot even took a liking to our bed .

Day 53

More lovely showers this morning. The to meet Deano. He takes three so a young chap about 16 Harley made up the numbers.

Dean had a Barra Boat with 135HP on the back. We saw heaps of crocs and heaps of birds, but hard as Dean tried we couldn't 'boat' a Barra, Gerald had three strikes, Harley had one and I got mine almost o the net and it spat the lure out.

Even thought we didn't get a Barra we had 5 hours (we had a little bit more) on the water saw more crocs and Deano knew just as much as the cruise skippers (he has been doing it for thirteen years), pointed out the different birds the love me bird all it does it stare at its reflection all day, the bully bird (Kyte) we saw it take on a sea eagle twice its size.


So all in all if you want to take a cruise on Yellow Water at Cooinda, take it with Deano five hours for $180 opposed to two hours for $74 only three people against 60 (you don't have to fight for a view) you get a lovely sunset if your take the afternoon trip and you get to fish for Barra and that an experience not like normal fishing......you might even catch one. Big recommendation here!!!!!

Day 52

Because we are fully self-contained we never use the facilities at a caravan park or camp ground. But as we didn't fill with water at Jabiru, we used the showers at Mardugal and they were excellent cleaned everyday and I must admit it was lovely to have a nice long shower not having to worry about the water.

Just remembered must tell you about the helicopters at Jabiru. There are three, the tourist one which is the one we went on. The bugger on is hired out on contract mainly by Telstra to keep the phone services going . And the third one is used by the National Parks at this time of the year to drop incendiary devises to light fires. They call it a cool burn it doesn't last long and doesn't hurt the animals or the ant hills, just keeps the undergrowth down so that in about October when there is a lot of lighting and that starts 'wild fires' there isn't much fuel.

The pics are of the wonderful pool at Kakadu Ladge and the one of Gerald is on a walk to the billabong at Mardugal

Day 51

Geoff rang this morning and said if we wanted to do a fishing trip he knew that Deano who operated out of Cooinda Lodge has two spare this afternoon. So we tried to ring the lodge while we drove there and no one was answering the phone. We found out why when we got there there was only one poor girl on the desk and the computers had gone down. There was only one seat on the tour available and none till Thursday, and they didn't know if there were any powered sites. So we waited and waited eventually there were no powered only unpowered at $30 a night we left and went to the National Park facilities at Mardugal $20 and you could use your generator.

We rang from there and booked Deano's tour for Thursday afternoon and Sunset cruise on Yellow Water today.

To fill in time we went to the Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre, which was very interesting. While I was waiting to pay for our cruise there was a guy who looked like a guide trying tom get service but said he just couldn't wait and there would be a formal complaint going in. They are seriously under staffed, but they have a monopoly there so the management probably don't care the staff was trying to do their best.

Took the cruise, but unfortunately a tour group got on board before us and they took all the "window" seats, you had to wait till they sat down to see what the guide was talking about. A New Zealand couple on the cruise said they paid $40 for a powered site and had continuous stream of people walking past them just a foot from their van...not happy Jan.

Day 50 6th July 2009

Today we did the Ranger Mine Tour, it was excellent in an air conditioned bus (RUM) Ranger Uranium Mine, with only one short walk to look down into the open cut mine. There was a DVD player which explained the processes.

Went out to Ubirr pronounced Oo-beerr, where we say lots of rock art. The rangers give talks there twice a day morning and afternoon. We have been told that its an excellent place to see sunrise of sunset, but Gerald didn't went to be driving back in the dark its about 40 km. So we checked out Merl camp ground which will do us fine for next time. I know we will be back there is so much more to see, especially in the wet.

That makes seven weeks.

Day 49

Explored Jabiru, found the shopping centre. On the side of our bus are two eyes and we didn't know what they were for until at Mataranka we saw that a van had like an airing rack attached for small washing items. We looked everywhere we could think of for one of these and low and behold we found one in the supermarket at Jabiru. I also got a new fruit bowl this one is made out of wood and already has had one crash so its needs some anti slip matting.

We had lunch beside Lake Jabiru, there were a lot of people there and lots of Jabiru birds.

Then to the airport we were about an hour early but we watched the planes and helicopters land and take off, its busier than Launceston airport. I just happen to mention to Gerald that we were very early for our 2.30 flight and the pilot heard me and said we could go now.

Wow what an experience, there were no doors on the helicopter so I did have some reservations at first but it was excellent thoroughly recommend it.

Came back and had a swim cool but ok once you got used to it. Then we had a BBQ tea at the Lodge beside the pool. Gerald had a bit of everything except the kangaroo, he said the steak was so tender and the sausage was very tasty. I just had Barra and tried the Kangaroo, that was a bit tough and the fish was a bit dry, but nice not to have to cook.

Day 48

Geralds back was really bad this morning, so today was a nothing day. I gave him part of his birthday present........yes I know that it's very early but he wanted something to read and I had got him the new Clive Cussler book so he read all day. He already has the first part of his present, he left his beach towel at home and I had got him a Collingwood one so he already had that.

I did a bit of washing, very nice facilities and we booked for another two nights.

Day 47

Headed to Jabiru and on the way we saw acres upon acres of mango farms. Gerald did mention that he would hate to have to do the sprinkler heads on them.

We stopped at the Bark Hut and got some lunch and found a strip map of the Stuart Highway showing all the places we had been.

Yep you guessed it here I have been saying how well everything has been going well was today a BAD day. The road was really rough and the bus shook, the road was narrow with a bit of a drop off, the music was not the best and I had my head in the computer, we missed a turn, the fruit bowl that has sat on the counter for over six weeks smashed on the floor, we couldn't get in to a park, you could say things were a bit tense for a while. We got out and went to a information centre and the girl there pointed out some free camps and told us where the Kakadu Lodge was. I phoned them they said they had plenty of room but don't take phone bookings, so ended up there and booked for two nights but I think we will stay another two its very nice. Gerald got to use his Seniors Card and got a discount.

This is spooky but Lynne Terry had mentioned that they were coming out to Kakadu this weekend and they are here too. So she and John came round and we had a drink or two.

Day 46

As we were packing up to leave today a young couple that had rented their rig gave us all the bits and pieces they had left over as they were handing their vehicle back today, very nice of them.

Anyway back to Coolalinga to stock up with fuel, food and alcohol. We tried several caravan parks but the only one we could get into was at Arcadia Store 30km back the way we came.

Guess what Gerald has been doing this afternoon, those who know him well will have guessed....washing the tyres on the bus and spraying them, also washed the bus down a bit.

No phone or internet here so I will have to post this when we get service tomorrow when we head for Jabriu

Day 45

Murphy's law when we really wanted to run the generator last night we found that we had run the petrol down so low the generator couldn't pick it up. Oh well it wasn't that bad.

Went to Wangi Falls today and we had a beautiful swim. Its a very large area and the falls are magnificent. Last time we were here we were told that people drive from Darwin to get a hamburger at the Wangi Falls Cafe, at $10 for a steakburger and $9 for a hamburger it wasn't for us. We had a sausage roll each and they were $3 each. I had another swim and we headed back to the park

Day 44

Moved out to the Safari Park at the western end of Lichfield and caught up on a few jobs. Gerald is watching something he had recorded....cant get satellite reception.

Just talking to people that have been in caravan parks often say that this one had the best facilities or poor facilities, we never know we don't use them. Just as long as we have power to run the air con and preferably a bit of grass to put the table and chairs on. A nice view is good and hopefully no one too near.

Having said that when we got to this park the power is run off a generator and it might fry our batteries so we have an unpowered site but as its not actually in the National Park we can run our generator.

Day 43 Monday 29th June 2009

Thanks Matty.......he had picked us a nice spot to stay but at about 11.30 a security guy said we had to move but we could stay on the nice grassed area on top of the hill, he would take us up if we liked. Told us that there would he a few up there by the end of the night. At 1.30am knock on the door cant stay here, council land, different security guy...but we could stay for the rest of the night. But we did hear on the news that 4 kids aged 9 to 14 had stolen a car from Mindel Markets and were chased round the Cullen Bay area...so things were happening in the area.

We decided to head for Dundee Beach for a nice relaxing time Matty gave us the number of a guy to take us Barra fishing. Unfortunately the road was sooooo badly corrugated it almost shook the windows out of the bus only after 200 metres.

We ended up in the Batchelor Resort had a dip, well I did, in the pool it was a bit chilly. Had the best nights sleep with he air con on.

Day 42

After a lovely night at East Point Lynn Terry, can't spell her married name, called out to see us and we caught up on the gossip. While we were chattling the Bayles and Kolkirks moved over near the marina.

We went down to Cullen Bay and saw that the boats were anchored just off the beach. I had been hanging out for a serve of Barra and chips from a little shop there we had had them there before with Geralds brother ( remember Tony). Just not my day they were closed till 5.30. So we decided to head out of town probably to Lichfield, but just as we got to town Colleen rang to say they were in the Top End Pub and there was heaps of room in the car park. After a quiet afternoon we all headed back to the Cullen Bay, thank goodness for the bus.

Had a very nice and reasonably priced meal in the Boardwalk Cafe...Sunday Roast. I had my Barra.

We were looking at the lights on the boats coming back to the marina when someone realised that neither boat had any nav light on. So by the time Gerald got out of the loo everyone had disappeared.

Day 41

After spending $980.00 on the tyres we went down to see if we could see the Bayles and Kolkirks. They all arrived in a couple of loads, Bridport must be almost deserted there was Matthew and Colleen, Tony and Denise, Lisa and Kella all on Black Hart and on the Kolkirks boat was Katie, John, Luke and Trevor the dog.

We took the four Kolkirks for a tour of Darwin and the Plane Museum, then shopping and had a few drinks in Cullen Bay and looked out for HC for Luke. Matty and Colleen came in and picked them up and Gerald and I went out to East Point for the night.

Day 40

Left the Crowhurst at 9.15 am and took the girls into Kathrine to say good bye to their dad, I forgot it was birthday for a while.

Had to find a post office to send some urgent stuff off then on to the airport. Friends of the girls arrived and had some muffins and candles (couldn't' light them) for Emma. They got on board and them the plane sat there for 25 min before it left, I was worried that they might have to get off again as it has happened before.

Didn't have much luck getting a caravan park so we went to Cassurina Shopping centre and had tea did some shopping and I had my nails fixed.

I had sent Colleen a text as I had heard that they were on the way to Darwin in their boat and low and behold Matthew was on the phone they were anchored in Fanny Bay, having arrived there at about 2 pm.

We spent the night on the fore court of Beaurepairs Winnillie as we had to be there at 8 am for our tyres to be fitted.

Day 39

Put more sprinkler heads on the mangos but ran out only to find 87 were still up at the house unwashed.

Gerald washed the bus and we just sat round while the girls made sure every thing was packed for tomorrow.

Went to the Kathrine RSL for Emma's 13th birthday tea.