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