Wer'e Back on air. Katherine to Darwin.

Today is the 4th of August 2017. This morning at 2.30am Damo's mum passed away after a long battle with cancer. We were all heart broken to get this news & our thoughts and love go out to the family. Julia no longer has to struggle and can now rest in peace.

I now have a new computer as the last one was really cactus.
I took it back to JB Hi Fi in Darwin as I bought it at JBs in Hervey Bay, after they played with it for 2
hours I was given the sad diagnosis of a dead hard drive.
The good news was that for some strange reason when I bought it I took out a 3 year replacement insurance, which I have never done before, so I was refunded the entire purchase price & used it toward buying a better one. So now I am really glad it died as this one is heaps better.
My advice, never buy a HP ( Heap of Pus ).
As I have now lost count of the days, I think I have missed 5 or 6, I am going to put up a heap of pics to tell the story. Katherine to Douglas Springs ( Heaven in the dust ) to Adelaide river to Darwin.
We have now covered 4300K.

4

 Flying fox fruit bats by the millions at the entrance to Katherine gorge. (Kevin got shat on )

 Fruit bats.

 Skippy under the fruit bats

 Fruit bats up close. As it got hotter they fanned themselves with their wings.

 We took a cruise up the first 2 gorges & this was the first freshy we spotted.

 A view entering the gorge.

 Pano of the gorge.

 Some 20,000 year old grafiti.

 We got off the first boat to walk over the rocks to the second boat.

 It just got better & better.

 Narrower & higher.

 These guys are trusting the rumor the all the saltys have been removed for the season. I am not so sure as they still have salty traps out.

 The travellers.

 Another nice view of the gorge.

 Sometimes a bit hard to tell a salty from a freshy from this angle. Sunning himself as we passed. It was hot but I didn't feel much like a swim.

 A lookout over the first gorge. We walked up there shortly after this.

 On the walk up Kevin paused for a pictograph.

 At the lookout, it was HOT.

After travelling 4000k we stayed in the Katherine van park, only to find Jasons' parents,
( Warwick & Julie ) who have been here off & on since April last year, living about 50 metres away. We had social drinks with them for 2 afternoons & it was great to catch up.

A short video in Katherine gorge.

 Its raining crocs on the roof. Well plastic ones anyway. We were about to do a boat ride on salty infested Adelaide river, they were absolutely everywhere. The boat safety briefing was interesting.
We are required to supply life jackets by law, but if we sink throw the life jacket as far away as possible & swim like stink the other way as crocs are attracted to the red life jacket colour.

 This one was fairly harmless.

 The first of many that cruised up to the boat.

 The driver tormenting one with a pork chop. They really can jump. This was a fairly small one.
Do not put heads or hands over the rail as it is only 18 inches above the water & the crocs aren't too fussy. One lady had one snap its jaws about 3 inches in front of her face.

 Another salty chilling on the bank.

 Right beside the boat.

 This was a much friendlier croc.

 A herd of water buffalo grazing in the wetlands near the Adelaide river.
The local cattle station losses over a hundred head of cattle each year to crocs, when they go down to the river for a drink.

 A whip snake at Edith falls, Had just caught and swallowed a frog moments before.

 Swimming in the beautiful clear water at Edith falls, easy to take in this hot weather.

 A trendy pic taken by Yvonne at Edith falls.

 Jo testing the water at Edith falls, the head in the water is Kevin, not a croc.

 Steam coming off the hot waters at Douglas springs. This is a magical place & one of the best places we have spent a couple of nights at. The boiling water joins the cold stream, so you just find a spot with a temp that suits you & spend the whole afternoon in it.

 Douglas Springs, crystal clear & pure water.

 This is not a pic of Yvonnes foot, but one of many spots that steaming hot water emerges from holes in the rock or ground.

A dry & dusty camp compensated for by the great springs. We really enjoyed our stay here. If you get a chance GO THERE.

 Leaving Douglas Springs on the way to Adelaide River.

 On the way to Robin Falls Southwest of Adelaide river.

 Robin Falls, a little swimming oasis.

 Looking back over the rock pool from the base of the waterfall.

 The well kept Adelaide river war cemetary.

 Mindil beach, Darwin.

 Afternoon at the Mindil beach Markets. Every kind of ethnic food you can imagine.

 Some of the many entertainers at the markets. They looked a little ordinary but they were great.

 Sunset at Mindil Beach.

 The sun kisses the ocean from Mindil Beach.

 Quite a few sunset watchers.

 Another Adelaide river croc from Yvonnes camera.

 Any hans or heads over the side ??

 Notice this croc is missing his front right leg, which was bitten off by another croc.

 Yours truly on the wharf at Darwin. I have been here before, watching boats go by. This is my favorite place in Darwin.

 As above.

We have met up with Dansies, ex Howard residents now at Hervey Bay, who were up here on holidays visiting their son in the army. We also met up with the Williams at the caravan park, also ex Howard residents.

 A truly ugly boat goes past.

A better looking boat going past.