Days 22- 23, Saturday/ Sunday, 3/4 July
Well, escaped Alice Springs bright and early . Three weeks in and still not in WA though!
A long day’s drive – over 900 km and 10 or so hours. Ness did the long leg driving to Tennant Creek. We had a quick stop to stretch at Barrow Creek and a slightly longer break for lunch at the Devil’s Marbles. As most people probably know, these feature over a few hectares , just adjacent to the Stuart Highway, about an hour south of Tennant Creek. A product of differential weathering and erosion of a granite belt, the results are interesting- although Mark’s hurried photo doesn’t do them any justice.
Refuel at Tennant Creek, then onto Daly Waters, around another 4 1/2 hours up the Stuart Highway. A lot of road trains and an even more incredible amount of really big and slow moving caravans. We were grateful for the 580nm of torque and 200kw of power the Amarok provides when you plant your feet – it makes overtaking road trains and wobbly caravans a fair bit easier!
Another feature of the afternoon’s drive was the sheer number of caravans crammed into the road side stopping bays and camping – neither of us have ever seen anything quite like it . Turns out this was a preview for what awaited at Daly Waters.
We arrived at Daly Waters around 5:30 pm to find the place heaving with people and caravans. We waited a while in a queue at the pub to find out the place was about 110% full 😳. Even the overflow camp ground was full. We were offered ( and accepted) what was pretty much a dusty space in a carpark behind the caretaker’s place . 20 or so minutes later we were set up and wandered back to the ( interesting) Pub for a cleansing ale and a great pub dinner.
Sunday. Up early and on the road again, destination Nitmiluk ( Katherine Gorge). Pleasant drive , got to Katherine around 11:30 am.
While refuelling in Katherine we saw a very strong contender for the 2021 Darwin awards. This legend had climbed onto his roof rack with the diesel hose and was refuelling Jerries lying on horizontal on the roof. 🤔
Pleasant campground at Nitmiluk Gorge on Jaywon Country tonight. We acknowledge the Jaywon people’s traditional custodianship of this land and pay our respects to their elders past, present and emerging.
After a bracing dip in the (lovely) pool we walked up the Gorge a little bit to a lookout to watch the sunset. Not quite as spectacular as what we saw when last here because of some cloud, but good nonetheless.
Walked home in the twilight to a dinner of Crispy Skin Barramundi , salad and Chardonnay by the pool . Thanks to GB!
Ness’ and Mark’s Wandering 