ALICE TO DARWIN

ALICE TO DARWIN
22nd-28th April
With our friends Graeme, Maxine, Greg & Shirley we departed Alice Springs. Of course we had to stop and experience the outback hospitality at Pilton’s Hilton, the Barrow Creek Hotel, (Home of Bullshit & Beer) not my words. While having a drink at the bar and conversation with the local barman we observed a lot of interesting memorabilia adorning the walls and ceiling and any other spare surface area. Of course we had to add our touches, just to say we had been there.
Only a further 44klms on (a total of 326klms for the day) we decided to make camp at rest area 28, Taylor Creek. The 3 vans made a circle and we were set. Out came the refreshments, liquid as well, and after gathering firewood and D’Arcy with his chainsaw a lovely fire was on its way. The boys felt so comfortable they decided that this would be a 2 night stopover. So we did and just had such a lovely time. D’Arcy brought out his didgeridoo and with our background music wasn’t tooooooo bad. It is just lovely being in the outback and seeing beautiful sunsets and sharing it with beautiful people.
Our journey on to Tennant Creek is not without a stop to view The Devil’s Marbles, huge rounded boulders, balanced precariously. They owe their shape to millions of years of erosion and are a photographer’s delight. After a short stop in Tennant Creek it was decided that we would make our day’s end at Three Ways Roadhouse situated at the junction of the Stuart & Barkly H’Ways making it the gateway to the Territory from the east. This is where we said our good-byes to Shirley & Greg, as they were heading home to Sarina, on the Queensland coast. After a few drinks at the bar we had a lovely meal in the restaurant. Thankyou Greg & Shirley. Enjoyed your company on & off from Coober Pedy.
With just two in our convoy now we headed off towards Daly Waters, a distance of 339klms, with refreshment and fuel stops on the way. According to information Daly Waters was the site of Australia’s first international airport built in 1930 for planes that had a limited fuel range. The well-known Daly Waters Pub is a favourite stop-over for travellers being the oldest living pub in the Territory, with walls of paraphernalia and memorabilia. A real classic of a place and known for its bbq of barra & beef, which we enjoyed while listening to the entertainment. Maxine beat me in a game of pool while the boys enjoyed their beer and conversations at the bar. Today, being Anzac Day, there was a game happening at the entrance when we arrived. Thought of you all day Jackie, (my daughter) Happy Birthday..xx
With only a distance of 274klms the next day saw us in Katherine, the third-largest town in the Northern Territory and home to about 9000 people. Its most famous icon is Katherine Gorge which sits in the Nitmiluk National Park. Our main aim for Katherine was to see the gorge, which we did. The system has 13 individual gorges, which we saw 3 by way of a guided cruise. During this part of the journey we had to pull over for a few very oversized loads of machinery equipment.
After our 2 night stay in Katherine we only had 320klms to Darwin. A lunch stop at the Adelaide River Inn was on our menu. This being home to the famous “Charlie the Buffalo” star of Crocodile Dundee 1 & 2. As we hadn’t decided where to stay we stopped at a caravan park at Coolalinga, 26klms. south of Darwin on the Stuart H’Wy. We booked in for a week to get the feel of Darwin and what there was to offer in the way of caravan parks. Although they look ok in a book you still have to go and investigate.

Till next post......