Plenty Highway

Headed south on Thursday the 19th to Daly Waters to check out the historic pub which was filled with stuff! Had lunch at the Elliott roadhouse with a flock of peacocks.Stayed the night at Tennant Creek, still hot 34 degrees, 20 overnight.
Checked out the Devil's Marbles before heading to Gemtree on the Plenty Highway through a plague of locusts.
On the road we passed a huge termite mound, flocks of green budgies and quail, a couple on pushbikes riding from Alice to Longreach, nutters!In places the grass was 2 feet high from all the rain, the cattle was laying around too full to move.But passing into Queensland it was dry open plains.
Camped the night on the Georgina River and caught up with some pig hunters with a ute load of live wild porkers.
Fuelled up at Boulia and onto Mt Isa for a couple of days. Phil done the tour at the Extrata silver, lead, zinc and copper mine.
Drove onto Cloncurry and headed north for Karumba, where we have spent the last 2 days. Had a nice feed of prawns ($15 a kilo) and Phil done a fishing charter, but only brought home 1 blue salmon.
Heading east on Friday.

Darwin

We shared a kilo of crocodile meat on the barbie with the Shepherds on our last night in Kununurra, beautiful favour but a bit tough.
We finally vacated Western Australia after about 3 months, passing into Northern Territory and losing 1 1/2 hours in the process.
We are now covering old ground that we did 5 years ago, only going the opposite direction. We jumped in the hot springs upon arriving in Katherine (very refreshing). We voted at the polling booth at Woollies and had the ute serviced for the second time (20,000 klms). Not good to be in Katherine on Thursday, pay day for local unemployed
We had a night with earlier acquaintances at Edith Falls before heading to Darwin.
We had a nice cool off in Berri Springs before camping the night at Mandorah, across the harbour from Darwin.
We checked out the WW2 Liberator plane crash at Wagait Beach before heading to Darwin to hit the shops, Mindle market, Casaurina shopping centre and the mall, not forgetting a quilt shop too., ute chockers.
Temperature in Darwin too hot for us, 32 plus.
Spent a night on Dundee Beach before heading south to Katherine for another dip in the springs. Camped tonight at Mataranka, more springs.

Darwin

Cockburn Ranges

We left Derby with good memories and headed east through tribes of boabs. They are like families, standing there with grandparents, parents and children, amazing to see! Halls Creek had cleaned up it's act after our last visit 5 years ago, which was pleasing to see. We spent the next 5 days in he Cockburn Ranges area which was fantastic. Murlga Billabong we took some video of 2 snakes in some mating ritual, check the video, Amazing! ElQuestro has some great gorges with palms, ferns, warm rock pools and waterfalls. Great for cooling off. Home Valley had some great accommodation and entertainment. Tried for a Barra no luck. At Kununurra we are camping with my old work mate, Doug Shepherd and family, who are travelling in the opposite direction. Good to see a familiar face. Weather is perfect, swimming in the pool, sightseeing, we are nearly professional tourists. We done the Ord River cruise yesterday and witnessed a beautiful sunset. Heading to Katherine on Wednesday.

Beautiful Boabs

Camping at Djoodoon was interesting especially with an alcoholic camp host, but learnt heaps from Toby and Gaye from Paynesville. Caught more fish and found a 15" cone shell. Perfect spot except for mozzies and midgies.

Checked out the church at Beagle Bay with an alter made out of pearl and other shells.

Stayed a night at Quondong Point, very hot, bathed in rock pools and watched whales.

Back to Broome for another swim and supplies then set off for Derby.

Had 3 days at Derby, checking out the 11 meter tides, Boab prison tree and many indigenous people.

We had a 2 hour flight over the horizontal falls, cockatoo Island and The King Sound, paid for by owning the winning crab at the very popular Derby Mud Crab racers.

We are now frequently running into tourists that we have met earlier down the track and also have many names and addresses.