23/5
Quiet day. 2 hours book work, finished rearranging the van. Back bed
to table bed less the big front squab. Have room to put the printer there now.
Chatted Swiss firends for ages this morning. Went to
Coles then down to the ford, back to another Zebra Gallery and had coffee.
Bought an elephant $45! Only place in
the world this rock has been found. Still some around and in Lake Argyle.
24/5
Drove to Valentine Pool – 5km on good dirt, then tried to get to
Middle Spring but after bouncing along on washed out dirt then deep bull dust I
chickened out, turned round and came home. So another lazy
afternoon. Will check out Litchfield park now and maybe base myself there to go
to Darwin on day trips…..
25/5
Left Kununurra about
9. Friends came to garage – checked all tyre pressures for me. Stopped at
a camp area about 11.30 for lunch –
another camper came over to tell me I had a broken spring on the van ( front left!) We
taped up the hanging bit and I drove very carefully to Timber Creek about 100km.
Can't find a mechanic here but at the park overnight and there may be someone
who can fix it – if he answers his phone! Otherwise may have to get RAC on the
job. Or get a block of wood and tape it on the chassis – or something like
that. Feeling really shaken by the whole thing – was having such a lovely run
too.
Will go see the crocs being fed tonight and maybe
get a Pizza for dinner. A tavern attached to the
roadhouse so who knows what tonight will bring! At least I am sleeping inside
now so should be quiet enough.
Had a coffee and chat to 3 couples from Perth travelling together.
Talking to friends – offered to find spring tomorrow for me so will see what
happens.
26/5
Found the wonderful
Mark – ground keeper and jack of all trades!!!! He can either do the block job
or fix the spring so rang friend back and he is bringing one up from Kununurra
today for me. $50 for a new double spring – a bit narrower. Lovely people.
Delicious pizza – 10” supreme for $12
So – a quiet day – shed a few tears – must have
been a lot more tense than I thought!!!! Played wiz, gazed into the river for
ages trying to see fish…. And just waiting for the springto turn up.
Magnificent American mahogany trees here.
27.5
Mark here about 11 am started on spring. Friend took
my ute and went to the dump this morning
and found an old spring – too big but they took 3 leaves off it and put on the
double leaf one. A very long day it seemed but all back
together by about 4.30!!!!! Gave Mark cash, will still buy a proper spring just
in case…. Had a few wines tonight to
celebrate!!!!
28/5
Drove to Katherine –
find someone to repair. Neil Engineering - $200 for a heavier spring but need
one either side plus $100 per hour labour x 3-4 hours – and can't do it until
Thursday!!!! Ugh! Van still a bit lopsided and I guess better to do the job
properly! Neil was surprised the front had gone- usually the back apparently. Booked
into Riverview park $34 per night – 3 nights! Friends a few sites down. We went for a hot (Warm) spring dip and had to walk the long way round as gate
locked.
29/5
Groceries and a haircut ($27.50!!!). Seems Neil is
the only one to fix the springs in town. Jayco offered to send a tandem - set
are $250 each and have to send back and front as a set – plus freight and would
take a week to get here!!! NAH!
I think the ‘bushmen’ have caught my brake wire –
couldn’t release it yesterday and can't put it on properly today!
Lovely cool day for a change – should have played
golf but defrosted the freezer box, and doing the washing now. Will be nice
just to settle again .
30/5
Out to Katherine gorge – had a look and a coffee!
Don’t think it would be as pretty as Geikie so didn’t bother with the boat trip.
Got groceries, fuel. Catch up on computer, Wiz etc. then out to RSL withfriends (courtesy shuttle). Good feed then on the pokies. I spent$
$15 and won $40 – then fed it all back.
31/5
Dropped van off at Neil Engineering at 7.30. Macs
for breakfast then out to Springvale homestead. Took 1.5 years to bring sheep
and cattle up from Adelaide 1860? Didn’t last long as the spear grass killed
the sheep and ticks and red water fever got the cattle. 4 stunning Indian Rain
trees – oldest 130 years. Each planted when a child born. Also Cork, Boab and
others planted to help sustain the family. She sold preserves (hence the cork
tree). 1998 flood up to the ceiling in the homestead.
Went to art centre and was going to museum when
Neil rang to say van was done – only $630! Both new Australia made 8 leaf
springs. Have to tighten the u bolts after 1000 km. Headed off to Litchfield
Park – booked for 3 nights. Lovely grassed and shady spot but no internet. I
did stop near Adelaide River and sent the family update email.
Lovely park here. Met Joe Haitana, daughter
Shelley etc. Been here 3 years but left Raetihi many years ago ’66. Had a Barra
Burger for dinner and off to bed early.
1/6
Hot last night – left the little fan on most of
the night and all windows open. Done the washing, catch up on books , got the
dog poo removed from in front of the van – complete with thousands of
blowflies! Soak the feet, listen to the radio…. Will go exploring tomorrow.
2/6
Off by 7.30 to see the park. Lovely drive although
a lot of burn-off. Several fat buffalo grazing. Lots of ups and downs, corners
– just like home. High plateaus then down into valleys.
Crazy termites – have to wonder why there is just
a patch of these ‘magnetic’ ones and ordinary ones there as well.
Tolmer falls – stunning lookout spot but all I could
think of was Cave Creek tragedy – a huge long drop below me made my stomach
churn briefly when I first looked! Would be an amazing sight in the wet season.
Down to Cascade Curtain but getting too hot to walk so back to Wangi Falls.
Glorious pool to swim in – crystal clear waters. Wasn’t too cold either –
stayed in about half hour. Masses of traffic on the way back – all the other
pool car parks full. Went to Florence pool look out but not game to go down 135
stepsJ
Decided Lost City road was way too windy and bumpy -10km – too hard! Back was
sore after the Kununurra trip and that was nowhere near as long.
3/6
Heading towards Darwin. Lots of grass fires under the trees –
permanent haze it seems. No where as much undergrowth so the fires mostly just
creep.
Rang Jfriend from Rotorua re staying but in amongst mango trees and quite tight
so went to Coolalinga camp. No-one there to take us in so cleaner showed us
where to park. 400 spots, lots of permanents it seems. All a bit odd. $35 per
night and I'm told the only place that will take dogs! Good woolworths etc. –
very handy.
Spent the afternoon with Kiwi friend. They are renting permanent caravan behind a house – very
happy.
4/6
Went to Darwin for breakfast! Finally found the Casino so
stopped there and had a buffet for $16 – was 10.30 by then! Played the pokies -
$35 in but took $20 out in coins for the washing machines. Pretty town – very humpy with lots of trees and narrow windy streets.
Didn’t even see the town centre. Back to friend for dinner. Saw part of the eclipse
of the moon.
5/6
Bookwork then in to Palmerston to Bunnings – screw for the
van. Also to BTC re inline water filter for the hose but was talked out of that
– easily. Better to put in the big double filter to hook on the
van – all too hard. Seemed to get lost quite easily around here – 2 main
highways and crazy off ramp roads. Lots of green ants all over neighbours van, Friend's for dinner again.
6/6
Drove to Pine Creek, stopped at Adelaide River market day and
bought jam, beetroot pickle, anzac biscuits and boiled fruit cake! Then to
Pussy Cat Flats Turf club - $10.50 per person for power, no water but can fill
tanks. Bar opens at 4pm, big TV there also. Maybe 8 vans here. Havent unhooked
but may stay another night – have internet!!!!
Enjoyable evening chatting to a local and some of the nomads.
Had fish and chips for dinner and a couple of mini bottles of wine.
7/6
Back to Katherine. Went to
Neil again and talked him in to doing new springs on the back of the van –
today! $600 even though the springs were dearer – didn’t say how much but I
reckon $100 labour is more than enough anyway. Went to town and got money out, fuel then back to museum until van ready. Booked into Boab park – was
Redgum. Swiss friends still here. All concrete pads to drive on, and grass all
round. New ablution block as well. Very nice. Big fire to the south so a bit
smokey. Yummy pork belly done in apple/mint juice with peas and onion! Havent
cooked for a few days!
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