Katherine

We had a very short trip today of only 106km so we arrived before lunch. Packing up was a bit like being in a sauna as it was very humid and hot - especially for Dennis and Tops who were in the sun! We have noticed it's much hotter and more humid than the last time we travelled North - maybe because we were later in the year or the season is different. However the evenings are just beautiful and balmy and comfortable for sleeping.

  

                  

We are out at Manbulloo Homestead park which is about 12kms out of town but it's nice and quiet and we are once again set up by our selves away from others. We have water and an ablution block right near us and I've already washed our sheets and towels. This place is a working cattle farm with 300 Brahman cattle and we are within walking distance to the Katherine river - but of course with crocs, we won't be swimming!! Such a shame but we read in the news where a croc attacked a man in his tent at Daly River so they are a real threat! We don't fancy being croc dinner!

There are lovely shady trees but with our solar generation we need to be out in the sun a bit.  Actually Darryl (with his monitor for everything - so much so that he can barely have time to drive!) is finding his battery monitor keeps telling him he has some generating problems, so he might seek out an auto electrician tomorrow. He and Dennis were delighted when the chap from Katherine yesterday could share in their talks about volts, amps, red arc batteries, watts etc as Tops and I aren't that interested!  Darryl says we will be when our fridges aren't working 😉. 

        Whilst touring around guess what we saw again?? Yes that Ghan heading to Darwin! 

        

We had lunch in Katherine then visited the Information centre to plan our time here. We then came back to grab our swimming togs and went back to the springs in town. Wow! What a surprise we had as we didn't even know Katherine had hot springs. They began in a little pool and and flowed over rocks and between trees about 400 metres into a series of pools - we could stand up and the bottom was sandy and we loved it!! We started at the top pool and floated the length of the creek and it was terrific - especially in the bottom pool where bubbles were created as it bubbled over the rocks. That was Dennis's favourite spot as the spa like bubbles made his pockets float out!  We'll be back there again that's for sure!! 

Here are the boys in their natural spa:

       

And a couple of water babies in the hot springs:

         

     It's such a beautiful way to end the day with a refreshing dip! 

We spent most of the day at the Gorge - we took a picnic lunch there then caught the 2pm cruise which was lovely. The scenery was beautiful and if anyone is interested Darryl and Dennis will have plenty of photos to share!! 

           

   

 We were surprised to see thousands of bats - both black and brown ones - smelly noisy things!!

       

    

Darryl left our car at an auto electrician  and they made some minor adjustments that should help with his power generation. ( just rectifying what initially was done wrongly) 

We are now enjoying a beautiful evening with a sunset just visible through the trees. 

           

 

Hope everyone is good. Tomorrow is another happy day for us xxxxxxxxx