Also etched in our memories is the road!! Our exit trip took just as long - day one was damp and we struck heavy rain so there was no dust. The grader had made a start by Nhulumbuy but boy, has he one mammoth job ahead of him! We didn’t see as many animals this time, except for a couple of buffalo.
When we arrived at our first free campsite, it showered on and off so we sat with our umbrellas, which must have looked so funny. The showers made the ground rather muddy and tricky trying to keep our feet clean. Just as well we have a shower.
Day two the road was more corrugated than we imagined but there had been some grading completed which made things easier. The road became very dusty and we found that red dust seeps in everywhere. Our cars and vans became very reddish! First point of call at Katherine was the car wash! Some cars didn’t even make it! 
One of our neighbours at Gove Boat Club was leaving a day after us and we’d arranged to catch up at the lovely oasis as Mainoru Store. I’d imagined we’d be set up, enjoying a drink when we’d see him arrive, tired and worn out. However, he passed us before the store - and he was set up waiting for us! So he did in one day, what we did in 2! But he wasn’t towing a van, didn’t stop for morning tea and lunch, isn’t in his 70’s and didn’t have to change a tyre!! We were only 15km from the store when our tyre alarm went berserk and yes, we had a puncture in the rear car tyre. Changing a tyre on a dusty road isn’t a two minute job but the 2 D’s did well and we arrived at the campground in time for a catch up over a meal and drink. We were confident that between our two cars, we still had a spare so didn’t worry about having it looked at before Katherine. What we didn’t dream would happen was that on day 3, a few kms before the end of the dirt road, Dennis had a puncture!
So a repeat of the tyre changing process - and now in Katherine we have to wait for a new tyre to come in from Darwin as ours in ruined! Luckily Dennis’s tyre is repairable. Just as well we aren’t in a hurry and like it here at the farm stay. We are actually set up in exactly the same spot, under the shady trees. Tops and I have done the washing, cleaned our vans and this afternoon will face Woolies to restock our depleted food supply! Dennis is taking his van in to have a wheel alignment as one tyre is scrubbing - let’s say we are a bit over tyres!! Our next task is to determine where we are going. As our bites are finally settling down, we are reluctant to go anywhere where sandflies abound - but here in NT that may be an impossible wish. We hope everything is fine down south and send our love to all our readers - especially Ruby celebrating her birthday today. Until our next blog, love from Marg & Darryl, Dennis & Tops.
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