We were so refreshed after our swim in Berry Springs that all we wanted to do was find the next swimming spot which we did in Litchfield Park - a national park just outside the small "village" of Batchelor. We stayed in a lovely, spacious park which was a treat after being squashed into the caravan park in Darwin. It was so big we could ride around on our bikes and look at everything we wanted - like the feeding of the wild birds in the evenings. Spending the day in Litchfield Park (just out of Batchelor) seeing the majestic waterfalls and swimming in the natural rock holes was fantastic. Chris had an absolute ball and decided that this was his best swimming spot ever! We could have stayed for a week or more but we are keen to make our way to Cairns. (By the way, the girl jumping into the waterhole is not me!!!! she was with her friend and they were trying to capture images of each other jumping in. They were having so much fun and reminded me so much of Mich and Rosanne!)
The NT roads are nowhere near as good as the roads in WA but we drive along slowly, navigating caravan after caravan, motorhomes, road-trains and pot holes - the highway being flanked on both sides by all types of termite mounds. Quite amazing! We had to hit some of our traveling time during school holidays! I think everyone from Vic, SA and NSW are escaping their winter to hit the warmth up north. Hopefully, when holidays are over there will only be the grey nomads left on the road - (together with the road trains!). Some of the minor roads are only one lane width and when oncoming cars approach someone has to pull right over... and avoid a cracked windscreen!
We found the next swimming spot at Mataranka Thermal Pool. It is amazing to think that it flows from the nearby Rainbow Springs at 30.5million litres each day. The springs look as blue as a home pool - only with sand, rocks, fish, logs and ferns on the bottom. It was great going down for a morning bath before we left - 34 deg! The springs are surrounded by huge palm trees whose fronds lie all over the ground due to the population of red bats that force the fronds to fall onto the ground. Quite messy. I thought a lopper had been in!!
While at the Homestead caravan park we met a girl who travels around in her caravan, doing gigs with her guitar and collecting money for orphans in Burma. She has a son who lives in Perth and will visit us when we get back. She does a great gig and has appeared at many music festivals. (Rebecca More - just released her own CD).
Along the way we stopped at Larrimah (population 10) and met a real, NT character, Fran (she in the pink t shirt), who runs a whacky tea-room. She twisted our arm - and those of everyone who stopped to have a peep at the place - to have one of her scones or pasties, or pasties or pasties. I must say, we shared a serving of scones and they were delicious. A bit overpriced but considering Fran's location thought she deserved it.
Stopping and having a look at the Daly Waters world famous pub - extensively used by WW2 servicemen, was very interesting. The caravan park next door was packed and we had no intention of staying anywhere near the place though we had met a couple the day before who said they had a ball there the night before. We are not the greatest beer drinkers and I suppose that's the lure of the place. You can win free beers if you have a small bet on the odd or even of a dice!
So we moved on, wanting to find a free camping spot before getting to Tennant Creek. Diesel, and everything else on the way into the red centre is very expensive. We had to get diesel at $1.95 pl.
Also, I can't resist showing you how some people carry their bikes - and we were worried that ours would fall off!
I saw the beautiful iron work of a wheel of an old shunter in the pub in Pine Creek.
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