Katherine - Part 1

The trip from Lake Argyle was an easy drive, stopping at Timber Creek and the Victoria River Roadhouse on the way. We also had some mobile reception and heard the outstanding news that Bianca Grace Kearney had arrived for my brother Dave and Chanel. Very exciting and our Grace was very excited as she picked the name and also had naming rights as well. We arrived at the Shady Lane caravan Park in the mid afternoon after losing an hour and a half for the new central timezone. I was also becoming increasingly concerned with the fridge/battery in the car as it was losing charge too fast. A trip next day to the mechanic confirmed my fears. Battery dead. hmmm

We could keep the fridge on power whilst at the caravan park but we were about to head into Kakadu so needed a new one asap. Unfortunately with the new shaped Prados the extra battery space is very small and the mechanic didn't have a spare the right shape so needed to order one in from Darwin which he assured me would be there by 8am the next morning. In the meantime he leant us a small regular car battery which we could just keep charged up.

So off we went to Woollies to restock on supplies, then off the the Katherine Hot Springs in the arvo for a swim. The springs were warm and clear with lots of local kids swinging on the giant rope swim and hurling themselves in to the water. It didn't take long for our kids to join them.

We then got organised and went for a day trip up to Katherine Gorge which is 22kms from town in the Nitmiluk National Park. We had booked a 3pm 'Two Gorge' cruise, so having some time to kill we went down to the river for a swim. We stayed pretty close to the bank albeit I was a little nervous. Even though there were no salties at the time, they can't guarantee it as they have traps all up and down the river.

The cruise is very pretty. Lots of freshwater crocs and really peaceful feeling. You could get a real sense of how ancient the place was. Only about 1.6 Billion years old. Our trip was called the Two Gorge cruise given the low levels of water in the dry season. You take a boat to the end of one section, get out, walk 400m to the next deeper water section and get in another boat.

The next day I was back at the mechanic for the battery. Unfortunately (as expected) it hadn't arrived. We learnt about 'NT' time. Not Today, Not Tomorrow, Not on Tuesday, Not on Thursday!! The guy at the battery place was nice enough to let us keep the battery until we came back through in a couple of weeks time. He didn't even take my name or phone number. We were now on our way to Kakadu! We were all really excited as this one be on of the trip highlights.