Katherine

Hiya,

We ended up only staying the one night at Timber Creek. It was a great little town but sometimes it's just to hot to stick around (41 degrees on the day we left - yuck!) and to be honest, there wasn't a lot to do there. 

We have spent a fair bit of time with our new friends, Robbie and Gail. We all traveled together from Timber Creek (after meeting up again at Lake Argyle) to here in Katherine, booking into the same caravan park (adjoining lots right next to one another) and just hanging out. We tend to do our own thing during the day (which is really nothing more than vegging out or the odd trip into town - we all needed a rest from the sightseeing) and every night after dinner have either joined them at their caravan or ours for drinks usually crashing out about 11pm. We did get together Friday night at the camp kitchen to have a bbq together and that was fun.

The one thing we have done a lot of here in Katherine is visit the hot springs. The caravan park we are at has direct access to them. A walk of about 300 metres though the back gate and downhill gets us there and they are really pretty.  I had a vision of the hot springs being about the size of a spa but they're not. They actually loop around and join up to the river (which you don't go near!) They are a constant 32 degrees so no matter what time you swim, it's a treat. There are two good size pools where most people gather with lots of canals joining one to the other, but no matter where you end up, there up are people of all nationalities just lazing about. The kids usually head down there before lunch to climb the sides and do bombies from the tarzan swing with Chris and I joining them after and we easily spend hours talking to new people and just enjoying the atmosphere. 

 Above - all different views of the Katherine Hot Springs.

 Riley, Mason and Jake in one of the main pools.

 The bigger of the two rapids. Not huge but quite powerful in their pull.

 Chris being entertained by one of the locals.

 Jubana (L) and Mikkey (two k's lol... he took great pains to tell me that.)

 The kids literally spend hours climbing up the sides here and swinging from the Tarzan rope. This is Riley just hitting the water and Jake about to have another turn.

 The 2nd set of rapids where we spend most of our time. Like I said, they are not huge by any standard by they are strong. If you don't get a hand and foothold under the water they will carry you away to the edge of the pool lol. Been there, done that. This is Mason relaxing.

 Poddie is on the left, Nayla on the right. These two kids were just gorgeous. They are cousins. Little Nayla played possum I think - pretending she wasn't a strong swimmer. She first clung to Chris then spent an hour or more with me hanging on and just playing around, clinging to my neck as though her life depended on it. She was a little charmer lol.

Me with Nayla again and a little boy who I can't remember his name. The kids are always happy to have their picture taken. 

So that's it for me today. Just a short one. Tomorrow we say a sad farewell to Robbie and Gail who head off towards Alice Springs as we make our way to Darwin. We plan on staying a while, hopefully finding some work to supplement this trip. It's quite an expensive journey. Mitchell our oldest son joins us on the 6th of November - can't wait. He is flying to Darwin to join us on the trip for the few months. We just booked his ticket last night. Whooo, hurry up the next three weeks...

Bye for now
Carolyn and Crew xx