We continued our journey out to the Stuart Highway then headed south to Katherine where Bob made enquiries about a replacement starter motor to no avail. We then headed down to Mataranka before turning off to go into the Roper Bar. We drove right out to within 40 kms of the Bar when the bitumen came to a halt and the corrugations began. Initially it wasn’t to bad but as we moved further in we realised that the corrugations were getting worse (we were going in late in the season) and that the track we intended to take to Borroloola was worse than this and was 360 odd kilometres long. It was decided that the Turtle and the Redback would turn round and head to Borroloola via the bitumen. We headed back to another bush camp at Mount Price Rest area.
Moving further south
We left the mosquitoes behind to head into Jabiru then onto Nourlangie Rock to view more rock art, including the most photographed piece of Aboriginal Rosa Art in the world. Again, well laid out tracks and extensive viewing sites made for interesting viewing and a feeling of awe when you realise that humans had stood here painting these walls thousands of years ago.
After our contemplations we headed back out along the Kakadu Highway and made camp at Harriet Creek Rest Area.
Mosquito Massacre at Kakadu
We left Darwin in good time and headed down to Kakadu. We decided that we would head straight to Ubirr. We walked into the rock art and clambered over the trails to view the extensive galleries there.
Bob and Deb returned to Merl Campground to set up camp while Jenny and I waited until sunset to catch the setting sun’s rays on the escarpments. We left just before sunset to beat the fifty or so people there down the track back to the carpark. We got back into the campsite just in time to cook dinner before the mosquitoes attacked en masse. I can honestly say that I have never seen such a density of mosquitoes before and their attacks were so ferocious that we were forced inside to escape them despite wearing Bushman’s Red insect repellant and having mosquito candles burning. Unfortunately they had gained access to the motorhome so I was consumed during the night.
Supper on the High Seas
We went into Darwin after a bit of a restock at the local IGA. We visited the Royal Flying Doctor Service’s Museum at Stoke Hill Wharf. They have an extensive visual display on the bombing of Darwin (including a spectacular Virtual Reality show) as well as films on the establishment of the RFDS and on an American Naval Officer’s view of the events in Darwin Harbour on the day of the first bombing raid. We stayed at the wharf until it was time for our Dinner Cruise on the harbour. Great night during which we discovered that the two older ladies seated next to us had relations in Leongatha and that one of the lady’s daughter-in-law was Bob’s first girlfriend! Talk about a small world!
