The next morning we had another visit form the “commando” quails. This time I surprised them under the Landcruiser. One already had the keys. They crowded behind the back wheel until they judged it was safe and then bolted for cover. Sadly we had to leave Purnululu, but excitingly we head for Emma Gorge which is part of the El Questro resort. It took about an hour and a half to negotiate the road out and we stopped in at the Warbun Road House. Warbun is an aboriginal community and it looks great from the road with nice cottages and a pretty schmick school. I’m thinking cask wine will definitely be out of the question. We did come across one caravan on the way to the Victoria Highway. He had a road train rammed up his ... read more

Before we left Gregory National Park we had a look at the Bullita Homestead which was built here, sometimes devastated by floods and ultimately abandoned. It does make you wonder about the determination of people. Why would you set up a homestead here in the 1800s? The flies are horrible and it’s funny how in some places there are virtually no flies and then you go 200kms and its swarming. Along the way there were signs about quarantine restrictions and keeping fruit fly and cane toads out of WA. Now we all know that's a crock. When we got to the WA border there was actually a quarantine checkpoint. The guy asked if we had any fruit and veg. Of course we did. We'd stocked up in Darwin. The guy went through our fridge and bags ... read more

We decided to get an early start and explore some of the sights of Litchfield. Adam was still a bit concerned about crocodiles, but Dave McAleer had called to check that we had goggles as the place was teaming with fish and female backpackers. Adam seemed to have a whole new enthusiasm for swimming. We checked out Buley Waterhole, Tolmer Falls and some other fantastic falls. We decided that we would be able to get a coffee at Batchelor. Adam suggested the Butterfly Farm. I wasn’t hopeful. After speaking to about 3 Asian backpackers we finally found one who understood what coffee was. I wasn’t hopeful plus we’d broken the Asian barista rule (3 times). Then the proprietor came out. A big burley pommie hippie. He told us he had the 3 B’s. I was hoping ... read more

We wake up having had an incident free Saturday night in Boroloola. Boroloola is situated in the South Eastern corner of the Northern Territory. Sadly, there are some social issues with the indigenous community up here which amongst other things sees the need for a police drive by, around the caravan park at night and for the amenities block to be constantly locked. Key access only. Also, it would also appear that the only dogs in Boroloola are big ones. Not the type that want to play ‘fetch the ball’ if you know what I mean. We pack our gear away and head for the Police Station. Yep, you heard me. The Police Station. Our reason is a trivial one but a sensible one. As we are heading off to Roper River (Crocodile country) and we ... read more

Today dawns bright and early for these two intrepid galactic travellers. We have a date with destiny or rather a 7am fishing charter vessel. We are at Karumba at the south -east end of the Gulf of Carpentaria and today we are targeting Jewfish. If not them, then Blue Salmon, or if not them, perhaps some Bream, a couple of toadies, anything, really. We join the vessel and are immediately in the middle of an eclectic bunch of crew and fellow anglers. Over the next five hours in the melting pot of the highs and lows of fishing, we will get to know each other. The deckhand regaled us with stories from fishing to politics to social engineering to fashion to gender and finally to the fall and fall of the real man. The last one ... read more