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Published: June 20th 2015
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I should explain that is a long way to Alice Springs, the majority of the time we were driving!
The first stop was Charlie from crocodile dundee again, it was also a fuel stop and quick loo break, after 20 min we were back on the road.
The next stop was edith falls, where we hiked up a fairly long path to get there. It was really got and when we finally got to the pools it was reliving to get into the cool water. After a bit of a swim we trekked back to the bus to sort out lunch. We had sandwiches again. Then we went down to a smaller pool there were some fish who would bite if you stayed still so we kept moving. All of a sudden there was a snake swimming in the water as well. I swam to the edge and got out very Quickly. I grabbed my stuff and headed up to go get changed, and came across a brown snake on the path, I hid behind a nice man who let me get past as far away from the snake as possible. After changing I gabbed an ice cream while I waited
for everyone else to get ready.
The next stop was Katherine gorge, we started at the information centre which had more information about how the incoming population took over and how they treated the aboriginal population. Including the fact that the men to young aboriginal women as a misstess and expected her to do all the house work for their wives and do all the work they themselves did. We drive round to the start of the climb up the gorge to the view point. It was a steep climb but the view was spectacular.We climbed down via a different route and walked along the sandy edge of the river running through the gorge. We should have had the opportunity to canoe along the river but due to the wet season there was a risk of Crocs so it was unavailable.
When we finally reached camp it was dark already, we quickly sorted out where to sleep and started on dinner.
We were up early and set off by 6.30am. The first stop was bitter springs, a slow moving hot water river. We floated around on the current to the end point and hopped out and made our way back
to the beginning and started all over again. The Water was warmer than the morning air and rather like a warm bath. The water was really clear and populated by turtles. Unfortunately I didn't see any :-(
The next stop was a hot pool, this was actually cooler than bitter springs and much more touristy, the edges had been paved although the bottom left natural. You could see the lines in the trees around where the water had flooded during the wet season.
The next stop was Daly waters pub. This pub is famed for being open continuesly for the longest time, and also for being in the middle of nowhere. Inside was loads of random memorabilia from all the people who passed through. I was disappointed by how much was around the pub, there was a huge camping site,some shops and other buildings. We had a BBQ in the pool area of the pub.
Shortly after we set off, from Daly waters (which is just past a petrol station) we ran out of fuel. At first we thought the guide was joking about, but we came to a complete stop. Tommy and Kevin flagged down a passing campervan and
headed off to get fuel. About 15 min later a passing fuel lorry train stopped and gave us some fuel. But then we had to wait for the guys to come back. They did this in style in a huge lorry train honking the horn add they pulled up behind us. After filling up some more we headed to the next petrol station and filled up.
We stopped for fire wood for that nights fire and had fun collecting the wood, we got covered in charcoal and then had a charcoal fight.
When we finally reached the camp site it was dark. We quickly sorted out tents and started on the fire, while others started dinner. The kitchen in Banka Banka was an old school house.
We left Banka Banka in the morning just as it was getting light. The first stop that wasnt petrol, was the devil's marbles. We arrived around 10.30 and went straight to the camping area where the where loos. We the climbed up some of the taller piles of marbles, although I had to be helped to get up as I couldn't climb one section. The views were wonderful and after a few group photos
we climbed down and moved onto the next pile! Eventually we moved around to the main entrance. Where for the first time in 6days we got WiFi! There were a lot of emails, messages and notifications. After a quick reply and deleate I wandered around the marbles posing in a broken one and climbing on another. Once back we had a snack of fresh fruit and enjoyed the free WiFi, another tour guide took a picture of us all in our phones and put it up on the Australian tourist board saying how they had ruined the area with WiFi...It has apparently been tending!
There was more driving and Petrol stops. We even stopped by some huge status of aboriginal people and saw a bug pet kangaroo. Eventually as it was getting dark we reached the tropic of Capricorn. We had a few minutes before heading off again.
Next stop Alice Springs! Named after a women who never went there and a spring that's wasn't a spring.
We went out for an evening meal. The atmosphere wasn't as good as last time and the temperature difference got to us so we went back early.
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