22-23 June 2010
TIMBER CREEK
I ended up going back to the visitor’s centre in Katherine to post the remainder of my blogs as I gave up with the internet service where we were camped. As soon as I was finished we were on our way.
Travelling west from Katherine, along the Savanah Way, again there are changes in the scenery.
For a change we are seeing fences intermittently on both sides of Victoria Highway.
Cattle were grazing in several spots along the way.
The termite mounds are different. They are very numerous and remind me of those along Tanumi Track.
We entered the northern part of Gregory Park. We were going to do several walks but it was extremely hot in the afternoon. It was 32 degrees at 4.00pm. Victoria River Roadhouse had a very amusing sign in front announcing a change of management.
The Victoria River, what we have seen of it, is wide and lots of water is flowing through it. It is a long river – 560 kilometres long and is affected by tides.
We stopped at Timber Creek - a quaint little place.
We decided to book in for a cruise for the following evening.
On our way out of Timber Creek, would you believe it, we hit a random breath test and vehicle inspection. It just seemed strange for it to be held here but I suppose it has to be done in all places around the country. Anyway, we thought it was a bit amusing and I asked the cop if I could take a photo of hubby getting tested.
We are camped at Big Horse Creek, a tributary of the Victoria River. This is a nice campground specifically for fisherman. The camping sites are very tight. Caravans have very few places where they can fit. We are back in boab country – I just love them. Each one is so different and there are quite a few in the campground.
We had an interesting happy hour here with several other travellers. The weather is also hotter here.
In the morning we took our time. We visited the ranger’s station to find out what we could about Jutpurra National Park previously known as Gregory National Park.
Bradshaw bridge is interesting for several reasons.
It provides the boundary to a military area that goes as far as the northern coast and is bordered by Victoria River on one side. Locked gates at the other end of the bridge provide a clear message that no trespassing is allowed. No traffic is allowed on the bridge only pedestrian traffic.
The second reason why the bridge is interesting is that about every five years during the wet the river rises so high that it flows over the bridge. It is hard to imagine.
We visited the lookouts. It was quite steep to go up.
They provided a lovely vista of Timber Creek and surrounding area.
In one of the areas there was a tribute to the Nackaroos – the ears and eyes of the north during World War 2. There was a beautiful poem on the billboard by an anonymous writer that sums up this part of the country so well from the perspective of a young service man up here trying to survive on meager rations during the hot humid wet season and then the hot dry season. I’ve included it at the end of the blog.
We also had a look through the Police Museum. It is an interesting museum but they obviously have a lot more material that has not been catalogued or organized. I just loved the outdoor cell although I imagine it would not be comfortable to be in there for any length of time particularly in the climatic conditions here.
In the late afternoon we went on a twilight Victoria River Cruise that left from our campsite.
We went about 34 km down the Victoria river to what is called Bradshaw’s Run beneath the Yambarran Ranges escarpment. Along the way we saw Gregory’s Tree,
both fresh and salt water crocodiles,
cattle grazing,
lots and lots of wallabies
and birds including the white eagle on the right.
On the way back the colours during and after sunset were just beautiful.
SOMEWHERE IN AUSTRALIA
By anonymous during period of Nackaroos in the top end
Somewhere in Australia where the sun is like a curse,
And each day is followed by another slightly worse,
And the brick red dust blows thicker than the shifting desert sand,
And the men dream and wish for a fair and greener land.
Somewhere in Australia the mail is always late,
Where a Christmas card in April is considered up to date,
Where we never have a pay day and never pay the rent,
But we never miss the money ‘cause we never get it spent,
Somewhere in Australia where the ants and lizards play,
And a hundred fresh mosquitoes reinforce the ones you slay,
So take me back to good old Sydney where I can hear the tramway bell,
For this God forsaken place is just a substitute for hell!
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