The Wet Tropics

We were told about the wet season before we came here. But you don't really believe it until you get here. Sunday afternoon we completed the drive from Alice up to a place called Daly Waters - its on the map but it makes Crowdicote seem like a city. The camp site was a bit basic but the pub was a real character filled pub with its own pool. Happy Days. Anyway the cluds had begun to thinken about 300kms south so we were expecting rain - but it was also warm. So I couldn't face sleeping in a tent so decided to sleep under the bus. After tea (we had aSunday night curry) it started to rain - and rain and rain and rain. Under the bus seemed like a good idea at first but I woke at 2 in the morning a bit damp. My thermarest was floating - the field had turned into a swamp. Retired to the bus for the rest of the rainy night. The rest of the group suffered from various stages of dampness.

Next day we drove up to Kathernine Gorge. On the way we were supposed to call in a Malaranka thermal pools - for a rest and refreshing swim. They were closed because the rains had come and the river had flooded into the pool - which meant there was a danger of saltwater crocs joining us!!

So we continued up to Katherine for a cruise up the gorge - but the higher reaches were also closed because the water had begun to rise. Once the water rises the gorge becomes accessible to more salt water crocs so they don't allow swimming or canoeing. The gorge was lovely but we didn't see a lot of it.

And flies and mosquitos?? Don't tell me. Flies are everywhere . I've bought a net to wrap around my head and have at least 50 bites on my arms - which fortunately aren't itching.

But its still lovely to be avoiding winer and experiencing my one and only wet tropical season - why any human being would subjext themselves to this to live is beyond me.

Over the next few days we are visiting Kakadu National Park. I'll try and update you more on this when I have seen it. Off out this afternoon on New Years Day,

Oh New Years Eve. We went into Katherine to 'the Katherine Club featuring the returned servicemans league' Bit liek the British Legion for this area. Some of the people had there one and only night out and there appeared to be a degree of inter breeding. Fantastic people watching though. I ended up dancing with 'girl who won the shortest skirt competition' who couldn't believe I would be on holiday and stop in a place like Katherine. Yes neither could I! Still it was like flashback to school disco days - lots of 70s and 80s music and even 2 from this century. But if you like 70s rock then plan your next holiday here. Facial hair is still in fashion!!