The Wayward Bus


Matarranka Hot Springs

On the way to Matarranka, we stopped at the legendary outback pub of Daly Waters! Well what actually
makes this particular pub so special is...wait for it...in days gone by, it was the arrival point
for ALL Qantas passengers to Australia, this is where they first set foot on terra firma as the
planes had to refuel in those days! Not quite as spectacular as flying over Sydney Harbour bridge
on the way to Kingsford Smith airport. This point also, signifies the farthest point north that John
McDouall Stuart reached on his second unsuccessful attempt to cross the continent. What is it with
this man, I ge tthe feeling he is following me, or is that I am following him, well it must be given
he died nearly 150 years ago! Now the pub, is abit of a crazy place as most outback pubs are, many
mulletted, moustached gentlemen, sprawled over th ebar, wearing singlets* and drinking VB. The bar
is covered with ID's from all over the owrld, everyone thats been through here is trying to leave
there mark and a few choice pairs of knickers! Anyway, most importantly, it wasn't a bad place
to stop and enjoy a cold beer and dinner! Onwards to Mataranka and the thermal pools, after getting
everything off the bus and sorting out which corner of the field was yours, we all set off for the
pools with the esky in hand! A great way to relax after the 700 km we had traveled, the driver,
in need of attracting a few females, brought candles...so sweet of him! 3 hours later
and 2 slabs of VB it was time to hit the hay!

Next stop, Katherine Gorge

Onward to Tennent Creek, the gateway to Queensland, but we continued upwards to Katherine
for some liesurely canoeing up the Gorge. This is ont he southern end of the Arnhemland escarpment
that Kakadu National Park is famous for, the gorge cuts through this southern boundary, like a butter
through knife, revealing a narrow, steep slided gorge that is a pleasant afternoon's canoeing! After
a quick bite to eat and the guide claiming a fruit bat, did the business on his forearm...the resulting
depository resembling veggimite, its apparently one of his older tricks to keep the punters happy!
Time to canoe! Now, i ended up in a canoe on my own, having to paddle as twice as hard as everyone
else...such a shame! I know but i did somehow manage to survive the experience. It took a good
40 minutes paddle to get up to the first set of rapids where after taking in some 10,000 year old
aboriginal art!! I carried my canoe up over the first set of rapids...It was worth it, only because the
views of the gorge get far more impressive as you paddle up the river. It was all that more
remarkably as alot less tourists got up to this section of the gorge. Although, every so often
the tourist boat with the OAP's on board, charged past. Talk about ruining the moment.
After a few stops for pictures and to cool off inthe clear water it was off to Edith falls,
the nights campground, where we were rewarded with a fantastic barbecue which made up for the
first nights two minute noodles...a night walk took us out around the falls to spot crocodiles,
no luck...well, tonight away!

Litchfield National Park

After a reasonably comfortabel night under the stars it was off to jump in the falls, some fresh
water swimmming, absolutely freezing, possibly even baltic but a great way to ge tthe blood pumping
first thing in the morning! A few hours on the road were rewarded with a walk out to the spectacular
Florence Falls, just stunning, crystal clear water to swim in...its amazing, it got me thinking about
Scotland, there must be lochs and rivers and pools to swim in, o.k. it might be chilly but it would be
spectacular, if its good enough for Mel Gibson, in Braveheart then it must be out there! "You've just
got to find it!" After that, we dipped our toes into the Buly Rock Hole and Wangi Falls. The last stop
on the way to darwin was at Adelaide River, where one of the stars of "Crocodile Dundee" now happily spends
his time, posing for tourists and telling stories about how his luck has really hit rock bottom. Charlie,
the water buffalo, has spent the last few years, standing on the bar, I thought he looked abit stiff, but
they tell me he was stuffed as good as turkey on Christmas Day! It was a really beautiful day to be out
swimming, sun shining and great locations. I think thats why this tour is so popular! The schedule works
well cause I sure as hell wouldn't want to do it the other way around. But all in all, it was a useful
way to get to Darwin, the big city of the "Northern Territory!" Tongue pressed against cheek!!!