Katherine 10th August

Arrived in Katherine just after 2:00 and we found a coffee club so enjoyed our lunch as not many coffee clubs in the northern territory. After the fix we went about restocking our supplies as getting low on basic items such as fruit and vegetables that we run out over a week ago. Now we had to find somewhere to camp for a few days and after ringing around a few van parks decided on the Mandullo caravan park as it was remote at 12 ks from Katherine on the Victoria highway and reasonable priced. Population of Katherine is 11200 and temperature ranges are; Max temp 24-35, Min temp 14-31. Today temp is dam hot at 36•c. After setting up camp we went for a walk down to the Katherine River which is only 5mins from the van.Warren put the net in for bait.
Saturday 11th August
Had a sleep in,should say we tried but the guy at the back of us decided to water the lawn well after 9:00pm then up the crack of dawn dam whistling the same dam song,sure can't wait to free camp again,don't have to put up with this. Warren checked his pot this morning and sure enough bait for catching Barra. After lunch walk down the river fishing after spending 3 hours with no luck we made our way back to camp. We sat outside having happy hour and cooking curry sausages. We have booked a cruise on the 3 Gorges cruise tomorrow morning @$91 each. Sure it will be a one off at that price. Good night all
Sunday 12 th
Up early catching the 9:00 cruise. Well what a great view so many different colors. The black color in the pictures is caused by the wet seasons continuos waterfalls pouring over the sandstone walls etching out the iron. The photo's I took show the trees all growing on a lean also caused by the flooding each wet seasons. The cruise took 4 hours and they used three different boats as there are three different gorges. You have to walk from the first boat about 800m until you can hop into the second boat so gave one time to just stand and take it all in. Met a couple from NZ that were having trouble with their Maui VW motor home, he said he was unable to start so had to be jumped started to get to the Katherine gorge and the problem was likely battery trouble, Warren tested with multi meter and battery was reading correct volts so not that, after several attempts to start warren finally got it running then tested the charging system which indicated the alternator was charging ok so intermittent fault in starter motor or wiring. I made them ring the Maui 24/7 phone number. Now the van was running they decided
To head back into Katherine to get sorted out. The yellow flower (photo) Is how the aboriginals tell the seasons I.e. When the flower is blooming it's The time The fresh water crocodiles Are Nesting, when the flower starts to fall it is time To head to higher ground as the wet Season is coming.
13th leaving Katherine this morning and heading south towards Tennant creek.