Pearls On Wheels

This region is well known for its wild life, especially birds and crocodiles. Dave and Judy and I are off to visit a billabong on the Mary River in the Kakadu National Park. Dick is in Auckland for a few days. My Canon G12 has a focusing problem so I am using my iPhone as a camera today. We set off along the banks of the billabong which is about 40km from the coast on the Mary River. There are extensive flood plains along the billabong. These are covered with metres of water during the wet season. Fish breed then. Now the flood plain is grazing land for cattle and is home to many bird species and also to crocodiles. Fresh water Mangroves and lotus lilies are abundant. Lurking along the banks are many saltwater crocodiles. Basking in the sun and partly water cooled as they adjust their body temperature to an optimum 32degC Don't be taken in by his smile.  This crocodile is well camouflaged.  Numerous bird species watch as we putter by. The Jacana ho...

Darwin is a great place to visit. Recent and ancient history to learn about. I am enjoying exploring friends Judy and Dave. The city is closer to Djakarta than to Sydney and is cosmopolitan. This is very evident at Mindil Beach Market  with its wide variety of food stalls, crafts and entertainers . Carla tempts me with her pralines which she is preparing in a large simmering sugar syrup pot. Richard introduces himself as he keeps rhythm. Tall cowboys. Crowds in the setting sun. Food stalls from many nations. "I'll only eat one potato chip"... Wild food hamburgers. Farmed crocodile looks just like fish. Didgeridoos and boomerangs that come back. Cracking the whip.  Mick's whips have a steel core, shot, plaited kangaroo hide, a binder twin tip. With the flick of the wrist you can break the sound barrier.

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Over the hills and far away is Darwin.  Our route through Mareeba, Atherton, Croydon, Normanton, Mt isa, Tennant Creek to Darwin is about 3,300km.  So let's get started. Narrow strips of seal. One lane bridges. Watch out for road trains. They have right of way. First stop,  Croydon hotel. She is a grand old dame, built during the gold rush in 1887. There were 33 hotels in the town then.   The Gulflands train does a tourist run from here to the Gulf of Carpentaria near Normanton. A five hour journey. We'll be there and beyond in that time. Checking in at reception.  A bank of CCTV monitors reveals an image of a swimming pool. It was very refreshing after a long hot day.  Settled for the evening. The washing dries very quickly. On the road to Normanton. Kris the  Savannah King.  A replica of a crocodile shot in 1957 by Krystina Pawloski. Claimed to be the largest authentictaed  croco...