Blog 43 - 18th to 24th June 2014

Wednesday 18th June - after completing the last blog this morning, Di completes a painting of the gorge, before we head off to the Katherine golf club to watch the State of Origin - Game 2. We get there early, have a few drinks and get some snacks before the game kicks-off. We all now know that the drought has been broken, and NSW have finally won a series again - boo-hoo Queenslanders. Back to camp late in the evening.

Thursday 19th - we decide to stay another day as it is quite nice, so we go to the Katherine Museum, and see a film about the flooding of the town in 1998 - very scary - the river rose 20 metres and closed the highway and the rail line. Incredible how much water came through. Lunch in town, and then a bit of window shopping, before driving to the thermal pools in the centre of town.

A relaxing paddle along the stream, and enjoying the water. We also walked to the top of the stream, where the water flows from the spring - lots of water coming out and crystal clear. After dinner, Allan and Joy join us for a chat.

Friday 20th - pack the camper and leave Katherine, driving north for 40km's before turning off to Nitmiluk NP and then 20km's into Edith Falls. We arrive at 10.30am and the place is already filling up, but we manage to get a nice site next to Allan and Joy and book in for 2 nights. We all wander down to the waterhole which is only a short walk away.

It is about 150 metres out to the waterfall, and about 200 metres across, and very deep in the centre. We all swim out to the falls and sit on the rocks near where the water flows over the rocks. Nice and cool water, and a great place. Back to camp for lunch, and then Di and I head back to the waterhole to read and do a drawing. After dinner, we are joined by Allan and Joy for a game of Logo.

Saturday 21st - up early to do the walk to Sweetwater Pool which is 4.5km's away. About halfway, we stop in at Long Waterhole

and have a swim under the waterfall.

Then the remainder of the walk to Sweetwater, and another small waterfall and massive pool, where we have a couple of swims, chase some fish, and have lunch on the rocks in the shade beside the pool.

It becomes very hot on the way back, and the walk is becoming very tiring. Before we arrive back at the carpark, we divert to the Upper Falls of Edith, and descend the small hill to a magnificent waterhole, again with another waterfall to swim underneath.

This would have to be the best spot we have been in several months, and we swim for a while, before completing our walk around the ridge and back to camp, stopping in at some lookouts. All up, we have walked over 10km's, swum in 3 separate waterholes, and are exhausted. A big day.

Sunday 22nd - we decide to book in for another night, and spend the day doing not too much at all. We spend the morning reading, and after lunch head down to the main waterhole for a swim. Di did another drawing and it was really good. Joy made damper, and we had damper with jam and cream back at camp, before a few pre-dinner drinks and then our meals, and then a quiet evening.

Monday 23rd - again we book in for another night, and after saying goodbye to Allan and Joy, we do the shorter walk to the Upper Falls to spend the day swimming and relaxing.

We go for a swim, Di does another drawing of the falls, we read a bit, have another swim, then some lunch, then a short walk around the rocks, then another swim, before drying off and then having one last swim before we leave. After dinner we have a hot shower and another quiet evening.

Tuesday 24th - packed up and ready to go by 9.00am, we say farewell to Edith Falls campground - a truly magic place and worth coming to if you ever pass by. We drive further north to Pine Creek and book into the Pussy Flats camping area, and hook up to power as the batteries have been drained from our time at Edith Falls. We unhook the camper and drive into town, stopping at the lookout over the mine, and then a coffee and scones in the cafe. Then back to camp for lunch and some relaxing in the shade.

Tomorrow we will head into Kakadu for a week or so, and explore the area - and try to avoid the crocs.

More to come soon.

Di and Hammo