Stuart Highway

OMG!!! This seriously has to be the most boring road. We've driven from Adelaide North & now we are doing South from Darwin...not much better! The only real thing to see is passing motorists :-(

My day started with a run!ill never get used to bush noises whilst running alone & then, I come across this...

Hmmm....

Sunrise on an outback track...so pretty!

Charley looking very much at home on Gorrie Airstrip this morning. It was cool running around & thinking about what went on here in the war.

We stopped at Daly Waters Pub for a look around & to add to our sticker collection.

I've got to say that the outback folk have some great signs.

The thong tree inside the pub. You are free to add a pair of you have a spare!

Another example of their sense of humour.

This is officially the shortest windmill I've seen on our travels.

Our free camp tonight. We are about 50kms south of Tennant Creek.

After watching a lovely little movie last night called "paper planes" the kids are constantly making paper planes. Imagination is golden.

Charley made a fairy house under her bed.

Gorrie WWII Airstrip

An early morning outing for Muchael & I. We watched the sunrise from the top of Edith falls. We passed the bottom waterhole that we'd been swimming in yesterday, only to see some cute little fresh water crocs!!!!

A travel day with loads of stops.

Our first stop was Katherine for fuel & a quick stock up on groceries. Who should we run into but the Richardson family (lol). We pulled over to find out that they were stopping at Bitter Springs for the evening. We weren't but we're planning on a quick dip!

Hmmm! Not our favourite spring. The water was clear but loads of pond scum lining the sides of the spring. It was very deep and we were to drop in & float with the current. It had a very unpleasant smell so we did two loops & then farewelled the Richardson clan yet again.

One of many termite mounds that are dressed up. We saw a minion & one wearing a glitter wig. I'm thinking we should dress a "Lynns on the Loose" one.

Mataranka springs. It was a paradise of grey nomads. A little crowded & very warm. It's so hard for these area with the wet season every year. Everything just looks messy. I do love entering town with all the bomb cars lining the roads. It's such a shame!

All the swimming the last 2 days has plum tuckered charley out :-(

Our home for tonight is a disused WWII airstrip. It's pretty awesome to think about how different this place used to look. Another piece of history :-)

Sunsets with paper aeroplanes!!!!

Outdoor cinema as we watch "Paper Planes". 

Edith falls

Today we leave the beauty & bugs of Kakadu! But first...to attend to our biggest issue....grrrr!!!!

Mary River roadhouse for a wee stop.

We set up camp at Edith Falls Campground. It is part of the Nitmuluk National Park. It was really warm so we suggested s swim. The kids weren't keen for the 1km hike to the top but agreed it was worth it once we got there.

A pool made just for us. 

A selfie with my beautiful big girl. She's becoming a young lady before our eyes.

It all got too much for Michael as he had an afternoon nap.

Our girls van make a game out of anything!

Sunset & a quick dip at the plunge pool. Apparently the fresh water crocodiles come out for a feed at night. Time to get out.

Early rise

Alarm went off at 5.45 this morning. Enough time to boil the kettle & rouse the troops for our sunrise cruise!

We really have to watch our $$$ after all the car mishaps but this cruise had been recommended & I'm not sure how long before we'll visit Kakadu again.

All aboard Lynns on the Loose...

Sunrise over Yellow Water. It was very misty & there was a smoke haze from all the burning off overnight.

The girl got their Lotus flowers and by the thousands.

Salt water crocodiles in abundance too. We learnt that they can stay under water for 1 1/2 hours so never assume because you can't see them, they're not there! Hear that all you crazy swimmers & fishermen.

Just stunning! The water looked like a mirror at times.

Home for a buffet breakfast. I thought the kids were going to explode. An expensive morning but worth every cent!

Home for school, a Skype call to the teachers & an afternoon dip! Home made pizza & movie night. What a day!!!

Kakadu

Wow day again!

We all slept in which must have been needed. 7.30 all round BUT we did run the air conditioner all night. I think that helped.

We only had a 60km drive to yellow water today so we stopped at Nourlangie for an art walk. I must say, I'm loving the artwork of this area. It is so detailed and the animals play a huge role.

It was very hot...around 39 degrees, but it's the humidity that gets you. 

The boardwalks around the art is beautiful. It's just like natures art gallery.

We headed to the visitors centre where I found a souvenir. A set of hand painted coasters and, wait for it, MADE IN AUSTRALIA!  Yes, really! It's almost hard to believe. Isaac also got a boomerang but he's decided to leave it as an ornament this time.

We went for a walk this afternoon to Yellow Water and saw a crocodile. I'm sure we'll see many more when we do our sunrise tour in the morning. 6am wake up!!!

Kakadu

I have to say I'm surprised at how humid it is already in Kakadu. I knew it would warm but it's the humidity that's hurting....and the ants, mozzies & sand flies!

An early morning outing with my hubby was interesting. For those who don't know Michael, he never likes to walk the same path twice! We head into the Jabiru township and see a sign to the lake. This is the sunrise over the lake above. Michael googles & finds a "back way" home. We're walking, close to the lake. I was looking cautiously for crocodiles but why would they build picnic tables & a children's plaything near the lake if there were. 

We started walking along a "road". We came to a sign, that wasn't facing us. I turned to read the sign and it was a crocodile warning sign. A little further along, walking down a bush track, we come across a tarred road and another sign...also not facing us. It said "no entry, community residents only". So we also judged walked through an aboriginal community. It's something to talk about, I suppose!

We head off, after a morning of school, to Ubirr to do a ranger guided art talk. The artwork is actually quite detailed and very different from other aboriginal art we've seen.

Richardsons & Lynns together! We ended up leaving the tour and walking solo to the lookout.

Some of the rock art that we saw. Apparently, in this area, the ochre was mixed with blood to make it more rich in colour.

This lookout looked like a scene straight from Crocodile Dundee. It is absolutely incredible & no photo will ever do it justice.

 Nan & pop at the top!

It just looks like a painting. A lunch stop at Cahill Crossing for lunch with a view of the large crocodiles in the wild. We headed to the Border Store for a weaving demonstration but the e demonstrators never turned up today. The gentleman at the store was almost embarrassed but we know how these things roll. We assured him it was alright.

Home for a swim in our favourite place. This is an awesome caravan park. We've loved it. We bid the Richardsons farewell tomorrow again. We may meet again on the east coast because we lose Michael again at Longreach. Till next we meet!

House day

Yesterday was school, school & more school. Isaacs workload this fortnight is just CRAZY! I dare not tell him that he has twice the work of Tenae to complete :-(

A bit of a grocery shop & an afternoon dip. Nanny & poppy cat joined us for a farewell dinner. 

An early rise to squeeze in a run. I'm not sure how many I'll get in Kakadu. Between snakes & crocodiles, I'm a little nervous. 

We've arrived & it's steamy...apparently quite unseasonal too. Kakadu Lodge is lovely & shady, big pool & hardly anyone here, which is a bonus.

We've run into the Richardson family which is a lovely surprise. I thought they'd be long gone but have found many things to do.

The kids were a little annoyed when we said no iPad time. We'd just had a swim & we're happy just chatting & having a bevy. When we next looked they'd created a fabulous "club house". Imagination is possible without a screen in one's face!

Litchfield National Park

Another busy day....

Nanny & poppy cat joined us for a tag along your into Litchfield Nationsl Park. It's about 140kms from our caravan park.

Hmmm...that's one big termite mound. The kids show just how tall it is. These termites feed on spinifex grass. Imagine how much spinifex would be around without these guys. 

Florence Falls. A nice cool dip was in order until the silly tourists started doing backflips off the rock faces...near the sign that says "no jumping or diving. Death or injury could occur." I didn't want to assist in carrying their injured bodies up the 180 steps so we left. You know what we say, "remove all the warning signs & let nature run it's course". 

Tomlins falls. We just visited the lookout because the falls were barely running.

Wangi Falls were lovely. The waterhole was huge though. The kids are becoming really strong swimmers. It's amazing!

This is actually all of us. Daddy took the photo but we are a little difficult to make out. 

Michael was keen to head back to Mindle Markets because he wasn't with us on Thursdsy. Nanny & poppy cat were keen too. Nanny & poppy offered to watch the kids do that I could be Michaels date.

Poppy is trying a new skincare range. You look younger already!!!!

Sunset over Mindle Beach with a few thousand friends. It's just so pretty & even with all the people, it's very chilled. 

Nanny & poppy got a ride home in the Troopy. The best bit was watching them climb in. Roger is quite high! Thanks for a fun night :-)