Step 90 Katherine – Mataranka Springs – Daly Waters 290km's

Sunday 24^th July – Pre-emptive TED

Packed up and on the road by 9:15, to satisfy Di's craving for a Macca's breakfast. I know, the crosses I bear, I had to force down a Macca's myself.

Given this is the last bit of civilisation for a few days we also ducked into the supermarket for a bit of a stock up before leaving town.

Then it was off to the local park to set-up Skype so that Di could make a guest video appearance at a “girls lunch” that was on in Melbourne. To be honest I think she was a little unkind doing the video and showing off her tan while the girls were cold and wet in Melbourne. But then again I guess there would be less point doing this trip if we didn't take every opportunity to gloat :-)

Back on the road after lunch and after Lady Chatalot had finished chatting, a lot, and 20 kilometres down the road we pass the guy with the pull along trailer walking down the side of the road. You might recall we first saw him at Pine Creek on our way to Darwin at the beginning of the month. So in 3 weeks he has walked approx 91 kilometre. Not sure what else he has been up to of course.

We had originally intended to stop at Mataranka for the night and have a swim in the hot springs. But we arrived a little early so we decided to just have a quick dip and move on. The water was amazing, very clear, very warm, quite crowded. 

Di decided that this would be a great place to try out the “noodle” that she bought in Darwin. For $3.50. All going well, she was hanging on to the noodle and floating nicely. Then, I looked around and she was about 40 metres away, waving. Oh hang on, I think she wants something. Oh yes, she wants rescuing. It seems she hadn't noticed the current in the spring. Until she started drifting off into the distance. Luckily my Herald Sun Certificate training came into play and I was able to swim across and sidestroke our way back to the ladder. Of course the other alternative would have been to keep drifiting and get out at the next ladder. But where's the excitement in that.

Back on the road we drove pass the biggest off road/free camp we have seen so far. There must have been a 100 vans on it. We kept driving.

One of the places that has been on my list since the start is the Daly Waters Pub, having heard so many stories about it over the years from people doing the lap of Australia. 

So we checked into the attached caravan park (more like a paddock at the back of the pub). 

In a bit of budget relief effort we took the unpowered site and paid the princely sum of $14.

Wandering into the pub we blew $11 of our accomodation saving on a beer and a glass of wine. The pub is famous for it's, eclectic, collection of memorabilia pinned up on the walls. Things such as Police & Ambulance  badges

Firemen's badges

Thongs

Underwear

Bra's

Stephen! Did you just come here to see bra's hanging up on the wall?

Well not just for that.

There was also live music. A guy playing the soundtrack of our youth. Hits of the sixties and seventies. Including Di's all time favourite (NOT) Nutbush City Limits. Not sure if it was the white wine or the Alzheimers but the two ladies who got up to “dance the Nutbush” got one verse in and had to sit down because they couldn't remember the steps. I couldn't help them, I never knew the steps in the first place. Di couldn't help them because she hates the song, after hearing it a every party and 21st for half the seventies. 

A more succesful dancer was this young lad. Remind you of anyone?

Sorry it's a bit blurred, my hands were still shaking after the Bra Bar

The pub is also famous for the Barra and Beef BBQ. We are famous for our Woolies cooked chook and crunchy salad, so we had that instead

It ended up being quite cold again tonight. These couple of hundred km's further South seem to be making a big difference.