We didn’t spot our 2m or so croc from the night before when we checked the creek this morning. So we packed up and headed back onto the scenic route we were driving on. The Douglas Hot Springs were also closed, so we headed back onto to the Stuart Highway and went to Pine Creek, to empty tanks and try and sort out the alternator warranty claim. It turned out that something so simple as organising a delivery location for the alternator, was going to be anything but. By the time we reached Katherine, we then sat on hold to Australia Post, as the Broome Post Office didn’t have a phone number, and the option for a locker wasn’t suitable as they only hold the parcel for 24 hours and the the collect option, they only hold the delivery for 10 days, and not knowing how long it would take for the replacement alternator to reach Broome, means it may need to be held for longer. The caravan park wasn’t answering their phone, so I left a message but their website had their postal address as being the post office, and we were still on hold to Australia Post, so Matt rang the auto electrician in Broome, hoping he would be willing to accept the delivery. They said no, as pretty much there was nothing in it for them.😔 Finally the caravan park returned my call and were more than happy to have the parcel sent there and they would hold it until we arrived. Phew! They confirmed that the Broome post office doesn’t have a phone as well. So we opted to give up being on hold to Australia Post, after more than 40 minutes of waiting and no one answered. Pretty poor Australia Post! ☹️
After resolving that issue, we were able to move on from Katherine, after Matt posted the faulty alternator back to Katoomba. We headed towards WA, and took a dirt road down to Flora River (Giwining) and camped here for the night. Just a dirt road. 45km of dirt , I know it’s just a short stint compared to what we are going to be doing in 2 weeks , but this road started out well then started to descend into bull dust. If you’ve never encountered bull dust before, well it’s like umm, ok imagine the soft sand at the beach, then exchange all that sand for red self raising flour. You drive into it and it sort of moves around under you and everything behind you vanishes for the next 10 minutes. It’s not too rough a ride , but It gets into places you didn’t think it could get into, which is pretty much only the fridge in the clipper.. I’m pretty sure it got into my drink bottle…
We went to check out the river and 2 water falls, Djarrung and Kathleen Falls. They more short cascades than a water fall, and due to overgrowth, we didn’t have a great view. As this river may contain crocs, you are always on the lookout. Would have been an idyllic swimming spot on any river south of Alice Springs… but no standing near the river bank with cloudy water just there makes you think that maybe it isn’t my natural habitat. Bit like when I went snorkelling with king fish on lord Howe island. I’m just not meant to be in some places. We think we spied some croc like objects across the fortunately very wide river, and didn’t get too close to the river edge. Otherwise we have just enjoyed another quiet evening and day.
