Sunday May 19.

Mt Isa to Katherine

As is becoming our usual practice, we left Mt Isa at 7.45 (we used to struggle to get packed up by the leaving time of 10.00 when we had the camper trailer!), heading for Barkly Homestead. No problems getting a spot – all are drive-throughs under the trees and the pool was very welcome. On the walk back from booking in, we encountered a Spanish guy who is walking around Oz with all his gear in a kind of pram on bike wheels. He had walked 56 kms that day, which was corroborated by other travellers who had passed him. All he wanted was a shower and a sleep.

Facilities were basic well-used dongas, but the water was hot.

We got back on the road early next day and made it to Dunmarra. Arrived around 2.00 and managed to get a shady spot (near the overflowing rubbish bins, and no sullage). Not very salubrious, but thanks to WikiCamps, we knew to ask for our fuel discounts – 5c for Seniors, 5c for staying overnight, and 5c for buying >$50 worth of fuel, which brought it back to $1.80 a litre. The donga facilities were even more used and less-well maintained, so we got going asap next morning.

We had pushed on a bit the day before, and this left us plenty of time to call in to Bitter Springs at Mataranka. What a glorious spot! A thermal spring-fed creek amongst cabbage palms, so clear you can see the bottom. A short walk takes you to a ladder, where you get in with your pool noodle (snorkel, goggles, underwater camera if you have them) and float down with the current in perfect serenity past the water lilies, listening to the bird calls. Just Heaven!

Ian took some underwater shots with the GoPro, but the downer was that he had put the car keys in a 'water wallet' and neglected to seal the top properly. It leaked, the remote died, so we are now reduced to one remote control for the car alarm, and he has had to order another one from Perth and hope it gets here before we leave.

Is this Heaven??

After soaking up the atmosphere for some time, we sauntered off, arriving in Katherine at lunch time at Shady Lane tourist park a few kms out of town – still run by the Bates' who ran it last time we were here. A beautiful, quiet park with spanking new facilities. Palm trees and birds all around. We're staying for a week. This will give us time to build up some more fuel revenue (!), get some mail from home and prepare for the next leg of the trip.

My birthday was celebrated with a parcel and beautiful card from my son and his family (puzzle books, pen, lollies, nuts – all very appropriate) and breakfast in bed, followed by morning tea in town, and culminating in a very tasty dinner and delectable dessert at a restaurant. I spent all day running to and from my phone collecting texts and Facebook messages from my lovely friends and family. Lucky me!

Thank you for all your Happy Birthday
 wishes everyone