In Batchelor

from Jeanette - Wow I can't believe we haven't written in the blog since last Monday!!  So much has happened since then, where do I begin?  Monday Lee, Ross and I spent the day looking around Darwin.  We checked out the Supreme Court, Government House, we went down into one of the storage tunnels that was built in the 2nd World War to store the fuel there, from there we went into the city and had some lunch and after that went and explored the Museum.  We had a lovely day looking around Darwin and we all agree that Darwin is a lovely city, compact, clean and friendly.  On Tuesday we met Bruce and Janet King and took them out for coffee.  It was great to see them and then in the evening we picked them up and we all went out for tea at Seafood on Cullen, very nice food and great company. Wednesday Lee Ross and myself started on our journey to Litchfield National Park.  We spent 2 and a half days exploring all the wonderful places.  We went to waterfalls, Homesteads, Creeks, Magnetic Termite Mounds and did lots of swimming in the 'safe' swimming holes scattered about this wonderful National Park.  We  brought the van to Batchelor this morning and went back to Buley water holes for 1/2 a day of swimming.  Mid avo we took Lee to the bus to go back to Darwin.  Lee flies home tomorrow and we loved catching up with him for the time he was in Darwin.  I'll let Ross tell you more of our adventures and he has some cool photos too.  Thanks for reading.

RB  We have certainly enjoyed our time in Litchfield, some of the water holes have been closed due to 1. Current and 2. Crocs, oh well.     Blyth Homestead road was closed but we saw a Ranger coming out and he said we could go in  despite what the signs said as the road was going to be opened after he checked the water crossings, but still happy for us to go.  The water crossings were fine and we were the first car for the season to go in  so the roads were quite good, not corrugated yet.  We did meet a local at the homestead but he/she wasn't very talkative,  pic below.
We also checked out Woolaning Christian school where we my niece Lyndal Walker has been teaching, It was only a couple of kms up the road from where we stayed in Litchfiled.

This evening while walking in the caravan park here at Batchelor we came across Steven and Janette Young and kids (Pastor at Drouin Baps) on their way through to Darwin, you never know who you are going to see and where when you travel???

A beautiful sunset over Darwin Harbor while enjoying Dinner 

Dinner with Lee Paterson and Bruce and Janet King

Set up for a couple of beautiful evenings in Litchfield,  the Safari camp was very nice  and close to most attractions

These Magnetic termite mounds were amazing, this pic shows less than a half of the mounds  in this area.  The Cathedral mound below was in the car park for these mounds

Florence falls were great and beautiful swimming hole.  we saw lots of falls all with good flows.  Its a good time to visit Litchfield.  You have to wonder where all the water comes from?

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Just one of the rock piles on the area known as the "Lost City"

We had time for some fun. Lee and I enjoying a swim, and snorkel , in one of the many holes at Buley

Below I thought I might show some of the "critters" we have encountered on the way.

Lacewing Butterfly, Batchelor

Awesome Golden Orb spider on the way in to Greenant Falls, This little lady is about   3"  long in the body.  Notice the size of the male beside her?

No idea what these wasps are, but very different colours, look like Hawthorn supporters,  They  didn't seem too happy - no wonder.

This was the local at Blyth homestead.  About 4' long very slender, very dark brown body and lighter coloured head and might I add, a bit feisty and very very fast, gave us one anxious moment while trying to get this pic!!!!  Anyone any ideas as to what type it is,  ?? taipan, ??brown

Tomorrow off to Berry Springs for the day, Katie reckons it was one of her favorite spots when she visited, so thought we should check it out before moving on towards Kununurra.