In a strange "only me" way I was really looking forward to today. The boys were keen to head out to Katherine Gorge amongst other locations and given no dogs are allowed, I opted to stay at the van with Kitty. I was looking forward to a day where I could sit and read and relax. Mostly that happened, but it's amazing how much time it can take to do the daily chores in our little home.
Shane and Alan headed off around 11.00am and by the time I washed the dishes and put them away, cleaned the stove, mopped out the bathroom, made the bed, swept and mopped the floor, made chocolate mousse and whipped some cream for dessert for tonight's dinner and generally tidied up inside and out it was almost 1.00pm. After making lunch and taking Miss Kitty for a walk, I finally got to sit down to read my book at about 2.00pm. Not quite the relaxing day I had in mind.....
Meanwhile the tourists had a good day covering about 140kms in and around Katherine and the Gorge area (in the process cracking the 5,000km mark of our trip) returning back to camp a little after 4.00pm. I opted to cook dinner for everyone, including meatloaf, baked hasselback potatoes, steamed vegetables and gravy. We've had some lovely evenings, the three of us chatting about all matter of things from dog showing to travel and to the people we've met and know. We couldn't let this evening go by without sharing with Alan the Rules of Life and Travel according to Shane & Maree:
- Rule 1 - People are Stupid!
- Rule 2 - Don't Burn the Pancakes!
Occasionally Shane cooks Pancakes for breakfast at home. If I am sitting at the computer with my back to the kitchen when he does, I'll often hear that the electric frypan is up too high and the chant comes "don't burn the Pancakes!" We haven't had pancakes on this trip yet - but when we do.......
- Rule 3 - Don't Take Scenic Drives
On our last long trip away we spotted a scenic drive on the way to Adelaide River and decided to turn down there as a bit of a scenic detour. What a disaster that was. It was miles longer, a terrible narrow one lane road full of grumpy locals very unhappy about a Victorian tourist towing a 19ft caravan down their local road (at least that was the impression we got) and frankly the road was no more scenic than the highway. We've never taken one since with the van on - lesson learned.
- Rule 4 - Don't Be a Water Buffalo
We've all seen that video of the Water Buffalo that come down to the river to drink and next thing whammo!!!! A giant crocodile jumps out of the water, grabs the buffalo by the nose and drags him in. Enough said!
- Rule 5 - Photo - no parking / Parking - no photo
It never ceases to amaze me - there'll be an amazing thing/scene to take a photo of and not a place within cooee to park (look that one up my American friends.....). And you can guarantee if there is a place to park there's not a damn thing to take a photo of. Mark my words!
- Rule 6 - Beware of Vanpires
We've already covered Vanpires earlier in the blog....... they live amongst us people!
- Rule 7 - Always strive for Serenery
It's that moment when you come up over a hill and the beauty in front of you just takes your breath away and at that moment it is absolutely all you think of. If only every moment in life could be so full of joy.
In the meantime, here are a few photos courtesy of Shane from the outing.
And then our "bedtime alarm" went off. It starts with someone sitting at the foot of the bed, continues to her standing at the end of the bed and finally there is the glare when it takes too long to deliver the nightime cookie. Who's Queen?
141 km
Total - 5,048 km
Top today 33°c - expecting overnight 13°c
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