Fishing Up A Storm?

Dundee Downs Bush Retreat has been a very pleasant place to set up camp.  Only four klms to the boat ramp, lots of shady trees, power, flushing loos and after a storm (which are reasonably frequent) we even have waterfrontage.

From the Front Steps

Like An Island In A Stream

What it doesn't have is Mobile Phone Coverage!  Even though we are reasonably close to Darwin, this area is not in Telstra's 98% of the population.  Never mind, its only a 50klm round trip to make a phone call!

Apart from ducking in and out of tropical storms, Team Turtle has been having a go at working out Top End Tidal Movements and trying to fish.

Last Saturday morning, Tuf Tinnie was loaded up with fishing rods and lures and we set out to check the spots the locals had told us about.  A couple of small bites were all that were on offer and then it was a quick trip back to the boat ramp.  The quick trip was okay but we were too late for there to be any water left there, even though there was still 90 mins left before dead low.  What was left of the boat ramp was far too steep for The Captain to winch Tuf Tinnie onto The Trailer without totally ending up in what was left of the creek so we just pulled her up the boat ramp.  This system did work except the poor little boat was left with a few gaps in her hull (near the transom) where she had been pulled over the rough concrete and bounced.  Not a very good look for a boat!!

After our return to camp, The Captain was able to find some suitable stuff to make temporary repairs until we can find an aluminium welder.  At least we can't see daylight through the hull.

Sunday was time to purchase more provisions.  The nearest reasonable supermarket was at Berry Springs - 70 klms away.  The only drawback was that it started to rain and kept raining and the Charlotte River was flowing very rapidly (and deeply) over the causeway.

Its Not The Depth But How Hard It Was Flowing

 It was with a little bit of trepidation that we made our return journey.  Upon reaching the causeway, we noticed quite a few cars on either side of the river just waiting for it to go down.  A Commodore Ute had made it across from the other side but only just.  The water had been a little bit deep for it and the electricals had given up.  The Captain had a beer and thought about the situation.  After about an hour of deep contemplation her decided that "it should be okay" and off we headed.  But not before he had turned off the air-conditioner and any other non essential equipment.  Fortunately, we made it!!  Which was good as it would have been very embarrassing for a NSW car to end up over the edge.

The next couple of days were extra damp so we did not venture out onto the high seas as well as waiting for the stuff to dry in Tuf Tinnie's bum.

Thursday was a pretty good day, so off we went again!  A few small fish were caught by The Captain but the best one was a poor little Catfish.  Not only did it attempt to eat a dead prawn, something tried to eat it on the way  up.

Half Gone!

Its remains were swooped upon by a couple of sea eagles and put out of its misery!

We then headed back to the boat ramp to try and beat the storm.  We did, but with about five minutes to spare.

Impending Storm

Yesterday (Saturday) The Deckie finally caught her first fish.  It was only a little cod, but at least it was a fish!

The Deckie's First Fish

And, there was another first.  Our first crocodile siting!  The Captain was the first to spot it amongst all of the logs in the creek and it was not impressed when we stalked it.  After a few photos, it had had enough, closed his eyes and sunk into the murky depths.

Watching, Watching......

Just About Fed Up With Stalkers

A quite afternoon followed, a few small fish were caught and then we once more headed back before we ran out of water again.

Down At Dundee

After a very uneventful trip from Adelaide River township, we arrived at our next little campsite - Dundee Beach.  This was not our first option but it still a great little place.  Prior to our arrival, the area had experienced some very strong winds and a lot of rain and the access to where we were originally going to be was not open.  Team Turtle always has a Plan B or, in some cases, even a Plan C.

Team Turtle had made a few enquiries regarding access to Dundee Beach and was informed that "yep, the road is opened, but be careful at the Charlotte River crossing"!  The road was bitumen nearly all of the way - except for about a kilometre near the Charlotte River...

Charlotte River Crossing

Team Turtle was fortunate in that the river level had dropped considerably.  Apparently, it had been higher than the water level marker!

The Rav finally came off The Trailer, Tuf Tinnie came down and all we had to do was to wait until the weather calmed down before we could even think about going fishing.

To fill in time, The Captain and The Deckie went for long walks along the beach and tried to keep out of the rain which descended on us quite frequently.

The Deckie Having A Rest

Dundee Beach

Monday was our first fishing foray on a new waterway.  Tuf Tinnie was packed with fishing rods, crab traps, the esky and two eager fishing people and we headed for Six Pack Creek - about 6klms from Bynoe Harbour.  It wasn't going to be a serious fishing day - more to check out this waterway and just to have a day on the water after our long cross country trek.

At Last!  A Cool, Wet Bottom

A Happy Captain

A shopping trip into Darwin filled in Tuesday and we relaxed on the beach that afternoon to watch the sun set.  Well, we didn't stay for too long as the sandflies started attacking us before the sun actually set.

Early Sunset Over the Timor Sea

During the recent storms a lot of sand was washed up onto the beach.  Finally the local council workers started scraping the sand off the ocean boat ramp.

A Lot of Sand To Move

Three days later they are still hard at it.

Today (Thursday) Team Turtle is on the move again and the plans are to go to Dundee Downs Caravan Park.  This park is a lot closer to Six Pack Creek boat ramp so we won't have to travel as far to go fishing.

As long as the weather holds, it should be interesting!

 

Into The Territory

And back in time again.  Only because Team Turtle was travelling west and it was a different time zone.  Unlike Queensland which is in their own little time zone all of the time anyway!

The Captain had planned to make this day a long one for driving as there was only really one place on the Barkly Highway that was worth stopping at and that was Barkly Homestead.  On offer was overpriced fuel and overpriced camping fees.  But then, it is literally in the middle of nowhere and they can really do what they one to.  The Turtle fuel was topped up at Camooweal and with only a morning tea and a lunch stop we made it to Tennant Creek by mid-afternoon.  The Deckie's only concern was the searing heat of the last few days starting to affect the integrity of the refrigerator's cooling system.  The fridge was holding its own but only just!!  As long as the beer and the wine stayed cold......

Fortunately, the caravan park in Tennant Creek was a small oasis in the desert with swaying palm trees and a pool.  Oh yes, we definitely made use of it!

It also seemed to be a little bit cooler where we were - particularly of a night time.  Quite sure that the temperature dropped to 25degrees.  This helped with the poor little fridge and relieved the anxiety that The Deckie was experiencing.

One of the interesting things that Team Turtle has noticed on this trip is the lack of roadkill!  We have been told that it is due to the ongoing drought - no rain = no vegetation = no grazing animals = not much in the way of roadkill.  That was until we pulled up at our next stop at Dumarra Roadhouse a few hundred klms up the Stuart Highway and found a blob of feathers stuck in the front of The Turtle.

Oops.  Didn't feel a thing.

It Was Such A Pretty Little Thing

Fortunately, that is the only mishap so far!

Mataranka was our next stop - for two nights.  Wow!!  In two weeks on the road this was the first time that Team Turtle had stayed still for so long.  The thermal pool was still as beautiful as it was when we were here last time with the added bonus of nobody else being there.  Except a few locals or travellers who would come in for a quick dip and then leave again.

Heated Spring Water Coming In...

..and Heading Downstream

Our only neighbours in the park were....

One Curious Kookaburra

And One Shy Wobbly

By this time, it had started to rain a little bit.  Hmmm, could it be that we were finally in the tropics and that it was The Wet Season!  There had been a little bit extra rain around the place than had been predicated and another of our plans had to be put 'on hold'.  So, instead of heading out to the Daly River we went as far as the township of Adelaide River and then make further plans.

It wasn't very encouraging when, before we were even set up for the night, the manager came over to inform us that the nearby river could flood and that we might be stranded there.  That wasn't a problem, as long as we didn't get wet feet!

Still A Long Way To Go

A Good Looking Boat Ramp?

No, it wasn't a boat ramp - just the old highway.

To ensure that Team Turtle didn't get trapped in Adelaide River township, it was decided to head for a spot that was on the ocean with nearby creeks.  It name is Dundee Beach - about 100klms (as the crow flies) south of Darwin.

On The Road

Our trek up the F3 was uneventful except that we thought we might use the new Hunter Expressway - a by-pass of Maitland and most of those other little towns on the New England Highway - except that some inclement weather last year had put back its opening date.  Oh well, we just had to battle the normal highway traffic as we headed for our first overnighter at Cassilis.  It was here that Team Turtle came across the local showground/racecourse and general community sportsground which provided powered campsites and hot showers for a mere $10 night.  A very cost effective start to the trip!

Wildlife At Cassilis

A west north westerly direction was followed the next day - through Gilgandra and then Nyngan where we turned right and headed into a much more northerly direction.  Mulga Creek Roadhouse was next on the list for a big sleep and you could tell that we were definitely back into red soil country - no grass at the campsite!

Waking Up At Mulga Creek

Early Starters

Beautiful Bourke was the next form of civilisation to be reached.  We fuelled up and then went to the local, and well advertised, information centre for a look.  And a look at the outside was all Team Turtle got.  Even though it was the Saturday of the long weekend it was shut.  The reason given was that it wasn't the tourist season.  The lack of cars in the carpark should have given us an indication of what lay ahead!

The Lonely Turtle At The Back O'Bourke

Another small hiccup on life's journey did not deter us.  Team Turtle trucked on through to the Queensland border, where we went back in time (no daylight saving here), and then onto Cunnamulla which was also closed.  Oh dear!!  By the time we reached Wyandra - a very small village on the road north - it was time to rest.  At least this place had a little bit more grass!

Wyandra Caravan Park

As there were no Australia Day celebrations in Wyandra we kept on trekking.  It is quite amazing how much difference in the landscape there is from when we were here nearly three years ago.  Back in 2011, our travels had begun not long after there had been a lot of widespread rain throughout Queensland.  The creeks were flowing, lakes and dams were full and for as far as the eyes could see, the land was a beautiful green.  There doesn't seem to have been any rain since then!

A little town called Tambo has certainly borne the brunt of the drought during this time.  There is a lovely little rest area for the travelling public and a recreation area for the locals on the outskirts of town.  Not quite so green now!!

Lake Tambo - 2011

Dry Lake Bed Tambo 2014

Blackall was our next port of call - not the most favoured spot to stay for a night but adequate.  Most of the towns in the Queensland outback rely on the Great Artesian Basin for their water supplies which is usually not a problem but the water at Blackall - even though it is okay to drink - has quite a pervading odour to it.  The water is also naturally heated to about 25 degrees as it is pumped up.  Wonderful if you want to have a bath but not so great when you need a cold glass of water to drink!  Thank goodness for bottled spring water from the supermarket.

 

After we passed through Winton, Team Turtle was on a new road!  Well, it was a road that we hadn't travelled on before as last time we went the long way to Cloncurry via Hughenden.  Then, after two more long, hot days on the road we made it into Cloncurry, did some grocery shopping and then found a caravan park with a very nice swimming pool!  We languished in that pool for most of the afternoon.  Well, until The Captain and The Deckie became a little more wrinkly than usual!

 

A short trip followed the next day - only 300klms - to our last stop in Queensland for some time at Camooweal. 

Earlier In The Year...

2014 started out in a very positive way when an original member of Team Turtle found a new home.  No, it wasn't The Captain or even The Deckie but Tuf Cat!  As some might remember, Tuf Cat went all of the way to Broome and back in 2011 and was a very well behaved team player but we found that she was unsuitable for the type of fishing that we were doing these days.  Tuf Cat was happiest out on the ocean off the east coast of Australia not in the extreme tidal elements of the Top End or up creeks and small rivers where we tended to fish these days.

Team Turtle had been camped at The Deckie's sister's place near Moruya for a few months and it was to here that The Captain brought Tuf Cat to give her a bit of a face lift.  This slight cosmetic surgery must have worked as it was within a few days of putting her on the market that a lovely young man from Nowra noticed her, came down to give her the once over and then handed over his hard earned cash.

Leaving In  A Cloud Of Dust

With Tuf Cat safely ensconced in her new home, it was time for Team Turtle not to wear out its welcome at its current camp spot and to leave so that it could continue on its adventures.

The plans (as such) are to head to the Top End and fish The Wet and The Run Off and for the uninitiated, this translates to Summer and Autumn.  There are also plans afoot to pick up a little bit of maintenance work along the way to ensure our trip is reasonably cost effective. 

The Turtle was once more packed up and Tuf Tinnie was winched onto the top of The Trailer.  It was to be a few more weeks before The Rav was loaded up as well as there were relatives and friends to visit before we were serious about going to points further north!

First stop was to The Captain's brother and family at Durras just a few k's north of Moruya.

Durras Lake

It was then onto the Central Coast of NSW to The Deckie's daughter's place and to The Deckie's Mum in Sydney via a stopover on the Shoalhaven River.

Warri Rest Area On The Shoalhaven River

The Deckie and Her Mum

After an enjoyable week spent at The Daughter's place, including some great grandchildren time, Team Turtle's pantry and wine cellars were restocked, The Rav was put on The Trailer and were were heading to Darwin's environs via Gilgandra, Nyngan, Bourke, Cunnamulla, Mt Isa, Tennant Creek and then up the Stuart Highway

All Packed and Raring To Go

Final Cuddles

The Deckie, The Daughter and The Grandchildren

Off at last.  Team Turtle seemed to crawl through the late morning traffic on the Central Coast.  Or was it just the anticipation of another trip?  Fortunately, it wasn't long before we were on the F3 and meandering north - never go too fast as that is not our style.