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.