May 29, 2009

Yesterdays PS:
Forgot to say I had a bit of a glitch with the communications gear yesterday as in tried to fry my wiring on my exhaust as we headed off from the Daly Waters air strip so threw it into the bag and Norm repaired it last night. At first this morning I could hear him but he couldn't hear me which he understandably thought was pretty good! Anyway plugged it in again and working both ways again as well as it does. Still need to find a motorbike cop to enquire what brand they use so we can communicate without the aggravation of excessive noise and interference. Also yesterday saw the last of the fresh road kill. A couple of little wallabies and some sort of little rat like looking thing.

Today:
Started off humid and cool (rather than hot and humid as it had been all night). We were amazed as we had been yesterday at the amount of burnt land we travelled through. Obviously from human interference. I know some areas in Queensland where farmers burn off last season’s grasses as it is too tough for the cattle to eat and the burning promotes new growth which is easier for cattle to eat. Don't know if that is what goes on here but some of the burnt land wouldn't be too agreeable for cattle I wouldn't think. The first things to recover seem to be the palms. Interesting. The first things to come back after the Gippsland fires were the ferns. Both ancient species. (Barry and Annette have told us since our arrival that the burning off is to reduce fuel to prevent massive out of control fires).

Anyway, the ride headed off into more windy road and rugged rocky out crops and ridges. We took the turn left off the highway and headed for Batchelor and ultimately the Litchfield National Park. Batchelor was what is left of the town which used to service the Rum Jungle Uranium mine which shut down around 1970 / 71. On our way home in 72 the town was fenced and no admission was allowed. The open cut mine has now filled with water from the monsoons and is used for canoeing for school camps and other water sports. The prospect of swimming in something which is 300metres deep sounds pretty scary to me. Anyway what is left of Batchelor looks quite pretty. The trees look beautiful and sporting grounds look good but I'd say the town has it challenges. The sign on a motel heading towards Litchfield which said 'Batchelor Resort' seemed a pretty big statement we thought after getting some lunch there.

The ride out to Litchfield was a lovely gentle winding ride. Very nice after all the long straight stretches though there are nowhere near as many as previously now that the roads follow routes above floods and have both cuttings and fills and high level water crossings. The waterfalls in Litchfield were beautiful. What a contrast to see such big bodies of water in such rugged dry country. We also checked the Magnetic Termite mounds which were intriguing. Looked like a lot of tombstones. Look up magnetic termites on google to see how greatly they and their mounds differ from the usual ones.



Wangii Falls. There is a beautiful area at the base of the falls where swimming is usually allowed complete with stainless steel stair rails into the water however it is currently closed due to strong currents and crocodile sightings. Bugger!



Some of the Litchfield Magnetic Termite mounds

By the time we got back on the Stuart Highway the temperature was climbing rapidly and all possible layers had been removed. The second set of traffic lights saw me half un zipping my jacket to get some more air movement. It was a relief to get to the Yamaha dealer with ice cold air-conditioning so we could check on the progress of Norms fuel cap. Supposedly on track for Monday. We'll see. Asked if any Yamaha's come with a 6th overdrive gear (to reduce engine revs). No, but the 1300 is much slower revving. I'd need to be lifting serious weights I think to lift one of them up to start riding! Sales staff then asked 'Did you know we have a Harley ride day tomorrow and they have an overdrive would you like to book?' NO!

It was nice to get to Barry and Annette's and have a glass of cold water. Passed the Darwin hospital where Jenny worked on their working holiday (not even there on our original trip). REALLY looking forward to getting the jackets washed and especially the draggin jeans. They would just about come if we whistled them up at the moment after the last couple of hot days.

I have serious admiration for the people who live and work here in this sort of heat and humidity especially bearing in mind that it's not all that humid at the moment! Like anything I guess if I HAD to do it I would but am very happy I don't have to. This is the country kid who spent hot summer Sunday's sitting on the church porch steps because sitting in church with people tightly around me I was forever passing out so to be somewhere where I feel like I'm having a permanent hot flush is not a gig I'm likely to be volunteering for. We will be having a few days break here now so will talk to you when we get on the road again.



Florence Falls.