KATHERINE - BATCHELOR (LITCHFIELD NATIONAL PARK)

Bridget diving at Edith Falls

The kids were so good on all our walks

DAY 25 – KATHERINE -  BATCHELOR (LITCHFIELD NATIONAL PARK)           Wednesday, 27^th July

Chef David was hard at work this morning cooking French toast for the lazy chicks in bed.  It was delicious!!  We had a lazy morning and didn’t leave Katherine until about 10am – late for us! 

David had been for a walk around the area first thing in the morning and met up with a man who had just purchased 5 acres outside Katherine “to escape the rat race”.   David and I had a good chuckle about that!  There are about 5,500 people in Katherine.  I would hate him to see Melbourne!  He was, however, very interesting about the indigenous problem here which he says is getting worse and worse.  He has owned stores in indigenous communities and sees the problem of drugs becoming just as bad as the problem with alcohol.  He was interesting in that he has noticed that in previous years there have always been the Aboriginal elders who managed to pull the young guys into line if they got out of hand.  But these elders are now dying out and there is no-one with the leadership skills to take their place.  Previously if young men were out of control, they would conduct a tribal ceremony which often put them back in their place.  But the young men don’t conduct ceremonies anymore.  It is such an enormous problem

Off to Edith Falls which was absolutely beautiful.  Just this amazing oasis in the middle of nowhere.  The kids took a while to get in (it was rather cool!) and to feel comfortable swimming around waterholes but they found this amazing cave and waterhole with the most abundant plant and fish life!  David was impressed with the kids walking to the waterhole but, as they said, after the walk around Nitmiluk National Park, ANYTHING else is easy!!!

We popped into the Commonwealth War Cemetery outside Adelaide River on our way to Batchelor.  It was very interesting to see actually how many air raids were conducted over Darwin and the Northern Territory during WWII.  I had no idea.

Arrived in Batchelor in time to meet a nice family next to us from Wantirna.  We ended up having drinks and dinner together.  A beautiful balmy evening in Litchfield National Park.  Sitting outside in shorts and t-shirt until 10pm and then going to sleep with all the windows open, letting the gentle breeze caress you as you sleep ….. “living the dream!”   Sorry about that, you cold Victorian people!!