Charters Towers

Here we are at last with some reception for the net and mobiles!!! Back to civilisation!!! Had a hot and steamy time in Kakuda - the accommodation was over run with insects -management are quick to point out it is not their fault - which of course, it isn't. Went on a cruise on the East Alligator River in Arnhem Land - fabulous scenery and lots of crocodiles. Everybody got a bit casual about them - but the locals - tour guides etc - were always reminding us how dangerous it was. Fair enough!! We also went on a Yellow Water river cruise - this was on the South Alligator River. Yep, that's right, there is more than one Alligator river here - in fact there is three - there is the West Alligator river as well!!! Apparently an explorer that 'discovered' the 1st one called it the Alligator river then 'discovered' the other two and could'nt be bothered re-naming the 2nd two!! Does that make sense? (Of course, the local Aborigines already had names for these rivers) Anyway the Yellow Water cruise had lots of different birds - brolgas, jabirus,magpie geese,whistling kites, rainbow bee eaters (my favourite),ibis,egrets,herons and a beautiful azure kingfisher - and they are only the ones that I remember! There was also a lot of crocodiles!!! They are everywhere. The cruise guides on both cruises explained how much water comes through these rivers and flood plains during the Wet and it is phenomenal. At Yellow Water the guide was showing us how much underwater all the cruise jetties were and how the whole Cooinda resort had to be evacuated by helicopter to Darwin last Wet season as it flooded!!
Enough about Kakadu. On Wednesday we started our long trek toNorth Queensland. We had originally intended to go along the Savannah Way - Booroloola to Burketown, Normanton and Karumba but the weather forecast was for rain and as the road up there floods easily we decided not to risk it. Anyhow we headed to Daly Waters for our 1st overnite stay. What a hoot this place turned out to be. We decided to stay there on a recommendation in our Lonely Planet guide of Australia - our bible. The accommodation was so-so but the evening itself was great. On arrival it was suggested we book for dinner with the beef and barra bbq - we were given a 7pm sitting and told to arrive before that. After showering and changing we headed to the pub. First of all the pub is decorated with all things imaginable - I have put some photos on the blog so you'se can see for yourselves - yes - they are bras hanging from the ceiling!! And lots of other things too!! It was fascinating. Then we headed out to the beer garden to await dinner. There was a great country band playing who hailed from Victoria - they told lots of jokes in between playing. The owner was cooking up a storm on the bbq and they called out people's names as their steaks and barramundi were ready. There was a salad buffet and hot damper as well. This meal was really delicious - we have had some real ordinary food served to us on this trip. Then the 2nd 'act' came on - Frank 'The Chookman' Turton. He sang songs and told jokes, including a bit of audience participation. Nothing special you would think, except he had these 2 chooks with him -they clucked around up the front while he sang etc. and then he finished off putting this chookhouse hat on and the chooks flew on to the top of the chookhouse!!! It was completely bizarre!! And they stayed there for ages as you can see by the photos. Afterwards, we all trooped outside onto the 'main' street for a whip cracking demo by the mixer of the band!! He was really good. And to finish off, they let some fireworks off as it was Territory day in NT - apparently this is a tradition in NT and everybody is allowed to buy fireworks on Territory day only from 9am to 9pm and let off their own fireworks!! Some of us who are pretty old remember when we used to do that on Guy Fawkes Day in November before that avenue of pleasure was closed!!! Northern Territory is now the only 'state' that sells fireworks, albeit for only that 1 day.
Anyway, it was a great night at the Daly Waters pub.
After Daly Waters we trekked across to Mt Isa,stayed overnite and today carried on trekking to Charters Towers where we are staying the nite now. Tomorrow we head in to Townsville and then up to Mission Beach where we are going to stay for 5 days.