21st July Litchfield NP

 Kms today 361                  Kms to date 6619

As we had breakfast we watched the news about Covid and things are getting worse in Sydney, SA and Vic and about to get much worse for me.  We stopped in the town to photograph a giant termite mound when my phone picked up a few SMS's.  One was from the WA police to tell me that because I had come through SA I would have to self isolate after entering WA.  So that was the end of my plan to go to Kununurra with Morag and take my Birthday scenic flight over Lake Argyle and Purnululu.  I could have reapplied for my WA Border Pass after staying in NT for 14 days, which would have been 28th July, 3 days later than I planned.  Morag wanted me to come with her into WA and head home that way, but I needed to be back in Melbourne for an appointment with my Ophthalmologist, which she was reluctant to delay any further.   So it was back to Plan B and going into Queensland and home through NSW. Morag was going to do the scenic flight on her own and I would go to Darwin after Litchfield NP.

Giant Termite Mound in Mataranka

  

 

When we got to Katherine we spent some time sending emails etc.  Me to cancel bookings and Morag to send off e-postcards to our grandkids and post some letters.

Our next three nights were going to be at Litchfield NP and we were keen to get there.  I had booked accommodation as close as possible to the park and I had one night in a bunkhouse and two in a renovated caravan called Happy Camper. When we checked in there was some confusion but soon sorted out and we booked our dinner at the Litchfield Resort in Batchelor.  The bunkhouse was in fact very luxurious and had a huge king sized bed and all the best fittings.  I plugged the car into a power outlet outside the bunkhouse. 

This area became famous in the early 1950's when a Uranium mine called Rum Jungle was opened by the Commonwealth Govt.  It was a result of the Cold War nuclear arms race and a 25,000 pound reward.(present value $1million) was offered for a Uranium discovery.  A local farmer thought he had Yellowcake on his lease and the geologists confirmed high grade Uranium ore. The Uranium was important for the British and American nuclear weapons programmes and mining continued for about 20 years.  Batchelor was the town built to house the 1000 miners and their families. A postscript is that the mine rehabilitation was botched and acid mine drainage has caused great environmental damage. A new rehabilitation project is underway.

The dinner we had at Batchelor was a pleasant surprise. The venue was attractive and the food excellent.  We agreed to come back in a couple of nights for my birthday.