22nd July Litchfield NP

  Kms today  28                  Kms to date 6627

I got up early and rode the Kawasaki into Batchelor to buy some things for a barbeque tonight. It was good to give the bike a bit of stick as I have been following Morag for the last few days.  It was misty at first but the rising sun soon burnt through that.

We had brekkie in the café when I got back. They had gluten free bread and soy milk so knocked Mataranka into a cocked hat!

Morag's plan was to visit the furtherest place first and work our way back.  We had to pack before we left as we were moving into the Happy Camper, a 1970's  Viscount caravan converted into a comfortable single room with double and single beds plus a sink.  I met another motorcyclist who was on a V-Strom and was camping with his father in another part of the site.  He was from Darwin.

Happy Camper which we used for 2 nights

The first stop was Bamboo Creek Tin Mine. Tin had been discovered in 1902 and continued until 1951 There were some buildings left and one of the mine shafts. The crushing house still had the original Rushton engine and flywheel used to drive the machinery by a shaft and belts.

The entrance to the tin mine was rather unimpressive!

The building that house the crusher still (barely) stood

The Ruston donkey engine was remarkably complete

We went on to Walker Creek.  This was a small river with swimming holes and camp sites along it.  The sites were pre-booked and names were written on a chalkboard for the 7 sites available. We passed several groups carrying their tents and Eskys up the path. We walked up to Site 6 and found two family groups there enjoying themselves. We had forgotten our bathers and so took our shoes off for a paddle.  My feet soon attracted the attention of the local fish and shrimps which tried to feed off my toes.

 

Kids splashing about in the Camp 6 waterhole

We had brought some sandwiches prepared by the caravan park and we ate them there. We descended to the car park and drove round to The Cascades. We were surprised when our GPS suddenly warned us of a school zone and sure enough we were passing a large school, but it was a long weekend for Northern Territory Day, so it was not open. 

I decided I had had a enough walking for the day in the heat so I stayed in the car park reading my book while Morag did the walk. I could hear many birds tweeting in the trees but it was difficult to see them and take a photo, but I eventually got a few photos.  

Rufous-banded Honeyeater

Australian Crow

Morag got back after a couple of hours and we started driving home, suddenly realising that we needed to get a move on as the campground office closed at 5 and we needed a key for the Happy Camper.  We made it OK.

There was a camp barbeque beside our caravan so it was very easy to cook tea tonight.  We look very glum in the photo, but we weren't!

Enjoying our steak and a bottle of wine