Morag drove me around in the Hyundai and there was no starting or battery trouble.
We got up at 7am and left right away so again we could avoid walking in the heat of the day. We first stopped at Tabletop Swamp to do a bit of birdwatching, but I reckon there were more birds in the car park at The Cascades yesterday. If my father was with me he would have found them.
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| Plenty of trees but no birds |
Next it was off to Tolmer Falls. Judging by the quality of the facilities and the walkways this was a prime bus tour stop. It was even wheelchair accessible which was great. There were a couple of viewing platforms which gave good panoramas of the valley and plain beyond and another that gave a good view of the Tolmer Falls, except it was in deep shadow as the sun hadn't come round yet. Served us right for getting up early to avoid the crowds; which were definitely on their way from Darwin as it was a long weekend!
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| Tolmer Falls |
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| Lookout at Tolmer Falls |
We did a circular walk along side the Tolmer Creek back to the car park, just in case I was feeling too fresh having missed my breakfast. We were in discussions about wether I should wait a few days and meet up with Morag in Kununurra and then continue through WA, SA and back home as originally planned. I wasn't keen as I would have to crack on to get home in time for my appointment with my Ophthalmologist. Morag was disappointed even though we would hardly see each other as she would be travelling much slower. .
Next stop was Wangi Falls, the pick of the waterfalls, not least because there is a large swimming hole there but it was closed because of Crocodiles. This had even more bus tour facilities including a café, which would have been great for us, except it didn't open until 11am when the bus tours arrive. Another lesson for those who rise early. The falls were pretty good and the most impressive I have seen in Australia. There was a walk up to a platform which gave views of the forest and coastal plain but not of the Falls. We had to go through a fruit bat colony to get there.
They should learn from the Yanks where you can stand right at the top of the waterfalls in Yosemite and watch the water fall below you to the plunge pool. We walked around the rim to the falls and over the Wangi Creek. On the way down, the track ran alongside the water flowing to the smaller side falls.
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| This little Gecko was sunning itself on the rocks |
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| He was riding an Indian Classic towing a huge camper trailer. |
You won't be surprised to read that when Morag said at 3pm that she was heading out again to Florence Falls that I told her I was buggered and didn't want to traipse up another steep track to another waterfall and get very hot and sweaty.
Litchfield NP has a big reputation but I think Alan and I were right to give It a miss in 2010 after we had been in Karijini. Maybe it's because Karijini is not close to a City makes it more unspoilt and less crowded and the gorges and pools are more impressive, all set in 2.5 billion year old rocks.
Morag came back to tell me Florence Falls was beautiful and she had a swim, but it was very crowded.
We got ready and headed off for Batchelor for my birthday dinner, which was just as good as the previous one. There was a Karaoke singer and I thought maybe Morag and I should get up and show the locals how to dance rock and roll, but we're too out of practice.
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| Happy 70th Birthday - Old Man! |
There was a huge crocodile skin on the wall just to remind us not to swim where we're not allowed.
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| This Croc was 5 metres long. |
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