After brunch with Adam and Sean, Barry and I supermarket shopped for the last time in Alice Springs and then picked up Cristina before a swift visit to Anzac Hill as Cristina and Barry hadn't been there yet.

Finally we left Alice Springs behind after what seemed like an eternity there and headed North for our first stop in Tennant creek on the Stuart Highway.
On the way we stopped at an awesome outback pub equipped with petrol station. The Pub was covered in random stuff left by travellers passing through such as hats and home currency banknotes etc. Barry and I made ourselves at home behind the bar for a photo and a read of some of the thousands of notes left by people. The proud owner was in the process of collecting a list of all the soccer teams supported by british travellers. He already had W.B.A but I was able to add Torqay United and Nuneaton Borough (if that counts!! haha) I signed the wall underneath the bar to the right at the bottom - incase anyone goes there!!! (Barrow Creek btw)
We then continued up the highway to the Devils marbels where I think there was a path you were meant to follow but obviously that wasn't adventurous enough for us, we opted for a through the middle approach and over the top! We had a climb up the middle of one that looked like a split apple following an earthquake a few years ago (prob not as strong as the one our lovely Lude has just experienced!!!) and then negotiated our way back to the car which, was easier for Cristina and I than it was for Barry with his poor banadaged feet that he'd burnt the skin off!!! Doh(pre roadtrip with Debstar!)
It was only a short drive then onto Tennant Creek so of course we could make it with the tiny bit of petrol we had left having decided we didn't need to fill up at the cool pub place.
We were nearly right too as we made it to the petrol station and just past it - we missed the turning!!! We came to a standstill as we were turning around to be greeted by.....
you guessed it - Aborigines!!!! After my little experience back in Alice I was a bit nervous but we were in a car and there were only 2 of them so couldn't be too bad. I tried to subtly get Barry to wind my window up as he'd accidentally put the drivers lock think on the electric windows but by this point they were by the window so we didn't wanna seem rude and agravate them. They offered us directions and were quite nice for a bit until we couldn't provide cigarettes as genuinely none of us smoked but they didn't believe us and said generously that we could just give them $10 instead!!! How lovely, we politely declined and hoped they hadn't seen that we were out of petrol when we wound the window up before they tried to get in. They weren't too chuffed but thankfully after punching the window a couple of times they left.
We then had the dilemna of who would stay with the car and who would get out for petrol and whether it was safer to leave 2 people or 2 people leave??? hmmmm In the end though Barry managed to will the car to life enough times to drive the 50metres. yay!!! We decided staying at a secure campsite would give us more peace of mind!!! lol

Mext day we went to the information centre to find out about the mines and viewpoints tennant Creek had to offer but unfortunately the main attractions were shut. We did have a lovely 1/2 hour chatting to the lady and having tea and cake though. The viewpoint was pretty awesome and we went to the Mary Ann Dam for a swim which didn't last long as Cristina and I freaked swimming through the weeds! lol

Our next main stop was at the Historical pub of Daley Waters where I decided I couldn't possibly visit 2 outback pubs and not drink in either so I treated myself to a small handle - couldn't go too wild!! (just under a half btw) It was tempting to stay for the community bbq but that didn't start til about 7 and we still had a fair bit of ground to cover so I took to the drivers seat haha, yep they trusted me to drive them in the 4x4!!

By the time we got into Mataranka it was getting dark so there was some serious kangaroo dodging going on with Cristina in the driving seat by this point and totally crazy!!! We made it to the National Park with a tiny bit of light left to pitch the tent for Barry and make space in the car for Cristina and I. The is was travelling gas stove time for dinner - proper camping!! Very exciting I thought!

Next day we didn't am 8km round trip Mataranka Falls walk to see the beautiful waterfalls. Throughout this we endured many a gigantic ant nest where numerous gigantic ants could be found clinging to your feet and boys did the b*****s hurt when they bit and they did several times. Debbie wasn't too chuffed with nature at this point but Barry and Cristina were loving it so I soldiered on (am I getting any sympathy??? lol) we crossed streams and waded through rivers (it was wet season) and finally got to the end marker which we thought would be a waterfall..... we were mistaken!!!!!!!! DOH no waterfall for the roadtrippin trio so we headed back a little disappointed to say the least. Saying that though it had actually been a fun walk despite the ants.

We then continued North to the Elsey National park, about an hour from Katherine, to enjoy the thermal springs which were once Natural but had been made permanent. We werent complaining though, it was beautiful, pretty much a swimming pool in the jungle, bats and all!. We walked along to the river called 'Stevies hole' for a look but couldn't swim there because of crocodiles so instead we, very sensibly, splashed about on the bank, stamped around and threw stones in to see if we could get a glimpse of a wild croc. We thought afterwards that it was probably a very good job we didn't see one as it would've most likely taken our heads off!!!! nice one eh! DOH again.

In Katherine we stayed at a campsite reccommended to us by a couple we met at the springs. There was a massive school bus there that and Aussie/Swiss couple had converted into a camper and had been living/travelling in for the last 4 years with their little daughter. They let us look inside and it was awesome, could totally see Sal, Toby and Alien living there (with me as the nanny of course!)
We then got talking to 3 danish farmers which was interesting so quite a sociable little campsite. I also continued my Spanish tuition with Cristina. On this day we did the days of the week!!!

Next day we trekked around Katherine Gorge for a few hours. It was roasting hot, no idea what temp though. We actually saw waterfalls this time which was great. Barry did another longer walk to see a bigger one but we were too boiled at this point.

We cooled off in the pool at the park for a bit then carried on to Kakadu N.P. We didn't get as far in as planned because it got dark so we had our first encounter with some lovely Aborigines who showed us where to camp and who to talk to and didn't even ask for anything. Lovely lovely.

The plan was to get up really early next day so that we could get further into the park and do some treks before it got too hot. We actually did get up when planned, had brekkie and set off......
Bout 1/2 hour later on the Kakadu highway in the middle of nowhere there was a big bang and lots of smoke at the gearbox exploded and the car was no longer road worthy!!! DOH DOH DOH Barry was not happy to say the least with it being his car. Cristina and I couldn't help but laugh mostly because this really wasn't a good idea - you know how it is!! So we settled down ready for what could be a really long wait out of season!

Thankfully the 1st car came by after only 45mins and agreed to take Barry to the nearest town, Jabiru, where there was a garage.
Cristina and I guarded the car for the next 2-3 hours and it was boiling not to mention boring after the hilarity wore off. Thankfully though I was still carting bat 'n' ball around so we had a game of that.
We cheered as the rescue man arrived and then watched in disbelief as mid turn-in-the-road he got himself wedged down and embankment!!
Well what else was there to do but laugh as we went over to help our rescuer get free so he could help us!!
We tried digging the tyres out and piling stones up in front of them but that didn't work so he used the ramp thing to lift them so we could get stones underneath but that didn't work and then eventually it figured that the ramp extension thingy was able to push the van far enough that the guy could drive out!! woooooohooooooo phew!! back to the job our poorly car got strapped onto it's new lift and better than that we actually got treated to an airconditioned roadtrip to Jabiru!!!

The cheapest accommodation we could find in walking distance was really cool and tres flash. Like a solid tent thing it was ace and we has a pass to the olympic swimming pool aswell which was seriously required!!!

Next day we said goodbye to Cristina as she hitchhiked onto Darwin and Barry and I caught the Greyhound bus.
On entering Darwin a story came on the radio that the T.I.O (Territory Insurance Office) had been blown up that morning!!!! Great!! Thought I was moving away from violence! lol It turned out to be an attack by someone they'd annoyed though and he was in custody so all good.
We checked into a 4 bed dorm where there were already 3 backpacks...wierd for someone to have 2 backpacks we thought but wait and see.
Sure enough they'd booked 5 people into 4 beds so we had to move but this did mean we had dinner buddies for our first night in Darwin.

I spent the next day trying to find a daytour to Litchfield but with it being wet season they didn't run everyday so I booked my flight to Singapore instead - so exciting!!!!! I then booked my shuttlebus to the airport and did some last minute souvenir shopping and posted those and some other stuff home....including my bus ticket!!!! DOH so I had to go tell the lady which gave her a good laugh!

Next day I went to the Crocodylus park where I fed a massive 6m long salty and piece of chicken - off a fishing rod obviously and nearly jumped out my skin at a few that took us by suprise!!! I held a baby croc which was way softer than I expected and saw loads of other animals including a wombat which is actually the cutest thing I've ever seen, wanted to take it home!!!
I missed the first bus by seconds so had to wait over an hour watching what looked to be a massive storm approach...it was massive and it started all of 10 mins before the bus got there, why it couldn't have waited!!! lol

Barry and I found a place that did $2.50 meals to mark the end of our trip together and it was actually really yummy and not a bad size portion either.
Next day we checked out the beach in the morning then I checked out and the shuttle driver had a good laugh at my ticket posting stupidity and dropped me off at the airport with time to spare...or so I though!!!

Turned out that, like New Zealand, you have to have evidence of a ticket out of Singapore in order to check in on the Aussie side so the mission began to find internet, book a bus to Malaysia, print and check in in what was now 30 mins!!! ARGH, I did this but then there was no printer so had to wait while managers discussed my situation and finally decided I could go through. Check in closed behind me. Phew!!!
One last call to the Vickster of Kiwiland to tell the drama and confirm our meeting in Krabi, Thailand and it was goodbye Australia, hello Singapore where, my ticket out of Singapore wasn't even mentioned!!!! Doh

Australia was awesome, I had a brilliant 11 months there. Bring on Asia!!! woooo

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