Katherine - Day 52

Fletcher: Today we left lake Argyle to Katherine.  We packed up the van and dipped our feet in the pool then left, we stopped for petrol and I got 2 dim sims, then we drove all the way to Katherine.  When we got there we set up the van and we finally got an ensuite- I think the last one was Kalgoorlie.  Me, mum and Mackenzie went to the pool, they have 2 pools.

Mackenzie: Today we got up early and had one more dip in the pool, then we drove all day, we stopped for lunch and when we got to the next place we setup the caravan and then we had a dip in the pool.  Where we are staying there are 2 pools, for dinner we had tuna pasta.

Today was a big day driving.  We left Lake Argyle and about 45kms up the road we crossed into the Northern Territory, losing an hour and a half.  So our early start was now 9.30, so much better for the people coming the other way who gain the time.  A bit of a sad moment leaving the west, we have spent so long here- nearly 8 weeks, so off we go to explore the territory.  We drove through most of the day, stopping for petrol at Timber Creek on the Victoria River.  We pulled into the roadhouse and we were confused by all the stories we had been told about petrol, who was cheaper, whether to drive on to Victoria River roadhouse?  So we were there so we just got it - wrong!  We have now paid the most we have for petrol $2.02 a litre.  So we moved our car out of the pump after paying, only to see the petrol next door was 10 cents cheaper and then drive through to Victoria River and it was cheaper again, not happy!  Oh well another Griswold story for us, not to jinx ourselves but we are doing pretty well and are still loving that most people we chat with have worse moments.  We also got had at the roadhouse itself, the food was nice and Mack had a lovely sandwich and Dan a pastie, but next door was a tour booking office that had lovely homemade food so good for me who doesn't eat all that other stuff and I got a yummy homemade zucchini slice.  Dan was more cross with the food than being ripped off for the petrol so in he went for his share of homemade food too.  A homemade pastie, sausage roll & another zucchini slice as a treat for me for later and we were on our way.  The scenery through the Victoria River area is amazing.   We drove past Coolibah Station where "Keeping up with the Jonses" was filmed with Big & little Milton, one of RTA's road train triples was pulling out of their driveway full of cattle and only saw us at the last moment and locked up the brakes to try stop, Dan saw him and had slowed down and was saying " he hasn't seen us", so we knew we were in a situation, but at least in control of it, so a long story short, between Dan slowing down and him too, he pulled his truck up in time, so we have a Griswold moment but not a disaster.  We got further up the road and Dan swerved, I saw at the last minute what he was trying to avoid but it was too late we clipped the tail end of a snake.  Dan being the nature lover he is had to go back to him, so we turned around and went back, murphys law of course we hadn't seen anyone for ages and we pass a road train as we go back, so by now mr snake had passed away, Dan was devastated he'd hit him and the kids none the wiser, Mack says oh look a snake, Fletch says, is it alive, Mack- Oh der Fletch its dead on the road.  I'm sad too but  I really don't need to be pulled up this close to a snake, especially as he had a bit of fight in him to the end.  Off we go and head into Katherine.  We are at Knots Crossing Resort which is fantastic and as the kids have said has 2 pools.  All sites have ensuites, yay and at only $46 for the 4 of us we are staying 3 nights and lap up the luxury.   We got in about 5pm so have lost the day but we had a wander around the park and a dip in both pools.  Yesterday and today have both been a bit cooler and overcast, still in the 30s but without the strong sun on us it feels easier to handle.

                                                                   the border

                                                            finally in the NT

                                             Quarantine station going from NT into WA