Day 6 was the run up from the Heartbreak hotel to Katherine, and it was what was needed after the previous days hard slog. It was a gentle start to the morning with another big feed of bacon, eggs, snags, mushrooms, tomatoes and toast. After that, we were away. It was a really uneventful 200 km drive from the hotel to Daly Waters, were we stopped for lunch. It is an awesome little place, with a very cool pub. We sat in the back of it, had a nice schooner of Coopers Pale, and chowed down on a magnificent barramundi burger. Eloise and Stu picked up some Team America bling for home, a map of Australia made out of wood with Team America imprinted on it. Noice!!
The cars ready for day 6
Eloise - ready to rock!
Hole crap - we are in the middle of nowhere, and Stu has a highway named after him.
Another interesting fact about Daly Waters is that Stu’s parents (when Stu was an ankle biter) lived there for a while, in the house diagonally across from the pub. I think that may well explain his love of a quite beer or 20. The cars were behaving themselves reasonably well, although the ‘rona was still running a little too hot. From Daly Waters we sprinted up to Mataraka, and went to the thermal springs. During this run the ‘rona really objected, and had to sit on the side of the road for around 30 min while it cooled down. The fluid in the overflow bottle was boiling! Amazingly, the Dolly continued to behave itself (the glares that Eloise gave it when it misbehaved were enough to cool it down). So too did the Alfa, much to the delight of Sheldon. I guess the issues with the respective eclectics the previous day bought both cars some karma.
Daly waters hotel
The main drag of Daly Waters
A dirty Alfa
The springs at Mataranka are bloody wonderful. Eloise, Rex and Dan went for a swim, while the rest of us had a squizz around. A few more pales at the pub were consumed. It was great to stop in there as my Great Aunt lives there with her son Steve (the owner). We had a good chat about everybody and everything, and Eloise and I got a real close first hand experience with a joey and adult agile wallaby, a wollaroo, and a baby goat.
Far too much time was spent at this little oasis, which put us massively behind time. We were 70 min from Katherine, and by the time we left had to be there within 15 min. And with the ‘rona running bloody hot all day, we had to easy it off on the way up to Katherine. Consequently, we had to set our camp gear up (again) in the dark before heading out for dinner at the Katherine Country Club (yep – you read correctly, the Katherine Country Club!!!!). Another bbq dinner (bloody fantastic as well) was had by us all, but it was a relatively early night. We have a river cruise to get to, which meant a 5:15am wake up. What a great last day to my GPSL residential.
Dan drinking.....with a couple of panda's
The reason for doing this.
Kilometers travelled: 460 km
Total time on the road: 10 h
Road kill: <1
Road kill by the Dolly: 0
Coolant consumed by the Dolly: 60 L
Coolant used by the ‘rona: 285000 L
Number of stubby’s drank by the 5 blokes: 587
Number of girly drinks drunk by Eloise: 0
Number of pissed Panda’s at the bar: 2
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