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Post by Uralee on Jul 16, 2014 20:23:50 GMT 10
Hi Lee, Was it the locals that made it too difficult to hang around ? just interested so I can avoid this place on my travels next year if need be. cheers Rob Camp site was very full and they don't take bookings.......BMW Safari had booked 30 sites for 90 riders and support. Go figure. We were put near the laundry. Washing machines went all afternoon. That was ok. They stopped about 7:00pm but some inconsiderate bitch started two washing machines about 9:00pm. Our neighbour apparently went and pulled the power plug on them at 9:15. They were started again at 10:00. I pulled the plug three times in the next short period. Eventually I had a polite discussion (well, I was polite anyway) with the woman about respect for other people.......apparently I am an unrealistic moron and there is absolutely nothing wrong with the drone of multiple washing machines at 11:00pm. lee
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Post by Piper on Jul 16, 2014 20:31:56 GMT 10
Did u manage to do an engine start and tune the Ural around 1am, gee it might have needed a carby balance, someplace near that "woman"
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Post by Uralee on Jul 16, 2014 20:46:13 GMT 10
100km further north and we were in Katherine for breakfast. Had great Turkish fruit toast and coffee at Finch cafe. Lady there recommended the Big 4 and we are members so we toddled off and booked in. Fantastic park, great site and we had a great nights sleep. We are going back there after we loop through Kakadu and Darwin. The pool and bistro at Big 4 will get us as well as a return to Finch Cafe.
We have since moved on to Kakadu and have a camp at Madugal camp ground near Cooinda. 35 degrees here today but ok wit habit of breeze if you are in the shade. We rode to Jabaru for a look see late afternoon. Map added up to 40 something kilometres. A few k's up the road, sign said 45km. Some k's further on, sign said 50km to Jabaru.......talk about moving the goalposts ! We did close on 60 km and were just about out of fuel on arrival. I purchased Opal fuel for the first time and wondered how the Ural would like it. On the way back to camp, one of the turn offs said "lookout" 500 metres. I did a left turn and soon enough we were looking at another sign that said "lookout" 1.6 km. very steep climb, allow 50 minutes minimum. We had travelled about 350 km so far today and at 35 degrees decided we would rather go back to camp for a shower and happy hour. Wifey would not let me ride up the track even though it did not say anything about no URALS allowed. Might get to the lookout tomorrow.
Lee
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Post by Uralee on Jul 16, 2014 21:06:28 GMT 10
Stopped here to let wife have a swim to cool off. Could not even coax her out of the sidecar.
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Post by Uralee on Jul 16, 2014 21:29:38 GMT 10
Sue and Stephen Apparently I don't do photos with people in them............well, here ya go. How's that Tegan ? Lee
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Post by chrisdips on Jul 17, 2014 11:14:22 GMT 10
I spent a few days at Mataranka in about 1975. The memories of that beautiful place remain amongst the strongest of my early touring days. It definitely wasn't crowded then. Give it another chance next time you pass that way.
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Post by Uralee on Jul 17, 2014 11:23:01 GMT 10
I spent a few days at Mataranka in about 1975. The memories of that beautiful place remain amongst the strongest of my early touring days. It definitely wasn't crowded then. Give it another chance next time you pass that way. I would go there again Chris. I knew I could not be lucky enough to go through life without meeting another woman like my ex wife. Cheers, Lee
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Post by Uralee on Jul 19, 2014 7:47:45 GMT 10
Kakadu Darwin
Darwin was not on our itinerary. We were originally to head straight back to Katherine from Kakadu, but not wanting to retrace our steps, we went to Darwin anyway. There is also a restaurant that is somewhat a favourite there. The BUZZ at Cullen Bay. So, we arrived in Darwin and did a bit of shopping and maintenance then headed for Cullen Bay marina for Friday happy hour and a meal at the Buzz. Bugger, the Buzz is closed for renovations........ Hope they don't change the glass wall in the Men's. It is a bit of a surprise the first time you waltz up to the urinal to do your thing against a glass wall that looks right out into the restaurant. I'm told the ladies has some special seats in theirs......something about spiders and the like.
Oh well, it's fish and chips and a wander about.
Ps. Big four at Darwin is overcrowded with permanents and expensive. We could only have a site with en suite. Probably should have gone to a motel..
Back to a great big four at Katherine today.
Cheers, lee
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Post by Uralee on Jul 20, 2014 21:41:27 GMT 10
Before Darwin........ While at Kakadu I spent a couple of hours in the pool at Cooinda. Wifey was off flying in a single engine plane. Personally, I think they are about as safe as Malaysian Airlines. After 6 week as away from the gym and pool, I really enjoyed this. Now, getting back to a Darwin, almost everything we went to Darwin for turned to crap. I won't go into detail about it but it really was a waste of time, fuel and cash. We still enjoyed a reasonable meal at the Chinese run restaurant at Cullen Bay though. We left Darwin late Saturday morning after returning items purchased the previous day. Happy to be returning to Katherine which I believe is the better of the three majors up here.......Alice / Katherine / Darwin. Sunday we rode out to the Gorge to do a walk. We picked up a walking trail map and decided to do the loop walk including the lookout. The loop was listed as 1.8 km return or 3.7 km via the lookout. After walking for about 1.5 km we reached a fork in the track. The map showed the lookout on the right fork. Being 30 degrees and a lot of quite steep uphill, H decided to skip the lookout. I told her to sit a while then wander on, and I would do the lookout and catch up. After walking at a cracking pace for well over 2 km on a track that was listed on the map as 2.2 km return, I caught up to two lovely young females who were looking at a gps. I chatted with them, saying the distance seemed very wrong. They assured me I had missed a turn, and we had done 3.2 km on this track that was actually 5.5 km long. I about faced headed back. Walking quickly to the point of almost running, I eventually caught up with wifey just before the bloody lookout. The map showed the loop as 1.8 km. taking in the lookout made it 3.7 km according to the map. A sign at the lookout said 2.8 km back to the info centre which was the starting point...... If anyone can figure the maths on this , please let me know. I walked / ran for exactly 2 hours, so I know I covered about 10 km. well, I have been missing the gym sessions anyway. Well worth a good walk.
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Post by Uralee on Jul 20, 2014 21:52:00 GMT 10
Monday we head west towards Kununurra. ( this is the real bush bush Etty ). We will be free camping for a few days so don't expect to have internet till we get to Kununurra.
The story shall continue.
Lee
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