From the Alice to the Gulf of Carpentaria....

Hello peoples, well we have travelled from the MacDonnell Ranges up to the lower west side of the Gulf of Carpentaria since our last up date. We have been well and truly off grid! We are currently camped up at a spot called King Ash Bay. This is a little recreational fishermen’s hideaway to catch the allusive Barra.  Some intrepid fisho’s hacked their way into the spot 35 years ago and now there are a few permanent sheds (all you need up north), internet and basic camping.

 I was under the impression it would be easy to catch fish in the NT but by all accounts the fish are not on the bite all across the NT due to who knows what…lots of fishing theories out there, the “wet” (season) was late this year to water temperature. All I know is I haven’t caught a Barra yet!

Our journey to King Ash Bay followed a massive stock up on food at Alice Springs. Lots of Aboriginals in town with police standing outside all bottle shops. A shiny new hospital which Jack and I spent some time in sorting out an infected foot following some bite to Jack’s foot in the MacDonnell Ranges.

We then travelled up the Stuart HWY with two stops and then turned off to the Davenport Ranges National Park via Murray Downs cattle station. Some really remote red sand driving here to a beautiful aboriginal water hole the station manager told us about (a three day stopover here). From here we were into the ranges and camped for 4 days at Old Police Station Water hole. The place named after the Police station which was built in 1918 and abandoned in 1924. The station was set up to police clashes between Aboriginals and pastoralists. As I have said before those early pioneers make us look like big jessies!

The kids badgered me into getting the surf boards off the rack to play with. This would be our last safe water hole before entering croc country. We had another close call with another snake here on a trip to the “drop bog” one night with the kids……….they scare the shit out of me!

Having spent a few days here getting some croc sense (I have to say it is bloody frustrating looking at all this gorgeous water but not being able to jump) we are now heading into the Limmen National Park, through to Roper Bar and then onto Elsey National Park and the gorgeous Mataranka Springs. Cheers for now, Hoppo……..

Barrow Creek History

Rest Stop,cattle country,Stuart Highway

 A "very" excited bull.....

She's a harsh country...

Lots of red dust ,Murray Downs Station, NT

Aboriginal water hole near Davenport Ranges National Park

 Middle of nowhere....Love It!

 Ferrell Donkeys

 Nice sluggos!

Old Police Station water Hole, Davenport Ranges, NT

Australian Bustard (bush turkey)

Endless Summer Two moment...good idea dad

 Wedge Tail on road kill...awesome bird!

Little River billabong camp spot...watch those crocs!

 King Ash Bay, mum & dadshot