Day 134: Borroloola - Daly Waters

Having had such a long day before, we decided to take today a bit easier.

We spent a while chatting with our neighbours and they had recommended a small walk at Caranbirini NP about 40km South of the camp site, and on our route anyway.

We left fairly early and headed to the walk. It was a lovely place, the walk winds around and then in between some very precarious looking rock formations. We both had memories of Picnic at Hanging Rock. Although in all honestly this place is a lot smaller. After meanderinng through the rocks we went to the water hole which was incredibly picturesque. Of course, as we are now in the Northern Territory, the water hole, like many others had Crocodile warning signs!

Next we drove for 2 to 3 hours along never ending landscapes to Daly Waters. Daly Waters or more specifically the Daly Waters Pub, is pretty well known. Although for the longest amount of time I questioned what the hell we were doing there, or it for that matter!

Daly Waters as a town is about 1km off the Stuart Highway, and is very very small, maybe a half dozen buildings. The pub is the main attraction. It was built a very long time, like most of these lonely places, as a place to rest on long journeys. I believe it's population soared durinng the 2nd world war when loads of the RAAF were stationed there. Oh, I forgot to mention that as well as a pub it has an airfield!

Now it is a tourist trap, which holds nothing back. Everything from personalised wood tags (made on the spot) to T-shirts. Outside they they have various signs like "Most Remote Traffic Lights". Inside, the walls and ceiling are absolutely covered in stuff: money; caps; knickers; bras; football scarves; photos; business cards; and so on. And of course in the middle of all this you have dozens of people (nearly all Australian) with their cameras taking loads of pics.

I hope you are now cringing, because I sure was. And yet, having said all that, we had an absolutely great evening. The place was packed, by 3pm they had no more powered sites left, and all the people who stayed had to go into the field. There must have been well over 100 cars and caravans. In the evening, the pub does a set dinner with entertainment. They menu had a choice of 3 meals; Barra (Barramundi), Beef, or Barra & Beef. All served with a buffet of salad and vegetables. And whilst you are eating they put on a really great show with jokes, music, and plenty of audience participation late into the night.

I can't finish this post without mentioning Jo-Jo. On the camp site we met a nice couple from Melbourne, George and Robyn, and we ended up eating with them and their friends that night. But not before spending some time with Jo-Jo their lovely and slightly over fed cattle dog. Jo-Jo apparently came from a working farm, but basically refused to do any work. Luckily she was able to find a new home where work was not on a the schedule. Anyway, as some of you can imagine (although you might not want to), Jo-Jo sparked the singing voices in both of us. Yes, Emelie and I spent the next several days singing "Get back, Get back, Get back to where you once belonged, Get back Jo-Jo".

Oly