Tues, 22nd March, 2022 Newcastle Waters Rest Area, north of Elliott to Warloch Rest Area, 37km south of Mataranka, NT (Dunmarra, Daly Waters & Larrimah)

Lovely sunrise this morning from our bedroom. The streaky clouds spread the colour nicely but I was too lazy to get the camera! The birds were singing their morning chorus until the trucks zoomed by.

Continued north - the truck has improved though Steve can accelerate slowly, just can’t put his foot down to go in a hurray. We are happy to be moving along about 95kph so save fuel and there isn’t that much traffic to contend with.

Down off the ridge and across a long causeway area over floodplains relating to Newcastle Creek which had a bit of milky coloured water in it.

A couple of wedgies didn’t want to leave their roadside breakfast and nearly became a hood ornament for us though Steve had slowed right down as we know how unpredictable they can be. If they were smart like the crows they could just wander off the road then come back once we have passed.

Taller trees and grasses now and bigger red ant hills.

Stopped at Sir Charles Todd’s memorial - the telegraph poles are for show as the telegraph line was west of here. Amazing to think there was an underwater cable from England way back in 1872 for us to connect to. They had hard workers back then - imagine trying to do something like that now - all the red tape, committee meetings etc before they can even get tenders in!

Three black cockatoos were hanging on a bendy branch of a tree as we passed. I thought they were crows. 

Stopped at Dunmarra Wayside Inn and Roadhouse so Steve could try something else with the engine - checking the air flow sensor etc. I went for a wander and found lots of interesting information. A very sad note too about a young lad and how the name Dunmarra came - from one of the telegraph linesmen who was lost.

Aloe Vera is grown everywhere. Only $2.36/litre for diesel here so we certainly got caught with the Barkly and Three Ways with their $2.64 price.

We had a cuppa then headed off - the truck is still the same.

The Hi Way Inn is at the turnoff to Borroloola and there is a old plane wreck at the front. Not sure of its story but as there is an airport at Daly Waters I reckon it has something to do with that.

Not far up the highway we turned off towards Daly Waters. We stopped and read the info board near the power plant.

Then around to the ‘international’ airport.

A bird flew into the fence as we went to go in the hangar and forgot to close his wings. Steve got him out and left him to recuperate - we hope.

Good information inside the hangar.

On the fence was info about the Dakota that crashed here in 1956. I am presuming this is the wreckage.

Followed the track around to Daly Creek which has a causeway and a bridge over it. Great signs providing information about each thing by Tim.

We checked out the flying fox over the pool. Steve tried to get the pulley to hang correctly with a stick but it wouldn’t swing over.

Followed the track around to the cemetery.

The track continued to cross the creek again - according to the map this pool of water is near the men’s quarters so they would have been able to keep cool in it - not sure about clean though.

Across the causeway and we turned off to check out ‘Stuarts’ tree which is suppose to have an S carved in it but he didn’t record doing this in his diaries.

The tree is near the site of the Telegraph Station but all the buildings are gone now as they were made of timber instead of of rock like the one near Tennant Creek. All that remains is the front steps.

This tree has pretty flowers.

We drove into the township which has a couple of houses, the caravan park, town hall and post office/police station and of course the Pub. We didn’t realise we had driven into the other section of the caravan park but found the WW2 military officers’ residence that is being renovated.

Next to that was two very dirty water buffalos - Bud and Buffie.

We parked in the shade of a tree near the old post office/police station and went exploring.

Around the back was the gaol cells.

Across the road is the town hall which looks like it is mainly used for storage now.

Walking towards the Pub we found lots of interesting bits and pieces collected by Tim for his ‘Junk Yard’. He has done a fabulous job with all the information too.

There a few other ‘locals’ to look out for.

We continued down the street. Steve loved the back seats in the chopper.

That wouldn’t have been a great experience - crashing a helicopter. There is a beautiful memorial to chopper mustering pilots in Halls Creek.

Love the bull catcher truck - shame it didn’t have the bionic arm on it.

The old mail truck in front of the Palace where Snappy lives - he was obviously enjoying his pond in this hot weather as we couldn’t see him. He had a friend out the front for photos.

Back to the Pub with more bits to check out.

Inside there was so much more.

Steve was impressed with the Men’s loos (Standers - ladies are Sitters) he had to take a photo.

We decided on lunch in the Pub. It was cooler too. They had lots of old photos showing on a TV which we enjoyed seeing as we had our delicious lunch and cold drink. Only a few people here but there seems to be a few staff about. New owners took over in 2017. Of course there is all the usual signed shirts, hats, bras, shoes and lots of money, nametags, business cards, number plates. So much to check out.

The information brochure on the history and walks around Daly Waters.

Around the other side we found some booths with some interesting characters hanging about. Steve tried to Crocodile Dundee method to calm the buffalo!

Dad had a few of these stubbies at home.

Back out in the heat for a photo in front of the iconic Pub. I remembered Shane wanted a photo of us in front of things to prove we were there so as there is Telstra here we did a selfie and posted it on Facebook with a few other photos.

Interesting info about the trough and the Pub.

We noticed big black clouds in the south as we walked back to the camper to upload my blog as we had good reception in the Pub but not so good outside. I managed to get enough signal with the aerial so uploaded another day. A shower of rain fell - not enough to wet anything though.

As we drove out I spotted ‘Polly’ and her friends having a wander around the van park. We will have to come back and stay when it is a bit cooler and more people about.

Back out to the highway then north again with the dark clouds looming around us. The road was wet for a while.

Pulled in for a quick photo of Alexander Forrest’s memorial - telegraph pole sticking out of the pyramid.

Before Larrimah is the site of the WW2 Hospital Base but as we passed the sign we only saw grass.

We turned onto a track with a sign about WW2 Birdum Site. Just by the road was some old concrete footings and information about the fuel depot (BIPOD - bulk issue petrol oil depot) that was here for the war.

Drove on and found other concrete foundations to old tanks and things and then came out where the railway line headed into Larrimah.

We turned around and went back to the highway then entered Larrimah township. Again just a few houses, the Pink Panther Pub and van park and the old telegraph office that is now a museum.

We found a tree to park under and had a cuppa. Those dark clouds are building.

We put on our hats to explore. More information boards.

Some old plane engines near the museum which used to be the telegraph repeater station.

Another couple pulled up and we wandered into the Pub - the licensee is Steve Baldwin, Steve’s cousin’s husband has that name too but he is in Sydney. Dad would have been impressed with all the beer cans lined up along the wall - he had a collection under the house. Interesting pub but it was empty! There were cages etc around in the open area and rooms to rent but no one about.

I saw a sign about the museum being open and free to enter so we wandered back over but we couldn’t get the door open - next time. The clouds are catching up to us so we headed off again.

We went out the road along the railway lines. There are a couple of the railway cottages up for sale.

Continued on past the turn off to Gorrie Airfield - decided we don’t want to be on a dusty dirt road if the heavens did decide to dump on us so we continued up the highway to a rest area, 37km south of Mataranka. It is off the road a bit but we decided to go to the gravel area on the other side of the road which is a bit further off the road - not so much road noise. Steve had another look under the bonnet. He has a few theories - he is hoping the cheap version can fix the problem otherwise it is the dear version of new injectors!

 

The dark clouds are moving over us as the sun sets but so far no rain.

The wind picked up but no rain came. 6pm it is 30 degrees but very humid so feels a lot hotter.

Cooled off a bit after the sun set. Dinner, cards, blog for me and reading for Steve. It is amazing how the little bugs can get through the screens to get to the lights! Annoying little gits!