Fri, 1st April, 2022 Bush camp by Reynolds River upper reaches to Robin Falls campground, south of Adelaide River township, NT (Robin Waterfall)

The mornings are getting cooler - needed to pull up the sheet again. 7am 22 degrees. Lovely waking up to the sound of the running water and many birds chirping.

During breakfast I finished reading the combined book with We of the Never-Never and The Little Black Princess (published in 1908 & 1905) by Jeannie Gunn. Very moving and enlightening. Jeannie was a remarkable woman, after losing her husband just over a year after their marriage and life in the bush she went back to Melbourne to live with her father and went on to help so many during the two wars etc.

Back to the turn off and onto Dorat Road towards Adelaide River township. The pheasants are out and about this morning. We are running alongside a creek which according to the region map is the upper reaches of the Adelaide River. Up and down hills with tall trees and long grass. Crossing lots of other little creeks too and there is still water in the culverts by the road.

Steve saw a nice cleared area with rubbish bin by a creek we just crossed over. Good for a camp - it was Burrells Creek. Will note that for another time.

Lots of driveways to nowhere along here - looks like they have divided up acreage but only a few have gates on them showing ownership.

Across George Creek then we turned into the track to Robin Falls. Bit of wet entrance.

There are a few camps alongside the creek with a hillside on the other side of the track. Lots of trees so getting solar will be fun.

We drove to the end and turned around where the sign is about the walk up to the falls. Found a nice spot with less shade and parked up for the night. No problem seeing the water here and we will have the lovely sound of the rapids again so sleep by.

Put my feet in the pool beside our camp. Nice and cool with a sandy bottom. Lots of little perch swimming around. Looking over the man-made rocky wall downstream then upstream.

Walked up to the next camp area - more shade and a gravelly bottom to the pool.

Green ants and mozzies are very friendly too.

Cuppa by the pool watching the fish eat the last of the dead muesli bars and the dragonflies zooming in for a quick dip in the water.

Put on our sandals and walked up the track to the info sign about the falls and the cycads.

Steve led the way as usual as I stop to take photos all the time and he is best at finding the tracks.

As we climbed around a tree this friendly chap popped out but wasn’t worried about us being so close.

Nice walk along the water’s edge in the shade of the trees. Big hill on one side then another appeared on the other as we went up further.

Lovely fig growing around the rocks.

Near the end another hill is in front of us and then the waterfall appeared. Fabulous - double falls.

We climbed up the side and around to the top pool. A lizard with a very long tail sat patiently on his rock waiting for us to pass.

Lovely big pool under the waterfall then the water rushes over and falls into the pool below.

I stripped off - had our togs on today - so Steve could take a photo for Facebook to prove we were there! My last day of being 58 years old.

Steve got in first though to check out the bottom for me - I am such a sook about what’s under the water. An infinity pool - we won’t be getting up to the one at Gumlom.

We had half an hour or so before another couple and their little one arrived. Steve got out and took a couple more photos of me.

The couple took turns coming up for a dip while the other gave the little one a swim in the bottom pool. Another lady arrived - a nurse from Melbourne who is now working in Darwin. More people started arriving after that so about 11.30 we started back passing more people heading up. So glad we went up early to have that time by ourselves. 

The solar panels are getting some good charge in. I made lunch then we sat in the shade enjoying our wonderful camp view.

Steve’s been cleaning up Australia while I caught up on my blog. 

Had a quick dip in ‘our’ pool before our cuppas to cool off. Nice and refreshing.

Quiet arvo reading then drinks by the pool.

6pm the quiet disappeared with the arrival of half a dozen cars with young people all keen to set up camp right beside us. The boys are on one side and the girls are next to us. I had a laugh with the girls as they were having fun putting up their little tents. Now that brings back some memories. First the duff duff music then Kenny Rogers’ The Gambler - now that I didn’t expect. Aah to be young and carefree again - oh wait, we are but not so much with the loud music haha. 

Had dinner outside till the mozzies increased but they weren’t too bad - now to see if the bugs move in. Oh no, here come the late arrivals with horns and revving utes!! 

We started playing cards - a few little bugs moved in so we closed up. A couple of the guys came over and called out letting us know to tell them if they are too loud but we said for them to have fun. 

About 9pm they let off a couple of firecrackers then they all disappeared in a couple of the cars up to the turnaround for the waterfall walk - hope they are planning to climb up there. 

We went to bed as they came back but the music was low though I think they must have Karaoke as the girls were singing their hearts out with the music - mostly country western which wasn’t too bad. 

The sound of the rapid beside us nearly out-did the sound of their singing.