Fri, 20th May, 2022 Bush camp by George Creek (Robin Falls), south of Adelaide River township to Shady Camp, Mary River National Park, NT

19 degrees this morning with a clear sky.

As I was packing up I bent to put a bug in the bin and hit my right eye on the back of the chair - ouch. Might get a good shiner out of that hit.

Packed up and said farewell to the others. Might see them in WA as they are heading back there to do some work hopefully at Cygnet Bay. As soon as we got reception a few messages came through. One from Dan thanking us for his birthday message and one from Jon and Pete.

Back out to Adelaide River township to top up with fuel at $1.998/L where the others north are at $2.05. While we had a cuppa we rang Pete as he had left a message now he is back in town for a bit from his mine job. Tried Erica but no answer, must be at Bingo. Lou texted hi, he is busy building a huge marquee to cover equipment for the big wind turbines being erected on the tablelands.

David had texted after we left Adelaide River last time for us to check out Snake Creek and as I found that mud map we tried again and found the road further along. We drove down over a narrow bridge over the creek then continued along as the X was marked further along the road. We came to a turn-off which had an old sign that we couldn’t read but didn’t see anything interesting and it was covered in grass.

Back to the highway where I sent David a text and he replied saying there are old bunkers there - then he sent some photos. Didn’t see any of them and they were big enough.

Continued along the Stuart Highway and turned off to read the info etc about Strauss Airfield. Sent off the photos to David too as this wouldn’t have been here when he was here with the air force.

Turned onto the Arnhem Highway then stopped at Woolies at Humpty Doo for some vegies and fruit and a hot chook for lunch. Tried Erica again and got Terry. Erica is at Bingo then having a play on the pokies. Had a lovely chat with him. Tried Dan and Jon but no answer so left messages.

Continued along the highway through the wetlands - the road works are still going and the Windows to the Wetlands is still closed. A few of the other billabongs are now open as the tracks have dried up. Passed Mary River where we turned around last time and got a call from Jon so we pulled over and had a lovely long chat.

Turned onto the Point Stuart Road to head to Shady Camp in the Mary River National Park. Onto the dirt road with a very smoky sky over us. Quite dusty so this will test out Steve’s dust pressure system.

Stopped at the info board near the camping area. Lots of corellas/cockatoos making a racket in the trees.

It is an open parking campground so we chose a spot close to the barrage. No dust inside which is great.

Cute little butterfly sat still for a photo.

Lots of wallabies around too.

Steve got the fishing rods out. We walked down to the barrage which has a boat ramp beside it for salt water access and another boat ramp a bit upstream for the freshwater access. Further upstream is a crocodile viewing platform. The tide is out downstream. High tide will be 11pm tonight and 1pm tomorrow.

The freshwater is cascading down the side of the barrage into the saltwater.

We saw a ‘log’ which was a nice size croc putting on a display for the viewing platform but no one was there to see him.

A flash of silver caught my eye on the bank then I realised it was a croc eating a barra. I quickly zoomed in and clicked away as he finished his meal and went back into the water with hardly a ripple. Not sure if this was a large freshwater croc as his snout seems long and narrow.

No takers for our lures so we walked around to the freshwater boat ramp where the sun was peeking out through the smoky clouds.

Followed the track beside the river to the viewing platform. Nice and tranquil but no crocs on display now.

Followed the other track out to the day use car park. Spotted a brown snake going across the road and he wasn’t keen to hang around once he felt our vibrations as he took off like a ‘cut snake’ and headed into the trees.

Read the other info at the entrance to the campground. The birds are all quiet now as the sun is setting.

Met our neighbours, Rob & Erin, who were from Mackay. They hit the road in December then had a little baby to go with the two little darlings they already have. I take my hat off to them, travelling with their kids. Joined them for drinks till the mozzies started then into the camper. Warmer evening - no blankets needed tonight.

Unfortunately the little black bugs found us so we turned on an outside light and watched TV so they weren’t on top of us. The ceiling above the TV is covered the bugs.

I left a sensor light on in the stairwell when we went to bed to try and lure the bugs down there so it will be easier to clean up. We can hear the water rushing over the rocks from here and there are some curlews getting upset about something. A Mopoke is calling nearby and there is a funny sounding bird in the tree beside us.

Rob headed out in his truck about 11pm for the high tide to have a fish off the barrage - good on him. Not that keen considering the crocs we saw in the daylight.