Mataranka

Final dip at Bitter Springs with Paula and Mick (WA) prior to leaving Manor CPk, was one of those life long experiences remembered forever. Steam coming off the water, 6.15am the sound of birds no other tourists it was luxury as the four of us had it all to ourselves. It was a laugh as Paula reckoned I needed ‘Noodle driving lessons’. Did have a giggle myself, as on a ‘lap’ the idea is that you float down to the bridge get out at the steps walk back and start a new lap. Sounds easy right, but ‘my pink noodle’ had a mind of its own, so everytime I floated towards the Bridge it sped up and tried to take me under and further along. I had to fight like hell to steer it back, and everytime I did a lap the same thing happened. We said our goodbyes and took off, we ended up at Renner Springs for the night, it was the crappiest Park we have stayed at ever. I said to BB “not sure how David M missed this one on the way up!! Ha ha but there were a few laughs! When I went to pay our site fee a lady tourist travelling solo was checking into a ‘3 star motel unit’ ( stars questionable) it was 3pm in the afternoon. She was told the ”motel room was not ready and still being cleaned, perhaps go for a nice walk ( it was 35 degrees) follow the path along the Lagoon (that looked like a Swamp) until the room was ready, say 30-40 minutes it should be ready” #?!!# The Motel room was booked on-line site unseen $132 for the night. As we drove in we noticed that there was a number of mattresses outside the rooms drying out, stuff flung everywhere so I do wonder what that lady thought of the ‘Lagoon’ and her Renner Spring experience when she finally got in her room. The toilet and shower block should have been blown up and I know someone that had enough explosives to do it :-) Caravan Pks seem to be like photo’s and descriptions of Houses that are up for Sale! The reviews and piccys never quite meet your expectations :-) We stopped there as we had travelled far enough, and it was hot the van was probably 40. It was a ‘soft’ option as if nothing else there was power for the aircon. BB was having withdrawals as he had had no reception on his ‘Optus’ mobile for 3 days! We were still setting up when Paula and Mick surprised us and mentioned that they had Optus coverage, BINGO for BB! No tap Beer so we opted to drink our own and watched 2 of my favourite funny Movies ‘As Good as it Gets’ Jack Nicolson and ‘About a Boy’ Hugh Grant.The following morning I walked past 2 young Asian guys sitting on a wooden bench at the back of the Shower Blocks. Think they were learning , and practising their language skills using an App on their phones. As I was getting organised for my Shower (open windows holes no glass) I over- heard the phone say “The Monster walked to the Village Shop” and then I heard them both trying to repeat it over and over again ha ha When they ‘sort of’ mastered it I heard “The King and the Queen are very rich” and so it went on with more random phrases that will come in handy if you are a backpacker and intend to get a job in a Roadhouse or a Pub in Northern Territory. :-) So many Backpackers up here working. We stopped off at Wauchope Hotel due to thirst and who should jump out of a Colliver Road Train and come straight over to us, Matt Dall a regular customer of ours from Blyth Hotel days!. Matt stopped for a break, we had been wondering why we were seeing so many Army Tanks on the road. Matt told us that there were 49 Road Trains in total going to Darwin., Each towing 3 trailers so carrying 3 Tanks for an Army exercise. Every driver had an army escort in the passenger seat just in case one of the drivers decided to unload a tank and do donuts! they slept in one of the Army Tanks each night with a Swag. $3,500.00 to re fuel. Tonight we are at Ti Tree Roadhouse Hotel/ Caravan Park it's good, park anywhere, cement slab, clean toilets, winning! Had Tea tonight at on-site hotel met some more nice folks great day again today, Alice Springs tomorrow then I believe we will be half-way home.Read more