Left the caravan park and headed north on 87 towards Darwin. Backtracking and just hours of driving through the same stuff. Stopped for the night at Wycliffe Well in space 21. Did not feel like driving further to a free wayside park. Hot. They had an aviary with parrots. One, a galah, came scooting over on his perch to the wire cage and wanted his neck scratched. He closed his eyes and waited. I scratched his neck and I almost think he purred. Cute.
Long hot and humid day heading north towards Darwin. I am no longer backtracking to Tennant Creek where I had turned south to Alice Springs. Spent the night at Daly Waters. An old
town /roadhouse. Only $5 per night. Lots of people here. Talked to some nice people heading south from Darwin. They said it is even hotter and more humid there. Rainy season they said may start early. Hope not. Got lots to see on the north end. Turns out a traveling band was there and played and sang songs until about 10. Too hot to go to sleep so I got a beer, read my book and listened.Left Daly Waters and stopped by the Stuart Tree were an early explorer was suppose to have carved his initials. Could not find them. Headed north on hwy 1. Some people camping next to me at Daly Waters said I should stop at Mataranka Hot Sprinks in Elsey National Park.
Ahhhh. They were warm but a lot cooler than the air so they were splendid. Could have spent all day in them. I then headed north to Katharine to Nitmiluk NP, aka Katharine Gorge. Stayed in the park camp ground and signed up for a two hour cruise for two gorges. There are suppose to be 13. Went for a nice swim in the pool, ahhh again. Warm but cooler than the air.It was a warm and humid night. I saw a young couple trying to push start their van. I used my jumper cables to get them started. Apparently they had the van plugged in to power but it was
not on so their fridge and stuff sucked their battery dry. Went on a two hour tour, a boat ride, up the river. Had to switch boats where the river was blocked because of low water. Saw no crocs or alligators. Very pretty on the river with high walls on both sides. At the end of the first boat ride there were some aboriginal rock art which is suppose to be about 10,000 years old. Decided to spend another day here. Sit around, play in the pool,
finish reading my book. A kick back day sort of. Also, since there is a lot of water here, washed the van. It looks great. As I was writing this in the dark a wallaby came up to within five feet of me and had a baby in its pouch. How cute.Left the campground and headed north from Katherine to Edith Falls area of Nitmiluk NP. Nice big pool. Went for a short hike to the upper pool where there were a bunch of people swimming.
From now on I will wear my swimming suit to these places. It looked so inviting. On my way to Litchfield NP. Drove in to Florence Falls camp area and set up. Hiked over to the lookout for the falls. My luck a big bus load of tourists arrived. Headed down into the valley to the waterfall pool. Went to take a picture before swimming an found my water bottle leaked on to my camera. It did not work. Hopefully drying overnight will make it work. Not too likely with the high humidity. Went for a nice swim in the pool. Amazing how nice the water is. Not cold but just right for the heat and humidity.Whewww. Camera worked. Went to Florence falls early to take a few pictures.
On the way up the 135 steps to the camp a wallaby was on the steps heading down with a baby
in its pouch. They were nice enough to let me take their picture. Went to the termite mounds for a ranger talk about them. Two different kinds in the area, one makes cathedral mounds the 
other orients them sort of north and south. After the talk went to table top swamp and saw some egrets and cockatoos.
Then on to Tolmer falls. No swimming only looking. Headed then to Wangi falls, the most popular places in the park Very pretty with two falls coming down into one pool. Went for several swims as it was hot and humid. Got some thunderstorm rain showers. They are starting in preparation of the WET season which normally does not get started until the middle of October. Hope it does not come early. Spending the night here in Litchfield NP again, this time here at Wangi Falls. 
There are deer flies that look like the ones at home and bite just the same way.
Day 54 Sunday September 21
Left Wangi Falls campground and Litchfield NP and headed north to Darwin. Stopped at Berry Creek Nature Park for a swim. It is a series of big pools in a river. Sign says that they try to make sure no salties are present but freshwater crocodiles may be present and not to harass them. Very refreshing but being that it was Sunday lots of Darwinites were coming to swim and picnic. Lots were there already. Stopped at Shady Glen Caravan park space 28 took a shower and did some laundry. Found out were to get oil and filter changed so went to auto parts store and will bring my own stuff. Went for a drive into town to get the lay of the land. Will go there tomorrow after oil and filter change. Less humid and not as hot here on the coast as inland.
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