Katherine 21 - 23 July 2006

Had a quick dash up to Katherine to pick up the mail, only to find out that the Post Office was shut because of the local show. We walked around Katherine and then went for a swim at the hot springs. It was still very refreshing, although they were not as good as Bitter Springs. On Saturday we drove out to Katherine Gorge and found it busy with tourists. Lots of people just do the cruise for two hours and others hire the canoes. For the first time this trip since Nyngan, there was enough water to launch our boat. We registered and paid the park fee and enthusiastically rowed off. The ranger assured Heather that there were no salt water crocs at present, but they had taken nine big ones out since end of the dry. They said that there are fresh water crocs that do no harm. Heather still thinks this sounds a bit like an OHS problem. Peter thinks it sounds like FUN! The 7km row up and back in the boat was hard work. On the way up the current was strong and the wind in our face. On the way back the current didn’t seem to help and the wind turned around - it was a challenge but worth it. There are really a large number (15?) of gorges on the river and we got up to the second. On the way back we were lucky enough to spot some crocodiles. On big one was sunning on a log, just out of the water – it looked fantastic! It was a fresh water one and supposedly harmless to humans.
On Sunday, we had a quiet day to read and relax. We spent most of the afternoon looking around Katherine and finished back at the hot springs for a late afternoon swim.