Day 26 - 24 June - Katherine to Katherine Gorge (Nitmiluk) - 30 km

Headed off from Coco's straight to Maccas to get the breakfast of champions.  Then off down the gorge rd to Katherine Gorge.  Hard going.  Wind against us, legs feel like lead, a few hills and a bad surface.

Got to Nitmiluk by 11:00 and booked into a campsite and onto a tour of the first 2 gorges.  There are 13 in all.

We set up camp, showered and did the washing.  Had lunch and then sat by the pool and read.  Sounding all very domestic.

Walked to the Katherine River to get on the boat for the tour.  Took off at 2:00 with about 30 others and 2 Aboriginal guides.  We saw a small croc soon after we started but that was all for the trip, but the scenery was magnificent.

The guides pointed out the croc breeding areas and provided helpful advice like, if you jump in the water and the croc attacks you its a salty, if it runs away its a freshwater croc and you are OK.

When we got to the second gorge we walked about 400 meters across rocks to get to it and boarded another boat.  More spectacular scenery.

 

   

 





Tour finished about 4:00 and so we walked back and read by the pool sipping a few Belgian Blue Moon beers.  Great stuff, I haven't had it before.  About 5:00 we were invaded by about 60 school kids off a tour who kept us amused for awhile.

Left to get tea and while I cooked tea, Joe got shanghaied by some people from Western Australia who were riders and wanted to know all about the trip.  I eventually got him away from them as I was starving and we had sausages and salad for tea.

Bed by 8:00, listening to small animals nibbling at stuff outside the tent.