Maleny to Darwin Day 7 - Threeways to Mataranka

Wha ... wha ... what's going on? 
Last thing I remember I was up a
tree taking a rest. 

The stretch from Threeways to Mataranka wasn't all that far, just over 500 km, and I was in no rush.  On the other hand Threeways was not very comfortable and I was on my way by 6:00.  This was NT time and it was only just getting light.





Nice sunrise though!

No rush perhaps, but I have to confess that by this time one town was blurring into another. 


Renner Springs - I stopped to take a picture, can't remember why but there is a big puddle.  Late extra: I remember now - I had an appalling cup of coffee!




Elliott - I don't think I stopped.  Lyn next door said her husband had a night there much disturbed by noise some years ago.  I recall it being a bigger place than I expected and looking quite pleasant!

Daly Waters - well how many servos have a plane parked outside?  True it was in need of a little attention, but so what!




Larrimah - remember the name but nothing else.

Mataranka - yay!  It's a long stretched out place, with lots of green space, in the sense of grassy swards (nice word that).  There were two, perhaps three servos, not all of which had wire mesh over the windows.  The supermarket did though.  I arrived in town around noon and found my pre-booked motel/camp site with no problem.  It was very pleasant and they were perfectly happy for me to sit in the outside covered bar and plug in my laptop.  They gave me a jumbo fan to blow away the innumerable flies, and when I asked for a beefburger and chips - hey! I needed feeding! - but without the bun they thought me very odd, but happily acceded to my perversion in exchange for cash.  They couldn't stop themselves including the obligatory beetroot salad.

The cabin was nice.  It was advertised as being built of rammed earth, which was new to me though I'd heard the expression.  It felt unusually solid and quiet, and rather pleasant.  Still an excess of insects but on the plus side although there was no Channel One, I did get ABC 1, 2, 3 and News 24.  Win some lose some! 

Barb had been very excited at my coming to Mataranka - not clear whether she came here years ago or planned to but never made it.  I was under very strict instructions to visit the hot springs and take lots of pictures. 

Well.  The road to one - the Bitter Springs - was cut off by water over the road and I don't know how far away the swift water rescue teams are in NT.  The second - the Thermal Pools, I missed initially as I was talking to Barb at the time and walked right past the path.  When I turned back I'm afraid my enthusiasm drained away - one path was closed and the other looked uninviting, and I just felt tired.  When I reported back to Barb she demonstrated the art of glowering over the phone!

On the other hand I did see some ... wallabies?  Help me out here!

Tomorrow - DARWIN!