Timber Creek
We were keen to make an early start in the morning to head towards the Western Australia border. We packed up quickly and were soon all ready to go. "Be careful of that tree on our right" says Barb. "I think you should pull out left". She's seen how close it was when John was backing in a few days ago. "No. We can go right" says John. "It's easier"A few seconds later .... BANG!! We hit the tree! A man came running over from the next campsite. "You'll have to back up and go out left" he says helpfully. "Don't worry mate. No damage done"
We backed up and went left and continued down the Victoria Highway towards Victoria River. (Hrrmph. No mention of the tongue lashing I got.) It's a pretty drive. The scenery gradually gets more sparse the further we draw away from Katherine and then changes from flat to hilly to craggy mountain ridges and then the vast expanse of the Victoria River.
There was not a lot of traffic on the highway today, and no road trains to blow our mirrors in, but several kilometres out from Victoria River roadhouse we started to encounter some strange looking old vehicles being driven at speed and bedecked with flags and lights and the occupants appeared to be wearing costumes. They waved madly as they passed and we then realised that they were part of the Variety Club Bash. It looked like fun!
We stopped at Victoria River Roadhouse for fuel and while Barb went off to find the loos John filled up and re-parked the van. We sat on the verandah of the roadhouse drinking tea and sampling their rather good sausage rolls (tick of approval from John) and then went back to the car to continue our journey. It was then that John made an awful discovery. The van HAD in fact been damaged when we hit the tree. There was a ding in the fibreglass panel of the van just below the right front window. It didn't go right through to the other side, but being right in the middle of the decal it will be noticeable when it gets repaired.
Barb was very upset! Devastated! John felt awful. It was a very silent seething drive to Timber Creek.
By the time we arrived Barb had calmed down somewhat although still upset about her van getting damaged. We decided to stay in Timber creek overnight as we knew the caravan park here had easy drive through parks ..... and that seemed like a good idea just now.
The Circle F Caravan Park behind the Timber Creek Hotel is actually rather nice. It has a lot of shade, nice gardens, pool and spa and the amenities are a bit decrepit but kept clean and stocked with soap and paper. Last time we visited Timber Creek we went on the very memorable Victoria River cruise. Barb went down to the Croc shop to see if the cruises still run, but it was all closed up and a For Sale sign was out front. What a shame!
The caravan park is situated right on a creek. There are flying foxes roosting on the other side of the creek and although we can hear them screeching to each other at least they're not directly overhead, dropping poo on our roof and awning. There is an amazing big boab tree near the creek and at five pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays the staff feed the freshwater crocodiles that live in the creek in front of the crowd of tourists staying at the park. Some people very gamely went onto the little suspension bridge to watch up close. Not us. We stayed well back from the bank. We'd had enough excitement over the last few days to invite more possible drama.
After the croc feeding they then go to the boab tree and feed the whistling kites. These majestic birds of prey soar in, grabbing the food the man tosses in the air. First in best dressed. I don't know how there aren't mid-air collisions between them as there were a good dozen birds vying for a tasty morsel.
This spectacle is free if you stay here. Not bad! We have a powered site and good internet reception here so we contacted the Discovery Park at Kununurra to book in there for a few days. Hopefully we'll also sort out caravan repairs while we're there. Thank goodness no rain is predicted for the next few days.
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