ALICE SPRINGS - KATHERINE - Page 6
24 July 2007, Tuesday
Today was canoeing time. Obviously, they tell you that you can only do the first Gorge or carry your own canoe over the
rocks for the second Gorge. They have canoes stationed at the second Gorge entrance after the rapids, but they are for the
people who booked the full day hire. Well, our neighbours in the campground just walked over and took one of them for one
hour and explored the second Gorge, so maybe we do that too? Well arriving at the rocks and rapids and end of the first
Gorge we first tried to be good people and carry our own canoe over the walkway to the second Gorge, but it was way too
heavy. So we decided to just have a look at the second Gorge and walk a little. The next option was to walk and paddle
through the rapids upstream and see how that would work. Well some stupid French people (Sorry David but they really had
a hard time to get the canoe walked through the rapids) tried and had some trouble to get through the first bit and after they
paddled the small pool to the next part of the rapids one of the rangers from the tours stopped them and told them that they
would need to go back and walk over and take one of the canoes on the other side. Well we thought they would only be on a
half day hire, so we can also just walk over and take one of the many canoes sitting there. It was 10.30 am and if somebody
for the full day hire would have not yet come to this place, his or her mistake and stupidity. So we decided to borrow one of
the canoes on the other side and went half way through the second Gorge system, just passed Butterfly Gorge which we
walked to the day before. Back at the first Gorge we swapped canoes again and crossed the river to see the Aboriginal Rock
Art. Crossing the river was quite wet and fun. Unfortunately, now you are on the tour side of the river and two tours with
about 50 people came through at the same time, but somehow we got away from it and on the way back Mary just dipped into
the water right at the end - he he he. Paddling back we tried to enter 17 Mile Creek at the end of the Gorge, but it was too
shallow to enter, so we went back and relaxed at the camping. By the way I (Oli) did all the paddling for the day, but it was
good Mary was relaxed and could take the pictures you see below. Today we also met the first Spanish people at the
campground (Emilio, Esperanza and Mila) and Mary talked a lot with them, they are from Madrid and go also towards Kakadu
after that. They only have four weeks for Sydney, Alice, Uluru, Katherine, Kakadu, Darwin, Cairns, Reef and back home. We
also spend some time with them in the evening getiing updates about Spain and exchanging travelling tips.
24 July 2007, Tuesday
Today was canoeing time. Obviously, they tell you that you can only do the first Gorge or carry your own canoe over the
rocks for the second Gorge. They have canoes stationed at the second Gorge entrance after the rapids, but they are for the
people who booked the full day hire. Well, our neighbours in the campground just walked over and took one of them for one
hour and explored the second Gorge, so maybe we do that too? Well arriving at the rocks and rapids and end of the first
Gorge we first tried to be good people and carry our own canoe over the walkway to the second Gorge, but it was way too
heavy. So we decided to just have a look at the second Gorge and walk a little. The next option was to walk and paddle
through the rapids upstream and see how that would work. Well some stupid French people (Sorry David but they really had
a hard time to get the canoe walked through the rapids) tried and had some trouble to get through the first bit and after they
paddled the small pool to the next part of the rapids one of the rangers from the tours stopped them and told them that they
would need to go back and walk over and take one of the canoes on the other side. Well we thought they would only be on a
half day hire, so we can also just walk over and take one of the many canoes sitting there. It was 10.30 am and if somebody
for the full day hire would have not yet come to this place, his or her mistake and stupidity. So we decided to borrow one of
the canoes on the other side and went half way through the second Gorge system, just passed Butterfly Gorge which we
walked to the day before. Back at the first Gorge we swapped canoes again and crossed the river to see the Aboriginal Rock
Art. Crossing the river was quite wet and fun. Unfortunately, now you are on the tour side of the river and two tours with
about 50 people came through at the same time, but somehow we got away from it and on the way back Mary just dipped into
the water right at the end - he he he. Paddling back we tried to enter 17 Mile Creek at the end of the Gorge, but it was too
shallow to enter, so we went back and relaxed at the camping. By the way I (Oli) did all the paddling for the day, but it was
good Mary was relaxed and could take the pictures you see below. Today we also met the first Spanish people at the
campground (Emilio, Esperanza and Mila) and Mary talked a lot with them, they are from Madrid and go also towards Kakadu
after that. They only have four weeks for Sydney, Alice, Uluru, Katherine, Kakadu, Darwin, Cairns, Reef and back home. We
also spend some time with them in the evening getiing updates about Spain and exchanging travelling tips.
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| OUR BIG TRIP MARY & OLI GOING AROUND AUSTRALIA |
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The start of the second Gorge system, which is the
more interesting part of the tour, so we just had to do it.
more interesting part of the tour, so we just had to do it.
A father/daugther couple from New York offered to take
a picture, so we did.
a picture, so we did.
This is more a memory picture - you see a lot of those
red dragon flies around the Gorge, as we did 16.5 years
ago, only difference this time it survived the encounter
with me.
red dragon flies around the Gorge, as we did 16.5 years
ago, only difference this time it survived the encounter
with me.
The happy paddler...
Most of the sandy parts of the Gorge are closed for
crocodile nesting activities, no, not salties, they are
freshwater crocodiles - but we did not see any.
crocodile nesting activities, no, not salties, they are
freshwater crocodiles - but we did not see any.
Another crocodile nesting area close to the Butterfly
Gorge.
Gorge.
On the right is the rock ledge I swam to yesterday, now
we reached it by canoeing into the second Gorge.
we reached it by canoeing into the second Gorge.
Butterfly Gorge exit.
As we said crocodile nesting areas... well they still have
to show us the crocodiles belonging to the nests.
to show us the crocodiles belonging to the nests.
This is the second Gorge system after Butterfly Gorge,
the best bit of the canoeing.
the best bit of the canoeing.
It is quite nice to paddle through the area compared to
taking the tour with the Oldies....
taking the tour with the Oldies....