5/6 Walk down to Katherine River at the back of caravan park before we head off. Decide to go to Edith Falls for a look. Great spot and decide to book into campground. Terrific waterhole close by for swimming. Waterfall on far side. Water temp perfect for a cool off, which we do.  Deserved afternoon nap after which we go for a snorkel. Water very deep. Variety of fish ( see a big barra couple of feet long) and a few turtles and fortunately no crocs. NP so no fishing. We later see a croc trap in the river which doesn’t fill us with confidence, however its obviously a very popular swimming spot with lots of day drippers.  Decide to stay another night. Lots of cane toads hopping around after dark. 

6/6  2.6 km walk  which goes to the “upper pool”. Which also has a waterfall. Hard to imagine a much better spot, perhaps a sandy beach would improve it. Stop to swim for an hour or so. Lots of daytrippers around. Busload of aboriginal kids fascinated by one of the rooftop campers and a few climb the ladder for a better look, much to the surprise of the owner. Snorkel again after lunch, although after a chat with another camper Rose a bit wary about crocs. Grab a big turtle (12 inches) by the shell and get a bit of a ride. See huge catfish. Undecided where to go next as it’s the long weekend and we hear Litchfield might be pretty busy with locals from Darwin. Decisions, decisions.  Might have to think about it over a beer.  Chat to German couple while BBQing, they are travelling around Oz for 12 mths, hope to extend their visa to get in SA and Tazy.

7/6 Sorry to leave Edith Falls, might have to stay again on our way back down. Decide to stay at Pine Creek on Stuart Hwy. The Lazy Lizard Tavern.  Site next to two young families, cute little kids want to see inside the avan.   Drive out to Umbrawarra Gorge. Do some rock hopping and come to lovely waterhole. Home to a water monitor, lets us get quite close. Tough walk/scramble back to car.  Fundraising quiz night  at Tavern for young local who lost legs in a car accident on way home from work. Few drinks and a pizza. Pretty ordinary quiz result.  Couldn’t even get “the boy from Bowrell” – embrassed.  No music questions unfortunately. We should have smuggled in an iphone.

8/6 Wake to the news a guy taken by a croc from his boat in front of his family at Kakadu. Puts the wind up us a bit. Pack up and visit local market.  As one of the quiz questions indicated the population of Pine Creek is about 600, unsurprisingly not a very big market. Bought a nut and date cake and chilli relish. Pitch camp at Douglas Daley Tourist Park. On road in hectares of mahogany plantations, and pasture cut for hay. Not what we expected to see up here. Drive to a couple of nice water holes but a bit wary after this mornings news. Also sign says no swimming. Cool off in a little area of running water but don’t stay in long. Go out to Douglas hot springs. Water 60 degrees in spots, can see it bubbling up through the sand. Cooler in other bits. Only shallow but pleasant to sit in.  Might stay an extra day so I can watch the Pies v Dees. Too bad Rob’s not here.