24 – 25 July
This morning before we moved to our new site, Rosie and I took an amble down to the Katherine River.
We are very happy with our new camp site number 99 under all the lovely shade trees and with cool grass as our verandah. Once we had relocated, our priority was to return to the Stuart Highway where Tony lost his life, and select a spot to erect our memorial cairn. To my relief and amazement the blue twine that I had used to tie the Rose from Sonya was still tied to the tree. When I looked down, I discovered the water container, with the dried stem of the rose! The marks left by the policemen have long gone, however the deep gouge mark is still clear in the tarmac. We selected the site for our cairn and searched for some rocks. We found some wonderful limestone rocks in a nearby dry creek bed. They have beautiful patterns and shapes. I think mixing rocks from here with rocks we have brought up from The Block should work well.
We popped briefly into town to do some shopping at Woolies – oh my, that was such a challenging experience. It was hot, early afternoon; crowds everywhere shopping for their weekly needs, as well as rather rowdy locals wandering around and shouting to each other over a great distance. I think Katherine is a dry town for the indigenous population, enforced by their group of elders. There don’t seem to be the hopeless, aimless sad groups that you see hanging around the local pubs in some country towns. They are very gregarious and despite the heat love to gather in groups in the parks and shopping centres. I saw a beautiful young aboriginal girl with the most engaging smile on her face riding on the handle bars of her young man’s bike. They seemed to be so happy and in the moment, just enjoying life.
News home in the shade 
Twine on tree 
Plastic cup from Rose 
Gouge left by the bike
On Sunday we chose to take it easy. I enjoyed working on the computer in my lovely new office. Later, Norm and I took Rosie back down to the cool, refreshing river, which sounds so soothing as it bubbles over the rocks that form a narrow passage. Of course we respect the crocodile warning signs and just look, rather than paddle in the water. We met up with yet more friendly fellow campers, with whom we enjoyed spending time, sharing stories of our adventures together.
View from the office 
Rosie flat out relaxing
ON THE ROAD 