NIGE Motorcycle Club

Bit of a technical glitch (whole friggen’ server hacked by the #%*kers)

Climbed Uluru, walked around it and then headed to the Olgas and did the ‘Valley of the Winds’ walk.

Met another crazy motorbike rider, a nice young bloke named John Baxter who was on a similar journey.

Rode to Coober Pedy and lived in an underground campsite, met some awesome people including Eric Smart who is riding his push-bike from Aberdeen to Adelaide.

Foul weather riding at a 30 degree lean on the way to Port Augusta.

Will fill in more soon.

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Somehow managed to drag myself away from Tennant Creek and continued south down the Stuart towards Alice Springs.
Using my amazing general knowledge of all things amazing to see in amazing Australia, I almost rode past the amazing ‘Devil’s Marbles’ but the big signs and bypass road sorta caught my eye.

Just outside the ‘Marbles’ this sign almost made me turn around.

Stopped for fuel at Barrow Creek, one of the Telegraph Stations but the pub was interesting. Spoke to the publican about the similarity to Daly Waters Pub and he assured me that they copied Barrow Creek. I also asked him why there was no bra and panties collection in the bar (like at Daly Waters) and he said he kept all those in his bedroom….boom, boom.

Barrow Creek Caravan Park, does it get any better than this?

Could this be the silliest sign ever?? Errr….okay……I’ll try hard to comply.

Managed to break the drought as I rode the last 100k’s into Alice Springs and it poured, water flowing over the road was quite dangerous.

Didn’t fancy battling a tent in the rain and am spending the night at Toddys Backpackers.

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Packed all the bits up at Jabiru (still filthy hot and tent pole broken again) and headed off  down the return leg of the Kakadu Highway to Pine Creek and Katherine.

Fuelled up and thought about where I was going, who cares? and headed to Mataranka. Staying at the same place as Briz and Ivan and will try and repair my tent while I am here. Yes, the walls really are made of rammed earth.

Followed the trail of the great white hunter and went out to visit Mataranka Springs and had a lovely swim at Bitter Springs (after forking out for new goggles at the Mataranka Store as my other new ones were now at Woongarah 😉 )

A snake skin waiting for me on the bin outside the shop.

The steps to climb out after coming down stream with the current, the path back to the start was sharp rocks and after spending time in the warm water, feet were way too soft for the task and so I had to swim back up against the current.

Brian already posted heaps of photos of Mataranka Springs so my photo is of the flying foxes that were everywhere as was all their juices 🙁

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Woke up quite early as I was to be picked up at 6:30 for the tour. It was already bloody hot.

Shuttle bus arived (late) to pick me up and because I am a single, they feel sorry for me and put me up the front. Bloke announces that they are not doing Jim Jim falls any more this season but will substitute it with Maguk (Barramundi) Gorge. Who cares? Off we go in our fancy 4WD bus with me as captain front seat.

First thing to cross.

Eventually arrives at the falls after lots of corrugations and, no, bigger wheels on these things do not stop them.

Although these photos do not show it, this really was a great spot and in some ways was more splendid than Nitmuluk (Katherine) Gorge.

We even had a boat ride up the gorge past a croc trap.

Headed out to the new destination of Maguk Gorge that was quite  a ways away 🙁

Stopped briefly to have a gawk at a very big termite nest.

and then on to the falls. We all had a swim here and Tony (the guide) suggested a walk up to the top of the falls and to some other swimming holes up there. We had to walk a long way up and over the rocks barefooted but (couldn’t take my camera because we were swimming through the ponds) the most generous praise I can say is, ‘It was worth it’. I would rate it as the best ‘special’ place I have been this trip.

There were a few fish in the water

and the obligatory warnings.

Long trip back to my little tent but got changed and went and had another steak and a few….. beers.

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Went to SkyCity Casino last night for a couple of beers and a look around, VERY relaxed dress code and it could have been in Belfast.

Had a quick look at the Mendel Markets but there were thousands 🙂 of people and there wasn’t anything I wanted to buy or carry.

Last day in Darwin and not a lot that I want to do. FINALLY finished some paperwork I have been carrying with me all the way from home and mailed it away………yayyyyyyy!!!

Found where Wicked Campers go to breed.

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