Just another amazingly beautiful place
Trip Start
Unknown
1
37
44
Trip End
Ongoing
Where I stayed
Nitmiluk National Park
What I did
Edith Falls
Katherine, Northern Territory, Australia
Monday, May 21, 2012
The sheer power that was unleashed by torrential rains here about 4 months ago is astounding. The tons and tons of rock that were moved up at the top of the falls and down at the bottom. The flood debris high up in the trees, the kiosk that no longer exists (washed away), and the location on the way in to Edith Falls where the train was washed off the bridge provide evidence that we really are very minor players in the whole scheme of things.
One of the photos shows workmen trying to reinstate a pathway down to the water near the top fall. They had big bags of sand, big bags of gravel and cement and were mixing concrete in a wheelbarrow and using that to restore rock steps!! Tough going! They have been working there for about 4 months since the flood - they were certainly keen to be finished. They could drive part of the way up but had to carry everything several hundred metres from where they could park! Must say that the contractors and park staff have done a great job getting the campground back to useful and beautiful.
From Edith Falls, we drove on the huge distance to Adelaide River (about 150km) and checked in to the Show Society's caravan park. The Show Society is making the most of the passing nomads by offering good facilities (pool included) at a reasonable price. They have a caretaker couple for the season and volunteers open the bar and serve meals in the evenings! The Adelaide River races are on early in June, so the place was a hive of activity as they get the track and grounds ready. No shortage of water here - track was getting very well watered!! Odd contrast driving through the smoke from controlled burns and the green grounds everywhere.
Off into Darwin on Thursday 21st - an easy cruise up the highway. Stay tuned for the Darwin episode!
