Bragging Rights For The Deckie

After the initial flurry of setting up camp and then a couple of days on the water, Team Turtle took it easy for a short while.  Well, it was mainly due to The Barra Nationals - an annual, and very prestigious, event on the Daly River.  Lots and lots of very big boats were on the water and with teams of three on each boat it is certainly a lot of fishing people out there.

No place for a small recreational fishing boat!

A pleasant little spot is "The Patio".  It's on the top of the riverbank across the road from The Camp where Lee and Jenny have set up some chairs and tables for their guests to relax and watch what is happening on the river.

Not Much Happening Downstream

Or Upstream

The Captain Having A Rest On The Patio

There was one little bit of excitement one afternoon.  Instead of Mr Crocodile - a large saltie that likes to rest on the side of the river - a very large water buffalo had decided to cool his body.  This buffalo hardly moved for about five minutes that The Deckie was watching him and then, suddenly, he was out of the water and up the embankment.  Mr Crocodile had decided to finally make an appearance and the buffalo knew that it was time to move on.

Mr Water Buffalo

After the Barra Nationals finished Team Turtle decided that it was our turn to catch some fish.  Too Tuf was packed and we, once more, headed downstream to Elizabeth Creek.  Unfortunately, we had missed the turn of the tide and the barra had gone off the bite.  Between us, we did manage to catch three legal sized fish but only kept the biggest one - 63cm.  Two days later we headed off again only this time it was a lot earlier - the sun was barely above the horizon - to catch the turning tide.

Sunrise at Brown's Creek

The Captain did a sterling job negotiating the swirling waters of the quickly rising tide which also brought with it floating debris of every size imaginable.  From small twigs to the remains of fully grown trees.  The time went quickly as The Deckie also had to look out for the logs that were floating just under the surface.  We were both ready for a coffee by the time we got there!

It seemed like every one else had the same idea as us and our favourite spot had already been taken by the time we got down to Elizabeth Creek just moments before the tide was due to turn.  The next best thing was to tie up just down from the mouth of the creek. 

The Captain began organising the rods and The Deckie retrieved four juicy cherabin from the keeper pot and threw them onto the floor.  The Captain put one line out and The Deckie baited her hook and threw it into a small eddy beside the boat.  The Deckie's rod was placed into the rod holder and as she turned to bait her remaining line a barra took the bait.

Pandemonium ensued as The Deckie rushed back to pick up the rod and to try and stop the fish from getting back into the snags.  The Captain had to reel his line in to stop the lines becoming entangled and to pick up the two cherabin that were in danger of being trodden on.  It was a tough battle and when the barra came to the surface with a mighty swirl, The Captain was heard to say that "it was a good looking fish".  The Deckie tried to maintain her composure and to remember all that had been taught to her as she tried to bring "the good looking fish" closer to the boat.

The Captain was on hand with the landing net and some moments later, the magnificent fish had been brought on board.

There was a lot of squealing, high fives and back slapping and then the moment of truth - just how big was this barra?

It was only 90cm, but she was extremely plump and her colouring showed that she had not long left the ocean.  And that she was very hungry!

After a few photos, The Deckie released her gently back into the river.  Yes, you are allowed to keep a fish that size but I didn't need to and besides, she would make a wonderful mother to many more barramundi.

The Deckie and The Beautiful Barramundi

After all of that excitement, we rebaited our lines, put them out and settled back to enjoy our cup of coffee.

By this time, the tide had started to rush out and the fish had gone off the bite again.

We persevered for another couple of hours but only caught a couple of sharks and a catfish and then, just before we called it quits for the day, The Deckie caught another fish only this time it was half the size of the other one.  That one also went back into the river to grow up.

What a day!!!

Back at camp, it wasn't long before word had gotten around about the huge catch and even though it wasn't the ultimate prize of being over a metre, it was still The Deckie's Personal Best.

Finally Fishing

After spending a couple of days organising our camp spot, adjusting to the very hot, humid weather and catching some cherabin (prawn like crustaceans) to use as live bait for fishing, Team Turtle finally hit the water on Tuesday.

Well, most of Team Turtle and we didn't hit the water - just slid gently into it from the very long boat ramp.

Too Tuf and The Captain

Going Down To The River

Looking Up

Its was great to be back on the Daly as we headed downstream.  It is a 30 klm trip down to our favourite fishing spot - Elizabeth Creek.

The Mouth of Elizabeth Creek

The Deckie had maintained her skills over the years and managed to tie up to a tree just inside the mouth, without too much trouble, and settled down for some action.  It wasn't long - just as The Deckie was making coffee - when we had our first strike.  Unfortunately, The Deckie was a little bit too slow and the fish had made it into the snags.  The Captain was not amused as it had looked like a good fish.

A short time later, The Captain managed to land his first barra of the year - a very nice (and keepable) 61cm.

The Captain and his 61cm Barra

After a short lull in the fishing, the tide changed a little and things started happening again.  The Deckie lost another barra in the snags, The Captain released a couple more before they got near the boat and then The Deckie got lucky (or used her great skill) and landed her first barra for the year - and at 63cm outdid The Captain.  Even better, there was a charter boat full of people anchored nearby that watched with breathless anticipation.  No pressure at all!!

A Proud Deckie

The fishing quietened down again and as it had only been a 'four beer' day, we decided that we should head back home with our two fish.

Thursday was also an early day as we headed off back down the river.  

The Captain managed to catch a 60cm barra - which is now in our freezer - and a catfish.  The Deckie caught a shark and three barra.  The barra were only just legal size - 55cm, 56cm and 58cm - so they all went back to grow up.

It was a very pleasant outing!

We will probably stay off the river for a few days as there is a fishing competition happening over the weekend and far too many boats to contend with.

Moving On From Katherine

Saturday was to be the final leg of our journey to the Daly River.  We awoke early and, somewhat, refreshed and eager to get going before the heat of the day.

The Rav was put back onto The Trailer, The Turtle was packed and all was in readiness by 0800 hours.

The Driver was gently easing The Rig out of its spot when The Navigator heard a slight "clang".  She really didn't think much of the noise as she thought it was just The Rav settling onto The Trailer properly.  A short distance later, there was another clang - this time a lot louder as even The Driver heard it!

The Navigator made the suggestion that we should perhaps stop which was met with only a slight agreeance by The Driver.  Looking back onto the roadway, The Navigator spotted 'something'.  After retrieving this 'something', The Driver finally realised that there was a problem with The Trailer as one of its springs had disintegrated.

Hmmm, where to find a set of springs in Katherine on a Saturday morning?  

The Rav came back off The Trailer and the hunt was on!  Lots of googling, a lot of driving back and forth and a substantial amount of The Children's inheritance later we found a set of suitable springs.

The Driver had to make a few adjustments so that the springs would fit The Trailer and several very hot hours later, Team Turtle was heading north.  However, this time The Navigator was driving The Rav and The Driver was still The Driver, albeit all by himself.

The Navigator followed The Turtle for quite some time to ensure that all seemed to be well.  After some time we decided that The Navigator would go onto where we would be staying, with the proviso that "if The Driver didn't arrive after an hour then The Navigator would go back to look for him".

Fortunately, the remaining members of Team Turtle arrived within the allotted time frame - and only just - but The trailer was missing a set of wheels and was literally limping into camp.

The infamous Dorat Road - the link road between the Stuart Highway and Daly River Road - had claimed another victim!  The new set of springs and the temporary adjustments to The Trailer had come adrift and The Driver was forced to remove the back set of wheels and the back axle. 

Team Turtle was finally at its destination and was invited to dine with the owners - Lee and Jenny - and another lovely couple - Chaz and Jane - that evening.  Wonderful idea!!

Lee and Jenny's Bush Camp

The Trip

Tuesday, 5th April, dawned bright and clear.  Too Tuf had been loaded onto The Trailer for over a week, The Rav had been loaded the previous day and by 0745 hrs the last door of our house had been locked behind us. Neighbour Cathy, from around the corner, had very generously offered to look after the indoor plants and to keep an eye on the place.  All was well as we trundled slowly down the driveway.

The Day Dawning Clear and Bright

All Ready To Go and Waiting at the Front Gate

Our first big hurdle was climbing over the Big Hill which we did between Casino and Tenterfield.  It was slow going, but it certainly was a Big Hill. Actually, several Big Hills, but we made it!

After refreshments for The Turtle, The Driver and The Navigator, Team Turtle made its way into Queensland and our first overnight stop in Goondiwindi.

Sunrise at Goondiwindi

As Team Turtle had already done most of the touristy things on previous visits through this region it had been decided to just "keep on trucking".  Five hundred kilometres later we stopped at Morven, the following day it was Winton and then Camooweal which is situated a few kilometres east of the Northern Territory border.

Sunset Over The NT Desert

Saturday morning and Team Turtle had an early start as we wanted to cover the rest of The Barkly Highway that day and maybe a little bit further if all went well.

As the morning wore on, the hum of The Turtle's diesel engine had rocked The Navigator to sleep.  Suddenly, a loud 'bang' awoke her from her reverie.  Inappropriate words issued forth from the mouth of The Driver as he struggled to maintain control of The Turtle.  The red gravel of the road's shoulder came into The Navigator's view and several seconds later The Driver brought The Turtle to a standstill.  

By this time, The Navigator was completely awake and wondering what had just happened.  Fortunately for all concerned, The Driver had used his many skills to overcome the possible disaster of a tyre blowout.  Not just a slow release of air from a puncture - but a blowout - in a set of tyres that had travelled less than 4,000 kilometres.

By this stage, the temperature had reached the high 30's and the hot wind off the desert was stirring the dust.

No phone service out here to ring the NRMA and so The Driver began the onerous task of changing the tyre.  The Navigator could only give moral support and mop The Driver's brow to keep the sweat from blocking his vision.

A very hot hour later we were back on the road and hoping that this sort of thing would not happen again - at least until we had procured a new tyre!

One Blown Out Front Tyre

Highway To The West

Where We Had Come From

Team Turtle made it to the Stuart Highway much later that day and without any further mishaps.  Stayed the night at the one and only Caravan Park/Motel/Service Station and soaked off the dust in their very nice pool.

Our next stop was Mataranka Homestead and its wonderfully relaxing Thermal Pool.  As The Driver's back (and most of his body) was feeling rather ordinary after all of the tyre shuffling, Team Turtle booked in for three nights.

Thermal Pool Inlet

On Its Way Out

Sparkling Clear Waters

The stay was relaxing and soaking - at least twice a day - in the warm, mineral waters rejuvenated the bodies.  Also spoke to the Queensland/Northern Territory Manager of Michelin Tyres who was going to arrange a replacement tyre for The Turtle.

Mataranka Homestead was a place of contrasts - red gravel, crisp blue skies, translucent white trunks of the river gums and the sharp green of their leaves.

The reason why the trees are on an angle?  Floods tear through the area on a very regular basis - some of them up to four metres high!

Contrasts

Unaware of when our new tyre would be in Katherine, Team Turtle made the very long trek - 110 klms up the road - and booked into a lovely Caravan Park for three nights.  Fortunately, there was not a long wait and the very nice gentleman at Tuff Trucks solved our dilemma without any fuss at all.

The very flat, blownout tyre is now on its way back to Michelin HQ for their analysis of the situation and a possible refund.  We can only wait and see!

Tomorrow (Saturday) Team Turtle will be on its final leg into The Daly.  Today is stocking up on everything day - groceries, alcohol and fuel.  And then an early start before the traffic gets on the road and holds us up.

Preamble

After a short hiatus in its travels, Team Turtle decided to once more 'hit the road' and head back to the Daly River - in the Northern Territory - in an attempt to catch that elusive one metre plus Barra.  Our previous visit to the area had been very productive and thoroughly enjoyable.  However, The Captain became a little unwell after a slight tussle with some local wildlife and put a bit of a dampner on the stay .  This prompted the following message from the eldest daughter of The Deckie -

"Have a safe trip. remember the rules. no injuries, no major sickness, no operations, no helicopters and definitely no hospital admissions. that is for the both of you. The things you can do: drink wine. eat chocolate. play with Cherabin and barramundi (but only the friendly ones). all good? ok. (and yes, i know you guys are the oldies, but I'm the kid and kidz rule ok? )"

So, its back to The Wilds of The Daly River where we hope all should be well and either The Captain or The Deckie will be able to fulfill their dreams of catching that aforementioned elusive Barramundi.

The only major change to Team Turtle since our last trip has been the replacement of Tuf Tinnie with Too Tuff and a new motor.  This new motor has an electric start - so much easier than the old pull handle - and a special crane type structure that allows the motor to be lifted from the boat and onto its travelling frame.

 

We hope that this little blog shall be useful to family and friends even though it has been a good week after we started our foray into the countryside.  Unfortunately, most of the areas that we have travelled through are not within Telstra's coverage area and this is the first opportunity that we have managed to have consistent high coverage.