Busy Camping: Katherine

Katherine was a short trip up the highway, and generally represented another ‘jobs’ location. We did manage however to fit in enough entertainment to make it not feel like too much of a chore. We balanced things like getting the back window finally replaced, shopping top ups, maintenance on the camper, and some cleanups, with more swimming in the Katherine Thermal Springs and walking in Katherine Gorge.

We ended up doing quite a big grocery shop here, obviously not buying enough back in Cairns! The trolley was pretty much packed when we rolled up to the checkout. The ‘cold’ checkout chick looked at us and asked if we had any bags. Not bringing a supply of our ‘green’ shopping bags from home replied with a “No we don’t, thanks”. Checking if we wanted to buy any, which we didn’t, the normal process seemed underway. We were madly trying to load up the conveyor belt with our loot, when Amy finally looked up and saw what was happening.

The chick was simply scanning the items, and then piling them up on the other side of the counter. “Err.. WHAT??..... Are you... umm.. what the????” It finally all clicked. Amy, in her most put out, high falooting voice asked “don’t you have plastic bags?” Apparently, without any signage or notice to the ignorant traveller, NT does not have plastic bags, and you have to bring your own. “NT is the first, and the rest of Australia will be going that way” came the statement. Even better was Amy’s response of “That’s nice, but you DIDN’T EXPLAIN THAT”. It was then that we finally got a joke we heard Chilli tell at Daly Waters. He’d been in Qld, and the lovely checkout chick smiled and packed all his groceries. “Up in Katherine, you have to rush through to catch your gear before it all spills out over the end of the counter!!” Right!! Determined not to buy a bunch of bags, we simply piled it back into the trolley, went out to the car, and shoved it in as best we could. Interesting experience!

Katherine Gorge is a bit of a favourite of ours. We first visited in back in 2005 when we were on an organised trip through the top end. At that time, we hired a canoe and paddled up through the spectacular gorge, amazed at the high cliffs, the colours, and the river. This is where Glenn realised he had been staring at a big picture of Katherine Gorge in his office for years, (didn’t know where it was before then). In a subsequent trip in 2007, we jumped on the boat, and had the guided trip up the river.

This time, with girls in tow, we decided that the boat trip wasn’t going to work for us, and was pretty expensive as well. Alternatively, this time we did the walk up to the lookout. This saw us scrambling over rocks and up some steep climbs to get to the top, but the view was well worth it. Savannah has become a very impressive bushwalker, with some natural dexterity and agility over rough ground, (kind of like her Dad!). Jess did well in first enduring the ride in the backpack, and then after insisting on getting down, walked well holding Amy’s hand.

Being sure we would pass through this ‘hub’ again, we finally scooted out of Katherine, heading West again, towards our dream area, the Kimberley.