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Prior to the 7th Thursday, October 20th, 2011 we had travelled south crossing the Tropic of Capricorn for the 4th & final time (we had gone north into the tropics in Queensland then sout to the Red Center and north to Darwin) the rest of the trip would be south of the Tropic.

We had arrived in Perth and gone out to Rottnest Island, so named because the Dutch had seen what they thought were rats...no the smallest ROOS.

Sadly we arrived on Rottnest a day after a young American scuba diver had been bitten in half by a Great White shark while diving off Rottnest so all diving was banned.

Perth is a beautiful city...the most remote capital city in the world.

In Freemantle I went aboard an exact replica of Lieutenant James Cook's command HMB Endeavour...fascinating.  The Aussies invest in their history and thos British explorers of the 18th & 19th century were "everywhere".

Have to rush off.  We have to reinstall a MINI Cooper S transmission after replacing the flywheel, release bearing, clutch slave, forks and clutch...the release bearing failed on our Fall Escxape October 3rd.

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We had travelled west from Katherine to Victoria River, Kunnunurra, Fitzroy Crossing and to Broome...where ROO stretched his legs on Cable Beach.

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On Thursday, October 13th, 2011, we were headed south along the Indian Ocean coast towards Perth ultimately but today just as far as Nanutarra.  For the most part the highway is some distance inland from the ocean shore but we headed for Point Samson to look in on old history & settledement.

Look at the photo of the Aborigines in chains.

(I'm tied up again tomorrow so early once more)

And I spotted 'Grandma's Hat'...that hat has been everywhere.

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Rick as requested - Katherine Gorge, pictures do not do it justice, they do not show the sheer size of the gorge, Imagine the volume of water during the wet season when it reaches the top of the cliff in picture 4. The tree in that picture would be well over 70 feet tall and that section is one of the lower sections. The Crocodile trap was about 16ft. long. Imagine that full of Croc!! The Hot Springs were at the bottom of the Caravan park we stayed in and were a popular spot with the locals and tourists alike. Funny that "Hot" springs were so popular given the air temps were high 30's during the day and still mid 20's through the nights.

1990 south padre island spiring break.

Yes John, we did part for times as was natural...we'll get to Perth to Kalgoorlie to Norseman for us...you should chip in on the swing around the southwest coast (otherwise we'll have to go back and buy another Mini).

As I recall you had a wonderful cruise on the river out of Katherine, while we played in the waters...how about some photos on the river??

And don't forget, we had a 2nd birthday celebration for you in the Tree Garden in Katherine...and I avoided a $474 fine for not wearing a seatbelt.  Talk about blood pressure rising....

Thanks Rick for the memories - Each time you post I find myself going back into our photos and remembering the events that you have summarised as well as reviving memories of the surrounding days. The fact that we separated on occassions enhanced the experience as we were both able to see extra things through each others cameras and stories. Keep up the good work - Regards John K

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On our 5th Thursday (Oct. 6/11) we headed south from Darwin into Litchfield National Park to swim in the Buley Rockholes and under the Falls, ending our day at Hayes Creek.  John & Lynne had gone on to Katherine, since John's balance was not the best (after a benign tumor had been removed from behind his ear) and avoiding slippery rocks was a good plan.

We had serviced the Minis with oil/filter changes the day before and given them a good look over.  That night saw the first 'sound & light' show (thunder & lightning but NO rain) to herald the coming of the 'Wet'.

The important thing to note is that we were crossing the north towards the end of the 'Dry' when rainfall and water levels were at their lowest.  In the wet, Salties come some distance inland and the Park has croc traps on all the waterways.  When crocs are caught, the waterways are closed to the public.

At the Falls, I swam across a 40 foot deep pool and was checking out the other swimmers to see which might be more preferred croc bait.

That night we camped at Hayes Creek with long legged picnic tables...because of the ants!  Tip for OZ travel, NEVER leave your tent open to unwanted visitors including snakes.

At the Marbles on the way south friom Three Ways to Alice Springs, you can see the 'roundnose' Clubbie Spitz.

Clubman 3 clock, not certain about the padding...though a 1976 Clubman saloon, the square nose was replaced with a round nose.

What dash is that in the other car?

Getting to Alice heading west from Barkly Homestead to Three Ways and south on the Stuart hwy. to the Red Centre, saw this candid photo snapped when I ran out of fuel just before crossing dry Barrow Creek.  With reserve fuel all was good.

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The 4th Thursday, September 29th saw us out exploring in the Kata Tjuta (aka The Olgas) west of Uluru (aka Ayers Rock), then back towards Ayers Rock Resort (sounds posh but we were camping) then ending the day with a picnic waiting for sunset at Uluru...beautiful exoperience.

One comment, I parted with $25 for Wifi at the campground only to find it wasn't available and no one in the resort management cared...or responded in any way to my request for repayment. 

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A few more shots on getting to Karumba...the ladies took the motor rail Gulflander from Croydon to Normanton.  John & I met the train at Black Bull siding for tea & cakes, then scooped up the ladies in Normanton for the 40 odd miles north to Karumba - the Barramundi Fishing Capital - to camp & enjoy the fresh Barramundi in the local restaurants...

My excuse Spitz...painting all day tomorrow...finishing the last of the home renos for this year.

We used 10-30 on the 70 Day 'One Lap' trip because of the nature of the driving.  Start up in a.m., warm up/accelerate slowly, get to cruising speed and hang on for several hundred miles/kilometres.  Including stops for morning tea & cake, fuel, dinner (lunch) but mostly steady state driving...and both Minis had auxillary rads for heat control.

I don't think my 1098 power unit in ROO used a pint of oil on the whole trip...it didn't then and doesn't now leak or burn oil.  Never had to top up the SU dash pot either, just changed the air filter after injesting bees while running south on the Indian Ocean side (fortunately none made it inside the Mini).  Needed a battery & 2 new tires in Adelaide.

Why 10-30?

oh....and you're a day early..lol

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The 3rd Thursday, September 22nd saw us leaving Karumba on the Gulf of Carpentaria for Mt. Isa to the southwest.

We had given the Minis their first service after 5,000 kilometres/3,000 miles...changing oil & filter, using the cheapest 10-30 we could find.  My Mini has not used any oil, oil was clean, no issues.  Since the Minis were running steady state for hours on end - no cold starts, stops, restarts - the lowest cost brand 10-30 would meet the units needs.

On the Thursday, we would be travelling south through the Gulf country to the northern east-west highway route at Cloncurry and would go west to Mt. Isa.  Next day to Barkly Homestead and on to Three Ways and Alice Springs after the overnight.  The plan was to make the leg from Barkly Homestead to Alice in one long day.

Just thanks.

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Thursday, September 15, 2011 Day 4 of the 'One Lap' we left the Mini in Cairns and joined a tour group (in a high riding 4x4) to the Daintree River & Cape Tribulation, where Lieutenant James Cooke's crew effected significant repairs to HMB Endeavour after holing the vessel on the Great Barrier Reef, a few years before the American Revolution.

Saw our first big Saltwater Crocodiles (Estuarine) thought to be 'alligators' by the English sailors that had sailed of the Atlantic shores of North America.

The ferry over the Daintree is a simple cable ferry and deals with fairly low traffic volumes.

[since the start on September 12th we have headed north to Gladstone, gone inland to Emerald, Barcaldine, Longreach & Winton, headed back east towards Hughenden, Charter Towers & Townsville and on to Cairns]