Uluru To Kakadu
Trip Start
Aug 20, 2007
1
56
76
Trip End
Jul 04, 2008
Jabiru,
Australia
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Only about 1300 kms left till Darwin as I headed off for my final Australian destination. Driving through the desert I stopped off at Wycliffe Wells which is Australia's UFO capital. Very interesting newspaper clippings and a family of green plaster-of-paris aliens out front told me that the local population must have lead pipes for plumbing. Steaming north I drove and played my harmonica and drank liters of coke. I started ranting and raving to myself about something very important to me at the time but lost focus because I found the Devil's Marbles. They are granite boulders that have eroded into these circular massive spherical cartoonesque freaks of geology. I spent several hours scrambling around the formations trying to get some good snap shots and making little video clips to explain the geomorphology. Energized from the stone balls experience I drove through several Aboriginal communities and passed thousands of termite mounds that gradually became larger the further north I traveled
River Sunset in Kakadu
. The biggest termite mound was well over 15 feet.Well into the night I drove till my tank was too close to the "E" and it was too late to make the next town with an open service station. It was the first night in a long time that I started sweating from the humidity while in the tent.Cuta Cuta Caves and another Quick Side Trip
Waking up early covered in sweat I found a dead bat on my car and a dead snake that hadn't finished eating another dead snake. Feeling great about the day's beginning I strapped my seat belt on and drove off towards Darwin. An hour and a liter coke later I passed a sign to the Cuta Cuta Caves I whipped a U turn to see what it was all about. The limestone cave was very similar to the limestone caves that you find in central Texas. This one was dry most of the year so the crystals in the calcium carbonate formations were glistening when light was passed over them. I was taking some pics when everyone else saw a brown banded tree snake. I missed it. The guide said "No worries, mate."He then showed me a huge 12 foot olive python that was on the porch behind the office. Pleased for having stopped I jumped back in the 300 and sped on towards Darwin. Until I saw the turn off for Kakadu National Park. I decided it would be best for me to check this one out as well
Termite Mound
. Its another massive track of Aboriginal land leased to the government as a national park. Kakadu is famous for its Saltwater Crocodiles and some of the most ancient cave paintings in the world. Wanting to see the highlights for myself I camped the night by a river. The mosquitos ate me alive as I was nodding off in a somewhat dreamstate I heard what I swore were wolves howling and barking. The next moring I was told by the guide on our boat that they were barking owls. It makes sense since dingos don't bark or howl and wolves are several conitnents and oceans away. The swamp boat trip was highlighted with several crocs patrolling their waters, an elusive grey billed heron flew by and perched whichbird watchers pay thousands to see and often don't get a glimpse,and some bizarre looking tawny frogmouths that are owls which litterally look like a lump on a log. After the early morning swamp tour I headed out to some trails that take you back thousands and thousands of years to the dawn of man. The ancient cave paintings that are plentiful in the rocky ledges of the region are evidence that the aboriginies are one of the oldest living cultures. After leaving the rock outcroppings I drove through flooded area of the road and saw a young aboringinal boy carrying a spear and a massive fish he just caught; the culture lives on in Kakadu. The 300 and I were satisfied with our little side excusion to Kakadu and headed on up to Darwin. A flat tire later and a bald retread spare later I was sleeping in a dorm bed glad to have experienced the outback. 
