Litchfield National Park

A week ago we arrived in the town of Batchelor and settled into our luxurious accommodation at the Historic Retreat. Our host Rob was wonderful. We shared the common areas with a couple from Melbourne, helping out with a new grandchild in the town and enjoying their own space from time to time, and four intrepid US sailors on a three-day vacation from their catamarans.

We drove down from Darwin, stopping on the way for a Spectacular Jumping Crocodile cruise. I got to hold a python and see some pretty big crocs up close and personal. They did jump but sadly I didn't capture any on the camera (lots of shots of bits of croc out of frame. Check out their website for more. On the return trip delighted to see the sky filled with kites, relatives of course of the American bald eagle.

Once unpacked we headed into the park and visited the giant termite mounds. These are described as the equivalent of cows? In an environment where there are no natural herbivores, the termites carry out the processes needed to dispose of grass etc and return it to the soil. These are magnetic termite mounds. Very apt in a region named for the biologist Charles Darwin. It seems the termites are genetically programmed to build the mounds on specific axes. Those for whom this is thermally advantageous survive - those who freeze or bake don't survive. Leading to a whole community who build in the same direction. Or something like that!
And then further along the road to the very popular Buley Waterhole and a one hour trek to the ever-so-beautiful Florence falls. We swam in that pool at the foot of the falls and could get right in underneath the waterfalls. It was so lovely. Then up the 160 steps to the carpark and back to the open air restaurant at the motor camp for a delicious dinner of local Barramundi and fresh steamed veges.

Was this an idyllic day? YES. Did I engage in any deep biological, public health or spiritual reflection? NO not really. Did I live the moments as fully as possible? YES. Did I share them with someone I love? YES. And I didn't really set out to blog like this - reviewing the past week day-by-day. However it is an interesting process that I might just keep on with.