"We must refrain from killing the goose to get the egg." Chinese proverb

After a weekend relaxation, on the orders of Viña which must go to a festival with his trailer to fruit juice, We help him to clean this last Sunday afternoon before tackle us Monday 27 July-the various projects they have for their garden : prepare a new parcel of land for future plants, clean up and redevelop the henhouse -whatever the hens are sometimes in, just time to clean the Earth we use for the garden, Thank you ladies - spackling holes dug for irrigation system, pick up the wood and dead leaves piling several years... A little cleaning or cooking by ci, a tour to the discharge by that and the week passes quickly. The rest of the time we spend on the guitar for one, to update the site for the other, to read or hours spent chatting with our hosts for the two.

Open mic at Katherine

Jam session in Katherine

Thursday night Vina and Jim take us to the Sport Club of the city for an evening jam session which starts slowly to finish in beauty when Ronald onstage and followed several hours of known times, followed by happy regulars local musicians.

HelpX à Katherine

Terrasse HelpX

We planned to stay in Katherine until I pass my driving license, but if I could quickly transfer the learner's license in the Northern Territory, there is no place to spend it before 1^is October, the date is much too far away we decide to take the road Saturday 1^is August ... but TS is not of the same opinion and unbootable. Without this mind nor guests nor ourselves, we have to wait until Tuesday to find where to check our batteries, Monday is a public holiday, it is the Picnic Day in the Northern Territory, un jour de repos observé chaque premier lundi du mois d’août histoire d’avoir un long week-end et l’occasion d’organiser un évènement, chouette non ? 😀
Rechargement sur secteur, remplissage d’eau déminéralisée, test chez Repco qui nous dit que c’est l’alternateur – quasi neuf, tour des casses et des boutiques spécialisées… C’est finalement Chris qui appelle Terry, un électricien automobile de sa connaissance qui ne pourra venir que demain matin. Diagnostic rapide : une batterie gonflée, l’autre qui sent l’oeuf, autant de symptômes qui annoncent leur fin de service. Quatre cent cinquante dollars plus tard TS ronronne de nouveau avec ses deux batteries flambantes neuves, we have only to acknowledge and thank our hosts.

Wallaby au Nitmiluk NP

Katherine River

Before leaving the town of Katherine and her eleven thousand inhabitants, we drive thirty kilometers to the East for a ride around the cradle of peoples and Jawoyn Dagomen : the Katherine River and its thirteen gorges in Nitmiluk National Park. We travel its shores and take the pitch following a steep path to glance at the entrance of the gorge.

Victoria River

Our neighboring cows

The evening found us some sixty kilometers west of Katherine, on the surface of Limestone Creek for the night. The next day, After a nice giving market overlooking the Victoria River, We are entering the small town of Timber Creek. Katherine transportation employee told me that I can spend my permit to the police station, but the occupants of this last tell me the opposite : It must be a resident of Timber Creek and have an official paper with name and address to prove. Paper I did make three hundred kilometers back, Katherine with an address to... Katherine. I give up the fight against the Australian Government and we're continuing our route to stop not far from the border, next to a dry river bed, as with neighboring four curious cows.

Note technique : Pour arracher des piquets plantés dans la terre, rien de mieux que d’avoir une lance à eau ! Tuyau d’arrosage, 1 mètre de cuivre de 14 mm, aplati au bout, on enfonce le long du piquet en laissant couler l’eau et… Ce dernier sort sans encombre ni effort, well almost. Thanks Chris 😉

« Vis comme si tu devais mourir demain, apprends comme si tu devais vivre toujours. » M.K.Ghandi

L’harmoniciste m’a demandé si je restais longtemps dans le coin, je pense qu’il sous-entendait rester jouer avec le band, more, once again, l’appel de la route, aussi attirant que Launceston, Bloomfied ou Katherine sont, nécessite beaucoup d’au revoir. So we left on a happy braces, and a pint, after this excellent musical performance (without boasting course).