It was a big drive back from up the top of Cobourg as we took it easy knowing that the deep wash-outs were waiting to inflict serious damage on anyone hitting them too fast or at the wrong angle. It’s a great drive though through the Arnhem Land wilderness and the boys were well-behaved. We got back close to the East Alligator River and stopped for a few blokes with boat trailer issues. Their Landcruiser wheel brace didn’t fit the smaller wheel nuts of the boat trailer. We didn’t have many tools that could help and we assumed the Hilux and cruiser wheel braces would be similar in size. We drove off hoping someone might come along soon (it was a bit of a quiet, lonely road for hours at a time) and get them back on the road but instantly felt bad we couldn’t help them out. We turned around and got the tyre change kit out – might as well have a go with our wheel brace just in case it fits – happy days….it fitted enough to loosen the nuts. It took a while for them to rip the trailer brakes out that were causing the problem and get the wheel back on. The three blokes were quick to crack open the esky while we waited and the boys got ice cold poppers while mum and dad got offered more serious cold beverages. We were actually a bit jealous that they were off up the peninsular on a wilderness fishing trip when we were leaving!
We crossed a low-flowing East Alligator River – the causeway was crowded with people fishing and we had to push our way through. Once out of Arnhem Land and back in Kakadu, we realised we’d done just about everything and been just about everywhere we could and we decided to hit the road (beautiful smooth bitumen) and aim to exit the national park and camp at Pine Creek for the night. Trusty old Pussy Cat Flats was an easy choice for a camp and we pulled in to see the caretaker. He recognised us and broke the terrible news that he’d been reprimanded for letting campers stay for five bucks a night and we now had to pay ten bucks! For such a convenient, clean campground we weren’t too bothered at all! We went past the hotel in town and checked out their snake collection and decided to visit the historical part of town including the old steam trains tomorrow.
JALC-OZ-2018 