Sandy Supposes....

Katherine aka Dusty Kate

Day 6 Katherine to Darwin

         Is it just me? Does anyone else read Katherine to Darwin as a prelude to a romance? Will there be desert sunsets and amorous clinches in the sand? Yuk, I hope not! I am touring as a single gal, hubby free this August. In my virtual reality I am seeking fun my way. I choose my adventures for better or worst.

         Dusty Kate appears as a desert oasis shimmering in the heavy heat. It's billed as outback meets the tropics. I discover more than just endless sand.

         Okay, I am roped into attending an amusing show featuring animal training at the Katherine Outback Experience. The different horses are put through their paces. Sheepdog / collies entertained me with their antics herding cattle, or not. These characters have their own endearing petsonalities and who can resist cute puppies. Our ringleader Lyn's a Witchy Woman attempted to depart with a wiggling, furry souvenir tucked under her shirt. Claiming it had followed her failed to convince anyone.

         Imagine meeting a singing cowboy here of all places. Tom Curtain is talented. His lyrics speak of his love for this ranch and this territory. "It's who we are running through our veins. We're battered and bruised with nothing left to lose and we're still here. We've lived through the dust. We're not going anywhere, we're still here."

         Despite friendly warnings re freshwater crocodiles, 💙 Carly-wrimo 2024 Apondia WakeUpAndLive~doingNaNo'24 BlueMoon Prosperous Snow celebrating Lyn's a Witchy Woman and I kayaked the gorgeous Nitmiluk Gorge. No one lost any toes or fingers and nothing loomed up out of the clear water to surprise us. The fumbling created a refreshing splash. No one slipped or flipped from their balanced seats.

         We decided to be natives for a few hours and we joined Aboriginal Manuel Pamkal to learn Rarrk a cross hatch style of painting. I am messy and my shirt resembled a tie-dye rainbow. Manuel taught us how to light a fire simply by rubbing a stick between our hands. It's a lot of work to coax a spark into life. Throwing a boomerang is an experience and I reflexively ducked after I set it zooming into the sky. We oohed and aahed our way through the Katherine Art Gallery.

         Oh, the hot springs are phenomenal! I'd like a hot tub like this at home. Soaking should be considered a sport.

         We rounded up our latest adventures with an Aussie bush tucker dinner served at a campfire. I enthusiastically tucked into the grub offered. The hilarious stories and the rowsing campfire sing-along were the perfect night cap. I taught everyone a few Guiding songs.One of them is about a kookaburra sitting in an old gum tree and another is about Alice the camel who has one hump. I knew they were saved in my repertoire for a reason.

         I did manage to whisper a question aimed at Lyn's a Witchy Woman . She hissed at me to shush, but I only wanted to know if we are hiding in plain sight? We are not opal thieves! I'm a tourist and the only thing I steal is awed looks.