Ngukurr

Saturday 15th June we set out on our way to Ngukurr. It meant retracing our path to Mataranka and turning Eastward. After about 130km on this road we met the end of the seal and the start of the dirt road. It was very rough and had some sharp stones protruding. After a couple of k or so Brandt pulled over ......oh oh TWO flat tyres, one of which was rather shredded:





Luckily we carry two spares, so after a stop of a couple of hours we were on our way again. Stopped the night in Roper Bar though as we didn't want to drive through unknown river crossings in the dark.

We were at Ngukurr for Brandt to install an air con into the wall of the rectory guest flat, which the visiting clergy stay in. (another BCA job)


First step.....make a hole in the wall


He has often threatened to get out the chainsaw and cut a hole in a wall, so when I heard the chainsaw I just couldn't let this event pass unrecorded.



Just after I took this photo, the smoke detector went off. We take it that I had let smoke get to it when I opened the door to take the photo.


I will let photos tell the rest of the story











Sorry, I didn't take a final photo after the framing was done.

I was visited after school by a few girls, who enjoyed using the iPad. They particularly had fun with the photo booth app:






Also took some "selfies"

St Paul's Anglican Church, Katherine

On Friday 7th June we moved in to, and set up camp in, the car park of St Paul's. We were also joined there by Vida, a fellow grey nomad who wanted to catch up with us again and help us with our work.



Our work was mainly in the gardens, Brandt getting to make good use of his chain saw, Vida did weeding and pruning, and I checked out the drip water system.
Originally the gardens were planted to provide a barrier between the church and the road, but now the police have requested that it be opened up so that they can get a clear view as they drive around, from the road to the areas under the verandas.
Before:


and after:


Brandt also got to prune a well established frangipani .
Before:


during:






and after:


The gardens along a road fence needed grass clippings for mulch. We ran out of what was stored so to get more I mowed the lawn while Vida took barrow loads of clippings away and spread them on the garden. Quite dirty, dusty work.





I hasten to add that my arms were just as dirty. I was quite astounded when I saw the colour of the water running off me in the shower.

We lost count of how many loads of green waste we took to the dump. Enough for Brandt to be known to the workers out there.

Katherine - assisting at workshop

On June 3 we had a long day's drive from The Pebbles to Katherine. There we assisted another BCA Nomads couple with the serving of pre prepared food and the clean up afterwards. We were at a workshop to write church services in Kriol, a local indigenous language that is spoken by most of the Aborigines in this area.

Due to cultural sensitivity I took no photos at this event.

The Pebbles

Even though there was voluntary work waiting for us in Katherine we spent two nights with Grey Nomads we have come to know quite well. They were camped at the pebbles, 11km north of Tennant Creek.
We were a little late leaving Camooweal, so on the way I prepared my late note to give on our (two hours) late arrival


The Pebbles is a mini version of The Devils Marbles. It was just over 200km return drive so we settled for seeing the pebbles only. We climbed to the top


and that gave us a good view of the camp site as well as other impressive scenery.

Waiting at Camooweal

The first job next day was to remove the faulty water pump





On Monday the replacement part was ordered from Brisbane.
Then came the wait. What to do?
Experiment with the camera of course.








And then there was the bird life


Friday the part arrives


Brandt reads the instructions (how unusual for a man to do that before even trying to do it on his own!)


Then it's time to install the replacement