Betten On Bike: DAYS 23 & 24 - 1 & 2 MAY 2013 BITTER SPRINGS (MATARANKA) REST DAYS

Days 23 & 24 (1 & 2 May 2013) Bitter Springs - Rest Days

So - no cycling for a few days and a well deserved rest for Walter so we did what we haven't done for a few weeks slept in until 7am - very nice thank you very much.

We caught up on our washing, shopping for supplies and emails, blog updating on the first day of our rest day. Most importantly though was we enjoyed the beautiful 500 metre walk to the Elsey National Park and then the 230 metre stroll to Bitter Springs, where the magic tropical spring-fed and mineral rich thermal pool set amongst palm sand tropical woodlands is located. We spent many an hour there enjoying the soothing springs and chatting to other travellers there. We visited the springs a number of times during our rest days.

On the second day we ventured out in our van to Mataranka township and visited the Stockyard Gallery where we sat on the shady deck overlooking the shady tea garden. We had coffee and some delicious home made chunky fruit scones with jam & cream and had a look around the gallery which featured local paintings, Aboriginal art and some wonderful Territory books, one of which I had to buy !!! and Walter fed the tame yellow throated honey eaters the crumbs of our feast. Outside is a four metre statue of Henry Peckham one of the characters from the Jeannie Gunn novel, 'We of The Never Never' for which Mataranka is famous as it is known as the 'Capital of The Never Never'.

Walter was very keen to try his hand at fishing for barramundi so we set off to go to The Roper River but decided to have a quick visit to The Homestead to check out the other thermal pool in the area which while also beautiful is not located in the amazing natural setting that Bitter Springs is.

We then went off in search of the elusive barramundi - it was unfortunately not the best conditions for fishing at the moment so no success but we enjoyed the view of the magnificent Roper River but I must admit I felt a little on edge as this is crocodile country and where we were was a little isolated.

Then back to the tranquility of our peaceful haven at Bitter Springs for another swim at the springs, our last as Walter is back on the bike tomorrow for another day of cycling.