Way Outback Camping in Kakadu Day 3

The previous evening, Kim had told us that the walk into Jimjim Falls would be the hardest yet, over boulders to a slippery rock entrance into the waterhole. She also said that Twin Falls was not running at all, so the group would not be going there. Well, I had no intention of getting halfway to Jimjim and having to turn back to wait in the heat by the van. No. By morning JD decided to join me in skipping the trip to Jimjim Falls. We were not alone! It turned out that several others had made the same decision - about half of the whole group is my guess. JD and I were dismayed to find the rare rude helper at the reception desk of Kakadu Lodge was a young Canadian woman. She was less than helpful in giving us directions to the Bowali Cultural Centre. Sure enough, following her directions, we walked along the highway and made a wrong turn. We walked a long way down a dirt road until we hit a deadend. Sigh. We turned around and headed back.

The Crocodile Hotel was a short way further up the road. Dripping with sweat and desparate for shade, we headed for the mouth-like entry. What a relief. We walked into a fabulous gallery of Aboriginal art. Furthermore, we were able to watch a painter working on a new brolga painting. With a little help from the receptionist, and a better map, we found our way to the Bowali Cultural Centre. It was midday at this point, making for a very hot, shade to shade, far too long, walk through the bush to the centre. On our way, we met some of the other campers on their return. There it was at last and well-worth the trek. A coffee shop, documentary film room, museum, and a shop/gallery. I didn't buy anything. But Katie in the shop/gallery explained the mimis to me. She also recommended that we talk to Dave at Oenpilli re our old bark paintings. We watched a doc about croc control, went to the museum, had a cup of coffee, and walked back to the Crocodile Hotel. There we detoured to a bakery where we saw two uniformed gents in an SUV.

We bought a bit of lunch and cold drinks. I asked one of the men if he would be driving past Kakadu Lodge. Both men gallantly offered us a ride to our gate, which was in fact only a short way down the road. No matter! We really appreciated the lift. Anyway, it turned out that they were teachers who take Aboriginal students on field trips. Perhaps we met them in Palm Valley on our Glen Helen tour!?

Thankful to get back to camp, we put on our bathing suits and spent the rest of the afternoon at the pool with others who skipped Jimjim. Eventually, the folks who did go joined us along with Kim, until she called us for dinner. As we lingered at the table, Kim told us that the 4-day group would go to Arnhemland with another guide on Day 4 while she and the 5-day group would leave for Katherine at dawn. This news was kind of upsetting and unexpected - we thought we would separate after the day at Injalak. So, it was back to the bar and pool for the final camp night and goodbyes to many. By the end of the evening, M and A had set up a fb page for our group and as a way to keep in touch.