Day 13 – wandering around Alice Springs, stocking up supplies and washing. A short trip to Standley Chasm. 
Didn’t know this was a private “resort” so cost a bit of a shock. Short walk to rather nice spot for a few photo opportunities. Hmm.
Back to slightly disappointing caravan park. Paid a lot – I thought – for not much quality. Maybe accommodation is that scarce in Alice.
Day 14 – next stop the Devil’s Marbles. Stopped at rather grubby rest stop at Barrow Creek? but fantastic old telegraph station. Good information and nicely conserved.
Arrived at Devil’s Marbles about two, so big decision to settle in or press on. Cath wins and while we set up camp with about 40 other grey nomads in vans, tents, camper vans and various other options, looking around made this a good win. Amazing, weird place. Many photos and many more at sunset.
Incredibly windy night and thought we might loose it at one stage.
Day 15 – leave Devil’s Marbles and head off. Just past Tennent Creek stop for another restored telegraph station. Pretty cool. Then stopped somewhere for lunch, something Roadhouse. Not much there but did have a goat with to kids and some peacocks. Odd.
Arrived at Daley Waters Pub for the promised unique experience. Certainly that. Ordered the Barra and Steak though price is now $28. A lot of characters, heaps of vans, happy hour and a couple of beers. Hot showers and free show with dinner, though jokes and stories seemed to still be in the 60’s music not bad. Girls dressed up and I even put on a clean shirt for up market dinner – sort of.
Day 16 – cruised up towards Katherine. Detoured into Mataranka springs for a bit of a break. Tried Roper River first but there were croc warning signs so headed to resort. Kiara and Cath enjoyed brief dip in hot springs while we had lunch. On to Katherine to briefly stock up then out to the national park to find a camp site. The reception mentioned the bats could be a bit noisy.
Circled a bit to find a site without bats then settled in. So did the bats, and more bats. Got to be a worry. A very noisy night as they cam and went.
Day 17 – more bats. Noise, crashing branches, smashing landscape. Briefly considered fleeing, but they eventually settled down, apart from the occasional crash of branches. Checked out the walks and canoe trip.
Kiara and I drove down to the Cutta Cutta caves for a tour while Cath and Siobhan recouped around camp – and washed. Caves fascinating – warm, limestone. Came back to lounge by pool and make stockman’s pie on a barbie. 
Day 18 – did a short walk to cliff top above head of gorge and prepare ourselves for Friday’s Canoe trip.