Day 46 Daly Waters to Mataranka and Mataranka environs

202km today saw us reaching Mataranka.  We could see the countryside changing again as we moved north.  There has obviously been more rain here and the trees are taller with darker green leaves.  We passed through a lot of low lying areas and the grass is greener here too. We looked in at the Daly Waters pub which is not on the main road and found a tree which Stuart reportedly carved the letter "S" in the bark.  We couldn't see the"S", so we remain unconvinced.

Alexander Forrest intersected the Overland Telegraph Line near Dunmarra and we saw the monument to this event.

Not far from Mataranka is the Elsey Cemetry.  It is the resting place of many of the people Jeannie Gunn immortalised in her book "We of the Never Never".  Both she and her husband Aneas are buried there.

Upon arriving in Mataranka we concluded that rock is to Yulara as springs are to Mataranka.  We visited Bitter Springs and Rainbow Springs.  The water from these springs is a comfortable 34 degrees and we were surprised to see so many people swimming in them.  At Rainbow Springs you can actually see the water welling up to the surface.  The water then finds its way into the Roper River.  The water itself is crystal clear.  Needless to say there is quite a bit of wildlife adjacent to the springs. 

220514 Frustration at not being able to see Stuart's "S"
near Daly Waters

220514 Daly Waters Pub

220514 Bric-a-brac store opposite the Daly Waters Pub

220514 Monument to Forrest's east west journey across Australia
and his intersection with the OTL

220514 Typical countryside we traversed today

220514 Jeannie and Aneas Gunns' graves at Elsey Cemetry

220514  Entrance to Elsey Cemetry

220514 Swimming at Bitter Springs.
Note the clarity of the water

220514 Start of the walk into Rainbow Springs.
Note the palm trees

220514 Swimming in Rainbow Springs

220514 Water welling to the surface at the actual (Rainbow) spring

220514 Boat launching ramp at the Roper River near Mataranka