Timber Creek - Our First Taste Of The Northern Territorry

To stop or not to stop - that is the question as we drove into Timber Creek to refuel. It was only mid afternoon and we could probably get to Katherine by dusk if we keep going. There was only one thing to stop for, and in Zach's mind it was EVERYTHING to stop for. I had been told that the roadhouse feed crocodiles each evening from the camping ground, and upon checking when we paid for petrol it was true. So I guess we're stopping.

The camping ground was shady and spacious with only a handful of other vans or tents set up. We were, however, met with the waft of bats as soon as we opened our doors. The trees around us full of bats. It is funny how smells remind one of places, people or things. Nick commented how it reminded him of visiting my Uncle Barry and Aunty Lorraine, who lived on Sydney's North Shore overlooking a gully which was inhabited by thousands of bats, and we would watch them leave on their nightly journey from their decking. For me it reminded me where my Grandma lived at, which happened to be on the other side of the gully from my Uncles place. We would walk down to the gully with Grandma and look up in the trees watching the bats hang upside down occasionally stretching their wings, before wandering back via the rose garden.

Nick and Josh found a small TV in the camp kitchen. Melbourne Dees were playing GWS. Josh was excited and negotiated delaying setting up in order to watch the game. Nick didn't need much convincing, opening the van enough to reach the fridge and grab a cold beer before settling down to watch Melbourne get their second win for the season. The other 3 kids entertaining themselves on the playground or bridge over the creek where the crocodiles are, coming to check the time, longing for 5pm to come so they could see croc feeding.

Finally it was 5:00pm. Zach led the way down to the narrow bridge. We waited eagerly to see both the crocodiles and the person who would feed them. Sam arrived with a bucket of raw meat and a feeding stick with a piece of rope and large hook on it. We waited and waited. Joking about how you can't train animals in the wild or children. Still no croc..... The water was getting colder and the crocs weren't as plentiful at this time of year. Two months ago there were up to 11 fighting over the meat. Above us in the trees whistling kites were eyeing off the piece of meat dangling for the crocs. Sam threw a small piece of meat up and the kite flew down but missed it. Nick, always up for a challenge, tried throwing up a piece and the kite grabbed it with its claws. This kept Nick entertained for the next half hour while Zach kept his eye on the creek looking almost willing bubbles to appear, the tell tale sign of a crocodile.

Zach asked if he could hold the feeding stick. (I'm sure he thinks he's a croc whisperer and would have the "touch") Well sure enough a "freshie" finally appeared, slowly gliding in the water towards the meat. Holding on to the stick tightly Zach was in heaven as the croc attacked the meat, leaping out of the water and snapping its toothy jaws.

Matt hooked up the next piece of meat and after waiting another 5 minutes pr so, another croc appeared, again leaping and snapping away at the meat. Abbey's turn.... We waited and waited and finally a huge freshie (about 2m) came under the bridge and towards the meat. Unfortunately it wasn't interested in the meat and swam off.

It was amazing to think that we had just fed crocodiles from a bridge only 1/2 metre from the water, using little more than a broom handle, piece of rope and coat hanger.

Zach pleaded with us to stay another night, but with the need to get to Darwin we set off and hit the road again.