TROUBLE IN TIMBER CREEK Australia Big Righthand Turn Day 31
The lone barman broke a wooden bar stool for self-protection. -Timber Creek Hotel
Timber Creek
Timber Creek is an isolated small town a short distance from the Victoria River in the Northern Territory. The Victoria Highway passes through the town. Timber Creek is the only significant town and settlement between Kununurra in Western Australia 225 km west and Katherine 290 km to the east in the Northern Territory.
Timber Creek is a town of two hundred and fifty people.
The Caravan Park is next to the Hotel. I was directed by park management to erect my tent on a grassed area near a small creek. My tent was the only one within the park. With the benefit of hindsight should have stayed in a very reasonably priced onsite unit.
Sleepless Night
I was unable to sleep because of the many thousands of flying foxes roosting in the nearby billabong overnight. So I tried to gain uninterrupted sleep in my car. The wildlife commotion was too great so I returned to the tent gaining virtually no sleep. The billabong is frequented by fresh water crocs. In fact a large freshwater croc (two to three metres in length) is often seen sunning itself within the caravan park on the near side of the creekbank. I was told, Park management regularly feed the croc. Freshwater crocs are regarded as harmless if not approached.
Saltwater crocs are in the Victoria River a few km away. Upon check-in the park owner joked I should be ok overnight as no dogs have gone missing in a while from saltwater crocodile attacks. The next morning a fellow park resident in a caravan commented to me he and his wife were wondering if I would possibly still be here. Perhaps taken by a crocodile overnight.
During the morning conversation they mentioned the previous day a large python was sighted wrapped around a tree trunk across the otherside of the small walk bridge connecting the Billabong and caravan park. Less than one hundred metres from unpowered camping sites. My site the closest and lone tent. Maybe the caravan park wasn't one hundred percent as safe as I thought. Wouldn't do it again in a tent. Although the river is several km away the creek is open to the Victoria River and it's large population of saltwater crocodiles.
Troublesome Ruckus
Years ago on a solo road trip I stopped overnight at the same Timber Creek Campground next to the hotel. I had not long finished a Hotel meal in the bar when visiting workers of a road maintenance gang caused a night ruckus in the pub with local indigenous people. The indigenous promptly left the premises. Immediately a chorus of baiting chants were heard from outside the hotel. Pool table cue's were gathered and bar stools. The lone barman broke a wooden bar stool for self-protection. After a good while things calmed down. Baiting chants fading. No local police. Nearest authorities many hours drive away. Perhaps as far as Katherine NT or Kununurra in Western Australia over two and a half hours drive away?
As far as I was concerned the local indigenous people kept to themselves and caused no trouble. But would you endeavor to leave the hotel on the fall of darkness with the ruckus created by others putting yourself at risk in the immediate vicinity?
Traveldriven
ENTER CLICK/TAP
DRIVE TIMBER CREEK -
VICTORIA RIVER ROADHOUSE - KATHERINE
VICTORIA RIVER
SALTWATER CROCODILE
FADED SIGN WITHIN CARAVAN PARK
TIMBER CREEK TENT SITE
& WALKWAY TO THE WILD SIDE
TRAVELDRIVEN TENT SITE
RESTLESS NIGHT BESIDE CREEK
VERY NOISY BATS PAST THE FOOTBRIDGE
CARAVAN PARK AND CAMPING GROUND
TIMBER CREEK
BOAB TREE & ROADSIDE GRAVE
VICTORIA RIVER HIGHWAY
WA/NT BORDER
ROAD TRAIN TYRE SMOKE?
LOOKS LIKE A GOOD SPOT TO COOL OFF