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 the Western Australia border and Katherine 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
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 is often seen sunning itself on the park side of the creekbank. Park management regularly feed the croc. 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. Next morning a fellow park resident in a caravan commented to me they were wondering if I would possibly still be here. Perhaps taken by a crocodile overnight.
The previous day a large python was sighted wrapped around a tree trunk across the otherside of the small walk bridge connecting the Billabong. Perhaps one hundred metres from unpowered camping sites. My site the closest. 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 roadtrip I stopped overnight at 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?
Traveldriven
ENTER CLICK/TAP
TRAVEL DOWN UNDER DRIVE TIMBER CREEK -
VICTORIA RIVER ROADHOUSE - KATHERINE
TIMBER CREEK TENT SITE & WALKWAY TO THE WILD SIDE
ROAD TRAIN TYRE SMOKE?
LOOKS LIKE A GOOD SPOT TO COOL OFF