Jumping Crocs and Waldo

27/03/2010

Patrice has been dying to see the jumping crocodiles so today was the day. We have booked our tickets with “Spectacular Jumping Crocodiles”. We were not sure what to expect so rather than jump on the bus we decided to self drive as we wanted to go to the Saturday markets at Coolalinga beforehand. Off we went to the markets which we were expecting to stay at for a couple of hours but in the end half an hour was stretching it a bit. Luckily the times for the cruise were 9.00, 11.00. 1.00 and 3.00 so instead of hitting the 1.00 cruise we rocked up for the 11.00. The jumping crocodiles were on the Adelaide River in an area known as the “Window to the Wetlands”. Here we are waiting for the cruise with another 15 or so other people when Kim came out with a water python wrapped around her. “Who would like to nurse the snake?” “I’ll have a go I said” I was nervous as anything with this big python draped across my shoulders, down my back and across my arm, I wasn’t game to move. My attitude has been if I am given the opportunity to do something just do it as I may never get the opportunity again, Trice wouldn’t go near the thing.

Onto the boat we go, we are led to this rather large vessel which I thought was rather grand for a small group. We were led straight through the big boat and loaded onto a smaller aluminium boat which takes a maximum of 30 people, now this was getting close and cuddly with the crocodiles. Richard was the tour guide and Sissy was the crocodile feeder. We hardly got under way when a croc was sighted on the opposite bank. He was not playing the game so we went hunting. All in all we photographed 5 crocs leaping ranging in size from around 3 metres up to Michael who was 5 metres and around 60 years old. He was named Michael after Michael Jackson as he had a white head. Trice was thrilled with her experience and as usual took photos of anything that moved.

We went from there to an information centre which gave you a great view of the surrounding wetlands plus a huge amount of information. I am terrible when we are driving as I don’t like to stop for unexpected viewings but today was going to be different, Fog Dam now that looks interesting. We had been thinking how little birdlife we had seen, that is because they were all here, apparently we got a photo of a Jabiru which is very unusual. This is what a couple who were right into birds told us. Also this area was supposed to have been turned into a huge rice paddy field but after an enormous amount of money spent by USA and Australia the project failed, it couldn’t had anything to do with those crocs having big teeth that live there at the moment.

It was now close to 2.00 and were starting to think about lunch when we saw the “Barra Shack”, what is this we thought. We turned off the main road for about 3 klms until we came across this little shack, we had to ‘toot’ our horn as we came in. Next thing ‘Waldo’ comes around the corner in his bright blue golf buggy. Waldo is 69 years of age, a bush poet and loves a chat. I don’t know what the Barra Shack was all about but we had a great laugh and spent almost 2 hours with Waldo. He recited poetry to us, showed us all things he & his wife Sue make from croc skins, kangaroo & Barra skins, drove us around his 5 acre block showing off his gardens, showed us his 18 year old daughter’s grave site, she has been buried in the backyard, we saw that as a real honour as it seemed a very private thing to do. Back to the house and next thing he lets out his poodles for a run, he had 11 poodles and his wife breeds them. We could not go until Sue came home so that we could meet her. We bought a bit of poetry, a couple of books and other stuff, it was an amazing couple of hours. He was originally an old Navy man who has lived in the Territory most of his life and only discovered he has a nack for poetry in the last few years. He has travelled all over the place recited poetry and has performed in front of many famous people – what a great guy.....

Today was another highlight of our trip.