Today's itinerary included the Devil’s Marbles. We arrived around 10am with only a few vehicles around. In the time we were there, several bus loads arrived and departed – at least 2 cycles worth. 
This is one of the main reasons it is best to travel on your own – you aren’t tied to their schedule. We all went our separate ways exploring – there were boulders everywhere. I did the classic trail, Mike crossed over the road to get to more isolated areas, and the boys climbed – everything in site. It was fun for all.
The marbles are formed from an ancient rock plane which cracked and split linearly, and then weathered all around to leave circular forms. 
There were balanced rocks, split rocks, flaked rocks and bridges. These aren't small rocks either - as you can see from the one we are 'resting' in. All very awesome and making you once again appreciate the power of nature. 
Also at the site were plaques explaining the local wildlife. Beyond the normal roos and wallabies, the more unique includes a frog which is only active when water arrives. When the water dries up, it fills its body with water, then burrows under the water hole, hibernates, and survives for many months on the water it absorbed when active. There is a crab which is very similar.
The boys and I returned to the van and made lunch and eventually worried about Mike. Pat went on a recognisance trip with no luck, then another with success. Naturally, Mike was just photoing! Mike ate and we headed further down the road – more interesting rocks – and then we were back on the road by about 1 pm.
After a short stop in Tennant Creek for some shopping (and a chat with a lady who recommended a stay at Daly Waters roadhouse), we pushed on. We did not want to drive in the dark again, but managed to push on to stop in by 
Newcastle Waters – an abandoned town. The town was on the main route prior to the building of the Stuart Highway, and it was a key station in the cattle droving. There were many articles on the walls of the old hotel from the papers, and the were plaques of all the drovers from the station. The town was abandoned in 1988, and now only one home is occupied.We managed to get to Daly Waters before dark, but just. They had no powered sites left, but that
was okay. We booked a ‘Beef and Barro’ dinner (Pat just beef, Mike just barro, Kyle and I ½ & ½) for 8pm. Before dinner we had a browse around the bar and caught some of the entertainment before dinner. Once again the bar was full of items left by visitors. 
These included many bras, panties, hats, police badges, emergency worker badges, shirts (one Canadian map on a shirt left just a week prior), many flags, coins, paper money and anything else a traveller could part with to leave a memento. The boys had fun spotting Canadian content – I think there was more of that then American for sure - even some Canadian Tire money! 
The place was packed, but we finally found a table right up front at the speakers. The star of the show was a country singer whose side kick was his Silky Barrow Chickens. He presented them as eagles, but they were just chooks (another Aussie-ism for you). They sat up at the stage with him for the entire show, and even ended up on his head during our dinner set. The younger ones wandered around and pecked on stage or even in between some of the front tables. He also had a homemade map shaped guitar. When he took his breaks, there was a comedian (the pub owner), and guitar player (a local rodeo star) who filled in the gaps.
All in all an entertaining and fun night and a very yummy dinner.
And this time we all took advantage of the showers before heading off for Katherine the next morning!
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