Carole's Birthday and Glen Huitson Golf Day

The Birthday Girl and Les

Mother June's scones

"The Loose Ends" golf team

Day 153

Its Carole’s birthday today and June has made more scones for morning tea (I’ve decided to adopt June!!) and Lisa Huitson is coming to the CP to catch up. Not quite a birthday cake but most definitely better and we enjoy catching up with Lisa before we head to golf. We arrive at Darwin GC amidst about 200 policemen and supporters for this charity day in Glen’s honour and supporting Police Legacy in NT. We meet the 3 other guys we will play with, Dave, Craig and Rod who work in different areas of the force. It is a 5 person Ambrose and we have a great afternoon of golf with some great shots and some really awful ones but the company is good and we have a lot of fun. Each team is given a handicap by the roll of dice when we come in and with a clubhouse full of rowdy players (the effects of the free beer evident) it was difficult to hear results. We did win a XXXXGold straw hat each but not sure what for??? We left the revellers and went for dinner at the Trailer Boat Club overlooking the Bay (is there no where in Darwin that we haven’t been for a magnificent water sunset??) for Carole’s birthday.

Mama Mia...here I go again..........

Anniki, the pearl lugger we sailed on a few weeks ago doing a sail by the wharf

Can't roll jaffas down the aisles here!

Young lovers

Deckchair movie goers, Les on an important call before lights out

Day 152

We went to the Nursing Museum at Charles Darwin University this afternoon which was really only a bit of a collection of old medical instruments and nursing stories and memorabilia of Darwin hospital in some glass cabinets in the Uni Nursing School. The lovely glossy brochure promised much more so I was a little disappointed. We then went to Fannie Bay Gaol where we looked around the old buildings before going back to the CP. We are all going to the Stokes Hill Wharf for fish and chips dinner before taking in a movie at the Deckchair Cinema. Lounging on deck chairs while looking up at the stars on a balmy Darwin evening on the waterfront watching Mama Mia will be a very unique experience.

Playing Tourists in Darwin

June nursing Fang

NT Parliament House

WW2 Oil Tunnels

The entrance to the tunnels

Government House overlooking Darwin Harbour

Day 151

We head into the city to do some sightseeing and first stop is the WW2 oil tunnels which were built to contain and preserve the oil and so the Japs couldn’t bomb the outside oil tanks and devastate the valuable fuel supplies. Some interesting photos and stories in the tunnels. Next was a tour of Parliament House lasting about 1 and half hours and gave us an insight into the relatively very young governing centre of NT. The afternoon was spent in the city before heading back to the CP. Back at the CP and Carole and Les and Carole's mum June and hubby John have arrived in the park to stay. Rueben the Crocodylus Park guy is here at the park for his weekly chat and June is thrilled!!! to be able to hold our pet fang for her photo opportunity.

Back to Darwin

Day 150
We get up early and talk to Sarah who is in Sweden, on Skype and wake nearly the whole CP!!!.......We decide we had better leave here before we get lynched by the swarms of grey nomads...Scary thought!!! We can’t check into our Darwin CP till this arvo so stop at a car wash and Al spends about 20 bucks trying to wash the car and trailer. He barely gets through the first layer of grime but it’s a start. Do a bit of shopping and then get to the CP where we are given the same site as we had a couple of weeks ago. We feel like locals!! More cleaning throughout the afternoon and we have a visit from Carol and John Huitson from Busselton who are here for their son Glen’s memorial service next Monday.

Tumbling Waters is Tumbling Down!!

Day 149

The sandflies were horrendous last night so hope the new owners find a solution to that problem too!! Headed east towards Darwin and set up camp at Tumbling Waters CP which looked amazing on the brochure ....but was not really that good!! You should always check these places out on foot before committing but when it is hot you just trust people!!!! Anyway we take a drive up to Mandorah and the peninsula across the water from Darwin, actually you can get a lovely view of the city and as it is only a 15minute ferry ride from Darwin so a popular place with the locals. It has a hotel and not a lot else but there is talk of building a bridge to here in the future so has huge potential for the land owners and developers. We get back to Berry Springs where we have a swim in the warm springs again and a favourite swimming spot for many Darwin locals.

Adelaide River and the Glen Huitson Memorial Park

Memorial to Glen Huitson in the park named after him at Adelaide River

Sunset at Dundee Beach

Day 148

We head into Adelaide River and check out the lovely peaceful and well looked after war cemetery. We call into the little town where there is a park which is named in memory of Glen Huitson, our friend Lisa’s late husband who was killed on duty 10 years ago near here and from the many memorials to him was not only much loved by family and friends but also well respected in the community and NT police force. Alan and I are playing in a memorial golf Day in Darwin next week to mark the anniversary and will also attend a memorial service along with many family and friends who are travelling here to remember Glen. We head further north and turn off to the Cox Peninsula and Dundee Beach. There is a large caravan park here which ,after a couple of attempts by past owners to develop the land, not very successfully, the new owner has plans to get the cp on the tourist map to reap the rewards from the thousands of grey nomads. It has potential but needs a lot of work....and money. There is a lovely beach with palm trees lining the grassy foreshore and it looks like you could jump in and swim in the gorgeous azure water.....except for the croc warnings!!!! Not sure I could live in the northern part of OZ....give me Kingscliff Beach anytime!!! We enjoy a nice cold beer watching the sunset over the Timor Sea.

Umbrawarra Gorge and Mt. Bundy Station

Day 147

We decide to drive out of Kakadu and south of Pine Creek to check out Umbrawarra Gorge. The campground isn’t much so we just take a walk into the gorge and have a swim before heading north to Adelaide River. We decide to stay at Mt. Bundy Station where they have various campsites under the shade of huge trees. It is a working station only 3km from Adelaide River but they have branched out into tourism like many of the outback properties hoping to help their cash flow.

Yellow Waters Cruise to Gunlom Gorge

Lotus flower lily at Yellow Waters

Azure Kingfisher

Gunlom Falls Gorge

Yellow Waters at Sunrise

Day 146

We are up very early for our sunrise cruise on Yellow Waters .The morning is spectacular except for a few vicious mozzies and we enjoy 2 hours cruising and seeing lots of crocs and birdlife. After a yummy brekkie( which was included with the cruise) Rose and Don have decided that they will head for home today so we pack up and say goodbye and Carole and Les and Al and I head for Gunlom Falls and a large campground which was packed with lots of local Darwin people here for the long weekend. After a swim in the lower pool we take a hike up the hill to the top of the gorge and are rewarded with a series of lovely rock pools where we enjoy a couple of hours cooling off in the heat of the afternoon.

Twin Falls and Jim Jim Falls

Jim Jim Falls

Twin Falls

Twin Falls Gorge

Kakadu Nat Park, Rocky escarpment views

Sunset over the Northern Kakadu Nat Park wetlands

Day 145

Drove to Cooinda and find a site in the very crowded and dusty campground. We book for a Yellow Waters Cruise for the next morning and after lunch we drive to Twin Falls and Jim Jim Falls. It is about 70km each way and quite a rough road for the last 10km. We get to Twin falls and they run a shuttle boat service at regular intervals throughout the day which takes you part of the way to the falls with another 500metres to walk to the end. There isn’t much water running over the cliffs but it is a nice walk. We are warned yet again that we shouldn’t swim in the pools although they look inviting. Alan and I decide to go to Jim Jim falls and although no water at all running over those falls we enjoy the walk about 1.5km and manage a quick swim to cool off before the long drive back to Cooinda. It is getting dark as we drive back and takes lots of concentration on the rough gravel road. We are happy to get back to the CP and a nice cold beer.

Arnhem Land and East Alligator River Crossing

You don't need a 4wd to cross here

But this crocs swam over the crossing just after the red car so would want to be sure!!

Barra Fishermen with crocs 2 metres away from them

Al and I crossing the East Alligator before the tide comes over the crossing

One of the Artists at work in Oenpelli Arnhem Land

Day 144
We get an early start as we need to get over Cahill’s crossing while the tide is low and we don’t want to break down in the middle of the river with the amount of crocs about!! The drive in to Oenpelli is beautiful with magnificent rocky hills and wetlands and billabongs and we arrive at the arts centre at opening time, 8:30. The centre is run by a white curator and assistants and they buy the paintings, weaving, wood crafts etc off the local aboriginals and sell the pieces here and probably all over the world. There are artists painting and weaving on the verandas outside and though we can’t venture too far from the centre the community looks like many others we have seen in this part of the country. We make a few small purchases and drive back to the crossing with not too much water over the causeway. There are many fishermen this morning and by the time we have morning tea the tide is flowing in very quickly and the crocs seem to be waking up for their daily feed. The barra are literally jumping out of the water against the tide and presumably trying not to be lunch for the preying crocs but as we watch from rocks about 20 metres away, the crocs expertly catch their fish to the amazement of the crowd that has gathered for this daily spectacle. It is getting very hot now so we head back to the CP for lunch and an afternoon relaxing and swimming.

Jabiru

On Ubirr rock for sunset

Carole and Les

The crowds on the rock for sunset

Aboriginal rock art at Ubirr

Day 143

Went for a walk back at the Ubirr Aboriginal Rock sites early in the morning without the hundreds of people then headed back to the campground and packed up and drove to Jabiru which is about 30km south. We would like to go to Arnhem Land but need a permit and you can only get them at Jabiru. We find the Northern Land Council and after filling out the necessary papers and paying $13.20 per person, we find we are able to go in tomorrow. You can only drive straight to Oenpelli about 17km from the East Alligator River crossing (Cahill’s crossing) and the Art Centre and no stopping anywhere on the way!! We are told it is very good and they take credit cards so perhaps we should leave the husbands behind???!!!! We decide to camp here at Jabiru at the Aurora CP which has the draw card of a swimming pool!! Al, Les and Don go on a tour of the nearby Uranium mine and us girls cool off in the lovely swimming pool. The others are doing a flight over the area this arvo and Al and I catch up on blog etc before meeting them at the Sports Club for dinner.

More Bloodsuckers than in a "Twilight" Movie at Kakadu National Park!!!!

Billabong full of birdlife

This was a spare wheel cover we saw near East Alligator River...Wonder what they catch??

Lots more birds

Day 142
Al and I pack up and head to Kakadu stopping at an Aboriginal Display and also a wetland Billabong walk where there are thousands of birds. Drove on to the Merle Campground at the northern end of the park which had been recommended. It is just near the East Alligator River and a river crossing here takes you to Arnhem Land. There are several crocs swimming here and we have heard it is a very popular Barra fishing spot when the tide is right. Set up camp and then headed out to Ubirr Rock not far away to see the aboriginal rock art and view the sunset from the Rocky outcrop and over the Kakadu wetlands. A couple of hundred other people had the same idea but we did manage to see some of the art sites and the lovely sunset made even more spectacular because of the smoke haze from controlled burning off in this part of the country. The evening at camp brought millions of insects and the mozzies almost carried us away!! We had been warned but even a heavy spray of Bushman’s and several mozzie coils didn’t deter these bloodsuckers!! We may have to rethink our itinerary!!......

Darwin Beer Can regatta

WW2 relics at East Point Military Museum

The Beer Can Regatta in full swing

Al trying to win the golf prize

One of the expertly designed craft

Day 141
Our last day in Darwin and we decide to head to Mindil Beach where the annual beer can regatta will be held. It is a very hot day and finding shade is a bit difficult. There are about 10 boats all lovingly made in various shapes and sizes, most not looking very seaworthy and with controversy at present over whether people should swim in Darwin beaches and surrounding areas, I for one would not be going on one of these boats. The teams seemed to be getting dutch courage drinking their favourite ale so hope they make it!! There is a golf comp on the beach run by the Lions Club where you take a 5 iron and chip the ball about 40 metres and get a prize if your ball lands in a bucket in a tinnie.....Any golfers out there would know that this is near impossible, but Al gave it his best and with much crowd encouragement shy Al actually hit the flag stick on his 3rd shot...his ball last seen shooting off across Mindil Beach Bay!!! Excitement over and Al and I take a walk to the Museum which has a very good display of Cyclone Tracy photos and displays among other historical Darwin memorabilia before getting back to see the regatta. There is a big difference between first and last “boats” but everyone seems to have fun and are making money for charities so that is the main thing. Al and the other guys go to look at the military museum and the girls shop for tomorrow and Kakadu.

Golf and Sunset Cruise on a Pearl Lugger...Can't get a better day...

Day 140

Al and I are playing golf at Darwin Golf Club today in the competition with a couple of locals. The day was warm the golf was up and down and the company pleasant. We enjoyed a swim in the CP pool after to cool off before getting ready to go on our sunset cruise. We got to the wharf at Cullen Bay and boarded the Anniki which is a restored pearling lugger with about 30 other passengers. Before we could set sail and due to the tides we had to motor into a lock so we could get out to the Darwin Harbour. Anniki has another claim to fame besides having us aboard.... it was the boat which was used in the “Australia” film to take the boys to fictitious “Mission Island”. We were half expecting.....hoping anyway, that Hugh Jackman would serve our champagne and nibbles but that was not to be so we enjoyed the champagne anyway and an amazing sunset over the lovely Darwin Harbour arriving back about 8pm and in time for a quick fish and chips dinner back at Stokes Hill Wharf where we had eaten a few nights ago.

Crocodiles??? What Crocodiles..............

Crocodile equivalent of ABC learning centre

Day 139

Went to Crocodylus Park today to check out some decent sized crocs. Many of them are destined to be made into handbags and they are also used for research and it’s hard to get too excited about watching them either lolling about on muddy banks or snapping up dead chickens. All I could think of was...I’m glad they are in a very secure enclosure..... and after being told that there are 75,000 crocodiles in the wild in NT , I started questioning some of the swims I have had in the Northern territory in apparently crystal clear waterholes!!!....but that is in the past and I am still here typing away the blog so I figure 3 things......They weren’t in those waterholes..... or they weren’t hungry....or I am very lucky they didn’t like my brand of deodorant??????

The rest of the arvo was quiet time in the Top End.

Mindil Beach Markets

Mindil Beach Sunset

Les Peter and Carole amongst thousands of other sunset watchers

Carole and Rosemary getting pampered in the Nail shoppe

Day 138

Alan, Les and Don are going on a Bombing of Darwin WW2 Heritage Tour this morning and we girls are getting a pedicure in the city. Carole is not sure if they can do any good with her feet after camping in the bush for a week but the lovely girls at the Nail shop work their magic and we even manage a little retail therapy before the boys are back in town........to meet us for lunch. We find a little cafe and all go for the burgers thinking that will be our light meal for the day!! The boys told us the tour had been fascinating and well worth $68. The guide had many stories to tell about all the different sites they visited and often gave the truer insight into much of the WW2 history of Darwin than that which has been portrayed by officials. We are going to the Mindil Beach Markets, a twice weekly event which we are told to get to early so armed with chairs, beer and wine we get there about 4:30 and get a spot on the grass area between the beach and Market stalls. Carole’s brother Peter is here from Sydney on his way to East Timor and her mum and hubby are also up here for the evening. The smell of all sorts of food being cooked is overwhelming and we are very sorry we had the burgers for lunch and hope we can work up an appetite. Perhaps a few laps of the markets will do it!!!??? Lots of interesting stalls, quite a few selling things you would see in many Asian markets and while there were crowds of people around, many had come to see the sunset over Fannie Bay and sample the food delicacies on offer. We got some fabulous shots of the sunset, the colours beautiful over the water, and we end the evening enjoying the company and food and wine on another balmy Darwin evening.

Stop Press!!!! "Al wins by 1 shot in a nail biting thriller !!

Our new pet "Fang". Should fit nicely into our swimming pool at home!!

Day 137

We decide on a game of golf in the competition at Palmerston and although it is quite warm (30 degrees) there is a little breeze and we are in a motorised cart so hope it’s not too bad. The course is 18holes with a newer nine surrounded by new housing estate and the other nine in an older area. The course needs a bit of money spent on it but I suppose with a fairly small population in Darwin and not a huge number of members they do ok. And they had grass on their greens so we were thrilled. We enjoy the game even though there are several noise interruptions from squadrons of Super Hornet jets flying overhead. Apparently there are bi-annual war games between US/Aussies and NZ taking place just off Darwin and the flights happen a few times a day. The noise didn’t worry Al though, coming out on top this time by one point and which should boost his morale a bit after a few losses on the trip over 4 different states. We drove into the city and managed to find a massage therapist and Al got his back straightened out before heading back to the CP where they had a rep. from Crocodylus Park who had brought along a small 1 metre/18 month old croc for us to hold. They named him “Fang” and I only agreed to get up close and personal due to the fact that his snout was firmly taped shut with gaffer tape!!