Day 32. Friday 19 July 2013.

A quietish (spell-checker doesn't like that word at all) day. We thought that it would make a nice change to go for a swim in the salt water rather than the pool today. So off we choofed to Mindil Beach which is not that far from the centre of Darwin.

Arrive at the car park (which is where the night market is held) and it appears pretty well full. Move onto the beach and see that half of it is taken up by the the Life Saving Association (or whatever) who is holding their Australian Inflatable Rubber Boat (IRB) championships here today! Not to worry, we find that there is plenty of room further along the beach. There is even a life guard on duty there...yep, one. Gets to sit under a gazebo and gets to watch over us crazy tourists (this is not the time of year to go swimming according to the locals) while all his mates are having fun at the carnival. No wonder he looks pissed off!

The lonely life guard. Mindil Beach

Anyway, we have a swim in the nice warmish water (very warm by Victorian standards) but there is no surf! We find that the conditions are not all that pleasant, so after a couple of hours and a couple of swims, we head back to base and have a quiet time until dinner.

No happy hour tonight...we are off to enjoy an 'all you can eat' seafood and steak dinner at a place called 'The Jetty' which is at Darwin Waterfront. A very busy area at this time on a Friday evening and finding a car park was a hassle was eventually one was found. Yay! The Jetty is a nice establishment and we were shown to a fine table on the outside deck. Pleasant view over Darwin Harbour, so all was good except that the food was not really all that flash. Just passing acceptable I suppose. Must be getting cranky in my old age. Anyway, we enjoy ourselves enough and do not leave hungry.

After tea I get to watch a bit of the footy and Gerry does her thing, i.e. goes off to bed for a read and a sleep.