Day 44. Wednesday 31 July 2013.

The great plan has come to fruition. Would you believe that her ladyship decided that she would like to have a ride in a hot-air balloon? No? Neither did I, but she did.

So the step into the unknown was taken and we were awoken at 0440 this morning...yes, that's right 20 to 5 in the AM. I knew that it is very cold in The Alice at that time of day but 2 degrees, strewth....and we had to wait about 15 minutes for our transport to arrive. Anyway, enough whining.

Bus ride out to the launch (?) site and then stand around for a half-hour or so while the balloon is readied for take-off. The weather is perfect with very little wind. We leave solid ground at about 0645, with sunrise due here at about 0706. The ride is very gentle indeed. It is very quiet in the air until the pilot lets the gas burners go with a bloody great roar. I'm standing right next to them and for the first half-dozen times he gives the gas a blast I nearly take-off myself.

Ready for take-off

Outback Australia from a hot-air balloon.

Champers for brekky in the Outback

Anyway, we get to watch the sunrise from about 1200 feet, with the Outback desert and Macdonnel Ranges as a back-drop. Truly magnificent.  After about 30 minutes of this joy we get back to earth again, some-what east from where we started. So what does one do after one has enjoyed a wonderful hot-air balloon flight? Why one has a light breakfast with any amount of champagne thrown in...champagne brekky in the Outback. Marvellous.

We get back to the tourist park at about 0915 and have a quiet maintenance day...I organised for a local mechanic to come in and give the van a well-overdue service. Apparently the wheel-bearings should be checked and re-greased every 10,000 k's. We have done about 20,000 and wondering what the dirty liquid stuff abound the van's wheel-hubs was. Anyway, a couple of hours and a couple of dollars later all is now good to go.

At dinner time it was decided that we did not have enough champers this morning, so another bottle was opened and enjoyed in celebration....together with some Indian curries and rice. Great way to finish a great day. I am getting to like this place.

Days 40, 41, 42 and 43; Saturday July 27, Sunday 28, Monday 29 and Tuesday 30 July, all in 2013.

We left Cooinda on Saturday at a very civilised hour as we were travelling all of 100 k's to Mary River Roadhouse. This place is immediately outside the southern boundary of Kakadu National Park. The best way to describe it is 'rustic' but then again that is what roadhouse type accommodation/parks are all about.

We picked a nice site (we were the first one's there!) and noticed straight away that the bird-life around here was absolutely prolific. A cacophony of bird-song. Fantsamagorical!

After we had settled in and had lunch we travelled back into Kakadu to a place called Gunlom Falls. Now this is one out of the way place and is reached via a rough dirt road (very rough in some places) and I was expecting a heap of isolation....got none of that. Apparently this is a long week-end for The Territory and every man and his dog form around Darwin that is looking for a bit of adventure is right here! Notwithstanding that little issue, I found the place fascinating. Lovely plunge pool and a difficult climb of about 500 metres to the top of the falls, where there were more pools and lots of people taking a dip. We didn't have our bathers with us did we!... not to worry.

The top of Gunlom Falls...look carefully and you can see the creek flowing over the top.

We spent the afternoon enjoying the ambiance there and then did the drive back to Mary River. The Territory handled the rough stuff and corrugations very well. Most happy.

After the dinner we had a few drinks and a long conversation with our overnight neighbours, Nico and Christine and their three young children. These happen to come from a place called Eindhoven, Noord Brabant, Nederland. Currently living in Hing Kong, where Nico is the general manager for a small company by the name of Philips....and they both follow P.S.V.

Left Mary River bright and early on Sunday and made our way uneventfully to Hi-Way Inn. That is the name of the roadhouse and location. Nothing else there but we did have a nice site overlooking lots of small termite mounds.

Table is set for dinner: Hi-Way Inn Roadhouse

On Monday we travelled further south for 530 k's (nothing in between) to Wycliffe Well, where we had stayed overnight. Again nothing of note happened, just an easy driving day, watching the geography change and we move along.

Tuesday (is it really Tuesday?) was another easy-going day travelling another 400 k's or so south to Alice Springs. Tried out a new Tourist park called 'G'day Mate' (true). 'Tis truly a nice place to stay. Geraldine was very happy to be in a town of some size so that a bit of retail therapy could be enjoyed. We walked around for quite some time, visiting a shop here and a shop there but would you believe nothing was bought???!!! What gives?

We have booked in for something truly exciting tomorrow...we'll see if it comes off and if it does, I shall report on it on my next post. 'Bye.

The Kakadu Adventure

Day 36 Tuesday 23 July 2013, Day 37 Wednesday 24 July 2013, Day 38 Thursday 25 July 2013 and Day 39 Friday 26 July 2013

We are have been having such a great time in the Kakadu National Park that I was toying with the idea of starting a whole new blog, just about Kakadu. However, seeing that we started our Kakadu adventure on Monday, it just will not make sense, so on we go.

I have read reviews about this particular park and there is a fair bit of negativity about it. I will put my hand up and say that after a couple of days of experience those who espouse the 'Kaka-don't' point of view, have been too slack, lazy, unadventurous, spoilt, or whatever. This place is worth every cent of the 25 bucks a head that it costs to do the journey.

We stayed at Jabiru for three nights. Stopped off at Merl camp-ground where we stayed over-night some 25 years ago. A slight accident (requiring some 7 sutures the next day) meant that things that were meant to be done were not done. The camp ground has had tremendous change and now has much more vegetation than in 1988.

We walked around Ubirr, looked at the very old art (some may say VERY old graffiti)  wandered around mother nature's art near East Alligator River at Bardedilidji, through woodlands beside East Alligator River, looked at crocs. up close, wandered up to the top of Obiri Rock and watched the sunset (with about 150 others but absolutely glorious), bought fresh multi-grained rolls and apricot/apple scrolls at the Jabiru bakery (yum) and then...

  At the limestone art wrought by Nature, near Ubirr.

 

Aboriginal Rock Art at Ubirr

View from the top of Obiri Rock, near sunset.

Enjoying the view, Obiri Rock.

Wandered around the lands of Nourlangie, viewed more rock art, wondered how the original inhabitants lived in this land and sheltered in and around the rocks. Walked around the Anbongbong Billabong and saw lots of bird-life and walked up close to a crocodile in the wild (luckily he (or she) was just sunning itself and presented no danger to use (as long as we stayed some distance away), climbed to the top of a large rocky outcrop, named Nanguluwur. Went on a 6 kilometres hike during the hottest part of the day to drink some water beside Gubara pools, 'coz the guide said that it was 'a pleasant place to spend the heat of the day', which we read to mean the whole walk, not just the place. Wrong.  We earned our beer that night! Walking through sandy creek beds is bloody hard work for us grey nomads!

Aboriginal Rock Art at Nourlangie Rock.

Anbongbong Billabong with Nourlangie Rock in background and crocodile at water's edge.

Ending the day with a swim in the pool, a beer and feed (of over-cooked barra) at the pool-side bistro was a lovely way to conclude the Jabiru experience...so off to Cooinda, a whole 52 or 53 k's down the road.

In that region (which is also called Yellow-waters) we wandered through very typical Kakadu open-forest and nearly got bushed....but the red car is very visible if one is in the right area! Then thought we were on the right track for the Mardugal Billabong and missed it by that much (a half-hour walk to no-where) so later we had to enjoy a lovely swim in the Cooinda Resort pool...

Then on the next day we had to get up while it was still dark so that we could do a touristy 'sunrise' boat tour of Yellow Waters. A bloody marvellous experience. Although the temperature was quite cool (for a change) we enjoyed watching the sun rise over the flood plains, with steam rising off the water and grasslands. Saw lotsa bird-life of various descriptions, a water buffalo and crocs here and crocs there....Gerry even stated that she was 'croced out'. Another walk to the top of a hill to see the surrounding area and we were walked out. So, off to the pool for a relaxing swim followed by one beer at the bar. Spag bol and a quiet red for dinner again. All is good.

Buffalo at Yellow Waters

Off to Mary River Roadhouse tomorrow....followed by a couple of days here and there as we head to Alice Springs, (yes back to the fresher temperatures!) We will not have on-line access during this time, so see you later and keep well, we are!!!

Day 34 Sunday 21 July and Day 35 Monday 22 July 2013.

Sunday was our last full day in Darwin. After morning walkies, ablutions and brekky, we had a few things to do to get the van and car ready for touring again after our fortnight off. So we did those things very slowly and without any method and minimal planning. Having plenty of time to fluff around and do stuff was good.

Later in the afternoon we went for a drive back to Darwin CBD, stopping off here and there to take a few last photos of this and that that we hadn't done at some other time but should have.

Darwin CBD from Charles Darwin Park

Sign at Charles Darwin Park: Advice or a head-line...you choose!

Having done that we lashed out and bought a cold roast chook from Woolies and proceeded to Jan's place for last drinks and dinner. She had the footy going when we got there with the cats 5 goals up at that time. I got myself comfortable and the girls went outside to chat (Jan is a bombers supporter and Gerry just doesn't care). Given the result of the game I should have gone outside with them as well! Bloody disgraceful. Anyway.....

After a slap-up dinner of chook and pre-prepared salad (also from Woolies but by Jan) we said our good-byes and thank you's and what-have-you's and returned to the van.

Up at the usual time on Monday but no walkies, just ablutions and brekky. Hitched the van up without any dramas and off to Kakadu we go. Fewer than 250 k's to destination. Stopped at a place called Bark Hut on the way. That place has changed dramatically since we were last there 25 years ago....still has a lot of character but much more orientated towards tourists these days.

Seen better days at Bark Hut.

Arrived at Jabiru at about lunch-time. We stayed at the Kakadu Aurora Resort and Caravan park (or something like that). It's a very large park with the van sites in circular fashion, each site being larger as you move to the outer circles....great geometry.The pool, bar and cafe/restaurant are in the very centre of the park.  Also it's a 'pick your own site', so we did that and set up.

After the obligatory shopping excursion we spent a while lazing about the pool. Spent a beautiful evening , with a full moon, some cloud about and very balmy temperature. Just made for a quiet ale or two. Good-night.

Day 33. Saturday 20 July 2013.

It's Saturday, hence a nice half-hour sleep-in and then coffee and brekky....no early morning walkies on a Saturday!

Just hung around the park for the morning and then into Darwin we go. Stopped  to check out the Charles Darwin National Park on the way. Go for a bit of a wander to the look-out and who should be pass, none other than Donny Phalp who is having a picnic there with his friends Alan and Maria. So we stop and say g'day and make arrangements for a quiet get together at happy hour time. 

At the harbour we sauntered (at Bali pace) along the sea-wall and 'round the Waterfront area, checking out all the places and shops we hadn't yet seen or been in. Geraldine bought herself a very nice necklace and found that that was such hard work that we had to go to the nearest licensed premises that had a view over the water and have a nice cold savvy blanc to recover. Extremely pleasant.

Later we went for a bit of a drive past Casuarina shopping centre to check out the house that Bill and Jill lived in years ago when they lived up here. Found it easily enough and it appears to be a good area. There were tradies hanging around the front so I didn't take a photo of it. Sorry Bill.

Go to the pool for a swim later in the day while Geraldine sits and reads her book or chats with anyone who cares to chat with her. Can be very talkative the old girl when she is in the mood (which is often).

The Pool area.

I have a couple of tinnies with Phalpy and chat about things that ex-coppers chat about then back to the van for happy hour. Tonight we go next door to Lyn and Jack who hail from from the northern climes of Melbourne (Reservoir way), ex-teachers. A wonderful time was had and we exchange our details 'coz they have a holiday house in Ocean Grove and they intend to invite us there during the summer. Isn't that nice...wait til they really get to know us.

Hey spag bol and a red wine for dinner tonight. Excellent.....and I will not watch the cricket!

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.

Day 31. Thursday 18 July 2013.

O.K. Now where were we? Oh yes, Darwin......

No walkies this morning, we decided that the old bones needed a bit of a rest.

Off to see the fish feeding frenzy thing at a place called Doctor's Gully. We visited there some 25 years ago, so I know the drill, I just wanted to see if there have been any changes. Strewth have there been some changes! It is now completely commercialised and has the name of 'Aquascene' and instead of being freeone now pays to see and feed the fishies. Ahh, progress.

Getting ready to feed the fishies.

Still, mustn't whinge. We dutifully line up with the other tourists (locals don't visit), pay up and happily grab some bread and feed the fish. Is this some variation of the loaves and fishes parable or what? We spend some time amusing ourselves and the fish and then being amused watching other people do their thing.

We then wander off into the CBD and have a look around...Gerry needs some retail therapy from time to time and just looking around does the trick. Didn't even need to buy anything for a change. Had lunch in town before heading back via the bottle shop. I think the spend at the bottle shop is more than the spend at the petrol pump for a change. Oh well, pay day next week.

Back at the park I decide to go for a swim in the pool but it is shut again. Notice that the same sign advising that the pool is shut because of a problem with the pump, is displayed again. One of the maintenance guys has been beavering away at the garden and I reckon that is the real reason that the pool is closed...oh well.

We head off and collect Jan at about 4.30 p.m. Head off to the Mindel market to grab some tucker and a new hat for me....see previous entry for the reason why and see picture below for the choice. I like it, Gerry likes it too 'coz it makes her laugh! After wandering around for a short time we head off to East Point, find a nice spot and set up camp. Consume said tucker and a couple of drinks and watch the sun set over the bay....bloody magnificent. After dark we head back to Jan's place so that the girls can keep chatting and finish off their wine. Me, I'm driving so I just vege.

The Hat

Back at the van I decide to have a quick night cap and watch some of the cricket...that is the signal for Gerry to wander off to bed! Pommies 3 for not many at lunch which means nighty night for me.