It has been a long time since my last blog. We have been so busy in Darwin, that time has managed to get away from me - very poor time management skills, you can tell I've been away from the office for a while, I just can't think what I've done with my time: relaxing, eating, touring, socializing!!! So where do I start .........
The last blog ended before our tour into Litchfield, so I'll start with the trip to the National Park. We were up early to go for our trip with Eco Tours as the bus picked us up around 7.15. We headed straight out past Humpty Doo to Fogg Dam to check out the wildlife there. Everyone was quite impressed with the wildlife and a bit wary as we weren't allowed to walk on the dam due to rogue salt water crocs in the area.
Then it was off to the Adelaide River to see the crocodiles that they knew were there. I stayed downstairs on the boat and had an amazing view of the crocs throughout the glass, and managed some great shots from behind the safety of the bullet proof (and croc I hope) glass.
Then it was off to Bachelor for lunch before we went on to the waterfalls. The lunch was OK although there was a discussion had, that the fruit platter was actually a bowl of tinned peaches! From lunch it was on to the waterfalls. The first falls we came to we couldn't swim in, the Wangi Falls had not been checked for saltwater crocs, so it was off limits for swimming, so we were pretty happy to comply with the request not to swim. Then on to Tolmer Falls, and we didn't swim there either, it was simply a look and see. But we finally made it to Florence falls and after negotiating heaps of steps, we made it down to the water hole, where the boys and Maureen got in the water and had a swim - with about 100 other people!! Unfortunately, after their swim, we had to re-negotiate the steps to get back up to the bus.
The next stop was Buley Rockholes, which was a series of rock pools, and small waterfalls. I found me a hole and I sat in it - it was lovely! It was a bit like an open-air spa. Then it was back on the bus until we came to a roadhouse where we changed out of our bathers, and Bradley scored a beer, Maureen a wine and the rest of us a soft drink -yes no red wine for me, it was way too hot for that. We then headed back to the bus for the trip back to Darwin.
We arrived back at the park and decided after the day, that we weren't going to cook, so all but Jane loaded into the car and we went in to Darwin City to Shenanigans for dinner. We had a great meal, and enjoyed the atmosphere of down-town Darwin before we headed back to the caravan park. Then the atmosphere unfortunately deteriorated!! The Darwin Show had set up at the show grounds, which happened to be next door to the caravan park. And Side Show Alley happened to be set up alongside our fence!! And it was this night they decided to give the rides a run. I knew straight away we were in for great treat over the next few days - not!!
And what a treat we had!! For the next week we had sideshow alley running from 10am till 11pm, we had an influx of 'carnies' in the park who managed to completely trash the amenities, cause havoc after dark, and generally ensure that our stay at Shady Glen Caravan Park was one we will never forget!! We were fortunate however that when the fireworks went off on the Saturday night we did actually have a ring-side seat from the other side of the wire fence -and they did manage not to burn anything down so that was also a bonus! We were a bit annoyed that we hadn't been warned when we booked the park site two months ahead, that the Show would be on, it would be next door, that sideshow alley would be against the fence and that the show 'carnies' would be moving into the park in droves. There was of course no refunds if we left early and no discounts, and therefore, you can find my review of our stay at the caravan park online at Trip Advisor for all to read!!
Our stay in Darwin wasn't all bad though. We had several great trips to Mindil Market, we visited the waterfront area of Darwin several times, we ate at some wonderful restaurants and had a great time with our family and friends who'd come all the way to Darwin to meet us. Thanks Jane, Maureen, Bradley and Janine for making our Darwin leg of our journey so good. We had some great laughs, and couldn't have wished for better (and funnier Brad) company. I could write a book about the escapades of Bradley, but that's another story (and yes Brad i have recorded it in my trip notes).
Once our buddies had all left, it was time for us to hit the road again and make the slow trip back home. We were really missing home now, and our girls and family, and one very special little man. So it was off to Katherine where we were going to do the gorge trip on a sunset cruise as a last thing before we started heading to the Queensland border, as we are traveling via Longreach to come home. So Katherine and beyond will be my next blog........
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