13/4/12

We had a sleep in this morning and during the morning the girls caught up on a couple of days' washing. Karen and I also cooked a chocolate cake in our crab BBQ. Around 1.00pm we went for a drive. Firstly we went to the Railway Museum and were pleasantly surprised by the quality and quantity of exhibits on display in a number of Sidney Williams sheds. There was everything from anything to do with trains to fragments of exploded bombs and a rusted .50 cal machine gun. We spent over an hour walking around and viewing the exhibits. Then it was time to move on. We took the tourist road from Adelaide River which is the Old Stuart Highway and it leads to the turnoff to Litchfield National Park and a few other places of interest. Our first stop was at Robin Falls. The track into the so called falls is a rough dirt track that follows a creek. Eventually we came to a couple of cleared areas where tents could be set up. We took a short walk to the creek and we discovered crystal clear running water that begged for us to jump in.   A swim would have been great in the 38 degree heat but the girls didn't have their bikinis and refused to skinny dip. I had my footy shorts on but I was quickly informed if they couldn't swim neither could I. So it was back to the car and back onto the Old Stuart Highway. We drove as far as the turnoff to Litchfield National Park and a sign advised that many of the roads from there were still closed. We turned around and drove back to the caravan park.

14/4/12

We left Adelaide River at our usual time of 9.30am and continued our northward journey. We passed a couple of WW2 airstrips that ran parallel with the highway. They were Livingstone and Strauss airfields. Strauss had information boards and large cutouts of fighter aircraft on display and I couldn't resist the urge to stop and have a closer look and take some photos. Karen and Mary-Anne finally dragged me away and we drove to our caravan park, Aurora Shady Glen at Winnellie. It is a nice caravan park with plenty of large shady trees. The only downside is the place is nearly full and our relaxed camping style is being cramped. It's only for 8 days and the airconditioning is great. In the afternoon we went for a drive to the City Centre and found the Information Centre. We then walked in the blazing sun, without my hat, to the Cenotaph in Bi-Centennial Park. It was once Darwin Oval and it was from here that some of the first shots were fired against the attacking Japanese aircraft on 19 February 1942. From the city centre we relied on the GPS to direct us to the Casuarina Shopping Centre. It is the largest shopping Centre I have been in. It makes Chermside shopping Centre look like a corner store. We stocked up on groceries and the first affordable alcohol since leaving Queensland. Unfortunately, late in the afternoon I succumbed to the ravages of the burning tropical sun and heat and was struck down by malarial dysentry and sun stroke. Luckily for me I have the ability to self diagnose and prescribed a long lie down under direct airconditioning and 10 cans of XXXX Gold to replace lost fluids.

15/4/12

My previous afternoon's diagnosis and corrective action proved accurate and I woke this morning firing on all cylinders. Mary-Anne wanted to buy some lace material to replace a couple of worn curtains in her van and I wanted a couple of computer fans for the back of the 3 way fridge. I dropped the girls off at Spotlight and I went to Jaycar. Then it was onto the Nightcliffe Markets where Darwin's hippies and druggies try to sell their rubbish. After an hour of smelling incense and some other strange smelling smoke we all became a little peckish. I was craving a sausage roll and began my search. I quickly discovered that sausage rolls are not cooked in a wok and all the food on offer would be normal fare in Bangcock. I settled on the only edible food fit for human consumption on display in all the 3^rd world eateries and that was 2 fish cakes. Mary-Anne, who would not be out of place in Phuket, had some fried rice and Karen bought 2 spring rolls. Our feet were getting sore and we were all eventually hippied out so we left and returned to the caravan park. I started fitting the fans, Mary-Anne started fitting her curtains and Karen washed both cars.

16/4/12

Today we went to the Australian Aviation Heritage Centre. There is a large aircraft hangar filled with every type of aircraft. The biggest and most prominent exhibit is a huge B52 Stratobomber. It may seem unbelievable but it is easy not to notice the B52 for some time as you walk around and look at all the planes and exhibits that are at eye level. When you take the time to look up you realise that everything you have been looking at is standing under the B52. Yes it really is that BIG!!! It is simply an amazing place to visit. Then we drove to Charles Darwin National Park where we saw numerous reinforced concrete and steel ammunition bunkers build during WW2. Then we drove around Darwin Harbour and saw thousands of Mary-Anne's favourite trees – the mangrove. She was over the moon with joy. We also found the oil storage tunnels that were built during the war but unfortunately we arrived after closing time. Across the road from the oil tunnels we discovered a wave pool and safe swimming area.

17/4/12

This morning we drove to Fanny Bay and walked along the beach in front of the Darwin Boat Club. Not far from the Boat Club we found the Old Fanny Bay Gaol. We wandered through the cells and buildings until we found the Infirmery where a number of prisoners were hung. The gallows and drop pit were on display for all to see. Mary-Anne fainted when I told her what the large overhead wooden beam and the pit were used for. She thought the pit was where they changed the oil and the wooden beam was where they hoisted motors and gear boxes from. We dragged her outside to the fresh hot air and she eventually came to. Then we continued on and ended up at the Darwin Military Museum. There are two intact very large concrete gun emplacements, one outside the museum grounds and one inside. There is a visual display area inside the museum building and many exhibits on display in the grounds. The standout exhibit is the large concrete gun emplacement that even has a replica 9.2 inch naval gun in position. After we finished at the museum we drove to the Casaurina Shopping Centre. Then it was back to the caravan park for a cold beer or 10.

18/4/12

The morning was spent doing nothing for a change. Karen dropped a tooth filling a few days ago and had a 12 midday dentist appointment. We dropped Karen at the dentist and Mary-Anne and I drove to Nightcliff beach for lunch. Then it was back to collect Karen and we went for a drive through Nightcliff and followed the coast to Lee Point. We eventually made our way back to the caravan park and enjoyed the afternoon doing odd jobs or just nothing at all.

19/4/12

Another day of little to do as Karen had another dentist appointment at 1.15pm. We dropped her off at Nightcliff and Mary-Anne and I did a little exploring. Much of the area from yesterday was covered again but it helped to fill in the time. After Karen was finished we set the GPS to find Mindil Beach. This is where there are markets during the tourist season but fortunately for me the tourist season hasn't started yet!!!! We had a short walk along the beach keeping watch for sea snakes, crocodiles, sharks and box jelly fish. After Mindil we found the Darwin Museum and Art Gallery. We all wanted to view the Cyclone Tracy exhibition. Admission was free for a change but no back packs or cameras are allowed inside. We eventually found the Cyclone Tracy exhibit and found it fascinating. There were hundreds of photos of the devastation as well as audio and visual displays. The audio exhibit was great. Karen and I entered a completely darkened room where the sounds of 260kph winds and the scraping of twisted corrugated iron were ear shattering. Something touched Karen on the head and the deafening sounds of Cyclone Tracy's fury were suddenly drowned out by a blood curdling scream and the killer thud of an open hand haymaker. After I came to I ventured into the land, sea and air exhibit that displayed all the nasty biting, stinging and man eating creatures that share the Darwin area with us humans. (If I was allowed to have a camera I could have left a photo of Karen to add to the killer collection.) I cannot believe how anyone could have survived in the early days as there is not one creature up here that wouldn't try to kill or eat you alive given half a chance. After the museum,we decided to drive along the BiCentennial Esplanade and were lucky enough to spot the entrance to the Aquascene where wild fish come to be hand fed every day. We paid the admission and went to the feeding area and were confronted by hundreds of mullet, milk fish, bat fish, cat fish, one barramundi and one large groper (NOT ME!!!) waiting to be fed. The table manners of the fish reminded me of our families around the dinner table at Christmas time. We all joined in and threw pieces of bread to the waiting fish. The result was a pandemonium of thrashing, splashing and bumping as the fish all tried to eat the first piece of bread to hit the water. To say it was fun would be an understatement. We had a ball. It was time to leave when the fish would not eat anymore bread and it was after 6.00pm when we arrived back at the caravan park. We still had to cook our own tea unlike the fish.

20/4/12

It was sleepin day and I made the most of it. Mary-Anne started her knitting lessons with Karen this morning. After 3 hours in close one on one tutition Karen emerged with two 2 inch long rows of knit one pearl two that she proudly displayed for the whole caravan park to admire.  After lunch Mary-Anne and I drove to a caravan place and bought a replacement door handle for her caravan.  I spent the rest of the afternoon removing the old and fitting the new part.  It's good to just spend a day not having to go anywhere for a change.

                              P40 Warhawk on display at Strauss Airfield on the way to Darwin.

                                          They really do have a B52 bomber on display!!!

                                                                B25 Mitchell Bomber

Ammunition storage bunker in Charles Darwin National Park.  Complete with Japanese bullet holes in the front door.

                      Large concrete naval gun emplacement at the Darwin  Military Museum

                                                            9.2 inch naval gun in the bunker

                                                         Fanny Bay Beach at low tide