TUMBLING WATERS AND DARWIN

 

Well hello.  It has been a little while since I've undated this blog but we have been very busy lol.

 

I saved a tree frog from perishing in our car.  How it got in there I don't know but it was very weak.  I placed it on the ground where there was some water and placed a leaf to shade it from the sun.  I love these lovely creatures.

 



 

We decided to drive to the Darwin Dam just for something to do.  It was sooooo windy as you can see from the palms.

 

Below is a little info about the capacity of the dam.

 

We walked along the dam wall a little way and took a couple of photos.

 

When we looked back Pat and Maureen were walking back to the car.  We didn't realise that Maureen's walker had broken.  One of the cross bars had snapped.  Arnold and Pat fixed it temporarily when we got back to the park but it was time to get a new one.

 

We were sitting in the van when we heard a loud noise.  I rushed out with my camera and spotted two Army helicopters flying in our direction.  I was able to get some good shots as you can see below.

 

Sunday Night was roast night at the caravan park.  They have a small restaurant on site and Sunday Roast was only $15 a head. Lucky we booked when we got there as it ended up being booked out.   Of course we would opt for eating out over cooking lol  There was plenty of meat on the plate and it was lovely and moist, not dry which you get on occasions.  We had a good night with lots of chatting back and forth with the people at the other tables.

 

 

The following day at happy hour I took a timed shot of the four of us.  The only thing I could sit the camera on was the bonnet of the car hence the slopsided picture below.  Lucky the camera didn't slide off and end up on the ground.

 

 

I also took a couple of shots of our camp spot.

 

After 7 days at Tumbling Waters it was time to move on to a caravan park closer to Darwin. 

 

Leaving Tumbling Waters Caravan Park

 

We are now at Howard Springs Caravan Park.  This is our fourth time staying here.  It's a great park but it is so popular and quite congested.  We had a little difficulty when we first got here.  As the sites are quite small (because the smaller the sites the more sites there are and the more money the owners can make) most people have to park their car in front of their van.  So when Pat parked his van on the site the guy next to him (who had just returned from an outing) said that he couldn't park his van there because that was where he parked his car.  He had been parking there instead of in front of his van.  So after a bit of a kerfuffle we moved to a much better site.  (I think the guy who showed us where to park felt sorry for us and gave us the best 2 sites in the whole park).  And .... we could park our cars next to the vans.  We had the whole space to ourselves, and we were directly opposite the shower/toilets.

 

 

The first night we were there there was a Strawberry Moon.  Of course I had to take a shot of it.

 

 

 Ibis are always walking around the park scavenging for food.  They don't seem to mind the people walking by.

 

 

 The tree behind our van has this strange looking fruit growing.  We were told it is called a Jack Fruit. Apparently when cut it smells vile.  Surely nobody would want to eat it.

 

 

Finally it was Sunday 15th June and Rose was flying in that afternoon.  We picked her up from the Airport and went straight to Mindil Beach as the market was on. Pat and Maureen were already there and saved a table on the lawn area. 

 

 

Below are a few photos of the sunset etc.

 

We had a great night at the market and bought sarongs, dresses and ate some great food.  We drove back to the caravan park happy.  When we got back Rose had to unpack her suitcase and organise her things in the cupboards.  She went to bed exhausted. 

 The following day we drove into Darwin.  Our first stop was the Museum.

Arnold and Maureen walked up the ramp instead of the stairs.

 

 

Of course everybody wants to see Sweetheart the Saltie.  It is huge.

 

And this Orangatan looks so "alive".

 

We also went down some stairs to the Cyclone Tracey Exhibition.  They have upgraded it since our last visit. So much better now.

 

The shot below is a panorama of a section of the Museum.  I can't remember which exhibit it was though.

 

When we came outside Arnold took a few pictures of Rose and I.  Are we starting to look more alike as we get older.  I think we do.

 

From the Museum we drove to the Wharf for lunch.  Below is another timed shot.  I didn't get it centered but it still looks okay.

 

So today is Tuesday.  As we are leaving Darwin tomorrow we had to do some grocery shopping as we will be "out bush" for a few days.  Before we drove to the supermarket we went to the Howard Springs Nature Park. 

 

The shot below is my reflection in the water with the sun behind me.  I look like a mythical being lol.

 

I also "ran" up the path while Rose took a photo.

 

On the way back to the car Arnold was waiting near a flying fox.  He called me over and said I should go on it.  As this trip for me is doing things out of my comfort zone I gave it a go.  Arnold pushed me off and the first part was fine.  It was coming to a halt and then going back with a bounce on the ground every now and then that made me kill myself laughing.  Oh my poor tush lol.

 

Rose also gave it a go.

 

And Arnold.

 

After our shopping expedition we went back to the park, put the things we bought away and had a late lunch.  Then Maureen, Rose and I went over to the pool just to wet our feet.   Rose decided she would show us her best pose.  Lucky she didn't fall in the water with her clothes on.  I got a wet bum after losing my balance on the first step.

 

 The water on our feet felt so good we went back and changed into our swimmers and returned to spend some time in the water.  It was a little chilly but good.  When we had had enough we went back to the van, dried off and then had Happy Hour. 

 

When Pat and Maureen went back to their van we had a snack and fruit for our dinner.  As we had such a late lunch and then potato chips with our drinks we weren't very hungry.  After watching a bit of TV we went to bed.  And that is where I am writing this blog entry.  Tomorrow we are off to Berry Springs again and then Douglas Hot Springs.  I won't have any Internet until we get to Katherine which will be in about 5 days.

 

So until my next entry, Goodnight and Sweet Dreams.