Darwin

We drove into Darwin and realised we came in a different way from last time. The Stuart Highway branched off to Tiger Brennan Drive, so it took us a while to get our bearings. All around Darwin there were beautiful Frangipanni trees out in flower. 

We came in late afternoon, so we headed to a nice place called Monsoons for an early pizza tea, then went off to the back blocks of Darwin to stay overnight. We based ourselves at Mindil Beach during the day, often having a bbq tea there in the evening and enjoyed the beautiful sunsets.

One morning Randall ran the generator there and we hooked up to a tap and did some washing. We carry a little 2kg washing machine under our table, and we just have to slide the top out and put our washing in.

Randall put up the awning and strung a clothesline up for me to dry the clothes. A little while later a council van pulled up and came and photographed our registration number. He told us our awning was a permanent structure and it would be a $154 fine, the washing on the line would incur another $154 fine, and we needed a permit for the generator, as we were on council land. Of course the washing came off, awning came in, generator was turned off, and he nicely just gave us a warning - I guess he realised we were harmless. It is because of all the backpackers that come in to Darwin.

The next morning we decided we would go to Charles Darwin National Park to have our breakfast. That was a big mistake! There was a warning sign about biting insects,  but foolishly we ignored it until we felt them biting us! We suffered for days after that! The view was amazing there - I took a quick picture before we escaped! 

We packed up and headed to a different place on the waterfront called Vestey's Beach. 

                           

The second day we went there, when there was no one within a bull's roar of us, we put the generator on so we could charge up the computers, and who should drive by but the same council man! Randall managed to talk his way out of a fine yet again. It was lucky the computer was set up on the table and paper and pens as he was doing work on the super fund. We asked him where we could go and run the generator without trouble and he suggested we go to the boat ramp at East Arm so we went there for breakfast of the next few days and to charge up the battery.

Randall had a couple of friends from old Wrest Point days that were in Darwin so one evening we caught up with them for a drink and a meal, which was very enjoyable.

We caught up with Randall's other piping colleague, Gary and his wife Dixie.  Gary was also going to be playing at the Darwin show. We enjoyed a few lunches together, and also visited some attractions together - the military museum, and also the Royal Flying Doctor Service and the Bombing of Darwin tourist facility. The highlight was the virtual reality glasses watching the bombing of Darwin. OMG!! That was so amazing - I had to hold onto my seat to keep myself grounded!!

We also met up with Gary and Dixie and their friends Bjorn and Liz at Berry Springs for a picnic. It is a lovely spot with swimming holes nearby. Dixie, Liz and I walked to the main pool and sat with out feet in the water. It was really lovely.

Gary said he wouldn'tgo in for a swim as he is always wary that there might be a crocodile in the water, even though they say it is unlikely. Funnily enough this came up today on my Face book feed,as I'm writing this blog, so I sent it through to Dixie and Gary so he could say 'I told you so!"

Darwin has a lovely waterfront area, and there is a nice swimming spot that Randall and I frequented to cool off at the end of the day. There, we saw that you could visit the old oil tunnels - a remnant from WW2. It was quite amazing to walk through it.

Randall and Gary had a practice on their chanters one day at Lake Alexander. It is a lovely park near Fannie Bay. Dixie and I went for a walk while they played their practice chanters at a table. One of our countrymen staggered over to them and enjoyed dancing to 'Click Go the Shears" and "The Road to Gundagai". The boys decided to leave "Bound for Botany Bay" out of the set.

There was this interesting sculpture at the entrance to Lake Alexander.

The day finally came for Randall to play the bagpipes with Darwin and Districts Pipes and Drums at the Darwin Show, along with Gary. It was very hot, and I sat in the shade and watched the sky divers land on the show ground.

                           
Then the band marched on, and played their bit after which the grand parade commenced, with hotted up cars, emergency vehicles etc, and a small cohort of cattle and horses.

After that they played under cover to an appreciative crowd.

The next day they led the Grand Parade again, then marched through the crowd playing. They went up sideshow alley as well. 

Randall really enjoyed playing with the band and was made to feel very welcome.

On our last day in Darwin we got up early, headed to the laundromat to wash then hung clothes inside on a clothes line that Randall had constructed over the bed. We fuelled up then headed over to hand back the kilt and other equipment and say good bye to Gary and Dixie, Bjorn and Liz.

We had enjoyed out time in Darwin, but we were eager to head off for the start of our next adventure, going east.