Hello to all our Blog followers….
As you may have worked out by now, due to having very little
internet access the Blog is slightly behind our actual position and some Facebook
videos that are hastily posted on route. The Blog requires some time to prepare
and upload and our fun filled days just seem to disappear!
We have also had some sad times recently as Jodee’s mum
passed away suddenly. This meant quite a bit of upset for the family and some
hasty logistical organising. Our thanks to everyone at home who helped us out
and Steve and Kate who helped me with the kids up here.
I would like to take this opportunity to say Pat was an
incredible lady, one of life’s real people. For a lady of her years, her
attitude to life was very positive. Pat was always looking forward and was
extremely vocal about the importance of not dwelling on the past. We will miss
you dearly and hope you enjoy the rest of our journey with us……..
Please read on and I hope you enjoy our fun filled times at
Shady Camp and in and around Darwin. If you are visiting the blog for the first
time past posts (all the way to the commencement of our journey) are found to
the right of the latest Blog entry. Double click on the images to enlarge them
and please post a comment. We love to know whose reading .......enjoy!
Shady Camp……….
Shady Camp is a National Park (NP) camp in part of the Mary
River NP. We barely scratched the surface of the park literally basing
ourselves there for three nights. We went there chasing our own up close and
personal experience with the Estuarine Salt water Crocodile (Saltie) and the
Fresh water Crocodile (Freshie).
The Mary River region has the honour of being home to the
largest population of salties in the world. Shady camp is also famous for its
fishing, particularly “Barra” fishing. At the camp there is a causeway which is
a physical barrier between the freshwater and salt water tidal estuary. The
camp is about 90km’s from the Van Diemen Gulf which is part of the Timor Sea.
Even this far away the water drops about 6 metres down from the causeway.
We hired a 3.7 metre tinnie for a day which we shared with
the Taylors and enjoyed what can only be described as a day immersed in Mother
Nature. We fished with no success again due to the fact we had the wrong lures
apparently………we needed “poppers” not “Barra Classics” Fishing for the Barra in
the “dry” is extremely tough and a bloody science which is driving me mad!
Have a look at the images below which give you a taste of
the wildlife we interacted with including……lots of bird species, feral water
buffalo, massive salt and fresh water crocs and witnessed an amazing bush wasp
and spider duel!
In & around
Darwin…….
Let me begin by saying a massive thank you to Ian (Glovesy)
and Robin (Boyley) for their fun filled hospitality. You made our stay in
Darwin very special. I hope one day you come to visit us and allow the
hospitality to be reciprocated.
We met Ian and Robin in Southern NT in the middle of nowhere
on the way to the Davenport Ranges. Their life story to date would make a great
read of which they have spent about 29 years living on a yacht sailing South
East Asia and exploring the Kimberley coast extensively. They kindly gave their
contact details and were very welcoming on our arrival in Darwin .The following
blog entry is a look at the fun we had……..
Territory Day…….
Now this is a day which is unique to the top end and is a
celebration of the Northern Territory’s independence and its ability to self-Govern.
In reality it gives all Territorians the chance to turn the streets of Darwin,
Kathrine, Jabiru and so on into a crazy war zone with the aid of fireworks by
the ton. If you ever have the chance to visit the Territory on this day, it is
an experience never forgotten!
Our experience was aboard Ian & Robin’s
yacht-Reeflections II watching the Darwin firework display from the harbour……how
lucky were we! The display ran for about 30 minutes with some serious fireworks
however the entire time there are fireworks going off everywhere which continued
for most of the night. Needless to say various grass fires ignite but it is all
no drama in the NT. I actually witnessed quite a large grass fire with one
volunteer fire engine casually watching a fire burn whilst cars cruise by. This
would never happen in Victoria…….I love the NT!
Tilly Hopkins
Journal-1st July 2014- Territory Day or Cracker Night
Boom boom today all people in the NT were celebrating CRAKA
NIGHT, at night they set off all these fireworks and Ian and Robin have asked
us to come on their boat to see all the fire works! In all of the excitement of
what was going to happen tonight we still had to do our school work.
Mum, Jack, Flynn and I went for a walk stopping at a swimming
pool for a swim. Quite cold that’s for sure! We walked all through Nightcliff
until we found some shops where we bought some lunch and ate it.
When we got back to the shed we watched some stuff on our
tablets. Jack and mum went to get some nibbles for the boat. It was go go go
when they got back! We drove down to the boat marina and got ready.
Thee we met two kids named Anisha and Kashim, who were
coming on the boat with us. On the way out we had to go in this lock where the
water dropped. We all got out in the Darwin harbour. Later on we were anchored
and the fireworks started. They were so amazing banging and booming.
After all the fireworks were over we had dinner and sailed
back. And that was my CRAKING DAY!
By Tilly Hopkins
Uncorrected and unedited……sometimes kids say all that is
required.
Exploring &
playing on the harbour……
That was our first night! The next day we met Ian and Robin
who stayed on the boat overnight and we were treated to a cruise around and
some fishing action. Over the next few days we played at Darwin’s three free
water parks (a Government initiative as it really is not safe to enter the
beautiful waters of the harbour}, visited Darwin’s war museum, museum, air museum
and a beautiful landscaped water garden.
Darwin- A resilient
Town………..
Darwin has quite a history. It was home to Qantas first air
base and has quite a history with aero exploration from Europe to Australia
being the first place of landfall. The war museum is fantastic. Unfortunately
Darwin was the first and last destination to see war action on domestic soil.
In 1942 it was bombed heavily by the Japanese. Many civilians were killed of
which the post office suffered 9 deaths of a staff of 11. The whole town is full
of Second World War historical buildings including a tunnel network, bunkers,
gun placements and the remnants of a huge anti-submarine net crossing the
entrance to the bay. If you appreciate history and past sacrifices of the
second world war the Darwin war museum is a must see.
The town museum which is free entry is a great resource.
Darwin was literally flattened on Christmas Eve 1974. Again the death toll was large
with the actual total unknown as many people were "bush living"- not official
residents. The museum has many other great displays including “Sweet heart”- a
6 metre croc who was pulled from the Douglas/Daly river billabong where she was
causing trouble.
Mindle Market &
Cycling Darwin
Everyone who visits Darwin does the Mindle Market at sunset.
As a couple of foodies Jodes and I went for a fantastic feed-lots of good
quality fresh food to be enjoyed watching the sun fall below the sea.
One of the highlights for Jodes and I was our days cycle
tour with Ian and Robin. With the Taylors very kindly babysitting we had a whole
day of touring. Ian guided us around Darwin with a complete local’s
perspective; it was great fun. The only downer was about 1 hour in I spotted a
skate park where Ian managed to launch himself into the abyss where upon a
serious hip injury was sustained. His partner Robin (who is a Registered Nurse)
was soooooo sympathetic-NOT. Ian soldiered on and a great day was had by all.
Quite by chance whilst inside Parliament house we stumbled
upon a great display about an Australian called “Ryco”- 100 years ago in 1914
Edward Reichenbach, “Ryco” broke the world record cycling from Adelaide to
Darwin in 28 days! I recommend a quick Google search and reading more about this mans
incredible life.
After leaving Darwin, just before entering Litchfield we got
the terrible news Jode’s mum had passed away. After getting Jodee on a flight
the Taylors and Hopkins spend a few days in the Berri Springs area and explored
the Cox peninsula on the Southern side of Darwin harbour. We saw and fished for
pelagic fish from the Mandorah ferry jetty….incredible.
I hope you enjoy the pictures. We are still in Litchfield NP
at present and will be back to Katherine again for another stock up before heading
to the WA boarder.
Cheers for now, Hoppo- Hopkins go walkabout 2014
