Shady Camp to fun in Darwin & surrounds.........

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-1^st 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