Nov 10, 2009 - The Demon of van Diemen's Gulf

Instructions were for us to “leave it in Gove for me”. ... As I write, Ron is a few days ahead of us (we’ve been keeping in radio contact with him), so we should be able to personally return the book to him when we arrive in Gove. ... We sailed through the Bowen Strait tacking past pearl farms then onto Valentia Island (or is it Valencia Island – depends which chart or book you read), Malay Bay, Cuthbert Point, Maningrida, Cape Stewart, Elcho Island (with lots of other anchorages in between) and onto Gove through the famous Hole in the Wall. ... That was when we hit a brick wall – the tide going the other way! We must have been about half an hour too early and got ahead of the tide! We punched our way through the extremely rough water managing only a couple of knots with “Salad Days” doing elephant impersonations – picking up water and throwing it all over herself (and us)! Finally we were through and on our way to Gove. ... With a SE course all the way to Gove, finally after 3 weeks, we could ease the sheets, and the big girl took off like a rocket – let off the chain for a good run! If every day of sailing was like that, the oceans would be cluttered with yachts. ...

Nov 3, 2009 - Strychnine too ?!?

Tuesday November 3, 2009 – Kakadu National Park Strychnine Too?!? The original owners still own Arnhem Land, a whopping huge hunk of the Northern Territory that is separated from Kakadu by the East Alligator River and the Arnhem Escarpment. ... Entry is with the permission of the aborigines only.Tuesday November 3, 2009 – Kakadu National Park Strychnine Too?!? The original owners still own Arnhem Land, a whopping huge hunk of the Northern Territory that is separated from Kakadu by the East Alligator River and the Arnhem Escarpment. ... Entry is with the permission of the aborigines only....

Nov 2, 2009 - Crocodiles 'R Us

Monday November 2, 2009 - Kakadu National Park Crocodiles 'R Us The fact that I'm writing this note kind of gives away the ending. ... And so, here we are in Kakadu National Park. ... As you will understand, this was actually an easy choice for a destination.Monday November 2, 2009 - Kakadu National Park Crocodiles 'R Us The fact that I'm writing this note kind of gives away the ending. ... And so, here we are in Kakadu National Park. ... As you will understand, this was actually an easy choice for a destination....

Nov 1, 2009 - A Tale of Two Swimmies

Sunday November 1, 2009 – Darwin, Northern Territories A Tale of Two Swimmies Kununurra Maningrida Gove Groote Granites Ho Chi Minh City - ah, finally one I recognize. ... The arrivals and departures board at the Darwin International Airport is fun to read (not a Grande Prairie, Fort Chipewyan or Saskatoon in sight) as we deplane here in the sweltering tropical heat (39F) and humidity (approx. ... After our good bye hugs and kisses I headed back to the pool for one last swim this morning before I melted (9am and already 43C) and soon enough we too made our way to the Ayers Rock airport for our Qantas flights to Alice Springs and then onto Darwin. ... Darwin has a population of 120,000, which swells at this time of year because it's so damn humid. ... Darwin is a deep-water port on the Arafura Sea, which was flattened by Japanese bombs in WWII and then by Cyclone Tracy on Christmas Day 1978. ...

Oct 31, 2009 - Alluring Uluru

Saturday October 31, 2009 – Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park Alluring Uluru In the list of amazing things we are seeing and doing, here’s one that ranks pretty much at the bottom. ... Getting up early.Saturday October 31, 2009 – Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park Alluring Uluru In the list of amazing things we are seeing and doing, here’s one that ranks pretty much at the bottom. ... Getting up early....

Oct 30, 2009 - Rock & Roll Olgas

11”, for the 5-hour trek from Alice to Yulara (the resort just outside the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park gates and the only place to actually stay overnight in the vicinity of the park). ... Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park lands to the indigenous population in the 1960’s on condition that it be leased back for 99 yrs. ... I can tell you with certainly that in the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park there has not once never ever been a photo taken with someone’s mouth open as part of their smile. ...

Oct 29, 2009 - A Town Like Alice

Thursday October 29, 2009 – Alice Springs A Town Like Alice Here comes hectic. ... So it was that a “tourist coach” (aka dolled up Greyhound bus who’s driver wears a hat like mine) was waiting for us upon arrival of The Ghan at the train station in Alice Springs (motto: “If you’re here; you’re nowhere”) to hustle us into the afternoon “Essential Alice” tour. ... We found that our soon after arrival at our first stop: The Alice Springs School of the Air – (Motto: The World’s Largest Classroom). ... After we resuscitated two of our tour groupies (using oxygen from the tank conveniently carried by another of them) we moved onto Alice Springs Telegraph Station to see the place that became the raison d’être for Alice Springs. ... Anyway, the story about the laying of the telegraph line and naming of Alice Springs was interesting and all that (blah, blah, blah) but what we REALLY loved about the place was the mob of kangaroos with babies (some “in-pouch”; some out-pouch”) bounding around in the forest next to the Telegraph Station. ...

Oct 15, 2009 - Darwin

Darwin, my final destination in Oz and I'm back in one of the hostels which for some reason is virtually full. ... Darwin has confirmed my thoughts that the best of Australia is not found in it cities, to be honest there's very little Darwin has to offer the tourist, there's the 60's high street that's been remodelled to bring it into the 90's, a bit like Coventry-by-the-sea. ... And to be fair Darwin is more of a jumping off point for trips to the Kakadu National Park, a trip I'm just going to have to put down for next time. ...

Oct 9, 2009 - The Ghan

It stops in Alice Springs after 24 hours, and then proceeds to Kathryn and Darwin. ... We disembarked in Alice Springs as our ultimate destination was Ayers Rock, recently renamed Uluru. ... we did survive the separation! This is the 80th year of service from Adelaide to Alice Springs, and they are celebrating. ... The track is 1559 km from Adelaide to Alice Springs. ... We departed Adelaide at 12:20 on October 7, and arrived Alice Springs at 1:45 p. ...

Oct 7, 2009 - Alice Springs

Its a long 500k's from Kings Canyon to the surprisingly well developed town of Alice Springs, a town who owes its existence to a telegraph station set up in the 1870's. ... This being the heart of the outback the Aboriginies are conspicuous and for once they're not all drunk.Its a long 500k's from Kings Canyon to the surprisingly well developed town of Alice Springs, a town who owes its existence to a telegraph station set up in the 1870's. ... This being the heart of the outback the Aboriginies are conspicuous and for once they're not all drunk....

Oct 7, 2009 - Cape Voltaire to Darwin

There is so much useful information and stories to be exchanged – waypoints for tricky passages through islands and reef, good and bad anchorages, swapping ideas about all sorts of galley matters, learning a few tricks about boat maintenance, where to get supplies in Darwin, and the usual stories of others’ adventures. ... Our mission after Truscott was to round Cape Londonderry – Western Australia’s most northern point, then explore a few places to the south east before making the dash to Darwin. ... There were other decisions to make too – would we set sail for Darwin or would we head further on and explore the Berkerley River? After much deliberation taking into consideration weather, time needed to do the Berkerley justice, and food supplies, we decided to set sail for Darwin. ... From Cape Ford we stooged up the coast, feeling as if we were in a foreign land, to Native Point, Tapa Bay, and then a final 25 mile leg into Darwin. ... We sailed into Darwin with threatening skies framing the city, and around into Sadgroves Creek where we had been advised to anchor, it being late in the season. ...

Oct 6, 2009 - Kakadu Days 87-88

Amid much fanfare and a ticker-tape parade made up from old chewing gum wrappers that Monique had dropped in the car, Kenny Kia and Ugly Betty with crew of seven, escaped Darwin's gravity and began the return journey to earth. We then convinced Kenny to head south 80kms to Pine Creek, then turn left and head north 150kms to Cooinda inside Kakadu. ... Any wonder the poor fella is confused.Amid much fanfare and a ticker-tape parade made up from old chewing gum wrappers that Monique had dropped in the car, Kenny Kia and Ugly Betty with crew of seven, escaped Darwin's gravity and began the return journey to earth. We then convinced Kenny to head south 80kms to Pine Creek, then turn left and head north 150kms to Cooinda inside Kakadu. ... Any wonder the poor fella is confused....