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 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 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 3, 2009 - Darwin Days 81-86

The Darwin Belly had ripped through the camp and we were looking a little bit like Lee's troops after Gettysburg. ... Poor mum and dad, they cleaned up and nursed sick kids in a caravan in Darwin heat. ... Monique was turning six on 2/10/2009 and all of Darwin was divided into those coming and those missing out. ... ) That night we hit the famed Mindil Beach Sunset Markets on Darwin's foreshore with the Beissel's and it was a fantastic experience sans the MCG sized crowd. ... Plans to leave Darwin and see Kakadu were abandoned when we basically said "can't be bothered " and we spent Sunday lazing around seeing the war Museum and Aviation Museum complete with a complete B-52 strato-fortress in the hangar. ...

Sep 23, 2009 - Darwin Days 71-75

That night we went to the Darwin Rodeo which was complete blast. ... ? We descended on the poor Beisell's again for lunch and then headed off to our Darwin Caravan park to make ready for the cavalry (AKA. ... I collected M and D from Darwin Int. ... The various gorges and waterfalls were lovely but the highlight for me was a WWII wreck of a spitfire plane shot down dueling a Betty Bomber over Darwin in 1943. ...

Sep 22, 2009 - Day 60 - 63 – Darwin

What are the first two things you think of when I say Darwin? Let me guess, the Japanese bombing and Cyclone Tracy? Basically everything in Darwin revolves around those two events (the other option is crocodiles) On our first morning in Darwin we wandered around the CBD and had a look down by the waterfront. ... Anyway I think the two boats were called North Island and South Island (or Manly and Bondi respectively) Speaking of military intelligence we then walked through Darwin’s Oil storage tunnels. ... After that we went to the East Point Military museum which houses a lot of displays on the bombing raids on Darwin. ... Pop quiz – how many raids launched on Darwin and the top end? Who answered 64 raids over 21 months?. ... I was thinking about a motto for Darwin, something like “You knock it down we’ll rebuild it (eventually)” After two disasters in one morning, we were ‘disastered out’ so we headed back to the van for lunch and a swim. ...

Sep 22, 2009 - On The Road Again!!! Fish stop Darwin

After a few days in Cairns relaxing I flew up to Darwin. ... Because I have been out of the sun for so long I am not used to it and have lost all of my tan, my first outing into the Darwin sun turned me into a lobster. ... Darwin Has not got a lot to offer but I am enjoying doing nothing and catching up on some sleep as well as topping up the tan which is coming along nicely. ...

Sep 19, 2009 - NEWS FLASH – UFO's spotted in Wycliffe Well.

Yes the front page of today’s NT News (that pinnacle of reporting excellence), reports that “hovering lights return to famous NT hot spot”. Actually the second story on the front page was a crocodile on the back of a truck being driven through Darwin CBD. ...

Sep 18, 2009 - Day 59 – Kakadu to Darwin. We’ve made it to the top!!!!!!!!!!!!

Before long we pulled into Darwin and set up camp for the next 5 nights. ... We have kept their arrival a secret from Ev so watching him at the airport tomorrow will be interesting This afternoon was spent driving around Darwin. ... So we hit Darwin, the northernmost point of our trip. ...

Sep 15, 2009 - Darwin Days 65-67

Darwin, city of cyclones and bombs. ... Nah, its really good actually.Darwin, city of cyclones and bombs. ... Nah, its really good actually....

Aug 30, 2009 - August update from Darwin

Today dawned with some clouds and some humidity.Today dawned with some clouds and some humidity....

Aug 28, 2009 - Now in Darwin.....

He also said he worked the Israeli secret service and had been offered jobs by the CIA! For some reason, if it was true, I don't think you would be telling everyone who will listen! We spent a little more time in Alice Springs before heading back up the Stuart Highway on our way to Darwin. ... The next day we headed to Litchfield National Park, about 180km south of Darwin. ... Anyway, we finally got into Darwin on 21st August and decided to stay at a backpackers for a week or so. ... Darwin is a pretty cool place. ... Anyway, I've been using up my time left here in Darwin to get Bertha serviced - $500 bucks! and attending the openair Deckchair cinema on a regular basis - it's cheap and the novelty has not worn off yet! I'm off to take advantage of the free meal at a local pub with a new Irish girl that is staying in our room - Lee asked her whether she pissed on floors and it seems she doesn't so, all is good. ...