(Darwin just before nightfall with a storm cell passing)
I have not written in the blog for some time which is due to
the fact that there is not much exciting news to write about. Most of the week
days have been spent working on the boat and weekends helping friend Rob with
his boat.
(Mindil Beach sunset, during the dry season (April-October) they hold the famous Mindil Beach Markets, I believe it is so big now they hold it on two nights)
Although I must say we had a very nice Christmas and New
Year. We had Christmas Day with Rob and Alison
and their family which was a great day with lots of food, they are a
really nice family and we enjoyed the day very much.
New Years Eve we went to the Darwin Waterfront Precent where
the main celebrations were being held with live entertainment and a 2100 hour
Fireworks Display you the children and us oldies that did not want to stay till
midnight. It was an alcohol and glass free area. The place was packed but
plenty of room to walk about or sit.
(Happy New Year, they held a great show on the Waterfront Precent with live music and the firework display)
We have been out and about a few times for a look around and
have lunches. We have found a few places that are value for money in the
dining, The Cool Spot at Fannie Bay have hamburgers you can barely jump over,
(slight exaggeration), but they are very filling. The Fox Ale House 85 Mitchell
Street serve the good pub meals the plate is filled with food, the Dinah Beach
Yacht Association Club open for evening meals and Saturday and Sunday lunches.
The weather has not changed much the wet has not properly set
in so days are hot and humid at times with the occasional thunder storm at one
stage they announced that the wet was arriving with the monsoonal trough moving
down. However, this resulted in four days of rainy weather and lightening
storms and then it went away. Most of the weather went towards Gove then formed
a cyclone in the Gulf which the crossed land and brought all the nasty weather
down the east coast. An earlier cyclone formed prior to this one and went down
the west coast but stayed out to sea. We had cooler weather over the four days
of rain periods to the extent that I had to adjust the air-conditioner during
the night as it was too cold.
Nancy went away for ten days, she flew to NSW to see the
grandchildren and when she came back my sister Jeanne and hubby John came to
visit for a week so we had a good week with them here. A good friend of theirs drove
them up here from the Alice because they had their new car stolen and wrecked
just before Christmas. After their visit I then flew to Alice Springs to stay
with them and visit my sweet Mother who is 91 in April, she cannot travel these
days due to her knees, she has to use a walking frame when she walks, her body
is letting her down but her mind is as sharp as a tack.
(A croc named 'Wendel' at the Crocosaurus Cove in Darwin, this place is right in twon in Mitchell Street)
(For those that want to get up close and personal with a croc and be safe, for two people it is $110 per person for one person it is more, I think it is a little expensive)
We went out a few times for lunch whilst there, the Gillen
Club, (originally called Westies, they serve good meals at good prices, the
Vietnam Restaurant which is just south of Alice Springs, very nice meals and if
you want to go of a night time you have to book as they get busy, 'Sporties '
The Sport Cafe/Restaurant in Todd Mall, a favourite of mine great people, great
service and great meals and the Gap Hotel, Sunday roast $10.
('Sporties' at Alice Springs)
(A great Mexican dish)
I returned from Alice last night to the heat again, the
weather in Alice was kind to me with day temps being 31⁰C and cooling down during
the night to 16⁰C.
(Simpsons Gap, west of Alice Springs)
(A Rock Wallaby at Simpsons Gap)
(Simpson Gap)
(These trees on the ground were the famous Twin Ghost Gums that were painted by Albert Namatjira, over the years they have suffered and were not totally healthy trees, being on the tourist tours for many years probably did not help them but now some thoughtless person or persons have set fire to them and these are the remains).
(This picture from the internet of Albert Namatjira painting)
We still have a few months here in Darwin before the end of
the cyclone sean when we will start again on the circumnavigation starting with
the Kimberly's, this may be April of May depending on the season.
(One of two storm cells that we flew between just before landing in Darwin last night.)
Cheers
(There you go Colleen).
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