Forging one of the rivers.
Petrified coral on Shady Beach.
Ouma and Oupa and the kids.
Feeding the fish at Aquascene.
Wet after fishing. Bandana to keep rain out of ears.
Francois and Wendy fishing.
Back on line, Yippeeeeeeeeeeee
Well we had a lovely few days in Darwin, did some normal things like going to the cinema, to watch "Alice in Wonderland". Went to Aquascene which was fantastic, fish come in on the high tide to be fed. There were milk fish, bat fish, catfish and mullet just to name a few. it was great fun feeding them and observing them in the water.
Thursday morning arrived bright and early with the alarm going off at 2.45am. Our flight by Quantas to Nhulunbuy was at 6.30, better to be early than late. The views from the plane was in Hope's words "awesome". To see the coast line of the top end of Australia is something else, especially when you throw in the land filled with rivers meandering through virgin bush and flood plains.
We arrived in the rain, made a nice change to the hot humid weather we have been experiencing. Wendy's brother Francois, sister-in-law Jillian, Hanna and Adam (niece and nephew) and Mum and dad was there to meet us. Wendy's folks are also visiting so roll on the fun.
We did not have much chance to rest as it was the school run on the way from the airport, then catching up with all the news. Thursday night saw us having a BBQ (braai) with friends of Francois, that we have not seen for 15 years. A hind quarter of a buffalo had been delivered a couple of days before, this had been turned into sausages, steaks and mince. The sausages ended up on the BBQ. Having never eaten buffalo before, we were quite impressed. Cannot wait for the next BBQ.
Friday found us visiting Yirrkala, at the art centre we bought our didgeridoo. It is a Yidaki, a true didgeridoo from where it first originated. Most of the paintings are done on bark and the smell of the pandanus mats and baskets is so unique. In Yirrkala we stopped at Shady beach. You have this magnificent beach, an island not to far off and the temptation to swim is so great! BUT with crocodiles and box jellyfish, swimming is so out. We picked up a load of cowrie shells that had been washed up on the beach, and was awed by the sight of the petrified coral.
We also had to go into town and apply for our liquor permits. Due to all the problems with the drinking in the streets, alcohol restrictions is very tight. So to drink at any of the picnic spots and the beach, this is a requirement. Personal Permits to go to these Aboriginal places are also a requirement but had already been bought.
That afternoon when Francois got back from work, we headed for Wirraway beach to do some fishing. We ought to tell you at this stage that we are on Cyclone watch ............ so this was done in the torrential rain. What fun, with lures on John, Francois, Willem (Wendy's dad), Adam and Wendy were trying to catch fish. Hope and Hanna and Leila (the black Labrador) just enjoyed getting wet. Of course we did not catch anything, so we eventually piled back into the 4x4's sopping wet and went home.
Today we headed off for the "track" The main road out of Nhulunbuy. We were heading for "Scout Camp" picnic spots next to a creek. There were three 4x4's, the nine of us plus friends of Francois. We negotiated two river crossings which was great fun and eventually made it to Scout Camp. With all the rain the creek was full and running very fast. Leila went in first, to check for crocs. If she disappeared, we would know that there was a croc so we wouldn't go in. Leila came back so the kids and Francois went in. Great fun was had swinging on the rope and jumping into the water. We, still a bit wary stood on the bank getting wet.
After awhile we headed back, closer to town. We were worried that if the rivers rose much more we would be stuck. The second crossing of the rivers was just as much fun. We came to the turnoff off for "Goanna lagoon". Now if we had thought that 4x4ing on the "track" was fun, well we had no idea what was ahead of us. The kids were riding with Ouma and Oupa and all they heard from the children was "awesome, awesome".
Francois had handed the control of the 4x4 to John and he was driving. Ummmmmmmm, seat belt fastened (check), hands clenched (check), John looking relaxed, mmmmmm. This was a track, two ruts from wheels, loads of water, dips and dongas, where the 4x4 is almost on its side. water running over the bonnet, hands sweaty........
It was great fun. We pulled up next to the lagoon, strung up a tarp, so we had some shelter to eat, and sent Leila into the water. The kids soon followed. There was a swing tied to a tree trunk in the river, which the kids held onto. They then let go and let the current carry them away. They then swam to some trees in the middle to hold on. They must have done this dozens of times. Leila eventually got so tired that the current got her and Francois had to go after her. They walked back along the track to us.
It was lovely eating our lunch under the tarp, with the rain falling around us. A walk followed where both John and Wendy,broke their shoes. They got stuck in the mud and when we tried to pull them out, we were shoeless. Both Wendy and her mom slipped and fell, and there were near misses by everyone else.
Back to our base and this time John joined Francois and Jillian in the water.
These two weeks are going to be actioned packed.
Hope's Blog......... It was awesome going through rivers, and mud splashed the windscreen, so we could not see. Swimming in the creeks was also awesome, although Mummy and Daddy was worried about crocodiles. I wasn't because Leila was in the water with us. This is going to be fun.
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