Picked up Anne from airport and settled in, out to a really great Indian meal, getting a fix before we head off. Planning menu for on the road, there will be some interesting meals in the end, especially if we go over time but at least we will eat. Out to dinner at Darwin Yacht club the next night, met up with friends of Anne’s who has a 10 year old boy and 8 year old girl. They are travelling around in a Maui and thought our little van was luxurious, their third bed is standard bed length but if you turn on your side you get stuck between the bed and the roof, really quick to pack up though. Jack and Vince hit it off immediately with Vince thinking whips and skating were the coolest things in the world, both having Monster Skate Park in Homebush in common. They spent the night making a whip for Vince then down to the beach to practice the art of cracking it, met up with another boy Jack who had a real whip which gave him immediate cred, so the boys were set for the night. The girls went for a walk searching for shells and found only dogs to pat but were happy none the less. We adults got to watch a spectacular sunset over the bay and sip chilled champagne whilst ordering very pleasant dinner.
Litchfield
The kids played with their new found friends again in the morning (worked out they knew their cousins who live in Thirroul so future visits have been planned). Jack and Vince were practicing cracking their whips in the camping area when a young woman came up with her own whip and gave them a few pointers, then let them borrow it for a while to practice. They were so stoked and both had sore arms from their practice.
That day saw a short hop to Litchfield quickly set up the van, getting quite good doing it in under 30 min now, even had extra securing to do as the park’s neighbour’s pig had gotten out and was living in the van park and apparently proving difficult to catch. The things you have to endure!!! Jack was not too sure about any of this as he was convinced we were saying Leechville and after his experience on a bushwalk at home could not see himself swimming and having the great time we were promising he would have. Spent the rest of the day relaxing in Buleys rock pools which other than the bus loads of (Australian) Tourists was spectacular. Jack actually met up with another Jack who he had played with at previous stops.
We had set up on a smallish rock shelf in the shade beside one of the rock pools as had all the other people there spreading out over a series of about 10 rock pools, everyone had a nice bit of space to relax and dry off, when 30 plus over 60s would ascend on you and almost stand on you whilst they got undressed then struggle into a rock pool jibber jabber quite loudly and generally make a major disturbance then struggle out, stand on you dripping to get changed again then finally leave, there was an audible sigh of relief when they left. 50 families with a mile of kids were less intrusive.
Could have spent the whole day here with some rock pools small enough to just slip into to cool off and others large enough for the kids to jump 2 – 3 m of the sides into and still not find the bottom.
Had to drag ourselves away before dark were doing all sorts of manipulating to try to organize an extra day there but could not come up with a reasonable workable plan.
Found one of the largest termite mounds on the way home, this is reported to be over 50 years old which apparently is rare.
The next morning Litchfield held still more surprises, Gordon was heading out for his jog when he saw a woman in the pool with a Joey. She was travelling with him holidaying from Broome and had been raising him since about 10 cm long; he stood about thigh height on the kids and came like a puppy when called. She cut tail holes in nappies and carried him around in a baby pouch throughout the day then he had a bag to sleep in of a night, Morgie thought it was just brilliant and now wants one of her own.
Had a bit of a panic attack in the shower early the next morning, turned on the cold tap and had something jump on my hand, no glasses and poor lighting didn’t enable easy identification, but after several deep breaths and not really being willing to run out without getting dressed, identified it as a small frog. Closer inspection found several friends for them in the shower. Managed to finish my shower as they were only thumbnail size, really quite cute and didn’t try to take over the shower.
Litchfield
The kids played with their new found friends again in the morning (worked out they knew their cousins who live in Thirroul so future visits have been planned). Jack and Vince were practicing cracking their whips in the camping area when a young woman came up with her own whip and gave them a few pointers, then let them borrow it for a while to practice. They were so stoked and both had sore arms from their practice.
That day saw a short hop to Litchfield quickly set up the van, getting quite good doing it in under 30 min now, even had extra securing to do as the park’s neighbour’s pig had gotten out and was living in the van park and apparently proving difficult to catch. The things you have to endure!!! Jack was not too sure about any of this as he was convinced we were saying Leechville and after his experience on a bushwalk at home could not see himself swimming and having the great time we were promising he would have. Spent the rest of the day relaxing in Buleys rock pools which other than the bus loads of (Australian) Tourists was spectacular. Jack actually met up with another Jack who he had played with at previous stops.
We had set up on a smallish rock shelf in the shade beside one of the rock pools as had all the other people there spreading out over a series of about 10 rock pools, everyone had a nice bit of space to relax and dry off, when 30 plus over 60s would ascend on you and almost stand on you whilst they got undressed then struggle into a rock pool jibber jabber quite loudly and generally make a major disturbance then struggle out, stand on you dripping to get changed again then finally leave, there was an audible sigh of relief when they left. 50 families with a mile of kids were less intrusive.
Could have spent the whole day here with some rock pools small enough to just slip into to cool off and others large enough for the kids to jump 2 – 3 m of the sides into and still not find the bottom.
Had to drag ourselves away before dark were doing all sorts of manipulating to try to organize an extra day there but could not come up with a reasonable workable plan.
Found one of the largest termite mounds on the way home, this is reported to be over 50 years old which apparently is rare.
The next morning Litchfield held still more surprises, Gordon was heading out for his jog when he saw a woman in the pool with a Joey. She was travelling with him holidaying from Broome and had been raising him since about 10 cm long; he stood about thigh height on the kids and came like a puppy when called. She cut tail holes in nappies and carried him around in a baby pouch throughout the day then he had a bag to sleep in of a night, Morgie thought it was just brilliant and now wants one of her own.
Had a bit of a panic attack in the shower early the next morning, turned on the cold tap and had something jump on my hand, no glasses and poor lighting didn’t enable easy identification, but after several deep breaths and not really being willing to run out without getting dressed, identified it as a small frog. Closer inspection found several friends for them in the shower. Managed to finish my shower as they were only thumbnail size, really quite cute and didn’t try to take over the shower.
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