Well we have made it to Darwin, sort of. We are now into our 5th week at a beautiful spot about 60ks out of Darwin called Tumbling Waters, Berry Springs. It's a lovely, friendly park, very reasonably priced and a good spot to base ourselves at. The happy hour is at least 12 plus every evening, even allowing for people coming and going, sometimes double that. There is a croc enclosure, licensed cafe, small sunday market and a free outdoor cinema on sight.
We have met some great people and reunited with others who we met on the road.
We save our drink cans for the kids staying at the park who get 10c a can recycling.That can work out as big business for them, especially with all the beer drinkers among us! One family made over $400 in 3 weeks, that's not to be sniffed at! (not just from our group, I hasten to add)
The Territory Wild Life Park, just up the road was a good day out where the highlight for me was feeding the fresh water Rays, they were so gentle and beautiful.
The weather has been consistently hot and sunny, about 33' and quite humid at times.We need to get into the pool a couple of times a day just to cool off. It's hard work, "living the life" and don't ask us what we do all day but the time just flies. All I know is we are having a great time.
We have been into Darwin and done some of the touristy things. The museum and jail were interesting, the Mindil markets and Darwin sunsets were good and a great night at Darwin casino where we took advantage of the thursday night seniors deal (over 50s) and had a smorgasbord dinner of everything you could think of for $10 a head, including seafood etc. It's usually $34.95 and there was 20 of us for that night, very enjoyable!
We spent a day in Litchfield National Park and have been out to lunch at Mandorah, where we watched the ferry come over from Darwin enjoying a basic but very good steak sandwich.
The Berry Springs which the suburb is named after is beautiful and a great swimming spot when not closed because of crocs. It was for a couple of days when we first got here as a croc was spotted in the area. We do have to be careful about crocs and snakes but not paranoid, as long as people are sensible and do the right thing, all is good.
Chris has been out with the guys in a boat fishing and we have yabby pots in the billabong so we have had a couple of feeds of shark, mud crabs and cherubs which are a type of fresh water prawn.
We celebrated Territory Day at Berry Springs oval with lots of fireworks and good company and also watched the Beer Can Regatta in Darwin, which is a popular NT tradition.
We expect to be here for a few weeks longer with a flying visit back to Sydney planned. We have decided to sell our house back there and live on the road permanently. We have agreed a price and the sale is now going through. We really will be travelling gypsies and hopefully love doing it for a few years to come before we settle down again.
I'm thinking we will still be here at Berry Springs when I make my next blog entry so will finish now, but first the best news.
Remember in my last entry I spoke of sharing a secret with the English backpacker? Well that was the day that Jo and Phil told us they were pregnant. We were so excited and had to tell someone, and she was the lucky one.
We have waited for this news for so long and will have a new grandchild and cousin for Josh and Ellie. Life can't get much better!