I was woken by a phone call from Spiers - "how about going to the botanical gardens".

As we were waiting for the bus, a helicopter hung low over the bus shelter and then hundreds of bikers rode past.

Simon was a bit worse for wear when we met up - wanting to go to bed for an hour (which we all know means at least three). We all tried to think of something to do in Darwin that we can afford - but decided that we will probally end up drinking when some of Simons Canadian friends turned up in Darwin.

By this time we were getting pretty hungry so me and Liz went off to think of something we could eat from the supermarket. The plan was to by some food and use one of the backpacker kitchens to cook it. Then we remembered that in Darwin you have to get plates etc from reception so this idea was abandoned.

We ended up getting some bread, dips and box wine and going down to the waterfrount for a picknick. Outside the bars no alcohol can be drunk, so the wine was decanted into a soft drink container that seemed to fool the park security. Turning out to be a nice day!

The waterfrount has a empty small safe beach and a packed waterpark with a wave machine producing enormous waves. In our travels I have noticed that places that have safe natural waves make flat water areas whilst areas that do not have waves produce waterparks that do.

Evening approaching we headed back to determine the state of Simon. Normal - could not sleep so started drinking.

Freebies make the world go round. The first one was getting three meals from one at the backpackers we were not staying at. The second was getting another free meal each at the Vic for saying we were staying at the backpackers that served the free food. Moral justification was met by firstly not using the meal and secondly questioning the logic of only letting in people that obtained tickets from people employed to give out the tickets (it is simply promotion - you spend more by being there - that is how it works).

The last bus back to the camp site came and went - we have been in the wilds for too long - the general mood was to remain and get a taxi back.

The music at the Vic was worse than last night. Music was stopped every so often so that games could be played. One game involved wearing flippers, sitting on a scooter and pushing yourself around a course. Why do DJ's all sound the same?

Me and Liz decided to check out the band downstairs, soon to be moved on by the group to places we couldn't get into due to having a bag with alcohol in.

The inevitability of going back to the camp site dawned. Tent flap open - air mattress approaching - sleep. During the night I was woken to something making a kind of snoring sound right by my head (no it wasn't Liz). After a lot of searching I gave up trying to find the torch and went back to sleep (life is full of mystery).