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...

The bus into town was easy - just wait at the bus stop. Tried a bit of hitching whilst we were waiting. Hat on/off - me/Liz hiding did not produce the goods, I even had a go at hitching a police car (they just reciplicated the hitching action). The bus for no apparent reason just stopped half way to town and the bus driver started reading a news paper. Eventually the driver got out of his cabin and went up to an Aboriginal person "YOU out NOW". The Aboriginal ev...

Home sweet home for Australia and USA - complete with the worse for wear Liz. Liz was on some cheap wine last night, I was fine. The tent was a bargain in Sydney - it is the largest tent we have ever had and very well ventelated, useful in hot weather and for the effects of curry and beer. The only questions are: is the flysheet fine enough to filter out the minute things that bite, and would it stop the sand getting in when we go to the Black Rock desert in Ne...

After doing some shopping for some camping stuff and food we hit the permanent pool party at the backpackers (or so Lonely Planet book makes you believe). Believe it or not this is the first time on the trip we have just chilled by the pool (holiday from the holiday) complete with the Brits abroad crowd. We are in pseudo traveller country, the people here 'travel' with huge suitcases containing extensive wardrobes. Shuttle buses wisk them from the door to the a...

Sitting on deck chairs beer in hand watching the sunset. We are waiting for the stars to rise and the aptly named deck chair cinema to start. Yep we are in Darwin having just got here, 31 degrees C and not too humid - nice. Before the film started, a film crew were doing some filming on the cinema - the same thing happened last time when we watched a film when horizontal (Govindas Sydney 2001). We are seeing once, which turned out to be a very simple low budg...