Today we moved caravan parks hoping to stay at a no frills one for half the cost of FreeSpirit as the next few days we would be out all day sightseeing. Unfortunately these were booked out so we didn't get one as cheap as planned. It was $10 cheaper and closer to the city with grassy shady site so it was better. As myself and the boys were run down with a cold we drove around town seeing what we could find.

We had lunch at Fannie Bay, then drove up to East Point where we found remnants of Darwin's defence to a perceived threat by the Japanese. The gun station in 1944 held 2 guns which were the biggest in Australia but were never shot in anger. Ironically, it is now the Japanese that have cut up those guns for scrap metal along with our ships that they sunk in 1942. The gun station has many tunnels leading underground but are blocked off.


We took a stroll around Casurina Coastal Reserve which has some nice sandstone cliffs.


Late afternoon our neighbour which we met only 10min beforehand began cleaning our car for us. He did it all with a chux cloth and a dripping tap as well as going over it three times. We appreciate it (I was more than happy to do it myself) but it was a little strange with us eating our dinner while a stranger cleans our car.

When night fell it became crazier. The Australian and U.S. military had operation "Talisman Saber" in full swing. It is a war game designed for them to practice working together in a war. We are very close to the RAAF base so there was lots of machine gun fire, a helicopter flying in circles for over half an hour, and massive gun shots which sounded like a cannon or grenade going off during a silent moment. It was a surreal experience. Somehow the boys slept through it but Liam woke at 4am with teething and didn't go back to sleep!