Another two weeks has slipped by and we have made it safely to Darwin - enjoying the hospitality of the Bramley family.

We left you last on Day 54 as we pulled into Kununurra. We ended up spending five nights there - a couple without Mark while he flew to Darwin for his treatment. The kids and I enjoyed lazing around the caravan park - a lovely pool (bit nippy) and a playground, and lots of kids to make friends with. The boys had a go at fishing down at Ivanhoe Crossing when Mark got back, but once again had no luck (a guy had pulled out a 91cm Barra the week before). We had a big homework morning whilst at Kunny, with Max finishing a great Project for school ("My top 10 must see things") and Tess doing some cut and paste and a letter for Kinder. We have only just managed to post them this week!

We left Kununurra on Day 59 and arrived at a rippa little spot - The Zebra Rock Mine. It was just over the NT border, and is the only place we've stayed where kids are free (both to stay and on the fishing tour!). We did a 3hr fishing trip on Lake Argyle with Kim the morning after we arrived - searching for Silver Cobbler (they sell for $40 a kilo at Perth). We all managed to land a fish (or three) - both little catfish and the big Silver Cobbler. Max hooked a big one, but unfortunately it outsmarted Mark and the gaff (his first attempt at gaffing a fish), and the thing got away. It was by far the biggest fish of the day that we saw, so Mark continues to be bad-mouthed by Max when discussing yet another fish that got away.

We were in Katherine by Day 62, but having seen such spectacular sights in the Kimberley and particularly across The Gibb, we were really let down by Katherine Gorge. We decided to head north that afternoon and found a brilliant little bush camp a few hundred metres off the road on the way in to Edith Falls. We had a chance to catch up on some phone calls, and had a chat with Rach, Mick and Kaz, Shell, Jaida and Ruben, as well as Trin, Mumma and Pa.

Our walk and swim at Edith Falls on Day 63 were fabulous - about a 2 hr walk including a stop at the bridge so that the kids could play trolls ("who's that crossing my bridge") and a swim below the falls. We left there planning on spending the next night at the township of Daly River (home of the Barra Classic), but upon arrival, we changed our mind ! We went back and headed for the Barra Resort - 9kms shy of the Daly River township but still on the Daly River. The boys fished the Daly River on the morning of Day 64, but again had no luck. Tess and I stayed back and she did some kinder work and then followed it with a play at the playground and a swim. We left Daly River after lunch and headed towards Darwin, stopping briefly for a great swim at Robin Falls. By that evening we were on the outskirts of Darwin, and back to the cars, traffic lights and people.

I did a market with my cards at Coolalinga on the morning of Day 65 before heading to the home of Chan, Dave, Tom and Connor Bramley in Rapid Creek (suburb of Darwin). Chan is an old school friend, and we haven't seen one another for nearly 10 years. They have been in their new home for nearly six months and it is absolutely stunning - we have been very spoilt being able to base ourselves here with our own room and bathroom downstairs. Her boys are now 17 and 13, and have been well and truly smothered by Max and Tess during our stay. They are terrific young men who have managed the attention admirably !!

Days 67 to 69 were spent in and around Litchfield NP. We left Darwin in the morning and headed for Batchelor, where we were met by Ian Brown (a brother of a fella that treats Mark at the Royal Melb hospital). Ian and his family have a 'bush block' out the back of Bachelor that backs onto Litchfield (too wet to access the NP from the block at the moment), and it was brilliant. We spent two nights out there on his 53ha, and the kids enjoyed the brilliant setting of the open shed with all its comforts (see pics). Litchfield was lovely, but way too busy for our liking. We did Florence Falls and Buleys Rockpool on our first afternoon, and counted over 100 people at each spot. We enjoyed a lovely Pancake brekkie on our second day at the block - we missed Jaida's b'day at the Pancake Kitchen the day before in Ballarat, so had a belated party for her (see pic).

Days 69 - 73 were spent back in Darwin with Chan, Dave and the boys, before heading out to a Caravan Park to allow the kids to find some friends and run amok. The kids were spoilt with the Kids Club visit from Crocodylus Park, and both got to hold an 18month old Saltwater Croc and an Anaconda snake (which got a bit friendly with Tess' neck!). We managed to get some jobs done whilst back in Darwin - post homework, buy food and beer, print photos etc, as well as visit the Mindil Markets and have dinner down at the Wharf (where the kids got to see some big fish swimming below the pylons).

Chan's b'day was Saturday and we had a great evening with the family, Chan's Mum (Maggie) and some of their friends.

Kakadu and some more fishing is next on the Agenda, then back in to Darwin for Mark's appt on the 28th. Hoping there'll be some good fishing stories in the next update!