We pulled up outside the Aurora Shady Glen Caravan Park on Monday 1st July at 10.10am and found we had to get into a cue to get in!! There were about 4 in front of us. Chris and I decided to go inside and join the cue to book in. There were 3 terminals and people everywhere. The chap who served us was the same one who took our phone booking. He was very helpful. When we got to our site the gardener was busily raking up all the leaves from under the two beautiful trees that we were to park under. The site was dusty but we just put the mats down and it was fine.

Chris and I got stuck into our washing (6 loads!!) in our 2.5kg washing machines before we were to head off to do some shopping. While I was in the van I heard familiar voices, Phil and Krys had booked in to the same park about an hour after us and surprised us by sneaking up to our van. They had told us previously that they couldn't get into the park until the Wednesday. Cheeky b*****s!! Hugs all round and a promise to catchup later. We headed into Casuarina for lunch and to do the shopping at Coles. The complex is as big as Galleria with lots of areas branching off. When we returned we popped over to check with the other four to see if they wanted to do the Sunset Harbour Cruise which we could book at the front reception. Unfortunately the only spots left were on the Thursday evening and the others were due to leave on the Thursday morning. We booked for ourselves as this was going to be a highlight of our trip for us. Krys was very disappointed as she would have liked to have gone too but it wasn't to be.

In the evening we drove to Stocks Wharf and had fish and chips. We ran into the other four there and sat down and had a chat about the day and watched the cruise boat, Cape Adieu come back into port. This was the boat that we were going to go on so I took some photos in case I missed out on some good ones on the night. It was Territory Day and fire crackers were being let off all over the place. Northern Territory is the only place in Australia that still allows people to buy and set off fireworks in Australia. They only had 28 casualties this year!!

The following morning Glenn headed off early to buy a replacement gas cover. $57 for a hard bit of moulded plastic!! We then headed out in Rogers car to the Casuarina Coastal Reserve where Glenn dipped his feet in the Arafura Sea/Timor Sea, the northern most sea of NT. The coastline was lovely but very different to ours in W.A. The sand is orange and you can't swim in the ocean because of Crocodiles, Sharks, Sea Snakes, Box Jellyfish and stingers. Bummer!

We headed into town to find somewhere for lunch and ended up in the Mall at a little café. It was just like sitting in the Hay Street Mall watching a busker while waiting for our lunch to arrive. Across the mall I spotted a Specsaver so popped in there to have my glasses adjusted. The fellow had done his training at the Morley store in Perth!

After lunch we went to the Alice Springs Museum to see the Cyclone Tracy exhibition. I was only 13 when this happened so it was very interesting reading all about what happened and seeing the photos. We were able to stand in an enclosed room and experience the sound of the cyclone via a recording by a Bishop of the day, the wind and the sound of the tin roof peeling off.

We all got together for a BBQ dinner and lots of laughs.

The following day, Wednesday 3rd July, we went to Fanny Bay Goal, the first prison in Darwin where approximately 70 inmates were hanged, four of whom where stowaways and hung on the same day. The two most noted hangs where the last two in 1952. Two young foreign youths were disillusioned with Australia, stole a taxi with the intension of driving south to sell it and use the money to leave Australia. They shot and killed the driver sparking the area's biggest manhunt. They were hung together on the 7th August 1952 and are buried somewhere in the grounds.

Wednesday early morning must be early takeoff for a whole lot of planes, 7 of them one after the other from 3am, Chris gave we some earplugs for tonight, we are very near the airport so not much I can do about that. We had had a cooked breakfast Glenn and I headed off the Hidden Valley to see where the V8's race when in Darwin before lunch. There were a couple of bikes testing the circuit so that was interesting for Glenn. I got my nails done at Palmerston, the next biggest city in NT to Darwin. We met up with Chris and Roger as they were leaving the Aviation Museum where a B52 Bomber was housed. They had just spent 2 hours there and were heading back to the van. The old chap behind the counter asked if Glenn was a senior which he replied he was (not mentioning that he was still working) and the chap just looked at me and said, "well I won't go there" and charged me seniors rates too, to be polite. The museum was fascinating even if it was more a boy thing. 2 hours later as we were leaving, in comes Phil and the others for their visit. We finished off the evening with happy hour with Phil and Krys and then dinner with Chris and Roger.

Thursday was our last chance to do any last minute washing, shopping and blogging. We needed to be at the wharf by 5pm and I wanted to wash my hair, so over to the shower block to find there was NO water. I headed straight back out to find the other block and secured a cubical only to find I had no HOT water. There were other ladies showering at the time and I asked if they had hot water, yes, the taps are in reverse!! Once I got that sorted out I had a great shower.

There were about 45 people on the cruise and the staff were very attentive. There was hommus and smoked Mackerel dip with toasted Lebanese bread on our table when we were shown to our seat. Our waiter organised our drinks, beer for the boys and bubbles for the girls. The skipper gave us a rundown on safety procedures indicating that crocodiles like the colour yellow (life jackets) and the whistle is only good at attracting their attention!! OMG remember what I said about no swimming in the ocean up here!!

We took photos of each other and our main course selection was taken, I had the steak and the others all had the Salmon. Now it was just sit back and enjoy the scenery. The skipper pointed out places of interest, Parliament House and Government House. He also told us a little about the Cape Adieu, now during the off season its used for sunset dinner cruisers and during the wet season they take 4 months off. Previously it has been used for fishing off the Blight and off the W.A. coast for Kailis Brother. He lives on the boat and has been fishing for 30 years.

The sunset was nice but not spectacular but we still took plenty of photos. The night finished with mini lemon cheesecakes and coffee. The evening only took 3 ½ hours so we were home at a reasonable time. When I went to bed I put the earplugs in and sure enough I woke at 3am and waited to see if they worked when it was time for the planes to go over. They didn't go over!! Do you think I could go back to sleep??

Signing off for now, Virginia and Glenn