Darwin

 The first taste of Darwin was a solo effort with Cindy jetting off to Melbourne to see Bon Jovi. Tom managed to entertain himself staying at the backpackers on Mitchell Street for 3 nights.....
First solo night at the back packers and now needed to eat the spoils of the latest fishing trip. Was a little problem, the pots in the communal kitchen was not big enough to cook the muddie. After driving around town for a few hours managed to get one from Vinnies for $10, perfect. Dinner of mud crab followed by mango, does it get any better than this, poor back packers watched on salivating. With Cindy away and left to his own devices Tom headed of f to the Big House (Casino) for the regular donation. Not the best outcome and was happy to be home early as there was the scheduled 8am tee time at Darwin Golf Club. The game started well with 5 straight pars and then the wheels fell off. Lets put it down to the conditions, 35 degree heat, humidity ranging between 95% and 110% (when raining) and the fact that there is only 1 drink tap on the whole course (back of the 8th tee for those interested in playing). Anyway finished with a solid 32 points but had 2 birdies on the back nine.
Saturday night alone in Darwin, few beers and then back to the casino to redeem, quick hit and run, got back the previous nights errors and headed home.....fishing Sunday.
Headed back to Sandy Palms for another fishing adventure on Bynoe Harbour. Weather was not the greatest so had to sit around waiting for the rain to clear, was a good time to change the radiator coolant in Trev, runs heaps better now.
Managed to get on the water by about midday and had a very successful day, caught 3 barra, kept 1 as well as Treadfin Salmon and a 2.5kg Mangrove Jack. All this and still managed to get back to Darwin in time to pick up Cindy from the airport, lucky she was delayed by a couple of hours.
Next day we checked in to Shady Glen Caravan park for the next 4 nights, been based in one place for a few days allowed us time to put up the tent and have a constant base for a while. Was a good idea to put a ground sheet down and a large tarp over the tent, seems that the wet is starting. We had an inch the first day and then Wednesday arvo nearly 2 inches fell in about an hour. This nearly flooded the camp and there was a little trench digging needed to stop things going under.

Did a little sightseeing, visiting the Military Museum and Aviation Museum, both were very interesting and worth the trip. Did a drive around town stopping at Cullen Bay, Fannie Bay, Lee Point and around the Wharf Precinct. Tried to go to the WWII Oil Tunnels but these were closed for the wet.
Also when to the Parap Markets today, interesting place and heaps to see and eat.
Dinner in Darwin

Have enjoyed our time in Darwin and seem to have conquered most things, now we are at the airport waiting to board our flight home for Xmas, via Melb for a few celebration drinks with the Kingsville crowd and then up to Gold Coast-Wooli for Xmas with Brother Nick & Mum & Dad. Trev is locked away for a few days and will be raring to go when we get back on the 28th......

Merry Christmas to all...