27) Sydney to Darwin. January to July, 2015.

Peter, Nephew Mathew and Denise.

It felt like January to April just breezed by and they did. We lived in other people’s houses the whole time as ours was rented out. Yes, we housesat and looked after pets, while friends and unknown homeowners had a much needed break. We can say it was a great experience and would totally recommend it.

Gwen (Mum), Denise, Mellisa, Kylie, Lisa (cousins) and Des.

First up, a rented house of a young couple in Lindfield. Second, my Mum’s house while they went up the coast. Then a unit in West Ryde and lastly a lovely house in Ermington, both for very good friends. Between our house-sitting engagements we stayed with my parents in their house.

A party of 20 - The West Ryde gang.

Anna, Mojgan and Denise.

Margaret, Mary and Denise.

Ron, Denise & Peter.

We spent our time helping my parents sort out some 55 years of accumulated items that were threatening to take over the garage and the whole area under the house and fixing things around the house. This work was heavily punctuated by social engagements in Sydney and up to Maitland/Shoal Bay. It was a joy to see all our family and friends again albeit very draining on the wallet. 

Alan, Michelle, Denise and Peter.

Peter, Mark, Sue and Denise.

Richard's Retirement Party - CRGH.

Denise, Lynn and Trish.

Before we knew it April had arrived and it was time to head north again. We stopped a few days and stayed with good friends in the Gold Coast then it was a few days with Peter’s Mum in Brisbane. 

Terri, Peter and Don (Dad).

I caught up with two female friends from school, whom I had not seen since the early ‘80’s and might I add we all looked fabulous. Then back up to see Peter’s Dad in Caboolture and my Uncle in the Sunshine Coast.

Finally we had stayed and seen almost every person we knew and it was time to head back to Darwin. Mostly for me to return to work and replenish the bank account, which had taken a beating and for Peter to get the boat ready for our next big adventure – Indonesia.

In contrast to our December 2014 trip from Darwin across the desert, this time the return trip was so much easier. What a difference four months can make. The weather was not so scorching hot and was lovely. It was just warm enough in the mornings to be comfortable and hot through the day. However, the nights were very cold and not having much with us, everything went on the bed to keep us warm - our clothing, towels and even seat covers. The clear sky over the desert sucks out all of the heat from the day and it can get very cold during the night.

We decided to stop off on a few places we had missed on the way over. First stop was the Qantas museum in Longreach. Now not being that plane friendly I didn't think I would get as much fun out of this place as Peter, a plane nut. But I was pleasantly surprised. It was interesting and informative and they had set it out well and had some great displays. Well recommended if you ever find yourself in Longreach.  



We viewed the Leichhardt tree which he blazed in 1844 on his was north to Port Essington, NT. Then it was on to Winton and we checked out the musical wall and the wall sculpture - both free short stops. The dinosaur stampede at Lark Quarry was closed in December and was supposed to reopen the 1st April. When we arrived it was still closed and possibly to the end of June. So obviously that was now back on the bucket list. Then finally the last town in Queensland - Camooweal.

The dolomite caves, Camooweal.

We stayed overnight at the campground and the next morning we went off-road for 30 kms in our 2 wheel drive car to check out the caves. Very interesting and the road was not too arduous. 







Finally we left the border town for the longest most isolated road journey, without any communication, to Tennant Creek. We managed to do 200 km when all of a sudden there was a squeak and then we were swerving widely over the road. Well we were doing 130 km/hr at the time. Then we landed on the ground with metal on tarmac, grinding away and came to a stop on the side of the road. We thought we had a big puncture - down to the rim but no on investigation we had lost the entire wheel up to the axle. This happened about 1100 hours, and after flagging down several motorists, eating all our food, drinking all our water and setting up our tent to wait out the night, the tow driver finally came to our rescue at 2030 hours at night and we returned to Cammoweal. Four days and much money later we again left Camooweal caravan park for the 550 km drive to Tennant Creek.

The Devil's Marbles.

This time we were successful and made Tennant Creek before night time. The next day we travelled south about 110 km to check out the Devil's Marbles. Amazingly odd shaped eroded sandstone sitting out by themselves in the middle of nowhere. A well recommended visit if you ever find yourselves out this way. 







 
We then went back to Tennant Creek to get the key for the Old Telegraph Station just a couple of kms north of Tennant. The key is free and lets you into the many buildings that were built in the 1800's. How these people built the buildings, sustained themselves, then built the telegraph lines from southern Australia to Darwin, and lived in isolation for years is beyond me. 





But apparently later they used to get 'tourists' stopping by and staying before the travellers moved north, by horseback. Now there is a trip???? 

Daly Waters pub, back garden.

We moved ever northward. Checking out the Stuart tree and the iconic Daly Waters Pub with it unique collection of thongs, license plates and other crap.

Bitter Springs, Mataranka.

Again we had a nice swim at Bitter Springs, Mataranka. This time there were a fair few tourists around compared to December last year. Many could not believe we actually had this place to ourselves only a few months before they arrived.

Katherine Gorge - stunning.

The highlight of our return trip to Darwin was visiting Katherine Gorge, Nitmulik National Park. The river cruise was not running in December 2014 as the river was in full flood because of the annual wet season rains. However, April proved to be a great time to visit. Not too much water, nor too little. We did the three gorge tour. This included three gorges as expected but also a short climb up some rocks to a spring fed lake. 

Lake complete with waterfall.

You go through each gorge on a boat and see spectacular scenery. Then you get out of the boat at the end of the gorge, walk along the shore line, past the shallow rapids to the next gorge and boat. Repeat another two times. At the end you are rewarded with a hot climb followed by a swim in some severly cold water. The tough toughed it out.







Ever northwards we just had one last thing to do. So we dropped into Douglas hot springs for a quick afternoon swim and then arrived back in Darwin in the late evening.

Our last few months in Darwin went very quickly. We house and unit sat for our friends - Gayle, Brian, Greg and Amanda while they finished off their Kimberley cruise 2015. I worked and Peter fixed the boat. 

Brian, Gayle and Peter.

Then our friends arrived home just in time to see us off. So glad they did as we could not leave Darwin without saying goodbye. These people two years ago had welcomed us to Darwin with open arms and we all had become very close. So you can imagine it was hard to say farewell.