Thursday, September 27, 2007

Heading West from Top End






Top end is behind us:

We spent four days in Darwin – that will be our farthest North travel, on the ground, at least, at about 12 degrees S. It was hot and humid the whole time. We picked Colin up at the Darwin airport Friday noon, and pretty much spent the weekend visiting with him. That included a day trip to Litchfield National Park with the van. It does have three seat belts, but is not really comfortable for the middle passenger (Sylvia). We also dined out, and even went to a movie – not much opportunity for movies in East Timor, where Colin currently lives.

Much of our recent time has been spent bird-watching. We have a book of Australian birds, and there are many and colourful varieties. So, we have been identifying them and photographing where possible. The long lens on the SLR makes that much easier. We will include bird pictures here from time to time. Sylvia is keeping a log, and has pages and pages of sightings.

Anyway, we also spent a day at Katherine Gorge (photo included) and a couple of days in Kakadu National Park, where we did the Yellow Waters boat ride again (did it 11 years ago, last time we were here.) We did do the hiking involved in looking at the Aboriginal Rock Art at Ubirr, again. My walking/balance problems do not seem to be improving, although I have been mainlining the B12 for most of a month now. So, I did the flat trails, but not the ones involving climbing on uneven surfaces (Sylvia did them).

Things have been going smoothly enough. We did have a problem at home, where Telus completely disconnected our phone, not the partial disconnect that they promised, disabling our security system.. We seem to have it straightened out now, but I have no confidence in those bozos. If you think their service is bad when you are right there, try it from a few time zones away. Anyway, as a public service: if you know anyone really stupid, or who does not speak English very well, recommend that they go to work for Telus – those seem to be attributes they value.

We are approaching one month in the Van, and are still together. 80 days or so left to go. The last few days have been poor sleeping, as it has been warm in the van at night. We do have a bug net we can hang over the tailgate, to leave it open at night. That works okay, although the dingos were howling just behind us the other night, which kept us awake. Anyway, we do have a small fan which helps, but may stop and buy another, larger one.

In Kununurra just now, thinking about an air trip down to the Bungle Bungles. We expect to spend three or four days around here, so may get an update or two done before we launch across the outback to Broome.

The photos – that is me in the pub at Daly Waters, where we stopped for a beer (tradition) yes, those are bras. Colin, Sylvia and I in front of a termite mound in Litchfield, Colin and Sylvia swimming in Buley Rockhole, a scene from Katherine Gorge, and a Rainbow Lorikeet.

3 comments:

Rob Gilgan said...

So, did you leave your bra there? Why are all those bras hanging there? Drunken sheilas?

Really enjoying the blog and photos- keep up the good work.

Love to you both,

Rob

June Harrison said...

What are the Bungle Bungles.....not to clear to me.....great photos and comments not too long....Love to you both...have a beer and a bra for me!!..........June

Lori said...

Tina says:
Seeings as they have women's bras, do they have men's gauncheez's as well with names and addresses?!!!