Doings in Darwin!!!

Hi folks ... been in Darwin for just over a week now, after having spent two days and nights on the road at Wauchope (pronounced Walk-up) and Renner Springs, then four glorious days and nights at Mataranka spending heaps of time in the thermal springs there - and loved every minute! Then on to Katherine for four days: enjoyed a three gorge boat cruise up the Katherine Gorge, seeing the Katherine Museum showing a lot about World War II stuff (had no idea that the war went this far into Australia!! - why don't we learn about this in our schools??), and caught up with Ken and Irene, friends from my days at VicRoads for three days. Then we parted company with K&I and we headed for Litchfield National Park, just 90kms out of Darwin and a little taste of paradise!! We stayed at the best caravan park yet - Pandanus on Litchfield - and had a lovely spot surrounded by trees and birds and, best of all, very few vans and our own ensuite!! Favorite place so far in the trip ... We spent four days checking out the various waterfalls, rockpools, and places of interest in the Park and I was a little sorry to leave there but Darwin was calling!!! What a big place this is - much bigger than I had thought it would be - and heaps and heaps to see. I had my birthday here last Tuesday and we did a lovely sunset dinner cruise on Darwin Harbour - very lovely - and I even enjoyed a few prawns from the seafood buffet!!!!

SO sorry for the delay in posting a blog to let you know that our Adventure has begun!! We have had a Baptism of Fire for the first two weeks - rain, rain and more rain (in Victoria, SA and NT!!), we have had Terry in hospital in Coober Pedy for a day and a night because of pain caused by a troublesome kidney stone, we have had power problems within the caravan (only resolved today!!) which has caused us to have some nights without any power (NO heating on freezing cold nights - brrrrr!!). But all that is behind us now and we should have power from now on - and therefore more postings here!!
Highlights so far have been: Coober Pedy: a fascinating and interesting opal mining town which is quite unique and I loved it; Uluru: a magnificent, awesome and majestic monolith set in glorious surrounds (I consider myself quite fortunate now to have seen this special place); Alice Springs: we have been here for a few days now - one day sunny, the next day heavy rains! - a place surrounded by rocky craggy mountains, with plenty to see and do. Plus of course the many much-travelled people we have met over the past two weeks ... there are certainly some interesting folk travelling around this BIG country with many interesting stores to share - and very willing to do so!! We have spent quite a bit of time with Chrissy and Greg from Manjimup in WA, whom we first met in C/Pedy, and are also first time caravanners!!! Good people and good company ...
We will leave the Alice at the end of the week and start heading further north so will be in touch once we are back on the road again.
Thanks for your interest and we look forward to presenting you with the next report (with photos next time!!) Cheers ...

Lesson before Leaving ....

Today we have booked in for a Caravan Towing Lesson at METEC (Metropolitan Education Centre) for next Saturday, the 19th of June ... and then pick up the van a few days later!! Wahoo!! Will then be busy loading the van with ALL the things we have been buying for it over the past seven months, and then head off before June runs out .... Starting to come together now - just hope that my Piriformis and Glutus Minimus have improved by then as well!!! THAT would make me VERY happy ..... Still working with the physio twice a week, plus using the infra-red ray lamp plus stretching exercises set by the physio ... and I do think they are working!! Went for an hour's walk around Jells Park today - felt great!! Until next time .... Cheers ...

Sad News Today ...

Terry rang the manufacturers of our caravan today, only to be told that it will be at least another two weeks!!!!!! Well, looking on the bright side, that will give me time to get over the knotted muscles I have been suffering in my left buttock and lower back since Saturday. Being worked on by the physio and gotta go again Friday and then next Tuesday .... he is hurrying up the program because of our proposed trip. But I sure have to be better than I have been feeling before I can sit in Terry's Terracan for a trip from Melbourne to Darwin via Lake Eyre and all places between here and there!!! Also means that I can get used to my new Toshiba laptop and Panasonic digital camera which were purchases whilst we were on our recent visit to the Gold Coast to catch up with Lisa, Shane and the Squidlets. Haven't been able to spend too much time on these as it is difficult for me to sit down for any length of time .... Cheers until the next time ... Marie Mac