Mataranka - Day 69

HAPPY 11TH BIRTHDAY FLETCHER

Happy Birthday Uncle  Sean & Happy Birthday Frank

Fletcher : Today was my birthday and it was awesome.  I woke up at sunrise and got awesome presents.  For breakfast we got Maccas, I got a sausage mcmuffin and a hash brown.  We left Katherine to Mataranka, the place I wanted to have my birthday.  When we got there I opened more presents, then we went to have lunch.  We went to the hot spring and I got to feed a wallaby water because it was thirsty.  When we went back I watched my Avengers DVD.  Later on we opened a couple more presents and Adam rang me, then we had dinner we had mums home made pizza.  Some of my presents were a DVD, Pokémon conquest ds game, Pokemon typing game & lego mini figures.

                                        One of my presents - Pokémon typing adventure

                                                                   My birthday cake

Mackenzie :  Happy Birthday Fletcher
Today is Fletchers Birthday so we gave him four presents for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  We went to the next place which was Mataranka and then we went into town.  Then we watched a movie that Fletcher got for his birthday and went to the hot springs, it was really hot.  We played with one of the games Fletcher got.  We had pizza for dinner and maccas for breakfast.  Fletcher patted a kangaroo and gave it water. For dessert we had our fruit and a lemon gelato that you freeze yourself, it was so yum.

 us swimming in the hot springs

 

Today was Fletcher's birthday.  He had counted down from the 1st of May so it was quite a relief it was here.  He isn't kidding he woke at sunrise!  It was gorgeous to see the sun rise though and to share it with him on such a special day.  So we were up late wrapping presents and up early to unwrap the pressies :)  He got to unwrap some for breakfast, lunch & dinner and he could chose, he actually left the exciting ones till last so that was a bit of fun.  We packed up and headed for breakfast, the kids choose their teas on their birthday but today was a bit different with being on holidays.  So he chose a Maccas for breakfast and homemade pizza for tea.  Off to McDonalds we went before heading off to Mataranka. He got so many phone calls & text messages, I think his favourite was from his mate Adam, they chatted for ages about Pokémon, DS games, Ipods and school, it was great to hear him so happy.  Fletcher wanted a casual relaxed day so we didn't make any plans except to be in Mataranka like he wanted.  We got to the park before lunch and setup, it was pretty dusty & dirty but it was a lovely place, the toilet block is like what you find on a foreshore but although the building is very old they have been fully renovated.  We had some lunch and a walk around the property, Fletcher watched some of his new DVD before we headed down to the hot springs. The springs were beautiful, they have built a great walkway down to the pools and steps into the pools with a checker plate ledge a foot or so under the water to sit on.  In most sections the water was over our heads, it was really warm & peaceful.  There was a kangaroo next to the springs which was obviously use to being around people and a heap of wallabies too.  The roo was sitting close to the pools edge and seemed interested in the water, Fletcher who loves animals, scooped water up into his hands and held them up to the roo who lapped the water out of his hands, this was a birthday he wasn't going to forget.  I dare not move to get out to grab the camera as it was such a wonderful moment I didn't want the roo to hop away if I scared him.  I got a photo after though and he was still close to the edge hoping for the next person to give him a drink I'm sure.   The kids love to float on their backs in the springs, it is a chance to relax and look up at the sky or close your eyes.  There were a lot of people in there but as usual there was heaps of space and you never seem so be on top of each other.  We swam down to the shallow section for a look, we could have spent all day in there, a lady had one of those pool noodles in with her, I'm definitely taking one with me if we go to another spring.  Mataranka Homestead has an exact replica of Elsey Homestead which was used in the film "we of the never never"  They run the movie in the pub everyday for visitors and have so many copies of the dvd for sale.  There is so many people that come out to the springs so the car park at the homestead is always full.  The pub is again one of the open air style, with concrete floors & no walls.  At the end of the day a couple perform on stage and sing until about 9pm.  There is a huge "box" which is pretty non descript during the day, we didn't even notice it, but at night they open the doors of the box and it is the stage.  There is an open fire to also set the mood.  A huge flat screen tv that ensures that everyone is kept happy, so Mack & I watched the singing and the boys watched the footy!  We went back to the van for Fletchers cake, which was actually a finger bun as he didn't want a cake, we put a sparkler in it, and for a kid who didn't want cake he was pretty happy.  He got a couple of games he had been hoping for so he played them for as long as he could before we had to end the fun as it was getting very late.  We all had a great day today, we cant believe he is 11 and it was amazing to spend it in such a beautiful place.



 

 

The roo at the hot springs, I'm not sure if he can reach the water, he tried but was very happy to drink from Fletcher's hands

                                                           A "selfie" in the hot springs

 floating

in the hot springs 

                                                                        looking up

                                                         On the walkway to the pools

 A beautiful bird who I was taking a photo of sunning himself with his wings spread, flew off just as I took the shot, still turned out ok photo.

 

Katherine - Day 68

Fletcher: Today we left Adelaide River to go to Katherine.  We had breakfast, brushed our teeth, then left.  It didn't take long to get to Katherine, one of the towns we stayed at on the way up and we are staying at the same caravan park.  So we set up the van had lunch and went into town to buy pizza bases ( because I chose pizza for dinner on my birthday) then went to the pool, it was freezing so when we got back to the van Bentley ate the pizza bases so when we leave in the morning we will stop at the shops and get more bases. We had tea, did schoolwork and watched Fantastic 4.

Mackenzie: Today we left Adelaide River to Katherine, when we got there we set up the  and went to the shops.  We got Fletcher presents for his birthday then we got dad stuff for his birthday which is Sunday and Fletchers is on Friday.  Then we went back to the caravan and went to the pool, it was cold! We went back and watched a movie called The Rescuers and Fantastic 4.  We had dinner and fruit and cookies.

Today we left the lovely Adelaide River, this has been our favourite park so far, its beautiful and green and we really had a chance to relax on the way to Darwin and again on the way back.  We had talk back radio again all night from the van next door and Daniel and I found ourselves awake most of the night up and down and in and out of the van at all hours.  We found a massive bat in the tree outside our van and what looked like a cane toad but he was on his own so not quite sure.  Dan saw the workshop gates open at 4am and the delivery truck leave at 4.20am, somewhere in between all this we got a few hours sleep.  We chatted with Laurie the caretaker who is a really great bloke and got on our way to Katherine.  We had planned a few nights here but Fletcher is adamant that he is not spending his birthday here.  Daniel and I actually really like Katherine, it is a lovely town with so many places to see around here, they have all the shops you need and so many facilities for the community.   It would be so much better if there wasn't so many people loitering and drunk in the streets and passing out in the front of the shops, it scares the kids and they had formed opinions which although correct of the situation we have worked very hard to ensure they don't generalise about people, with the Adam Goodes situation in the media at the moment, which Fletcher witnessed watching the game, they know it is not appropriate to talk badly of anyone, I'm sure they wont forget what they have seen along the way but they have a much better understanding of how everyone's lives are different and to be accepting and not judgemental of anyone, I hope they carry this with them into their teens and adulthood.  We got to the park we stayed at on the way up with the lovely ensuites and although it was only lunchtime we got the last site, it is getting into the busy season up here.  We set up and headed to the supermarket to stock up as we are going where there are no shops for a few days.  I have found the supermarkets crazy busy up here, with most only opening 2 or 3 checkouts and the lines sometimes go the length of the store, maybe its the times we go but I'm not sure why but it is frustrating, especially when Dan is waiting in the heat with Bentley.  We got Fletcher some last minute bits for his birthday and went back unpacked the shopping and went for a swim. Even though it is 32 degrees today the pool is officially the coldest we have been in but it didn't stop the kids and they did there best at learning to dive as well, so not just a quick dip they were totally  underwater and in & out of the pool to dive in.  We went back to the van to find that Bentley had eaten the pizza bases for Fletchers birthday dinner, we had forgotten he is a crazy dog and eats anything in sight including plastic packaging, oh well shops again in the morning.  The big debate was what to have for tea so although I had to do 2 different meals as the vote went either way, everyone was happy.  We had a big fruit platter which we do most days after tea, just the normal fruits but we try to get something different, local and tropical to go with it.  I baked some cookies for tomorrow but as I type this its 9pm and there is only 4 left on the plate and I'm guessing that they will be either gone when the kids finish their showers or Dan will have them with his coffee tonight.

Adelaide River - Day 67

Fletcher : Today we slept in and I played my ipod in bed.  We had breakfast and mum and dad went to the market while me and Mackenzie wrote our diaries for yesterday.  Later on we went swimming.  Then we had lunch, I had sausages.  Then we just hung around here and then had homemade burgers for dinner.

Mackenzie : Today mum and dad went to the market and me and Fletcher stayed at the caravan and did school work.  When they came back we went to the pool and played chasey.  Then we went back to the caravan and had lunch.  We watched some TV and for dinner we had Burgers.

Today was a fantastic lazy day.  Dan and I went to the market, the same 4 or 5 stalls as last time, lovely hand made goods.  The kids stayed in the van with our phone again as the markets are just out the front of the park.  They said they did their school work and I could hear them reading out times tables as I walked back to the van but not sure how much they did in between and I didn't check as I wanted them to know I trusted them.  The books got packed away quick smart and bathers on for the pool.  Bentley and I stayed behind to rest our eyes and Dan and the kids had their normal running & swimming games.  Dan & I didn't sleep well, it was a hot night and the next door neighbours had their radio on all night and in the dead of night it was loud.  We had hoped they would be moving on but nope they are staying another night so I'm sure tonight we are in for talk back radio again all night.  They had a long swim and then we hung around here for the day.  We had lunch and then the kids watched their ereader and I read some magazines, it was another hot day but with the air conditioner on the kids were snuggled under a blanket watching a show while Dan & I were really comfortable.  I walked to the milk bar to post a letter while they were having a rest and brought the local paper to read by the swimming pool, I could get use to this!  Back to reality and tea to prepare, just burgers but you have to love when your kids get excited and ask you what's in the burgers and how do you make this gravy?  We walked over to the truck stop for some road train spotting and an icy pole.  The mozzies are still bad and we cant leave the van after dark without being eaten alive or them coming in as we open the door.  We did sit outside last night at the pub and the kids watched TV for only the 2nd time for Mack and 3rd for Fletcher as he had watched the footy the other night.  They watched The Block, the last time was at Point Samson so just proves we can live without it.

                                               Look how green and healthy everything is

                                               Ummmm think the sign explains it

                                                            The entrance to the pool

our little corner of the world

Adelaide River - Day 66

Fletcher : Today we had a big sleep in then went to Mount Bundy Station.  Then we went to the pool.  Later on we went to the pub, Mackenzie got a top and I got a top too but it doesn't fit me yet.  Later on we watched the scene of Crocodile Dundee where Charlie was in.

Mackenzie: Today we got up and went to the farm and saw horses and buffalo there are crocs there too.  We went back to the caravan and played for a while then we went to the pool and played chasey on dads back.  Then we had dinner, I had a toasted sandwich with eggs and cheese and home made ice cream.

Today we went out to Mt Bundy Station, this was originally a 1.2 million acre station but is now only 20,000 acres.  This section is opened up for tourists, caravan & camping.  They also have safari tents set up over looking the river, most crocodiles that have been caught and relocated to the croc farms & attractions come out of Adelaide River so we were sure to keep our distance.  It was a lovely place and we met a few people who come for months at a time, saying the owners are such lovely people making it a pleasure to stay there.  There is horses roaming freely and a little pony, there is also Nigel the bull and some water buffalo.  When we drove in and parked up we looked over at their beautiful pool, it took a moment but then we noticed the pool gate was being propped open by a bin, there didn't seem to be any kids around so it seemed to be safe, taking a second look, the pool gate was standing there on its own, the pool fence was gone!  We were laughing so much, when a man came over to us we asked about the gate and he said, "well the bin is there to hold the gate open cos it kept blowing shut"  The fence and pool shed hiding all the filters  had all blown away in a terrible storm and the gate was all that remained.  We spent a while walking around the property, it was really well maintained.  We came back to the park for lunch and a swim.  There has been no one in the pool so Dan and the kids have been playing chasey games in the pool and seriously Dan is the noisiest out of the 3 of them.  The kids have loved it, a lot of the pools there has been grey nomads reading and relaxing so the kids have had to try not be boisterous so the last few days has been good for them to let off some steam.  We went across to the pub tonight to have a meal, the buffet was on again tonight, there is so much food to chose from and everything is homemade including the desserts & ice creams.  For kids to eat at the buffet the price is according to their age, so a 10 year old is $10 or a 5 year old is $5, what a great idea because even as an adult an all you can eat sounds great but you can only physically eat so much.  Tonight we decided to have sweets, which doesn't sound too amazing but we never really eat sweets so it was different for us.  We shared a homemade apple pie that came with homemade ice cream, banana & vanilla, it was delicious.  The kids had another look at Charlie the buffalo from Croc Dundee and even more desperate to watch it now, surprisingly no where in town sells the dvd, lots of other touristy things but not the movie, the general store who hires movies, the pub or the BP, all saying that they really should get it in though.  Dan googled some you tube clips for them to watch so we will look in Katherine if they stock it.

                                                  The Mt Bundy Station property car

                                                           The horses at Mt Bundy

                                                           The pool at the station

The pool gate being propped open by the bin

Adelaide River - Day 65

Fletcher : Today was short.  We played games with our next door neighbours and mum and dad talked with friends we met on the road then we left.  It didn't take long to get to Adelaide River, one of the places we stayed at on our way to Darwin.  When we got there we set up and went to the pool it was freezing.  Later on we cooked a bbq.

Mackenzie : Today we woke up and played games with our next door neighbours then we packed up the caravan and went to Adelaide River.  When we got there we set up the caravan and went to the pool and me and Fletcher played games.  For dinner we had a bbq.

Today was our last day in Darwin.  We packed up the van and the kids played with their friends from next door.  I said hello to a lady walking her dog and did a double take when I realised it was a lovely friend we had met along the way.  We knew they were coming but thought we may have missed them, it was lovely to chat again.  As we went to leave they came down to say goodbye, it was great to catch up and compare where we had been and have a laugh.  We set off about 10.30 for Adelaide River which is only an hour down the road.  We had to stop for goggles for Fletcher, he has basically worn through the ones he has and they snapped.  A quick stop at target and a look in the sports store at footy clothes with Fletcher, who everyday seems to be in something Sydney Swans and has his Swans cap on all the time, only taking it off at mealtimes and when we get sick of seeing it and take it off him.  We got down to Adelaide River and the caretaker remembered us and which site we had been on, unfortunately someone had been on it since we left so we had to find a new one.  In true Griswolds style we parked up in a site and the leads wouldn't reach so we moved and parked up and un hooked only to decide that it was a dirt site that Bentley or us wouldn't enjoy so we hook it all back up, nearly rip the roof off on a tree and move sites for a 3rd time..... the Griswolds have arrived!  We went to the pool and it was freezing but we still went in, we don't have many more swimming places left so we are making the most of it, its still in the 30's here but the pools seemed to have got colder.  We had a BBQ for dinner and cooked it in the camp kitchen and got talking to a few girls there, its great to hear peoples stories of where and why they are travelling and meet such lovely people.   We have decided to stay a few days so we can just have a relax and try co-ordinate our days to get us where Fletcher wants to be for his birthday.

                           The pool at Adelaide River, a small park behind the BP service station

                                                                 The green park

Darwin - Day 64

Fletcher: Today me and Mackenzie had a big sleep in.  We went to a Sunday pancake morning, well they were actually French Crepes and the chefs  French too.  I ordered a chocolate crepe and guess what all crepes come with ice cream.  After our delicious crepes we went to a market, it was huge it nearly took up the whole town.  After the market we had a shopping spree for food, but only me and dad went in.  Later on we went to the pool but again it was ice cold so I went in for a while then I went to sit down and dry off.  Then we went to Mindle Beach Market and had dinner, I had 6 spring rolls for $3, good deal hay.  Then we went for a little drive around the city.

Mackenzie: Today when we got up Fletcher, mum and dad went to get a crepe because a man was making them.  We went down the market and had I had breakfast.  We went back to the caravan park and we went to the pool and we played with our next door neighbours at the caravan park.  Then we went to the market, me and mum got clothes.

We woke up early today and the kids slept in really late, they had played and watched shows until really late, having no TV is kind of great but when we get the chance to watch things we over indulge and stay up late.  Dan headed to the camp kitchen as another traveller has a full cafe coffee machine, he owned a cafe for 6 years and obviously decided he couldn't part with it so has bought it on the road with him and makes some pocket money as he goes, every Sunday in the camp kitchen you take your own mug and you get a yum coffee.  Also on a Sunday there is the 2 French boys who make crepes.  They are living in a tent and chefs in Darwin and they are only just getting the hang of our language.  So the best crepes, good looking boys, yep they are half my age, and was worth the $3 to hear them say lemon, chocolate, caramel & difficult, even Mackenzie was weak at the knees, saying oh mum I love the way they talk.  So a yummy crepe with ice cream for breakfast, that's ok isn't it?  The kids had cup of soups for breakfast a couple of times while we have been away so surely crepes & ice cream is more suitable.  We then headed to......yep another market.  Darwin is the place for markets and most of them have the same stall holders but the stalls are great and the food is amazing, it has such a wide variety, cheap and fresh.  When loaves of bread have cost nearly $6 in places it is great to get such affordable take away and the atmospheres at these markets are so good, I love markets anyway but when the kids willingly come in to a market with me and Dan willingly drives there you know they are enjoyable.  We had a bit of a drive around before heading back to the van.  We went in the pool, which was freezing.  After Thursdays rain the humidity has gone so its not as hot and the pool has slowly over the last few days become colder.  The kids made a friend in the pool so I said we could stay a bit longer.....big mistake, 5 minutes later I flick at my arm as I think I have a mozzie on my arm, it didn't move so I look down to see a spider the size of a 50 cent piece, within seconds it had crawled across my chest and then I couldn't feel it.  Julie our lovely dog sitter was trying to stay calm but saying its on your cheek dive under water.  I have no fear of spiders at all but I have to say I was petrified and will probably have nightmares about that stupid thing on my face, after a lot of flicking I got it off and Dan tried to get it out of the pool, which proved to be another problem.  We all decided it was time to get out and I wish I had done 5 minutes earlier!  We went back to the van to get dried and ready for the market.  No Dogs at any of the markets in Darwin so we have to do the market separately, well Mack & I do all the stalls, Fletch & Dan do the food aisle, which stretches the length of the market both sides of the path.  We got a few bits and pieces and had been told by a friend to try the chicken laksa, oh wow it was amazing, it didn't look like it was very big but boy it was filling, this goes down so far as my best meal on this holiday.  When Mack & I got back to the van the boys had had a food mishap that saw Dan spilling a tub of sweet sauce over the drivers side of the car and while he tried to clean it Fletcher held Daniels meal and Fletcher spilled Beef "something" all over the passenger side and into my hat and all over the contents of my handbag.  When us Powers do something we do it good!!!  The car stunk like a Chinese restaurant kitchen and no amount of cleaning was going to get the carrot sticks that were used as garnish out of the crevices between the seat and console.  All was forgiven very quickly after I saw the photos Dan had got on his phone of the most amazing sunset on the beach.   I remember being amazed at how beautiful the sunset was when we were here last and the amount of people who go down and sit on the beach is crazy.  We went down to Stokes Hill Wharf and around the city for a look around.  The moon over the water and over the city line was amazing, it made the front page of the newspaper the next day, it is what they call a supermoon with it getting closest to the earth, so its biggest next month or the photo on the paper is also called the Ponzo effect - the illusion that makes the moon seem bigger on the horizon than when its high in the sky.  What a way to finish a day of markets for me and food for Dan.

                                             the moon over the water at stokes hill wharf

                                                                           The moon

                                                            The people at the market

                                                  The people on the beach with the sunset

                               The sun setting with the clouds just covering the outer of the sun.
                                           It felt like if you reached out you could touch it

Darwin - Day 63

Mackenzie : Today we went to Parap Market.  Then we went to a park and we bought our scooters and went to the skate park, it was my first time doing it so it was a bit scary.  Then we went back to the caravan for dinner and dad and fletcher went to watch the footy and me and mum watched a movie.

Fletcher:  Today we drove around town and went to Parap Market and then went to find a park.  We found it and got our scooters out.  We went to a skate park and I went down big drops, I was a bit scared.  Then we went for a walk around the park, there were walking tracks everywhere.  There was a big hill so I drove my scooter down it till I realised it was a bunch of hills, I went down it super fast until I said please don't be another hill, so guess what-another hill.  After the park we went back to the caravan park for a swim, it was freezing, then we went back to have dinner.

We headed out early today as there were 2 markets on between 8-2 so as I had missed last nights market so the boys could watch the footy I was on a promise that we would do both.  We headed to one and there were only 2 stalls, we didn't even get out of the car.  We were there long enough to watch a girl reverse her big Toyota into a brand new sparkly blue ute.  We waited a while until the guy came back to his ute to check she didn't do a runner as there was a lot of damage, he said he had her details, it was his girlfriends best friend who did it, his words were, I just cant speak to her at the moment.  Poor bugger.  We moved onto the next market that was at Parap, it was a great market with most stalls the same as Mindle Beach but still good for a walk around, Dan filled up on market food and then the kids and I went in for a feed.  Everyone is so nice and friendly its so good to be around such positive energy.  We then went to Jingili water gardens which is a beautiful botanical gardens with water features everywhere, there was so many birthday parties going on and even a few professional photographers snapping photos of families.  The kids took their scooters as there is so many walking & bike paths, they had a great time and their confidence in everything is so high, I had to hold my breathe at times as they went down hills way to fast with the wind wobbles up, even Dan had to look away at times, I thought for sure they would scratch or break something but they come out unscathed.  We went to a skate park and they did a few tricks which was fun for us to watch, no nitro circus but they had a great time.  We did some driving around looking at all the huge houses on the waterfront and had a few dreams of which one we liked and what we would do to change it, a single story house that was quite run down and lawns un mowed had a board up for sale for offers over $4 million, so we will keep dreaming.  We have next door neighbours in the park that have 3 kids that seem to have shifted into our place, we go to the pool and they come while mum & dad have drinks at their van and I am the parent to supervise, we sit down to talk, eat, breathe and they are knocking on the door, we go to the toilet and they come, we open our front door-they open theirs.  So we saw their car parked down the shops so we knew it was safe to go home and have 10mins peace and a swim so I could relax and not supervise 5 kids.  Dan is on the edge and so is the man next door over it too but hey everyone is different, we have a rule that the kids don't go in any one else's van and no one else comes in ours so that has come in handy, they play under the awning and are enjoying each others company so that is great that they get to play and the 3 kids are very polite.  So it was my night off and the kids were excited to have no vegies tonight so Dan whipped up toasted sandwiches, the kids had leftover spaghetti in theirs so they did have vegies they just didn't realise it and he made me a lovely chicken cheese & tomato toastie and is cutting up a fruit platter for everyone as I type, I feel very spoilt, well I do have 5 kids at the moment!!

                                                  Fletcher being towed along by Bentley

                                                      The beautiful Jingili Water Park

                                                      The gardens were amazing

                                                 The resident croc at the gardens
                       ( yes we do realise its fake- although we had the kids going for a while)

Darwin - Day 62

Mackenzie - Today we got Bentley and drove around all day.  We went to Humpty Doo, Howard Springs, Darwin Wharf, Darwin Water front,  we had lunch at wild burger.

Fletcher - Today we drove around, first we picked up Bentley from the day care.  We drove to Humpty Doo, Howard Springs, Darwin wharf area and saw one of the companies m dad use to work for, then we went to the water front to have lunch we had burgers from wild burger.  Then we walked on the wharf, later on we came back and had dinner.

Well looking at the kids entries, today was boring, well yes it was in the morning I must admit but they also had the lure of the pool so diaries were written as quickly as possible, note to self - don't use the pool as an incentive for diary writing & school work as the result is pretty poor.  We picked up Bentley who heard us talking in the outside play area and came bounding through the doggy door and almost knocked us over, he was so pleased to see us, I thought he would be cross at us but no just happy we came back.  He didn't know how to play with the other dogs very well so just kept to himself most the time or cuddled up to the owners when they came in.  We headed out for a look at Humpty Doo and Howard Springs.  We also went out to the wharf area and drove through every street in the industrial area and looked at every truck depot ever built.  Dan was in his element and took so many photos.  We got followed by a bloke in his car like some kind of highway pursuit from one of the companies asking why we were taking photos of his depot, hmmmm a little sensitive, hiding something, a power tripper or maybe we shouldn't have been taking photos?  We then headed into the water front area and had a look around again, Bentley got to go in an elevator, the places we take this dog, but no one notices Dan's handbag.  We sat down on the grassed area near the man made beach and checked out all the swimmers and sunbakers.  We had lunch at a picnic table there and went for a walk around the wharf area.  It has changed so much since we were here, it is so beautiful.  It is a little like our southbank area but with continual sunshine and lots of swimming areas, its so strange to have buildings, apartments & offices with this water area in the middle.  We headed back to the van and the pool, the kids have become regulars there at certain times and got us chatting to a few of the grey nomads, we are not cool enough to get invited to the 5pm happy hour but we will work on that!  We seem to be there way too late most nights and come 6.30 we have to start dinner, maybe my only regret is taking our little slow cooker out of the van, we took it out as we didn't think in the heat we would have that type of meal but it would be lovely for it to be cooking while we were out.

                             The sign in the school car park at Howard Springs Primary- I loved it

 The walkway/bridge link we went across that goes from the city centre to the waterfront

The man made beach /swimming area that is an extension of Darwin Harbour that is protected & safe

                               A customs boat in at the wharf, they are massive up close

Darwin - Day 61

Fletcher : Today we dropped Bentley off at the Puppy day care then we went to Crocodylus Park where we saw the crocodiles jump to get food, then we went to get pictures with the baby crocs.  We went to the zoo to look at the monkeys, lions, tigers and ostriches.  Then we went to a water park.  A big bucket of water was on the top of the park and it fills up and then spills a huge pile of water.  We played for a little while then went down the big water slides.  Dad and Mack went down the creepiest one which is the red one because you go down by boat.  I went down the yellow and blue one.  Then we had lunch, I had a hot dog.  Later on we went to the market.

                                                           me holding a baby crocodile

                                                      me coming out the blue waterslide

Mackenzie : Today we dropped Bentley at Puppy Day Care and then went to the crocodile park and saw every dangerous animal was there and lots of crocs.   We went to the water park and me and dad went down a water slide, it was pitch black in it.  I went down all the water slides.  Then I went into the water park  and there was a big bucket, it was filled with water and it tipped, we nearly fell over.  Then we went to the market, I got a dress.  It was raining.

                                                                  holding a crocodile

                                                              the bucket tipping out

                               me and dad coming out on the boat, me and dad both screamed

We booked Bentley into a boarding kennel for today and he will stay the night :(  He is in an enclosure with lots of little dogs and gets his own kennel to sleep in at night, it looked like a kids crèche as they had all the plastic climbing equipment, slides, clam shell pools, balls etc.  It was hard to leave him but we had a full day of no dogs allowed activities planned.  First stop was Crocodylus Park, which is a crocodile park with a few native & exotic animals,100's of crocs and a little mini zoo.  The first tour started at 10 so we had a bit of time to have a look around before it started, some of the crocs are massive weighing between 400-500 kgs.  We were given a tour by Adam, who was really informative.  It was by far the hottest day we had felt and we were all suffering including Adam giving the tour.  He fed the crocs on a wire pulley system and to watch these huge animals lunge out of the water to get their food was awesome and to hear their jaws crash shut is terrifying, the noise was so loud.  He also explained that most people think that fresh water and salt water crocs are never found together - not true, that salt water crocs don't live in fresh water - not true or that fresh water crocs are safe to swim with - not true.  The kids fed the crocs too from a pole and he puts pieces of chicken on a string.  He said on certain days they feed them whole chickens and they jump higher than the cage to get them as they are their favourites.  I have always had a healthy respect for these massive creatures and it was only reinforced further today for me.  We then got to hold baby crocs, they made the cutest sounds, I was happy to touch them but Dan convinced me to hold one so another brave thing I've done!  Of course the kids were straight in, no fear and were really happy & comfortable holding them.  They were soft, really soft, I expected scaly like a fish I think but they were lovely.  We then walked around their zoo section which had such gorgeous animals.  My favourite were the little fluffy monkeys, the kids of course thought the baboons bottoms were hilarious.  The cassowary had such brilliant bright colors and the iguana was a beautiful green.  There were just enough animals to make it a zoo and not too many to make it a long drawn out day.  The lady on the desk suggested a water park for us to go to, we were going to the wave pool in the city so we thought we would check out the park first.  This park was amazing, run by the YMCA and free.  It had 3 water slides, a huge pool and a water play park like nothing I have seen, all maned by life guards.  Also there was a normal play park, skate park, bbqs etc.  We had a fantastic time and stayed for hours, Dan and the kids did the water activities and all 3 slides, I was very happy in the pool, it was so relaxing and there was hardly anyone there, the kids would climb to the top of the slide tower and slide straight down, no line at all.  Dan went on the kids stuff with them and I can not explain what happened except that it was hilarious and without a word of a lie, everyone there was cracking up so much, 10 or 20 people had their day made by Dan for sure.  There is a few photos, I will add them at the bottom and hope it is as funny in photos as it was on the day.  I have no idea how something like this is free, it was so well maintained and run.  While we were having lunch there were 5 junior football teams arrive but even with them having fun and kicking balls in the water there was still plenty of room, it is such an open space,  we have nothing like this in Melbourne but in saying that it would only have a limited use due to our weather.  We stopped in at the shopping centre again and they were celebrating their 40th birthday.  We got the biggest piece of cake at coles and got to meet the hand from the coles advert.  I couldn't convince the kids to have a photo with him, I was weird they said?!  Then we got banana bread from the girls at boost, the kids had no choice this time the boost girls pushed them to the over sized dressed up boost cup and I snapped a picture.  Our free day was going great.  We headed on to Mindel Beach Markets again, it was very grey and it looked like a storm was coming, one of the stall holders said that this weather has been worse than the build up, the lady at Crocodylus had said the same so it wasn't just us being from Melbourne not being able to handle the heat.  We made our way around the market and the stall holders started to pack away so we gathered they had a sixth sense on the pending storm.   We finished looking, watched the fire throwing man who dropped more things than he caught- the kids were impressed we were not, we watched the singing/didgeridoo playing puppet monkey- very cool, we were impressed the kids were not and then the hula hoop circus performers- didn't quite get the reason it was a circus but fun to watch.  By now we were ready to leave, too late the heavens opened up and it was the heaviest rain I have ever felt, huge drops and heavy, it was hilarious trying to run to the car, some people didn't care and by the time we got to the car we were soaked to the bone.  So we were in traffic gridlock as this market is so busy and we were all trying to leave at once, we switched off the engine and sat and laughed at what just happened.  The temperature dropped instantly and was such a relief.  Next our thoughts went to Bentley who by now was in bed and locked inside in air conditioning but we were worried about the thunder and lightening as he is scared of it.  Our big night out with no dog was cut short so we headed back to the van and watched a movie and listened to the rain.