Darwin to Kakadu

Darwin – Kakadu
I CAUGHT A BARRA!!!! It’s been about four weeks since we last spoke and a fair bit has happened since then. Darwin is a nice place, might even live there, if it wasn’t so bloody hot. This is supposed to be their cool time but still we had the air con on every night, swam in the pool most days and basically tried whatever we could to keep cool. Not a good time to be in town as it is full of bloody southerners. Funny how the Victorian number plate says “The Place To Be”, and yet all the b@#$!@#s seem to be up here or in North Queensland. Checked out a few of the sights around town in the first week, including the free Cyclone Tracey museum, the underground oil pipelines from WW2, the wharf precinct and all the war memorabilia around this pretty city. They have markets here most days of the week, but the biggest is at Mindil beach where you can get a meal from about thirty different vendors plus all the usual knick knacks.
We tried our hand at a bit of fishing around the area up some of the rivers near the harbour. It is a fishing Mecca for those that enjoy this sport. I caught my first Mangrove Jack, plus plenty of Bream, Finger Marks and some huge Batfish. Not to mention the Mud crabs. Ohhh the Mud crabs. They are bloody huuuuge. Plus you can keep the females up here. There is no size limit on any fish except Barramundi and you can take thirty fish each per day. Of course there is the occasional Croc you have to dodge or keep your distance from as they tend to dwarf Dad’s 12ft tinnie.
As a side note, it would appear you don’t need to use bait to catch these massive Muddies either. Just ask Mum about the way she brought one into the boat. She came back to the caravan park that afternoon a little earlier than expected with two decent sized muddies and her hand wrapped up with bloody bandages. Seems she tried to feed one of her fingers to the muddie as it was coming out of the pot. She kept the finger and the crab, so all went well until the finger stopped being numb and started throbbing for the next week. Oh that’s right, I wasn’t supposed to tell you of this little event.
HEY I CAUGHT A BARRA!
We had a day out at the Coonawarra Naval Base, where Darwin was invited to come along and see the real Sea Patrol less Lisa McCune and her pathetic crew. Was a top free day, got to see how the patrol boats worked and talk to the real members of the Navy. Had a display with their inflatable runabouts, showing how they board a suspect boat. Funny part of the tour was down inside one of the PT boats in the mess room for the junior officers they had Sea Patrol playing. Hope this was just a joke and not what they actually watch. We ran into Pete & Corrine (the couple from Dubbo we’ve been following from one state to the other) and found out they were working on one of the local properties picking cucumbers. We also caught up with Alan & Lynda our friends with the big truck “Highway Hilton” had a lovely dinner on the beach and watched the sun go down.
We did a week’s work for Power and Water (the local Ergon) which paid for the camp fees and some petrol. Tried a few restaurants, visited a few shops, did some more repairs on the vehicle and basically spent more than we earned. Got to stay away from the big cities. If there was a criticism about Darwin, it would be the prices, not so much the basics like groceries and fuel, but the tourist and housing side of things. The caravan parks are expensive ( for what you get) and they don’t have a lot of spare spots, the tourist tours like fishing charters or croc parks don’t hold back either. The house prices to buy or to rent are extravagant on the verge of outpricing Brisbane ($450/week for a two bedroom, one bathroom house).
Still you can find plenty to like about the city to out way the negatives. The people seem friendly, the fishing is great, and the city is not unattractive. The locals up here are right into fitness. Every morning and afternoon you can drive up the main roads in the area and find people running, walking or riding their bikes. The afternoon sunset over the western waters is amazing, as soon as that golden globe hits the water it is gone within 60 seconds. We took to kids to the end of the airport runway, which is in the centre of several suburbs, to watch the F18’s land after flight manoeuvres. Awesome. Tayla didn’t agree, but stiff.
I CAUGHT A BARRA!
We spent a day out touring the out skirts of the city. Swam at the Berry Springs for about an hour. We went to The Territory Park as we had a voucher and it wasn’t that dear. Turned out to be a top idea. All the displays are either in a natural environment or can be viewed inside a cage (where you are in the cage) or through glass. Where going for an hour and ended up staying for five. A must do if you come to this area and love animals and birds. The only drawback is the walking. Of course you could hop on the tram, but you just don’t get the same effect “Do you, Jules?” Checked out Hidden Valley where they hold the annual V8 supercars (missed it by a week, “Bugger hey” says Jules).
We finished our visit to Darwin with a Seafood buffet at Darwin Casino. Crab, prawns, Desserts, fish, oysters, mussels, Desserts, Chinese, Greek, Salads, Desserts all for $22pp and $2.50 schooners. Brilliant.
Of course while you are at a casino you have to have a go a winning a fortune. Luckily the casino gods were on my side that night and I was able to walk away even instead of down a tank of petrol. I almost forgot we were in Darwin in time to see the beer can regatta. An annual event that happens at Mindl beach. A full day of beach games (Jack and Tayla tried the tug-o-war, both lost), markets, fresh food, ironman events and the sailing of the creations made by the locals. They have a year to drink beer and make a boat out of the said cans to carry four people around a laid out course on the waters of Mindl Beach. Yes on the waters where you know there has been and probably will be seen again plenty of crocs and sharks and box jellyfish. Needless to say there is a lot of spotters on the waters and lifesavers galore, plus the occasional chopper to ensure that the fun doesn’t come to an end. The idea is to get around the course as quick as possible without your vessel falling apart either by water, flour and egg bombs or any other sort of sabotage that the other competitors can inflict on you.
I CAUGHT A BARRA!
We pulled out of Darwin after three weeks and made our way towards Kakadu. On the way we had to stop at the Reidy lure factory to see how they are made. It really was interesting to see how they are manufactured by the 7 women working in his factory. It appears that age might be starting to creep up on me. Another tale to appease the missus. Seems Jack borrowed the car keys before going into the tour and gave the keys back to someone. After realising he didn’t have the keys anymore and Julie couldn’t find them in her hand luggage, she calls a handbag, and after an hour of walking around outside and inside the shop and the car park, it was brought to my attention the a might be a F%^$#wit as they appeared to be hanging from my pants right beside my wallet. Of course I pointed out that as my wallet and the keys are about the same thickness and weight it was probably a reasonable mistake to make. I guess a back rub and a couple of beers might be required tonight to soothe the savage beast.
Spent the night at Corrobeeree then did a run out to Shady Camp the following day for a fish. It is supposed to be the place to catch a Barra. If you can’t catch one there then you aren’t meant to catch one. The only drawback is that there are also more crocodiles here per area than anywhere in the world. “She be right Jules, no one has ever been taken here.” So we pull up to the barrage and before we even get a chance to turn off the motor, Jack is yelling bloody huge croc. So we venture out of the car and walk 50 metres to the barrage and thus far have spotted five. Two about three foot, two about six and one at least 14 feet. Bugger! We wander up to the bird hide and look around for ten minutes and spot another ten of varying sizes. S%$t! Still there are fish there. “Let’s give it a go!” “Are you sh#$*ng me?” asks my beloved. She’ll be right, darl. Just a couple of flicks while you watch for the crocs. So you start flicking off the barrage into the fast dropping water. Salt on one side and fresh on the other, and crocs all around. What a buzz. After a half hour of casting, snagging the rocks, losing lures, and watching one cheeky fourteen foot croc pop his head up out of the water ten metres in front of us every now and then, a bloke near us hooked up and pulled in a 74cm Barramundi. “Told you they were there Hon”. So after changing rubbers (lure that is) and three more casts and I hook up on my first ever Barra. After a nice little play (about five minutes worth) I pulled in a 75cm Salt Water Barramundi. Un %$*&ing believable. And the crocs didn’t get it or us, what a bonus. Of course not everyone was happy. Seems the old couple near us had been trying for five days, and I dare to be here half an hour and pull in a snodger. The inhumanity of it all. Bloody Victorians; go back to The Place To Be.
Kakadu is next on the agenda, so I will write next week.
Bye for now
The Wattevas

Love and our thoughts are with those that need it at this time.

And to the rest of you “I CAUGHT A BARRA, did I tell ya?”