Winter in Darwin.

Well we are told it is winter, but with 31-32 degrees every day it is very hard to come to grips with this fact. We have however been getting out every day and making the most of this very cosmopolitan city. Last Tuesday eveming we "over-dressed" (read closed in shoes and sports trousers / skirt) and met our friends Wendy & Keith and dined out alfresco overlooking the harbour waterfront at Stokes Hil Wharf. It's no wonder Territorians love this time of year, a balmy breeze off the water while watching the huge fish gather around the pier under the lights. The sunsets are magnificent, I could just about do a complete album of these alone.

One day we went to the Leanyer Recreation Park where there is a very large swimming and water playground complex. Parking and entry are free, the swimming pool is an extremely large man-made lagoon with water depth ranging from zero to about 1.5 metres, surrounded by green lawns and plenty of shade. This facility has become a regular short stop for us on several occasions.

Mindil Beach open air markets each Thursday night are an absolute must see for all Darwin visitors and we were no exception. The range of exotic take-away food is beyond belief. The biggest problem is what to choose for dinner while watching yet another magnificent sunset over the water. Because of the huge numbers who visit there every Thursday night, parking can be a real problem, however we chose to park at the nearby Casino and carry our picnic chairs the short distance to the parklands and beach. Aside from food stalls ther are vendors selling everything from coconut watches to clothing to stock whips. It is a real spectacle and one not to be missed if you visit Darwin in the "dry".

We seem to be continually encountering small problems which we have to overcome on the run. The latest being a problem with the water pump in the caravan. Eventually solved when I discovered that air was being sucked in via a faulty hand pump which is connected into the main line from the tanks. We are certain these things are thrown up from time to time just to ensure we don't get too lay back during our time away from home.

We had a very unexpected surprise last Friday night when we received a phone call from Son-in-law Ian. All of our kids and respective wives together with close friends Cathy & Adrian were on their way to see The Rocky Horror Show at Star City in Sydney. They decided to give us a call, so we were able to have a chat with almost everyone. Thanks everyone, it really made our week.

We still have almost a week to go here in Darwin before reluctantly departing on our slow treck south and the cooler weather.

Kevin and Gail.
For those interested read our blog at
http://www.2008wanderings.blogspot.com/
or a small sample of photos at:
www.picasaweb.google.com/kevinh055/2008trip