Monday 22nd
Once the decision to go was made we washed as much as we could, kids did some school work but were allowed to work for money when they had finished and it took all day to pack and get organised! We had emptied all the boxes on top of the car so it was like starting from scratch and that was good as we have replaced some things and made other things fit better. One thing I did notice was that we haven't used our bag showers, but it's not the end yet! Tim put new brakes on the back of the car and again used a patch of flat ground out at Ian and Kym's to do that on, which we so appreciated.
So now it is out to Kakudu, Katherine, Mount Isa and across to Townsville then up to Cairns. So the internet coverage will probably be none existent for a while!
Monday, 22 July 2013
Goodbye
Sunday 21st
We enjoyed church again at Cornerstone Baptist and said goodbye to these incredibly friendly people that have made us feel like we were family. We were pretty sure that we were going to finally head on, but really hope that these connections were going to be future connections, somewhere, sometime. God likes to wow us as He smiles at what is to come! We headed to Casaurina and I got some photos of these seats that I would like in my house.
This one has cow horns on behind. Be great for hanging naughty kids on by the back of their pants! They may think it too much fun though!
This one is my favourite though.
I don't know that Tim feels the same. He said they're not that comfortable. But who needs comfort when you have looks! I can fall asleep on anything and I bet these chairs are no exception! There are a few of our kids that are the same as me and we could drape ourselves over those chairs and be as happy as a pig in mud! Snoring in no time!
That night Tim and I had big discussions about when we should leave as there are a group from Balaklava coming up to do handy man work in a school up here and we thought we might be of some help to them but we have decided to move on, as one of our kids said........"how long have we been here?" Mum...."4 weeks!" Kid......" Oh, it feels more like a month" silence smile Mum................." a month is 4 weeks!" silence Kid............." Oh"
We enjoyed church again at Cornerstone Baptist and said goodbye to these incredibly friendly people that have made us feel like we were family. We were pretty sure that we were going to finally head on, but really hope that these connections were going to be future connections, somewhere, sometime. God likes to wow us as He smiles at what is to come! We headed to Casaurina and I got some photos of these seats that I would like in my house.
I don't know that Tim feels the same. He said they're not that comfortable. But who needs comfort when you have looks! I can fall asleep on anything and I bet these chairs are no exception! There are a few of our kids that are the same as me and we could drape ourselves over those chairs and be as happy as a pig in mud! Snoring in no time!
That night Tim and I had big discussions about when we should leave as there are a group from Balaklava coming up to do handy man work in a school up here and we thought we might be of some help to them but we have decided to move on, as one of our kids said........"how long have we been here?" Mum...."4 weeks!" Kid......" Oh, it feels more like a month" silence smile Mum................." a month is 4 weeks!" silence Kid............." Oh"
Picnic Lunch At Berry Springs
Saturday 20th
Manning loved his box he got from the wharf that had his food in it that he wore it as a hat for a lot of the day! Looked like a pilot from the old days!
Adrian and Jenny Cook invited us to come to Berry Springs for a picnic lunch with others that are involved in the Northern Tribes group that goes around helping different communities around here. That was a good time of hearing different people's stories and there was an aboriginal lady there that had raised 4 people from the dead. Some fantastic stories.
We all had a swim and was told that in different places under the water the rocks are hot as it is hot under the ground and that was funny to feel. The ground under your feet under the water was hot!
Jenny made a birthday cake for her daughter as it was her birthday and we all got to try it. No comparison to my upside down ice cream cakes! Hers was yummy and looked great! Baylee is actually in a towel , not a straight jacket as it looks!
They all made us very welcome and we have enjoyed seeing again another side of what happens up here.
We got back to the caravan with time to have tea and get ready for the outdoor cinema. Again no jumpers were needed. We just sprayed a heap of aerogaurd on and enjoyed!
Adrian and Jenny Cook invited us to come to Berry Springs for a picnic lunch with others that are involved in the Northern Tribes group that goes around helping different communities around here. That was a good time of hearing different people's stories and there was an aboriginal lady there that had raised 4 people from the dead. Some fantastic stories.
We all had a swim and was told that in different places under the water the rocks are hot as it is hot under the ground and that was funny to feel. The ground under your feet under the water was hot!
They all made us very welcome and we have enjoyed seeing again another side of what happens up here.
We got back to the caravan with time to have tea and get ready for the outdoor cinema. Again no jumpers were needed. We just sprayed a heap of aerogaurd on and enjoyed!
WWll Tunnels
Friday 19th
We went to our local Woolworths at Coolinga and did our weekly shop up. Tim noticed at the counter that you get 17c off fuel every $100 you spent and we had 3 trolleys to fill up so as soon as we got 1 filled Tim went through the checkout and packed it in the car then came back and I had another one ready for him and then I took the last one through. Tim said that we will save nearly $60 on fuel with 3 dockets! That's a lot of ice coffees!!!!!
After lunch we headed into the city of Darwin to go through the WW ll Oil Tunnels. They were very interesting as they had a lot of WW ll photos hung up in the tunnel and gave you a bit of an idea of what life was like up here at that time. The tunnel was at least 100m long and it echoed which the kids liked!
Kimberly heading in the entrance of the tunnels.
Looking into the entrance of the second tunnel. It's me with Manning on my back.
Looking down the tunnel with Ethan, Kimberly, Baylee then in the distance that you can hardly see them is Josiah and Zane.
After that we went for a drive through the not so busy streets of Darwin, which continually amazes us!
Then we headed to Stokes Hill Wharf for fish and chips on the jetty and to watch the Bat fish come and eat chips.
The happy campers with their meal.
And the not so happy campers with Seagull poop on Kimberly's leg and you have guessed correctly........that white spot on the table only a cm away from her drink is also seagull poop!!!! Oh the faces, oh the stories!
What a lovely end to a lovely meal!A little while later we drove home with our windows open and the warm night breeze in our hair. We are loving it!
We went to our local Woolworths at Coolinga and did our weekly shop up. Tim noticed at the counter that you get 17c off fuel every $100 you spent and we had 3 trolleys to fill up so as soon as we got 1 filled Tim went through the checkout and packed it in the car then came back and I had another one ready for him and then I took the last one through. Tim said that we will save nearly $60 on fuel with 3 dockets! That's a lot of ice coffees!!!!!
After lunch we headed into the city of Darwin to go through the WW ll Oil Tunnels. They were very interesting as they had a lot of WW ll photos hung up in the tunnel and gave you a bit of an idea of what life was like up here at that time. The tunnel was at least 100m long and it echoed which the kids liked!
After that we went for a drive through the not so busy streets of Darwin, which continually amazes us!
Then we headed to Stokes Hill Wharf for fish and chips on the jetty and to watch the Bat fish come and eat chips.
What a lovely end to a lovely meal!A little while later we drove home with our windows open and the warm night breeze in our hair. We are loving it!
Thursday, 18 July 2013
Thank You Thank You
We just wanted to write and say thank you to all those who helped in preparing us for this holiday, those praying for us, those who are taking a keen interest in our travels and experiences and those looking after everything back home. There has been so many times that we think of different people, something reminds us or we think someone would like this spot. We are so blessed to have the family and friends that we do and God has blessed us and will continue to as He unconditionally loves us. I trust that those that need to hear this will read it as I have not wanted to use names on this blog as I know it goes everywhere , but know that you are so appreciated by our family and know we are enjoying this time so much due to you all. The support and prayers are fantastic. Thank you thank you. God is good all the time.
Litchfield National Park
Thursday 18th
We packed up the car to spend a day at Litchfield. First we had a look at the Bamboo Creek Tin Mine.
This is Baylee looking at the remains.
We then drove onto the Cascades. This was lots of little waterfalls with small pools of water to swim in. We keep imagining what the places would look like in the wet season with a huge amount of water coming through. Would be a bit amazing to experience.
The next waterfall was Wangi Falls but as we got our noodles out and headed off a guy came over to us and said that we couldn't swim as there had been a sighting of a crocodile. So all we could do was look and imagine what it would be like to swim over to these huge waterfalls.
We headed into the monsoon rain forest to get to the tree tops and as we did the trees were full of loud smelly bats! I thought they were meant to be sleeping during the day! Anyway here we are at the top of the trees. The palms behind are the tops of very tall palms.
This is looking down into the trees.
Then we drove to Florence Falls and as we were walking to the waterfalls we walked over this river and again there were heaps of bats in the trees.
This is Florence Falls and the Plunge Pool. Yes that is someone up the top and he jumped from there as we all watched. A long fall.
Here is Zane and Josiah. Is that a jet of water coming from Zane's mouth? There were a lot of big black fish swimming around. I kept my feet moving as they would nibble your toes in case you were a piece of bread!
From left. Zane, Kimberly, Baylee, Josiah, myself, Manning and Ethan. It was a little tricky getting in as there were a lot of rocks until you got to the deep parts. Nice swimming in fresh water as I have said before. There were a lot of people there probably because Wangi pool was closed.
This was the view from the lookout as we walked back to the car. Impressive!
We packed up the car to spend a day at Litchfield. First we had a look at the Bamboo Creek Tin Mine.
Darwin Museum
Wednesday 17th
Out on the Stuart Highway as we head towards Darwin we go past these planes that are on the side of the road giving some information about the planes that were used in World War 2. There are also a lot of landing strips next to the highway for the planes. So we finally stopped to take a photo of the kids flying them.
Kimberly driving
Baylee driving
Ethan driving
Everyone climbing, pulling, laying, everything except driving!
Then we headed to the shops to get some parts for the caravan, just wear and tear, and some brakes for the patrol. Tim still marvels at the family stickers on our car and the closest one for him that I could find was the mechanic, and that has been what he has ended up doing the most!
After spending some money we found the Darwin Museum which didn't cost anything! They had a lot of animals, stuffed, to look at. A crocodile named Sweetheart, 5.1m long! A section on Cyclone Tracy. Also had a lot of Aboriginal art on display. We then headed home , windows down, hair flowing back in the warm evening breeze. We have heard it is very wet, cold and windy down south, SA which is hard for us to believe up here. So different.
Out on the Stuart Highway as we head towards Darwin we go past these planes that are on the side of the road giving some information about the planes that were used in World War 2. There are also a lot of landing strips next to the highway for the planes. So we finally stopped to take a photo of the kids flying them.
Then we headed to the shops to get some parts for the caravan, just wear and tear, and some brakes for the patrol. Tim still marvels at the family stickers on our car and the closest one for him that I could find was the mechanic, and that has been what he has ended up doing the most!
After spending some money we found the Darwin Museum which didn't cost anything! They had a lot of animals, stuffed, to look at. A crocodile named Sweetheart, 5.1m long! A section on Cyclone Tracy. Also had a lot of Aboriginal art on display. We then headed home , windows down, hair flowing back in the warm evening breeze. We have heard it is very wet, cold and windy down south, SA which is hard for us to believe up here. So different.
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