2nd of August to 9th of August

2^nd of August

Midnight last night I picked up my Uncle and Auntie from the airport (while my cousin was sleeping as she had to work today) We had an easy day today, Kate took the girls clothes shopping and I cleaned the van and car. We were giving the girls a rest so we could go to the Mindle night markets with the extended family. We enjoyed our last sunset over the ocean while munching down some Chinese food on the beach.

3^rd of August

While my cousin was working we took her parents and kids to the water parks for one more blast and some ice cream afterwards. My uncle and Aunty had the honours to be the first people to baby sit Emily and the other grubs as they insisted we went out for dinner by ourselves. We ended up down at the casino at the seafood buffet for a nice feed of prawns and some cold beers.

4^th of August

Last day in Darwin leaving tomorrow so we stock up at the local coles and spend the day sorting and re-packing.  My Uncle takes everyone out for Dinner as it is my Aunties birthday on Monday. We spend the night down on the wharf down out near the wave pool in the trendy part of town. We had a nice night out with good company.

 Emily hanging with my Auntie and Cousin

 

5^th of August

My Uncle and Auntie head home today so we also due to leave and get back on the road make a b-line for it. We are trying to get to get to Daly waters for Monday as I am planning on meeting up with a builder friend of mine who is also traveling around oz on a 4 month trip. We drove past several burning of spots on the road with a quick stop in Katherine to fill up with my coles 12cents off docket. I also found out my mate ended up a day early then planned at Daly waters  so even though I don’t think we can fit in another 300km today I decide not to stay at Katherine and start to head south. We got to a town called Mataranka and I had heard about some hot springs. It was about 3pm at this stage so when I saw the turn to bitter springs I decided to go for an afternoon swim with the kids. After our swim and Kate feeding the baby we ended up back on the road about 5pm this is the latest we have been on the road with the van. We ended up at a free camp about 170km south of Katherine. Where after a quick bite to eat we all crashed in bed.

 

6^th of August

Up early and on the road by 8am straight to Daly waters pub. We spotted our mates van bit hard its twice the height of mine and longer (he was out visiting the town sites on there bikes).   We payed for our accommodation $24 for a powered site not to bad and set up camp next to my mate when he arrived in time for some morning tea and a catch up. Happy hour is at 4.30 our kids and my mates kids jump in the pool while the Dads sit at the bar and catch up on $3 middies  in between sending some wine out to the wives at the pool. We plan on staying another night so we have dinner back at the van.

7^th of August

My mate brings out of his truck a twin tub washer (he is carrying more shit then the first settlers lol) After he washes his clothes he offers it to me to use as we had a basket full of clothes as we didn’t get a chance before leaving Darwin. It was great I slowly put on my clothes through the twin tub while chatting to the people camped behind us and with our own group. We head up to the pool after the clothes washing for the kids to have a mid-afternoon swim before heading back to camp for a shower and clean-up to return for happy hour at 4.30pm. We get a table as we are booked in for the 6pm barra and beef feed and the place fills fast and we need 3 tables. We enjoy our happy hour with our friends, think we boys got through 6 beers lol. Then not long after our name was called up and the kids meals were brought out we were the first up which was great as we got first attack at the salad bar. After our great dinner the barra was perfect the entertainment came on it was awesome a guy by the name of Chilli who performed bush poetry, comedy act and also sung was fantastic I had to purchase his cd. One day I will have my bar setup with this playing in the back ground every time I have a few friends around.    

 

8^th of August

well after one of the best nights I have had on the road I had to say good bye to my friends as they continue north we are off to 3 ways and over to the east. We head south with a some great views on top of the hills of distance views over the planes below as far as the eye can see something that would be great if you could take a 180 degree picture to capture it. We called into 3 ways to give the kids a break and re-fuel before turning left and heading east. We ended up camping at a nice little free camp 70km east of 3 ways.

 

9^th of August

Another big day in the car, another day another state and today we crossed over to Queensland with some joke being written on the sign about how bad nsw plays footie lol. We ended up free camping 50km out of Mt Isa at a nice bush camp that had a special tribute to the making of the original road to help Usa and Australia soldiers in world war 2.