Day 23 - Darwin lay day

Our second lay day, so a sleep in and $2 pancakes for breakfast.

 
As Rog's bike has a flat we're two up around Darwin today.

First stop was the Australian Aviation Heritage Museum. A must for anyone with a love of flight.
Next it was the NT Museum and Art Gallery where we saw Sweetheart the crock and an exhibition by Franck Gohier. Then we went into the city centre looking for a Cafe for a coffee, no luck.

Back to our camp to watch the Collingwood /Geelong game before heading off to the Mindil Beach Markets and catching up with Lee and Bree and a market dinner.

Day 22 - Darwin

After getting air into Rog's rear tyre and a coffee at the Jabiru servo the tyre started to loose pressure. Nothing like yesterday but enough to require a top up between Jabiru and Darwin. We just couldn't find the leak. Had planned on stopping at Bark Hut but it had closed. Stopped at Marrakai to top up but the compressor had been stolen. 

Farewell to Kakadu.

We put 3 shots of CO2 into the tyre before stopping at Corroboree. That saw us good through to Humpty Doo and then the final leg limping into Darwin.

Once we'd made camp we headed off to the Darwin Military Museum where I saw a Webley 38, the first pistol I had as a bank teller in Wonthaggi. Next onto the WWII Oil tanks and finally onto Stokes Hill Wharf for fish and chips. 

Day 21 - Jabiru

Up and off only stopping for fuel, coffee and toast at Katherine. Sites set on Jabiru.

 
We called into see Mitch's mate at Mary River Roadhouse. A nice break from the heat. Into Kakadu National Park and smoke from the burn offs for most of the way to Cooinda for the next fuel stop.

Once we'd made camp we checked out the Ranger uranium mine and then headed off along the Arnhem Hwy to Cahills Crossing passing through two active floodways.

Not a croc in site at the crossing but a bit of vehicle activity to hold the interest. The Border Store was closed for the season.

Rog's rear tyre had been loosing a small amount of air each day since Qld and decided today was the day to loose a lot. Made it back to camp to extract a piece of metal and repair.

Day 20 - Bitter Springs

Started the day with a much more respectable overnight temp of 17c.

Today we thought we'd give it a nudge and see if we could make Materanka.

First fuel up was at Renner Springs.

The Stuart Highway north of Threeways is littered with WWII encampments, airstrips, other posts and memorials.

A quick stop at Dunmarra and our first site of water buffalo, then on to Elliott where we stopped at the memorial. We also phoned ahead to Darwin to organise a set of road tyres for Rog, a rear for me and oil all round.

Next stop was Daly Waters which was like Burke Street with vans and people everywhere. Checked out the Stuart tree and the WWII Airstrip. Onward to Larrimah, the Pink Panther hotel. Larrimah has recently again become centre of attention over the fella (Paddy Moriarty) who went missing (over pies and affairs). Some have suggested he ended up in the old pork pies that have been sold out of his estranged mistresses establishment (I support this theory). Population 10 minus 1.

We arrived at Materanka around 3:30 and set up tents at Bitter Springs for the night. On with the togs (bathing apparel) a borrowed noodle and off to float down the springs. Absolutely bloody fantastic! Nature at its best. Not to mention Rog and me.

Day 19 - Threeways again

My original Day 19 blog got stuck in the never never.

 
A crisp 3.5c overnight. My 50 cent beanie has paid for itself.

Off to Ti Tree for our first fuel. Just as we arrived so did a dozen army vehicles heading south to South Australia as part of a re-balance of resources.

There's some great sweepers with warning signs that say slow to 100kmph! Next it was on to Wycliffe Well and there was no sign of any UFOs or aliens. A good back story that's now just faded paint and a distant memory.

Final stop today was the John Flynn memorial and then into the Threeways Roadhouse for the second time. They treated us like locals!

Day 18 - Alice Springs lazy day

Slept in until 7am today as we decided to do some washing. The riding jeans were getting heavy with small road kill. Those bugs add up!

We replaced Rog's blown low beam globe. We then wandered into town to Kmart to stock up in the essentials. Found a cafe that served Vegemite and peanut butter on wholemeal (after a bit of educating). Was able to replace my stolen selfie stick and a failed USB phone lead. We both lashed out and got a haircut, however I think Rog's was more of a wax and polish.

Had a look at the Todd, picked up some food and back to the park for a rest.

Met a bloke while having dinner who was a copper from Hamilton, Vic in the '80's and was interested to know what I did in Edenhope. We did have something in common once he knew. A very small world. Enough said.

Day 17 - A town like Alice

Bad coffee and retrace our ride back to Alice. Not a breeze in site which provided a nice ride back. Kings Canyon to Erldunda is about 10kms longer than Erldunda to Ayres Rock. Had a tail wind in and made it on reserve, so bladdered up.

Turn left and up the Lasseter Highway to Erldunda.

Had to use the bladder about 50kms out of Erldunda at Mt Ebenezer (a closed roadhouse). Passed the young fella on his Kwaka ag bike heading back to The Rock.

All day we passed VW trikes heading out to The Rock for a meet. One bloke had two stacked up on a purpose built trailer!

Met a number of blokes on BMW and KTMs doing the Gunbarrel Highway out of Perth.

Once back in Alice we visited the National Road Transport Hall of Fame. Didn't do The Ghan Museum (which is next door). Saving that one for the next trip with Robyn.

We're currently having dinner at Bojangles where the helpings are huge!