July
02
To Darwin
July started with 2 driving days. 1650 km to Darwin and away from the centre to the warm tropics. We did it in two legs, a massive 1050k / 10h to Daly Waters and shorter 600k / 5 hours to our friends, Paul and Emma in Darwin. Highlights on the way included crossing the Tropic of Capricorn, the UFO capital of Australia, and Daly Waters and Alex (and my) road train adventure. 
Daly Waters is like an oasis on a long and straight Highway. Despite seeing so few cars or people all day we arrived to the pub (and our overnight lazy, cabin accommodation) to be greeted by pub with over 200 dinning, dancing and partying patrons, all on the way somewhere! We had an amazing meat dinner, fresh from the cow, and a few beverages!
It happened to be ‘Territory Day’ so there were fireworks, organised and ad hoc including the odd one that took off horizontally, amazingly no one was hurt. Some kids even lit a few when a massive road train delivering fuel arrived…. terrifying! Even more terrifying was that he kids doing this did not see this as a problem when it was suggested that they should stop!
The road train was massive! We started chatting to the driver and he invited Alex and I for a ride while he went down the road to turn it around, a thrill for both of us! It had 3 trailers, 37,000 L of fuel in each. It had a 12 speed automatic gear box, easily accelerated to 100kph, but he did comment that we needed at least 1 km of clear road ahead to over take it. His biggest bug bear was drivers over taking and videoing the experience!
A big breakfast was followed by the remaining painful drive to Darwin. It is funny how we have come to resent these ‘short’ final legs, but at the end we had a warm welcome from our friends in Darwin, Paul and Emma and their kids, Tess, Gab, and Luca. A real home, hospitality, adult conversation for us and friends for the kids to play with.
Darwin was a frantic few days… getting the few bits and pieces that we missed, a few camping repairs, re-provisioning, de-dusting everything as well as a little sightseeing and socialising. It is a shame that we did not have more time to do Darwin justice.
Next stop Kadadu and back to camping at Cooinda.
Facts
July 1: Glen Helen Resort, Alice Springs(Stuart Hwy, again), Barrow Creek, Wycliffe Well Roadhouse (UFO capital), Tennant Creek, Renner Springs, Dunmarra, Daly Waters Hi Way Inn Roadhouse / 1025km 0800 – 1815 / Fuel Alice Springs 153L, $217 & Tennant Creek 84L, $140
July 2: Daly Waters Hi Way Inn Roadhouse, Katherine, Pine Creek, Darwin / 650km 1000-1530 / Fuel xxxx
Chasefloow Around Oz 
Alex you have shrunk next to the road train. Holly your dress looks very pretty.
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hello Alex i see you like alien’s.
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That is an awesome blog
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Hi Louis.
Thank you for commenting on Darwin it was very fun. We were there for 2 nights and on both the nights we had a yummy dinner. On the first night after dinner we went outside and played lots of run around games like tip. On the second night we went out to a Mexican restaurant I had a burrito and a yummy desert.
From Alex.
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