LitchField

 It was an early pickup at 8:00am for a 9 hour day. We drove ourselves to Litchfield 32 yar ago however this time we went via minibus.  Since those days, the crocs have really exploded in numbers to over 100,000 due to the the ban on shootings.  It is a $77,000 fine for killing a croc. We did the big loop via Rum Jungle and Batchelor where the original Austenried Bakery was. The swim at Berry Springs was cancelled due to a 5 metre salty making it home so we had to improvise. Due to the wet season just finishing, the volume of water has spread salties far and wide. Wangi Falls was also closed where we had the kids swimming previously. Buley water holes and Florence Falls were both open and not to crowded. I tasted my first termites at a cathedral like castle.  Breaking into the mound was tricky. As for wildlife, we ticked of sooty grunters (fish), snakes, goannas, wallabies, bower birds, golden orbs, termites and buffalo but no crocs.

Beach Pool

 A pool with a beach is a rare thing and if it has a swimup bar as well like this one does then this would have to be the best pool I have been in. I struggled to swim to the end and back. It has got to be over 100 metres to go around the island as well. Getting the air con right over night is a challenge but we have a week to figure it out. We met Brother Brian last night and returned to the Fisherman's wharf for you guessed it, seafood. 

Darwin City Walk

 We may not be used to 34° but that did not stop us walking into the main town for a three km stroll.  We found a sitdown for a pub lunch before getting a taxi back. OK we said walk into town but not necessarily back again and as well there were the champagne supplies etc that we were now carrying. Also it was time to swap rooms, as the older style ones were deemed inappropriate compared to the nicely refurbished ones. We were allowed to tour a poolside apartment along the way where, at $1800 per night, two couples could have a room each. 

Mindil Beach

 I don't recommend arriving anywhere at midnight. This must be Australia's longest flight nearly five hours. The flight entertainment from Virgin worked well. We streamed two movies and kept the power up with a USB cable from the back of the seat. After the taxi and hotel check in we got some sleep from 2:00am but my head still has a fog that needs to clear. The overnight temperature was 24° so this will take some adjusting. 

seems Mindil Beach hotel is renovating

Impossible Fortune

 These Murder Clubs just keep coming and there is a rumour of a sixth one on the way.  This one is not so much a murder but how to get access to a bitcoin account that just keeps growing. Mind you the real bitcoins have had their ups and downs since first coming on the scene in 2009. The first thing bought with bitcoin was a pizza costing 5000 of them. Now, one bitcoin is worth over $100,000 AUD, that is a lot of pizza. There are cases about people paid in bitcoin for work done years ago.  There are strict rules about access. Five attempts at the password and no way to change it.  One guy has his data on a secured hard drive but if you exhaust the password limit the drive is erased. Seems he is now waiting for the ultimate super computer hack to bypass the security. 

Shopping Shush

There is only so much partying you can do especially only a day before going away on another seven day party. We had a gym session for around 30 minutes just to get the body going so it was an energetic start to the rest day. The resting part will have to be in the afternoon as there seems to be compulsory shopping required before you go away in order to cover all the shushes, like new shorts, shoes and shirts. We were also on the lookout for one of those finicky USB-C adapters. We have had USB covered for the last few years however more and more gadgets are requiring the smallest plughole for recharging. I have not been to Highpoint for years and now I have been three times in a week. 

Thru the looking glass

Puckle and Bustle

Puckle St was going off on a Sunday afternoon. It was a bit rainy so that would add to the bustle in the Picture Theatre. Since we have vacated the Moonee Ponds scene a 6 storey cinema has been built there and it was busy. My sister Leanne, also hired out one of the theatres for a private viewing for her 60th birthday. I recall a similar party for a 50th some 17 yar ago. This film was mostly CGI and was a whodunit involving sheep.  I did not pick whodunit. A good way to spend a rainy day, champagne, cup cakes and ice cream. I thought the film was a bit sheepish.