tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28489685313337855792024-03-25T23:02:13.691-07:00Bridget's MAF JourneyBridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415971976330381959noreply@blogger.comBlogger254125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2848968531333785579.post-5764569805724715642024-01-27T22:23:00.000-08:002024-01-27T22:23:43.802-08:00Barron Falls<p>This past month I spent two weeks in Mareeba for some training, and took the time while I was there to visit the Barron Falls, near Kuranda.</p><p>Here's what they normally look like in the dry season (picture taken September 2019):</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKOIglCw3F1qQAiw4POv8OqeLNRrliQMG3qSDdAsXEVGbbIsfpYN1rGgQfyV_-XqxFWc6AogK_JUPMj54mwvcdvIr2LHZl9lDlSRW6AspC4YCEGRRrxKP9vmt0HVtUiZmI-cYt58G6POIwhwiCqmKJ8aEPEOZVLJ_cW-Jij2iiG6R27xByq4H5Sfkn598/s1024/barron-falls_2019-sep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKOIglCw3F1qQAiw4POv8OqeLNRrliQMG3qSDdAsXEVGbbIsfpYN1rGgQfyV_-XqxFWc6AogK_JUPMj54mwvcdvIr2LHZl9lDlSRW6AspC4YCEGRRrxKP9vmt0HVtUiZmI-cYt58G6POIwhwiCqmKJ8aEPEOZVLJ_cW-Jij2iiG6R27xByq4H5Sfkn598/w400-h300/barron-falls_2019-sep.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Here's what they look like in the wet season (picture taken when I first arrived in Mareeba, April 2019):</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4LpsWqto7TsqgGktlOdAJLKlK1ayqE4LUmDSpvIZPRgPUSVNqDJI5CAnGqo8o0Wb_o7FcaAAl-9MBK5tVXzwIzKMw4GqNe74LJAdNK3YdDXX9VqUuQ1ZUgDUDyqcCvzbhLofbyXgm4MiGsW0uois8FwWIV9wr9DuzBHolJ990KPyf0f_FyJVjJXzaX6E/s1024/IMG_7829.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4LpsWqto7TsqgGktlOdAJLKlK1ayqE4LUmDSpvIZPRgPUSVNqDJI5CAnGqo8o0Wb_o7FcaAAl-9MBK5tVXzwIzKMw4GqNe74LJAdNK3YdDXX9VqUuQ1ZUgDUDyqcCvzbhLofbyXgm4MiGsW0uois8FwWIV9wr9DuzBHolJ990KPyf0f_FyJVjJXzaX6E/w400-h300/IMG_7829.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Here's what they looked like last week:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiibmPtcHQ8DHGW62noLESFFMRcOy55NVvAgkrdgwcTKxTkdVm1X_rpVKK-GM3skp5UzIrSDLgJRSWRD8ucGgbgU-wyc_H-5uQ8HYToeq5ZK3x6jODcjxHPwj1nf6vtdvmdHqxh7y1v8hao-I0DlFQs6A2q6-knwVvy3XtoqV4tFPwdzWqiEHloMQNW-3Y/s1024/IMG_6561.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiibmPtcHQ8DHGW62noLESFFMRcOy55NVvAgkrdgwcTKxTkdVm1X_rpVKK-GM3skp5UzIrSDLgJRSWRD8ucGgbgU-wyc_H-5uQ8HYToeq5ZK3x6jODcjxHPwj1nf6vtdvmdHqxh7y1v8hao-I0DlFQs6A2q6-knwVvy3XtoqV4tFPwdzWqiEHloMQNW-3Y/w400-h300/IMG_6561.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>This was nearly a month after <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-12-17/qld-flooding-fnq-cyclone-jasper-sunday/103238806">Tropical Cyclone Jasper</a>!<br /></p>Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415971976330381959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2848968531333785579.post-45481310194103558082023-12-29T17:26:00.000-08:002023-12-29T17:26:39.845-08:00Christmas<p>This year our compound hosted a 'Southern hemisphere Christmas' - to give people a heads up that the meal would include salads and cold desserts rather than roast meats and steamed pudding!</p><p>We also had a water slide for the kids during the afternoon, and George the puppet made an appearance too.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg72PfjQa6MUdVR-z6kScN6XtA6vSaVHMdeA8t3F_ICLuZQ0qSbju4HXYfj4w9qY7P-F4f-H3cnefZEi32TmeJrJmoSoFrfB4n5SZwHl7LslaaRiKgkOB_Ixy8QYEOtdyTGCAH5hos9ZAQQkvE6HKG-eO-SuB-Tx3QwOv4-6MCX1JyCiAO3MdEigvqC9nw/s1024/IMG_6519.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg72PfjQa6MUdVR-z6kScN6XtA6vSaVHMdeA8t3F_ICLuZQ0qSbju4HXYfj4w9qY7P-F4f-H3cnefZEi32TmeJrJmoSoFrfB4n5SZwHl7LslaaRiKgkOB_Ixy8QYEOtdyTGCAH5hos9ZAQQkvE6HKG-eO-SuB-Tx3QwOv4-6MCX1JyCiAO3MdEigvqC9nw/w400-h300/IMG_6519.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Water slide fun<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFc_7KVggQgw1dyo4wvfg1bffK-VUe-fMA8qpPzqZ1JZVcA5SQGcfIe33HWQMWXPbET53PS-itzm2ZAAglx6gj6XZv6ev3thXuByGfxToU8XZzdMzY4BrdzCuqmWENduUMtSTl9yg2965_gUOYrEOkhUa9eme4Rrt55xpRayEc_LiuuhEbdQa2YkO6Igo/s1024/IMG_6522.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFc_7KVggQgw1dyo4wvfg1bffK-VUe-fMA8qpPzqZ1JZVcA5SQGcfIe33HWQMWXPbET53PS-itzm2ZAAglx6gj6XZv6ev3thXuByGfxToU8XZzdMzY4BrdzCuqmWENduUMtSTl9yg2965_gUOYrEOkhUa9eme4Rrt55xpRayEc_LiuuhEbdQa2YkO6Igo/w400-h300/IMG_6522.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">About 50 people came<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgY7iH_BjlKcqioKWKxhwDKQ4ZojlCJSVB6GYmO5w80OXHHQzQ30PKUCJWY0QCtaEQBL-MjC6JBEOQXpZ5gFJtTDUfx0UREjKUGIJbtX_ioiLPNSkeLpu2A5lzE-aye8xMWk3R2DDBRPbfsDizOZbYhmaeFbY53v2OAJ25I-RMvwYi0cG3jDEgGeiujbI/s1024/IMG_6524.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgY7iH_BjlKcqioKWKxhwDKQ4ZojlCJSVB6GYmO5w80OXHHQzQ30PKUCJWY0QCtaEQBL-MjC6JBEOQXpZ5gFJtTDUfx0UREjKUGIJbtX_ioiLPNSkeLpu2A5lzE-aye8xMWk3R2DDBRPbfsDizOZbYhmaeFbY53v2OAJ25I-RMvwYi0cG3jDEgGeiujbI/w400-h300/IMG_6524.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Festive salads and Christmas ham<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihaui0PyIyt7sPlnduHBIT8gmKz2_QusZ6olUp0_Ql_K3PxSTN4u10bhctNQlHis3h3BFp4_dNBwJGnK0y4gE8z-lbya1Hzrw33CIYezxxqSupwDcjvtcK26QcK-vBbZk_1TYvwOn31-Ns7d9l1kRiFKDN7GsM5DFoDMu4MDBiazShvn0UmtNAcctkK7U/s1024/IMG_6521.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihaui0PyIyt7sPlnduHBIT8gmKz2_QusZ6olUp0_Ql_K3PxSTN4u10bhctNQlHis3h3BFp4_dNBwJGnK0y4gE8z-lbya1Hzrw33CIYezxxqSupwDcjvtcK26QcK-vBbZk_1TYvwOn31-Ns7d9l1kRiFKDN7GsM5DFoDMu4MDBiazShvn0UmtNAcctkK7U/w400-h300/IMG_6521.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My dessert contribution - before they were devoured!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415971976330381959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2848968531333785579.post-63208902070052150162023-11-23T01:35:00.000-08:002023-11-23T01:46:27.692-08:00Home assignment - part 4 (continued)<p><b>Rimutaka Incline</b></p><p>An old favourite!</p><p>It was sunny in Lower Hutt but cloudy in Upper Hutt and quite cold, so I didn't really hang around. At the summit, I debated how far to go down the other side, and decided to go down to the big new bridge at Siberia Gully, and from there decide if I wanted to continue on to Cross Creek. However, arriving at Siberia there was danger tape and signs informing that the bridge and track were closed. So I didn't have to make a decision after all! (But it would have been courteous if there had been a sign at the top of the hill...)<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYVvJGy5755hjPwodit3ty-Ilhyphenhyphenp6EyxaNY81UFZYf2sazh_hRfp3bEMcNhoJ48ZK-_Cth5ZBqIA2sH_pwK8Cf6RWDcNTNGFatb7laPkshGoy1X-AwfG_AMKaRIMEeg1AoubWFw4sUuEIsR24eNrvduLChJ7SwFkxN2xkax_taSpSyjvb_FNv5LoTVbpo/s1024/IMG_6437.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYVvJGy5755hjPwodit3ty-Ilhyphenhyphenp6EyxaNY81UFZYf2sazh_hRfp3bEMcNhoJ48ZK-_Cth5ZBqIA2sH_pwK8Cf6RWDcNTNGFatb7laPkshGoy1X-AwfG_AMKaRIMEeg1AoubWFw4sUuEIsR24eNrvduLChJ7SwFkxN2xkax_taSpSyjvb_FNv5LoTVbpo/w400-h300/IMG_6437.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Incline summit<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2nYlUCEx0rBj5f0wNyXnr7b9li_47ZchBiyP0ZLg9G20XN6PHY_WdIAZS9BUrb_yAMiGRV4CR35nHqVjOxNJ4rHz_j4G2861Lek9q0ew6-vCxtADlqyqKNkjeQikkq5icNCZNDmsflDvXK_bkVRF3MxA3FeLpIIdSPyxky4ZUvnmlCcRazW-XCp78X0g/s1024/IMG_6441.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2nYlUCEx0rBj5f0wNyXnr7b9li_47ZchBiyP0ZLg9G20XN6PHY_WdIAZS9BUrb_yAMiGRV4CR35nHqVjOxNJ4rHz_j4G2861Lek9q0ew6-vCxtADlqyqKNkjeQikkq5icNCZNDmsflDvXK_bkVRF3MxA3FeLpIIdSPyxky4ZUvnmlCcRazW-XCp78X0g/w400-h300/IMG_6441.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The end of the line<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCqyooI4UWtbepnrioRAdKyzCtakHVSEsI6v8DMhR_Uy_Xf8ApP91MwDy0LarihP2OTk8c6u-HMZgaHakeVnhSGJhSolYVE7lFIY2CGPMLrtCJh_uqdr064OlhdDFzoTa3oFHfQc7cPZcSBj-WN4NG4ZC7reN-87BwDnoRzxHunsHo7_wAT-fLMFoYSOc/s1024/IMG_6447.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCqyooI4UWtbepnrioRAdKyzCtakHVSEsI6v8DMhR_Uy_Xf8ApP91MwDy0LarihP2OTk8c6u-HMZgaHakeVnhSGJhSolYVE7lFIY2CGPMLrtCJh_uqdr064OlhdDFzoTa3oFHfQc7cPZcSBj-WN4NG4ZC7reN-87BwDnoRzxHunsHo7_wAT-fLMFoYSOc/w400-h300/IMG_6447.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summit tunnel - 584 m long<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><b>Mount Holdsworth</b><br /></p><p>This was a bit of a compromise - heading into the Tararuas, but not staying overnight (since I didn't have all the necessary gear or a tramping buddy to go with). Again I kept an eye on the weather forecast for a fine day with not much wind, and it came on cue.<br /></p><p>I left Lower Hutt at 6:50 am and arrived at Holdsworth Lodge at 8:15. A quick change of footwear and toilet stop and I was on my way by 8:30. First sandwich at Powell Hut around 11, second sandwich at the top around 12. I spent about half an hour at the top, soaking in the serenity and waiting for the clouds to lift a little bit more. They didn't seem to want to, so I made my way back down, arriving at the car park around 3:15. I was quite pleased with a sub-8 hr return walk!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBkNkzNKwyYXP9laGmgJcRxa_LhTn_bc21az75GuzcJy8blbWQUVE3sC4PzFnegcYNirSV19u18Jvv2KwpdoB227To-dzmue0wdZUz_y0wBBqi0_VDIOxj4W1qdeBpuxQYl1d97AOwTkOyvvRUE4PvzGA5c-qwjwSDgncdjZb4FU2Jx2s5XDrw6EgXvDg/s1024/IMG_6450.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBkNkzNKwyYXP9laGmgJcRxa_LhTn_bc21az75GuzcJy8blbWQUVE3sC4PzFnegcYNirSV19u18Jvv2KwpdoB227To-dzmue0wdZUz_y0wBBqi0_VDIOxj4W1qdeBpuxQYl1d97AOwTkOyvvRUE4PvzGA5c-qwjwSDgncdjZb4FU2Jx2s5XDrw6EgXvDg/w400-h300/IMG_6450.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not much to see here! Reaching the cloud base, well before Powell Hut<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBoWT6zbFUlQQvkvzR4ZfTl7YhJruQpwEJLaJ_ub7Cy80Vnc9mv6_tQ1Mn6DZBk3hkjegxTm_OsDh-JviHArEFiUMX1-Dxt_obD_YcEYu4bC4vfLg7H9Tda3n0dX9Mp4FqGkrBGksb6ZHInNyCFcPANoC1AhOCzOKD1LzU0pNksCXJcbT1UvmS8nModPE/s1024/IMG_6459.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBoWT6zbFUlQQvkvzR4ZfTl7YhJruQpwEJLaJ_ub7Cy80Vnc9mv6_tQ1Mn6DZBk3hkjegxTm_OsDh-JviHArEFiUMX1-Dxt_obD_YcEYu4bC4vfLg7H9Tda3n0dX9Mp4FqGkrBGksb6ZHInNyCFcPANoC1AhOCzOKD1LzU0pNksCXJcbT1UvmS8nModPE/w400-h300/IMG_6459.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Popping out on top of the cloud<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjasvudrx_WPS5DUahilz4KV9hgifssQnWI1I2QfdJC7xcLEsrUSFMRFamBVEWFjNDnOn_TH6IYMfXz2h_sPqwgseOZk6sUlW9yjOXQF9FxajGEX5XXV5wgxcPieQM1ecp8HaccoC2w3QXOWjbCw8LS6MqO7GTNvuq9upKMvKIyL6Elrp_Yfozc1cMFxlQ/s1024/IMG_6461.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjasvudrx_WPS5DUahilz4KV9hgifssQnWI1I2QfdJC7xcLEsrUSFMRFamBVEWFjNDnOn_TH6IYMfXz2h_sPqwgseOZk6sUlW9yjOXQF9FxajGEX5XXV5wgxcPieQM1ecp8HaccoC2w3QXOWjbCw8LS6MqO7GTNvuq9upKMvKIyL6Elrp_Yfozc1cMFxlQ/w400-h300/IMG_6461.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top of Mt Holdsworth (1470 m) in the clear<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN6UDnWJ_Z4Z8bJc7hDRlFdx9DLpIVSU-zR-lWH1QKyAQr6CRH7Pqhqzi3OLyn6fE7OAAZAIi4KxBVjioARVdpndjPBIZSJ7X1wqFbKdEdtlbmYg2ktVRNzB_t3zuGxvKkcDi0pQbZpydr_C-OqdYTfpDPFG2yCS0nf9iWIS-2AMtUGdNoLY5T_6S8NmQ/s1024/IMG_6460.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN6UDnWJ_Z4Z8bJc7hDRlFdx9DLpIVSU-zR-lWH1QKyAQr6CRH7Pqhqzi3OLyn6fE7OAAZAIi4KxBVjioARVdpndjPBIZSJ7X1wqFbKdEdtlbmYg2ktVRNzB_t3zuGxvKkcDi0pQbZpydr_C-OqdYTfpDPFG2yCS0nf9iWIS-2AMtUGdNoLY5T_6S8NmQ/w400-h300/IMG_6460.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cloud blanket covering the Wairarapa<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQv7TgJP0nljobgqQ7zTxr6rc9Lt7kdjBrzcQ9Yti0yYrEClcE8tX2GoAVeo7HDE2HxHy73ZOtLwBTL3jkRWU0PwIDH1TGJrF57fFb48YGDx7ASF7DgL5qg9dnA44Gs4XlDgqODE1chDjdBVO781ycaYCe2N_b2eu7S9voyrN2cRdBTj9H50UvRXi65Vo/s1024/IMG_6464.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQv7TgJP0nljobgqQ7zTxr6rc9Lt7kdjBrzcQ9Yti0yYrEClcE8tX2GoAVeo7HDE2HxHy73ZOtLwBTL3jkRWU0PwIDH1TGJrF57fFb48YGDx7ASF7DgL5qg9dnA44Gs4XlDgqODE1chDjdBVO781ycaYCe2N_b2eu7S9voyrN2cRdBTj9H50UvRXi65Vo/w400-h300/IMG_6464.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the summit towards the northwest<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Given that <a href="https://bridgetsmafjourney.blogspot.com/2022/01/tararua-tramping.html">Raewyn and I visited this part of the Tararuas</a> on my 2021 home assignment, and having found that it's quite doable in a day, I have a feeling that a walk up Mt Holdsworth could well become one of my home assignment traditions in the future!<br />Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415971976330381959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2848968531333785579.post-58947466890616010802023-11-23T00:53:00.000-08:002023-11-23T00:53:10.360-08:00Home assignment - part 4<p>The final two weeks of my trip back home were annual leave. The goal: be refreshed (and maybe even a little bit bored) by the time I went back to PNG.</p><p>I had various ideas about what I could do... book a holiday house somewhere for a week and make a start writing my novel... do a section of the Te Araroa trail... do some day walks, maybe some of the 'Mount X's around Wellington (Kaukau, Climie, etc.)</p><p>In the end, I decided to stay local and use the time to do things that I can't do in PNG, primarily bush walks and bike rides on my own.</p><p><b>Mount Lowry</b></p><p>An easy one to start with! My entry point was the top of the Wainuiomata hill road.<br /></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4LZjU8GTLxMgkIgcs8EgPZ3OeiPh8PtY5IE7b-zF3AlrvUIgzyc73rD9QZL4nUOhcTgdL7hkV6ZtIdzs0oU4JDAZrjRbaYSPa9pU7_1bas6gYJA5EOrLJdF-uCcGl_foxCH8uP8i3Vrp_qFozRjsy44ppyiJVEX_IR_q3hJYyG6DRJ6jL7-QhwF2NWYA/s1024/IMG_6415.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4LZjU8GTLxMgkIgcs8EgPZ3OeiPh8PtY5IE7b-zF3AlrvUIgzyc73rD9QZL4nUOhcTgdL7hkV6ZtIdzs0oU4JDAZrjRbaYSPa9pU7_1bas6gYJA5EOrLJdF-uCcGl_foxCH8uP8i3Vrp_qFozRjsy44ppyiJVEX_IR_q3hJYyG6DRJ6jL7-QhwF2NWYA/w400-h300/IMG_6415.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sign says it's a 'Mount'...<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhXoDTeXiCvusoxe25yswvwdEjik-XInHfOhxCtqfZeo354I7dUuNcDpx4ynUcHnnR_VdD9WhqKIFALzJpvpLtqlnOfHxe4WLh_8xXETdzVCLTddrop7m3yFv4fJLBF4qgpk26X3sXXk3GCaMc-DmZgLaTLrWaLwQsano53QzFb3-6uKbgs9lpQA5rIgk/s1024/IMG_6410.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhXoDTeXiCvusoxe25yswvwdEjik-XInHfOhxCtqfZeo354I7dUuNcDpx4ynUcHnnR_VdD9WhqKIFALzJpvpLtqlnOfHxe4WLh_8xXETdzVCLTddrop7m3yFv4fJLBF4qgpk26X3sXXk3GCaMc-DmZgLaTLrWaLwQsano53QzFb3-6uKbgs9lpQA5rIgk/w400-h300/IMG_6410.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not much of a view, but I found the survey marker<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /><b>Mount Ken</b></p><p>I don't know if this is the official name, but I've read it <a href="https://www.trailforks.com/trails/mount-ken/">somewhere before</a>. (In other places I've seen it referred to as Mt Fitzherbert.) Anyway, it's the highest point at the back of Naenae with a transmitter tower at the top.</p><p>The weather was sunny but quite windy, so I opted to do this one as a bike ride rather than walking up Mt Climie, which is a little more exposed. I went up the Te Whiti riser, along the firebreak to the top, then back down the Summit Rd firebreak. It was a good afternoon out!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1sH5h7jFeqPau2HdhZEsbURej1EiT1XbbSqlp4z8okYLHr8Z7FaX8-hq5fl5BOHHow1w97lHIuEVHgtZkZSVjY9at1QloLOPGQPJIq6s-zWMt_F1l2PWofLclVfoGEG_KCETcfjn40SjFnNz9BfZLeN8Mwyj0Ggfm4d-KVgQZkwHlsQN66dAx2JGSKM8/s1024/IMG_6416.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1sH5h7jFeqPau2HdhZEsbURej1EiT1XbbSqlp4z8okYLHr8Z7FaX8-hq5fl5BOHHow1w97lHIuEVHgtZkZSVjY9at1QloLOPGQPJIq6s-zWMt_F1l2PWofLclVfoGEG_KCETcfjn40SjFnNz9BfZLeN8Mwyj0Ggfm4d-KVgQZkwHlsQN66dAx2JGSKM8/w400-h300/IMG_6416.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of Mt Ken from the top of the Summit Rd firebreak<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYzhiBkD71s9ImNVkEoeZXrfmKz-VZpreG3ms7jCFqoR9LLp6XdmArKK2KJxOYyT4n9NwgNM0at-ID_MFtqCYBeKTX-tXhWiU-ZU64hf8uGAVuVkYH_Q2UNupprBp0LDvnBMjRyXLNPIpPMeHubrKpXVl7DjcYOeHHDbmnUCsgVn3YIF4JZYHqT84fhMs/s1024/IMG_6421.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYzhiBkD71s9ImNVkEoeZXrfmKz-VZpreG3ms7jCFqoR9LLp6XdmArKK2KJxOYyT4n9NwgNM0at-ID_MFtqCYBeKTX-tXhWiU-ZU64hf8uGAVuVkYH_Q2UNupprBp0LDvnBMjRyXLNPIpPMeHubrKpXVl7DjcYOeHHDbmnUCsgVn3YIF4JZYHqT84fhMs/w400-h300/IMG_6421.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tower and trig at the top of Mt Ken<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9bofOs0ZyGgQVMwM1g-DC4lzqU2ACXTbogXHr9zHMPIq_kMsFzv2hjq3AvDnqCa6ORXSELNvJFy2Saov_e8ZAB9w0I-LMgVqHHxAhNq_EDsHMEjCnRim5stHqGrD-EEFgGLwgTieyfsdXL5cWDc5tVXJpInYl3FK342l406wjD7tpi0KOK_x5Qo8vZI/s1024/IMG_6422.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9bofOs0ZyGgQVMwM1g-DC4lzqU2ACXTbogXHr9zHMPIq_kMsFzv2hjq3AvDnqCa6ORXSELNvJFy2Saov_e8ZAB9w0I-LMgVqHHxAhNq_EDsHMEjCnRim5stHqGrD-EEFgGLwgTieyfsdXL5cWDc5tVXJpInYl3FK342l406wjD7tpi0KOK_x5Qo8vZI/w400-h300/IMG_6422.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of the Hutt Valley from Mt Ken<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><b>Paekakariki Escarpment Track</b></p><p>This one didn't include a 'Mount' anything, but when the forecast for Saturday was for light winds, I couldn't pass it up. I've done this track twice before, once when it was windy and once when it was very windy, and I can say it's not much fun in the wind. But the views are stunning!</p><p>I parked the car at Pukerua Bay and took the train to Paekakariki, walking from north to south. There are a bazillion steps up and down, but going from north to south the stairs going up are a little more spread out.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5hiaZzaVshQTMA1fKK6orXtN41ZkORlu49HMPnYrVhvFlxhmBgK2Ijxmt5bGy6dMVPf6AX5dhFZbgAgdkvI65FevH1YhOiOGhWNbv7LdqFdgkoFMSK48rgBQWKcXAIdTYUJMef_j_LnEx1334fE5nuM29kSg4hiejyn0Mk_oOQm7JGV2xCHhiq4rxau0/s1024/IMG_6432.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5hiaZzaVshQTMA1fKK6orXtN41ZkORlu49HMPnYrVhvFlxhmBgK2Ijxmt5bGy6dMVPf6AX5dhFZbgAgdkvI65FevH1YhOiOGhWNbv7LdqFdgkoFMSK48rgBQWKcXAIdTYUJMef_j_LnEx1334fE5nuM29kSg4hiejyn0Mk_oOQm7JGV2xCHhiq4rxau0/w400-h300/IMG_6432.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking north<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKiJSO4Am6Cv77dU9ohhmCzi8luS2LNrTf2d-kVPLgDKEXyeIEGZi9RjTqyxuKVFyzQC1TC1nI_OOD1jXD89TX8YAKsW3aSsf1O_V74dCKHaHKbI1KTxxHfENEZczs-rIhZI5JfPYa29f0XMMvFg_fN_CxLI_ypH0AoZonFBNFBqEoz_RZu6AY4DtuyXY/s1024/IMG_6429.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKiJSO4Am6Cv77dU9ohhmCzi8luS2LNrTf2d-kVPLgDKEXyeIEGZi9RjTqyxuKVFyzQC1TC1nI_OOD1jXD89TX8YAKsW3aSsf1O_V74dCKHaHKbI1KTxxHfENEZczs-rIhZI5JfPYa29f0XMMvFg_fN_CxLI_ypH0AoZonFBNFBqEoz_RZu6AY4DtuyXY/w400-h300/IMG_6429.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the bazillion steps<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiW_SI2xxABG-lBAaDI8xDJ0y3VnB_JelfhBb4b055SJxtWCMs-VxGx0At16mXg7y-KGdsidFWERhUOzVFWnGNrstvPOehFjde38PekKglcQjCh-TJNYzMkFugOq_0PPH_vkhF4hOy7pSQtA9Y0xdmj9k87iuB39ZwA7kvRvFRsHzucoDACRiMOrSQoI4/s1024/IMG_6436.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiW_SI2xxABG-lBAaDI8xDJ0y3VnB_JelfhBb4b055SJxtWCMs-VxGx0At16mXg7y-KGdsidFWERhUOzVFWnGNrstvPOehFjde38PekKglcQjCh-TJNYzMkFugOq_0PPH_vkhF4hOy7pSQtA9Y0xdmj9k87iuB39ZwA7kvRvFRsHzucoDACRiMOrSQoI4/w400-h300/IMG_6436.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A tui enjoying the flax flowers<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415971976330381959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2848968531333785579.post-43857733629850911322023-11-22T21:38:00.000-08:002023-11-23T00:18:20.427-08:00Home assignment - part 3<p><b>Back in Wellington</b></p><p>We arrived back on Wednesday and I took the next day off, since I hadn't really had a full weekend while I'd been away on the road trip. We pilots are very aware of our duty time limitations!</p><p>The next event I had was a Friday night youth group at <a href="https://capitalvineyard.org.nz/">Capital Vineyard</a>. The kids were really interested and asked lots of questions. I visited again on the Sunday night to speak to the young adults group.</p><p>My next event was on Tuesday, in Christchurch - a visit arranged by the MAF prayer group co-ordinator there. I also had the opportunity to visit <a href="https://www.aidanfield.school.nz/">Aidanfield Christian School</a>, where again the kids had all sorts of questions. The one that made me smile was 'My dad flew in a plane once.' Good for him, moving along!</p><p>That evening I spoke at the MAF prayer group. A family from Amberley whom I met on my last home assignment had driven down to see me again, which was most humbling.</p><p>Returning to Wellington the following day, my next speaking engagements weren't until Thursday. In the afternoon I visited <a href="http://www.christian.school.nz/">Miramar Christian School</a>, where, it turns out, the wife of a former MAF PNG pilot is working. An afternoon tea invitation unfolded and it was great to chat about mission life then and now. Leaving there, I headed to Capital Vineyard (again) for another 'open event'. My home support team person and I were a bit perplexed when nobody turned up! Ah well - a night off.</p><p>The final week looked like it was going to be a bit cruisy, but two events were arranged at short(ish) notice, so it ended up being relatively full. On Tuesday I visited my former workplace, where some of the staff get together about once a month for prayer and fellowship. In the evening I spoke at another 'open event', this time hosted by <a href="https://mbc.org.nz/home">Maungaraki Baptist</a>.</p><p>On Wednesday I had an 'open event' in Masterton, hosted by <a href="https://lighthouse.org.nz/">Lighthouse Church</a>. I was aware that the Rimutaka hill road was going to be closed for night works, so applied to be part of an escorted convoy to get back that night. Mum came along with me, and it was just as well - when we got back to Featherston after the event, the road worker informed us that there wasn't going to be a crossing that night! We chose to drive back up to Pahiatua and cross over to Palmerston North from there, getting home a little after 1 am. (We resorted to making up silly stories to keep ourselves awake...) Despite the drama, it was worth the visit - many of those who attended had been involved in mission work previously and were eager to support me in my journey.</p><p>On Friday I shared some insights into the spiritual environment of PNG with the Calvary Wellington youth group, since they were studying Galatians 4 (Paul's warning not to mix Christianity with other forms of religion - Judaism in his day, but equally applicable to animism in the case of PNG).</p><p>In my original plan, Friday would have concluded the 'ministry partnership' side of my home assignment, but there was still one more event to go. While we were visiting the Hawkes Bay, Raewyn was asked if she - and I - would be available to speak at their upcoming Women in Mission conference. <a href="https://bridgetsmafjourney.blogspot.com/2018/11/hawkes-bay-weekend.html">I had spoken</a> at their 2018 meeting, at a time when I didn't know which programme I would be going to, so I figured it would be a great opportunity to give an update. Raewyn herself was beginning her own <a href="https://raewynsmercyshipsmission.blogspot.com/">support raising</a> for a short-term mission with Mercy Ships. It was a good day, for both of us.</p><p>In the final count:</p><p>32 presentations (including 4 schools), reaching about 1000 people!<br /></p>Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415971976330381959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2848968531333785579.post-72430558484002457482023-11-21T23:37:00.000-08:002023-11-22T23:37:34.774-08:00Home assignment - part 2<p><b>North Island road trip</b></p><p>Thursday was the beginning of my North Island road trip, together with my friend, supporter, hiking buddy - and on this occasion, driver - Raewyn. We kicked off by heading to the Manawatu to catch up with a mutual friend for lunch, and then I spoke at an open event hosted by <a href="https://www.feildingbaptist.org.nz/">Feilding Baptist</a>. They optimistically put out 30 chairs, but then had to find more!</p><p>The following day I spoke at <a href="https://www.cornerstone.ac.nz/">Cornerstone Christian School</a>'s assembly, and then we drove up to Hamilton. Saturday was an off day, so we planned to hike up <a href="https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/waikato/places/pirongia-forest-park/things-to-do/pirongia-summit-via-mahaukura-and-tirohanga-tracks/">Mt Pirongia</a>. We made it as far as Ruapane trig, and decided not to go further as the track looked difficult and the weather looked like it was deteriorating.</p><p>On Sunday we managed to watch the first half of the Rugby World Cup quarter-final between the All Blacks and Ireland, then drove south, and I spoke at <a href="https://www.tabiblechapel.org.nz/">Te Awamutu Bible Chapel</a> - 5 minutes in service as a 'taster' and then my longer presentation over a shared lunch. It was a great turnout, and I had lots of conversations with people afterwards.</p><p>From there we drove to Auckland. On Monday I popped in to see Mandy at the MAF office, and in the evening I spoke at another 'open event' hosted by St Chad's Huapai.</p><p>The next day, Tuesday, we drove to Tauranga and mentally prepared ourselves for a frenetic few days! That afternoon I spoke at a monthly missions group, and we settled into the <a href="https://www.airbnb.co.nz/rooms/995767629079830033">MAF hangar apartment</a>.<br /></p><p>My first event on Wednesday was a presentation to the MAF Tauranga prayer group. I then had a few meetings with Mark Fox and other MAF staff in the afternoon before heading out to <a href="https://www.gbc.org.nz/">Greerton Bible Church</a> in the evening, for another 'open event'. Phew!</p><p>On Thursday morning I was invited to the house of a local supporter who had arranged for a few friends to come around for morning tea and to hear my story. I think we were all encouraged!</p><p>I had originally planned to spend 5 whole days in Tauranga, but at the insistence of the MAF Hamilton prayer group organiser (who said that they wouldn't be able to have a meeting on the Saturday I was in Hamilton) we found ourselves driving <i>back</i> to Hamilton for one more night. I was coming down with a cold as well, so was not in a particularly good mood about all the extra travel. However the meeting on Thursday evening went pretty well, and our host had also arranged for me to fill the guest speaker slot at his retirement village the following day. He informed me that Sarah Ulmer had been the previous speaker, so I hope people weren't too disappointed with a no-name like me!</p><p>After the talk we drove back to Tauranga to catch up with some friends in the afternoon and at least make it half a day off!</p><p>Saturday morning dawned and we headed over to Mark's house for the rugby semi-finals (All Blacks vs Argentina). He'd invited some others over as well, which made for a great atmosphere. It was then that we found out we needed to vacate the apartment by lunchtime for an AirBnB guest coming in, so we packed and cleaned up and had a leisurely drive to our next destination in the Coromandel. We stopped in the <a href="https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/bay-of-plenty/places/kaimai-mamaku-conservation-park/things-to-do/tracks/karangahake-gorge-historic-walkway/">Karangahake gorge</a> to do some bush walking on the way.</p><p>On the Sunday I spoke at <a href="https://www.thamesunionparish.org.nz/">Te Puru church</a>. Never heard of Te Puru? Neither had I! They had asked me to visit during my last home assignment, but I didn't have any free Sundays in that part of the country, so I made it a priority to visit this time. After church we drove to the Hawkes Bay, stopping for lunch in Matamata on the way.<br /></p><p>Monday was Labour Day and the sun was out, so Raewyn and I took the opportunity - along with thousands of other people - to explore some of the walking tracks at <a href="https://www.tematapark.co.nz/walking-trails/">Te Mata Peak</a>.</p><p>On Tuesday we visited <a href="https://www.hcs.school.nz/">Hastings Christian School</a> and I spoke to three different classes. That evening, <a href="https://riverbend.org.nz/">Riverbend Bible Church</a> hosted another 'open event'.</p><p>The following day, Wednesday, we drove back to Wellington - road trip complete!</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Photos</b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXZWpnjsjWiGOZee6zjmEI78GaMFgkh8wnurBOLpB_h6uJxCLjUmFvZJImH2_yxw4MBJTkyM5qWQh6n5ZFtMB-gdep9zJEM1xaGnipwWRNTPiF74jJz9rKeXWcB3O9f9IsKM_N8bnHBKCbFrc0X3tqN0qYOzEq0hcz6dvz59DzC4BPZpRZITWuU8ymL-w/s1024/IMG_6370.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXZWpnjsjWiGOZee6zjmEI78GaMFgkh8wnurBOLpB_h6uJxCLjUmFvZJImH2_yxw4MBJTkyM5qWQh6n5ZFtMB-gdep9zJEM1xaGnipwWRNTPiF74jJz9rKeXWcB3O9f9IsKM_N8bnHBKCbFrc0X3tqN0qYOzEq0hcz6dvz59DzC4BPZpRZITWuU8ymL-w/w400-h300/IMG_6370.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Speaking at Cornerstone Christian School assembly<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwxqxnrHYZsJxQ3VSowLmHCzZOcx-VGSyT0mbbc5t3GDVFe1HgvfhbMDSpY7g5WDLsKQ92bYgtPP5pCxGmaRaWVpmfvDRcQEHIt9emOmVOd9UYPJbX1lxIdpgljuFqa_UmHSyUgzikdGzi9dG8BFlD8Y95ZLUwuHLZy9tLdnqBt6hNDVqMYD_Ln5h-cjc/s1024/20231015_123104-TABC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwxqxnrHYZsJxQ3VSowLmHCzZOcx-VGSyT0mbbc5t3GDVFe1HgvfhbMDSpY7g5WDLsKQ92bYgtPP5pCxGmaRaWVpmfvDRcQEHIt9emOmVOd9UYPJbX1lxIdpgljuFqa_UmHSyUgzikdGzi9dG8BFlD8Y95ZLUwuHLZy9tLdnqBt6hNDVqMYD_Ln5h-cjc/w400-h300/20231015_123104-TABC.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Speaking at Te Awamutu Bible Chapel<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcrzeXvX0DLxVXEx-nCFh3XcbQWfsSUZgLH8o1_V2MosZ86IznjqhMPZfM2buIFqx6fVAaBz3AGfa1XVXLTMkITaAZWPgNRB0AJuYA36GjpP8e-_YwNIDWNSVZZdkjhSau4eL-KyHtzC34aaRXtbpndnMl62FKXS9cGGSBqc5FJueibcdqOmW_7EWtAZ8/s1024/20231018_195341.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcrzeXvX0DLxVXEx-nCFh3XcbQWfsSUZgLH8o1_V2MosZ86IznjqhMPZfM2buIFqx6fVAaBz3AGfa1XVXLTMkITaAZWPgNRB0AJuYA36GjpP8e-_YwNIDWNSVZZdkjhSau4eL-KyHtzC34aaRXtbpndnMl62FKXS9cGGSBqc5FJueibcdqOmW_7EWtAZ8/w400-h300/20231018_195341.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bird's-eye view at Greerton Bible Church<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivbZhFuLbZaAYEHUKB_Izl2wt9kHIkboaoTMpmfXFks4gNdgUnzTtk_fiom5UqPjwv3uppsmTMM2HvcIi808fCbJJH1JYfumrQIP1_tj-rddKvcueJGUTcUlpUHwAqt1_lhXErc7K3QqYoPiJ-vQbJZoFKFH2cqJsIqjQuIjkPRTsQeZG978xTO1cq-HQ/s1024/IMG_6383.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivbZhFuLbZaAYEHUKB_Izl2wt9kHIkboaoTMpmfXFks4gNdgUnzTtk_fiom5UqPjwv3uppsmTMM2HvcIi808fCbJJH1JYfumrQIP1_tj-rddKvcueJGUTcUlpUHwAqt1_lhXErc7K3QqYoPiJ-vQbJZoFKFH2cqJsIqjQuIjkPRTsQeZG978xTO1cq-HQ/w400-h300/IMG_6383.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Retirement village presentation<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9MqcmLR5lWAYMkU_lio1NanoyouOVOul_hM0Id5buoeCvyinMsee2l8EZKdgon-mGM7evLlGKT9BtrzAVkwi6miSlX9XvnJS9Gj3vV9bMdq7Vs4Rb1jlM5g65qcA20b6PfnRdgpW39Niw_ibZFfEsNNdWIO1JIZTf7iLXsD8zn8zMiWvphJijBaGYxT0/s1024/IMG_6403.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9MqcmLR5lWAYMkU_lio1NanoyouOVOul_hM0Id5buoeCvyinMsee2l8EZKdgon-mGM7evLlGKT9BtrzAVkwi6miSlX9XvnJS9Gj3vV9bMdq7Vs4Rb1jlM5g65qcA20b6PfnRdgpW39Niw_ibZFfEsNNdWIO1JIZTf7iLXsD8zn8zMiWvphJijBaGYxT0/w400-h300/IMG_6403.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Te Mata Peak<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415971976330381959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2848968531333785579.post-43235329491047749232023-11-20T20:39:00.000-08:002023-11-22T22:32:05.627-08:00Home assignment - part 1<p>My home assignment for 2023 ended up being divided nicely into four almost-equal parts: Wellington region, North Island road trip, more Wellington, annual leave.</p><p>Based on my previous such trip in 2021, I had a few aspects in mind:</p><p>a) Spend as many Sundays as possible at my sending church, <a href="https://www.calvarywellington.org.nz/">Calvary Chapel Wellington</a>. There were a couple of reasons for this: 1) The church has almost doubled in size since I left in 2019, so I wanted to get to know the people who had joined in that time; 2) I haven't been attending church in PNG, so I wanted to be involved while I had the opportunity.</p><p>b) Focus on mid-week dedicated 'open events', where someone would organise a venue and I would speak for about an hour. We found these worked pretty well last time.</p><p>c) Look for opportunities to speak to schools and youth groups. Inspire the next generation!</p><p>d) Don't try to fill in the whole 'ministry partnership day' with activities i.e. meeting supporters one-on-one. I did this last time, and although people appreciated it, I found it exhausting. Instead, I decided to let people know what my itinerary was, and if someone invited me to catch up, I would do my best to fit them in.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Week 1 - Wellington region</b></p><p>I arrived<b> </b>back in time for my brother's birthday, which we celebrated at the weekend by going to an <a href="https://www.xcape.nz/lowerhutt/">escape room</a>. It was my first time doing one of these and it was neat to see everyone in our team contributing something towards solving each of the clues - nobody was left out. And we escaped with 2:55 to spare!<br /></p><p>On Monday I had my first presentation, to a young adults' church home group. I talked a little bit about MAF, but mostly about calling and how God leads us.</p><p>Tuesday was my first 'proper' presentation, at the <a href="https://www.kapitiaeroclub.co.nz/">Kapiti Aero Club</a>. I drove up a little earlier, a) to beat the traffic and b) to treat myself to <a href="https://www.burgerfuel.com/nz">Burger Fuel</a>. I was the first to arrive at the club and chatted to a few other club members when they came shortly afterwards. Eventually someone turned up with a key and we were all able to go inside!</p><p>On Wednesday night I gave the first of many 'full length church presentations', to a meeting of two midweek home groups. I quite like speaking to smaller groups like this, because people often ask more questions than in a larger group setting.</p><p>Each morning during the week I helped out with our church school holiday programme. It was a great way to get to know some of the kids and parents, and also to contribute to church life. <br /></p><p>The final event for the week was the first-Saturday-of-the-month <a href="https://theanchorchurch.org.nz/connect/anchor-men/">Mana men's breakfast</a> meeting, hosted by St Mary's Anglican Church in Whitby. It was well-received and the men didn't seem to have a problem with a woman being the guest speaker!</p><p><b>Week 2</b></p><p>On Sunday I was 'interviewed' at church, which was mainly to promote the event on the following day.</p><p>The Monday event went pretty well. At the end of the question time someone asked if I could demonstrate the pre-flight safety briefing in Tok Pisin! I was happy to oblige...</p><p>On the Tuesday night I spoke at our monthly church ladies' night. Drawing on what I had shared at the young adults' group, I mainly talked about how God leads us, and also shared some of the challenges of being an overseas missionary. I was really encouraged by people's responses.</p><p>Wednesday saw me venturing a little further afield, to <a href="https://qsgc.org.nz/">Queen St Gospel Chapel</a> in Levin for an afternoon meeting. This is a church that has been supportive right from the start and regularly prays for me in their Sunday service and midweek prayer groups.<br /></p>Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415971976330381959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2848968531333785579.post-41313292603154989382023-08-15T22:59:00.001-07:002023-08-17T05:30:41.952-07:00Darwin holiday summary<p>Some final thoughts on our holiday...</p><p><b>Was it worth the wait?</b> Yes!</p><p><b>Would you go campervanning again?</b> It's probably a bit early to say, but we survived and our friendship is still intact. Campervan life did take some adjustment - having to put the beds up each night and down each morning did get tiresome, figuring out where you could sit or stand so you weren't in the other person's way (especially when it involved doing something in the kitchen), trying to park level so that the sink would drain properly. We also should have allowed more time to collect it (2 hrs instead of 1). It also took us 45 minutes of driving around at the end finding somewhere to refill the gas bottle (solution: BBQs Galore).<br /></p><p>But it wasn't all bad. Taking the same bed with you everywhere helped (once we figured out the optimum mattress and sheet/duvet combinations), having an on board kitchen meant you knew what you had to work with each night instead of wondering what the next motel or lodge would have in terms of cooking facilities. We hired a table and camp chairs and we used them pretty much every day.</p><p>After the trip I did a quick comparison of 'regular' hire car and lodge accommodation, and the campervan option worked out at least $500 cheaper. So overall it was probably worth it. But we were glad to get to our motel in Darwin where we could spread out and have our own spaces!</p><p><b>How would you rate the campgrounds?</b> We opted for powered sites wherever we could (i.e. everywhere except for the national parks). In order from best to worst:</p><p>1. <a href="https://www.anbinik.com.au/accommodation/van-sites">Anbinik</a> (Jabiru). En suite bathroom, not too close to the neighbours</p><p>2. <a href="https://ivanhoevillageresort.com/">Ivanhoe Village</a> (Kununurra). Decent sized plot, good amenities, close to the pool</p><p>3. <a href="https://nt.gov.au/parks/find-a-park/litchfield-national-park/florence-falls">Florence Falls</a> (Litchfield, unpowered). Huge plot, large bathrooms, not too close to neighbours so was quiet. Only downside was the plot had a slope</p><p>4. <a href="https://gdayparks.com.au/parks/northern-territory/katherine/riverview-tourist-village">Riverview Tourist Village</a> (Katherine). Noise from neighbours and the road</p><p>5. <a href="https://parksaustralia.gov.au/kakadu/stay/camping/djarradjin-billabong-campground/">Djarradjin campground</a> (Kakadu, unpowered). Cheap, had hot showers</p><p>6. <a href="https://www.nitmiluktours.com.au/accommodation/campground/">Nitmiluk campground</a> (Katherine Gorge). Amenities block way down the other end, small plots, noisy, tiny shower cubicles</p><p>7. <a href="https://kakadutourism.com/accommodation/cooinda-campground-caravan-park">Cooinda Lodge</a> / Yellow Water campground (Kakadu). Tiny plot right on the road, busy, amenities block quite a walk</p><p>8. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064941552257">Victoria River Roadhouse</a> (Victoria River). Sloped ground, very dated amenities, no toilet paper </p><p><b>Impressions of Kakadu?</b> LOTS of driving. The rock art and walks were good, but did get hot later in the day. We didn't go to any of the waterfalls as we didn't have a 4wd vehicle.</p><p><b>Impressions of Litchfield?</b> Points of interest were closer together than Kakadu. Waterfalls flow even in the dry season. Again, there were places we couldn't go as they required a 4wd vehicle. Like Kakadu, it did get hot later in the day, so if you plan to do any walks, try to do them in the morning. The same was true for the Nitmiluk Southern walks.</p><p><b>Impressions of the Bungle Bungles?</b> Hard to say; it was a bit of a mixed bag. After the campervan (which also doubled as our accommodation) and flights, this was the next most expensive thing we did. Flying overhead gave a unique perspective. The walking tour was a bit disappointing not to be able to explore at our leisure. The lunch was quite fancy and may not have been to everyone's taste (quiche with quinoa salad).</p><p><b>How would you rate the activities you did?</b> <br /></p><p>A+ <a href="https://bridgetsmafjourney.blogspot.com/2023/08/katherine-gorge-nitmiluk.html">Kayaking in the Nitmiluk gorge</a>. Highlight of the trip for both of us<br />A+ <a href="https://bridgetsmafjourney.blogspot.com/2023/08/kakadu.html">Barrk walk</a> at Nourlangie and the associated rock art (two locations)<br />A+ <a href="https://bridgetsmafjourney.blogspot.com/2023/08/jumping-crocs.html">Jumping crocodiles</a>, both for the wow factor and the tour guide's dry humour<br />A+ <a href="https://bridgetsmafjourney.blogspot.com/2023/08/katherine-gorge-nitmiluk.html">Nitmiluk Southern walks</a> - Jedda's rock and Pat's lookout. Worth the effort<br />A+ <a href="https://bridgetsmafjourney.blogspot.com/2023/08/darwin.html">Aquascene</a> fish feeding, Darwin</p><p>A <a href="https://bridgetsmafjourney.blogspot.com/2023/08/kununurra.html">Mirima National Park</a>, Kununurra<br />A <a href="https://bridgetsmafjourney.blogspot.com/2023/08/katherine-show.html">Katherine Show</a><br />A <span class="tm5">Victoria gorge <a href="https://bridgetsmafjourney.blogspot.com/2023/08/victoria-daly.html">escarpment walk</a><br />A Triple J <a href="https://bridgetsmafjourney.blogspot.com/2023/08/lake-argyle-and-ord-river.html">Ord river sunset cruise</a> (Kununurra)<br />A <a href="https://bridgetsmafjourney.blogspot.com/2023/08/kununurra.html">Rockalong gallery</a> (Kununurra)<br />A <a href="https://bridgetsmafjourney.blogspot.com/2023/08/darwin.html">Deckchair cinema</a> (likely good rating because we enjoyed the movie)<br />A <a href="https://bridgetsmafjourney.blogspot.com/2023/08/kakadu.html">Ubirr</a> (not the guided tour though)<br />A Litchfield: <a href="https://bridgetsmafjourney.blogspot.com/2023/08/litchfield.html">Wangi Falls</a><br />A Litchfield: <a href="https://bridgetsmafjourney.blogspot.com/2023/08/litchfield.html">Florence Falls</a> & Shady Creek walk<br />A <a href="https://bridgetsmafjourney.blogspot.com/2023/08/litchfield.html">Mini golf</a>, Palmerston</span></p>
<p class="Normal"><span class="tm5">A- <a href="https://bridgetsmafjourney.blogspot.com/2023/08/victoria-daly.html">Joe Creek walk</a><br />A- Litchfield: <a href="https://bridgetsmafjourney.blogspot.com/2023/08/litchfield.html">Tolmer Falls</a><br />A- Recreational lagoon (Darwin)</span></p>
<p class="Normal"><span class="tm5">B+ <a href="https://bridgetsmafjourney.blogspot.com/2023/08/darwin.html">Wartime experience tour</a> with military museum, Darwin (needed more time at the museum)<br />B+ <a href="https://bridgetsmafjourney.blogspot.com/2023/08/kununurra.html">Kelly’s knob</a> lookout (Kununurra)</span></p>
<p class="Normal"><span class="tm5">B <a href="https://bridgetsmafjourney.blogspot.com/2023/08/bungle-bungles.html">Bungle Bungles</a> tour overall (A Flight, B- Domes walk, A+ Cathedral gorge)<br />B Litchfield: <a href="https://bridgetsmafjourney.blogspot.com/2023/08/litchfield.html">Magnetic termite mounds</a><br />B Kakadu: <a href="https://bridgetsmafjourney.blogspot.com/2023/08/kakadu.html">Nawurlandja lookout walk</a><br />B RFDS (Darwin) - virtual reality headset displays were the best part<br />B <a href="https://bridgetsmafjourney.blogspot.com/2023/08/kununurra.html">Diamond shop</a> in Kununurra<br />B Kakadu: <a href="https://bridgetsmafjourney.blogspot.com/2023/08/kakadu.html">Anbangbang billabong</a> walk<br />B Cutta Cutta caves<br />B Nitmiluk southern walks: Butterfly gorge</span></p>
<p class="Normal"><span class="tm5">B- Darwin self-guided <a href="https://bridgetsmafjourney.blogspot.com/2023/08/darwin.html">heritage walk</a></span></p>
<p class="Normal"><span class="tm5">C+ <a href="https://bridgetsmafjourney.blogspot.com/2023/08/darwin.html">Mindil Beach</a> night markets</span></p>
<p class="Normal"><span class="tm5">C Darwin <a href="https://bridgetsmafjourney.blogspot.com/2023/08/darwin.html">oil tunnels</a><br />C Gregory Tree<br />C Darwin botanic gardens</span></p>
<p class="Normal"><span class="tm5">C- Yellow Waters cultural centre<br />C- <a href="https://bridgetsmafjourney.blogspot.com/2023/08/kakadu.html">Mamaluka wetlands walk</a><br />C- Kakadu: 2x lookout walks between Cooinda and Pine Creek (Gungurul, Bukbukluk)</span></p><p class="Normal"><span class="tm5"><b>Any surprises or things you learned?</b> Where do I start...</span></p><p class="Normal"><span class="tm5">The terrain is not all flat, like I was expecting - the Arnhem Land escarpment, Victoria River, Kimberley were all quite prominent geographical features.</span></p><p class="Normal"><span class="tm5">Speed limits being 130 kph!</span></p><p class="Normal"><span class="tm5">Driving from NT to WA and losing 1.5 hrs (time difference).</span></p><p class="Normal"><span class="tm5">The different purposes of <a href="https://bridgetsmafjourney.blogspot.com/2023/08/kakadu.html">rock art</a>, and how it wasn't ok to touch up someone else's painting but was perfectly ok to paint over it.</span></p><p class="Normal"><span class="tm5">Some of the rock art we saw was made as recently as the 1960s - not all of it is ancient.</span></p><p class="Normal"><span class="tm5">The orange and black stripes of the <a href="https://bridgetsmafjourney.blogspot.com/2023/08/bungle-bungles.html">Bungle Bungles</a> are only a surface coating, not the colour of the rocks themselves (which are white).</span></p><p class="Normal"><span class="tm5">Crocodiles can sense vibrations 1-2 km away!</span></p><p class="Normal"><span class="tm5">Barramundi can't reproduce in fresh water.</span></p><p class="Normal"><span class="tm5">Freshwater crocodiles swallow their food whole, so they don't attack humans unless they feel threatened.</span></p><p class="Normal"><span class="tm5">The waterfalls at <a href="https://bridgetsmafjourney.blogspot.com/2023/08/litchfield.html">Litchfield</a> flow all year due to water seeping out of the rock slowly.</span></p><p class="Normal"><span class="tm5"><a href="https://bridgetsmafjourney.blogspot.com/2023/08/litchfield.html">'Magnetic' termites</a> are blind and can sense magnetic fields. Their mounds are oriented to give the most consistent temperature; if the alignment is changed then internal temperatures increase significantly.</span></p><p class="Normal"><span class="tm5">At one point in history, 75% of Darwin's non-indigenous population was Chinese.</span></p><p class="Normal"><span class="tm5">70-80% of Darwin's buildings were destroyed by Cyclone Tracy. 30,000 people were evacuated (out of 46,000).</span></p><p class="Normal"><span class="tm5">It took 20 years to install the 9" guns at East Point, and they were never used in combat (only tested).</span></p><p class="Normal"><span class="tm5">The Darwin oil storage tunnels' budget of £200,000 blew out to over £1,000,000 - and they were never used in the war.</span></p><p class="Normal"><span class="tm5">The oil storage tunnels were a secret project, but the excavated dirt was simply piled up at the entrance; any Japanese reconnaissance officer would have instantly known what was there</span><span class="tm5"></span>!</p>
Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415971976330381959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2848968531333785579.post-67708225762216420042023-08-15T22:34:00.029-07:002023-08-17T04:58:36.214-07:00Darwin<p>We finished our holiday with a few days in Darwin. In the last 100 years, two events have shaped the city and reminders of them are everywhere: the bombing of Darwin on 19 Feb 1942, and cyclone Tracy on Christmas Day 1974.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgixTrxSFsjrE2nHczusTgqa87zgCTeYSRKVtuqsYZr0F3aloGfu_XeV9q088_GEbpbCYOvHAdg6nZHAcu7iSX5Pu-pNBwk-qEkmbWYLrQOhOj3hS1b7yw5OP8OisUDSv1rxgqQCE4Yn9HiMCNP2yUieroVwECKfRb97VJnRE9v8YCeDnkERpbHGp3bk8w/s1024/IMG_6165.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgixTrxSFsjrE2nHczusTgqa87zgCTeYSRKVtuqsYZr0F3aloGfu_XeV9q088_GEbpbCYOvHAdg6nZHAcu7iSX5Pu-pNBwk-qEkmbWYLrQOhOj3hS1b7yw5OP8OisUDSv1rxgqQCE4Yn9HiMCNP2yUieroVwECKfRb97VJnRE9v8YCeDnkERpbHGp3bk8w/w400-h300/IMG_6165.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.deckchaircinema.com/">Deckchair cinema</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3jYFKXUEK5YFbFqzzoKDj-wzCifIkhg1tFoFhb-6EW2k0KOyW6ErT7zGzF0fT4Yoxj8OCk1Bas6i7QGcKJ-XNSB6FZ6zZHwkL0IK7Gs0nNoypUGBwqiDyS1ADs5LkkGhBjbyfLW8qD1zAslvWyPaT_JuyD4nN3A_HoeeX1cJRbxNj12VGKeXcAhe4pKk/s1024/IMG_6166.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3jYFKXUEK5YFbFqzzoKDj-wzCifIkhg1tFoFhb-6EW2k0KOyW6ErT7zGzF0fT4Yoxj8OCk1Bas6i7QGcKJ-XNSB6FZ6zZHwkL0IK7Gs0nNoypUGBwqiDyS1ADs5LkkGhBjbyfLW8qD1zAslvWyPaT_JuyD4nN3A_HoeeX1cJRbxNj12VGKeXcAhe4pKk/w400-h300/IMG_6166.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We saw the movie 'Red White and Brass' and enjoyed pre-show <br />entertainment by the Darwin City Brass Band</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlihwqdyyQv23yhn3kVGzi8o2gIHCTL6N8TzcIl2u5Zf1ygcxOcx2ZE1oCoOI3KnTS4xIyG8NpYELftLo7ZzQFpIwPi_9ExWF_6-bNUoLmWbVZxM9YZe2RpDQ6F_FEa9RH6Vvu7rDSAY27EPYLAeM_yN2DwyzpVgS64eB3iv5lm92gT-BFv1MgxFcJvSk/s1024/20230802_100025.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlihwqdyyQv23yhn3kVGzi8o2gIHCTL6N8TzcIl2u5Zf1ygcxOcx2ZE1oCoOI3KnTS4xIyG8NpYELftLo7ZzQFpIwPi_9ExWF_6-bNUoLmWbVZxM9YZe2RpDQ6F_FEa9RH6Vvu7rDSAY27EPYLAeM_yN2DwyzpVgS64eB3iv5lm92gT-BFv1MgxFcJvSk/w400-h300/20230802_100025.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://darwinhistoryandwartimeexperience.com.au/">Darwin military tour</a> in a 1940s army bus - the tour guide was VERY informative!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiztM8WU7SasRy-t6BqrC0LEV5Emu9xBoGNOCDSqYCVze925Cx64W6AkuqQEkaDtc5vnnexfm6LPM8aCykv12uUAgRa4iC8SveVyiXCMPd2ll3i38EthKbvJosk5j5dgxM-A6c7y7Nx4r8PzX1ZvapHwFBfXLg0VQQTpHsIbICNLpfQwyyCKzy75ytuO2A/s1024/IMG_6240.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiztM8WU7SasRy-t6BqrC0LEV5Emu9xBoGNOCDSqYCVze925Cx64W6AkuqQEkaDtc5vnnexfm6LPM8aCykv12uUAgRa4iC8SveVyiXCMPd2ll3i38EthKbvJosk5j5dgxM-A6c7y7Nx4r8PzX1ZvapHwFBfXLg0VQQTpHsIbICNLpfQwyyCKzy75ytuO2A/w400-h300/IMG_6240.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>Anglican cathedral. Survived the Darwin bombings and had a porch and gate built by the army from rubble of the post office, which was destroyed. After cyclone Tracy, the porch and gate were all that survived.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWvYZgYztTfqmv0AKC85JVctUzZKCOOXs_p4Hf2-2mbLaQYJKyCaIYC5sPUQ7Qioa04dxGwu7BJecqcYn4MNCVhNna05FE_kP7mfdY1rEHZc3kzv4tIKIJjzwDVt79Cp3hHUa3-ufXOBsYlymXFfzxmK-cleO8j2Il7PX-n-1Oe2Z4D0IjPfFtIVjEi4o/s1024/20230803_090418.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWvYZgYztTfqmv0AKC85JVctUzZKCOOXs_p4Hf2-2mbLaQYJKyCaIYC5sPUQ7Qioa04dxGwu7BJecqcYn4MNCVhNna05FE_kP7mfdY1rEHZc3kzv4tIKIJjzwDVt79Cp3hHUa3-ufXOBsYlymXFfzxmK-cleO8j2Il7PX-n-1Oe2Z4D0IjPfFtIVjEi4o/w400-h300/20230803_090418.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feeding fish at <a href="https://www.aquascene.com.au/">Aquascene</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPF-_3Xd0L1E06hDyeSOcu4NZH6qqPsp-ZDLBEeh1_IMkTtTCfg3Js7FTij9xmimbr7zBX5AZg_41yIKoIj_QQ0UFIRNZljBdx4cQC-_Nvjocp-0mw0leMEVnvk8k3CRcFUbqBSl5IoOB0SlCPoIrhX5dQGPH7eY8Fkw2Wfz7bmFiXPQ4gV_WB45CEcLE/s1024/IMG_6251.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPF-_3Xd0L1E06hDyeSOcu4NZH6qqPsp-ZDLBEeh1_IMkTtTCfg3Js7FTij9xmimbr7zBX5AZg_41yIKoIj_QQ0UFIRNZljBdx4cQC-_Nvjocp-0mw0leMEVnvk8k3CRcFUbqBSl5IoOB0SlCPoIrhX5dQGPH7eY8Fkw2Wfz7bmFiXPQ4gV_WB45CEcLE/w400-h300/IMG_6251.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset at <a href="https://mindil.com.au/">Mindil Beach</a> (night market)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqOijZ-hCPFGkAFFci7gyeqvP3GmjQq-3SdQDBfQDgC5Sc_tiZKLiCQkJqV7GiaMwVaLgaOvsDyblOdmj8UIphohCJMPp-be0FpsZg65MZpzNcIN-V3nJNZBauR-J-xtynhYjr3hvtedX_X8jEGtqMFaAGdIcVlZFZZOKtg8Yy1b8Ps8fxKTHedtF8Qhk/s1024/IMG_6276.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqOijZ-hCPFGkAFFci7gyeqvP3GmjQq-3SdQDBfQDgC5Sc_tiZKLiCQkJqV7GiaMwVaLgaOvsDyblOdmj8UIphohCJMPp-be0FpsZg65MZpzNcIN-V3nJNZBauR-J-xtynhYjr3hvtedX_X8jEGtqMFaAGdIcVlZFZZOKtg8Yy1b8Ps8fxKTHedtF8Qhk/w400-h300/IMG_6276.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ww2tunnelsdarwin.com.au/">WWII oil storage tunnels</a> - a colossal budget blowout by a factor of 5,<br />and never used for their intended purpose...</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415971976330381959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2848968531333785579.post-39884851186961335892023-08-15T22:30:00.017-07:002023-08-17T05:14:29.170-07:00Litchfield<p>Our final national park was Litchfield, about an hour's drive south of Darwin. We stayed at the Florence Falls campground and were pleasantly surprised by how well laid out (and quiet!) it was.</p><p>Along the way we overheard people discussing whether it was better to do Kakadu or Litchfield first, with the consensus being 'if you do Kakadu first, you'll be disappointed by Litchfield'. But I imagine that's if you had a 4wd vehicle and were able to see the Kakadu waterfalls - which we didn't. So for us, Kakadu was more about rock art and Litchfield more about waterfalls.</p><p>Another interesting fact is that due to the porosity of the rocks, the waterfalls in Litchfield flow all year round as the rain that fell during the last wet season slowly seeps out. In contrast, many of the well-known Kakadu waterfalls slow to a trickle or stop during the dry season.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAEFCYQLrmT6MCV3uMgbelbkPD-G404gldGQducMyXlTXU1Eppy37e3iSigsMu3Or8YiuIKPVCzTiUjY-LNkXWHTJrVbgKyQkZaJ5BGXuzUcD3TeKnwjpTeArAaEXmPIVGTvv4JfiNFI1jmByz-96Rkl0RLyVc79zXYGYlIYDqffADu_ZeMtmgB-v2NX4/s1024/IMG_6137.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAEFCYQLrmT6MCV3uMgbelbkPD-G404gldGQducMyXlTXU1Eppy37e3iSigsMu3Or8YiuIKPVCzTiUjY-LNkXWHTJrVbgKyQkZaJ5BGXuzUcD3TeKnwjpTeArAaEXmPIVGTvv4JfiNFI1jmByz-96Rkl0RLyVc79zXYGYlIYDqffADu_ZeMtmgB-v2NX4/w400-h300/IMG_6137.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wangi Falls<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS6oaluBzrK7Twzfj0w8pYtXRIlqDun_73QSeIvKXpRqcOIt1gc4w3yyPDZr53vG-8sa5sXUIfKmkKm2SOKVjnapIUh1bQ3VVxycyX2_PUm9wLPrdm_TUlmPjKdEhugvAjVKmM1dRO_nOj2tb_zTXYjZJn668PtIGyQ1dEDfVoDT4mdCBHYmjEXwgWMZ4/s1024/IMG_6144.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS6oaluBzrK7Twzfj0w8pYtXRIlqDun_73QSeIvKXpRqcOIt1gc4w3yyPDZr53vG-8sa5sXUIfKmkKm2SOKVjnapIUh1bQ3VVxycyX2_PUm9wLPrdm_TUlmPjKdEhugvAjVKmM1dRO_nOj2tb_zTXYjZJn668PtIGyQ1dEDfVoDT4mdCBHYmjEXwgWMZ4/s320/IMG_6144.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tolmer Falls<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj38wNH9lQusjoh741Yz0Lh-ap992nTHmuHP1BSssJ-XxMbhzjC6zTrNROjxaExdkrx6XVxQKQgs9CJbnY7MftDPww6TD2UpJ6vGQl9fvnJRCoacLtvMQvxJAvzmMe9Glw3Hk3hNqk6K65DP1tkwCmlQiz9s-HrKrzgdG3AClalaj02JTMuA89AcjR_4vg/s1024/DSC09766.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj38wNH9lQusjoh741Yz0Lh-ap992nTHmuHP1BSssJ-XxMbhzjC6zTrNROjxaExdkrx6XVxQKQgs9CJbnY7MftDPww6TD2UpJ6vGQl9fvnJRCoacLtvMQvxJAvzmMe9Glw3Hk3hNqk6K65DP1tkwCmlQiz9s-HrKrzgdG3AClalaj02JTMuA89AcjR_4vg/w400-h300/DSC09766.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Florence Falls<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNJ2zZKD4QHSV3vn5vNNn8eKLVE_8UdOAXLu8onxuowJhWYtoe9yYamozObHKRnbJCdwcux4fnDrXWvJuee9tHX_jufAn1CGGDMSzT-51_3c5FtJU6nmJZWzDL5_ABcQ3kjqj_E0BPVZUeMOeGZgiZTjiVebkGTmgB6dr8FgaJRPLuMUOkw1kT7J5x7ZM/s1024/IMG_6154.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNJ2zZKD4QHSV3vn5vNNn8eKLVE_8UdOAXLu8onxuowJhWYtoe9yYamozObHKRnbJCdwcux4fnDrXWvJuee9tHX_jufAn1CGGDMSzT-51_3c5FtJU6nmJZWzDL5_ABcQ3kjqj_E0BPVZUeMOeGZgiZTjiVebkGTmgB6dr8FgaJRPLuMUOkw1kT7J5x7ZM/w400-h300/IMG_6154.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Magnetic' termite mounds - all face the same way for temperature optimisation<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>On our way back to Darwin we had some time to kill so had a game of <a href="https://palmerstonminigolf.au/">mini golf</a> in Palmerston. It was quite fun (and our scores were quite close too!)</p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilOfkto_lECuG3Qkf3gME9akp51jcSBqHziH2TMccx1Y974gLnpc2NH-iLW2TpmUj-2_v_ld0yityCbdtrqJXI9aEcaHQudsqOZwRbJwssnu7n-7naJcdTbOiB4wS_AWQdH57r5Io7gH07HI4m8heMwQ1lHsKsDrAe09bB5TkkNMAilg3xnjsmarsX_ec/s1024/IMG_6162.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilOfkto_lECuG3Qkf3gME9akp51jcSBqHziH2TMccx1Y974gLnpc2NH-iLW2TpmUj-2_v_ld0yityCbdtrqJXI9aEcaHQudsqOZwRbJwssnu7n-7naJcdTbOiB4wS_AWQdH57r5Io7gH07HI4m8heMwQ1lHsKsDrAe09bB5TkkNMAilg3xnjsmarsX_ec/w400-h300/IMG_6162.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415971976330381959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2848968531333785579.post-78540217440565039132023-08-15T22:24:00.001-07:002023-08-16T14:15:26.333-07:00Katherine Gorge (Nitmiluk)<p>Returning from Kunnurra to Katherine, we spent two days at the Katherine Gorge (Nitmiluk National Park) - one day kayaking and one day hiking.</p><p>The kayaking was probably the highlight of the entire trip - being out in nature, a moderate level of exercise (apart from the portages - pushing and pulling the kayak over rocks), able to go at our own pace and explore at our leisure with the only requirement being to be back at the boat ramp by 4:30 pm.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTgRsp5NQ7LQztPCRabICV01fVKCEzLVqWcoBo7YD9aOCzHG4utESYQqvw1kDOvUtOIYXujZDhQ3zTSlcemylxpe2COKFZyUvAwkGNX9KyXXT6WW9_mqkxklppKosZ55LcD4DXsBKz6Y61wTdLKu3xNLHTiRHCUyCNF2jfLu8mk7Hwcst-RfjM1neeNDM/s1024/IMG_6034.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTgRsp5NQ7LQztPCRabICV01fVKCEzLVqWcoBo7YD9aOCzHG4utESYQqvw1kDOvUtOIYXujZDhQ3zTSlcemylxpe2COKFZyUvAwkGNX9KyXXT6WW9_mqkxklppKosZ55LcD4DXsBKz6Y61wTdLKu3xNLHTiRHCUyCNF2jfLu8mk7Hwcst-RfjM1neeNDM/w400-h300/IMG_6034.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boat trip on the first gorge<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhReFgDeaSKLDNfMSOIRnT7N206vQiDV1CmsqYmcVqw0NuKpzII-mBONd8zMnpJdRtBIgFQ1He5r2HJzqXORYIxd5rEAL8hY3dSwcOpc4bsTRHYQKyAY0h_M-ZBuoq7pWx623p8-eT98_wL5bIJHYJD_67LVTe5jR7WCPOJYfHfsprDODvPMjDeuVavkeI/s1024/IMG_6036.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhReFgDeaSKLDNfMSOIRnT7N206vQiDV1CmsqYmcVqw0NuKpzII-mBONd8zMnpJdRtBIgFQ1He5r2HJzqXORYIxd5rEAL8hY3dSwcOpc4bsTRHYQKyAY0h_M-ZBuoq7pWx623p8-eT98_wL5bIJHYJD_67LVTe5jR7WCPOJYfHfsprDODvPMjDeuVavkeI/w400-h300/IMG_6036.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lining up for our kayak<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB98fkYpcK4nBERQQrpZAvGWDKNYhA30le2oE1G1-UX47iPJpAnvvaEJErGGmyTPBiqtpzZoW0CkqKiZIj8XB-mvFgg_cTM6wEb7RGbpTi0Ji5gOXroU1EAne68y67NOWHsiI3S6X9LoSJQh-d1_CdSBXD7jU6jdNKkn0L_pd6pH7Cu_XvWkrxGZyxZVI/s1024/IMG_6047.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB98fkYpcK4nBERQQrpZAvGWDKNYhA30le2oE1G1-UX47iPJpAnvvaEJErGGmyTPBiqtpzZoW0CkqKiZIj8XB-mvFgg_cTM6wEb7RGbpTi0Ji5gOXroU1EAne68y67NOWHsiI3S6X9LoSJQh-d1_CdSBXD7jU6jdNKkn0L_pd6pH7Cu_XvWkrxGZyxZVI/w400-h300/IMG_6047.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gorge two<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaJjLp9i_8TjzYeXxjhBDWl9HcgRCUqx46VU0FWwOQXQGAda5OPDNRkiVpzrdKxWZJyD2zBjPk2GS8NoOxGwpsRYBfEYPcHfoanyuhAy7nnJWQ6-ItOX3hkkEcsio9n5s6z0o--g55KwuZf9UQxh8fQ5MnPcvsOM9iVYBpI0S8KbmNHEfqhb9wuNzgVVY/s1024/IMG_6049.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaJjLp9i_8TjzYeXxjhBDWl9HcgRCUqx46VU0FWwOQXQGAda5OPDNRkiVpzrdKxWZJyD2zBjPk2GS8NoOxGwpsRYBfEYPcHfoanyuhAy7nnJWQ6-ItOX3hkkEcsio9n5s6z0o--g55KwuZf9UQxh8fQ5MnPcvsOM9iVYBpI0S8KbmNHEfqhb9wuNzgVVY/w400-h300/IMG_6049.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The obligatory selfie<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisiS4Uz6CG8IFag710bLYOtVjYAODStcArR072o8uwuaL7RKjuTD5Y7D4AKGHOKfopRNrbq_9vZnQANVyTE9Nac2gFPhtkOGnoi4H236jOhonTMMmTrjiUdvLjGKOa4CS_VcwFoBmJ0JIaRMGHPkueumLlMJ6ZRvQqnVD4glTBGmF_jbOtrXmg35KModc/s1024/IMG_6073.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisiS4Uz6CG8IFag710bLYOtVjYAODStcArR072o8uwuaL7RKjuTD5Y7D4AKGHOKfopRNrbq_9vZnQANVyTE9Nac2gFPhtkOGnoi4H236jOhonTMMmTrjiUdvLjGKOa4CS_VcwFoBmJ0JIaRMGHPkueumLlMJ6ZRvQqnVD4glTBGmF_jbOtrXmg35KModc/w400-h300/IMG_6073.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gorge-ous</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGxai2mFhtbqEcPkNv3NZ6zF87abB3Vw92IDEFtUhcj0iZUoBpWyGiuHfQSyVjhUW6JGUfnZdzuHusMrcjhKTblZ6Ts4ghlAUBdmOw9svksz3WEXmSEUGRqiUib8AkYHXvi9RuCN70Vgt8KrK2985o2md4wc51b_mS8fRZGxC9CwzQooEov2C9NciqjAQ/s1024/IMG_6079.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGxai2mFhtbqEcPkNv3NZ6zF87abB3Vw92IDEFtUhcj0iZUoBpWyGiuHfQSyVjhUW6JGUfnZdzuHusMrcjhKTblZ6Ts4ghlAUBdmOw9svksz3WEXmSEUGRqiUib8AkYHXvi9RuCN70Vgt8KrK2985o2md4wc51b_mS8fRZGxC9CwzQooEov2C9NciqjAQ/w400-h300/IMG_6079.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We later figured out it didn't work as well with me in the back<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1vc4OdnAcOke8OS6dzcTBv8MP0D4ItDOln6rJa6odMGG9PnFyDY7IUpxu0r9N3pliCRtA0l0Q_i4tBJHZ1vZBXNPWkypOTB3Tg0eNjwvahi5NwEXtK7QqvlSMsyboKkAROztxFYcSzWmh3-jpJ2MLcDbUWFzNogqHwrxZxIpLoJmB-rsgmXVnMIGh4go/s1024/IMG_6084.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1vc4OdnAcOke8OS6dzcTBv8MP0D4ItDOln6rJa6odMGG9PnFyDY7IUpxu0r9N3pliCRtA0l0Q_i4tBJHZ1vZBXNPWkypOTB3Tg0eNjwvahi5NwEXtK7QqvlSMsyboKkAROztxFYcSzWmh3-jpJ2MLcDbUWFzNogqHwrxZxIpLoJmB-rsgmXVnMIGh4go/w400-h300/IMG_6084.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Afternoon tea break<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZFqriR9IyMPkP58G6sf4n6FVwIWKKt_lNNfGO5hSjChLdT0owzZqR09ys8bfHwbcU_zACCkRJB8XiaCNX2JsZ4NufW8OFc0e8FQfZBivGI60WT8EaDwBf2-4Ar6fqUAl4Nu4zBeMtOVipM5lBnAxWUqlQnYoBMJ1P_zZTBRw3gwxI47B0W7a3bkFBq_4/s1024/IMG_6088.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZFqriR9IyMPkP58G6sf4n6FVwIWKKt_lNNfGO5hSjChLdT0owzZqR09ys8bfHwbcU_zACCkRJB8XiaCNX2JsZ4NufW8OFc0e8FQfZBivGI60WT8EaDwBf2-4Ar6fqUAl4Nu4zBeMtOVipM5lBnAxWUqlQnYoBMJ1P_zZTBRw3gwxI47B0W7a3bkFBq_4/w400-h300/IMG_6088.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinCkuV6xh9V2fUHe6qDT7R-nFphmofalSyNii4S-K4-ndVCWMRUkgeNNkWdQ4XUsj65pdkQbiImt0LxkcnBGKQq_jOm_U1gPlMP46ixQVAWTc-za3LhClXEelqu9k3U9KIl3weuFSWTAJcWnP5s8Qjgkcg9Sh34Lezs_hfOsmXKjWIlVp2RO-SKfQ_THY/s1024/IMG_6129.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinCkuV6xh9V2fUHe6qDT7R-nFphmofalSyNii4S-K4-ndVCWMRUkgeNNkWdQ4XUsj65pdkQbiImt0LxkcnBGKQq_jOm_U1gPlMP46ixQVAWTc-za3LhClXEelqu9k3U9KIl3weuFSWTAJcWnP5s8Qjgkcg9Sh34Lezs_hfOsmXKjWIlVp2RO-SKfQ_THY/w400-h300/IMG_6129.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of gorge two from <a href="https://nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/413848/nitmiluk-national-park-southern-walks-information-sheet-and-map.pdf">Jedda's Rock</a> - worth the effort!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-B_o1XOTUh2kyN0Fw-QUu5ER-1MTX_ynO9Vxs9O4x-XUcTEetkHy8zqpqeiL3c0HWDtMPNa_G-5k8Q1acfsi3X-CBm3zJBW8NGPxkrJdW8rtok2AKB8P6QIpXISD2i-em9H5_8sIDSxTIo-RUChS6lnd3BPSPsUnsHC6OjI6WCfHt3DSfhGo_tgoN5c/s1024/IMG_6134.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-B_o1XOTUh2kyN0Fw-QUu5ER-1MTX_ynO9Vxs9O4x-XUcTEetkHy8zqpqeiL3c0HWDtMPNa_G-5k8Q1acfsi3X-CBm3zJBW8NGPxkrJdW8rtok2AKB8P6QIpXISD2i-em9H5_8sIDSxTIo-RUChS6lnd3BPSPsUnsHC6OjI6WCfHt3DSfhGo_tgoN5c/w400-h300/IMG_6134.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of gorge one from <a href="https://nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/413848/nitmiluk-national-park-southern-walks-information-sheet-and-map.pdf">Pat's Lookout</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415971976330381959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2848968531333785579.post-33211594432684946502023-08-15T22:18:00.000-07:002023-08-17T05:29:44.233-07:00Bungle Bungles<p>As mentioned <a href="https://bridgetsmafjourney.blogspot.com/2023/08/lake-argyle-and-ord-river.html">elsewhere</a>, our original plan had been to drive to the Bungle Bungles and take a 4wd drive tour from there. But with the tour company unable to open this season, we had to change plans. The only feasible option was to fly on a day trip from Kununurra. Naturally this was quite expensive, so we decided to forego the private aircraft hire we had planned in Darwin (for me to fly us over the parts of Kakadu that we weren't able to get to) and use that budget instead.</p><p>The Bungle Bungle ranges, specifically the 'beehive domes', are limestone rock formations with orange and black stripes. I was surprised to learn that the colour does not come from the rock itself (which is actually white), but a surface coating: the limestone is layered, and one of these layers gets coated with red dust while the other can support a particular kind of cyanobacteria, which is black.</p><p><a href="https://www.bunglebungleguidedtours.com.au/bungle-bungle-day-tours-from-kununurra/flight-cathedral-gorge-domes-guided-walk/">The day tour</a> we did involved flying over Lake Argyle and various large cattle stations to the Bellburn airstrip, then a short 4wd bus drive to the park, walking through the domes and up to Cathedral Gorge for a packed lunch, retracing our steps and flying back to Kununurra. It was a little frustrating not being able to explore further in the park, because we had to stay with the tour group and the guide seemed to want to stop at every termite mound and every tree and tell us something about them. I just had to remind myself that it was this or not seeing it at all. And the flight overhead did give us a spectacular view that we wouldn't have seen at all if we had driven there.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQEqAX-gK9K3XH9CcWEyi5DnsdZfnfS4cogJLDA6rjaeRmugJmjRvXWk9dT3-DfVp_qbuKkr81DgMmydtsJhSmlU1cpvVgLH6NWbf3Sq3Jb1Mehn7j4S65eqhOFwDCi8emktV4jevvXn4ONGFv2l383utWP_eN3y2xeuBcnxD1iRj42_BvtN0J3znOCew/s1024/IMG_5855.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQEqAX-gK9K3XH9CcWEyi5DnsdZfnfS4cogJLDA6rjaeRmugJmjRvXWk9dT3-DfVp_qbuKkr81DgMmydtsJhSmlU1cpvVgLH6NWbf3Sq3Jb1Mehn7j4S65eqhOFwDCi8emktV4jevvXn4ONGFv2l383utWP_eN3y2xeuBcnxD1iRj42_BvtN0J3znOCew/w400-h300/IMG_5855.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rivers south of Kununurra<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWUzPcpwjlq93GAowaYWil4e9M5C2WgqurDlQzRRErhZJFX2YRanIZu5WajrApOyLFc2l5jWe4G22J4jW0NjAAqlaVos65Jp5cg_mGF7yNH-ngrpOD1FooWfRvLfasINX-W-yPuuA3HPZw3FnY8Hs1F1hVMRtkDjsJ9uo6mtquunlFOezycyhWARzlX1A/s1024/IMG_5859.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWUzPcpwjlq93GAowaYWil4e9M5C2WgqurDlQzRRErhZJFX2YRanIZu5WajrApOyLFc2l5jWe4G22J4jW0NjAAqlaVos65Jp5cg_mGF7yNH-ngrpOD1FooWfRvLfasINX-W-yPuuA3HPZw3FnY8Hs1F1hVMRtkDjsJ9uo6mtquunlFOezycyhWARzlX1A/w400-h300/IMG_5859.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lake Argyle from the air<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrDWgViSnsy7g0_VEbSI_uNUjOUBtcxstXUIklXAc_hasjXgo4ibxK-yIpqOlb2vEPn2rcqqE5OnjHQZCayrYbA9nwWZAJ4An47R-nmg5WxKC-XDNzSd-x9_eHFU-DYF5HwCBc2D_GV7GGmqltD_MRKE-JRgannvRl2jnYMgbQVms_6Mb9LQz1soQk3A8/s1024/IMG_5869.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrDWgViSnsy7g0_VEbSI_uNUjOUBtcxstXUIklXAc_hasjXgo4ibxK-yIpqOlb2vEPn2rcqqE5OnjHQZCayrYbA9nwWZAJ4An47R-nmg5WxKC-XDNzSd-x9_eHFU-DYF5HwCBc2D_GV7GGmqltD_MRKE-JRgannvRl2jnYMgbQVms_6Mb9LQz1soQk3A8/w400-h300/IMG_5869.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bungle Bungle range from the air<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3uGm15b01oo4u_-FWxluSIKhCI4XGcBWJM38WWTS9bx9VESV0B1Ym2TmxNQTDkGd4TsvyQQ9cBnBFcfUh0sh1-7o5AYcS3pYtfDRAAmkhcGHuR88yzY8ybyrZveaO2GBMYsw1OT_pLdojuBwbkB44lLMH8iXjoIocDgqBQcGC-A3iSKRfOdhrWMA0Mk/s1024/IMG_5878.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3uGm15b01oo4u_-FWxluSIKhCI4XGcBWJM38WWTS9bx9VESV0B1Ym2TmxNQTDkGd4TsvyQQ9cBnBFcfUh0sh1-7o5AYcS3pYtfDRAAmkhcGHuR88yzY8ybyrZveaO2GBMYsw1OT_pLdojuBwbkB44lLMH8iXjoIocDgqBQcGC-A3iSKRfOdhrWMA0Mk/w400-h300/IMG_5878.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bungle Bungle beehive domes<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia80upqnsbDSD8Nd4oKY4GrSjSE8VdKCj1LUnsmOss4wjh3lh0NrZ6AJpuViI5zIaTdnktyp9N_FLl1Wny78dY-vAGlZ03UwKr2eeVZGmyounMTZPJrXnz8x-E5kOPcs2p3Gcg0uM7YxelFELjPJNuSV1RNb12xgWrZ11n0HzQ1rrIURE7Yn0X2A9y9Tw/s1024/IMG_5905.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia80upqnsbDSD8Nd4oKY4GrSjSE8VdKCj1LUnsmOss4wjh3lh0NrZ6AJpuViI5zIaTdnktyp9N_FLl1Wny78dY-vAGlZ03UwKr2eeVZGmyounMTZPJrXnz8x-E5kOPcs2p3Gcg0uM7YxelFELjPJNuSV1RNb12xgWrZ11n0HzQ1rrIURE7Yn0X2A9y9Tw/w400-h300/IMG_5905.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Domes walk<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij_6RxDMVgIfzAThdhAG4yGcc_Ow4s7xSxPFZaMSTM_v_DeR8a40J2hrG_FTVjLsqrLYOAqrtzbcCN2TedxNS9kwZsh-LXLvKc73fzDUwOWrr7y3L49JGkbAx2_Xl_0r1GYuC0Pt7LP7D2caDCrGzGfBo1vhUuqvzHbpiqL-XY5UM2QPqLmycr0rchP5E/s1024/IMG_5909.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij_6RxDMVgIfzAThdhAG4yGcc_Ow4s7xSxPFZaMSTM_v_DeR8a40J2hrG_FTVjLsqrLYOAqrtzbcCN2TedxNS9kwZsh-LXLvKc73fzDUwOWrr7y3L49JGkbAx2_Xl_0r1GYuC0Pt7LP7D2caDCrGzGfBo1vhUuqvzHbpiqL-XY5UM2QPqLmycr0rchP5E/w400-h300/IMG_5909.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Domes at Piccaninny creek<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_J_TIBOlJgyHUm0lyqcKZVj4S3R3H4heBbognR4CsAHTx9Wz9RhBHly0dT40HjyCozA4bzltdrhhSs5g9r2JdO9_OkTRi6o778EQydRlFseEMIeLk1O0HfkEPF98O5EhyLjPgZu6ypZrnmOot9eaTwYvrqsgOsOVuki49wwDli3UlEeMJ-4Ms4widdas/s1024/IMG_5931.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_J_TIBOlJgyHUm0lyqcKZVj4S3R3H4heBbognR4CsAHTx9Wz9RhBHly0dT40HjyCozA4bzltdrhhSs5g9r2JdO9_OkTRi6o778EQydRlFseEMIeLk1O0HfkEPF98O5EhyLjPgZu6ypZrnmOot9eaTwYvrqsgOsOVuki49wwDli3UlEeMJ-4Ms4widdas/w400-h300/IMG_5931.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking into Cathedral Gorge<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg42KinFwDvIcHYELSbLuV8ug3W1co8HhpezDgYhLwn67dcTuQKhfhmKlf6fcm-ANXRweL4jW-HyT6NMEoWcH9DtUH_YFgRhfwhc2F8FKIOfb4HqljxlaBVX-p5cmV0VoyX8aWksw-lig_ig-wtToQNRy3l2bxf3ua4YHegoEWPL6NbeIrsFa4R01wYd8M/s1024/IMG_5950.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg42KinFwDvIcHYELSbLuV8ug3W1co8HhpezDgYhLwn67dcTuQKhfhmKlf6fcm-ANXRweL4jW-HyT6NMEoWcH9DtUH_YFgRhfwhc2F8FKIOfb4HqljxlaBVX-p5cmV0VoyX8aWksw-lig_ig-wtToQNRy3l2bxf3ua4YHegoEWPL6NbeIrsFa4R01wYd8M/w400-h300/IMG_5950.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunch at Cathedral Gorge<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd-hfWvEniwCon2Al5N17HpKjxyXVJKZvx3h_l-oz7_B5JyDABaPmpMf5yti67I8A9qCzS7myskg_J4aDPm0AGlxQJsl8SqeJRiQbuWQgaNTd6nsQ5_bi0GIC6yLPEvzgbnSt6pQn4IFcUjL9f8p4sViCC5vMGoQSxkX0AAMdYDcU0DVqVfjhNEJVYeuA/s1024/IMG_5957.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd-hfWvEniwCon2Al5N17HpKjxyXVJKZvx3h_l-oz7_B5JyDABaPmpMf5yti67I8A9qCzS7myskg_J4aDPm0AGlxQJsl8SqeJRiQbuWQgaNTd6nsQ5_bi0GIC6yLPEvzgbnSt6pQn4IFcUjL9f8p4sViCC5vMGoQSxkX0AAMdYDcU0DVqVfjhNEJVYeuA/w400-h300/IMG_5957.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black and orange stripes<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDUu8G1PkRDrHr7cVhXhSgBFNw857LkkRrSHkLSOzNtVBmTCyON3Yhuoendq-lurFDsnZNk75ZdTDcO-bxCzGthqkJAm4K5q_Dez35yfzrbnjdBZsAhxP4u7GvjS_b__J79NJwxwVPd4H5EITCgdSIl_NBaXpmR723BSqQd5354fQHxFtdoQBey8pXo_0/s1024/IMG_5964.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDUu8G1PkRDrHr7cVhXhSgBFNw857LkkRrSHkLSOzNtVBmTCyON3Yhuoendq-lurFDsnZNk75ZdTDcO-bxCzGthqkJAm4K5q_Dez35yfzrbnjdBZsAhxP4u7GvjS_b__J79NJwxwVPd4H5EITCgdSIl_NBaXpmR723BSqQd5354fQHxFtdoQBey8pXo_0/w400-h300/IMG_5964.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Departing</td></tr></tbody></table>Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415971976330381959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2848968531333785579.post-25186487064683920172023-08-15T22:13:00.005-07:002023-08-15T22:13:56.169-07:00Kununurra<p>Here are some pictures from around Kununurra...</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzUicNdxSSbnU5pu0DR38Z1f5wRn5-VDbsSKWamFA4elMXDUh_duje7_4zHtAuZ_LYi5LtSvKt58wkkANxgWadE6yips9Jd11zCsppymfKOC7kH0AT3hLz7EeV8x7bdjU-cJpkBInZByJ2bAqqXi5qiwjGtNWNwHu_HdVfz4a_CmCkBB2WcChMx9tLSZw/s1024/IMG_5730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzUicNdxSSbnU5pu0DR38Z1f5wRn5-VDbsSKWamFA4elMXDUh_duje7_4zHtAuZ_LYi5LtSvKt58wkkANxgWadE6yips9Jd11zCsppymfKOC7kH0AT3hLz7EeV8x7bdjU-cJpkBInZByJ2bAqqXi5qiwjGtNWNwHu_HdVfz4a_CmCkBB2WcChMx9tLSZw/w400-h300/IMG_5730.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pink diamonds from the Argyle mine<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHzZLXQ8OXPsEp6lIHiLvzKb7BA6LhMU6sROGUV66CYtMxk199IRfR_mHraePPVLY0xc76CBdEMjTd-JOdeL--rtX--8Idb_F-ukD5OwUTVpwZ0XMf0f9Euv17eLU3v7PXtRoALBb9oucvWPC9KnWrcGyMIPqGU1ROTrh4vKnMZoqkZduMFNur6lSjdds/s1024/IMG_5805.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHzZLXQ8OXPsEp6lIHiLvzKb7BA6LhMU6sROGUV66CYtMxk199IRfR_mHraePPVLY0xc76CBdEMjTd-JOdeL--rtX--8Idb_F-ukD5OwUTVpwZ0XMf0f9Euv17eLU3v7PXtRoALBb9oucvWPC9KnWrcGyMIPqGU1ROTrh4vKnMZoqkZduMFNur6lSjdds/w400-h300/IMG_5805.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Zebra rock' and other varieties at Rockalong Gallery<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTEa2CZotC6mE33pfXH2MGGkxbER6HHTirMuZVjgFNcFlG9RNqv1SeJO484Phx3y6ahcXxyj-mMpwVB0XySn9bjdGNQaZ6HHwLXygZnm6mA9Ve1ArWsMgF4WJXh2WsXmFXgvi3FgmpPPJNGcFbR_X8kX7qdSxT5zXW0viquUzZiWt7Zd2PPfQO7tuQ2ps/s1024/IMG_5809.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTEa2CZotC6mE33pfXH2MGGkxbER6HHTirMuZVjgFNcFlG9RNqv1SeJO484Phx3y6ahcXxyj-mMpwVB0XySn9bjdGNQaZ6HHwLXygZnm6mA9Ve1ArWsMgF4WJXh2WsXmFXgvi3FgmpPPJNGcFbR_X8kX7qdSxT5zXW0viquUzZiWt7Zd2PPfQO7tuQ2ps/w400-h300/IMG_5809.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from Kelly's Knob lookout<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_fnLBQ277wzsuISMgVxhD7CEH7Ny2Z0yrVChNU4dCM2o53pS7N1lZz1a5N0TNTkRFVLO9wQk7ONNlrPyoO91ug09E2QLSLgDVkyORJNfqBV3gtomgUelOJG7YPblRlLnO77BHPCPFTIZHdO1JZCXADOKZjc702VO7QqIWjM7levWSrvHTTgebq8lRnY/s1024/IMG_5822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_fnLBQ277wzsuISMgVxhD7CEH7Ny2Z0yrVChNU4dCM2o53pS7N1lZz1a5N0TNTkRFVLO9wQk7ONNlrPyoO91ug09E2QLSLgDVkyORJNfqBV3gtomgUelOJG7YPblRlLnO77BHPCPFTIZHdO1JZCXADOKZjc702VO7QqIWjM7levWSrvHTTgebq8lRnY/w400-h300/IMG_5822.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Interesting rock formations at <a href="https://exploreparks.dbca.wa.gov.au/park/mirima-national-park">Mirima National Park</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFuQUiCf7TUFBxfckiYSGUTuHXDb6FTNJpCksCZq3H15AHTrkp5X96QyFHWa-EiFv6iUdQFUvo2Tin8bI0-A9RSnjMaqHGbYax7gA8MTeEtaKZLmTKycN9KoelqxlPAbZD5cEFPaflUhYjcZJ4XuwacMK4DtPOVaQr4pfXw9jsIh7AjSJsVRWykDJm-5U/s1024/IMG_5825.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFuQUiCf7TUFBxfckiYSGUTuHXDb6FTNJpCksCZq3H15AHTrkp5X96QyFHWa-EiFv6iUdQFUvo2Tin8bI0-A9RSnjMaqHGbYax7gA8MTeEtaKZLmTKycN9KoelqxlPAbZD5cEFPaflUhYjcZJ4XuwacMK4DtPOVaQr4pfXw9jsIh7AjSJsVRWykDJm-5U/w400-h300/IMG_5825.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turkey bushes in flower<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ2ZhpFgpwkDip8C9GO37oe9V_O-e0kV3uD2ACHE1OcTd5JNY9s5cbMKVOkgU0Txa7D0bL-xfAzx7pD1CeXG2ZlVxPGRcTgJPOMvAtDYHdxpIQx_KJZ43cF-hXfG4adO0kdGio0kkycijOnOBc4Gt5grS_qGsNU9QwB2emPJvoPiQo6uKD9tpJ7vxwV6E/s1024/IMG_5842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ2ZhpFgpwkDip8C9GO37oe9V_O-e0kV3uD2ACHE1OcTd5JNY9s5cbMKVOkgU0Txa7D0bL-xfAzx7pD1CeXG2ZlVxPGRcTgJPOMvAtDYHdxpIQx_KJZ43cF-hXfG4adO0kdGio0kkycijOnOBc4Gt5grS_qGsNU9QwB2emPJvoPiQo6uKD9tpJ7vxwV6E/w400-h300/IMG_5842.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boab tree<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgETCNRYbTcXux4APmI4oDTsmCwngFBx_8nyFZRguw83SxD7ox68zxrjMyHiyDymiNZ3lxU0-11qaTRdi78w5vzgxM0LKmktio-2g7I4M19Bmsp4LiAjx0_N577q9ld3FovpM3zxfs29NrBgznCtKMf5lqrBsDhD7xGA1zOICb6LRldUp33eHQ0DJQxWek/s1024/IMG_5729.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgETCNRYbTcXux4APmI4oDTsmCwngFBx_8nyFZRguw83SxD7ox68zxrjMyHiyDymiNZ3lxU0-11qaTRdi78w5vzgxM0LKmktio-2g7I4M19Bmsp4LiAjx0_N577q9ld3FovpM3zxfs29NrBgznCtKMf5lqrBsDhD7xGA1zOICb6LRldUp33eHQ0DJQxWek/w400-h300/IMG_5729.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our home on the road<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415971976330381959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2848968531333785579.post-71095680348225997462023-08-15T22:06:00.003-07:002023-08-15T22:06:44.641-07:00Lake Argyle and Ord River<p>From Kununurra, our original plan had been to drive to the Bungle Bungles and take a 4wd day tour from there. However the campground and tour operator had been unable to open this season because of land rights issues. So we had to shuffle our itinerary, which meant a flight and 4wd tour of the Bungle Bungles from Kununurra - and three more days to fill!</p><p>One of those days we opted to do a <a href="https://www.triplejtours.com.au/tour/ord-river-discoverer-sunset/">bus/boat tour</a> out to Lake Argyle and back.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEX-YvhKJF3wEMirSeNM-HV7Tbxhyn48MeZKV9WCzl5YuHsMpCs--Uo7owQsj2amNd_Umebypf5wEKUyT_7anvJPyNeXmM_oxzGI5tVfMZ3CuYC74o39rPi1TaVUC_9lw7DUMRBTba-HMZTe76LvNaNLxIYDn7hpQIC3vCTc0k47t9dSDSBAQmtr0qtlQ/s1024/IMG_5736.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEX-YvhKJF3wEMirSeNM-HV7Tbxhyn48MeZKV9WCzl5YuHsMpCs--Uo7owQsj2amNd_Umebypf5wEKUyT_7anvJPyNeXmM_oxzGI5tVfMZ3CuYC74o39rPi1TaVUC_9lw7DUMRBTba-HMZTe76LvNaNLxIYDn7hpQIC3vCTc0k47t9dSDSBAQmtr0qtlQ/w400-h300/IMG_5736.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lake Argyle and the Ord River Dam<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_odbZ5cQHnSWwNYBj9u-iSJEabgVFgWHJLw6xV0PDaKqwCg7GW7Ceg6nIrxMhBmDwG-BREezmm_oQgTDhEbwsomHRdJLwwPOqf7rojCemKOqZMRiVQg4XxcsNOS9IOQy0g01PNpOPQ0KmQZNejITHdznCWwYKHFYyoLT-ideZ_Gx8eZXE9NN5U8cDetM/s1024/IMG_5743.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_odbZ5cQHnSWwNYBj9u-iSJEabgVFgWHJLw6xV0PDaKqwCg7GW7Ceg6nIrxMhBmDwG-BREezmm_oQgTDhEbwsomHRdJLwwPOqf7rojCemKOqZMRiVQg4XxcsNOS9IOQy0g01PNpOPQ0KmQZNejITHdznCWwYKHFYyoLT-ideZ_Gx8eZXE9NN5U8cDetM/w400-h300/IMG_5743.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down on the Ord River from the dam.<br />The jets are from the hydro station bypass<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJWMtWJ6QJrlb54jk9N2WDevAhoRfu14f7MBnOLvcUtXFRfACgmEWYkQbdOfjpWYa0a4DHwIuM6K_KeGp-Oy8CvLvlMMQkf2b3TFbTijhDzKRDwKr0p6CCbroDjZLlFvHX7QmTrb4gyqQHXggOq3fgwL3MMrCHGqRstnEO4U2otuL6TYeATkHPClcXdYI/s1024/IMG_5747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJWMtWJ6QJrlb54jk9N2WDevAhoRfu14f7MBnOLvcUtXFRfACgmEWYkQbdOfjpWYa0a4DHwIuM6K_KeGp-Oy8CvLvlMMQkf2b3TFbTijhDzKRDwKr0p6CCbroDjZLlFvHX7QmTrb4gyqQHXggOq3fgwL3MMrCHGqRstnEO4U2otuL6TYeATkHPClcXdYI/w400-h300/IMG_5747.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ord River gorge section<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4lQmSVegzA4bEUKTHiW9ydaONy0ukzogbUu1wqqwHo3OwZ3PNmKeEFH_8BaR9BNPwYllEHi_rlqho1Eb3taNYDYMFzwVpnjPzs4A2vS7XSfYP7eL0dmEg-6ALYxh44VqEPOgQmwtoAGJwpX-KZJIgoiwO2WaoWTxv2PuAH0Kz4VNXDFwDjHwEKYFmFbk/s1024/IMG_5748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4lQmSVegzA4bEUKTHiW9ydaONy0ukzogbUu1wqqwHo3OwZ3PNmKeEFH_8BaR9BNPwYllEHi_rlqho1Eb3taNYDYMFzwVpnjPzs4A2vS7XSfYP7eL0dmEg-6ALYxh44VqEPOgQmwtoAGJwpX-KZJIgoiwO2WaoWTxv2PuAH0Kz4VNXDFwDjHwEKYFmFbk/w400-h300/IMG_5748.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tour guide Jeff does his best schoolteacher impersonation<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTboC0o4MFulUqfcl-CTLXVvPGOnmeMiXaZ2YOdOHs7Yz4r-U9Mvuf6fjfXIFGr4Dx2iUVQEokAIGJ-CbBAOMKVg3pPDcgZHC2TeOEuKvttWh2Hp59_PCQ8omplS6Jpgag57SfVZWrE-VL715fe3GE6vs07MRA0Y6QgMbChC3E41V123l5x94JDmnobm0/s1024/IMG_5775.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTboC0o4MFulUqfcl-CTLXVvPGOnmeMiXaZ2YOdOHs7Yz4r-U9Mvuf6fjfXIFGr4Dx2iUVQEokAIGJ-CbBAOMKVg3pPDcgZHC2TeOEuKvttWh2Hp59_PCQ8omplS6Jpgag57SfVZWrE-VL715fe3GE6vs07MRA0Y6QgMbChC3E41V123l5x94JDmnobm0/w400-h300/IMG_5775.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amazing rock strata along the river<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsQALSzapf1tR08oOWBHuZ_wE7fM-o9ZHpRtmEKfijhJWRAh6fyhdDjnyC6O8f9GtSmGewZaWuVrbXVNL1mIZlKECikg0QXEPG9K4c_qxetD_j0XcjftvDdu0wR4B90yR4dzNgbdquydv_d8Vc-2W_UX-eQhh3t_i292DKllhItTZZvLw3eAdTJ2umLVU/s1024/IMG_5776.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsQALSzapf1tR08oOWBHuZ_wE7fM-o9ZHpRtmEKfijhJWRAh6fyhdDjnyC6O8f9GtSmGewZaWuVrbXVNL1mIZlKECikg0QXEPG9K4c_qxetD_j0XcjftvDdu0wR4B90yR4dzNgbdquydv_d8Vc-2W_UX-eQhh3t_i292DKllhItTZZvLw3eAdTJ2umLVU/w400-h300/IMG_5776.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Freshwater crocodile - not dangerous unless provoked<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjabL8-hsI0JWtX4Y7Flzi1CXari_Rx5jBQuC6z87ZJ0CbGE2D8llkBZ2OibHFbSog8s0co8RO5bMNzAUjDicCb09jRr7siwlk47LrvD9rKmGtgenpoFt1Vpv1A8iARMyjR_xUTeyC85qE6T90nWdBoxV_-g6SDbfrIntQxWIEMFY7-8Z-Qkzd22_2QyOo/s1024/IMG_5799.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjabL8-hsI0JWtX4Y7Flzi1CXari_Rx5jBQuC6z87ZJ0CbGE2D8llkBZ2OibHFbSog8s0co8RO5bMNzAUjDicCb09jRr7siwlk47LrvD9rKmGtgenpoFt1Vpv1A8iARMyjR_xUTeyC85qE6T90nWdBoxV_-g6SDbfrIntQxWIEMFY7-8Z-Qkzd22_2QyOo/w400-h300/IMG_5799.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Approaching sunset<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415971976330381959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2848968531333785579.post-72029855589514915892023-08-15T21:58:00.001-07:002023-08-15T21:58:36.871-07:00Victoria-Daly<p>From Katherine we drove west, taking two days to get to Kununurra. Here are some pictures along the way...</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjImHU9REb2RPhDNywOPLenDabNs1TQ7MYzgswmp-QNSMEWF_NG6Rz3-UjGWEqaG2GEfXho8RiOziEMJtUYaOfiHSSE_eK7fmWK63ALy8xz1eojvVI4WeBomVTqMDiPtCc_CGXEieVYNr9FlUeCyh_FlHR0HyS9OQ60jA_IdH3gOsr0FFBEXwMb2XBEkWQ/s1024/IMG_5714.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjImHU9REb2RPhDNywOPLenDabNs1TQ7MYzgswmp-QNSMEWF_NG6Rz3-UjGWEqaG2GEfXho8RiOziEMJtUYaOfiHSSE_eK7fmWK63ALy8xz1eojvVI4WeBomVTqMDiPtCc_CGXEieVYNr9FlUeCyh_FlHR0HyS9OQ60jA_IdH3gOsr0FFBEXwMb2XBEkWQ/w400-h300/IMG_5714.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of the river from the <a href="https://nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/278442/judbarra-gregory-national-park-fact-sheet-and-map.pdf">Victoria River escarpment walk</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJrugt28uItZdMsKatzHa6YbWj1AEdVbYSWoocXHxHqrFf3zigMxwcbM9WCFq0RoWta3grA6eqm70n8py_26XVd_rSPWO_NyduTutDJ2kQamNr4f7ti2OHNaAToUTU7Q5lFIaq-AuYZd4YRxSXtwCvwY_-11tyIKpuWAEKerTWVy9vywoRDQ3asRD3Er8/s1024/IMG_5720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJrugt28uItZdMsKatzHa6YbWj1AEdVbYSWoocXHxHqrFf3zigMxwcbM9WCFq0RoWta3grA6eqm70n8py_26XVd_rSPWO_NyduTutDJ2kQamNr4f7ti2OHNaAToUTU7Q5lFIaq-AuYZd4YRxSXtwCvwY_-11tyIKpuWAEKerTWVy9vywoRDQ3asRD3Er8/w400-h300/IMG_5720.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking the Victoria River escarpment<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmZslzNMJmJa0K5R0bVeXWo6hovo2w4kFWkAmsWwEcCCWg_MKE-eL8giaB0uBFDaJwTCATlIZ7_UC3dH_LT9WlNIE6oWrSUFY-e9VHrYzEpy2m35z4L24jCtYsc5zRiSn4WQhz3XCtNg286uygwOLDKjcxvxbAuFQlF7NrNeJB_He6AF0t4r39o6GzDuk/s1024/IMG_5731.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmZslzNMJmJa0K5R0bVeXWo6hovo2w4kFWkAmsWwEcCCWg_MKE-eL8giaB0uBFDaJwTCATlIZ7_UC3dH_LT9WlNIE6oWrSUFY-e9VHrYzEpy2m35z4L24jCtYsc5zRiSn4WQhz3XCtNg286uygwOLDKjcxvxbAuFQlF7NrNeJB_He6AF0t4r39o6GzDuk/w400-h300/IMG_5731.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Straight roads... but more hills than we were expecting<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgAu28c9d8kPI_3kK2sh5hNG1MA2IJhz9tCWVKIRSQ9NZebOHepkigcBOZ1Gp-hnySYHHfcRXa34oMMsBfZ9aQd-BpdkUPBpnSgLie953TM9G0A8YEy-HYmA81YiL7UAHrb_DzhEUDxWKhpMzHprhPUC_vUb9FVjA8dGyFEmA9Uukkk2_4LTxJDfyQOuo/s1024/IMG_6020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgAu28c9d8kPI_3kK2sh5hNG1MA2IJhz9tCWVKIRSQ9NZebOHepkigcBOZ1Gp-hnySYHHfcRXa34oMMsBfZ9aQd-BpdkUPBpnSgLie953TM9G0A8YEy-HYmA81YiL7UAHrb_DzhEUDxWKhpMzHprhPUC_vUb9FVjA8dGyFEmA9Uukkk2_4LTxJDfyQOuo/w400-h300/IMG_6020.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NT speed limit sign<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>On the way back, we did the entire drive in a single day (due to a change of itinerary)...</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBvdWCzWMxnPoCVX8qDPTbeoVlyBHAIVi7kiy66c1blmOdC4oe5fH_nvBgAM7eDKLPQL2qFLB-ZQJUPQ8Z8xtU3GGyrfzs-2B-F4XTinwXMZQ86ax00BdGQiY8oyMEvcWtfk7iuuOhFmvGU7heDE-wwcUnDtOBQMbnSH_OxV6Vzb6qfH_QX8vFVU1AmaI/s1024/IMG_5995.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBvdWCzWMxnPoCVX8qDPTbeoVlyBHAIVi7kiy66c1blmOdC4oe5fH_nvBgAM7eDKLPQL2qFLB-ZQJUPQ8Z8xtU3GGyrfzs-2B-F4XTinwXMZQ86ax00BdGQiY8oyMEvcWtfk7iuuOhFmvGU7heDE-wwcUnDtOBQMbnSH_OxV6Vzb6qfH_QX8vFVU1AmaI/w400-h300/IMG_5995.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/278442/judbarra-gregory-national-park-fact-sheet-and-map.pdf">Joe Creek loop walk</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ue87P1bn8x5ZAsswWpq0iEDEX07xGF5eYvu6T4DpZ7wRsiJ91ZRiFN60WKdDtEmOqhMo95HLVa_mI5DzOu4VVT9EKWB4bZ_cFdPZNu9G-DS_p2m91uMyP9i-AAaCDXAw1d7v_ZNBrARZjpL0XPIFIk79YgV1rxEsWLigS-XRCpBfZJaiqSgDg9KS-_I/s1024/IMG_6014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ue87P1bn8x5ZAsswWpq0iEDEX07xGF5eYvu6T4DpZ7wRsiJ91ZRiFN60WKdDtEmOqhMo95HLVa_mI5DzOu4VVT9EKWB4bZ_cFdPZNu9G-DS_p2m91uMyP9i-AAaCDXAw1d7v_ZNBrARZjpL0XPIFIk79YgV1rxEsWLigS-XRCpBfZJaiqSgDg9KS-_I/w400-h300/IMG_6014.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/278442/judbarra-gregory-national-park-fact-sheet-and-map.pdf">Joe Creek loop walk</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415971976330381959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2848968531333785579.post-57378253287123337932023-08-15T21:39:00.004-07:002023-08-15T21:39:31.647-07:00Katherine show<p>Show day is an Australian institution, especially for rural towns. When we had planned the original trip in 2020, it was only after we had booked everything that we realised the Katherine show was on around that time. So this time around we added in an extra day and planned to attend the show, just for the experience.</p><p>I wasn't too sure what to expect, but it had a real family atmosphere and there were lots of things to see. Equestrian competitions, chainsaw sculpting, $50,000 camper trailers for sale, a magic show, motorcycle stunts, needlework, cakes, produce, poultry, carnival rides, rodeo, fireworks...</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfjVVVA3wq2lxZCzGbzjCJDtT005W8_oaiY-Ln_k7XOtMqCOGneVJg0P3Sl0BBgxyZYpARd7i1jqg6lXggnCA9iQbjYI28Qc-YuhB2sLRx13u1rIUsB-gjK-gcxPcfnlOAOCJ49U8U-5c_yYs8Dp_Os7D-MdUInLvokcAp31eB8F39Juwy4c3Nj_V4vpE/s1024/IMG_5593.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfjVVVA3wq2lxZCzGbzjCJDtT005W8_oaiY-Ln_k7XOtMqCOGneVJg0P3Sl0BBgxyZYpARd7i1jqg6lXggnCA9iQbjYI28Qc-YuhB2sLRx13u1rIUsB-gjK-gcxPcfnlOAOCJ49U8U-5c_yYs8Dp_Os7D-MdUInLvokcAp31eB8F39Juwy4c3Nj_V4vpE/w400-h300/IMG_5593.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before...</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRS42NtC81dWHzTizy1roHi-NU83W0bKt1ml99L87C7WM0Fc3XY-P4Tbu7AVTmmK6QxOzR4W6InMVr2mtjim7O4uAPc1vs7X2i5gWtVX2CaAADjZvN2RKsrivRhrYrS-D2hwiOplNR7mZEJ5lgE-9lOPb6XggX88VpYCvNHT5slpVJ-GasUND87vxkMG4/s1024/IMG_5614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRS42NtC81dWHzTizy1roHi-NU83W0bKt1ml99L87C7WM0Fc3XY-P4Tbu7AVTmmK6QxOzR4W6InMVr2mtjim7O4uAPc1vs7X2i5gWtVX2CaAADjZvN2RKsrivRhrYrS-D2hwiOplNR7mZEJ5lgE-9lOPb6XggX88VpYCvNHT5slpVJ-GasUND87vxkMG4/w400-h300/IMG_5614.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...after!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizWqxpKjavcndjvNt7yK7vDtxzzHuNhl9yt_sH4E0b4IPhkY4fwlkMckTG58im9geyCI_YxGZDEh7q2QG-fJKAnSY2MpmJWIMnd5ld2GuaZrV1oGYCiIL95f2Yrsk2XQcrt5q_Rw5Mhzp06XvpPtWI_ZCxWtg25SN1nXKdYjMTv925WwrykmYOSzlhCTM/s1024/IMG_5598.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizWqxpKjavcndjvNt7yK7vDtxzzHuNhl9yt_sH4E0b4IPhkY4fwlkMckTG58im9geyCI_YxGZDEh7q2QG-fJKAnSY2MpmJWIMnd5ld2GuaZrV1oGYCiIL95f2Yrsk2XQcrt5q_Rw5Mhzp06XvpPtWI_ZCxWtg25SN1nXKdYjMTv925WwrykmYOSzlhCTM/w400-h300/IMG_5598.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Motorcycle stunts<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiToyUqDNJ6BABpWJLI2TL-R2OwkkTWRvp-wJ_RbgoSq-CYDdjY7rmocyDkZQk6rlUYb0R3gRasC-itO3ytMyAD8qe8haFnuIVRDt3KFaYYD4q_GtEHHDDO2tyMNeBsoMSu2223nmUDvguc7Yvx98gCNDWSqisMJoRCDnh3qYfZ1w844CxpI-MKIGPaBAU/s1024/IMG_5606.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiToyUqDNJ6BABpWJLI2TL-R2OwkkTWRvp-wJ_RbgoSq-CYDdjY7rmocyDkZQk6rlUYb0R3gRasC-itO3ytMyAD8qe8haFnuIVRDt3KFaYYD4q_GtEHHDDO2tyMNeBsoMSu2223nmUDvguc7Yvx98gCNDWSqisMJoRCDnh3qYfZ1w844CxpI-MKIGPaBAU/w400-h300/IMG_5606.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Campdraft. We couldn't figure out how the scoring worked<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTZBzqCOcnbQjgX5Wex5pqZmsbAPc1rWVmTtRa4MxMP7JEvQVC9RX-ektIS8m3USRllUe9FeR_k_U9Dpof35aFDEa0Vadwpf3E7hP-DxAW7BwbmBWVyDWICX1rG90lpXD5E3iF_rh_a_PALFJ7M8f0Epu-AcesYXO5m0LOM3W98I348qULDxDoI8558_A/s1024/IMG_5603.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTZBzqCOcnbQjgX5Wex5pqZmsbAPc1rWVmTtRa4MxMP7JEvQVC9RX-ektIS8m3USRllUe9FeR_k_U9Dpof35aFDEa0Vadwpf3E7hP-DxAW7BwbmBWVyDWICX1rG90lpXD5E3iF_rh_a_PALFJ7M8f0Epu-AcesYXO5m0LOM3W98I348qULDxDoI8558_A/w400-h300/IMG_5603.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A sea of Brahman cattle<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcRjraZO1xk5zbdlDLUcu-wHcFwxI5yAtHHnnK17uka00QHLEk44Zp_QYmMcXBXmPnfSDeksQIx0NwBE6PVdgoub6lS0SZe6IbvJBzco0mPxqdAcC71W_iiOePspgB3Ryxq5Ita-heTl_jq_3xsTeLTVYxI2KLS3ddm143ZgoygXJnW_dBq3-zZ35DRSM/s1024/IMG_5612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcRjraZO1xk5zbdlDLUcu-wHcFwxI5yAtHHnnK17uka00QHLEk44Zp_QYmMcXBXmPnfSDeksQIx0NwBE6PVdgoub6lS0SZe6IbvJBzco0mPxqdAcC71W_iiOePspgB3Ryxq5Ita-heTl_jq_3xsTeLTVYxI2KLS3ddm143ZgoygXJnW_dBq3-zZ35DRSM/w400-h300/IMG_5612.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Winning pumpkins<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzoH6lPlY2vQTuac5NaMeA8xVrqaGA7IkK4POht071hi8kStMiYsKQ4_IyOCiiI_YpeuaWWQdUoiDBftkqgaSEbYdkwNkXt4LiBhokbALV9lL9Pwr9MktAf4mQ4MeMS1VbluMGIXLeJN_gTmUIW0qGk84C4kLqXY9sfBuI2tQWGqccVfmmn65OkfU-I00/s1024/lawnmower-race.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzoH6lPlY2vQTuac5NaMeA8xVrqaGA7IkK4POht071hi8kStMiYsKQ4_IyOCiiI_YpeuaWWQdUoiDBftkqgaSEbYdkwNkXt4LiBhokbALV9lL9Pwr9MktAf4mQ4MeMS1VbluMGIXLeJN_gTmUIW0qGk84C4kLqXY9sfBuI2tQWGqccVfmmn65OkfU-I00/w400-h300/lawnmower-race.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Highlight of the day: the lawnmower race<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqVK4lfimCtxncQTvs6AjbdxI1CbSgryt9urJhIuseVxFC9eg9vpAdADTgAPPXiEIaoq4gc0FluqUyTQw_SUI1BozT4BhN-02gT68OOEGNnROY_AheWzZkpOMCBNPUvB0dWx_0i9lkExW2DoweKyjxMEygfgfI6mY_PAugkbBWY2RLVmqPANEhHL7Xecg/s1024/IMG_5654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqVK4lfimCtxncQTvs6AjbdxI1CbSgryt9urJhIuseVxFC9eg9vpAdADTgAPPXiEIaoq4gc0FluqUyTQw_SUI1BozT4BhN-02gT68OOEGNnROY_AheWzZkpOMCBNPUvB0dWx_0i9lkExW2DoweKyjxMEygfgfI6mY_PAugkbBWY2RLVmqPANEhHL7Xecg/w400-h300/IMG_5654.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Evening rodeo competition<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-NZS6eIb7Fxloerc_3Qtea8Y4PpHz1T1pDRJ5__JmSrJi3wqHIAGEj2l2MQh00pYxn6f4u6Y6eEjURqHPnvOyqiuD_hgiKEbNwlHAErdDyG4sp0d-OGZCi8fKHWX1CrMpfYDa5Y5JynA6OlTYiHQnn6vkv5Ed0RhXu9xXDoaLy8AwqF4hvVx0qNBVRmI/s768/IMG_5666.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-NZS6eIb7Fxloerc_3Qtea8Y4PpHz1T1pDRJ5__JmSrJi3wqHIAGEj2l2MQh00pYxn6f4u6Y6eEjURqHPnvOyqiuD_hgiKEbNwlHAErdDyG4sp0d-OGZCi8fKHWX1CrMpfYDa5Y5JynA6OlTYiHQnn6vkv5Ed0RhXu9xXDoaLy8AwqF4hvVx0qNBVRmI/w320-h320/IMG_5666.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fireworks to finish<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415971976330381959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2848968531333785579.post-84786108154319984252023-08-15T21:23:00.002-07:002023-08-15T21:23:52.525-07:00Kakadu<p><a href="https://parksaustralia.gov.au/kakadu/">Kakadu National Park</a> was first on our itinerary. It's huge, but a lot of it is only accessible by 4wd. Since we didn't have the budget for that (or the knowledge of how to drive one properly, or get ourselves out of trouble if we got stuck) it meant we were a bit limited in where we could go. Not to worry - there was plenty to see. Even if we hadn't quite anticipated just how far apart everything was...</p><p>For our first full day in the park, we started with a visit to the rock art site at <a href="https://parksaustralia.gov.au/kakadu/do/walks/ubirr-walk/">Ubirr</a>. We had booked a guided tour, but when the guide finally turned up (15 minutes late and speaking and acting like he was under the influence of something) we excused ourselves and explored on our own.</p><p>We learned that rock art had various uses. Some of the pictures are warnings to Aboriginal people about spirit forces in that area, or tell stories about how the land and features were created. Others are instructional, depicting the types of animals that are found in the area. I was interested to read that it was bad manners to touch up someone else's painting, but to create another painting over the top was perfectly acceptable. In some places there are multiple layers of painting.<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMEAvkf7fzlyHfpHGl2g_utyhpPaKnblKaViZpAmAL1VJ_FllrQmVpMdYCaxsYC6qBg3QKf7v1o51I_loiz7syZYoVsgKrWSPiKlp-7eKSjZnkEJwm3N3hTAqd5HNE0y1G4jfnffqEM-XjVS0Tzz1gYBbLceMXnosE0QNAp-QAtc4hECUvlf0FF3IsbyM/s1024/IMG_5514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMEAvkf7fzlyHfpHGl2g_utyhpPaKnblKaViZpAmAL1VJ_FllrQmVpMdYCaxsYC6qBg3QKf7v1o51I_loiz7syZYoVsgKrWSPiKlp-7eKSjZnkEJwm3N3hTAqd5HNE0y1G4jfnffqEM-XjVS0Tzz1gYBbLceMXnosE0QNAp-QAtc4hECUvlf0FF3IsbyM/w400-h300/IMG_5514.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rock art in 'X-ray' styl </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt73FoJtSS65ziWNAi6HiB3xaTxSW8WLUPwZ2-3HQiFkHy4NtEVe3YJxUEWGSJ6CBCsBp7HkpJW1jRUwP6rF7RSZjmnWuqEVph2TPBP9RZKoypzFRWe-NEHvvclBSAwE3_3BeHeYhvjd4Y5ehoTgVaSVXCmw51yIUzhvykIZkfR0Ar3TcGdJ0jEpHmgYM/s1024/IMG_5529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt73FoJtSS65ziWNAi6HiB3xaTxSW8WLUPwZ2-3HQiFkHy4NtEVe3YJxUEWGSJ6CBCsBp7HkpJW1jRUwP6rF7RSZjmnWuqEVph2TPBP9RZKoypzFRWe-NEHvvclBSAwE3_3BeHeYhvjd4Y5ehoTgVaSVXCmw51yIUzhvykIZkfR0Ar3TcGdJ0jEpHmgYM/w400-h300/IMG_5529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the Ubirr lookout<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>From Ubirr we picked up a few supplies in Jabiru, refuelled, and drove to Nawurlandja and did the <a href="https://parksaustralia.gov.au/kakadu/do/walks/nawurlandja-lookout-walk/">lookout walk</a> and the <a href="https://parksaustralia.gov.au/kakadu/do/walks/anbangbang-billabong-walk/">Anbangbang billabong walk</a>.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3QZuh1WCx7Ccd3h2FEeJleq2z-7u0mwGkFzF6OD7pwtHV_h_zVPjU0eLCLgae3fBJz5hHhk13fiEvfGGB_T-9VjaAbrbMK_BAJP3KKw2dJK-Pmop9IiPPeYZLbd62CqhrOhlX_f7Y4LmgKqIsm-36OGOAOw4T09GKS9DzSRvqsvJrodXzcPuROtboyL8/s1024/IMG_5543.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3QZuh1WCx7Ccd3h2FEeJleq2z-7u0mwGkFzF6OD7pwtHV_h_zVPjU0eLCLgae3fBJz5hHhk13fiEvfGGB_T-9VjaAbrbMK_BAJP3KKw2dJK-Pmop9IiPPeYZLbd62CqhrOhlX_f7Y4LmgKqIsm-36OGOAOw4T09GKS9DzSRvqsvJrodXzcPuROtboyL8/w400-h300/IMG_5543.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anbangbang billabong<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnge-vAdX3XdwXBCXFpbFYstDIqTIeKwpJpwiUKfEsMruowIPXC6mFTpryNN6zRFxyQP14uLLmdGNIdyg0-l1m9LsnEAGYXzjAtWssHHQmW8PJVWVjw2HeKT5FFmy3XpLomyBUXQJ4VZPhPCzKmgWI0BYkDFYF6QBu4o8KOcevQn9AdE-FBS2cbs3QvrA/s1024/IMG_5552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnge-vAdX3XdwXBCXFpbFYstDIqTIeKwpJpwiUKfEsMruowIPXC6mFTpryNN6zRFxyQP14uLLmdGNIdyg0-l1m9LsnEAGYXzjAtWssHHQmW8PJVWVjw2HeKT5FFmy3XpLomyBUXQJ4VZPhPCzKmgWI0BYkDFYF6QBu4o8KOcevQn9AdE-FBS2cbs3QvrA/w400-h300/IMG_5552.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ibises at Anbangbang billabong<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>We had set aside the whole of the next day to do the 12 km <a href="https://parksaustralia.gov.au/kakadu/do/walks/barrk-sandstone-walk/">Barrk walk</a> at Nourlangie. The information boards on arrival said it shouldn't be called Nourlangie, because that refers to another place but ignorant white people keep calling it Nourlangie. It's a bit hard to not be another ignorant white person when it's written as Nourlangie on the maps and signs...</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqb0vtv6WIJ5U1OLMoGlNcPfFqR_H7_g-4Mcfuk6QfPqUYd4l5cFB0jMayuaJuxNmEAZUPOoAcDOdDzqJ9beQFS2f8Sct74KePrrv3oQ3f_oObcZBtg4GG_g3jfQwW_an6HRgFAgqbjKKLkPgY_k7FEix9LyxSQ54GDU8CF9UUcQ9kTdYU7tpYulX9-6U/s1024/IMG_5563.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqb0vtv6WIJ5U1OLMoGlNcPfFqR_H7_g-4Mcfuk6QfPqUYd4l5cFB0jMayuaJuxNmEAZUPOoAcDOdDzqJ9beQFS2f8Sct74KePrrv3oQ3f_oObcZBtg4GG_g3jfQwW_an6HRgFAgqbjKKLkPgY_k7FEix9LyxSQ54GDU8CF9UUcQ9kTdYU7tpYulX9-6U/w400-h300/IMG_5563.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the top of the big climb, before it got too hot!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv5ebQeETGX9eD2mR-25OrJOgQDQyQnJIvEi-xB5MAwukjQyC8DGL7r9qeSOQ5EHiIBPZG_1dVT5oyN9TTNvmf9f_2S2GCZwpY5jW3af49rKL6t8kAZYnIVMqFumVyo-2BcTSbygF9WuabfoWC0Wyp__7DHJSQdOhmrPoUXOU-NGN7Gr9DHiEUQtQ2FOI/s1024/IMG_5576.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv5ebQeETGX9eD2mR-25OrJOgQDQyQnJIvEi-xB5MAwukjQyC8DGL7r9qeSOQ5EHiIBPZG_1dVT5oyN9TTNvmf9f_2S2GCZwpY5jW3af49rKL6t8kAZYnIVMqFumVyo-2BcTSbygF9WuabfoWC0Wyp__7DHJSQdOhmrPoUXOU-NGN7Gr9DHiEUQtQ2FOI/w400-h300/IMG_5576.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rocks and trees<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyJKJbvOoWL06LUg4ztmGM8r71DQ3mDZImjNkEW25ORHcIbXPQFcyXvLliseJm8LcesRc-UyZZfOyW9OGQeOhKZpmx0XqLTXkFFThV9BZXmb2oEkPKZ9UlF9ICXFkvdYCz7CvDkPHvudAIR9XM5Eo-RKRMroDhI3wDzAEmxzqYvP14wSiUSJ4NwhXpFEk/s1024/IMG_5582.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyJKJbvOoWL06LUg4ztmGM8r71DQ3mDZImjNkEW25ORHcIbXPQFcyXvLliseJm8LcesRc-UyZZfOyW9OGQeOhKZpmx0XqLTXkFFThV9BZXmb2oEkPKZ9UlF9ICXFkvdYCz7CvDkPHvudAIR9XM5Eo-RKRMroDhI3wDzAEmxzqYvP14wSiUSJ4NwhXpFEk/w400-h300/IMG_5582.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunch was at the half-way point: <a href="https://parksaustralia.gov.au/kakadu/do/walks/nanguluwurr-rock-art-walk/">Nanguluwurr rock art site</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Back at the car park, we also visited the <a href="https://parksaustralia.gov.au/kakadu/do/walks/nourlangie-rock-walk/">rock art site</a>.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA3aP8oZtmIQXSctSU9BhR5zw2MYfTcqjQbFRTmqcaz6mL0wZKpAm0TeyfuoubWVxVAcP20xdsSIOpbVPtq6RsONqxC2esqPTHiDTi1-zU_AdLLGnBFhThpsJwDxPFyDyHaWoQQcE8ChySfnAktAChURnSrWutfiPN4G2RakR4Pih3tMORreib03sG1VM/s1024/IMG_5586.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA3aP8oZtmIQXSctSU9BhR5zw2MYfTcqjQbFRTmqcaz6mL0wZKpAm0TeyfuoubWVxVAcP20xdsSIOpbVPtq6RsONqxC2esqPTHiDTi1-zU_AdLLGnBFhThpsJwDxPFyDyHaWoQQcE8ChySfnAktAChURnSrWutfiPN4G2RakR4Pih3tMORreib03sG1VM/w400-h300/IMG_5586.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">X-ray style painting of a kangaroo (with other layers underneath)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizr1BPMe-cHQ-a437LsYRlkYXOXISfy2j64QFkrkhu0caikKGAhLlqYmJWgOxPJ3-7xqfUlKdgDC_7Zn91Glrmn4NQY3bt_vCDeau6QJRfbV7XOY_ym0wd84EsZYWCLk786g-zb6LJHCzBUrPPD4lFEG9wTKFbe8grqaGn6YJBoSynVLr8mm9cwdfByR0/s1024/IMG_5587.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizr1BPMe-cHQ-a437LsYRlkYXOXISfy2j64QFkrkhu0caikKGAhLlqYmJWgOxPJ3-7xqfUlKdgDC_7Zn91Glrmn4NQY3bt_vCDeau6QJRfbV7XOY_ym0wd84EsZYWCLk786g-zb6LJHCzBUrPPD4lFEG9wTKFbe8grqaGn6YJBoSynVLr8mm9cwdfByR0/w400-h300/IMG_5587.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We made up our own story about this one.<br />'A kangaroo stole a boy's bike, so he killed it with a spear'<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415971976330381959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2848968531333785579.post-2312950342694593732023-08-15T20:57:00.004-07:002023-08-15T20:57:43.034-07:00Jumping crocs<p>Since our flights had arrived around midnight, we had planned a 'recovery' day for our first day in Darwin. We took our time getting up and then walked to the Casuarina shopping mall, about 20 minutes away. We found somewhere to have brunch and did a bit of shopping - me for some things I can't get in PNG, and supplies from the supermarket for our first few days of campervanning. Then it was a taxi back to the hotel for what was left of the afternoon.</p><p>The next morning we packed up and made our way to the campervan hire depot. There we were given some bad news: the campervan that had been assigned to us in the system had been returned the day before with a faulty windscreen wiper and wouldn't be ready until 12:00. We had a <a href="https://www.jumpingcrocodilecruises.com.au/pathfinder/">jumping crocodile tour</a> booked for 11:00, and when we explained this to the staff they looked into other options. At one stage it sounded like they would give us a complimentary car to go to the jumping crocs and then come back to collect the campervan - which would mean a really long day of driving! (45 mins each way to the crocs, and 3 hrs from there to our overnight stop at Jabiru.) But then they found a campervan of the same model was available from one of their sister companies, so they quickly checked it over and we loaded up.</p><p>It wasn't yet 11:00 but we weren't going to make it in time, so I called the tour company to explain the situation and they were able to book us on the 1:00 tour instead. This turned out to be quite good as there were two boats going out, so ours wasn't very full. <br /></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha3YuWadvjq30GDRNCwO3j0s96ZF_Ehg6KNlR2AjiHvggt-eIV-eJZNjyTFW--BidZfwvuSNkpP94cJWqY67lgzUhgkreUF3yj9AZtdhbElmMKqB2hGvq7Zzi8v6InZX7jIg1GKfd0EVXuikPtgkW0oFBAH7eeBO4m_hvq7Y1eam-zgtWSYv6-HPOmu4k/s1024/IMG_5457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha3YuWadvjq30GDRNCwO3j0s96ZF_Ehg6KNlR2AjiHvggt-eIV-eJZNjyTFW--BidZfwvuSNkpP94cJWqY67lgzUhgkreUF3yj9AZtdhbElmMKqB2hGvq7Zzi8v6InZX7jIg1GKfd0EVXuikPtgkW0oFBAH7eeBO4m_hvq7Y1eam-zgtWSYv6-HPOmu4k/w400-h300/IMG_5457.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jumping croc</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZjxGPMTyhquLrGQvuyc5AwLyYPsQgr_sl_utLDxrrVdi_p1u5LrZ-6cYlEEPtvTrVa-Zuy5AY8wWoUjR5uzfNI1B958dHihkSI48J7gIcrvum_sflI13EwUeK2xzR7pGO8bD_l6FZcEYluMj8pG6ojEZjWLZndiKytEowYil2yuDzMoTWnHRaHFHxPqk/s1024/IMG_5482.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZjxGPMTyhquLrGQvuyc5AwLyYPsQgr_sl_utLDxrrVdi_p1u5LrZ-6cYlEEPtvTrVa-Zuy5AY8wWoUjR5uzfNI1B958dHihkSI48J7gIcrvum_sflI13EwUeK2xzR7pGO8bD_l6FZcEYluMj8pG6ojEZjWLZndiKytEowYil2yuDzMoTWnHRaHFHxPqk/w400-h300/IMG_5482.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BIG jumping croc</td></tr></tbody></table></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7fmW5OXx-3cWAKmdhTJocoZanONsDpwO8xsVu2_LzWnTnTNto5lBjlZ_UTzdkKGRwvkkhuw-kUFlorWRJtKzHoNyBVZJ7oMNXSRZYUM38Mi1FQOGTZyjNjMaJHIBp6KNSm-yI_oSImo_ZVLZfioeu0_kvLJWMpV_pmVS8H_S4Xrr3Vm6680Vgu1pKz8w/s1024/DSC09377.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7fmW5OXx-3cWAKmdhTJocoZanONsDpwO8xsVu2_LzWnTnTNto5lBjlZ_UTzdkKGRwvkkhuw-kUFlorWRJtKzHoNyBVZJ7oMNXSRZYUM38Mi1FQOGTZyjNjMaJHIBp6KNSm-yI_oSImo_ZVLZfioeu0_kvLJWMpV_pmVS8H_S4Xrr3Vm6680Vgu1pKz8w/s320/DSC09377.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Impressive jumping croc</td></tr></tbody></table><p>After the tour we continued the drive to Jabiru. We stopped for a short walk at the <a href="https://parksaustralia.gov.au/kakadu/do/walks/mamukala-wetlands-walk/">Mamukala wetlands</a>, but not being birdwatchers I don't have much to write home about that.</p>Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415971976330381959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2848968531333785579.post-81684674234629346592023-08-15T20:21:00.000-07:002023-08-15T20:21:00.624-07:00Darwin holiday<p>My best friend and I started planning this holiday back in 2019. So it's been quite a long wait - thanks to Covid!</p><p><a href="https://bridgetsmafjourney.blogspot.com/2020/06/happy-birthday.html">We had planned the trip for July 2020</a>, but everyone ended up in lockdown.</p><p>We postponed it to July 2021, but leisure travel wasn't really feasible with mandatory hotel quarantine. Besides, most of the tourist attractions and accommodation didn't open that year.</p><p>We didn't even think about doing it in July 2022, because I was at a critical stage of flight training in PNG.</p><p>Why July? Because it's the <a href="https://www.australia.com/en/facts-and-planning/weather-in-australia/darwin-weather.html">cooler and drier time of the year.</a> In the wet season (Oct-Mar), many roads become impassable and most of the tourist attractions close down.</p><p>Once we had decided to go, booking everything was pretty straightforward. We already had an itinerary and had researched where to stay, so it was just a matter of deciding on dates. We chose to avoid the school holidays, and to be in Katherine for show day.</p><p>= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =</p><p>The day finally arrived and Jess dropped me off at Hagen airport. I checked in for my 10:00 flight and waited. And waited. And we all waited. Finally a staff member made an announcement - the plane would be arriving at 12:00. I started panicking. My flight from Moresby to Brisbane was scheduled to depart at 1:35. It was almost certain that I would miss it. I asked the ground staff what would happen, they said they would let the people in Moresby know. It wasn't much consolation.</p><p>Sure enough the plane arrived just after 12:00. I had resigned myself to the fact that God was in control and there was nothing I could do but wait, and then run once I got to Moresby. We took off from Hagen at 1:00 and landed in Moresby at 1:50. I collected my bag and motored over to the international terminal. The departures board confirmed that I had indeed missed the flight to Brisbane.</p><p>There was no queue at the service counter and the ladies set about rebooking my ticket for the next day and arranging a hotel room. But then an idea came. Also listed on the departures board was a flight to Cairns, departing at 5:00 that afternoon. I asked if it would be possible for me to get to Darwin via Cairns instead?</p><p>"We'll have to get permission to change your routing. I'll send an email."</p><p>I kept my thoughts to myself about how stupid it was to rely on email as a form of urgent communication, especially on a Sunday, and found a seat to wait while God did His thing behind the scenes. A few minutes later I saw some familiar faces walk through the door - a MAF couple who had been visiting Hagen and were on their way back to Cairns! I chatted with them for a while, until the service lady called me over to say my changes had been approved and I could check in.</p><p>I checked in and was told I would have to collect my bag in Cairns and check it in again. This made me nervous as I only had 1.5 hrs in Cairns, and Jetstar (who I would be flying with for the Cairns-Darwin flight) closes their bag drop 40 minutes before the flight, even if it's late. Again I just had to trust God that He would work things out.</p><p>As a precaution, I checked in for the Jetstar flight online. Uh-oh... I needed to print my boarding pass before coming to the airport. What a joke! But once again the service lady was happy to help me out by printing the pass for me.<br /></p><p>To my surprise our flight left Moresby right on time. The plane was only half full, so getting through immigration and customs in Cairns was no trouble and I was out of the terminal with about an hour to spare.</p><p>Although the flight to Darwin was delayed by half an hour, I was still scheduled arrive before my friend. To top it off, my new Jetstar ticket had a $15 in flight food voucher included!</p><p>After arriving in Darwin I saw that the flight I was originally booked on from Brisbane to Darwin was going to be over an hour late, which meant that my friend would have had to hang around for an hour and a half!</p><p>As I reflected on the day I could see God's fingerprints all over it:<br />- arriving earlier than planned, even according to the original flight schedule<br />- seeing the MAF couple in Moresby<br />- not having to worry about whether my bag would make the connecting flight, because I had to pick it up at each stop<br />- meal being included from Cairns to Darwin<br />- Moresby staff being willing to print the Jetstar boarding pass for me</p><p>It was a humbling lesson in how God was, as usual, able to make good things come out of what seemed to be a bad situation.<br /></p>Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415971976330381959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2848968531333785579.post-77973861338317712212023-06-24T20:49:00.001-07:002023-06-27T21:00:56.634-07:00Wantok<p>The <i>Wantok</i> is a weekly Tok Pisin newspaper. Each week, MAF is donated around 100 copies to take to bush communities. Recently the <i>Wantok</i> asked if we could send them pictures of people reading the paper, so on a trip to Hesalibi, I did...</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUnZGEOPA-v70FfTvTN729RqneynxSUw5ksptWMtkBuRKnf3tBs1cg3kckVWJnIZ8H_K0GsnSED5EqeWvxllfTXNiTlpnjMjFW8KgFtnBQFNaFefYrLUkzAZ0L8qvpFqWyjkECbNkPhF4AXWd1RYkMUiP2l6TR63ox9ozm9nUFNMLMAOoaEsW5QJ0wCoM/s1024/IMG_5229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUnZGEOPA-v70FfTvTN729RqneynxSUw5ksptWMtkBuRKnf3tBs1cg3kckVWJnIZ8H_K0GsnSED5EqeWvxllfTXNiTlpnjMjFW8KgFtnBQFNaFefYrLUkzAZ0L8qvpFqWyjkECbNkPhF4AXWd1RYkMUiP2l6TR63ox9ozm9nUFNMLMAOoaEsW5QJ0wCoM/w400-h300/IMG_5229.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The coronation of King Charles clearly puts a date on this photograph!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><i>Wantok</i> was so happy with the photo that they published it on the front page!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Z6FomzWh0y9ihy1v1qmnllrprZTig2i6GSyxsx5GsZXnxvYIqWHwmmKjWuZn--OJZ3FbBFhJGglrpnomAPYzu6zDAG9s6Odnz6Kuz6l9XFxGJu3IyqjO8tvLbHaWjJEllxo77EzZ-rbfhhBiYfGlnqFrGPeLyxDHLgFB-YPRBx3aO7jbqjF4ljUXuhQ/s867/IMG-20230615-WA0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="867" data-original-width="608" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Z6FomzWh0y9ihy1v1qmnllrprZTig2i6GSyxsx5GsZXnxvYIqWHwmmKjWuZn--OJZ3FbBFhJGglrpnomAPYzu6zDAG9s6Odnz6Kuz6l9XFxGJu3IyqjO8tvLbHaWjJEllxo77EzZ-rbfhhBiYfGlnqFrGPeLyxDHLgFB-YPRBx3aO7jbqjF4ljUXuhQ/w280-h400/IMG-20230615-WA0004.jpg" width="280" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wantok i kamap long Hesalibi!<br />(Wantok arrives at Hesalibi)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Last week I had another trip to Hesalibi and I made sure to take copies of the paper.</p><p>I attempted to recreate the original photograph...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMr6JnTclIbcdVWwV1wKaw2w8JvZR5-yppxc9IdCAOlOYxdroDhlG9zhm8V8aIb6UnIdvEbGwRIHdIho2DGJozvSZqlEvAsn4loufBgcLI7Xr7wRJLvUIPXPxiSOdVUWA9wxTdGb0SAg5STgCKypjihKYOZkPwSmaKgij9ZoPgOZe_xBkN7W9cgKAvje0/s1024/IMG_5272.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMr6JnTclIbcdVWwV1wKaw2w8JvZR5-yppxc9IdCAOlOYxdroDhlG9zhm8V8aIb6UnIdvEbGwRIHdIho2DGJozvSZqlEvAsn4loufBgcLI7Xr7wRJLvUIPXPxiSOdVUWA9wxTdGb0SAg5STgCKypjihKYOZkPwSmaKgij9ZoPgOZe_xBkN7W9cgKAvje0/w400-h300/IMG_5272.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Everyone wanted to have a look...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmgf3NncDJ4JhXtkJ1Bf30O6Nix70oNOp8lLM6wxRyxBd_RkpORrqFRuIvmuIXKntXtYSRZakoOI8ii_xHcLBWF0F15leGsG5JGsdzcfzFGd9vIqUoXCVxcyXXPsSk_3aUm3WMEgEcJph6O_HJMsoMVVqSva0kjAOlH3ofTRO07ECoyLDvXQS6jFi_hJU/s1024/IMG_5275.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmgf3NncDJ4JhXtkJ1Bf30O6Nix70oNOp8lLM6wxRyxBd_RkpORrqFRuIvmuIXKntXtYSRZakoOI8ii_xHcLBWF0F15leGsG5JGsdzcfzFGd9vIqUoXCVxcyXXPsSk_3aUm3WMEgEcJph6O_HJMsoMVVqSva0kjAOlH3ofTRO07ECoyLDvXQS6jFi_hJU/w300-h400/IMG_5275.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p>One man was a little perturbed though. He looked at all the newspapers I had brought and said, 'Can you bring other newspapers? These are all the same...'<br /></p>Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415971976330381959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2848968531333785579.post-59410835139461457782023-06-15T03:56:00.000-07:002023-06-15T03:56:23.003-07:00Party time<p>It was my birthday recently and my compound neighbours helped celebrate. There was also a Big Surprise planned, although it didn't quite come together in time so we had to re-stage it after the event. But it was worth it!</p><p>Jess had sent me a message earlier in the week: 'Will you fly over the house this afternoon? If yes I'll try listen out and we will come wave at you!' Little did I know, she had prepared a big sign (a painted message on a bedsheet acquired from one of the many local second-hand stores) and in the three days leading up to my birthday had been laying it out on the grass. However, my flight routes were all in the opposite direction, so she had to resort to Plan B, which was to ask other pilots to take a picture when they flew overhead. A couple of them tried but the pictures were blurry or from the wrong angle. So then she resorted to Plan C, which meant that I was greeted on the morning of my birthday with this view:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQnngpn5DuH2VvlIDyIDJgQPha-NCoGp5iozDHfaTW1wQr4mgQFNYajdO0SVafMMu2Nj_oUKsaZvXpA0CaXqcw3UYxOUIPr8Y8vwi3_n23MES8Ne-kA7usI6E6tu7Dy48TQcFgJz_svcXyu86PKshWdZ_jAMtFPXfCNKs0717tQaEbBuygRm9LfJES/s1024/IMG_5261.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQnngpn5DuH2VvlIDyIDJgQPha-NCoGp5iozDHfaTW1wQr4mgQFNYajdO0SVafMMu2Nj_oUKsaZvXpA0CaXqcw3UYxOUIPr8Y8vwi3_n23MES8Ne-kA7usI6E6tu7Dy48TQcFgJz_svcXyu86PKshWdZ_jAMtFPXfCNKs0717tQaEbBuygRm9LfJES/w400-h300/IMG_5261.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>That day we got the compound ready for an ice cream sundae bar karaoke evening!<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYTYdUN8dQrGf6ZKSltKQ2g_jnXyQSRZoGSofJgiwEgT-QNsszaWxUp9y8Re4DAHo182qBktA3RlFCBDr1HyWush0tJ0TgVaM97zzeWNxIu64KqQxOoQMM_-GNqq-8AM9t388H1gOse8PRFt9zeekuNuAj-ALC9_UId3wCVyfzIbBNy_qE9G-ClugR/s1024/IMG-20230614-WA0002.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYTYdUN8dQrGf6ZKSltKQ2g_jnXyQSRZoGSofJgiwEgT-QNsszaWxUp9y8Re4DAHo182qBktA3RlFCBDr1HyWush0tJ0TgVaM97zzeWNxIu64KqQxOoQMM_-GNqq-8AM9t388H1gOse8PRFt9zeekuNuAj-ALC9_UId3wCVyfzIbBNy_qE9G-ClugR/w400-h300/IMG-20230614-WA0002.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kids and adults alike are excited about ice cream<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxJBrEb-QElx7ny0Hjx449hp6RZfkBZY-wTkXC70mWUf_lJQXeqd1rzaIh2Ex-XY6MLVOHgIAH8Td3_Lnl61E190P76y_GHzf6dYzR6DaFtFALFAwMaS3PePToq41QZOdYCpFpVTmzzsiGTr_u4-NgIVB7tK9RxDMBE6peK8mggeKmjNmN9jpCQfv6/s1024/IMG-20230614-WA0003.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxJBrEb-QElx7ny0Hjx449hp6RZfkBZY-wTkXC70mWUf_lJQXeqd1rzaIh2Ex-XY6MLVOHgIAH8Td3_Lnl61E190P76y_GHzf6dYzR6DaFtFALFAwMaS3PePToq41QZOdYCpFpVTmzzsiGTr_u4-NgIVB7tK9RxDMBE6peK8mggeKmjNmN9jpCQfv6/w400-h300/IMG-20230614-WA0003.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Al fresco karaoke<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p> </p><p>On the Monday I was flying a route that would definitely take me over town. So Jess put the sign out one more time...<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWfWiXqkyQwUVbBRkAbt4EFb0B-Xcz0pZm4ADpL3OlehF8_dWYk8-MJ3p-mXjyLuPo13DP8GiwTJw7Vbkvu1IvS7gH-hvpqgJxKM3cyPnvfmwrIEOv2WVALfeIYjdjiAOnWAxhio_4MuzW64qhOeA7MieHYcy1vTz8yA1RSv3_onbIyuOTcpX2_7QG/s1024/IMG_5264.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWfWiXqkyQwUVbBRkAbt4EFb0B-Xcz0pZm4ADpL3OlehF8_dWYk8-MJ3p-mXjyLuPo13DP8GiwTJw7Vbkvu1IvS7gH-hvpqgJxKM3cyPnvfmwrIEOv2WVALfeIYjdjiAOnWAxhio_4MuzW64qhOeA7MieHYcy1vTz8yA1RSv3_onbIyuOTcpX2_7QG/w400-h300/IMG_5264.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpzG9fL0L3FRmFY70OEjTTUDGSoFKRBG3eH9Fgz7xkuVbkRV1Be_l38o5zNMQZGDT9LLaImrYEhii05-Hbpj8aZiPCvQ7VKO0oRX2QMUiA81XALeSZ0RLxWotwANI6Cpez_EQnrxInibksnWtTwhB70ulgH6dyftjwEYtNsjT0ywKDmbjaIwXyb1o0/s1024/IMG_5264zoom.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpzG9fL0L3FRmFY70OEjTTUDGSoFKRBG3eH9Fgz7xkuVbkRV1Be_l38o5zNMQZGDT9LLaImrYEhii05-Hbpj8aZiPCvQ7VKO0oRX2QMUiA81XALeSZ0RLxWotwANI6Cpez_EQnrxInibksnWtTwhB70ulgH6dyftjwEYtNsjT0ywKDmbjaIwXyb1o0/w400-h300/IMG_5264zoom.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>It was worth the wait!<br /></p>Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415971976330381959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2848968531333785579.post-5761712869965011852023-06-03T03:30:00.001-07:002023-06-15T03:41:52.853-07:00Timber!<p>Recently I was scheduled to fly 950 kg of building supplies from Hagen to Wanikipa airstrip. It sounds pretty straightforward - after all, I regularly fly over 1000 kg of 2-minute noodles to Simbai and 1000 kg of coffee back to Hagen. However, it turned out not to be that simple, because the building supplies were long lengths of timber that filled the cabin.</p><p>The ground staff had nearly finished loading the plane and I noticed it seemed to be sitting quite tail low. I quickly calculated the weight and balance and sure enough, the centre of gravity was outside the aft limit.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWmQ8c-CirioFhxX5sfcXoNpbIBdrwqgLX-zk6Cj6OpAowK5tVdHJ84oy_8SP9YNe_Ggi155qxCpMRlN-8aSww6705Xi1AM0oUtXk5Ae40s1IY0v2Uql3l71bKqJm40MmMGAJuq4I_nNraR38Y7oy4ddzZLjqjA6hHpXXG_GIN33dsABgbGv-aCVxZ/s624/C208_WBcrop.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="624" data-original-width="607" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWmQ8c-CirioFhxX5sfcXoNpbIBdrwqgLX-zk6Cj6OpAowK5tVdHJ84oy_8SP9YNe_Ggi155qxCpMRlN-8aSww6705Xi1AM0oUtXk5Ae40s1IY0v2Uql3l71bKqJm40MmMGAJuq4I_nNraR38Y7oy4ddzZLjqjA6hHpXXG_GIN33dsABgbGv-aCVxZ/s320/C208_WBcrop.png" width="311" /></a></div><p></p><p>If the centre of gravity is too far aft, the pilot can lose control of the aircraft. I didn't want that to happen! Since there wasn't any way of redistributing the weight, the only way to move the centre of gravity forward was to put ballast in the front pod and offload an equivalent weight of timber. 80 kg was enough.<br /></p><p>During and immediately after the take-off I tested the control effectiveness. It was less than usual (no surprise) but enough to continue safely.</p><p>The wood will be used to build an extension to the health centre in Wanikipa. Lots of people pitched in to help unload the plane and carry the timber to the village.<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifrqIL0Zet8x71rpsq8h6LhAWxFkB8eyYlE6S9F5a0Jwrb2TQtQARvwXAObbPWpVsJG8Vs8W0fBEom0wnSzD-NYITMj8sGFLcm8YBAjnoWlHTvhdWkt9Czv5wPxLv_bERJVx46_IMXn__MOJfJ2yxjCgPo74ixCn0oDxBCDvhBgYywxISZpkXgFHyj/s1024/IMG_5246.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifrqIL0Zet8x71rpsq8h6LhAWxFkB8eyYlE6S9F5a0Jwrb2TQtQARvwXAObbPWpVsJG8Vs8W0fBEom0wnSzD-NYITMj8sGFLcm8YBAjnoWlHTvhdWkt9Czv5wPxLv_bERJVx46_IMXn__MOJfJ2yxjCgPo74ixCn0oDxBCDvhBgYywxISZpkXgFHyj/w400-h300/IMG_5246.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Offloading the timber<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJr8CfAJTUZVdsROEnXwGq5Dk0CEYgINOtEoX-4x3M_WENqqvQ4FxsqaF-s4gfzwK6wGmeRKRF-UNhXHhi9yQQ3lYojt7UOOeIsOcADnSBlo7q41kiio4NScaYd7VvL91XOgHKX9R6ElzK1hoZs9JNGBYrd0POhgC3XaircMbxAqBXK8VwdrCv_KfI/s1024/IMG_5240.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJr8CfAJTUZVdsROEnXwGq5Dk0CEYgINOtEoX-4x3M_WENqqvQ4FxsqaF-s4gfzwK6wGmeRKRF-UNhXHhi9yQQ3lYojt7UOOeIsOcADnSBlo7q41kiio4NScaYd7VvL91XOgHKX9R6ElzK1hoZs9JNGBYrd0POhgC3XaircMbxAqBXK8VwdrCv_KfI/w400-h300/IMG_5240.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everyone joined in to help - even the kids!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415971976330381959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2848968531333785579.post-30857341868433440752023-04-15T20:57:00.001-07:002023-04-28T21:43:57.635-07:00Advanced airstrip training (AAT)<p>I spent the last week in Goroka for my long-awaited advanced airstrip training course. Now, having completed it, I'm glad it wasn't scheduled any earlier - it was quite intense! The goal of the course was to develop the skills, confidence and precision to be able to land on short airstrips (precision), steep airstrips (technique) and others with challenging circuits or surface conditions (e.g. slippery).<br /></p><p>The Goroka base services a number of such airstrips, and over the course of the 3 1/2 days we visited 14 different strips. They got progressively shorter, steeper, and slipperier... here are some stats:</p><p><i>(For reference, the steep sections of Transmission Gully or Ngauranga Gorge are about 8% slope)</i> <br /></p><p><b>Day 1:</b> <br />Ground lesson<br />Pyarulama - 503 m, 10.0% slope, visual illusions with surrounding terrain<br />Yenkisa - 451 m, 9.1% slope, somewhat confined circuit<br /></p><p><b>Day 2:<br /> </b>Marawaka - 900 m, 4.0% slope, confined circuit. This was a 'correlation exercise' meaning I didn't get to look at the airstrip chart but had to figure out the dimensions of the airstrip and how I was going to land there myself<br />Simogu - 487 m, 8.4% slope, can be slippery<br />Asinuwa - 551 m, 4.9% slope, visual illusions<br />Sindeni - 560 m, 6.3% slope, wind can be challenging<br />Ande - 482 m, 8.0% slope, wind can be challenging (just on the other side of the valley from Sindeni!)<br />Andakombe - 505 m, 9.0% slope<br />Manu - 705 m, 4.5% slope, wet and slippery when we visited<br /></p><p><b>Day 3:<br /></b>Wuyabo - 555 m, 2.8% slope, i.e. short and flat<br />Wonenara - 410 m, 9.7% slope, very unusual circuit - another correlation exercise<br />Owena - 380 m, 12.5% slope - the shortest and steepest so far!<br /></p><p><b>Day 4:<br /></b>Maimafu - 460 m, 13.0% slope, with slope varying from 5% to 16% in places, and very slippery to boot<br />Yambaitok - 515 m, 1.1% slope, unusual circuit and tricky wind (as well as being short and flat)<br />Gebrau - 530 m, 12.1% slope<br />Dusin - 441 m, 9.0% slope<br /></p><p> </p><p>I took some photos, and although they really don't do these places justice, here they are:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_OMC9F-rYNl8xURBI_2HF7yEx1fuvtTs8OZf_T966ks_MnL76zQgcfm_4fYk7jbLVb8MY0hNehmaqsrXbUq3GgDufP0s5MP2gn5wDxprsZ_6kVXYYKy-YWZeBchB2VmbIfoAnqa_rSPsxrJfAf7NIrAHfVO6X0b70OuYoa--1MAVYadx4EW4AEdhZ/s1024/AAT-Sindeni.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_OMC9F-rYNl8xURBI_2HF7yEx1fuvtTs8OZf_T966ks_MnL76zQgcfm_4fYk7jbLVb8MY0hNehmaqsrXbUq3GgDufP0s5MP2gn5wDxprsZ_6kVXYYKy-YWZeBchB2VmbIfoAnqa_rSPsxrJfAf7NIrAHfVO6X0b70OuYoa--1MAVYadx4EW4AEdhZ/w400-h300/AAT-Sindeni.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With training pilot Brad at Sindeni. Ande, our next destination, <br />is visible in the background (just above my head)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVK8vQqUW0xwpKZVEpt-rAXO0mKptJsJvD9cRuB723OsazaLglA5K6mryf5OisIlkBTij39xH308qTrLrsdRsGksA733oWaRDFD6CN_hkZdaou-6rTPF3tRPkCgmnstiKQwmf3BPw-SYRH8oeEWkXSWSX4UFNd_YAILt0b429zwsUdgXe0DByukN8h/s1024/IMG_5157_WW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVK8vQqUW0xwpKZVEpt-rAXO0mKptJsJvD9cRuB723OsazaLglA5K6mryf5OisIlkBTij39xH308qTrLrsdRsGksA733oWaRDFD6CN_hkZdaou-6rTPF3tRPkCgmnstiKQwmf3BPw-SYRH8oeEWkXSWSX4UFNd_YAILt0b429zwsUdgXe0DByukN8h/w400-h300/IMG_5157_WW.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Owena (380 m, 12.5% slope) from the air<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4FcryjQHRJflAmZWj3766DWApWyfb1moQu2i1R1ve6vdTVb9c23e_qL5hMzPMG9GsWninKfpkmTPtrE020xsZo7fcClCRT6B8BJMf_6jItlaM-Hz96mutf2w6mF4KsQGrt6AaL3oFNR3-6K2qYjdb3HxPhCUebzd2iJNgdjEDVuBcODdo1xDabAv1/s1024/IMG_5158_WW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4FcryjQHRJflAmZWj3766DWApWyfb1moQu2i1R1ve6vdTVb9c23e_qL5hMzPMG9GsWninKfpkmTPtrE020xsZo7fcClCRT6B8BJMf_6jItlaM-Hz96mutf2w6mF4KsQGrt6AaL3oFNR3-6K2qYjdb3HxPhCUebzd2iJNgdjEDVuBcODdo1xDabAv1/w400-h300/IMG_5158_WW.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Owena from the ground<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHKNHMe_pgyO1e4HZuZjSeNTHI_FU5OoUwJI9VJ1onROtuItV-ySrPRPIC6L6UcO4_V3iBb9F86_HlMb53-RzYEyfAAxj4jwRrNAqZztXI43yL8MBzEoLRhjaZOi2m0MCZAGsvFNHLDRJJoqCmyyJ85DNaVLBTMGA8CTOIdI7zOujyIzxiunn33qPg/s1024/IMG_5165_MF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHKNHMe_pgyO1e4HZuZjSeNTHI_FU5OoUwJI9VJ1onROtuItV-ySrPRPIC6L6UcO4_V3iBb9F86_HlMb53-RzYEyfAAxj4jwRrNAqZztXI43yL8MBzEoLRhjaZOi2m0MCZAGsvFNHLDRJJoqCmyyJ85DNaVLBTMGA8CTOIdI7zOujyIzxiunn33qPg/w400-h300/IMG_5165_MF.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maimafu (460 m, 13.0 slope) from the air<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzIItiaBqACeHdpFUA4_009fjCA-xNBIm6A1fSIcFT6iAZ3fVqtFynLDGdXsDkEYvmri9X1bfEoHPsW3sJYQFbUT3fnRCybmpgmA_hdmQm7P8SAtB5WOA1rpQQ3V6zivcQNqsb-cY3LjzwKdSIOisM-9L-DnIUFcBV0eMSqPd4EoqEqa7K8ob32FTF/s1024/IMG_5172_MF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzIItiaBqACeHdpFUA4_009fjCA-xNBIm6A1fSIcFT6iAZ3fVqtFynLDGdXsDkEYvmri9X1bfEoHPsW3sJYQFbUT3fnRCybmpgmA_hdmQm7P8SAtB5WOA1rpQQ3V6zivcQNqsb-cY3LjzwKdSIOisM-9L-DnIUFcBV0eMSqPd4EoqEqa7K8ob32FTF/w400-h300/IMG_5172_MF.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maimafu from the ground<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415971976330381959noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2848968531333785579.post-80059654700149550692023-03-29T20:47:00.000-07:002023-03-29T20:47:28.729-07:00Support-raising staff retreat<p>Last weekend the support-raising staff had a retreat at Madang Resort. Here are some pictures of (some of) the things we did...</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2OMF92GdV5itWLjEsNe52dvDBC77LM9k3Ezp6n3unHV_nt6Zmg_qe47yDqVfyeAIMq7XpblzEPkcJxALzmsNmXfcfO0LtA_M-xCYKsaBzGTHcABBl-WQNhW4e3XmDEEgyKHoe4BS75I_UcV6zgDVleNyekSFZQEp3G6hKHsNXQXVJV_a_VlUf69aL/s1024/IMG-20230323-WA0000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2OMF92GdV5itWLjEsNe52dvDBC77LM9k3Ezp6n3unHV_nt6Zmg_qe47yDqVfyeAIMq7XpblzEPkcJxALzmsNmXfcfO0LtA_M-xCYKsaBzGTHcABBl-WQNhW4e3XmDEEgyKHoe4BS75I_UcV6zgDVleNyekSFZQEp3G6hKHsNXQXVJV_a_VlUf69aL/w400-h300/IMG-20230323-WA0000.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was able to use the opportunity to do some training<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipkzitajx2x9yTJMTTLiX72odK6xqDFKbjqm94y4mZg89UGgT-8lEmrQoXLi76g_Y1my8sQA54JytWAiJiY6bAIugSISKbRSfmcqLZxJuyiStUTybWEHtIP8P-rHPBYsv-jBOpOaiUdFY2apKTXoUq5frppDu_DtIbqyzZq61IKk_LvTQHNl2STP2e/s1024/IMG_5067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipkzitajx2x9yTJMTTLiX72odK6xqDFKbjqm94y4mZg89UGgT-8lEmrQoXLi76g_Y1my8sQA54JytWAiJiY6bAIugSISKbRSfmcqLZxJuyiStUTybWEHtIP8P-rHPBYsv-jBOpOaiUdFY2apKTXoUq5frppDu_DtIbqyzZq61IKk_LvTQHNl2STP2e/w400-h300/IMG_5067.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MAF aircraft parked at Madang<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGZgzkWnRmnV1Ad9dx04VC-Mnn348vMFRLIcTKlr_jqP6K64HB9Ql3cRNbKkoe5v_d4adfWTJZRKg_wC__AOoZAIWnCZJZUOocyOw7sxyJOg0B95DORH-a5xWIXY4KhTnITSj-8R0ZPmEedlpZ1KStnEyaLR16cUhfn9dOmnBTfEFr89QPee6U1KrG/s709/IMG_0201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="709" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGZgzkWnRmnV1Ad9dx04VC-Mnn348vMFRLIcTKlr_jqP6K64HB9Ql3cRNbKkoe5v_d4adfWTJZRKg_wC__AOoZAIWnCZJZUOocyOw7sxyJOg0B95DORH-a5xWIXY4KhTnITSj-8R0ZPmEedlpZ1KStnEyaLR16cUhfn9dOmnBTfEFr89QPee6U1KrG/w400-h300/IMG_0201.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quiz night on Thursday<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJI7y7V0GrzBfWqGnCraFbU1AZ4Y71T5ukgWxpLT5s6gcxTI4ncipQUmt-_xnjthDsVo7Lb3zIKpBd3HwiRd0edKuGlVBEedAzKxHcg5eEi4qdQ8Fb4NLxKeCfjPipgq2ZZBq7C_c2ryJtRXtVcf5_n8SzIJ167ZkWmQji5qDbYCaTQRhxNRnTDcEI/s1024/IMG_5102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJI7y7V0GrzBfWqGnCraFbU1AZ4Y71T5ukgWxpLT5s6gcxTI4ncipQUmt-_xnjthDsVo7Lb3zIKpBd3HwiRd0edKuGlVBEedAzKxHcg5eEi4qdQ8Fb4NLxKeCfjPipgq2ZZBq7C_c2ryJtRXtVcf5_n8SzIJ167ZkWmQji5qDbYCaTQRhxNRnTDcEI/w400-h300/IMG_5102.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Morning view<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu6-H_pUezFLsrCPTBpNu3KGONo_vZmsU223MjEGVjtH1JvGAWRu4zTbEexctFKSMxrpFYGyzKXzN4WG0MmKWmcchbNhoJT9o37bcExoFt8NfLxTkqqbbHibRBfX6QzLg-MsdodyNh4fUsFRnfOQrC8BHtx4pwpmqT9dvue7ny8435VFpnQ5yST9GF/s1024/IMG_5104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu6-H_pUezFLsrCPTBpNu3KGONo_vZmsU223MjEGVjtH1JvGAWRu4zTbEexctFKSMxrpFYGyzKXzN4WG0MmKWmcchbNhoJT9o37bcExoFt8NfLxTkqqbbHibRBfX6QzLg-MsdodyNh4fUsFRnfOQrC8BHtx4pwpmqT9dvue7ny8435VFpnQ5yST9GF/w400-h300/IMG_5104.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Water taxi (equivalent)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0HBMUjSomKi68zVQtVP8onlnXa0gzMvr4_GwZDsrKJFhBkzfR2ZbfyOibkfYIpqlO6cUh5kOvivC1n4KY8sZroLV15XhsvAqBCZF7wT_ZwbAzivcmOX72_B8raWWrcUqnZMHrKPRbToEwo2t89PLeot0wv210LJ9Y4lAN-8fdUBbk39I2X0I43hUA/s1024/IMG_5110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0HBMUjSomKi68zVQtVP8onlnXa0gzMvr4_GwZDsrKJFhBkzfR2ZbfyOibkfYIpqlO6cUh5kOvivC1n4KY8sZroLV15XhsvAqBCZF7wT_ZwbAzivcmOX72_B8raWWrcUqnZMHrKPRbToEwo2t89PLeot0wv210LJ9Y4lAN-8fdUBbk39I2X0I43hUA/w400-h300/IMG_5110.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crown pigeons at the resort<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy65nP1e5DcrVf1fRK_UdcgKx446QqNooMeW1-1yU1iIYPRr0AJVgURPK4LfsZJxOAwCmyBgil3W8zMTvW7bc1R_yA39QWMU2ZO-lE1S4GSwjnVYoOFGYGERcpn36QBDy3DJuW2NVTh-SevuRnAgx-U-XD9fjTXVpRfwwc-ulCvwWf0x0P4O2EhTWd/s1024/IMG_5079.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy65nP1e5DcrVf1fRK_UdcgKx446QqNooMeW1-1yU1iIYPRr0AJVgURPK4LfsZJxOAwCmyBgil3W8zMTvW7bc1R_yA39QWMU2ZO-lE1S4GSwjnVYoOFGYGERcpn36QBDy3DJuW2NVTh-SevuRnAgx-U-XD9fjTXVpRfwwc-ulCvwWf0x0P4O2EhTWd/w400-h300/IMG_5079.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breakfast<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8RSC7dJJTN-LQuaoyWKD0dK9sUP2dx3oa7FZrW72r6SKvDmBCETMdju4qPFI8d7Wm8jTXZkKgl49FFF2EZdcsdB-_aPv86HVhKXLnpHQ1elXVBLlISw2fmCLplZtuuogb-c0w-qJQwOEwS800bm1JLCLQW4LquxUeUcHeokGofgjBkbyBKV9XPPeK/s1024/IMG_5089.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8RSC7dJJTN-LQuaoyWKD0dK9sUP2dx3oa7FZrW72r6SKvDmBCETMdju4qPFI8d7Wm8jTXZkKgl49FFF2EZdcsdB-_aPv86HVhKXLnpHQ1elXVBLlISw2fmCLplZtuuogb-c0w-qJQwOEwS800bm1JLCLQW4LquxUeUcHeokGofgjBkbyBKV9XPPeK/w400-h300/IMG_5089.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Local kids having fun<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-2Aebj7Vq78j3zzysMpd85JgOCh5fSfjzOVbsT9B3t_OuDE9tRUr3s_lyksHhB4syaRi0rsyCtXcEfhq5aN4vzdfSoYgOMSzYtggl547NNbbwnCo3ZqhwCP9di7lRU3o7REIbqJN_a1ZNWIPlsxZ9BWkAQB65nPJ6Gdqq97D8h26UwxHAoMc1b_4i/s1024/IMG_5100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-2Aebj7Vq78j3zzysMpd85JgOCh5fSfjzOVbsT9B3t_OuDE9tRUr3s_lyksHhB4syaRi0rsyCtXcEfhq5aN4vzdfSoYgOMSzYtggl547NNbbwnCo3ZqhwCP9di7lRU3o7REIbqJN_a1ZNWIPlsxZ9BWkAQB65nPJ6Gdqq97D8h26UwxHAoMc1b_4i/w400-h300/IMG_5100.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I went for a walk on Friday with some others<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPW96OhQfmkW-1R77aVe4k-zeIAxaiPvthujXxWS5LeaD7UMc365Pi2wFqvC6T4-PYJJ4No4gnTcWQrb0GizmQblMD8PGPE8LP8rWsVVHWEizrLh8WI_tCjimKZaOAHRVvCJExEoxM6wCc_SiXU5ZhJDuuXqE1Z8hHQGuYbN14P1hh_tv2FfSQTbNu/s1024/IMG_5111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPW96OhQfmkW-1R77aVe4k-zeIAxaiPvthujXxWS5LeaD7UMc365Pi2wFqvC6T4-PYJJ4No4gnTcWQrb0GizmQblMD8PGPE8LP8rWsVVHWEizrLh8WI_tCjimKZaOAHRVvCJExEoxM6wCc_SiXU5ZhJDuuXqE1Z8hHQGuYbN14P1hh_tv2FfSQTbNu/w400-h300/IMG_5111.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Families enjoying some kayaking<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpGWvgQq7R62T7YSTASn2iueYmveDE0YQWduauDu_e-TE3RW8bZ3_lnzeEwrTt2NX_NifwuseBzNpH7nv7mbWZfMKZcWUtdHPPmID7zJT6oZjCwVsIIYUq9m5mjSmAorkVGVGv4vVBUKjcfxIX2Il2ARBE8jNQLL37r-S3n5NLC0QhBxbK6Ki8wBhS/s1024/IMG_20230324_091625.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpGWvgQq7R62T7YSTASn2iueYmveDE0YQWduauDu_e-TE3RW8bZ3_lnzeEwrTt2NX_NifwuseBzNpH7nv7mbWZfMKZcWUtdHPPmID7zJT6oZjCwVsIIYUq9m5mjSmAorkVGVGv4vVBUKjcfxIX2Il2ARBE8jNQLL37r-S3n5NLC0QhBxbK6Ki8wBhS/w400-h300/IMG_20230324_091625.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Worship session<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I had offered to organise a 'teams challenge' social activity. Despite nobody knowing much about what it would entail, there was a good turnout, with enough people for 9 teams. They competed in 4 different kinds of challenge:<br />- teams working together<br />- everyone has a go at something to find the team's best score. Did you know that it's possible to flick a rubber band 12 metres??<br />- 'champion's challenge': everyone represents the team at something<br />- first team wins (relays)</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJzJquQyJ-6xOKAbVqsnegeCAbPCicJsFky63IqgrP1coHRpJBOOs5XxOkx4NgrX5JftLSqVTE6i_PGPhbzsD0OO5WKkabRhOkDALXweRupsfdFnYh6NSoN5P9XxN1hIDaeQ_4WabWITFYXtOgS8DsSAwKGHux6wvW9YL6qFjgqJxA6IyBjH3JzQfu/s1024/IMG-20230329-WA0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJzJquQyJ-6xOKAbVqsnegeCAbPCicJsFky63IqgrP1coHRpJBOOs5XxOkx4NgrX5JftLSqVTE6i_PGPhbzsD0OO5WKkabRhOkDALXweRupsfdFnYh6NSoN5P9XxN1hIDaeQ_4WabWITFYXtOgS8DsSAwKGHux6wvW9YL6qFjgqJxA6IyBjH3JzQfu/w400-h300/IMG-20230329-WA0001.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teams work together: support the whole team on only two feet<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE6VH5izTMYn_F80nlzYFTSd3bVC4cIEhyupA4cyFJgP8V-_JQoEB1Ve0XK4SDEmIJ3ByahZ0Ezz19vX88SLBkmaFtyWffxiPAFS463YoT_Hqh_cBDgSVH2YZgF7LiOJXT_j2cf_3ItJ5OWg9PdodiN8QMvUgmtfuCu2BaLzIQ7npWPY9k34Qq1pN9/s1024/IMG-20230329-WA0009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE6VH5izTMYn_F80nlzYFTSd3bVC4cIEhyupA4cyFJgP8V-_JQoEB1Ve0XK4SDEmIJ3ByahZ0Ezz19vX88SLBkmaFtyWffxiPAFS463YoT_Hqh_cBDgSVH2YZgF7LiOJXT_j2cf_3ItJ5OWg9PdodiN8QMvUgmtfuCu2BaLzIQ7npWPY9k34Qq1pN9/s320/IMG-20230329-WA0009.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Champion's challenge: leap across a chasm<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCqI3a1i6_RZkXvHK9P-NoWdH2gUqFeJnrOhrn-uf1zNZp-PsBD1_o4rrWe62Hx2Ds1SbqDp5zAwSR5ZN0pEgpRVwZK8HYgjMoVhapzr76nRlxse9QVrUiNdk5ppZ2VFPYSogapNvP6YytPTZAKY9pPTOfV_hSFwZuMlLkrH1no1nURPCjuBNdFLhB/s1024/piggyback.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCqI3a1i6_RZkXvHK9P-NoWdH2gUqFeJnrOhrn-uf1zNZp-PsBD1_o4rrWe62Hx2Ds1SbqDp5zAwSR5ZN0pEgpRVwZK8HYgjMoVhapzr76nRlxse9QVrUiNdk5ppZ2VFPYSogapNvP6YytPTZAKY9pPTOfV_hSFwZuMlLkrH1no1nURPCjuBNdFLhB/w400-h300/piggyback.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Champion's challenge: Piggyback racing<br />(A carries B, then B carries A)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415971976330381959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2848968531333785579.post-82989666154740126242023-02-17T19:02:00.003-08:002023-02-26T19:25:51.144-08:00Humbug day<p>Some days flying in PNG it’s plain sailing; others you encounter some humbugs. I had one particular humbug-full day recently!</p><p>The planned programme was Hagen - Hesalibi - Balimo - Daru - Balimo - Kiunga. I managed to depart early - even receiving the following WhatsApp message from our flight following team:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiuGzwvDk0woBkcz57iFex3fmhe7M4ccsmVnWz3R3uULNMO2x6r6y05HMPu61tSH-Zuhl4CoJ2P3PGttPryqYwrsS-49bNIbBP0o2J3wtUnODAoJAZ6DwlsZPOVrXxYNCtOjnRh4IeoCT4QraowA1yOEPvgZQqr-Z4_y9WpcweILMwOENNc1aud2EX/s637/Screenshot_20230227-104843a.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="291" data-original-width="637" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiuGzwvDk0woBkcz57iFex3fmhe7M4ccsmVnWz3R3uULNMO2x6r6y05HMPu61tSH-Zuhl4CoJ2P3PGttPryqYwrsS-49bNIbBP0o2J3wtUnODAoJAZ6DwlsZPOVrXxYNCtOjnRh4IeoCT4QraowA1yOEPvgZQqr-Z4_y9WpcweILMwOENNc1aud2EX/s320/Screenshot_20230227-104843a.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>I arrived at Hesalibi to pick up an aerial health patrol team that were to be dropped off there by helicopter. I hadn’t heard the helicopter pilot on the radio, so was prepared to have to wait a while. I asked the locals if they could give me a bit of a <a href="https://bridgetsmafjourney.blogspot.com/2023/02/hesalibi.html">tour of their village</a>. The helicopter arrived about an hour later and had to make three landings: one to drop off his fuel drum for the return journey, and two more to bring the team from their village location another ten minutes’ flight time away.</p><p>The two hour delay meant that the rest of my programme was going to be tight.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibkRj3nHMCdtWnPfQZoi3KfBCeXTQMkf_v1Ux4ThBdh8wzfPQfytCBosOj3NMBtzYo4WpOZfcJF8NXvU1xoAwIBoloBRpIEEue9WBzZ9392j_ho0YBZ4fzu2L8p6oF0_2ZJKyxnyZDQ96ts0h8Z7gczj1lo_apO2RJFwpu6V1Q1tv19ihb0UiWy6Nn/s1024/IMG_4941.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibkRj3nHMCdtWnPfQZoi3KfBCeXTQMkf_v1Ux4ThBdh8wzfPQfytCBosOj3NMBtzYo4WpOZfcJF8NXvU1xoAwIBoloBRpIEEue9WBzZ9392j_ho0YBZ4fzu2L8p6oF0_2ZJKyxnyZDQ96ts0h8Z7gczj1lo_apO2RJFwpu6V1Q1tv19ihb0UiWy6Nn/w400-h300/IMG_4941.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The health patrol team finally arrived<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>I had just arrived in Balimo when my phone rang - the bookings team had received a medevac request and asked if I could pick up a patient on my way from Balimo to Kiunga. I told them I wasn’t sure because I knew there was more humbug lying ahead: I was supposed to load a 130 kg vaccine fridge into the plane from Balimo to Kiunga and I had no idea how long that would take. I asked them to look into whether it could be done the following morning (dreading what that might mean for my planned return time to Hagen) and got cracking with paperwork and passengers heading to Daru.</p><p>One of my Balimo passengers was a patient transfer. She was able to walk to the aircraft, with assistance, but she was clearly not well. I made sure she was comfortable in one of the back seats by the door, checked the seat belts of the other passengers, gave the mandatory safety briefing, and took off for Daru. On arrival the agent called for the ambulance and I decided to wait until it arrived, since her ailment involved ‘women’s issues’ and I knew the (male) ground agent would not be willing to help support her. I helped the lady off the plane and gave her my plastic folding step to sit on. My backload passengers were brought to the aircraft, but the ambulance still hadn’t come. It was now impossible for me to do the other medevac flight today, so I called the bookings team back and informed them. Finally the ambulance arrived, I helped her climb into it, returned my step to the plane, and took off for Balimo. </p><p>At Balimo five men were ready to load the fridge. I quickly removed two of the seats to make space and they lifted it in. Thankfully it turned out to be quite straightforward to strap down. Then my phone rang again - it was the bookings team, informing me that another operator was going to do the medevac, so that was one less thing to worry about! They also told me that there was a planned fuel strike the next day, so to refuel for the next day’s programme on arrival in Kiunga, which I would normally have done anyway.</p><p>Flying to Kiunga the plane was relatively light, but I had a 30 kt headwind so it was pretty slow going. Since I was the only person on board, I decided to climb to 12,000 ft and fitted my oxygen line. (Any higher than 10,000 ft with passengers you need to limit the time to less than 30 minutes due to oxygen requirements.) The headwind at that altitude was only 10 kts and I managed to make reasonable time. </p><p>I landed in Kiunga and the ground staff called for the fuel truck. However, the operator decided to refuel three other aircraft before he came to me, which meant I had to wait another hour. At least it was the end of the day and I could relax!<br /></p>Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415971976330381959noreply@blogger.com1