27^th June: Darwin.

We played the tourist today. Berry Springs is about 30 kms away and I had remembered visiting it the last time we were in Darwin. It is a lovely spot with a spring and a little waterfall into the first of three large pools of clear, deep, moving water. This is where Cherie at 18 months would launch herself into the water,expecting to be caught and then repeat the process endlessly as children do. The other two could swim. This time, even Glen went swimming as the water was so pleasant. Despite it being so far from Darwin,(we are 27 kms out of the city) there were lots of people there – but then, distances mean nothing out here. It was very enjoyable but not as refreshing as the icy cold water of Katherine Gorge or Edith Falls. Gail and I are swimming our way around Australia. 

 

We had lunch and came home via Howard Springs which is just up the road from here. I remember it too. A children's water sliide with pools has been built but there is no swimming in the large pool fed by the springs. Bacteria- causing algae makes it unhealthy – apparently. No fishing either and so, as the barrimundi of substantial size (Jarred says there were a couple over a metre long) are often fed pilchards & other little fish by hand, they and the turtles etc are not afraid to show themselves

At both places, the pools have rock walls and stairs built by servicemen during WW2 so that they had something to do when stationed here. These became useful places for recreation and helped stem the boredom. They also completed a number of other civil engineering works including Manton Dam which is now the main water supply for Darwin and the Mataranka Hot Springs pools.

Mossies are rampant. Jarred has bought for each of us from his Camping World where he works, a gas driven repellant device which puts insecticide into the air. They really work and we put them on every evening. I am so allergic to the mossies and midges!