After a full on hectic 4 days of listening, talking, walking, heli
fishing and touring, boat fishing, beach driving, eating and drinking it was
time to depart Berkeley River Lodge and back to the real world.
On schedule 0745hrs off to the airport, I volunteered for the
navigators seat up front – beauty!! 0809hrs we were in the air! Great chat with
the pilot now has just over 1,200 hrs, trained in Adelaide and now resides in
Kuanara.
Kimberly Air Adventures contract to BRL for 1250# daily, includes pax, and freight. Great views and neat chatter on the air waves.
Kimberly Air Adventures contract to BRL for 1250# daily, includes pax, and freight. Great views and neat chatter on the air waves.
Soon at our cattery camp, unpack and off shopping, checked on our
Lithium Battery, it will be on the truck Monday – Friday delivery!!
Dropped into Outback Battery Coorolinga – Campbell at the Parat store this week.
Coles – roast chook, and added our own mountain of mash and steamed veg,
and crashed in down in ten minutes!!
After some creative packing, 4 carton of VB.
Solar panels a tad dusty - Borrowed the ceiling guys platform ladder working on Jenny's new unit.
Off shopping to Home Village – on Bagot road, passed it on numerous
occasions – Spotlight, Rivers and a few others – Wow! BCF, Supercheap Auto, The
Good Guys, Anaconda all mega stores – well we do reside in Port Lincoln. Retail
over load but got some neat stuff – especially Sue’s hat from the Kid’s section
@ Anaconda.
After 2 plus hours off to Casuarina Shopping Mall, Hogs for lunch. Started to ring around for my Lithium Battery. Pallet has arrived but not checked off yet! What about the delivery docket, it will tell you what’s on the pallet. Hang on, yep it’s on the pallet. Then organized the logistics, I picked it up from the Coolalinga store to the Parap store for fittings etc. Along with a re-settable 60 amp circuit breaker from Boats Trailers & Caravans on the way past back to Parap.
Campbell – got it sorted and even advised and showed us the Bluetooth App. Neat.
Now to get it all in and secure
Talk about LOADED - even down to the multiple boxes of cereal
Mark – from Quality Marine delivered our Minn Kota 1930hrs – beauty good to go almost.
0745hrs on the road after cheerio’s to Jenny and her chocolates!
Easy on the road, early AM Saturday no drama. Adelaide River for a pee stop
and Chooks Cat’s Chook for $6.
Katherine a mad house – Subway closed up shop!! Coffee Club jammed and
25 minute wait – bugger that, off to our van and a tuna sanga and on the road
in 25!!
Mataranka quite,Warlock RA for the night, only 8 vans
Off in the dark – 0640hrs – all good, and the military on the move
again. Soon after that lot passed a real
dead cow carcass in the middle of the road, pull over for photographs and dragged
off the road. It was very desiccated thus a road train had flipped it onto the road.
Re-fueled and breakfast at Hi Way Inn – quite until we departed 40 minutes later
a mad house.
Stopped 20 k's down the track to pick up a floor jack on the side of the road, quickly checked and in good working order??
Radio we ‘Share the road up here’!! – he kept going left so I took more
share of the road – at least I didn’t shower him with rocks!!
Cape Crawford 1300hrs – plan ‘B’ roast, Took Sue a few seconds to register = Roast night at the King Ash Bay Club – 1400hrs we passed
our destination – as to early to camp pressed on to KAB. Tires to 30psi and
arrived on schedule 1530hrs on the dot.
Jenny flats = Full and over flowing, heaps moved in today and over the last week
or so. Oh! Well sit a wait. Parked next to Mick and Netta for the night and see
what transpires in the AM. Well worth the drive! 541k's, 7.4hrs drive time - average 74.6kph.
Roast lamb and pork - $36
followed by Apple n Rubrarb pie and ice cream – 2030hrs crashed
John kindly relocated his solar farm and we had room to set up camp
Getting there
Home away from Home
Ruff and ready the dog din't mind it seems
As they say - Owner like dog and dog like owner - judge for your self
Our view
Sock / lace savers required
Off side shade set up, sure make a big difference
The club is jammed - Members draw, from memory worth $3000++
Trailer to be assembled
Sue's dog sitting
Coming together
Troopy happy with the load coming off
and the motor soon followed
Sue's mate
Our jungle
Sorted - the chain roller no longer required
Whoa! stainless steel and aluminium do not miss!!
Just as well it's been removed - it could have let go any time whilst in transit and smashed thru the wind screen
Good fit
Steel epoxy on hand to make repairs
Good as - since sanded
River bank lay of the camp
Sue's getting some knitting lessons
Perfect fit for the battery box
Another big night - $$ involved
Ready for the install _____
and Sue getting some handling lessons
Battery connected
Netta's birthday - 20 folks showed up for morning tea, as you can see well catered
Missed her BIRDIE
Par 3 Tee shot, also missed
We are on the water
and moored
Fishing report very short - No fish!
Happy hour - cheer up Evelen
Electric trolling motor gets the thumps up from my now redundant anchor handler
New ablution block on Jenny Flats
My angry eye - needs to be looked at
Resting my eye
Morrie and Norma finally on there way after there vehicle issues over the last 3 weeks.
The Whistling Kites waiting for some thing to move on the ground
Baking day - ANZAC's
Sue played golf with a 44 off the club.
Off to Borroloola Clinic 1030hrs to get my checked out – soft tires and no van 26 minutes on the dirt. Got our shopping
done and lunch out the way.
1240hrs entered the clinic – open
1300hrs, Emma sorted out our details, 1310hrs – Andrew the male nurse did the preliminary checks as per
procedure. Can give you some drops and ointment and return if not cleared
within a week. No, I will wait and see the Doctor. As it happened it’s her 1st
day at this clinic. An eye examination was very though, and on phone consultation with Dr Jason Yosar – Ophthalmologist Registrar Royal Darwin Hospital.
Outcome – agreed I had Uveitis – Anterior
and appears to be related to my Reactive Arthritis – 32 years ago, with HLA-B27 memory gene.
Urgent medical diagnosis required and fly to Darwin, insisted that I
had to secure camp, pack and would be okay to drive to Darwin. Also a hassle with logistics of
being in Darwin and return to KAB. Plus Sue would be out on a limb. As my eye was the
best it had been in several days an acceptable delay risk.
1500hrs fueled up @ TJS One Stop – 1545hrs – KAB and packed secure the camp. Mick and Netta briefed and 1615hrs off to Darwin, Errol not home, advised Barry,
Annette and Brenda. 26 minutes on the dirt – 25 minutes to inflate tires to
50psi. Cape Crawford 1830hrs – Tuna sandwich and off to Hi Way Inn – no traffic
with only one road kill on a corner. Arrived Hi Way Inn 2200hrs – with cabin already
booked as we had phone connection going past Borroloola - # in the camps 6 book was correct. Stat’s – 499k’s, Drive time 6hr 20min, average 78.5kph, 73.5ltr
14.7 lphk
0515hrs on the road, with very little traffic for the 1st
100k’s. All good thru to Katherine – 0815hrs fuel and breakfast at Coffee Club
– VG!
0850hrs on the road, with a pee stop at Adelaide River – Royal Darwin
Hospital 1215 hrs – 591k,
6 hrs and 23 min. Average 90.7 kph. 152 ltr with
13.9 ltrs
/ 100k.
Direct to the eye clinic – bypass the Emergency Department as had Urgent
referral – check in with reception 1315hrs as lunch breaks.
Interview by nurse and eye checks – eye pressure good = no Glaucoma!
Dr Jason Yosar – Ophthalmology
Registrar examination – small cataracts, good to see I wear dark glasses as
would be much worse without.
Outcome – agreed with Dr Jane Nugent - I had Uveitis – Anterior and
appears to be related to my Reactive Arthritis – 32 years ago, with HLA-B27
memory gene.
Rx – one week of hourly Dexamethasone drops, with follow up appointment
Thursday 2nd, 1445hrs.
1630hrs - Camped at Mantra Pandanas CBD – Darwin – apartment, full
kitchenette, laundry, lounge and bedroom - very comfortable.
Bus map sorted
Schedule sorted - off to Mindel markets
Pass on the mussels
Lamb shanks ____
Feed the girl meat and we are happy. Trusty
Leatherman (pocket knife/tools) carved and a bone to chew on later
We arrived early before the crowd's,
we are out of here
we are out of here
No shortage of lamb shanks
Car park now full, just as well we took the bus for free, with our seniors card
Whilst waiting for the bus, salvaged a
few errant golf balls
few errant golf balls
Golf course behind the bus stop handy for those sliced balls
Ah! he's the rest of the apartment.
Appt. day – hopefully out of here!!
Off to Hogs around 1000hrs Casuarina – VG!
Appt. 1445 – actual 1525hrs – all good healing, reduce drops to 2 hrly
for a week stop Atropine Saturday. Every week for the next 6 weeks reduce drops
by one hour. Any issues see an Opthlamologist.
Hotel and packed – shopping to
top up.
0600hrs on the road, into the fog just past Humpty Doo to Adelaide River
– stopped for our prepared breakfast – good move.
Good steady drive to Katherine 0954hrs. Meet Peter Spark and Brutus – BT’s at KAB. Heading home, aborted
their trip west. Coffee Club for a coffee and they had breakfast.
Next stop – Hi Way Inn –
1454hrs checked into our deluxe room – neat and spacious
Joker draw happy winners $500
Our lucky number 2122 for $200
Breakfast before we hit the water 0745hrs, with the 15 minute warm up.
Off to Batten Creek, chase some splashes before we got to the rocks.
My trusty deckie deployed our new anchoring system. Meanwhile I am getting a handle on how to use the remote. Hitting the anchor buttom and we a good to fish.
Sue using a bait caster and weighted fly, G fly fishing – yellow and white clouser w/rattle. In shallow water less than a meter, had a few chases – Bream. Sue
after 5 cast 'no fish here'. Keep casting you just never know, meanwhile I am
hooked on a rock and start using the jog feature. Next instants Sue is in shocked as hit by a BARRA. Landed and legal
@ 55.5cm by 0945hrs, 2 hours from camp. Work the area without any hook up’s a few touches.
Worked a few more areas with flies, one good hook up and lost at the
boat – small Barra.
Total K’s 55 and 3.4hrs moving, total time 6.4hrs.
Minn Kota – 1.5hrs – still fully charged
Troll back along the reeds and an
40cm MJ landed 1115hrs.
Mick and Netta wings Barra and MJ for tea
Jim, Errol and Sue waiting for there winnings
Sue's a winner - beer vouchers
Our BBQ team - well done folks
This generates a good crowd on Saturday nights
Three Musketeers - Brian, Errol and Barry - Sunday markets at the club one a month for folks to sell their handy crafts and or other stuff
Dunny run - once we get the bike pointed in the right direction don't wobble its all good
Banana Bread
Barra_cuda - wrong Barra spieces
Off fishing – Sue’s off to Hoy – 1300hrs – 1459hrs – Carrington buoy
rocks and one legal BARRA by the slimmest of margins. 20.9k’s round trip.
Winner with more beer vouchers
Running repairs to Helen's recliner = Snooze chair!
Now it's a fuel run - saves cranking up the Troopy for the 500 mtr round trip
Missed = PAR
Billy and guess who will talk to any one
Coffee break over - Erolls back on the water truck, trying to keep the dust down
Annette's must try it one day
We have been toying with the idea of storing a tinnie at KAB, thus reducing our Troopy weights fully loaded (weighed at Port Augusta 3,965kg)
2nd year Barry has been trying to sell the tinnie 'Olympic Flame' as named by the local's,
'it never goes out'.
We have been toying with the idea of storing a tinnie at KAB, thus reducing our Troopy weights fully loaded (weighed at Port Augusta 3,965kg)
2nd year Barry has been trying to sell the tinnie 'Olympic Flame' as named by the local's,
'it never goes out'.
Up to the servo and talked to Tarmo – mechanic who has serviced the
motor since new – 2011 purchased by David and Ruth Cook (Cooky) hardly used due
to ill health. Mick and Netta purchased in 2015 not used much. Then purchased
by Barry and Annette not used in 2 years, one run to the river mouth. Barry
replaced the water pump and seals. Trailer bearings replaced 2018 – viewed old
one’s.
4.2mtr Quintrex Top Ender – 30hp Yamaha four stroke, electric start and
power tilt.
Included – 2 x 24ltr fuel tanks, Garmin GPS/ sounder – never used, VHF
Radio, bilge pump, 12v battery, solar panel 10w, large esky with seat attached, all
safety gear, fire ext, casting deck and heaps of storage with foam removed from
front seat. Rear and forward steps, anchor, Dunbar trailer, manual winch with
thema rope – asking price $6,000.
Confirmed with Barry around 0900hrs to take the boat up to the servo.
Jamie – good sign when the fuel pump starts on turning the ignition key,
pointed out the internal anodes – 4 in the engine block. Plugged in his black
box, and his phone app.
Diagnostic Record – photo
ECM No. 6BT8591A-01
Code 37 – Intake Air Passage – occurred 211.1hrs
Stats – total 679.8hrs, < 1,000rpm = 419.9hrs – 62% of running time,
1,000 to 2,000rpm – 27hrs – 4%,
Hours breakdown - it's hardly done any work, a lot of trolling
Water pump all good
Out for a test spin – easy to launch and retrieve. Whoa! It flies and
the power trim sure get it fine-tuned, along with the stability, plus all the
added SPACE! With a Bimini it will be a fish landing machine with HOURS on the
water.
Hand shake and it’s a done deal.
On sell - no way!
Birdy
Work on getting our new tinnie sorted and transfer the trolling motor
Darryl landed a Coral Trout and we got a slab along with Mick and Netta
My Barra-cudda
Sue's casting skills pulled in a crab trap
Now out of the creek and a bonus
crab for tea, well at least an appetizer
Progress is being made
Winner - more beer vouchers
A good scrub
Navigation lights and VHF radio, at least the fuses are housed in water proof holders
Time to retire our 3.8mtr tinnie 'FISHABOUT'
'FISHABOUT' fit inside our 4.20 Top Ender
Beauty it fits
Tie down for the trolling motor battery
Should be okay
Mick and
Netta are off home
Rod holder works well
Off to calibrate the Trolling motor heading sensor
Trolling motor fits well and easy to get at and deploy and retrieve safely
It's getting hot and Jenny Flats with only the hard core fisho's
Sampling Helen's fruit cake - Yum!
More winnings and closest the pin
'FISHABOUT' being retired from King Ash Bay
Our neighbours collection of FLIES.
We are off on our maiden voyage to the island 0500hrs – movement preparation for our tour of Center Island – 0659hrs
on schedule to meet John and Helen, port side of the marker buoys – and we are
off @ 35kph thru the markers buoys in the ‘DARK’. Yes we do have navigation running lights, semi day light by the time we got to Batten Point.
Smooth cruising 55 minutes to the McArthur River mouth – out thru the channel to Centre Island 1hr 32min and 52ks 
Reckon we are back in the Kimberly's - same geology
Off trolling for the next 3 – 4 hrs. Attempted to get into a creek off Survey Bay – to shallow, more trolling till the tide improved a tad – 2 cod for our efforts.
My 2nd fish in from our new tinnie
Sue's 1st fish from our new tinnie - MJ for tea
John and Helen leading us home bound, it was a bit bouncy across the flats. It was a white knuckle ride in sections.
Legal possession limit - 5 for the day and one in the freezer = 6
He arrived at the fish cleaning bench and was rewarded
More beer vouchers - thanks Sue
Dusty when the wind picks up
Errol,
Helen and Billy off 0816hrs to be exact – meanwhile I had delivered BMJ = My 1st fish a 'B'ARRA and Sue's 1st fish a 'M'angrove 'J'ack, to the
servo for Jamie to weld the bow rail and fill Bimini holes plus service the motor for
long term storage. Great job on the welding, and the motor done, all fuel line
blown and all the other stuff required and sprayed with L10.
Very neat job
The ladies a happy with their golf
The time has come ___ we are packing
Golf clubs packed
and stowed in our tinnie
Engle two zone fits perfect into the on-board esky
Good recored of whats been stored
Cyclone tie down ropes if required
Trolling motor is coming home with us
Yep it will fit
Some bush engineering required
It's not going anywhere
Prop off for the motor cover ti fit
All up about 180 - 200kg less weight going south
Getting ready for the covers
Boat cover in place - then ______
Another custom made shade cloth cover over that
Good record
Off to the Servo's storage yard
See ya! in 9 months or so
Tie down rail sleepers if required during a blow
Minn Kota has it's own pillow for the ride home
Too bloody hot to do much more – off for a drive to Batten Point – still
crowded, Club to check e-mails etc. Lube oil HOT! Slightly cooler in the shade
of the trees at 1530hrs – oil and filter change on the Troopy @ 152,000k’s over
by a few k’s on my 5k service. Last oil change 145k. The emergency trip to
Darwin threw in another 2k+. However the
trip to Darwin of 2,000k without towing
Up 0510hrs – updated chronicle etc.
0700hrs – moving and 12 minutes to get thru camp – cheerio’s. Dunny drop
and drop our tape into the office and signed out. Track out okay as had been recently graded, 28 minutes and
average 45kph. Borroloola for fuel and supplies. No air
compressor, BP workshop closed – used our own compressor whilst having
breakfast. 1.1hrs stopped and back on the road again.
Kept cruisin’ past Heart Break Htl, and steady for 5 hrs 45 minutes to hot to stop for long, we
pulled into Hi-Way Inn and bit the bullet.
Booked Inn, and plugged Inn! as 38 degrees air temp, who know’s what the
black top temperature was?
Meet Noel – Errol and Helen’s friend camped up for the air con also.
Taylors
Creek – pit stop – cameleer with 2 crossing the bridge – quick yak – ex Berlin
– 50 years in Australia
One extreme to another_____
0245hrs – more attire = bed socks and another blanket got to 8 degrees.
0445hrs heater on and coffee’s soon after.
0615hrs on the road, with the heater cranked up.
Willy Willy got these guys with chairs 5 meters away
0600hrs on the road from Kingoonya track to PLN, via Port Augusta –
refueled 1052hrs, Bridgestone 2 new tires for BT.
On enquiry – the Port Augusta rubbish dump managed by Cleanaway weights
vehicles etc for free. 59 Footna Street, on the way to Adelaide – Coates Hire
on the corner (L) hand side – about 500mtrs on the left.
Lunch at the Arid Lands Botanical Gardens – around 1400hrs on the road
to Redbanks.
1630hrs past the turn off to Redbanks – 118ks to home – the horse has
bolted – Sue realized as we approached Tumby – Yep! Home by 1800hrs actually
1801 due to road works.
Parked up in our street – locked up and put the charger on the FJ.
House now 3 years old, still smells new on entry after 3 months locked up.
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