WWII Oil Storage Tunnels, Darwin

I set out for a walk this morning down to the waterfront, just over a kilometre from our apartment. This mural is down on the wharf, very close to the Royal Flying Doctors museum, which I will visit another day.

It hadn't been my intention to visit the tunnels today, but while trying to find my way up into the city centre, I walked passed them, so paid my $7 and walked into them.  An interesting glimpse of history from 1943 onwards until the tunnels were 'sort of' completed. The following link will give you a brief history of the tunnels; WWII Oil Storage Tunnels, Darwin.

It is hard to imagine the conditions the men who dug these tunnels out with pickaxes and shovels must have worked in. No modern technology for them and on limited rations during the war. To actually walk in one of the tunnels that is still accessible by the public today is a privilege and a reminder of all the men and women who fought to preserve our freedom.

Here a few of the photos I took.

The entry tunnel, leading to the pump room

This was the original pump room, now occupied by this artform which is constructed from old war plane parts. 

Information on the tunnel that is open to the public to walk through.

Through a viewing "window" - the tunnel which the information above is on. 

The tunnel I walked through has information on it's construction, the men who built it, copies of letters and diary entries by those men and even a voice recording of one of the men who worked on them. Well worth a visit if you are up this way.

2 comments Darwin, History, leisure

Berry Springs, Darwin

Pete ended up having a day off work today due to a work place accident closing the site down. After a morning spent sorting out legal paperwork for the sale of our investment property in NZ, which was a major drama, with neither Pete nor I having our NZ passports with us (why would we for interstate travel - the NZ lawyer couldn't get her head around this!), which we needed to verify our identity in front of a JP while signing the papers. Some quick thinking on my part, had my stepson taking our passports and a photocopy of them down to a local JP at home, getting them verified, scanning them and emailing them to us, where the lovely reception staff here at the Ramada Zen, Darwin, printed them out, so we could then go to the Court House to have our signatures witnessed with verified ID. Anyway, it all got sorted and scanned and sent back to NZ.

We had an early lunch at the apartment and then headed for Berry Springs which was about 45 mins away from where we are staying. The springs are beautiful, with crystal clear water, so clear you can see the little tiny fish swimming around your feet. The water was warm, like a tepid bath, warmer than the lap pool at the apartment. We floated around for quite some time, enjoying being out of the heat, before heading back into Darwin.

On the way back to Darwin I got Pete to stop so I could take photos of termite mounds which I find fascinating. The architecture and construction of these mounds or "castles" as I like to call them is mind blowing and the fact that the insects building them are so tiny. Pete stood beside one so the size of them could be better comprehended.

The drive back passes old WWII airstrips which are alongside the Stuart Highway. Apparently, while they have been maintained, they are as they were, except for hangers and buildings during the war. The photo below sort of shows what they look like. The runway is the dirt strip to the left of the photo.

Once back in Darwin I took Pete to the Aboriginal Fine Arts Gallery and we are now the proud owners of not one, but three pieces of artwork. There was one there we both loved, but at over 6K it is staying hanging on the gallery wall. The other two are much smaller and totally different. This pieces is from the Central Australian region and is called "Love Story" while the other two are from the Northern Region. They are very different, with the Central Australian region art having vibrant colours in them and the Northern Region art sticking to the more traditional earthy tones. The photo does not do the colours justice.

1 comment Artwork, Berry Springs, Darwin, leisure

Darwin Day 1

Very early start with Pete's alarm going off at 3.30 am. He left at 4 to drive out to his work "camp" to catch the bus there. Some days he'll walk 1 km here in town to another spot where he can catch one. I managed to doze for another hour or so. We both found the mattress very hard and neither of us slept that well, with my shoulders waking me frequently when I lay too long on my side. Today I asked for something to make it softer and was given a big fluffy blanket to put under the bottom sheet - hopefully that will help a little.

I went to the gym about 6.30 for 40 mins and did strength training. Unfortunately there are no "free weights" so just had to be adaptive and use body weight and the big machine they have that has lots of different uses. I sent off my 'sets' of exercises to my PT who approved them, just changing two sets to earlier in the work out.

Then I had breakfast at the cafe, poached egg, bacon and mushrooms, followed by fresh melons. Then it was time to spend on the computer while waiting for my breakfast to go down. I then went down to reception and got a "pool" towel. I decided to walk back up the stairs - we are on floor 14, however, I only entered the stairwell at floor 3. Lots of stairs and hot in there. I ended up doing it twice over the course of the day.

I swam 40 laps - 1 km then lay on one of the loungers and had 10 minutes of sunning on each side. There were four other women down there, sunning themselves and cooling off periodically in the pool. I wonder if they are all wives/partners of men who work up here doing FIFO work.

After doing some knitting I walked down to the Aboriginal Fine Arts Gallery. Well, I definitely need to win lotto or persuade Pete to do a few more months work up here to buy all canvases I loved. Such diversity and talent. A real difference between Central Australia and the Top End art work. The lady running the gallery today was so informative and friendly. She was happy to answer all my questions and tell me the stories behind the paintings I loved. Then she left me to wander and browse. I'll be going back, and back and back.  I asked before taking photos.

I then went to Lyon's Cottage, an Aboriginal Bush Traders business. The items in there were amazing, woven baskets made from recycled fishing nets etc removed from the sea and coast and recycled materials; beautiful silk, wool and cotton woven scarves, shawls and tea towels that one lady there told me a customer buys and makes into jackets. I saw the scarf I want to buy my mum for Christmas - hope she doesn't read this and beautiful soaps and Xmas decorations. I'll have to sweet talk Pete :)

On my walk back to the apartment I saw these very upright, narrow growing trees and didn't recognise them at all. I don't think they are gums, their leaves didn't smell eucalyptus at all. Then a bit further down the road I saw this mural painted on the side of a building.

It was a hot walk down town and make with the humidity increasing as the afternoon progressed, which meant I needed a swim on my return to the apartment. Then I got tea organised - very simple, cold chicken from the cooked chook we bought when we did grocery shopping last night, salad and I'll cook some mushrooms to go with it. Depending on how Pete feels, it may be another visit to the gym after tea.

I've enjoyed my first day in Darwin and with the help of the pool and air conditioning I haven't felt the heat too much.

1 comment Darwin, Holiday, leisure

A busy week

Life has been busy the last week, full of grandchildren, Hollie, Annika and Tamara, shopping with Hollie for her and her older brother who has grown so much over the past year, the majority of his T-Shirts only reach his tummy button, but he insists on wearing them. He is nearing 15 and 183 cm (6'). Hollie and I had a day down at DFO near the Brisbane Airport - she was in heaven. We shopped for 2.5 hrs - a record for me as I'm not a shopper and avoid it at all cost.

Tamara loves walking everywhere, just isn't quite ready to do it on her own

We have been to the beach, stayed at my Aunty Marienne's apartment - she has been away - swum in the pool there and had a couple of spas. One morning we went for a walk and saw Yoga classes being held on Standup Paddle Boards! I wonder how many fall off into the water? I reckon I would.

The pool at night

My daughter-in-law, Bernie took Annika and Hollie to the local pool one day as the swim club were having a fundraiser with blow up slides, jumpy castles etc. I kept Tamara with me as the poor wee thing is full of a nasty head cold again. She is still susceptible to colds and coughs and even though she is well and truly meeting all her milestones, her lungs are not fully up to speed yet. The girls enjoyed their time at the pool.

Cousin love

My nephew's mum passed away on Sunday, so Monday we spent visiting him and his Aunts. Leslee's death came very quickly and unexpectedly as she was out mowing the lawn on Thursday afternoon and that must have taken the last of her energy. She went to sleep Thursday afternoon and couldn't be woken Friday. While it was a lovely way for her to pass, with no pain, no becoming a "drooling mess" (her words) and lingering on with very little capacity; it was a shock for her children and sisters. Unfortunately, as I fly out to Darwin today, I won't be able to attend her funeral, however, I did go to her "living wake", which was very important for her.

My son and the two little grand daughter's arrived early at my door this morning to pick up Hollie. They are off to Bribie Island for the day and then Hollie is staying with them until she flies back home to NZ Thursday week.

I must finish the few jobs I still have to do, before my stepson takes me to the airport. Look out Darwin, here I come, or should it be, Look out Lyndie, Darwin is hot and humid - thank goodness for air conditioning and a 25 m lap pool.

4 comments

Grandchildren, baking, beach

The little girls got dropped off early this morning as their Mum had a days work training and had to leave at 7 am and their Dad, Ross worked last night and doesn't get home until 9am. So Hollie looked after the two littlies until I returned from the gym and what a marvelous job she did. Both had been fed breakfast and were happy playing when I got home.

I did some baking with Annika, who once again pinched the cookie dough to eat raw. I also cleaned out the inside of my car - it had rather a build up of sand, etc in it. Trouble is, I then had to find homes for all the things I took out of it; still a job worth doing. I find it quite amazing how much 'stuff' I end up with in the glove box, centre console and under the seats. Annika got quite a haul of 10, 20 and even 50 cent coins, which she quietly put in her "special" box the fairies left for her last night. She tells me her Daddy told her she needs to get some money and learn how to save it, so she thought it would be a good idea to take what I had found and put on the bench to deal with when I had finished cleaning the car. Hmmmmm ....... 

Hollie and I went to the beach this afternoon. We did some sunbathing and swimming; the water was a bit chilly, but we still got in once, then we chickened out the second time and decided we'd just sunbath a bit more. After lying in the sun for about for a while, we decided we'd had enough sun for the day and got an ice cream each. Hollie's was enormous. I just had one scoop. Half way through eating hers, the cone broke in half - I thought it was really funny watching her try and eat it - she got rainbow coloured ice cream all over her hand. She finished it all though.

Back home it was time for a shower to wash sand off places sand just does not belong! I had my body scan at the gym as it is the end of the 12 week challenge. I'm fairly happy with my results, just need to get rid of the visceral body fat - it's the stuff that will cause heart attacks etc. Back to cutting out sugar (pouting lip here), no more ice cream or cakes. Healthy eating here I come again, well, until Xmas Day - calories, sugar, fat. consumed on Xmas Day do NOT count.

4 comments Baking, Beach, family, leisure

The days activities and Tamahere Eventide Gully Garden

Monday, I went for a walk with Mum first thing in the morning and then I had acupuncture again at 9.30 am; 22 needles in my shoulders, back, hips and calf muscles of which 10 or 12 had electric pulses running through them. It is the weirdest feeling I have ever had, however, the instant improvement I get, is amazing. The Chinese lady doing it said that not everyone responds as I do. She was rather horrified at the tightness of my calf muscles today and said they were too inflamed for her to massage or do cupping on (for which I am eternally grateful).

After that it was back to Mum and Dad's for lunch and then Mum and I headed into town to post mail, do banking and get books for her great grandchildren, my grand-daughters and great nephew, for me to take back to Aussie with me for their Xmas presents.

I then went to Te Awamutu to pick up Hollie, another of my grand-daughters and take her home, where I helped her start sorting out clothes to take to Aussie with her, she is coming home with me for a couple of weeks. Here she is looking grumpy because I'm taking a photo of her, she isn't a fan of having her photo taken. While there, I folded all their washing, a nice surprise for my daughter when she gets home.

Back at "the village" I decided to go for a quick walk around the Gully Garden. The residents, well, some of them, maintain and develop the gully garden. Pete and I got married nearly 4 years ago at the Village and had some of our photos taken down in this garden. It is not a "garden" of flowers, but of native trees and ferns. While down there I heard a Tui call, fantails and lots of other birds as well as lamb baaing away across the stream somewhere. It is so peaceful. I also met one of the gentlemen who 'work' down the gully doing all the drains. I chatted away to him and he told me, when I asked that the gentleman who does most of the planting is 92 and the one who maintains the little waterwheel is 94! When I asked if there were any younger ones coming along to take over when they were unable to, he replied "yes, me". I asked him how old he was and he told me 84, I swear he didn't look a day over 75. He told me he loves pottering away down there, digging drains and widening and smoothing out the paths. His aim is to make the paths wide enough for two people to walk arm in arm beside each other as "that's how lots of the elderly like to walk", (his quote, not mine).

Lots of little pathways around the gully

Enjoyed sitting on a seat looking out across the gully to this Claret Ash

NZ Kauri with cones on!

One of the many seats dotted around for the residents to sit on for a rest

The view from the seat above

A fern "koru" unfurling

Another quiet, shady sitting area

Pete and I had some of our wedding photos taken on this bridge, the water wasn't so high then

Reflective pond

Cabbage tree in flower

I also took a couple of photos of the gardens around the "village". The gardens were pruning the Lonicera Nitada 'balls' today and I had to have a little chuckle at how they had left this one.

Love 'his' mowhawk.

This rose is growing along the side of one of the villas - I'm pretty sure it's Wedding Day.

Some of the residents choose to plant and maintain their own gardens, others are happy to leave it up to the gardeners. Those that do their own have lots of colour, the others are all 'easy care' shrubs.  

Then it was off to have dinner at my brother and sister-in-law's with them and their three son's, all in their 20's and all living back at home at the moment. One has returned from Brisbane to complete his Engineering degree, the other completed his Police training this year and has yet to go back flatting and the third, well, he just likes living at home. All the boys are hard workers and do their share around the house and with the meals.  

I'm off back home tomorrow and by the look of the weather forecast, returning to rain. Hollie is not impressed as she was looking forward to lying on the beach every day. Oh well, we'll have to find other things to do. 

2 comments family, Gardening, leisure

Mt Karioi - Raglan

Mt Karioi from Raglan (innocent looking isn't it!)

Today, Sunday, I am suffering; my calf muscles hate me and my lower back isn't being too friendly either. My knees are forgiving me, although when I got up during the night, my right one reminded me forcefully that I am no longer in my 20's and I had to have a second attempt at standing on it. Thank goodness I've got another round of acupuncture tomorrow morning.

Why am I being reminded that I am not as young as I'd like to think I am? My daughter and I climbed Mt Karioi yesterday. An ancient volcano, the summit is at 756 metres above sea level. We started off about 100-150 metres above sea level at the car park. As I've said before, both of us are part of a team of 4 completing the Gold Coast Kokoda Challenge next July, so need to get lots of km's under our feet of mountain climbing to prepare.

Christina told me there were two ways up Karioi, the easier, quicker way which doesn't have many views, or the harder, longer way, that has great views, and then asked, which did I want to do. I said the one with the views - silly me.  About 3 minutes into the walk I said "ok, my legs are tired now and I'm puffing, time to turn back", just joking though. It takes a while for the legs to get used to it and the lungs to get their "2nd wind", once that's happened, it isn't quite as hard.

The cars are way down the bottom.

We started off walking through low native bush and then out into grass land. The initial climb up to the main bush line is steep and the cars parked below quickly look like matchbox cars. The path is very narrow and quite rocky. We were reluctant to forge a new path through the long grass, as you couldn't see the rocks and we weren't that keen on breaking toes, or twisting ankles.  In the photo to the left you can see the narrow path following the fence line. The car park is the white blob in the middle of the green way down the bottom.

Once in the bush, we struck mud, ankle deep mud - oh yah! I did manage to keep my shoes relatively clean on the way up, but on the way down, I gave up, I was too tired to hop from dry spot to dryish spot, or pick my way delicately around the edges of the mud puddles. Thankfully not all the track was muddy, in fact it was probably only 1/4 of it. Parts of the track follow a ridge line, with the sides dropping steeply off on each side of the narrow path. Christina commented that she couldn't stand with her feet side by side on some of it. I tried not to look over the bush lining the edge of the path. We also had to be careful not to plant a walking pole over the edge, expecting it to give us leverage.

Tree roots and rocks provided steps up some of the path. In one place, were there are chains to assist, we estimated it was a good 6 or metres up, using the chains to haul oneself up with, while using tree roots as ladder rungs as well as the occasional rock. Going up wasn't difficult, coming back down took a little more time. Here is Christina making her way up the chained area. It is hard to depict in photos the steepness of the track here. I so wish someone would make a camera that showed exactly what the eye sees.

It was here we meet a gentleman coming down, who told us it had taken him an hour, yes only an hour to reach the summit. Recommended time is 3 to 3.5 hrs. He is a trail runner - idiot. He hadn't realised how "technical" this track was and hadn't been able to run it very much. His shoes and lower legs were covered in mud, obviously he wasn't like us and just jogged straight through it. I'm picking he went down in half that time. Amazing to be that fit and agile.

Tree roots are great steps and hand holds. 

Another part of the track where a chain had been installed to assist, however, we found it easier to just use the tree roots that were conveniently placed as steps and handholds.

The views on the way up, up and down the coast line were amazing and if my stupid phone's battery hadn't gone flat so quickly, I would have taken many more photos. Next time, yes there will be a next time, I'm taking a small camera with me.

Raglan Harbour

Kawhia Harbour

We reached the summit in 2 hrs 50 mins, had a bite to eat, and then started down. Going down was torturous - our knees protested mightily and to be honest, the exhaustion hit. I hadn't really eaten many carbs the day before and half a banana and an egg for breakfast, wasn't really a clever idea. I should have carb and protein loaded for dinner and breakfast. While the snacks we took were nutritious, an apple each, nut bar, sweet and salty popcorn, a nut/fruit mix and lollies, they were not really sufficient for the amount of energy expended climbing up the mountain. I'll be better prepared next time with protein balls, electrolyte tablets and protein bars.

It took us 5.5 hrs approximately, with stops for "catching the breath", knocking mud off the shoes, our lunch at the top, getting caught behind a large group of tourists, who weren't really prepared for that type of hike and a very slow descent. Five hours of that was actual hiking. I am now much more aware of how much exercise I need to do to get fit enough for the GC Kokoda Challenge. I need to build up my knee strength and general cardio fitness and ultimately, I just have to get out there and climb mountains, one after the other. 

My watch is trying to cheat me out of height climbed (it's actually 756m to the summit), but this gives and idea of the terrain profile we climbed.

Below are some other photos taken of the bush, and the rocky cliff below the carpark.

Rock climbing anyone?

NZ native bush.

The dark hole in the middle of the bush is where the track goes. This is after the open grassy area of the climb.

It's a long way down and we aren't even 1/2 way up yet. 

2 comments family, Fitness, leisure, Mt Karioi