To Darwin – 26/5/2011

We have to reorganise the next part of the trip. The trip to Kakadu needs to be put off because getting to Darwin to get this tooth fixed is first priority. When we got to Pine Creek we asked for a telephone book, went up the hill to look at the old water filled open cut mine that is 350 m deep (see photo below). I started ringing dentists in Darwin to try to find one that could fix my tooth in the next few days. Bingo – the first dental practise keeps some appointments for emergencies and had one late this afternoon.

Off we set up the highway with plenty of time to get to Darwin in time for the appointment. Up the road a way we saw a signpost that points to a scenic route to Darwin so we decide that it might be fun to get off the highway and see some nice scenery. Not the best choice – not really scenic, rather winding and narrow and it seemed to go on forever. Finally we got back to the highway and Jeff says that is the last time we take a scenic route. World War 2 airfields seem to be very common up here – we pass one every few kms.

Stopping for lunch we make choices about the van park to stay for the next few days. We choose the closest one to the city, book in and head for the dentists. I am an hour early but Jeff wanted to be sure I got there so dropped me off and with his fingers crossed said he would hopefully figure out where to pick me up after the appointment.  The dentist’s surgery was very ritzy, right in the middle of the city in a beautiful old building but with very modern rooms. The dentist came down with his last patient and introduced himself to me. He was about Ben’s age and just lovely. He so carefully and gently filled the space where the old filling had been that I hardly noticed anything, all the time saying funny things to the nurse and me. It was not cheap but had been a lovely experience so I didn’t begrudge the fee too much.

After the appointment Jeff picked me up (yay he found it) so we could go down to the Mindil Sunset Market.

We bought some yummy food and walked around looking at all the stalls – a bit like Horseshoe Bay Market times a hundred. We noticed the sun was getting lower so onto the beach we went, joining hundreds of othes to watch the sunset over the water.

As we walked back to the van we bumped into Lyn and Arthur, the couple we had had dinner with at Mataranka. They are from Hobart and were really enjoying the warm weather. Back to the van park we trundled and found out a rather disconcerting fact – the park was in the flight path of the Darwin Airport! Not the best night’s sleep we had ever had but not too bad until about 4am when the morning rush began. Forget the sleep in.