Fri 15th August – Day 97: Darwin – Berry Springs

A quick trip into the Darwin GPO turned into an all morning affair as I chased up Distance Education Packages, sent letters off home, brought the kids new goggles, had my watch fixed and renewed Pete’s heart meds [have to keep him alive for just a bit longer]. By 12pm the Big 4 was threatening to charge us another day so we hurridly packed the van and got underway heading for Berry Springs a mere 57km down the highway. We located a nearby Van Park, set up and went straight in the Berry Springs Nature Park where we found 2 very large spring-fed pools and a small waterfall fringed by pandanus and monsoon rainforest, frequented by visitors and locals alike.
We spent the rest of the afternoon lazing around in the waters and soaking up the sun. The kids $4 K-mart pool noodles a roaring success. We returned to camp and Pete and the kids ventured over to the waterslides. Weird all the way out here having 3 storey waterslides! After a number of speed runs and spectacular water entries they were back and it was dinner time. We were entertained by Shas [read Sharron] and Darl [Darline] the two resident feral woman that occupied the caravans adjacent to ours. They had consumed a few VB’s that afternoon, mourning the loss of their respective partners to the mines further south, and yet another lonely few weeks until the men folk returned. They entertained the entire park with a 6 CD disc set ‘Fabulous 80’s’ that played at one notch less than maximum. How do we know that you ask? Because later in the evening, after emptying a box of giggle juice, they turned it up that final notch. As we lay in bed, we listened to their tales of woe being two middle aged members of the trailer trash brigade. We had no idea how many times you could put the word F*CK into one sentence. Finally the Bundy and coke nightcaps finished them off and the world was once again a quiet place. During this trip we have met all types, some we would love to see again and others we are happy to wind up the windows and drive away. The next morning we did just that.
Springs Lakes Holiday Park (Powered $25/night)