Day 30 - 28 June - Adelaide River to Darwin - 110 km

Up early for our last big day and the final leg to Darwin.  Egg and bacon sandwich from the servo and we were off by 7:00.  Slow going first thing as usual, but the morning s are the best time of the day.  There is less traffic, no wind, its quieter, more wildlife and all the smells of the earth are more distinct.  The sun was rising and there have not been many good sunrises this trip, but this was great.






Did the first 40 km quickly and then pedaled on to Noonamah at the 70 km mark for lunch.  Not much here, service station and the pub.  Road surface has been good, but there is so much traffic we are not used to. Less road trains and more cars flying past with people so focused on getting to their destination they couldn't give a toss about how close they come to 2 little cyclists plodding along.

40 km to go which brought us to the outskirts of Palmerston, an outlying suburb of Darwin.  Wind has been varied all day with mainly crosswinds and very little tailwinds, making it one of our tougher days on the blacktop.

I waited for Joe at the information stand rest stop before we did the last 20 km into Darwin.  We decided that we would each head straight for our different accommodation and then catch up later tonight.

Did the last slog into Darwin.  I must have missed the sign that said "No bicycles, farm machinery etc. " so I rode the freeway straight into town...wondered why I got a few toots.

Got into town about 1:45 and went to the Banyan View backpackers.  They would not let me in until 2:30, so I went for a bit of a ride around Darwin CBD.  Many changes since Janelle and I were her 30 years ago like high rise buildings and more traffic, but the beaches and parks are as good as ever.

Checked in and organised myself.  I rang Tim and Nick who we had met on the dirt when we were riding to Borroloola (I think) who are working in Darwin and we caught up for a few quiet drinks at Shennanigans.  We owed them a few drinks because they were so generous with their food and water when we met them in the bush.

Great to see the guys.  They have got work building up here while they save money for more travel. Women in Darwin should be worried because these 2 guys are dangerous but alot of fun too.

After Tim and Nick left Joe and I hit the waterfront and had a feed at one of the restaurants down there and then back home for the night.  Great to sleep in a real bed again.