Just Another Day in The Territory

For Hiram's second excursion, we took him to Fogg Dam. We had never been there this time of year before, and the water was practically overbanking. We didn't realize how dumb it was to be walking across till we saw how high the water was, not to mention the two crocs and croc trap we could see in the water. So we walked on the opposite bank with less water. There were quite a lot of animals out and about...birds, crocs, and snakes.



On our way walking back to the car on the dam, we could see something off in the distance. Initially we thought it was a dog, but then it dawned on us that it was a feral water buffalo. They aren't native to Australia but were brought in, probably for the ill-fated rice paddies of the NT. You see that behind the buffalo - that's the exit. We walked back to one of the observation stands in hopes that it wouldn't come out there and just head into the wetlands. Water buffalo can be extremely dangerous and unpredictable.



It plodded its way down the road stopped and stared at us, must have decided we weren't a threat and moved on. Then it came upon a car, and eventually went off the road into the water. It was a little scary.




Then on our way back home along the highway, the car started to vibrate really bad. David looked in the rear view mirror just in time to see pieces of rubber flying back. Surprisingly the tire was still on, but the nearly the entire tread had "exploded" off taking the mudflap with it.

An exiting afternoon indeed.

First Visitor

We've gotten our first visitor to Darwin - Jenni's dad Hiram. It's good to have an excuse to go do touristy things with him. Today we went and walked around the Darwin CBD and then to the Northern Territory Museum and Art Gallery. No visit to the gallery is complete without a stop at Sweetheart the 5.1 meter 700 kilo (almost 1 tonne) salty, and the Cyclone Tracy Exhibit.

They also have a neat maritime exhibit. Filled with a high with boats (ships?) from throughout Indonesia that have been confiscated because illegal fishing.

Here on the left side of the photo we encounter the migratory species extrarius salutor - more commonly called the "tourist." Distinctive plumage around the legs are typically khaki coloured with numerous pockets footwear include the labels Merrel or Nike, and plumage around the head typically is a large brimmed hat, sometimes made of a tough leatherous material called leather and rimmed with teeth from a crocodile made of plastic.

This is contrasted with the permanent resident - locus northern tractus or commonly known as "Territorian." Plumage around the chest is usually a white singlet, sometimes bare breasted, with short shorts, and typically carrying a stubby holder with a can of XXXX Gold Beer in it. The locus northern tractus has a carefree jovial personality and is usually harmless.