Could a girl be more in love... No! is the answer to that question....

This my firends is Mr Darren Hanlon, as I sit her tonight with my head phones on and with the sweet tunes in my ears and a smile on my face I am in love all over again.

This week in news....

News of this week is.... well it goes with out saying there has been another 15 cocodile stories in the news paper. But that is really nothing new, however the two skinny dippers at one of the local hotels was. This week was also show week in Darwin, so along to the show I did go.

More of an exercise in saying I've been and I don't have to go next year... yep I dont think I'll go back next year... No wood chopping, I mean whats a show with out wood chopping.... So I had a great day anyway saw some big bulls and cows and some bulls throw people in the air. Ute's racing on grass was something new to watch. NO rides for me, I am such a chicken, even the kids tea cups looked scary.

The whole giving up chocolate is going very well, I've not had any... I've joined a gym up here so this makes it a bit easy to avoid. I have also signed on for a triathlon. So this gives me a goal to work towards. My bike arrives this week too... so I'll be back on it. And just in time too, there is a 146km ride I want to do on 8th August.

In other news, there is no other news. I'll post more photo's soon.

OK I am going to get this posting thing right at some stage I know. But for now you will have to read from the bottom of this post back to the top..... Go on scroll down and start at the last photo.... Please scroll down now...

The down hill...... all the way down.... 8km down and when I say down I mean down. 3 of the 8 fell off on the down hill me included. BUT was it fun

And then the top.... What a sight, what a hill, what a misery....THEN

Almost at the top... there was a lot of walking to get to here..

This is the start of mount misery... the start...it went up and up and up and up a bit more.

The one ond only tent. Just light enough for Mum to pack for a overnight walk or ride. Just big enough for Mum and her small frame and bags, not quite big enough for her and her large daughter. But lucky it was only one night! So anyway back to the ride.

This is after lunch on day one, and Mum's loaded bike. Look at them skinny legs to push that bike.

So this is just a water hole along the way, we had lots of stops and starts. All up I think we only did 70km on the first day but up and down and up and down and all drit... very hard riding.

So as you can see the ride was all off road, the track was call Mount Misery and it was a misery. It started out all good, as I dont have an off road bike I was on a loan bike for the weekend. Which would have been better if the racks to carry the camping gear had fitted the bike. In a nut shell, I got to carry my water pack and a small bag on the handel bars with some all important snacks. Poor Mum got lumped with 2 of everything, sleeping bags, sleeping mats, pillows, all the food, all the clothes, you get the picture... but she would only carry one tent.

And later in the day I would understand very well why.... her bike must have weighed 30kg or more...

Well thank you for starting at the bottom like I ask, This post is an update on something I did before leaving Townsville. I went with the group Mum rides with, this was a prep ride for them before they headed off on a 16 day ride.

History

Today's post is all about history, not mine, Darwins. I have to admit I have copied this all from the web.


About Darwin
Darwin is a thriving cosmopolitan town. As well as hosting one of Australia’s most vibrant indigenous cultures, our population is comprised of over 100 nationalities. Darwin is also a very young city, having been almost totally rebuilt after the devastation of Cyclone Tracy in 1974, and this is reflected in the age of its population, the median age of which is 30, 5 years younger than the national median age of 35. This youthful spirit, is reflected in its easygoing, laid back lifestyle and enthusiasm for fun and leisure activities.
Climate
Darwin enjoys a perennial summer with a unique climate that boasts near perfect weather from May to September or the ‘Dry’ season as it is known by locals with clear blue skies, cool nights, and warm, temperate days. The ‘Wet’ season which runs from October to March is different altogether with spectacular lightning storms, cooling tropical rains, and a vibrant natural landscape that comes alive!

Right so you've got all that...then this happens...


Territory Day
On the first of July each year Territorians celebrate Territory Day, marking the commencement of Self Government in the Territory on 1 July 1978. The day is celebrated across the Northern Territory in a number of ways, including the famous Territory Day fireworks (both public and private).

In what can only be described as a total free for all.... you can buy and let off fireworks all over the place, and when I say buy you can buy them at the corner store, trucks parked on the side of the road and I am sure tho I didn't try the chemist....

People went mad... I myself love fireworks, love them. But not to the point of spending the better part of my pay packet on buying them and letting them off with 10,000 other hoons around town.

Also don't get me wrong I can see the joy in lighting the fuse and running for dear life and waiting for the POP, BANG, CRACK and OH'S AND AHRRRSSS.... but in the dark when you can actually see the effect... right....WRONG...

All day long all you could hear was the popping and banging, then there was more on the drive to the beach some so close to my car I thought I'd popped a tyre... But it didn't stop at the 11pm curfuw oh no.... in my suburb I think it stopped about 2am and not for the wanting of stopping I think they exhausted the stockpile... Poor buggers... not... sleep people SLEEP.

So anyway according the the bible the NT News...

TERRITORY cracker night featured up to 60 blazes, two car fires and dozens of complaints.

Police and emergency services were kept busy putting out fires and keeping the peace across the Territory last night.

Meanwhile, thousands crammed Mindil Beach (this was my place of choice to watch the fun) in Darwin to watch the official pyrotechnics, and thousands more chose favourite spots to let off their own private stash.

NT Fire and Rescue Service district officer Grant Hamon estimated up to 60 fires had sparked across the Territory by 9.30pm. Most were in Darwin and Palmerston, some in Katherine, and a couple in Alice.


Cracker Night also ended badly for a man letting off fireworks outside the exclusion zone at Mindil Beach.

He was fined $532 by Darwin City Council.

The incidents were among 170 incidents reported to police.

But there were only eight injuries - a third of those reported last year.

I wonder what those 8 people will be doing the next 1st July?