We arrived to the Mataranka Homestead/thermal spring at 4. This is a nicer camp ground with good showers. They have no kitchens, but have a fun restaurant and live music tonight as well. We set up camp with the occasional kangaroo running past. Then we walked 300 m to the thermal pools for a therapeutic dip. There are quite a few pea hens wandering about, which is a bit weird. In the night it was quiet except for the thundering whomp whomp whomp when the kangaroos stormed thru the tents.

NT-20 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
NT-26 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

NT-25 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

NT-24 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

NT-22 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

NT-21 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

NT-28 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

NT-27 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

__________________
Sara

Those who say something is impossible should not hinder those who are achieving it!





www.worldwideride.ca

HU RR Finding Freedom...World Wide Ride

It is the final stretch today as we ride up the 412 km to Darwin on another very straight stretch of road.

Screen Shot 2018-04-30 at 14.52.35 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

NT-29 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

It is also getting hotter and more humid by the km. We fueled up in Mataranka and then rode the 206 km to Pine creek where we stopped for lunch.

NT-30 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

We had to get a drink and a snack in Adelaide River and both us and the bikes were on our last legs. We are getting terrible fuel economy with the wind and the 110-115 speed to try to kill the miles ASAP.

This just left 71 km to get to Noonamah where we planned to meet our host David. He led us home to his amazing place in Palmerston, where Johan from Norway and German from Argentina were also staying. They have been here a week, but their bikes arrived from Dili 1 month ago. They are still waiting for an inspection from Quarantine!!!

We had a great evening hearing about everyones past adventures. We really appreciated getting first had knowledge of the route and ferries in Indonesia from these guys. Johan has been several times to Indonesia and had great advice on where to go.

NT-31 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

__________________
Sara

Those who say something is impossible should not hinder those who are achieving it!





www.worldwideride.ca

HU RR Finding Freedom...World Wide Ride

We appreciated staying with Dave, but we decided to head into the city center where we could get a 2 bedroom place for a reasonable price, we could cool off from the heat and get caught up on all sorts of “office” work.





Next update from the freight forwarder is that the boat is delayed!!! We were to drop the bikes in 2 days time for the departure next week. The boat will leave Darwin on time, but because of a mechanical issue it will go direct to Singapore and not stop in Timor.



The next estimated sailing to Timor is now May 18! AGHHH. We spent 2 days mulling over all the options. There is no way to get a small plane to Timor as none can fit even one of them at a time, we ride to Perth or Adelaide and ship the bikes to Bali and back track, we leave the bikes here and rent a car/van and tour, or what we settled on is take a repositioning free camper “rental” to Perth and then fly Perth to Timor. Making Lemonade!!!

IMG_2664 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr


We managed to get a 2 week van return from Darwin to Perth leaving May 4. We will fly to Dili May 20 and hope to get the bikes before the 25th. This has kiboshed our plans for this fall. We will now arrive to North America a month behind schedule and will miss the HU meeting in Nakusp and also Wolfgang who will be in Canada to make his ride to Alaska this summer!

__________________
Sara

Those who say something is impossible should not hinder those who are achieving it!





www.worldwideride.ca

HU RR Finding Freedom...World Wide Ride

We did hook up on HUBB with riders Chantelle and Todd = HU/ADV The slow ride home - Canada to Australia on a pair of CT110 Honda Postie Bikes. We met with them for drinks.

They are temporarily working and giving in Darwin, but after 5 months they are counting the days until their 1 year contract is up. It is hot and humid here and the Darwin culture is a serious challenge for those with even a slightly open mind.

The Racial tension is palpable. Here like most of the NT the police obviously target Aboriginal people. They are posted at the drive thru liquor store and clearly only are checking ID of non white patrons. Here you must register your ID to buy liquor and in many places there is a daily limit. At our rental apartment we were not asked to leave a damage deposit, but the Aboriginal couple after us were. We all had paid with credit cards. When I was waiting in the lobby for the guys the Chinese owner asked me if I would like some teas as she had put the kettle on, but the other lady waiting was not offered the same courtesy. It goes on and on. I will say there are a huge number of obviously drunk people laying about all over town, and I can see how one could become jaded.


What to do in Darwin… Very hot and humid so we decided to walk 2 km in the heat of the day to the museum. (morons). There is lots of evidence of the recent cyclone.


Darwin_ by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr



Darwin_-4 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr


Darwin_-3 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

IMG_2673 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

IMG_2674 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

__________________
Sara

Those who say something is impossible should not hinder those who are achieving it!





www.worldwideride.ca

HU RR Finding Freedom...World Wide Ride

Today we will drop the bikes off at the SDV freight forwarders, which is 18 km from the city at the cargo port. They have agreed to store the bikes for the 2 weeks no charge. We rode out there and parked in the warehouse only to be told we had to go to customs first (in the city) and get the carnet cancelled. (They failed to add this in the email to us of course!)

This is a crazy system, because once we get the stamp we could technically sell the bike here is Oz and fly out and still collect on the carnet?!?

Whatever, we did just go to customs, get and stamp, and then rode away without them even asking for proof that we had booked export!



Then it was back to the SDV to pass away the riding gear, disconnect the batteries, and lock up the luggage.



Darwin_-5 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr



IMG_2680 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

IMG_2679 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr


Darwin_-6 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

__________________
Sara

Those who say something is impossible should not hinder those who are achieving it!





www.worldwideride.ca

HU RR Finding Freedom...World Wide Ride

Not sure when we will have internet capable of updating and uploading photos of the road trip in OZ, but here is some good news!


We arrived to Timor last night and the bikes are arriving on the ship tonight!!




Timor Leste by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

__________________
Sara

Those who say something is impossible should not hinder those who are achieving it!





www.worldwideride.ca

HU RR Finding Freedom...World Wide Ride

You two have been my lunch time entertainment for some time now. Thank you for staying the course. Enjoy Timor