Here We Go Again - Chapter 61 - Cooinda to Darwin

There is nothing like a single supplier in a captive market. Without real competition, it becomes a how much will the market bear, or more will the fright or flight gene kick it and the consumer will simply “take their medicine”.

Earlier in the week I had “splashed” the fuel tank because fo the price, knowing I would be doing the driving on the trips where this was our hub. I didn’t fill the Cruiser because of the price. A bit of playing devils advocate, I know not why, but that was it and now heading out for Darwin, the trip sensor suggested I had not enough to make the destination.

Not usually an issue until you pull up to the bowser and it is not working with a “Waiting on Tanker” sign on it. Checking the map, there are service stations at Jabiru, East Alligator and so on. The Jabiru station is well out of our way so we trust on the East Alligator Roadhouse as our planned stop, only 40 kilometres up the road from Jabiru

.

The best laid plans of mice and men. The East Alligator facilities are closed and appear to have been closed for some time.

We are not going to make it, and as luck would have it the estimated range metre is not working as it should. It appears to be reducing at double the speed of the distance we are travelling. I will need to delve into the special reserve if we are to make it to where we think the closet service station may well be.

I pull into to a truck stop and fit with the jerry can containing the spare diesel. Weight and gravity combine to make recovery of the receptacle a real struggle such that I need to mount the rear safety bar and physically wrench it from its resting place. Out and the funnel in place the 20 litres are transferred to the empty tank. The jerry can is returned to its original position and we scream off again towards our destination.

The gauges are still not encouraging but we are a lot closer now than when panic began to overtake us. Corroboree Springs, a place we have lunched on the previous trip looms welcomely into view. The tank is filled, and it takes very much the total capacity to fill it. We weren’t quite running on fumes but very close to it.

We are going to lunch here again. Ordering from the food stall we sit in the cool of the Roadhouse and eat. My diet is not going according to plan and this repast will not help it in any way shape or form.

Outside we look to snap some shots of the buffalo and razorback pig in the sanctuary near the vehicles. Then, with bellies full and tanks topped up, its back onto the road for the last leg into Darwin.

Not thinking, simply following the lead, I do not notice the GOS suggesting we should be in the left lane. Silver Leader knowing we need to go right has floated that way and I have followed him. All of a sudden the bearing right becomes a turn left and we are off track and with the caravan park in sight. It takes several kilometres to arrive at the park form the other direction.

For us lads, once set up is complete there is another matter that needs to be addressed. We are Barra fishing tomorrow on a charter. We are being picked up at 5.30am and we need to extract all the relevant equipment from the bowels of the storage facilities and have them ready tonight, as tomorrow will be a rush, even if it is not.

The internet “works” here and I have many to deal with, just to add to the pandemonium of the expectation of chasing a prized fish in the morning. The days at Cooinda have been without sufficient bandwidth to achieve anything like internet coverage so the number is significant.

We have been on this charter before and we are looking forward to it. I even have the crab traps out for setting. As far as I am aware I am ready. Well at least for this one. We have another planned for later in the week and whereas this is a 5.30am start, it is going to be a 3.00am on the road.

Talking about being “on the road”, its time to get the Cruiser serviced. As we will be here almost a week. I call the local Totoyta dealer. Apologetically I find its a three week wait. So much for the that economy being hit by the effects of Covid. 

Causes and effects. They suggest I call to a point in our future and book in as we will find this is a similar situation thought the dealership. I call Broome Toyota and manage to get a booking but confirm the same situation. By the time we get there the Bruiser will be almost 5,000 kilometers past the suggested service interval. 

I am a little worried about my gear. My “good” rod has been shortened by an accidental severing of the tip and may not perform to optimum expectation. I have a light casting outfit I am taking but I wonder if it will match up to a Barramundi intent on release. I have replaced the line on it with new braid but only to 20kgs but at that, it casts very well and will be great if we fish shallow water.

Thursday night, the night of the traditional Darwin Night Markets. Cannot miss them can we? 

Robyn is a little apprehensive about the markets given the Covid issues and social distancing but we all suggest to her she is being over protective of herself and that everything will be under control – WRONG. The markets are a writing throng of humanity. Even with the Darwin Show being on, the patronage of the markets is overwhelmingly huge.

Buffeted from here to there by people only interested in their self indulgent quests, Robyn becomes more and more annoyed. We try and split off into a lesser frequented area (read here not a food area) but the crowds are still thicker than, and certainly not observing anything like 1.5 metres of social distancing.

Grab some food and let’s head to the beach for a sunset that crowds flock to on any costs to Darwin. Here at least we can distance ourselves a little better but the chances of sand being kicked into your food as passersby flock to get to the “perfect spot” are high. I have grabbed a pork and gravy roll. I should have grabbed a pork knuckle in hindsight, not realising its value until after I had my roll in my hand – maybe next time.

The sunset soothes the ire somewhat, and many, many photos are taken, but we do have to return to the market throng in order to get back to the Cruiser and home. We wait at the designated meeting point for Silver Leader and Rose, buying some dessert to while away the time. Many others are obviously doing the same thing and soon any spot where we have sat which might allow us some distance between us and them is quickly filled.

Thankfully Silver Leader and Rose happen by and we head home after we direct ourselves perfectly to the Cruiser in the myriad of parked vehicles. This time there is no error in judgement when it comes to the caravan park entry.

Quickly and efficiently we are home and in bed waiting for the alarm to sound to herald the start of the Charter.