At Renners Springs and the Roadhouse work involved cementing shower recess, fixing faulty tv systems and antennas.  Sara helped in the kitchen, laundry and with the watering. We were provided with a room with ensuite in the backpackers motel, all meals and wage.

 

Most of the staff members were travelling backpackers, Louisa and Rory from UK, Valerie from Singapore, Kay from China, Fran from Chile, Cedric and Marie from Italy. The only Aussie was Mick, the maintenance man.  Also Sue & Barry from Qld, good friends of owner Alan and wife Christine, were helping out for a month.

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Renner Springs was a very busy caravan park, motel, restaurant, bar and petrol station, an oasis in Central Northern Territory.  There was ample spring water to drink and shower in.

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After 3 days, with a free full tank of petrol and wage we ventured on to Bitter Springs in Mataranka.  We tried to find a spot to stay at Little Roper, but owners were not there, so we went on to look at the Hot Springs.  As we were walking along the path to the Hot Springs, we bumped into Diane (lady whose van had broken down).  She told us that she was staying at Bitter Springs Caravan Park, just next door to the Hot Springs, where a mechanic was able to fix her campervan. 

 

We then drove to Bitter Springs Caravan Park and was shown by the owner to a lovely shady spot to stay for the night.  Meet Noel & Rose from Qld who were travelling back home.  They gave us some hints on what to do and see in Darwin and offered to look after Rusty whilst we went for a dip in the Hot Springs.  They kindly lent us 2 noodles to use ($1 to rent at caravan park).

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We then travelled onto Katherine and stopped at Pine Creek.  Looked at the opencut water lake and played my guitar looking over the view.  I stuck my God is Love Magnet on the sign as was causing Bucky to rust.  So hopefully it will still be there should we do the lap again.

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Once we arrived in Darwin and drove straight to the Botanical Gardens to give Rusty a much needed walk and stretch.  Next stop the Casino for free air conditioning and coffee.  We decided to stealth camp in the suburbia.  I found a nice spot next to some new building development and we took a trip to the nearby shopping complex for Sara and Rusty to jump in the back and get changed into her PJ's.  Already to leave for our stealth spot and the van would not fire up. I rang Roadside assist and he worked out that the internal fuel pump had seized.  So he tapped the tank with a hammer and it started to work again.  With the Bucky getting fuel again we continued to our stealth camp and had a restful night  

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Woke up and drove to Maccas for a toilet stop and then drove to the Botanical Gardens for a walk and rang around to book Bucky in for a new fuel pump.  Tuesday was the earliest as Monday is "Picnic Day"  a public holiday. 

 

We booked into Coolalinga Caravan park for 5 nights and also arranged to get two of truck tyres replaced as tread is below a matchhead in depth.  This campsite is 30km out of the city opposite a large shopping complex so we have setup like permanents.  Went for a nice swim in the icy cold shaded pool and explored the shops.

 

At night went to the popular Night Time Markets a Mindi Beach and got a large takeaway Pad Thai to share with Sara.

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The next few days we will stay around the campsite and did little trips around Darwin.  Tonight we are going to Stock Wharf to watch the Fish feeding at night. We have to stay with Rusty during the day as temperature is too high to leave him in the van.

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