Glorious Katherine Weather - Too Hot to Play Outside

Yes it's wonderful!

Really?

NO

Just when I think I'm getting the hang of sarasm!

In actuallity its not that bad....just really humid, and hot. This has the affect of disenabling any fun or adventure between the hours of 10am and 4pm. If you go outside during this time, you will re-enter the building sopping...either from the rain or the humidity.

Ok, we have gone from sarcasm to extensive exaggeration, but my point is that we have been unable to venture out of our cosy ice-box due to the hotness of the weather. It is simply tooo hot to play outside. Very Sad. We have considered a number of times going out to Douglas Daly where there are impressive hot springs...but seriously, who wants to visit hot springs when the temperature is approximately 40 degrees and the humidity is over 90%...and that's not an exaggeration! Currently, the local time is 9:26 pm, the temperature is 27..8 degrees celsius and the humidity is 74%. We can hear the occasional burst of thunder in the distance - fragments of a thunder storm that passed over this afternoon consisting of clouds, little lightning, and thunder. No Rain.

But when it rains, it pelts down. It is not uncommon for the river to rise a few feet in a couple of hours.

Yes the weather is the reason no adventures have been had of late, and it is the reason that this post consists of benile chit chat about the weather. One thing that is quite impressive about this weather though, is the storms.

The territory is known for its storms and its sunsets. Unfortunately my as yet, untrained photographer's eye has not been able to capture the spectacular sunsets we are treated with each afternoon, due to the flatness of the area and the imposing trees that stand in the way, nor has it been able to catch the spectacular lighting we are treated with almost every afternoon/night. The colours in the countryside around Katherine are enough though.

We were lucky enough to catch this stunning rainbow and watch it spread itself out over the sky, accross a storm to divide the dark clouds from the light. This was while we were taking a Sunday afternoon drive to try and find a local fishing spot, wNhich unfortunately we were unable to locate as we were not game enough to drive down any road with a "No Tresspassing" sign. You get the filling in the territory that people shoot first, and ask questions later. I'm not really one for confrontation.

Still, the rainbow was a pretty incredible reminder of God's creation and His promise. And isn't it just beautiful? Not even my Betsy Canon can capture all thos colours in the rainbow...it can only capture up a fraction of what our human eyes can see. So faint and subtle, yet so strong. Ok, now this is turning into waffle.

And of course the thunderheads. This is only a titchy one. Teeeeny tiny in fact. Still, these fellas embrace us with their presence each afternoon at the moment - often lighting up with impressive flashes of forks, or shrouded with other clouds coloured a deep and menacing grey-blue.

Yes the weather up here is tumoltuous - it matches the feel of the place and the culture. I'm sorry that I have rambled on for a whole post about the weather, but at the moment in Katherine, there is not much else to talk about!

Swim straight on through to Sydney...

...or in our case fly.

For all those unfamilar with Finding Nemo just ignor the random quote title, and weird references to the movie that will most likely ensue in this post.

For those who have been checking this blog anxiously for the past three weeks, gripping the edge of your seats, unable to contain yourself until the next chapter, well you are in luck, you are in for a doozy.

Road greened up on way to Darwin

Last weekend we travelled to Sydney.  Caleb was Queensland apprentice of the year, which meant he had the opportunity to compete in the national title. This opportunity came with the 'obligation' of being put up in the Novotel Hotel in Olympic Park (12 storys up) for a week of activities and nominee bonding.While Caleb lived it up in Sydney for a week, I went to work and drove down to Darwin on Wednesday night to catch my flight early Thursday morning. One thing this wet weather does in the Northern Territory is make everything so green to create the most impressive, intense gorgeous colours the human eye has every seen. Especially at sunrise and sunset.

Thursday arvo was a day of luxury at the Novotel. Friday was spent shopping and eating sushi, and that night was the big finale - the dinner.While Caleb was not given the award, he still looked mighty handsome up on stage, met some wonderful people and had a fantastic night with his parents and his wife. Saturday was spent sightseeing in the harbour and then up to the Blue Mountains where we enjoyed fabulous panoramic views at Echo Point where one can see the Three Sisters.

How refreshing! A breath of spring and mountain air! Can cure any work blues.

Yes, we made it to Sydney, probably the most iconic city in our country. Face it, Melbourne tried by building that tall building, but really they copied the Gold Coast. Brisbane's best feature, the river, is truly, disgustingly polluted. Darwin, well, they have the Mindel Markets, but seriously, how does that compare to the Opera House? Perth may be beautiful (apparently, this we have yet to validate) and Adelaide may be designed to be easily navigated (so I have heard...it's never been tried and tested by the Mayne directional system, which, without the trusty Mio is not so great...) but I put it to you, that no other city quite has the status as Sydney.

But Lisa! You forgot a city! How could you leave out poor old Hobart? Well folks, as beautiful as Hobart is, I hardly think it qualifies as a city....waayy too small.

Ok, city/state jabs aside, and let me assure you, we've had our fair share this weekend, Sydney was beautiful in its own, human constructed monstosity way. A city is a place to admire human accomplishment and embrace modern culture. Not always something truly inspiring for me, but one cannot look at the harbour bridge with the Opera House in the background and not think it impressive. The thing that struck me while in Circular Quay, was the amount of seagulls. They were everywhere (and fat too)! I finally truly understand the end of Nemo....

The Blue Mountains were absolutely breathtaking and the little jaunt to Sydney has certainly wet our appetites to once again hit the road.