January 14, 2019 - Darwin, NT - Day 9

January 14, 2019 - Darwin, Northern Territory Australia - Monday, Day 9

As I completed my 3 mile walk this morning, we were entering the bay that leads to our dock in downtown Darwin. The sun was rising behind the skyline. Everything looked beautifully familiar. 

Because this is our third visit here we opted to take an all day tour out of the city to Lichfield National Park. A 2 hour coach ride took us through the suburbs and some interesting countryside. Some was wild and some was reminiscent of Nebraska. Our guide explained that the only 2 seasons in Darwin are wet and dry. This is the wet season and all was green. It was sunny now, but we could expect rain at some time during the day.

The attraction of this tour is the opportunity to visit the giant termite mounds and to view waterfalls in the park. We would have a buffet lunch before returning to Darwin. As we drew near to our first stop, the termite mound observation area, we started to see random small mounds. These were the teasers. 

As we left the coach Peter directed us to the trails that led to the fields of termite mounds. There are 2 types of mounds that range from a couple of feet to six to nine feet tall. One type called magnetic run in a north and south direction. The termites that create these are blind and eat grass not timber. The reason for the north and south orientation is to reduce the surface area exposed to the heat of the sun. 

Scientists concluded that since these termites could not see the sun they may have an internal magnetic sense. To test this theory they placed magnets near some new mound construction in an east  west orientation. The termites did finish construction in alignment with this altered magnetic field. These mounds are only a few inches wide.

The other type of termite mounds are called cathedral mounds. These are conical with ridges similar to flying buttresses on the outside. They are also as much as six to nine feet tall, and have a circumference of at their base of several feet. Peter, our guide, explained that the mounds are built at the rate of about one foot per year, but this pace slows as they get higher.

We had walked to the edge of two large field to view these mounds. One field was all magnetic mounds. The other was all cathedral mounds. I am extremely unhappy that my internet connection is not permitting me to upload pictures to this blog. These mounds exceeded our expectations. I will try to upload pictures whenever I can get shoreside connections. 

We returned to the coach and traveled on to see the falls. A nicely pave trail took us to a clearing where Two falls cascaded down a cliff face on the other side of a large pond/ lake. Several people were swimming here. To the right of the observations deck were two very large spider webs with two very large spiders. A little farther on Peter pointed out large fruit bats hangin in the trees. We stood in fascination for quite a while watching as bats came and went. There wing spans were very large. On the way back to the coach we spied another web with a large spider spread out like an X. The white of the cascading waterfall behind this set it off nicely.

Our buffet lunch cam next. It was satisfying and a welcome rest. After lunch we boarded the coach for the return to Darwin. The drive took us to a large park on the east side of Darwin. Alice and I had been on a tour that came this way in 2014. It all looked very familiar, and it was a pleasant surprise to experience it again.

We returned to the ship shortly after 5:00. We cleaned up for dinner, and as we ate we watched as Maasdam left the dock and sailed away. We may never return, but our memories will last forever.