2 Geckos Travelling Australia: Thurs, 7th April, 2022 Stingray Head, south of Dundee Beach to Bush camp on West Point, Mandorah, NT (WW2 Gun emplacements & anti-sub boom net)

There is a cricket outside that I am naming ‘Alarm’ as it goes on constantly - blar blar.

Dark black cloud over us. Hundreds of mozzies are trying to get in - the screens are covered in them. They haven’t been too bad so maybe the rain has brought them all out.

The sea is calm and the tide is in.

We packed up - luckily I do the inside so Steve had to do the outside and battle the mozzies as he had to put the fishing rods away - we were going to fish again but not with these mozzies about. When I pulled down the roof the mozzies were still on the screen so hopefully they will all die by the time we put up the room again

A few black cockatoos were on the track.

Back through the mud pools ok - more water in them from the storms of course. The smaller ones are much bigger now but we now the surface was ok to drive onto.

Back to the main road and east to the intersection then north to Wagait Beach and Mandorah. Passed the Belyun Community then found their wandering horses with some little foals.

Turned right and followed the big power lines to Mandorah Jetty on Picnic Point. There is a ferry that takes the locals and visitors back and forth to Darwin.

Chatted with two locals who were fishing and got a few hints. They catch Queenfish, Trevally, mackerel etc off here - hope we can land something.

He also pointed out the ‘chair’ on the point which is the old anchor point for the anti-submarine boom net put in for Jap Subs in WW2.

There is talk of a new jetty coming with wheel-chair access as with the height changes of the tides they have to get on and off at different heights and the steps are a problem. This jetty will then just be for fishing off.

Nice view around and across to Darwin.

A dragon fly landed on one guys rod which was not moving from catching fish! Not a good sign for fishing but they said that is the first sign that the Dry is starting - when the dragon flies arrive.

Drove back along the power line and onto a narrow strip of bitumen to check out the site of the B24-J Liberator aircraft wreck but unfortunately the track is too wet and narrow for us.

I downloaded some info from a website - www.monumentaustralia.org.au

“The monument commemorates the airmen of the United States Army Air Force who were killed when their B-24J Liberator Bomber crashed during World War Two. The Northern Territory Government declared the area a heritage site in 2002 and interpretive signage has been installed at key points along the pathway.

The remains of the wreck of this B-24J are significant as a tangible reminder of the air war conducted against the Japanese during World War Two from Australian soil. It is also a tangible link to the association the 380th Bomb Group had in Australia and the specific role that it played in the war.

The four-engine bomber with a crew of six on board, captained by Lieutenant Bobby Neal, left the Darwin RAAF base for a training bombing mission at Quail Island, a regular training target south-west of Darwin. It was Lt. Neal’s first mission in this aircraft as pilot-in-command and the nature of the flight meant there were only six on board instead of the usual nine. There are conflicting reports but most indicate the aircraft completed its mission and was returning to Darwin when it crashed south of Two-Fella Creek, killing all on board. At least one reputable account talks of a fire on board before the crash, although there are no reports of a distress call, or the bomber having been sighted on fire by the many military personnel based on the Cox Peninsula before it crashed.”

Back to the turnoff into Wagait Beach township. There is a shop and lots of acreage blocks with some nice homes and some just beach shacks.

We drove to the end where the chap had said to try in the creek for Barra and we could camp there. Well there is a no camping sign and it is only a small carpark so we don’t think we will be staying as there are houses nearby. We walked down onto the beach - very hot, sunny and the sandflies have found us. The tide is out so nothing happening in the creek. He said there was a croc trap up the creek - not a good sign! The people fishing haven’t caught anything.

We drove around the streets checking out the properties - a heap for sale and some have been sold. Steve had seen a track going off towards West Point before the jetty so we drove back to check it out. There is a concrete culvert over the drain so it is obviously meant for public use. Not the best track through the tall grass but it was marked on the Hema and we wound our way around until we found a clearing by the beach.

There were big round concrete things on the beach that looked like something from WW2. I googled it and they were Gun Emplacements - here and on Wagait Beach too but unfortunately weren’t operational before the Japs bombed Darwin in Feb 1942. Thee were two 4 inch boom defence guns and a battery of 6 inch guns as well as the net that went from here to East Point where there were more guns. Walked around and zoomed in on the sub net anchor.

Decided this will do us for our camp tonight and parked up. The mozzies were still buzzing in the fly mesh of the pop-top but when I lifted it up they didn’t want to fly off. Steve tried moving them on with the broom but they just flew back to hang off the outside. As long as they stay outside.

Had lunch - very humid, 33 degrees. The tide is going out.

Steve went for a walk while I uploaded my blog.

3pm - a lovely sea breeze started which made it more bearable. Read our books till drinks waiting for the heat to settle.

Walked down to the rocks near the sub anchor to cast our lures hoping to entice something out of the water. Nice view of Darwin with the sun shining off the buildings.