Earlier In The Year...

2014 started out in a very positive way when an original member of Team Turtle found a new home.  No, it wasn't The Captain or even The Deckie but Tuf Cat!  As some might remember, Tuf Cat went all of the way to Broome and back in 2011 and was a very well behaved team player but we found that she was unsuitable for the type of fishing that we were doing these days.  Tuf Cat was happiest out on the ocean off the east coast of Australia not in the extreme tidal elements of the Top End or up creeks and small rivers where we tended to fish these days.

Team Turtle had been camped at The Deckie's sister's place near Moruya for a few months and it was to here that The Captain brought Tuf Cat to give her a bit of a face lift.  This slight cosmetic surgery must have worked as it was within a few days of putting her on the market that a lovely young man from Nowra noticed her, came down to give her the once over and then handed over his hard earned cash.

Leaving In  A Cloud Of Dust

With Tuf Cat safely ensconced in her new home, it was time for Team Turtle not to wear out its welcome at its current camp spot and to leave so that it could continue on its adventures.

The plans (as such) are to head to the Top End and fish The Wet and The Run Off and for the uninitiated, this translates to Summer and Autumn.  There are also plans afoot to pick up a little bit of maintenance work along the way to ensure our trip is reasonably cost effective. 

The Turtle was once more packed up and Tuf Tinnie was winched onto the top of The Trailer.  It was to be a few more weeks before The Rav was loaded up as well as there were relatives and friends to visit before we were serious about going to points further north!

First stop was to The Captain's brother and family at Durras just a few k's north of Moruya.

Durras Lake

It was then onto the Central Coast of NSW to The Deckie's daughter's place and to The Deckie's Mum in Sydney via a stopover on the Shoalhaven River.

Warri Rest Area On The Shoalhaven River

The Deckie and Her Mum

After an enjoyable week spent at The Daughter's place, including some great grandchildren time, Team Turtle's pantry and wine cellars were restocked, The Rav was put on The Trailer and were were heading to Darwin's environs via Gilgandra, Nyngan, Bourke, Cunnamulla, Mt Isa, Tennant Creek and then up the Stuart Highway

All Packed and Raring To Go

Final Cuddles

The Deckie, The Daughter and The Grandchildren

Off at last.  Team Turtle seemed to crawl through the late morning traffic on the Central Coast.  Or was it just the anticipation of another trip?  Fortunately, it wasn't long before we were on the F3 and meandering north - never go too fast as that is not our style.