It was nice to have a slower start to the day and hear the waves crashing in the distance. We cleaned our buses inside and out, and then took a rough tour around Nhulunbuy in convoy looking all shiny again. and we top soiled the campground grass, which is now red. We got plenty of smiles, waves, photos taken, as we drove around some local streets. the best wave i got so far is a commodore full of indigenous blokes, and as the approached there was an arm extended with thumbs up, out of every window in the car. it was like it spontaneously grew limbs. i couldnt get a photo, so i got chat GPT (the enemy) to draw me the scenario, just to see how badly it could stuff it up. and well the results were pretty impressive at first glance, until you zoom in on the driver and front passenger, each who have 3 arms. oh well looks like we are still safe in the art department.
We headed to the Gove yacht club and wharf and got blown away on the stroll down the floating jetty, and went to Melville Bay past the mines to check it out too. There is a large solar farm here. The Gove mine mines bauxite, and will close in 2029. Locals have told us that 1,000 jobs are to be shed in the coming year, which the community is worried about the impact on them all.
After lunch, I had a rest while Matt worked on Bridget's clutch.
Bridget decided not to want to go into gear anymore from a standing start, couldnt get forward or reverse and if i got it into reverse i couldnt get it out without turning the engine off. ended up having to adjust the clutch.
We took a stroll to the Town beach with Simon, Elise, Brenda and David, but didn't spot any crocs, just little crabs being busy scurrying around and going in and out of their homes beneath the sand. We watched the waves roll in, and clouds moving in the sky, and the rain fall in the distance over Bremer island. It was a relaxing way to spend the afternoon.
We headed home to prepare dinner, as Ian roasted a lamb on his Weber BBQ, while I roasted veggies, and Brenda cooked the greens and gravy. We watched the bats take to the sky at dusk, and took photos of the Clippers parked up together with their lights on for effect. We sat under the cloudy night sky and ate dinner together, and chatted. Another great evening and day.
