Getting Away

[kevb]

Got home from work Friday afternoon and felt the urge to get away, grabbed the camping gear( always packed) hit the airstrip and was away. Flew down to Pine Creek, approx 90nm South of Darwin, camped the night and spent the day fossicking around some creek beds with the metal detector, found a total of 8 rusty beer cans and bugger all else but the scenery was pretty good and I didn't see another soul apart from one tourist that called in after seeing the Foxbat. The flight home was fantastic although the smoke from the many fires that we have this time of year cut visibility back quite a bit. Here's a couple of pics.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Geoff_H]

Half your luck. It looks great. Was that way a few times when I had the Mooney. Love the NT, particularly at this time of year.

 

 

[facthunter]

Yes ... Pity about the smoke. Same in Victoria with the burning off. Nev

 

 

[farri]

Goodonya Kev! Pity about the rusty cans, don`t give up though, the Gold is there, just waiting to found.

 

Frank.

 

 

[kevb]

Thanks Frank,

 

That gold is pretty elusive, I reckon that the trip to and from is the real lure that keeps me keen. The Drifter is still down for maintenance, however,I've had news that the part I need isn't far off.

 

The Foxbat is pretty good, but it's the Drifter that I really love doing these trips in. Makes it a hell of a lot of fun, amazing how much stuff you can strap onto one. Can't wait to get it back into the air.

 

 

[bexrbetter]

Awesome, well done, what Rec Flying should be about.

 

 

[farri]

North Shore....1.5 NM east of my main strip....2.5 NM long....unpopulated.

 

 

 

Frank.

 

 

[scre80]

Wish we could do that in Adelaide!!!! Would love to know if there is any private strips along the Murray we could use for this sort of thing. Was there a landing strip at Pine Creek?

 

 

[kevb]

hi scre80,

 

No strip at Pine Creek as such, most of the strips that we use for this type of getaway are old WW2 strips that are dotted throughout the area. Mac Donalds is the strip that I camped at on the weekend and it is around 10nm to the North of Pine Creek. It wasn't used much through the war as water was an issue, however there are a few small creeks around the area that hold water for a couple of months after the wet. The area that I took photos of is a waterhole that is used as a swimming hole by a few of the members of the Top End Flying Club that take the families out for a camping trip after the first rains. The strip is in pretty good condition considering that it is not maintained as such and the asphalt still covers the bulk of the strip. I've got next week off work and am planning a three day trip to see a few more of the strips in the area and do a little fossicking and fishing as I go. Gotta make the most of it up here this time of year, the camping is pretty good.

 

Kev.