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Humpty Doo Sunday morning breakfast bowls will likely be our last game for a couple of weeks as we explore the bowling clubs in the far reaches of Western Australia. There's not really a clubhouse as such. There's a bar and a busy outdoor area. The NT-shaped trophies all hung outside. And the memorial bell. Everyone was having breakfast when we arrived. We decided to join them. $15 for brekky and bowls. Carol, Marilyn and Ronnie looked after the draw. The magpie goose is their emblem. Not sure about the pig! There's just one carpet synthetic green. They said it's bad. We'll see! It was a lovely 20°. Coolest we've been in weeks. There were 34 players so the green was full. The format was fourteen ends of Pairs for Jean. Jean played with Anne Her opponents were Grant and Helen. Grant is 10 meters from us in the caravan park. Mal was in a Triples game with Annie and Liz against John, Marilyn and Matt Our bowls got carpet dust on them. Jean ran over just in time to see Mal do a pearler. It was a bit tough. Not as bad as they made out. On end six Jean managed a shot. Jean wasn't at the end when Mal did well. She missed out on photos. Jean managed a Resting Toucher. Anne bowled with the tiniest bowls Jean has ever seen. Size 0000. They were too small for Jean to pick them up with her bowling arm. Jean thought she got shellacked. She only lost by 5. Mal won by 3. We came in for presentations. We didn't win. At bowling clubs, Jean always says when they ask what size wine she wants " Not bowling club size! ". Today she forgot. One win and one loss at Humpty Doo

We're in Darwin for a week to do the three clubs here. On Thursday we had to put the caravan in for service so we popped in to the city to visit Darwin and Nightcliff clubs. Darwin was first. It is a small but friendly-looking clubhouse. We remember when we came here on a cruise years ago. Mal bought all their stuff - even a shirt pinned up over the bar. There's a good shade area by the green - the 'Last End Bar. Much needed up here (the shade and the bar)! It seems they have The Crocs. Unsurprising that! There's a carnival on from tonight and it's peak bowls season so there are lots of caravans here. We wish we'd known that. We'd have joined them. We met Barry the caretaker. He's also been corresponding with Jean by email about the clubs in The NT. He told us there's Seniors Bowls early Friday morning. Thanks Barry! These are the shirts for the 2025 Carnival. Nice. Jean bought one. There are two plastic synthetic greens. One is under cover. Again needed. Even in the winter months! Most of the seats are In Memorium. FRIDAY We came Friday morning for Seniors Bowls. Carl and Sonya looked after the draw. We sat before the game and chatted with Kerry and Deidre from Howrah in Tassie. We'll catch up with them when we're down there. It's 2,700km since our last game at Quorn . We were hanging out! There were 58 seniors that were playing today. It's Triples under cover (thank goodness!). Us Canberrans sweated like pigs! Helen, Jean and Monika played Chris, Deidre and Elaine. Mal, Alby and Wendy We're against Wayne, Rose and Tony. First end Jean did two wild bowls then scored shot and Monika consolidated. Mal was struggling with the very wide grass. Jean had to wait until end eight to get a shot of his good bowl. Jean was bowling ok. Mal wasn't but occasionally he put in a beauty. Jean lost by 2. Mal lost by, well a lot. We came to the outdoor bar for drinks and commiserations. Beth and Alby invited us to dinner tomorrow night. New friends at Darwin! PS: We went to the pub at our caravan park - The Virginia Tavern - where we met Paul who used to be the Deputy Manager at Darwin Bowls Club.

We came to Nightcliff and Darwin on Thursday to check them out. Nightcliff had a tournament on. The clubhouse wasn't really open but we managed to get a shot of it. We were told by the players that it was a medley. Teams of four play different formats over three days. We came across Keith who we met in Kyabram in Gippsland Victoria. Long way to come for bowls! We had Jerome our cat with us. He wasn't happy being on the lead but he got lots of pats. There are a couple of nice shady places. There are two plastic synthetic greens. They were both in full swing. We loved the Nightcliff shirt but didn't buy one. Our story Nightcliff - always a day early or late to play!

Today we drove another 240km from Katherine up to Rum Jungle Bowling Club in Batchelor NT. It's a tiny little club in a shed. The sign says " Welcome to Rumble in the Jungle ". We had to get a pic. It's a tiny little clubhouse - more of a shed really. Jo and Eddie were packing up from a successful day at the local markets. Joe told us all the stories. The club has only ten members at the moment. This is the oldest bowling club in the Northern Territory and now the only grass green left up here. It needs a good mow! Jo said it will be ready for social bowls on Thursday night. Jo said she could sell us a shirt for $60. We both bought one. Beautiful Rum Jungle shirts for us!

We've driven 1,200 since our last bowling club at Alice Springs . We're finally at Katherine and came to the Katherine Country Club in the hope of a rollup. It's a golf club so there were lots of golfers around the place. It's a pretty ordinary, normal clubhouse with golf stuff everywhere. It was reconstructed in 1999 after the flood. The green was all locked up. We had to pay $5 each to unlock it for a look around and a rollup. There's one plastic synthetic green. It was 28 degrees. We haven't been used to that. The green was very, very sandy. Sand followed our bowls. Jean went first. Her bowl had sand all over it. Mal bowled consistently but heavy. Jean got two shots. Mal stepped up. His line was consistent for one shot. Jean thought she had it but Mal just pipped her. Jean did ok on her grass as well. Mal just beat her for second shot. We broke our 'no pay for rollup' rule at Katherine.

We were going to stay in Alice Springs for two nights but a long the way we were warned against it due to crime and vandalism. We came to check out Alice Springs Golf Club, our only bowling club since Port Augusta 1,230 km south. It's a golf club so not much around about bowls. 1:30 and the bar was shut. There are some good paintings of people on the wall. Golfers no doubt. They wanted to charge us $10 each for a roll-up. Forget that! Not spending any money here! But check out the view over the greens. Outside is a covered area and seating in the sun. Pride of place are the golf carts next door. It was 22°>. Warmest we've been for weeks! There's one grass green. Barry from NT Bowls said it runs very well. We didn't get a rollup but the scenery was good! No rollup at Alice Springs.

The lovely people at ETSA Bowling Club invited us to come with them to play Wednesday bowls at Quorn. It was going to be another 1,200 km - 5 days until we saw another bowling club so we jumped at the chance! It's a tiny little clubhouse. There are about fifty members here. There's a painting of the old clubhouse. Their successes are proudly displayed. They have lots of good sponsors. Sam and Sue looked after the draw. Many of the players were at ETSA. There's one old plastic synthetic green. There are permanent shades. It's such a a beautiful day. Zero wind. 13° and full sun. There were sixteen players. We played each other. Max and Jean were against Mal and Chrissy. Mal took first blood. Jean took kitty then she and Max consolidated for three shots. Jean got one close. Mal had a beautiful shot. Jean drove him out for three. Then Chrissy did a pearler and took the kitty for five. Jean and Max won by one shot. They told us at ETSA that they feed you at Quorn. They weren't wrong. Sue spun the wheel for the Jackpot. We didn't win though. We left happy with full tummies. Quorn and ETSA - we enjoyed the company.

We're on our way to Darwin. We stopped in Peterborough overnight Sunday and today we've stopped at Port Augusta and are camped at ETSA Bowling Club. We drove all the way from Broken Hill so we could participate in ETSA Jackpot Tuesday bowls. We're camped at the club. We're locked in at night. It's a cute little club house. We're told that E.T.S.A. is for Electrical Trust of South Australia. Out front is a nice, wide verandah. The stone was laid in 2021 to celebrate 50 years. The synthetic green was opened in 2009. The clubhouse was opened in 2980. Over the bar is a painting of the old clubhouse. They've had some success in competitions. A bowler (made from bowls) stands guard outside. We met Barb when we arrived on Monday. She helped us out. Kath ran the day. They were all very friendly, welcoming and talkative. Jean sat and chatted with Glenn, Cheryl and Mad Max. Max said they are naughty. There are two greens but the back one is now the Croquet green. The one remaining green is plastic synthetic. It's been quite flattened over the years. It's 2-4-2 Pairs today. Jean and Doc Played Paul and Barb. Mal played with Glenn Against Chrissy and Kath. Jean managed one in an ordinary head. Mal did a little better. Jean got shot. Doc had all the back bowls. Mal put in a beauty. Mal won by two, Jean lost by 3. We came inside for drinks and raffle paddles. Moo spun the wheel. First up Jean won some wine. We were going to drive on on Wednesday but they suggested we stay another night and go with them to play social bowls at Quorn. We might just do that1 ETSA - what a lovely game!

On our way to Darwin we've stopped in at Port Augusta Bowling Club for a quick peek. It's just a short little post today. It's an old-fashioned clubhouse we saw through the window. It has a long under cover area by the green. It's a really large green - the sign says which rinks to roll up on. We met John who was doing that. We didn't roll up because we couldn't remember if we'd locked our caravan. We had to get back. Port Augusta - quick - back to the caravan!

On our way to Northern Territory we've stopped overnight at Moree. Luckily we're here on a Wednesday and they have bowls this arvo. We came inside. It's a nice, big RSL Club. There's some bowls memorabilia. They are the Magpies. Outside is an under cover outdoor area with a little playground. We met Mick who organises Wednesdays. There were a few travellers there. We met Dave from Tea Gardens. Outside is a 1971 commemorative plaque for the old greens. There are now new synthetics. There are two new, blue, plastic synthetic greens. Like 'The Blue Lagoon at Trafalgar. Brian said they've been in about a year. They are both under cover. The metal seats are new and impressive. Scoreboards and seats are donated in memorium. The front green is the open one. Today it's three-bowl pairs. Jean and Dot Played Brian and Mal. Jean struggled with weight. She finally got shot Then Mal came in and stole it! Then he stole one from Dot. Dot said " I think I'm playing against a champion! ". Mal could do no wrong! Jean finally got shot with a Toucher then Mal put her in the ditch. It ended up 28 to six. Jean told Mal " You're walking home! ". (Across the road to the showground.) Moree - Mal's cooking dinner!

We're staying at Delungra so drove over to Inverell to visit the two clubs there. The first was the ex-servos - Inverell RSM Bowling Club. The bowling club is separate from the main club - down the side. We got a shot through the window. Barry rolled up with us. There's just one plastic synthetic green. Jean's turn. Barry was just too good for us. Jean could only manage second! Mal did his best. He was close but Barry was closer! Jean jumped up and down when she finally got herself a shot. Mal got one too! Inverell RSM - thanks for the lesson Barry!

We came to Tingha for just one night and visited it's little Bowling Club.  Actually it's The Tingha Sport and Recreation Club.  Very evident today! It's a small town - about 800 people. When we arrived the place was packed!  There was a footy game on.  Seniors Tingha vs Inverell. Most of the spectators were Indigenous which pleased us. Out the front is a shrine of Remembrance. It's a nice little clubhouse. With great murals on the wall And bowls info proudly displayed. We met Graeme who runs things.  He told us the club is no longer affiliated as they only have a few members now. Tammy is a bowler and works the bar. Tammy introduced us to Peter the ex-President. One of the spectators showed us his Tingha social club shirt. Jean got a badge for her hat. The green was opened in 1988. There's a painting out the back of the green. The Green is pretty good for a tiny little club. It's the Selby Dean Green. With sturdy permanent shades. Mal rolled up  Jean thought she had shot but Mal pipped her. Then Jean  had her go. She was surprised she managed three. Mal was not to be outdone! Jean finished with a Resting Toucher!  One of the guys told us Tingha had the footy wrapped up. 25 to 10. Tingha - great for footy and bowls!