Darwin Part 4: Fishing in the Romp

“Come to Darwin… It’s man’s country… We got big f’off crocs mate.  These ain’t no Florida gators… These are rabid dogs… 4-5 meters mate. You’ll see like 30 to 50 in the first hour.”

-Sean

Remember Sean?  The punk rock lad from the Brissy train station headed to somewhere for a three day wedding bender and shenanigans?  Yeah, I made the call, and he showed up.  He had made good on his word about taking me to the Adelaide River.  And here’s how that adventure went…

Random Petrol Station Darwin, AU 2019

White truck pulls up and already humidity is making my tuxedo romper stick to places that I’d rather not say.  He takes me to his house and honestly it always takes me back a bit… Neighborhoods, houses, flats, etc… In foreign countries.  For me they are all the same as the ones in the States but different in their own unique ways but also the same in so many others.  Toilets with less water in the bowl, frosted glass hotel styled showers, kitchens with big vents over the range/stove, and in Australia refrigerators have an alarm if you keep them open to long.  Sean’s was not much different but also the same.  His garage stored a sizable boat.  This thing ain’t no dingy.  You really don’t want a dingy on the Adelaide with crocs.  They will knock you in and now you’re done.  

1m machete for bamboo & 1m "be-good-stick" for Crocs 2019

He had most supplies packed and ready.  I’m not a fisherman and couldn’t go through the gear list.  But I did notice the 1 meter be-good-stick and a huge machete.  Turns out you cannot shoot crocs even if they attack you in the Norther Territory – protected species by the Government and such.  Dang cause Sean had a proper rifle, and I lost enough weight down under and need a new leather belt… maybe some
boots but no fur.

The boat was hitched to the truck, and we were off.  Left side road driving. It was great chatting and gassing it up all the way about past adventures and current actions.  We stopped at some roadside pit stop for petrol and burgers for breakfast.  Cause why not?  

Random Petrol Station Darwin, AU 2019

Munching on a double patty with bacon and beat root on the bottom nothing could bring me down.  Not even the burly guy that looked like Saint Nick’s trice convicted felon fresh from some jailhouse in the middle of the Outback.  This unit of a dude had come over not to intimidate but to ask what’s with the romper.  Never judge a book by their cover folks because he was nice and polite with a genuine smile.  I talked about life in the romp down under style. Despite the many misadventures along the way, this is one adventure that didn’t misfire at all.  The large rugby sized lad just gave a quick smiled “Oh yeah, I didn’t know” and went on with his day.  Wish I had gotten a picture with him, but then again, best not to push my luck before I even set sail on the croc infested Adelaide River. 

Well… mostly.  After passing semi trucks hauling four to five trailers behind them, we made it to the launch area for the boat on the Adelaide.  One thing missing. 

Where in the bloody hell were all the crocs?!

Sean on the Adelaide River 2019

For the next 4 hours we cruised the Lilly blooms of the Adelaide River catching f’all.  Not even one jerk on the line.  And almost zero visible crocs until when we’re all done for the day and headed back to the truck.  Sean turned on the sonar, found a large one, slowed down the boat, and then began hitting the side of the hull to bait on to come close.  For me… I sat in the middle of the boat.  Not out of fear, but common sense.  I wasn’t about to temp the fates on this one.  Already saw one up close anyway. Plus 4 hours in 35C weather on a boat soaked in your own sweat wearing a romper... Yeah not the smartest idea wearing that thing, and at this point it had seen better days.  But do not think I did not enjoy the nature or time spent.  Worth everything to do even after we caught nothing.

View on the Adelaide River Darwin, AU 2019

Adelaide River 2019

Time to drive a boat up the the ramp to the haul thing that hitched to the truck.  All technical terms, folks.  I think it was the second time ever driving a boat and never done this maneuver before.  Luckily nothing bad happened.  And soon enough we were off back to dropping me off at The Jungle.

It was dusk once I was back and all in one piece too.  No close calls, no emotional damage, and I didn’t fall off anything high up.  Though on the foot path back to the house I can neither confirm or in full honesty deny a legendary brown snake slithered and passed right in front of me.  We were both headed in our own directions, I guess.  

A few days later Sean and his wife came by and took me to the Darwin airport.  He gave me a punk rock album from the band Rust he roadies for.  I still have it somewhere. 

Wheels up and headed back to the States.  Sooner than I’d have liked and feeing like an absolute failure in what I set out to do.

No matter, that’s life.   Aloha folks, Hawaii here I come!

Dustin Jay Casey 2025©