10th-11th Oct - Broome Broome

 Monday we put the car in to get fixed, it will take two weeks.  Lucky we have the motorbike and our pushies and Broome is not so big, we are not stranded.   Monday night we try the rock n roll dance classes again and this time the teachers are a show.  Turns out last week they were out rescuing some friends who had sunk their boat, took 2 days to retrieve.  It's only a small class, the teachers, us and two other women, but we learn a new dance sequence, rock n roll switch and a couple new moves.  Work up a real sweat!

 When in Broome with a couple of weeks to kill, go exploring!   We jump on the Suzi and take a ride over to Cable Beach to find the 4 metre hand carved crystal Buddha, set amidst an ornamental garden with meditation deck.  We didn't do any meditating, just a look.  Mel was a bit perplexed that it wasn't a fat happy budha rubbing his tummy.    We contemplate a swim at Cable Beach, I just took one look at the surf and nah, let's go over to Gantheaume Point to have a look at the blow holes, now the tide is higher.

 My Darl has a way of putting his Ling's heart in her mouth, as he rode up to the cliff edge and then set off, hopping over the cliffs around the edge of the blow hole for a snap.   You'd think I would be used to it by now.   Then he climbed down the blow hole, lucky the tide was not as high as we were expecting.

 No blows in the holes, but we caught this blow on the edge of the blow holes......

 We went back over to the site of the dinosaur tracks in search of Anastasia's Pool, a small pool carved in the rocks for a former lighthouse keeper's arthritic wife.   Over the edge of that cliff is where the dinosaur prints are, accessible only at low tide.    The coast line around here looks very different at high tide, a lot nicer we think.

Big Boabs (nuts) Darl!   Yep we got sucked in again, actually we think we got a bargain, these cost $80 in total.  You would probably only get one for $90 in the shops of this size and not as nice detail.   Old mates come around to the camp selling the bigger one, the smaller one we got from Wyndham.   The neighbours retreated to their tent, the old mates walked passed their tent, next thing the neighbours come out now missing a packet of cigarettes, you gotta be quick.

6th to 9th Oct - Broome

 Check this out girls!   This is the World's Largest Fine Quality Round Pearl, grown at Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm.  It is 22.24mm diameter and 15.75 grams.  Apparently it is the real deal as the owners took it on a trip around the world to verify it was actually the largest of it's kind.  It is priceless - asked about the security when travelling - no problems they just packed in their luggage.  You gotta wonder?

 These few days we have just been taking it easy in Broome, not doing too much.  We did get out to the RSL on Friday night, 2kms from camp, we rode the treddlies down, in the dark, no street lights, just my Darl's torch cutting the way.  They had a band on, playing 70's/80's and we got game and had a few dances.    The other patrons actually clapped and cheered us off, I think they had had a few drinks.  We haven't really danced since leaving home, so we are a bit rusty. 

 One arvo, we went over to Cable Beach to check the sunset over the Indian Ocean.  I merrily snapped away.   We went for a stroll down the beach and come across a number of 4WD's set up with the table, chairs, drinks etc., to watch the sunset.   We also found the camels!   There were 3 groups, the red, the blue and the ugly (nah it was yellow actually).  I've done the camel thing before up the Todd River in Alice, but my Darl is not keen, reckons they are horrible, spit and hiss at you.....that one is off the list.

My Darl is frequenting our "local" (Beer and Satay Hut) a little this week-end watching the V8's battle it out at Bathurst.  I continue to be amazed at the little hermit crabs, the beach is crawling with them.   The local has Crab races every Sunday night, so we venture down for a dabble and look.  8 crabs per race $2 per ticket, they draw 8 numbers out and if you lucky get a crab in the race.   They have 1st and 2nd prizes from $45 to $90 and all money raised goes to local charities. It draws a bit of a crowd.

3rd-5th Oct Broome - Derby

Monday night we were excited to be going to Rock 'n roll class/dance at one of the resort hotels.  We got there a bit before start time, checked at reception for the correct venue only to be told that the teachers rang to call it off as they were stuck in Derby!   Well we tried... We had a good look around Chinatown again, here is a diver statue erected of course in recognition of all the divers lost their lives during the diving era. 

Here's my Darl if you can see him at the end of the jetty, this is the restored Streeter's Jetty, the original jetty where the pearl luggers tied up.  This particular day at this spot we were right in the path of the planes landing at the airport.  A thing about Broome it is a compact little town, the prison is right in the middle of town (we believe it is booked out) and the airport is not much further out.  We think about going to Malcolm Douglas croc and wilderness park but will give it a miss as we went to Crocodilus in Darwin.

As we did the b line to Broome to do the falls tour, we by passed Derby so decide to do an overnighter camping out in the tent.  Half way there Darl informs me he forgot to pack the tent......bugger!    A few people have said don't bother to go Derby, but we figure we had planned on doing it, so gotta go see for ourselves.  Derby is a small town of about 5000 people.  The main attractions there are the Jetty - this port has the highest tidal range in Australia and the 2nd highest in the southern hemisphere - and it is

a gateway for Buccaneer Achipelago, Horizontal Falls tours and the Gibb River Road.  We had a look at the Boab Goal, which housed aboriginal prisoners in transit to Derby way back when.  This boab must be a thousand or more years old.  The sign said caution do not enter, snakes and spiders live in this tree.   Don't have to tell me twice.   The boab tree lined street, we had a drink at the Boab Inn after fish and chips on the jetty.

Here it is our little camp for the night at the Kimberley Entrance Caravan Park.  I thought they would have charged less cause we had no tent but no same rate applies.  At least we had a shady tree, no flying foxes.  It was quite windy so that kept the mozzies at bay, but we could have done with a doona or sleeping bag, it got a bit cool overnight.   We comtemplate a trip out to Windjana Gorge and Tunnel Creek and knowing it is a dirt road, decide to give it a look.

100kms later we decide to give it a miss, we did about 90km on the Gibb River road on bitumen, then we hit the dirt!  Probably did about 10kms or so before deciding it is not worth putting the car or us through this again, so we do an about face and head on back to our chateau by the beach in Broome.   We paid a visit to the Mowanjum Art and Culture Centre on the Gibb River Road.  A nice new centre and as with Broome we notice new housing estates being built and also new buildings (Info centre) around the towns. 

2nd Oct - Broome

Our chateau looking up from the beach, we really do like it here and it's great to be staying a while.  We sit out front and be entertained by the goings on in the bay and instead of watching the cows come home, we watch the tide rise and fall.  The hover craft goes by a few times a day, it's a tour thing, there's no sneaking up on you in that, it hammers.  

We had another earlyish start to the day to head over to Gantheaume Point to go in search of dinasour tracks.  These can only be seen at low tide also, but it's not an hours walk.  It's just a rocky climb down and across the rocks to where the prints lay.    Look at that sky, another beautiful day, we know it's probably coming one day but so far we have not had one day of rain, fantastic!  

We found the 3 sites where the tracks lay, actually we got an 8 year old boy to show us where they were, it would've been a task otherwise, they kind of blend in fairly well.   There were only a couple cars in the carpark when we got there, when we left the carpark full, so it does attract quite a few people.    The footprints are over 120 million years old.  

This is the lighthouse at Gantheaume Point.  The light house keeper must have the best location in Broome, on the point, no neighbours (just a steady stream of tourists walking by).  There is a huge Osprey nest just under the lighthouse deck, we can hear the chicks and the mum and dad are flying about bringing back the catch to feed them. 

We went for a bit of a walk down the left side from the light house, along the cliffs heading to Reddell Beach and come across a series of blow holes.   We plan on coming back when the tide is higher to see these in action.      Back to camp to vege out, go for a swim, vege out some more and happy hour!

1st Oct - Broome

Up at sparrow fart again, to walk out from our camp spot to view the Catalina Flying Boat Wrecks.  These are the original wrecks that were bombed by the Japanese Navy Aircraft in March 1942.  They can only be viewed at low tides lkess than 0.86m and these are in Roebuck Bay straight out from our camp. It's takes 1 hour to walk out there, that's the exercise for the day.

There are three wreck sites, above is the main one, with two other smaller sites. As you can see there is not too much left now after all these years.    My Darl standing at the propellor one. 

The walk out was interesting in itself, we come across all forms of little sea creatures in the shallows, this little fellow you can just see his tracks, was scurrying across the sand.    After brekky we went to the Courthouse markets, very nice, lots of local craft, clothes stalls.    Pearls, boabs and dragonflies feature.   It's AFL Grand Final day today, so we head down to the local Beer and Satay hut to watch the game.   Darl happy as he is backing Geelong and enjoys giving the local Collingwood supporters some stick.

One arvo we went for a walk just around the corner of our bay, heading out to the port.  I was amazed at all the little and some big hermit crabs crawling over the sand.  On a closer look, the sand is just full of crab tracks, you can even hear them between the rocks.   Darl not so amazed as he has seen before.  On our walk we pass a group of locals enjoying a kangaroo tail barby on the beach.  Friendly enough though, had a bit of a chat in passing.

30th Sept - Broome

As per usual my Darl is making all the friends.  Though we are keeping the seagulls at arms length.  We're enjoying kicking back, relaxing by the water.   We wander down for a swim on high tide every day.    We've seen turtles swim by our front door!   Though the neighbours did say they saw a huge white sea snake swim by one day and we think the rangers were out croc spotting in the mangroves the other day.

Broome jetty, they get a lot of cruise vessels.  There is navy ships, cruisers, tugs, yachts all sorts in the bay.  The weather is great, fine, breezy and not too hot.   We've had a look at Chinatown this is where all the Pearl shops are.   We had a look at Luggers Pearl shop and museum.  All very interesting.   

Pearls pearls everywhere, shops, markets, souvenir shops. My Darl had a go at a diver's helmet, get a feel for that diver thing. I had a go but my head didn't fit!!                                       We went for a drive over to Cable Beach, yep this is where all the tourists are, umbrellas, sunbeds, surfs up, just like the Gold Coast.   We go for a bit of a dip in the Indian Ocean and after a few dumpings hanging onto Darl, I didn't know whether to hang on to my cozzie or hang on to the sunnies.........I lost the sunnies, saved the cozzie!   I come to conclusion I don't like the surf, much prefer the calmness of our little bay.

29th Sept - Horizontal Falls

                                                                                                                                                             . Yep up at sparrow fart to be collected at 5.40am to meet the Caravan (float plane) at the airport. Funny it's a sea plane but we are taking off from land. We travel north east over King Sound and the ranges of the west Kimberleys to land at the pontoon in Talbot Bay. Another hazy day so the viewing not so good on the trip out.     

                                                                                                                                                         There is two bodies of water (lakes) which rise and fall with the tidal flows. The waterfalls occur as the tides recede. The Bay is absolutely beautiful and the view of the horizontal waterfalls spectacular.  

We land at the pontoon in Talbot Bay, the base for the high speed boat tour of the falls.  Well set up with a croc/shark cage for swims.  They throw life jackets on us and off we go through the first of the falls and up to the 2nd, by this time my heart is racing and I am shakin' but thoroughly enjoying and Darl was pumped.  At this stage we are sitting in the "waterfall" looking at a 2 metre wall of water.  Adrian (the driver) tells us we are not going through now, as it is far too dangerous - I breathe a sigh of relief.

Happy Birthday Darl!    Though he is a little deflated at not taking the 2 metre water fall, he is not too sad.    We go back to the pontoon for a break, swim, breakfast.

One of the lads feeds their pets, they have 20 odd sharks in the bay which they feed from time to time.  Three sharks come up to have a chew on the fish carcass and of course before too long my Darl is having a go.   Happy to report he kept all his fingers.  One of the workers not so lucky couple weeks ago.  Shark took hold of a couple of fingers and gave them a good shake, several hours of micro surgery later, he does still have his fingers, but one is still numb.....

After a full breakfast (cereal, bacon, eggs) we take a more sedate cruise down through Cyclone Creek where 3 of the staff live in this shed/shack.  They actually rode out a Category 3 cyclone here earlier this year, to the sounds of AC/DC Thunderstruck, not by choice and happily reported only losing a couple sheets iron.  Adrian has worked here for 7 years and has an array of marine life as his "pets".

He took us for a feeding of the moon fish.  It was a feeding frenzy then he plucks one out of the water for a feed and a pat!   Adrian says gotta keep an eye out for crocs/sharks when feeding the fish, once a hammerhead come out of the blue and snapped a moon fish in half.  From here it was back to go through the falls aat high speed and what an awesome ride, I would have to say it was even better than the Shot Over jet boat ride we did in NZ.

Darl gets a real treat and sits besides the pilot on the 1 1/2 hour flight back to Broome over the Buccaneer Archipelago islands and Cape Leveque, then along the coast line.   He has a good ol chat to the pilot along the way.

View of Cape Leveque.    We are back by lunch time, so as it's Darl's birthday I take him for a bit of sight seeing around Broome and a couple clensers. At one bar we stumbled across (Roey) they had the lingerie barmaids happenin'.  Bonus for him.   We were looking for a place to have a steak, not sure where to go we decide to try the Beer and Satay Hut, apparently famous in it's day, but they don't do satays there now.  It's only about 20 metres from the van park we are staying, bit run down, obviously a local workers pub, still smoking at the bar!   But the steaks were great.