Broome to Alice Springs 2013

Hi every one,

This addition of our blog for September is a little slow in coming but here we go.

We left Broome on the 8th September and went west. We stayed to see the Dragon Boat Races that we missed last year.

Great Rig, friends in the park near us with a Cheve & Cruiser 5th wheeler

On Father's day we went with Sig and Bianka to Town Beach Cafe for lunch, lunch was good, after lunch we went onto Matso's for a drink in the garden.

Town Beach at low tide on Father's Day

Young White Belly Sea Eagle

This sea eagle kept coming round for a few days looking for afternoon tea. I could not get any closer.
So on the Saturday 7th we went to Town Beach for the Dragon Boat Races. We took a picnic lunch and decided that our gazebo would be good shade so off went Ian to retrive it from the truck. There were just four boats but many crews, with drums banging off they went out into the bay to the white cruiser,

The rescue boat for the Dragon Boat Races

Crew paddling in one of the Dragon Boats

Ian, Bianka & Sig enjoying the shade at the Dragon Boat Races

Dragon Boats returning after a race, Sig taking photo

Oop's 

This is what happens when the crew didn't get the timing quite right, in they went. This kept happening to the boats, just so funny one minute all upright next in the water, the boats had to be towed back to shore for the next race.

Boab Tree rest area

On Sunday we left Broome, our first stop was for lunch at the Boab Tree rest area, this is one huge and old tree, a very hot drive followed to Fitzroy Crossing for the night. Next day still heading west we decided to stop at another free camp for the night. We meet Sig and Bianka at this camp quite buy surprise, had a great night with them.

Free camp, our rig and Sig's

The creek at the free camp which was on Springvale Station, the cattle look real good.

Some wild life at free camp. Lovely piece of beef

We arrived at Kununnara and spent a few days then moved on toward Darwin. We had an over night at Victoria River Roadhouse and had the best fish and chips (2 Barramundi fillets) grilled. We stayed in Katherine overnight and then up to Darwin to see my cousin and Russell (my brother in law) after a week there we turned south and headed away as fast as we could, the weather was getting very humid (70 and 80%). Over night in Katherine again and swimming in the pool again. Mataranka Homestead was our next stop for a swim in the thermal pools there, the wild life was great.

Wallaby at Mataranka

One of the Lyrebird's at Mataranka

From Mataraka we overnight in Renner Springs and 2 night in Tennent Creek then Alice Springs for a week.  We were to stay for a week and visit a couple of places that we have missed on previous visits. But I will tell you more about that in the next instalment of our blog.

Sunday Pancake Breakfast at MacDonnell Ranges CP

Ian getting our pancakes

Sunday breakfast at the caravan park is great as you meet different people doing the same as you are. Anyway it by for now, love Marilyn and Ian

Broome - July, August

Hi everyone,

This is the last two months of our stay in Broome. We drank a lot of coffee, went bike riding to the markets on Saturday's, had Fish and Chips at sunset on Cable Beach with Sig and Bianka.

July 4th winners

In July we went to a 4th July party on the Gantheaume Point beach, our 4th of July party had a Australian feel to it. The Vegemite Jar, Lamimgton and Rubbish bag won the night.  This party was organised by some of the people that come every year to the park.

Sunset on Cable Beach

Also in July we went with Bianka and Sig to Cape Leveque for two nights. The first 100 km's is corrugated the next 100 is bitumen and the last little bit into Kooljaman is sandy. Bianka and Sig had a Dome Safari tent with deck, we had our tent, we went swimming after lunch on the first day, next day we went to One Arm Point to see the Ardyaloon Trochus Hatchery. This turned out to be very interesting looking at the different fish in the tanks. We had a guy show us how he polishes the Trochus Shell, he has been doing this for a long time and was very expert at it. From there we went to look at the beach and onto Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm for coffee and cake and a look at the Pearl showroom. When we returned to Kooljaman it was decided that we would have our happy hour and dinner over at the restaurant with a beautiful sunset and pizza.

Blue ringed Octopus

Polishing the Trochus Shell at Ardyaloon

Looking East from One Arm Point across King Sound

Driving back the next day we stopped at Lombadina to see the bush church and craft gallery. We were very lucky as the store still had two loaves of the best bread for our lunch. After looking round and sitting under the trees and eating the fresh bread with butter and jam we headed to the beach. Crystal clear blue water and white sand. We had to drive over the sand dunes to get to it but it was worth it, we went walking in the water, collecting shells it was a little windy with sand blowing round but just fantastic. From there we headed to Beagle Bay and a look at the church there with ice creams from the store for afternoon tea. Dinner was had at the Cable Beach General Store.

Bush Church at Lombadina

Fresh bread and jam from the Bakery at Lombadina

The beach at Lombadina, our cars in the background

My sandals and sand imprint

Blue Soldier Crabs

Ian and I go out for coffee a bit, this is what we like to do so one day we went to Town Beach. We also have had drinks at Matso's a few times.

Cafe at Town Beach

Again on the 29th July we had a Christmas in July, closed of part of the street, setup tables and had a great party, with presents and lots of fun.

Christmas in July at caravan park

In August the 4 of us went to the Malcolm Douglas Crocodile park for the afternoon and a feeding tour of the crocodiles. We enjoyed the afternoon and had a big purchased of a new croc tooth for Ian's hat band. The birds were beautiful but hard to get photos through the wire.  

Torresian Imperial Pigeon

Alligators at Malcolm Douglas Crocodile Park

Salt Water Crocodile

Saltie jumping for a chicken

We had many sunsets on Cable Beach with interesting happenings on the water, this yacht was parked out in the bay for many weeks.

Very fancy yacht at Cable Beach

Fish and Chips with Sig and Bianka

Sunset with the camels

Ian at Streeters Jetty Broome

One Sunday Ian and I went into town to see the Streeters Jetty which was the pearling industries main point for unloading shell and transporting on the rail track which ran on the jetty in the 1900's. Ian did a bit of work on the van like washing it, but he fell off the ladder whilst polishing the side, didn't hurt himself to much that goodness, a bit of a worry though as I was on the phone to Vic Ambulance cancelling of membership at the time. He also built a work bench for working in. Cute with the little vise. Some longtime permanent tenants of the park moved out after a difference of option with Ron over planting trees. It took a week to pack up all the stuff and a prim mover to move the old bus, it could not drive out at all.

Ian's workbench with VISE

Tenant's moving house from the park

Fish and Chips again, must be a Friday

Ian trying to move a mountain

Barnaby Kite

We went down to Town Beach to look for a good spot to photo the Staircase to the Moon and this beautiful Barnaby Kite flew over us. We didn't get to the Staircase as the hot water service leaked again so Ian had to fix it, third time this trip that the hot water service has leaked of need a new element.

The other side of Town Beach with Mangroves

Just a perfect sunset

This Friday night was very smokey as there were fires up at Kooljaman Resort so the colours of the sun and clouds were unusual.

More sunset and Camels, colour on the sun is result of smoke

More Camels

Ian made up a sun shade from a tarp and tent poles so that we could go to the beach swimming with out me getting to burnt.

Me under the sunshade that Ian made for me

Broome Court House

On our last August sunset on Cable Beach the cars from the Variety Club Base. It was a busy night as a film crew that had been in the caravan park were also on the beach with guys running into the surf and jumping round like they were enjoying themselves.

Variety Club Base car on Cable Beach

Movie making on Cable Beach

Sun Setting in the West on another perfect day

So this is the end of August and I will update you all with more of our adventures in Broome and beyond soon. Love to all, see you in Darwin in September.

Marilyn and Ian

On the road to Broome

Hi to everyone,

In May we traveled up the scenic coast road to Cervantes to see the Pinnacles National Park. We stayed 2 nights at Cervantes, visited the seafood factory and purchased a cray for tea. Went driving to see Lake Thetis and the Stromatolites that are around 3.6 billion years old and are living organisms, no waves to spoil the smooth water. These one seemed a little different from the one at Shark Bay, but still very interesting. Then onto The Pinnacles, just the weirdest place. These are limestone pillars up to four meters high and odd shapes.

Stromatolites in Lake Thetis at Cervantes

The Pinnacles

 From Cervantes we moved onto Geraldton, we passed the leaning tree again so stopped for a photo op.  Just showes the force of the winds on this coast, this tree is one among many. In Geraldton we stopped only the one night to get fuel & supplies. Next day we were on our way to Shark Bay and stayed at Hamelin Station again.

The leaning tree near Geraldton

Ian letting down the tyres on the Steep Point track

 We had decided to do a day drive to Steep Point, the most westerly point of the Australian mainland. We set off early as it was a 100 km drive one way with 90 km's of gravel & sand. We drove through 2 stations and the National Park, had to put the tyres downs to 20 psi for the last 20 km which was over sand duns and a one way track. We got to 10 km's from the point when we turned around as it was just getting too rough. Next morning we moved on to Carnarvon, were to stayed 3 nights but rain was coming and we wanted to beat it to Carnarvon.

Sand Hills on the Steep Point track

The Steep Point track, deep sand and corrugations

 In Carnarvon it did rain and blow, we stayed 2 nights as the weather was very rough. Visited the OTC dish at the Space Museum that is now open. Really interesting hour looking at the displays.

OTC dish at Carnarvon space museum

From Carnarvon we headed to Quobba Point, we stayed at the station stay, (never again) the last 10 km in was so rough the cupboards got messed up the coffee machine walked across the floor & the grinder that sits on the bench in a corner moved over foot from where it started. The free camp area was stuffed full with vans and people. We had a nice drive along this part of the coast to see the blow holes and rock ledges and a lighthouse.

Rock ledges at Quobba Point

Lighthouse at Quobba Point

 From Quobba our next stop was Port Hedland, the tours were on the days that we were not in town or didn't start till June, the museum was closed for 3 days to stock take. Not the place I would want to stay too long.

Night view of Port Hedland

 From Port Hedland we continue on our way, stopping at a free camp 100 km's out of Broome. We arrived in Broome on the 17 May.

Camels on Cable Beach

Sig, Bianka & Marilyn enjoying sunset on Cable Beach

Intombi Pearling Lugger at sun set on Cable Beach 

Produce of Maz's Coffee Bar

View from our van

P&O Dawn cruise ship in port

Medical transport, Hercules, Ambulance and Airport fire truck

Staircase to the Moon

As you can see we have been enjoying our selves with visits to Cable Beach for sunsets,  Fish & Chips on Fridays, looking at some of the more interesting aircraft at the airport and wharf. Having dinner at the Monsoon Hotel for the Staircase to the Moon.

Bye for now will be in touch with the next edition of the blog. Keep well.

Marilyn and Ian