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Published: July 14th 2009
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We had a couple of days at Port Hedland, most of which were spent at our very nice caravan park at Cooke Point which was grassed, had very nice trees and a pool. By comparison, Port Hedland itself was very industrial - the solar salt flats, piles of processed salt, the longest trains we've ever seen loaded with iron ore, steelworks, big loading iron ore terminals and big ships being loaded. We'd had a good look at it but decided we'd rather relax at the caravan park while we were there.
Yesterday morning we left Port Hedland and had a long and very boring drive till we turned off for Eighty Mile Beach. We drove the 10 klms of the most corrugated red dirt road we'd ever been on till we came to the big caravan park - we'd booked but could only get an unpowered site. We set up and then walked over the sandhill to the beach. We were met with a lovely long white sandy beach and along the edge of the water were fishermen with their lines in the ocean. Not only were there dozens of fishermen but quite a few 4WD vehicles too as they're
allowed to drive on the beach. There were also piles of shells on the sand, mostly scallop shells but we came back to the motor home with our pockets full.
At wine o'clock everyone brought their drinks and sat on the sandhills to watch the setting sun - something very popular at all the beaches along the top here. We had a fun time chatting to everyone around us and taking lots of setting sun photos.
Today we left 80 Mile Beach (driving to the highway behind the grader which was smoothing out the corrugations!) and it was another long long boring drive till we came to the Roebuck Plains roadhouse and caravan park. We had tried days ago to get into a caravan park at Broome but the best we could do was have our name put down on a waiting list. So we booked into this roadhouse which is 33klms south of Broome for one night - all we could get. It's popular with road trains and is pretty full so it may be rather noisy tonight.
We had a bit of a rest and then drove into Broome to have a look around. We
called into the c.park where our name is on the waiting list and we may be able to stay from tomorrow - we'll phone first thing. We drove to Cable Beach and had a look at the beautiful beach - people swimming in the lovely blue ocean - I hope to join them tomorrow.
Then we went into Chinatown. Broome isn't famous for brooms, but it is famous for pearls and all the shops sold beautiful pearls. I went in for a drool, and also found one shop had two pearl luggers and something of a history of pearling in Broome around the back. We read all about it and had a look at more pearls in more shops. It was getting late in the afternoon so once more hit the highway to drive back to the roadhouse, passing Malcolm Douglas' crocodile farm on the way. Hopefully tomorrow night will be in a more salubrious setting. At least we now have computer reception, no TV which is very sad, no Packed to the Rafters tonight!
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