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ODESSEY EXPEDITIONS CRUISE - MITCHELL PLATEAU to BROOME. Wednesday to Sunday
Wed, 23rd June, We woke up to see one of the Paspaly Pearl farms accomodation barges moored in the same inlet as us. Off at 6-30 and cruised into Deception Bay where we went off in Homer into Butterfly Gorge where we walked along the gorge for about 1 km to a swimming hole at the end. Great area.
In Cambden Sound off Hall and Prior Points we spotted two small whales breeching in the distance. Unfortunately one of our passengers became ill and arrangements were made to airlift her out by floatplane to the Broome hospital. As it turned out it was not life threatening. Thank goodness.
After that we cruised around Raft Point and went in Homer to the beach to climb a hill to see some Wanjina art. I twisted my knee and was unable to make the climb so I went fishing in Homer instead.
In the evening we cruised around to the Sale River to moor for the night
Thurs, 24th June, We left in Homer at 7-30am up the Sale River to the end where we walked around 40 minutes up
a small fresh water creek to a beautiful small waterfall where we went for another swim.
Back to Homer and to the main river where we had lunch in the shade of a large rocky outcrop beside the river. About 3-00pm we all went fishing but only caught 3 fish in total this time.
After dinner there was 4-5 metre salt water croc swimming around the back of the boat. We must have been encroaching in its territory. We moored overnight in George Water.
Frid, 25th June, From George Water we went fishing in Homer up the Glenelg River where the fishing was great. I caught another two good sized finger marks. Again we went up another small creek to some waterfalls and rock pools for another swim.
Back to Odessey for lunch and cruise 3 ½ hours out to the Montgomery Reef where we went up the channel in Homer to see the incredible change as the reef appears to rise out of nowhere with the water flowing off the reef in cascades as the tide goes down creating whirlpools in the channel making it very rough to navigate and to see the turtles swimming around. The tide
here can vary up to 13 meters, but at this time it only varies about 6 metres. You must get there at low tide to see the best effect. We left the reef about 5-30 and headed on for about 4 hours to Turtle Bay for the night.
Sat, 26th June, We were woken up at 5-00am by a chain rattling on the side of Homer tied up at the side of the ship. As we were all up we left in Homer out to Turtle Reef where we walked out on the reef as it appeared with the low tide. There were many rock pools with crabs and clams and seaweed to look at.
Back to Odessey for a cooked breakfast and then off through Talbot Bay to the Horizontal Waterfalls.
We went off up Cyclone Creek in Homer to see all of the incredible rock formations formed millions of years ago, then we were taken through the falls several times in one of the fast commercial power boats.
Very spectacular, not to be missed. Where we were moored there is a resident 4 metre tawny nurse shark that comes up to the back of the boat
and lets you pat it. Very tame.
We took off in Homer to another waterfall and on the way we came upon a professional barramundi fisherman in one of the creeks living on his boat with his wife and two kids out in the middle of nowhere.
Up through Yampi Sound past several Chinese owned iron ore mines where they have just cut away the islands and left them bare and exposed. A real pity to spoil such an area.
On the way out through the Buccaneer Archipelago we called in at Hidden Island where we all held hands on the beach for a group photograph.
Sun, 27th June, It was quite a rough trip as we cruised through the night back to Broome into an easterly
with 2-3 metre waves all night. There were a few who didn’t sleep much at all.
However, everyone perked up when we came upon some adult whales rolling and breaching close to the boat as we went along. A sight to see. We got back to Broome around 10-00am to say our goodbyes to our fellow passengers and crew. An absolutely fantastic trip.
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Marek
non-member comment
Love that sunset photo!