Travelblog 8 - Broome

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Day 43 Broome 11/08/06

We awoke at around 7.00am and got up around 7.30am. We had a leisurely breakfast and got the domestics done. Christos rocked up at about 9.30am and we had a cuppa or two catching up and discussing the tourist attractions worth visiting in and around Broome. Christos headed off around 11.45am and we drove into Broome to have a look around Chinatown and the numerous pearl shops. Whilst in town we had lunch and bought some groceries that we needed. We arrived back at the Caravan Park at around 3.00pm and walked straight down to Cable Beach for a swim. We returned to the park at around 4.30pm, so we could have an early dinner, before driving to the Town Beach to witness ‘The Stairway to the Moon’ over Roebuck Bay mudflats and then checkout the Town Beach Markets.

I attempted to cook our early dinner on one of the ‘pay BBQ’s’ in the park, but after wasting several dollar coins, there was only one small spot on the plate that was above ambient temperature! So I returned to our trailer and cooked tea on our trailer stove. We were a little later leaving for Town Beach, than originally planned, but arrived at around 6.50pm. As there were cars everywhere, I parked the car outside Roebuck Bay Caravan Park and we walked through this caravan park onto the beach and then along to the Town Beach Markets. As the moon was starting to illuminate the horizon, we made our way down onto the groin that extends out beside the boat ramp. From here, with hundreds of others, we witnessed the phenomenon of ‘The Stairway to the Moon’ which was fantastic. Unfortunately, the digital camera doesn’t replicate the visions we saw as clearly as they actually were, but we still have some good photos. After the moon had risen well above the horizon, we walked back into the markets and enjoyed looking at the numerous stalls. We purchased ice creams and mango smoothies from one of the stalls which were very nice. At about 8.15pm, we walked back to the car and drove back to park for an early night, as we had planned a very early rise for tomorrow.

Day 44 Broome 12/08/06

Leanne’s phone alarm clock went off at 5.30am and we quietly and quickly got out of bed and dressed. We jumped in the car and drove down to Town Beach, arriving at about 5.50am. As it was a negative tide and low tide was due at 6.40am, we started walking out on the sand and then mud flats, looking for the shadows of the Flying Boat Wrecks on the horizon. We were the first out on the mud flats and as we really had no idea where the wrecks were, we were traveling blind! These planes, flying boats, were bombed by the Japanese in World War 2 and the remains of some of the wrecks are only visible when negative tides occur and this is not all that often. As we walked out through the cold, wet sand and mud flats, the day became lighter as the sun rose and eventually we saw, what we thought were shadows of the wrecks. The tides retreat at about walking pace and by the time we reached the first wreck we had spotted, we weren’t far behind the tide. After taking some photos, we walked across to two other wreck sites, one of which was the biggest of the three. By the time we reached the second site, other people had also caught up with us. Being able to see the remains of these flying boats was an awesome experience and to think there is another thirteen or so buried beneath the shifting mud is even harder to comprehend. We were told that in recent times researchers have used the latest technology to pinpoint and confirm the location of the other wrecks, totally buried, and that they are still intact and no where near as corroded as the one’s that we saw, because they haven’t been exposed to the air. After checking out the third site and a few other scattered pieces, we started the walk back to the beach, well ahead of the incoming tide.

From Town Beach, we drove back into Broome to the Court House Markets hoping to get breakfast. As the food stalls were only starting to open and not yet serving, we decided to walk into McDonalds and give the boys a treat for breakfast. After breakfast, we returned to the markets and checked out the stalls. We bought some fresh veggies and fruit and Daniel bought a ‘Flute Stone’ which comes with instructions and music. I hope Daniel can learn to play this instrument, as it really sounded great when played by the guy selling them. We then drove back to the Caravan Park for a swim in the pool and lunch. After lunch we walked down onto Cable Beach for another swim and stayed for several hours, before returning to the park for dinner. Once dinner was eaten, we walked down the nearest shops, about a kilometer or so, and bought the boys an ice cream for desert. On return, it was bed for all after another long, but enjoyable day!

Day 45 Broome 13/08/06

We awoke at around 7.00am and had breakfast. We got the boys to do some diary work before we drove into Broome for Sunday Mass at the Broome Cathedral. Although it is a nice church, it’s not anything as grandiose as St Patrick’s in Melbourne or the like. The service was said by the local Bishop. After church we checked out the Broome Historical Museum and the Port of Broome. From here we returned to camp, via The Boulevard Shopping Complex, where we bought some supplies. Whilst shopping we bumped into Peter Mc McCarthy, who was in Broome for work.

Once back at camp we got ourselves ready for a cruise on Christos’s boat. Chris runs a fishing charter business called ‘Billfish Charters’ and taking clients out Game Fishing. Unfortunately for him and fortunately for us, the current tidal changes play havoc with fishing, so he has this week off. As we had arranged to meet him at Gantheaume Point Beach at 2.00pm, we departed camp at about 1.35pm and drove down to the beach. As we walked onto the beach, amongst all the people, vehicles and craft, I spotted Christos in his tender dingy, ‘Coke’. We all jumped aboard and motored out to ‘Billistic’, his latest boat. Once on board, after a safety drill, we motored round to the Broome Port to refuel the boat. I helped with the refueling as it’s a little awkward for one person to do given the size of the pier and the water movement! Once we had taken on 400 odd litres of diesel, we set off and dropped a couple of lures in, trawling hopefully for some spanish mackerel. Both William and Daniel climbed up onto the fly bridge and sat up there enjoying the scenery and the movement of the boat. We trawled across the front of Cable Beach but, unfortunately nothing was biting. The number of vehicles along the Northern end of Cable Beach was staggering! Having had no luck, we reeled in the lines and headed back to the mooring at Gantheaume Point. Once tied up, we motored back to the beach, in the tender, where we were met by Liz who had come down to meet us with some nibblies and drinks. With the dingy on the trailer, we sat back and enjoyed an awesome red sunset, enhanced by the smokey skies (lots of scrub fires burning in the surrounding districts). After sunset, we walked back to our car and drove back to our caravan park for dinner. As it had been another long enjoyable day, we were in the van and bed by around 9.00pm.

Day 46 Broome 14/08/06

We awoke at around 6.20am and decided we should do a walk along Cable Beach to start the day. We left the park at around 6.40am, returning at around 7.45am after an enjoyable walk. We had breakfast and got some domestics done, while the boys did some diary work. I had intended to publish our seventh blog, but because of a few technical issues with the park Internet System, I ran out of time. We left the park and headed to Christos’s for a cuppa at around 9.10am. While Christos, Leanne and I sat and chatted, William watched a DVD and Daniel used Christos’s computer to check and send some e-mails. After Daniel had finished on the computer, Christos offered me the use of his West Net Cable connection to publish the blog. I took up the offer and given the speed of his system, I had it done in next to no time. So you should have all received notification today. (Please note that Williams face had fully healed by the time I published the 7th blog and he is no worst for wear.)

After another cuppa, sitting out under the veranda, we left Christos’s and returned to the park via the Boulevard Shopping Centre. We must have timed it right because we caught up with Peter McCarthy again having his lunch break!

On return to the park, we had a quick lunch and swim in the pool. We didn’t stay in the pool for to long, because we had to be at the bus stop, down on the corner at 3.25pm, to meet the bus for our Hovercraft Tour. We met the bus as planned and after picking up all the other clients, we were taken to their shed near the Port of Broome. After a brief safety talk we were ushered into ‘The Sunny K’, which was the larger of the 2 hovercraft. They took us out around past the mangroves, up the Dampier River a little way and then around the coast to the area where the large Dinosaur Footprints are. We were told of the history, as well as the confirmations that these prints are legitimate and approx. 120 thousand years old. After photos were taken we returned to the crafts and were taken back onto the mudflats of Roebuck Bay. Here we had drinks and hors d’oeuvres while we watched the sun set over Broome. This sunset was spectacular and we witnessed ‘The Stairway to the Sun’ another bonus of this tour. Once the sun had dropped below the horizon, it was back into the hovercraft and back to the base at the Port. This tour was very informative and enjoyable, in our opinion well worth the money.

The bus returned us to the front entrance of the Caravan Park and we walked back to our trailer. After a tasty dinner of spaghetti bolognaise, we retired for the night after another very enjoyable day!

Day 47 Broome 15/08/06

We had a bit of a lazy morning and got up about 7am. After breakfast, the boys did some diary work while I wrote some more blog. At around 11.00am we headed down to Cable Beach, as we had decided to have a low key day, lazing on the beach. As William had borrowed a boogie board from Christos, we also hired a board on the beach, so both boys had one. We also hired a sun lounge and a deck chair to sit on as the sand is wet to sit on. The boys and I had a great time surfing, while Leanne sun baked reading her book. While the boys were occupied, I walked down the beach to the Jet Ski hire and enquired about prices ($50 for 15mins or $80 for 30mins). At about 1.00pm, the boys and I walked back to the park to get lunch and few other items we needed. After lunch, Leanne and I decided to walk, with the boys, down the beach toward the Jet Ski Hire and give them a surprise! As we neared the trailer, Daniel suggested we check out the prices just in case they were cheap! As I had already enquired, the lady recognized me, and so I just handed over the money for 30mins. The boys were so excited when they realized what we were about to do! I read the indemnity form and we put on our life jackets, while she prepped the ski. William sat in front of me and Daniel behind. As the Jet Ski engine was cold, I had problems getting it going, as the first wave crashed over the top of us with William copping the brunt of it. Once over this, we headed out onto a course marked by 3 buoys. Although it was rough, we rode around thoroughly enjoying ourselves for about 40mins. When your times up, the lady cuts the engine, via a radio, and then you restart the ski and head back to shore. Our trip back in was uneventful and we arrived back, stepping off the ski onto the sand. Leanne took a few photos and videos of us so you will be able to see them when we get home. We walked back up the beach to our chairs and the boys and I had another half hour in the water, before we packed up to return to the park.

After showering, we prepared a salad and then drove to Christos’s for dinner. We had a very enjoyable BBQ dinner with Christos and Liz, sitting on their veranda. Daniel used Christos’s computer again, to have a chat with his cousin Lauren, while William watched a DVD on our little portable player. After a very enjoyable evening, we departed Christos’s at around 10.15pm and returned to park.

Day 48 Broome 16/08/06

We awoke around 6.30am and got out of bed about 7.00am. I was amazed to find it was foggy and this remained until the sun came up. We had breakfast and the boys did diary work while Leanne and I packed up the family room, as we were leaving tomorrow and thought we’d get a few things sorted today. After several hours of encouraging the boys with their diaries, we left the park and drove to Malcolm Douglas’s Crocodile Farm for the 11.00am tour. As it turned out, David the tour guide, was from Melbourne, Mentone, and had gone to the same school as me! The tour was good and very informative. There are some big crocs in the farm and they were certainly feisty! Toward the end of the tour, they bought out a couple of eighteen week old crocodiles from the hatchery and everybody had the opportunity to hold one, if they wished. We all had a hold of one, with Daniel having a couple holds of each. After the tour finished, we walked around the park again and had a better look at all of the displays. I enquired if Malcolm was at the park, as I know his brother Stewy, but unfortunately he was out at their farm involved in a cull of some sort. We left the Croc Farm and returned to the park for lunch. After lunch Leanne and Daniel went shopping, while William and I did some e-mails and went for a ride around the caravan park. Once Leanne returned, we unpacked the groceries and then got ourselves ready for a Camel Ride along Cable Beach, which was due to start at 4.15pm.

We walked down to the beach and sat on the rocks, just north of the Boat ramp. It was about 4.45pm before our camels, from Cable Beach Camel Safari, arrived on the beach. There is a lot of politics going on with the Camel Tour Groups at present, with most locals trying to black ban the ‘Red Sun Camels’, as their owner has reportedly ‘hood winked’ the local council into giving him the sole contract to provide the rides on Cable Beach. Anyway, once we were arranged alongside the various camels, one by one we were helped into the saddle and then the camel stood up. We walked north along the beach for about 30 minutes, before they turned us around for the return trip. There were three other trains of camels, as well as ours, and we all walked pretty much the same distance. It was a very different, enjoyable, quiet trip along the beach on a mode of transport that would take a lot of getting used to! We got some good photos and the camel operator took some shots for us, with our cameras, as we traveled down the beach.

Once we had completed our camel ride, we walked back to the park and jumped into the car. We then drove into to town, picked up Christos and went to Corkeys Fish and Chip Shop, in Chinatown, where we picked up our dinner. We returned to Christos’s and ate our dinner sitting on his veranda, which was very enjoyable. Whilst our dinner was very nice, the fish & chips were considerably dearer than what we pay in Melbourne. After dinner we chatted for a while before we headed back to the park for an early night, as we are heading South tomorrow.

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Photos

Broome
Cable Beach

Broome 2
Sun Rise at the Flying Boat Wrecks

Broome 3
The Flying Boat Wrecks

Broome 4
Daniel at Cable Beach Park Pool

Broome 5
William at Cable Beach Park Pool

Broome 6
On Christos's Charter Boat

Broome 7
The boys on the fly bridge

Broome 8
Party on the Beach

Broome 9
Hovercraft Cruise

Broome 10
The Dinosaur Footprints

Broome 11
Stairway to the Sun

Broome 12
Our Jet Ski Ride

Broome 13
Malcolm Douglas Croc Farm

Broome 14
Sunset on Our Camel Ride on Cable Beach