Day 20 - 29th June - Fitzroy Crossing. By Alex
Good news. The replacement shock absorbers (a pair) came in overnight from Broome. Hopefully they can be fitted today and we can continue on. More updates later.
P.S. Broken shock absorber was replaced today. Yahoo. On the road again first thing tomorrow.
Day 21 - 30th June – Broome/Quondong Point. By Annie
When we got to Broome we went to the tourist information centre and they were not helpful at all. So we went to try and find the butcher. Once we found the butcher we got our meat and left. From Broome to the turn off we were on the bitumen again. So smoothe. Once we got to Quondong point it was full of grey nomad caravaners (because camping is free) until we found a side track off towards Price point. We had to pull out a bogged van in the sand (semi local who knew all about the area) . We found a great sheltered camping spot beside a very quiet man. We found that we had Staked a tyre somewhere along the track. We all went swimming and body surfing. We missed the snorkeling because the tide was too high.
Day 22 – 1st July – Qundong Point. By Annie.
We woke up and had pancakes for breakfast. We tried a spot of unsuccessful fishing. Mum moved camp while Alex was gone to an even better spot with beautiful shade. For the rest of the day we just relaxed. In the afternoon dad and Isaac went snorkeling . The visibility was pretty ordinary. Good corals. Not many fish.
Day 23 – 2nd July – Quondong Point/Broome/Quondong Point. By Annie
Woke up and decided to go into Broome again to get the tyre replaced and stock up on more food before we headed further up the Dampier Peninsular (boys are eating way too much). Everything was on special. We went to target and bought shorts, boardies, tee shirts and books for the kids. Back to Quondong Point.
Alex & I went snorkeling on low tide. Visibility was better. We went further and saw better corals and more fish – still not that many – “locals” blamed it on Woodside’s drilling a couple of km away.
Then we had dinner down on the beach – again sun set was superb.
Day 24 3rd July – Quondong Point/Middle Lagoon. By Isaac
As the day broke we packed up early and hit the dirt road for Middle Lagoon. As we were driving we spotted a sign advertising the Whalesong Café. We had a pizza which was delicious. Another hour on the road and we were at Middle Lagoon. We checked in and discovered we had a beach shelter. It was great. The lagoon was a large bay at high tide but when it was low the sea revealed a large mudflat almost enclosing the bay. Once we set up we decided to go for a snorkel. Myself and Annie swam over a huge leaped stingray and we saw plenty of fish. The snorkeling was much better than Quondong Point. When going up the beach to the beach shelter, dad found a large mud crab, unfortunately we didn’t eat for dinner. We started a fire and had porterhouse steak cooked over the fire. We had the beach all to ourselves that night with none one else in the other beach shelter.
Day 25 – 4th July – Middle Lagoon. By Isaac
We woke up to a mild morning. I got the fire going and had coffee and hot chocolate. We had bacon and eggs for breakfast. Dad, Annie and I went for a walk to the other side of the bay. We found a creek which we thought were was a good fishing spot. Ethan, Dad and I went fishing in the creek unsuccessfully. We walked back and collected firewood which was pathetic if you wanted a fire that is warm. We had lunch and packed up to move to our other campsite. Once we all set up we went for another snorkel around the other side of the point. We had sausages cooked by Ethan for dinner. We went to bed early.
Day 26 – 5th July – Middle Lagoon/Gambanan. By Annie
Once we woke up we left Middle Lagoon and travelled to Gambanan. We stopped at Beagle Bay to visit a Church decorated with mother of pearl. Very interesting history. After that we had about over 100 KM to go. Once we got there we picked a camp site at Gambanan. That campsite was amazing overlooking the point, reef and sand bars. After we had set up we went fishing out on the point. Once we came back with some unsuccessful fishing we cooked dinner. After dinner Alex went out fishing again. I went to watch, but I tripped over and cut my hand really badly on a oyster shell so you could see flesh and muscle. Raced into Bardi (One Arm Point) to the clinic. Fantastic service and I was very brave. I had to have 5 stitches to get it all back together again. Once we got back at camp it was story time with the local aboriginal owners, Frank and Maureen. After story time we cooked damper it didn’t cook very well. Then I went to bed. I had to sleep with dad. He snored and he couldn’t stop.
Day 27 – 6th July – Gambanan. By Isaac
We woke up to a beautiful sunrise and went to Kooljamen. Ethan and Dad went for a snorkel. After that we had a coffee at the café. Once we made our way back the camp, Maureen told us that sister Emily(Annie’s Nurse) wanted a follow up visit to see how Annie’s hand was. We went fishing again and lost two lures. No fish.
Day 28 – 7th July – Gambanan. By Isaac
Woke up to another stunning sunrise and had a relaxing day. We went to squeaky beach for some fishing. Ethan and dad tried unsuccessfully, but I got the first fish of the day and it was a 20cm Mangrove Jack, it was too small as the legal size is 42cm but it was still a fish. We got back to camp and had dinner. about an hour after dark Frank and Maureen went to the story telling place to talk about everyone’s luck at fishing. Maureen brought fresh cooked damper and turtle.
Day 29 – 8th July – Gambanan. By Ethan
We woke to a glistening sunrise. Isaac, Dad and I went fishing early in the morning I ended up looking for lures, hooks and sinkers. While Dad found a clam. Frank then showed us how to cut open and what is the meat you want in a clam. After that Frank, Maureen and some of their grand-kids the children and Dad learnt how to make traditional but modernized hunting and fishing spears. Next we spent the rest of the day being lazy and fishing off the rocks. After that Jessie brought his new boat and offered if we would like to come with him and of course we said yes. We quickly got the lures and rods and hopped in the car to squeaky beach. We were soon trolling on the boat but still unsuccessful. After going to three really good fishing spots we decided to troll back. In a few minutes later a fish was on my line and I was fighting it till I pulled it in it was a small Spanish mackerel but it was too small to eat. Then we had dinner and some chocolate and went to bed.
Day 30 – 9th July –Gambanan. By Ethan
Again we woke up in paradise and had breakfast and visited fish hatchery. We saw lots of marine life there including a forty kilo Barramundi, a lot of clown fish, a few turtles and even a really small turtle. Then we saw 2.0m lemon shark and three 1.0m black tipped reef sharks at the Bardi boat ramp at low tide. After that we visited pearl farm and got a tour. Next we each got a special drink Mum, DAD and Isaac got a cappuccino, Annie got a lemon lime bitters .and I got a cygnet bay smoothie. After that we went fishing with Jesse and got two fish but both were too small.
Day 31 – 10th July – Gambanan/Broome. By Ethan
We packed up quickly and went to Broome and restocked quickly .After that we had a trip to the butcher .After setting we went down to cable beach to have our chocolate milk. After a few hours time we went to Cable Beach surf life saving club to have dinner. Mum, Dad, Isaac and Annie all had barramundi and chips but I had salt and pepper squid then we watched the beautiful sunset at cable beach.
Day 32 – 11th July – Broome. By Alex
We had previously booked the car in for service and while it was in we also had the second shock absorber swapped over. The car also needed a new air filter and new air conditioner idler pulley (due to dust). I caught the bus back to the caravan park from the garage and we all then went for a walk to Cable Beach and the surf life saving club.
Afterwards the kids had a great time swimming in the pool while Marlise & I relaxed and read our books. At lunchtime the car was ready so I caught the bus back to the garage and then we all went into Chinatown. While Marlise & Annie looked for pearls, Isaac, Ethan and I went through all the book stores and the Aboriginal publishing house unsuccessfully trying to find “The Lost Tribe”. We ended up buying some great local books for presents for our neighbors who were looking after the pet rabbit and keeping an eye on the house.
We had an early dinner then drove back to Chinatown to the Sun Pictures to watch The Marigold Hotel in the open air picture theatre. Marlise & I thought it was a great movie. In the movie in one street scene in India a plane flew straight over on approach to Broome airport and it fit perfectly in the movie plot. It was hilarious.
Day 33 – 12th July – Broome/Derby. By Alex
We packed and left the caravan park by 8:30am for Gantheum Point to see if we could see the dinosaur footprints. Unfortunately the tide was not low enough and so we will just have to make time to make another visit when we’re retired.
We then visited the port and saw Paspales big boat “Orion” getting prepared for sea before heading off to Town Beach for a wicked iced coffee at the café overlooking beach and the site of the original jetty.
We spent the next 2 hours at the fascinating Broome Museum before heading back to Town Beach for an early lunch.
By this stage it was time to head to the airport and say goodbye to Marlise. Marlise was very sad.
After our last goodbyes to Marlise the kids and I set off for the uneventful drive to Derby listening to music that Marlise doesn’t like. On arrival we went straight to the tourist information bureau to find out what to visit in Derby.
There was an aboriginal festival on at the Mowanjum centre out of town that happens one day a year. The festival features caroberee dances and so we decided to go and immerse ourselves in this event. We took a picnic dinner and watched dances from Turkey Creek (NT), Torres Straight and Derby.
Day 34 - 13th July - Derby /Marypool – By Annie
We woke up and packed up and left. We went to the wharf and that had really dirty water. Then we went to another prison Boab tree, long trough and Frosty’s pool.
After that we drove to Fitzroy Crossing Hospital to get my stitches taken out. We found out that the bottom part still had a gap so we had to put a Band-Aid and compression bandage. On the road again off to Mary Pool .
Day 35 - 14th July – Mary Pool /Sawpit Gorge – By Alex
Mary Pool was very popular with grey nomads towing caravans. There would have been 200 people staying there but it was all very well behaved and very quiet after 7:00pm. It was a rather relaxed start. Isaac got the fire going to boil the billy for coffee and we had pancakes for breakfast.
We were in Halls Creek by mid morning only to find the art centre is closed on the weekend so we couldn’t buy the painting Marlise had liked when we first arrived. Even worse was we had been told the butcher made the best milkshakes in WA. When we went into the butcher we found out his milk shake machine had broken so we had to settle for ice-creams instead.
After quickly consulting the map we decided to have a long at China Wall as it was only 10km out of Halls Creek. It was an interesting rock formation that has eroded from both sides forming a near perfect wall. We met another vehicle there and swapped stories briefly. They had broken 2 springs and an axle on the same road we had broken our shock absorber and another vehicle had rolled. It was confirmed as the worst road in the Kimberley at the time. They also said we must stay at Sawpit Gorge that night. With comments like “it was the best camoping site they’ve ever had” how could we refuse? The gorge was another 40km down the road and we passed through old Halls Creek on the way. The gorge was spectacular and the camp spot was incredible. We camped on a gravel spit jutting into the water hole directly under the rock outcrop of the gorge. 270 degree views.
Isaac cooked T-bone steak with potato chips and peas-n-carrots and I backed raisin damper in the camp oven with the coals. It was a great day and a great night.
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