Australia here we come!

16/5/12

We left Derby today and made our way to Broome. We didn't know what to expect of Broome and we were all pleasently surprised to find it was a large town with all the amenities. Our first stop, as usual, was the Visitor Information Centre. We found out all we could and made way to the Roebuck Bay Caravan Park. The caravan park is right on Roebuck Bay and nearly all sites have a view of the water. To say we liked it here is an understatement. Broome would have to be the best place we have visited on our trip so far. After settling in we went for a drive around town. Then we found the Woolworths shopping centre and a quick shop was done. Then it was back to our view and many coldies while enjoying the scene before sunset.

17/5/12

We got up early today and Mary-Anne drove her car to the Nissan Dealer to have it serviced. We picked her up and visited Bunnings which was accross the road from the Nissan Dealer. Then we went into town and walked around China Town. I had a hair cut and beard trim and then we had coffee and hot chocolate at a cafe. We came back to the caravan park and I cleaned and cooked some Barramundi Wings that had been given to us by a lovely couple in Derby. While I was cooking the barramundi wings Karen inadvertently left a tap running in the sink with the plug in. The resulting waterfall coming from the rear of the caravan was quite spectacular. All the cupboards and drawers at the rear of the van had to be emptied and dried out. The cupboard with two years supply of toilet paper and paper towels was also flooded. People in the park thought we were having a garage sale when they saw the table standing in the sun loaded with 200 rolls of toilet paper and paper towels. By the time everything in the van was placed in the sun to dry out it was time to eat our Barramundi Wings and they were delicious....thanks Dennis and Linley.

18/5/12

We had a lazy day just enjoying the view. Karen cooked brownies and we had them for morning tea. In the afternoon we went for a drive to the Coles shopping centre which has a Best and Less. Then it was back to the caravan park and the view and a few coldies.

19/5/12

This morning we went into town and walked around the Markets in the grounds of the old Court House building. I thought I had been transported to the Eumundi Markets as there was hippie crap everywhere. I had finished in about five minutes and had to wait for another hour for the girls while they oggled at everything. After the markets we took a drive to Cable Beach and viewed the real Indian Ocean for the first time. The beach is 22km long and has fine white sand like our beaches in Southern Queensland. It was a brilliant day with clear blue skies and no wind. The crystal clear water was a turquoise colour in the shallow area near the beach and darkening shades of blue further out as the water deepened. We then went for a drive to Gantheaume Point which is at the southern end of Cable Beach. It has a lighthouse and fantastic sandstone cliff formations where dinosaur footprints can be seen on a very low tide. I should have had my hiking pole to help me negoiate some of the rocks I had to climb over to reach an area called Anastasia's Pool. This is a circular pool cut into a flat area of sandstone many years ago by a lighthouse keeper. His wife had arthritis and could not walk down to the beach to swim so he build her the pool. The only draw back is that she had to climb over many rocks to get to the pool. What a thoughtful husband! On our way back we stopped at the Broome deep water wharf and walked out on it. The fishing is supposed to be good and the water is about 600 metres deep at the end of the wharf. After the wharf, we returned to the caravan park and had lunch. Later in the afternoon Karen and I went to a Liquorland shop near the town beach. Next to Liquorland, Karen spotted a souvenir shop where she bought a pearl bracelet and I bought a brass compass. Later that evening Karen and Mary-Anne went to church and confessed all their sins. It took them over an hour to obtain absolution. I cleansed myself with a six pack.

20/5/12

We had a lazy morning today before making a quick sortie to Bunnings, Woolworths and Coles. Then it was back to the caravan park for a BBQ lunch at the picnic area high on a point overlooking the town beach and Roebuck Bay. It was hard to drag ourselves away from this wonderful spot but Karen and I had bought a bottle of bourbon and it was waiting for us back at the caravan. This is the first bourbon I've had since I ran out just after crossing the border into the Nancy Territory 2 months ago.

21/5/12

It seems to be the norm here to take things easy and that is exactly what we did again this morning. After lunch we went into town and walked to the heritage listed Old Broome Court House. We were surprised to find that it is still an operating Magistrates Court. Then we walked to The Old Broome Lockup. At the entrance is an old boab tree. A plaque explained the tree was planted by Sgt Henry Thomas in 1897 on the day his son, Fred was born. Unfortunately Fred was killed in action in July 1916 at Pozziers in WW1. Sgt Thomas, who eventually was promoted to the rank of Inspector, died of sunstroke at Broome on 22 December 1920. Then it was a short walk to Pearl Luggers in the heart of Chinatown. There we saw two fully restored pearling luggers on display. We left Chinatown and drove to Bedford Park. In the park there is a War Memorial and a replica of William Dampier's pirate treasure chest that is reportedly buried somewhere in Roebuck Bay. Then it was onto the Broome Historical Society's Museum. This old building was originally a general store but is now filled with all sorts of relics and memorabilia. There are pieces of exploded bombs and wreckage from destroyed allied and japanese war planes on display. A large part of the museum is devoted to the history of the pearling industry which is what Broome is best known for. After leaving the museum we drove back to the caravan park for bourbon and our evening tea.

22/5/12

Today we plan to go to Cable Beach later in the afternoon and have fish and chips for tea on the esplanade overlooking the beach. We hopefully will witness for the first time in our lives the sun setting on the ocean. But before that there were plenty of chores to be done. I spent the whole morning updating our computer diary. Mary-Anne amused herself by naming thousands of photographs she has taken and Karen cleaned out our caravan. At 4.30pm we left the caravan park and drove to Cable Beach. We located the Cable Beach General Store and purchased fish and chips and salad to takeaway. Then it was to the beach where we found a niece big flat sandstone rock from which we could view the sunset while eating our tea. Little did we know that this rock was also the place that 1000 sea gulls usually eat their tea every afternoon. It must have been off pay week for the seagulls because they turned up empty handed and all they wanted to do was share my chips. I don't share my CHIPS!!!! While I kept the seagulls busy Karen and Mary-Anne, both oblivious to my plight, enjoyed their three course meal. I managed to save half my chips, found beek marks in my fish and seagull poo on my soft drink can. At least the sunset was good. This is the first time any of us had seen the sun setting on the water and Mother Nature did her part by allowing perfect conditions to prevail while this event occurred. After the sunset we walked up the beach to where the camel rides were happening. Karen stopped the lead camel train for 5 minutes while she took photos of each camel. I think she was trying to find a pretty one. GOOD LUCK!!! We made the walk back along the beach in the dark and eventually found our car in the crowded car park. It is amasing how many people come here each afternoon to witness the sunset. They must all come from the east coast like us.

23/5/12

This was another lazy day just enjoying the view and the caravan park. I setup the TV in the annex area so we could watch the State of Origin tonight. Later in the afternoon Karen and I went for a walk to Liquorland and bought a bottle of bourbon to celebrate the game. We had an easy tea and enjoyed the game and the bourbons (Queensland WON!!!).

24/5/12

Today we went to the Malcolm Douglas Wildlife Park which is about 15kms out of town. It cost $35.00 each for admission but it was worth it. We had a quick look around and then we joined an organised tour. Before the tour started the guide brought out a baby crocodile and everyone got to have a hold of it. It is amazing how soft the skin is. It was only about 35cm long and the guide explained that a bite from a baby like this one is like slamming your finger in a car door. No wonder he put a hair tie around its jaws. The guide led us to various crocodile enclosures and woke up a few so we could see how quick their reflexes are. They reminded me of me. They are so sneeky and awesome. We spent the rest of the day walking around and seeing all the exhibits. The only downside of the day was knowing that Malcolm Douglas has passed away. It would have been great to meet him. About 6pm tonight Jackie who is a friend of Mary-Anne's daughter Jacinta came to visit. She is living and working in Broome. Mary-Anne was so happy to see her and catch up on all her news.

25/5/12

We had an early start today so I could drive the Prado to the local Toyota Dealer for a service. Karen and Mary-Anne caught up on their washing and I updated the diary and backed up all our photos and reports. The dreaded call came about 12.30pm that the car was ready to be picked up. I sat down and asked how much and $842 was the reply. I'll have to forgo a few cartons of beer to keep the budget in tact. In the afternoon I helped Mary-Anne wash her car and Karen washed 3 sides of our caravan. About 5.30pm Dave from the caravan opposite came for a beer and during our conversation we discovered that we are in the same line of work. The only difference is he really is retired and I am only pretending. I supposed I was pretending at work for most of the time so what does it matter.

26/5/12

This morning Karen and I washed the annex and the fourth side of the van before we left the caravan park. Mary-Anne refuelled and we were on our way towards Port Hedland. We stopped at Goldwire Rest Area and had lunch. About 2pm we arrived at Stanley Rest Area where we planned to spend the night. We found a concrete slab big enough for both caravans to fit on and setup. I noticed oil dripping from under Mary-Anne's Patrol and I opened the bonnet to have a look. There was more oil everywhere under the bonnet than in the middle east. I looked but couldn't find the cause. It was decided then that we would stay here until Monday morning so Mary-Anne could ring the Nissan Dealership in Broome where she had her car serviced and see if they would help.

27/5/12

There was not much to do today so Karen came up the idea of cooking pikelets and we had them with jam and cream. I love roughing it!!! Later in the afternoon an elderly couple, Jim and Audrey arrived with their Landcruiser towing a small Kedron caravan and they camped not far from us. We got to talking and they are from Bundaberg. They have travelled over a lot of dirt roads and camped out in the desert on their way through.

28/5/12

Mary-Anne and I got up early and drove 30kms to find phone signal. She rang Nissan and they gave her the run around. Then she rang RACQ and they put her onto RACWA who organised a tow truck to come from Broome to tow her Patrol. The tow truck arrived about 12.30pm and Mary-Anne and her car left with it. Karen and I stayed to mind the vans while she was gone. The problem was diagnosed late in the afternoon as a split oil pipe to the turbo. RACQ arranged a cabin at the Roebuck Bay caravan park and she enjoyed the ocean view once more. However without a car and having no provisions she could only manage 2 Trail Bars for tea.

29/5/12

Good news day for Mary-Anne. She had to get rid of the Patrol? No the news wasn't that good, but the problem had been fixed and she could pickup her car. RACQ arranged a taxi and she was on her way to Stanley Rest Area by 10am. She arrived at the rest area at 12.30pm to the cheers of everyone there and a ticker tape parade but on by three crows pulling plastic bags and papers out of the rubbish bins. It was my unpleasant duty to inform Mary-Anne that Karen and I had finished off the last of the pikelets, jam and cream.

30/5/12

We could finally leave Stanley today and we were on the road by 9am. We have planned one more free camp before Port Hedland at De Grey Rest Area. After a huge drive of 325ms we arrived about 2.30pm to find every caravan in the world camped there. We walked down to the river bank and couldn't find any sites big enough for two caravans. However we did find a large cleared area next to the railway line that would do the job. I nearly reversed the caravan into a small ditch but with Karen's expert guidance a diaster was averted. We hoped that an iron ore train would come through so we could see if they are really 2 kilometres long. We got our wish about 8pm. It is amasing how quiet trains are in these other states. Queensland trains would have rattled the windows out of our caravans but this train ran past with only the hum of four diesel engines to break the silence.