BROOME TO BARN HILL TO BROOME TO BARN HILL

After leaving Broome we drove about 150klms to Barn Hill. We will stay here for about a week although we will take Jen back to Broome to fly home on Monday :-(. The road into Barn Hill is 10klms of unmade road with a couple of gates to open and close. This is to keep the cattle in the right paddocks (very big paddocks). Jen opened and closed the first gate.

... and I opened and closed the second.

We finally got to the end of the road and booked in. We had an unpowered site as we use our batteries for power and put the generator on a few hours during the day to download the photos onto the computer and to top up the batteries.

After we set up we went down to the water.

Jen standing at the top of the steps that lead down to the beach

Jen and Arnold were going to go for a swim but people said there was a shark in the water. I took a photo of the area where it was supposed to be - the white ripple in the water to the left of the photo.

We could see something swimming up and down, it had a fin, but then we saw what looked like a whale tail slap on the water. So we don't know what it was but nobody was game to go into the water.

The following day Jen and I spent time walking on the beach and climbing over rocky outcrops. It was so much fun - we felt like a couple of kids! On the way to the beach Jen stopped at the shop to look at some postcards. This area also doubles as the reception.

The next photo is the view from the shop looking towards the water. (This is also the area where Sunday night dinner is held).

As the vista is quite spectacular in every direction, Jen started taking photos right away. And so did I.

Our van is amongst this lot somewhere

The lovely lilac flowers are called Mulla Mulla. They grow in lots of different areas in WA.

We walked along the water's edge, splashing our feet in the water and walking among the rocks.

Then we spent some time setting the camera on timer so we could both get in the shot.

Aren't the colours vibrant.

Jen found this petrified tree branch so got down and dirty (or should I say sandy) to take a shot.

We also climbed in the "Lost City" (that's what I call it). I can't show you any photos as my camera battery was flat.

By the time we got back the sun was starting to set. What a fun time we had!!

The following day, Sunday, we got up early as the market started at 8.30am. This is where anyone can have a stall and sell their craft or bric a brac. Jen picked up "Camps 3" (a book which lists free camps for the whole of Australia). It had hardly been used. What a bargain!

Sunday afternoon and it was time to set up for happy hour and then dinner. Everything has to be set up - your own table, chairs, enough crockery and cutlery for a 3 course meal and of course wine glasses for happy hour and beyond. John and Lesley Moss had arrived on Saturday ...

and they joined us.

After dinner it was time to join in and dance to an aboriginal band - The Shoveller Family.

The young girl with Jen and I is Peta Shoveller. She is 10 year old and sings with the band. Jen and I certainly look .... happy. Must have something to do with the wine or something!!!

There were certainly a lot of people there that night. The sunset was great and the night was balmy.

What a fantastic evening we had.

The following day it was time to pack Jen's things into the car and head back to Broome. Her flight wasn't till 7.00pm so we spent some time looking around Broome's main shopping area. From there we drove to meet Pauline, Robert and Bert. They were staying at the PCYC (an overflow caravan area). It was good to catch up with them again as we hadn't seen them since Derby. After we left them (with promises to stay in touch as they were heading back east) we did some grocery shopping and then took Jen to the airport. We had such a great time together and were sad to leave her. A fantastic 4 weeks of wonderful places visited and memorable moments.

We drove back to Barn Hill hoping we would get there before dark. We almost made it. The drive back down the unmade road wasn't as bad as we thought it would be.

We stayed at Barn Hill for another 3 days. On Wednesday Arnold and I and Lesley and John went walking on the beach.

Kim and Ray Cook arrived whilst we were walking so we all walked to the "Lost City". I was able to take some photos this time.

We all left Barn Hill on Friday and headed towards Port Hedland with a free camp at DeGrey River before we got there. Until next entry, nighty night...

DERBY TO BROOME

Below are more photos of Derby.

Prison Tree at Derby

Myall Bore (can water 500 cattle at one time)

Frosty Pool (built by American servicemen during WW2)

At the start of the Derby Pier there is a rotunda with a circular mosaic depicting pasturalists and animals in the unique style of the indigenous people. Very colourful!

We ventured onto the pier again to take some photos of the setting sun. The tide was on its way out but there was still enough water for some good shots.

Driving into the main street of Derby the butcher was advertising croc legs, so there must be some crocs out there with crutches.

We left Derby and as it wasn't very far to Broome, we got there by early afternoon. We drove straight to the Visitors Centre as we were told the caravan parks were all full. We were told that the overflows were full also. On the offchance we rang the pistol club and were told to come in and they would find us a site. It wasn't a very big site and was unpowered but that was okay. We didn't intend to spend much time there.After we settled in, we decided to drive to Gantheaume Point. This point is very rugged and the view back to Cable Beach is great.

Jen at Gantheaume Point looking back to Cable Beach.

We climbed down to Anastasia's Pool (constructed by the Lighthouse Keeper many years ago for his arthritic wife).

The photo below is looking down on Anastasia's Pool.

Jennifer rang the Camel Ride Company and they advised us to come down to Cable Beach at 4.00pm and there may be a vacant camel...LOL. We were so lucky to get a ride at such short notice.

Also, our camel's name was NED and he featured in the movie "Australia".

Ned's bristles tickled.

I couldn't swing my leg over so "Damien" gave me a couple of hands (oh my) to get me in the saddle.

All ready to go so enjoy the next lot of photos. Jen and I had a fantastic ride.

The camel behind us decided he wanted to say hello so Jen and I gave him a pat.

Then it was time to get off our camel. We were told to lean back as the camel would drop down on his front knees and then his back legs would come down. When we saw the photos we couldn't stop laughing. Might give you a laugh too!!!

Well, we could hardly walk. It took a minute or three to get our legs going again. We both agreed we wouldn't have missed it for the world.

The following day we spent time browsing the shops and streetscape of Broome. Arnold couldn't resist the "ears" on Jennifer.

About 5.00pm we took our chairs and sat near the water at Town Beach. This is were the
Staircase to the Moon occurs. We were so lucky to be in Broome at this precise time as this phenomenum only happens about 3 or 4 days a month.

The photos didn't really come out as they should. I wish I had taken my tripod with me.

I have included a shot of the front of a postcard I've got.

After this great event we decided to go to the Sun Picture Theatre, an outdoor theatre with deckchair like seating. The movie started at 8.30pm - we saw "The Hangover". It was okay but the main thrill was being in this historic movie theatre.

Deckchair seating at Sun Picture Theatre,
Broome

What a full couple of days in Broome. It was time to move on to Barn Hill. On the way out of Broome, we stopped so Jennifer could get a souvenier - some red soil called Pindan.

We also saw this imprint in the soil - it looks like a small kangaroo may have sat here.

Then it was back in the car and on our way. The next entry will be Barn Hill etc. Bye.