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Wednesday 20/8/2014 After watching the sunset over the Indian Ocean from Cable Beach we set up camp at the Cable Beach Caravan Park, a really nice park with immaculate facilities. We all got together in the communal area and cooked our tea, it was a concreted area with a roof, gas BBQ and 4 burner hob, microwave, toaster, electric jugs, fridge, plus four big tables with benches, also sinks to do your dishes. We sat around and had a few bevies, talked about our day and caught up with other travellers journeys, a very enjoyable day.
Thursday 21/8/2014 Woke in the morning to the heaviest due, the water dripping on the inside of the rooftop tent and the outside was like there had been a shower of rain. It didn't take long, once the sun came out to dry things up.
Once again we had the predicament of needing to get alcohol before we headed up to Cape Leveque, no bottle shops up there. Bottle shops didn't open until 11.00am, so we took a scenic drive around Broome, checked out the port etc before stocking up.
Headed up the Cape Leveque road to Gnylmarung which was our camp site for the 21st. $20 per vehicle camp fees, very basic toilets and showers, plus we had a 44 gal drum chopped in half longways, for a fire with firewood supplied and the most amazing beach.
The boys were itching to go for a fish, so loaded all the gear into the defender and drove down to a rocky point. They clambered up onto the rocks and then proceeded to haul in the fish, mangrove jack, trevally, cod, fish for tea, yum.
We watched the sunset as Pete filleted the fish, fantastic sunsets, such a rich red as it hits the water. We got back to camp, lit our fire then cooked our fish, perfect.
Friday 22/8/2014 Another heavy dew but a clear blue sky. Today we are catching up with friends from New Zealand, Michelle & Paul Townshend, they are both teaching at Christ of King Catholic School in Lombadina. We arrived at the school to find Michelle supervising at recess and Paul was away with a group of kids at an athletics meet but was due back at lunch time. Michelle introduced us to all the teachers and then we were taken to her classroom and introduced to the children as Miss Lynette & Mr Murray, she only had 5 kids at school. The community was closed as most of the people had gone to Broome for a funeral, that's maybe why only a few children.
The school provides breakfast for the children, fruit at recess and also sandwiches for their lunch. They have toothbrushes and toothpaste at school and quite regularly the teachers wash their hair and de louse it. They have uniforms which they put on when they get to school and removed when they go home, the uniforms are washed by the teachers Tuesdays and Fridays. The kids have no shoes, just barefoot. Michelle has the 4, 5, and 6 year olds, Paul has the 10 to 14 year olds. Two teachers per class room. I think the kids are very lucky to have such caring teachers.
School finishes at 12.15 on Fridays so we timed our visit well.
They have a lovely church, inside it has a paperbark roof which is very impressive and also an amazing carving of Jesus on the cross.
Were getting organised to go down to the beach and half a dozen kids were going past the gate - "hello miss Michelle and Mr Paul, where you going?" Told them we were going down to the beach, they were all ready to pile in the car and come with is. Michelle had a big bag of oranges so she offered them all one, their eyes lit up, you would have thought she was giving them an ice cream, they all took one and said thank you miss.
We drove down to their beach which was just over the sand hills, a couple of bays and some rocky outcrops. Apparently a big saltwater croc lives amongst the mangroves, lucky for us we didn't see it. They have massive tides up here, depending on the moon, 9 or 10 meters, while we were there 5 - 6 meters. We went up the road to Kooljaman to watch the sunset, a lovely spot, took our champagne, beer, and ordered pizza,s. We saw whales offshore both here and also back at Paul and Michelle's beach.
The rest of the crew were camped just a little further up the road so took Paul and Michelle up to meet them. They had an exciting afternnoon, caught a shark, nearly landed it but it escaped, then watched a hammerhead shark attack the one that got away.
Such a treat last night, got to sleep in a real bed at Paul and Michelle's, what was worse though they had given up their bed, not at all happy but they would have it no other way.
Saturday 23/8/2014 Bacon and eggs for breakfast, with Des and Mark calling in to join us as well.
They had this really cool birds nest in their yard, the nest belonged to the stealer bird, it is set on the ground. The bird gathers quite big twigs and forms this into a large u shape, around 16" high. The bird gathers gravel to put at the entrance, then if it can find any marbles it will have them in the nest, there was one in this nest, and also gathers a black type of nut. There were no eggs yet.
We said our goodbyes, Michelle and Paul were heading to Broome for a shop, hadn't been for five weeks, and were staying overnight so they could catch the Bledisloe Cup game. It's about a 2.1/2hour drive into Broome from their place, 100k sand track, 70k sealed.
We headed up to One Arm Point which is the end of the road, checked out the beach on the eastern side, lovely sea breeze. Came back down and called into Cygnet Bay where they harvest pearls, checked out the shop, beautiful pearls, a three strand necklace with quiet big pearls $15,000.00. There were white, gold & silver pearls.
Called into the Sacred Heart Church at Beagle Bay, built in 1918 by the Pallotine Monks and local Aborogines, its famous for its beautiful alter, lots of shells have been used. Heading to Derby today.
Been very hot, low thirties since arriving up this end.
Arrived in Derby late afternoon, found a pub and were able to watch the rugby, the All Blacks gave the Aussies a good lesson in rugby 51 to 20, great result. Our Aussie crew decided they didn't want to watch anymore with the score at 40 odd to 6, so went fishing. There didn't appear to be any Aussies watching it in the bar, if there were, they weren't letting on.
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Marie Really pleased you brought yourself and me a string of pearls - you did say that didn't you!!!! Bet they looked amazing. Sounds like you are having a real neat time. We all good here - same old, same old. Off out to the garden now. Hear from you soon. X