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Friday 23 July HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!
Well, off we go from Marys Pool! What a lovely spot- nice to chill out.
Sooooo where next..... Fitzroy Crossing........... mmmmmmmm what can we say about this place. Was a really strange place of lots of new houses being built,,,,,, even the supermarket was getting rebuilt after a fire went through it.!!!! Yes ,,,, imagine runs wild.... The supermarket is now in the high school gymnasium....!!!!! lolol really really weird!!! And the school!!! Unbelievably new and big and modern and heaps of facilities.!!! Compared to Cabba Primary this was a palace!!!
We stayed at the Crossing Inn Carapark . The Crossing Inn pub is apparently very historical! From the 1800s where drovers came and is the only pub left on the original site. It is also the ONLY place to get a drink!!! YES!!! And it was pay day for the locals here so very rowdy! But an eye opener for sure. There still seems to be separation for Black and White. There were 4 bouncers at the gates/beer garden where the aborigines were wetting their whistles!!! But a really nice pub as we had a meal there. We chatted to some people at the petrol pump who suggested the meals there and when I was doing some laundry .... the lady too., said was very nice.... so the once a week splurge! We had a meal at the pub. Was really busy, all mixes of people. The aborigine people are so nice ... it is only when they have a drink they turn into Mr Hydes!!!
Anyway, we checked in to the Crossing Inn Carapark... Was quite a nice environment and far away from the rowdy pub!!! Then headed out to Geike Gorge, 20km from the town. We had a walk there about 3km return.... Liam and Jack did really well, with Liam only going on Daves shoulders as we wanted to be a bit faster/ Was a nice gorge but could have been a miss. The interesting part was how high the water levels in the floods over the decades had risen. 350 million years old too is quite spectacular..........
So after the walk a big meal was in order!!!
Saturday 24 July
Today was a decision we made to travel part of the Gibb River Road. We travelled 43 km from Fitzroy Crossing to the turnoff north to join the Gibb River Road. And on the way we stopped at Tunnel Creek. Tunnel Creek was UNREAL!!! No guides, no lights, no paths...... just left to your own devices!!! So donned with headlamps into the tunnel we trudged. Over rocks first and then into the tunnel! But splashing through the water first.!!! There were 3 pools to cross. 1 was waist deep.... and dark! Was sooooo cool ... The kids loved it! Dave thought it was just great that you could walk thru on your own! Lots of parts were tricky over rocks and that. It was 750mtres long one way and had to go back the same way. Didnt see any bats much to Liams disappointment. It is hard to imagine that this area was closed only 7 weeks ago due to flooding!
So , with a smiles on our faces, we headed back in the car 2kms up the road to Windjana Gorge. Here we set up in the non-generator area and decided, as it was only 230pm, to hike the gorge. All 7kms return of it! Was a very spectacular gorge! Through the entrance, in a little cave to the other side into the gorge. Cliffs towering both sides with the river dividing the gorge, and lying on the sandbanks were freshwater crocodiles! Liam thought this was great. You could actually walk right up to them. We were a metre away from them and they didn’t seem to mind. Probably seen heaps of us humans everyday anyway!!! Hahahah But was lovely to see them in a natural habitat- no fences. Starting to sound like a greenie now! So over rocks, through savannah, under logs, lots of walking. Liam did the whole way to the end. The end.......mmm that must have been the biggest anti-climax! There was fallen down boab with red and white tape crisscrossed over it and the path saying ‘ danger – do not enter ‘!!! That was a little disappointing! But a nice walk . Many birds, bats, lizards, crocs! And lovely scenery on every turn and point. Jack loves this type of walking. Dont know why he doesn’t like cross country running. He almost runs the track !!! Liam hitched a ride on dads shoulders in the non tricky parts.
So another big walking day! Feels great at the end. But boy were we all stuffed! Quick n easy tea then bed by 8pm !!! lolol Amazing!! No TV!!heheheheh
Sunday 25 July
Early to sleep , early up! Well I was anyway! 530am... wanted to go into the gorge again to see as the sun came up. And I wasn’t disappointed! I was the first through the cave only to see the back end of a huge kangaroo and a few wallabies bouncing away- must have heard me! No crocs about, though one did come bubbling up to see what I was doing there and went back in water. The birds were amazing and when the sun filtered through the gorge/canyon the cliffs were amazing! The photos don’t do it justice of course. So after an hour to myself, headed back to camp to see if the other lazy heads had woken up!
After a quick brekkie we packed up and headed back on the road again. Stopped at the Lillimurra Police Station ruins and read about the history on the area and an Aboriginal tracker called Jundmurra, who shot his police friend there at the station and hid out for 2 years in Tunnel Creek!!! Where he too, was shot at the entrance.
Heading into Derby on the Gibb River Road we came across a few road trains. Heaps of dust! But the road wasn’t bad at all. Mostly bitumen from the Windjana turnoff to Derby.
Into Derby, did a bit of shopping at Woolies, had a look around town and had a picnic lunch at the park and playground where there were about 10 or more kites flying above. Was nice to see!
Deciding to push on, we headed for Broome... one week exactly earlier than the dates we booked. Had heard was very busy there and overflows were filling up too. Went to the caravan park we booked into but couldn’t change or cancel booking – no refund!!! Never heard of such a thing but anyhow,,,,, wished I had listened to my husband and not booked! Lolol ( damn! Thats in print now! Heheheh ) Managed to get a spot on their’ BBQ’ site which actually wasn’t too bad.
Dave then went to the Visitor centre to find out about other spots to stay, whilst the boys and I went to the pool. The boys were so hot and needed some ‘ play’ time after all their walkings etc!!
Monday 26 July
Another pack up and we were off! A shopping stop , refuelling, filling water and even a stop at Maccas! ( first time for junk! ) Also wanted to see if we could download some songs on Jacks Ipod. But the internet speed was so slow. So headed off out of Broome up to the Dampier Peninsula towards Cape Leveque. We actually are camped at Quondang Point . Right on the edge of the sea! Now this is camping! Sooooo lovely,,,, peaceful. No neighbours! The nearest is 400m to the left and 400m to the right! We cant see anyone.
Setting up, we headed down the beach to discover it was low tide which created lots of lovely rock pools so off for a quick dip! The view is lovely here. Beautiful blue sea! Yes we do miss it! No crocs so far,,,,, not sure if they come down this way. More people swimming up at the next camp.
Back at camp, Dave discovered something amiss under the camper! One of the axles’ ubolt and nuts came off.... the plate was only being held up by 1 bolt and not 4! Well, was a rough drive up here from Broome! Will have to go back into Broome to get some new ones then!
Down at the beach for sunset, which was amazing.... also found about a hundred hermit crabs making their way up to the high tide mark leaving little tyre-track markings in the sand! Back to camp, spag bog for tea and another early bed!
Tuesday 27 July
What a great nights sleep! All we could hear was the sea crashing on the rocks. Full moon too so was light enough to see for those wee trips into the night! On Jack waking , though, his right eye was so puffed up.... thought he punched himself! Dave rang Doctors in Broome and got him in at 1pm.... so Jack and Dave drove off about 10am, as there were more things to get in Broome anyway ( particularly for the camper!) Liam and I stayed put.... Liam playing with toys and I was catching up with photos and blogging! Then we heads for 40minutes to the beach armed with fishing rod and bait! Was high tide so thought I might be able to outshine the boys and catch something! Lolol A few nibbles but nothing much.....
Wednesday 28 July
Well what a busy morning. Swim in our’pool’ first , then cooked brekkie, then a bit of ‘ housework’ ( lololol ) and off into the car for our big fishing adventure down the beach. STUCK! Lolol only 4 metres into the sand and we got stuck. !!! lolol took us about 20 minutes to get out but did by letting down the tyres! So back to the camper and we walked down to the fishing spot! Dave got a fish! YAYYYYYY! Too small so put him back. Back for lunch,,,,,,, a bit of computer stuff and then deciding what to have for tea if we don’t catch anything again! lololol
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