postcards

Day 28 set style for lazy days in Broome. Morning at the market, then home for a snooze then wander back to town late afternoon. Strolled through Pearl Lugger display and read plaques. Back for some shopping and then leave girls to cook dinner while Cath and I walk down to Cable Beach to watch the sunset – very pretty.

Day 29 rush down to Gantheaume Point to look at where the dinosaur prints would be if the tide was out enough (as in next week) then back to Pearl Information Centre for a talk on pearls. Hour or two later we know more than we want to about pearls and stagger over to Pharaoh’s Kebab House for lunch. Back for some shopping, repairs to the stone guard (successfully) and then leave Kiara to cook dinner while Cath, Siobhan and I walk down to Cable Beach to watch the sunset – very pretty again.

Day 30 sleep in then wander down to the Sisters of Saint John’s museum for a look around. Rather interesting. Then across verandah to exhibition on the Queen’s visit to Broome in 1963. Cool. Cruise around town, then chill for awhile then shop before charging down the beach for a Camel Ride for me, Cath and Kiara. Corny but fun. Did you know camels are very tall and have no suspension. Watched sunset – very pretty.

Planning now up to date so a three day trek down to Exmouth and then a week or so on the Coral Coast. Sun sand and snorkeling, unless it rains.

Well here we are at about the half way mark and all the way over at Broome. Its so far away. Now a recap of the past week.

Day 23 Left Kununarra on abit of an art trail. First stop back to Zebra Rock Gallery so Kiara can pick up some chips to make gifts for her friends. Then on to the Warmin Art Centre for a good dose of aboriginal art. After much uming and arhing we decide on a piece as Cath’s birthday present and organise to have it posted home. Then its onto Halls Creek. By some consensus we decide it would be nicer to stall at old Halls Creek.
SO its out of town and down the start of the Duncan Highway which quickly becomes a unsealed road. Fifteen kilometres of corrugations and floodways later we arrive at the campground in the ruins of old Halls Creek. Initial impressions are not good but we are too tired to try the road again and we need to fix a few things that have shaken loose on the trailer. As it turns out the place is not too bad if a little rough – apart from the constant drone of the generator.

Day 24. We are off to Wolfe Creek Crater. Think we are finally getting use to the sunrise start, sunset bed routine.
The road back to town seems a bit easier without the trailer and the car handles the corrugations better. Just as well since Wolfe Creek Crater is 130 km down the Tanami Track which varies between nice red dirt road and medium corrugations. The termite mounds get taller, the kites and wedge tails get more common as they graze on road kills and the cattle are everywhere. We even have to stop as a mob is driven across the road.
Finally we reach the crater. Fascinating history and views. Spot our first dragons – and then keep tripping over them. Kiara and I scramble down to the crater floor. Rather quiet and hot. Rim was more interesting. Lunch under one of the few trees around, then back down the Tanami track. Long and dusty.
On way back to camp stop of at China Wall – a impressive outcrop of quartz – and Caroline Pool – a nice quiet billabong. Bit of an explore of the old town but not much there.

Day 25 – On to Fitzroy Crossing. Bit of a short drive through a changing landscape as we move from east to west Kimberleys. Cross the limestone country and hit the rich red plains. Where did the boabs go? Set up camp by the old Crossing Inn. Very nice ground with actual grass to set up on. Fitzroy river looks big as we go across. Hate to see it in flood. Stock up on supplies and information. Is that all we did?

Day 26 – Out to Geikie Gorge for a bit of a walk and a boat cruise. Spotted some brolgas on the way out. Limestone cliffs are impressive an awe inspiring. Bit of ABC (another bloody croc) happening though Siobhan was having more of an ABG moment (another bloody gorge). Cath just finished reading, and I am starting to read, a history of Jandamarra and the aboriginal resistance so this is extra interesting. Again the guide was excellent if a bit croc focused. How do the croc’s and the martins know when the river is going to flood?

Day 27 – Don’t mention Derby. Head out of Fitzroy Crossing and start towards the coast. First across vast flat plains. What would this be like in the wet? Then as we get closer to the coast the boabs are back. Some huge examples appear and demand snap shots.
As we turn of towards that place we stop in at the prison tree (or another example of a prison tree). Get to town and find the tour we were hoping to take to Windjana Gorge and Tunnel Creek isn’t running and girls not keen on staying at Birdswood Station and the highlights are not that high, except the pier and tides. Horizontal Falls tour is too expensive so why are we here? In stress of re-planning manage to jack knife trailer and wipe out Rob’s nice stone guard. Strap it onto trailer, book a cabin in Broome and calm down.
All is well again. Drive on to Broome, picking up some boab seeds for Kiara, and settle ourselves into a nice cabin as we all catch our breathe again and a dose of Rock Kwiz.

Day 28 arrives and after a lazy start we plan to visit the Court House Market, cruise around Broome and take it easy. Oh, and repair the stone guard.

Day 13 – wandering around Alice Springs, stocking up supplies and washing. A short trip to Standley Chasm. Didn’t know this was a private “resort” so cost a bit of a shock. Short walk to rather nice spot for a few photo opportunities. Hmm.
Back to slightly disappointing caravan park. Paid a lot – I thought – for not much quality. Maybe accommodation is that scarce in Alice.

Day 14 – next stop the Devil’s Marbles. Stopped at rather grubby rest stop at Barrow Creek? but fantastic old telegraph station. Good information and nicely conserved.

Arrived at Devil’s Marbles about two, so big decision to settle in or press on. Cath wins and while we set up camp with about 40 other grey nomads in vans, tents, camper vans and various other options, looking around made this a good win. Amazing, weird place. Many photos and many more at sunset.

Incredibly windy night and thought we might loose it at one stage.

Day 15 – leave Devil’s Marbles and head off. Just past Tennent Creek stop for another restored telegraph station. Pretty cool. Then stopped somewhere for lunch, something Roadhouse. Not much there but did have a goat with to kids and some peacocks. Odd.

Arrived at Daley Waters Pub for the promised unique experience. Certainly that. Ordered the Barra and Steak though price is now $28. A lot of characters, heaps of vans, happy hour and a couple of beers. Hot showers and free show with dinner, though jokes and stories seemed to still be in the 60’s music not bad. Girls dressed up and I even put on a clean shirt for up market dinner – sort of.

Day 16 – cruised up towards Katherine. Detoured into Mataranka springs for a bit of a break. Tried Roper River first but there were croc warning signs so headed to resort. Kiara and Cath enjoyed brief dip in hot springs while we had lunch. On to Katherine to briefly stock up then out to the national park to find a camp site. The reception mentioned the bats could be a bit noisy.

Circled a bit to find a site without bats then settled in. So did the bats, and more bats. Got to be a worry. A very noisy night as they cam and went.

Day 17 – more bats. Noise, crashing branches, smashing landscape. Briefly considered fleeing, but they eventually settled down, apart from the occasional crash of branches. Checked out the walks and canoe trip.

Kiara and I drove down to the Cutta Cutta caves for a tour while Cath and Siobhan recouped around camp – and washed. Caves fascinating – warm, limestone. Came back to lounge by pool and make stockman’s pie on a barbie.

Day 18 – did a short walk to cliff top above head of gorge and prepare ourselves for Friday’s Canoe trip.

Cath seems to feel this is really a lightening visit and maybe it is but still we go on.

Day 6 – having barrelled up the Stuart Highway to Coober Pedy and settled into a motel room we now indulge in continental breakfast in the hotel before moving into the camp ground. Not too bad a set up. After settling down we visited the information centre to find out what to do around the place. Then down to the supermarket to stock up.
After lunch we headed off down towards the dog fence and the Break Aways. After a short trip we realised we were low on fuel so back to Coober Pedy, topped up the tank and back out on the dirt track to the dog fence. SOunds impressive though just looks like a lot of long straight fencing. Headed north along the fence to the Break Aways which are impressive hills of multicoloured sandstone. After many stops and lots of photos we head back towards Coober Pedy were we stop at Tom’s working opal mine and a fascinating under ground tour.

Day 7 – finally out flight over Lake Eyre. A nine am flight takes us out over Coober Pedy, across the Painted Hills, alon the dog fence (second biggest man made structure but still just a long straight fence) and brunch at William Creek. Then up again and over North Lake Eyre. A very impressive sight, with water in it. Then back for for a late lunch.
A quite afternoon to plan the next few days and for Cath and Kiara to visit the Kangeroo Nursery & Art Gallery.

Day 8 – headed north to Curtin Springs. Bit of a drive to a very basic but cheap camping ground outside of Uluru. Then a rapid drive into Uluru to join the mob for sunset at the rock. Ooooooh. Cath also discovers original truffeler trees.
Fantastic moon rise over camp.

Day 9 – back to Uluru to check in at the Cultural Centre to find out a bit about the indigenous story. Then a walk into something gorge at the base of the rock. Too late for a walk around the base. Then onto the Olgas to for a walk in the Valley of the Winds. Unfortunately Kiara a bit ill so its just me and Siobhan. Still pretty cool. Rock is so much different to that at Uluru.
Back for diner and sleep interrupted by a demented emu.

Day 10 – on to Kings Creek Station for our next stop. Rather luxurious so settle in with the camels then a quick trip to Kings Canyon to see what to do. Tried the promised wi-fi but ……
Kiara decided to try her hand at scones in the camp oven. Very nice, and snacks for the next day.

Day 11 – big walk around Kings Canyon. On recommendation did the top walk. A bit difficult but well worth it. Dramatic, spectacular, steep climbs, surprising creek and chilly billabong. Scary cliffs. Stark landscape and gnarly trees. After a slightly trying 3 & 1/2 hour walk back to chill at the camp site.

Day 12 – next long drive on to Alice Springs. Time to chill, restock and catch up on Silent Witness. Now to plan for the next leg up to Katherine Gorge.

Well we have survived our first few days on our Outback Tour and are now hunkered down at Coober Pedy enjoying the luxury of a night in a motel.
Our first day out started with the usual last minute rush and chaos as we finished packing and loaded the trailer. We managed to get away only an hour late which is good for us. Then it was on the road and first night under canvas at Hattah Lakes. A lovely spot to rest after the drive even if we managed to drive past the first camp ground and spend 45 minutes looking for the next.
Up early the next day for the long drive to Wilpena Pound. A good get away but with a stop for fuel then supplies at Renmark – no fruit or veges can go across the border – it was still nearly 5 by the time we got there. Oh and it was raining. Setting up in the rain was interesting and challenging when you can hardly see to find flat ground. So we treated ourselves to dinner at the local resort. Yum.
Next day and more rain so we pottered around and add the annex and plotted things to do. Many trips to the local shop and info centre, mainly for something to do, and a short drive filled in the day. Spicy sausages and mash for dinner.
Thursday we got up to a cold but fine day so a short walk to Hills Homestead in the Pound was conducted. Get views from a wild and windy look out at the end. Then back to washing, planning and dinner. This time we tried an open fired and dahl stew in the camp oven followed by fresh bread also in the camp oven. Great success so it was worth bring the camp oven if only for bread.
Our big problem was the rain had closed the roads north so the next leg of our trip was endangered including the Lake Eyre flight. A dry day and windy night might help.
Come Friday the track north to William Creek was still looking doubtful so after a slow start and some indecision we finally took the cautious approach and decided to head south to Port Augusta and then north to Coober Pedy on the main road. Not the most adventurous choice but safer and another very long drive so here we sit in a hotel room waiting for pizza and maybe even TV! Did stop at Quorn on way down which looks nice for a future visit.
Will drop in photos and maybe fill out later.

Here we go again. Built up some LSL, the first for Cath, and ready for another big trip. This time it is around Australia. So we are tarting up the camp trailer, girding our loins and getting reading to head of for an 8 weeks road trip. Flinders Ranges, Lake Eyre, Uluru, Katherine, the Kimberleys, Ningaloo Reef then back across the Nullabor. Will we all be sane and talking to each other when we get back?