Week 6 Beginning 7th August 1998

 Day 36

The day we:

• woke early with the sunrise, mind you it sets at 5.30pm which is so early but brings welcome relief from the heat. Luke has me up early to go fishing in the lagoon beside the park, first I rang Mum and Dad, never done that before at 6.30 in the morning
• were invited onboard a local's tour boat to fish from its stern, he uses the boat to cruise tourists around and happened to be there washing it down. Luke caught a Bony Brim, good size but as its name suggests not good eating so we threw it back
• left the car to be repaired and spent the morning by the pool. When the car was ready at 2pm we collected mail and drove to the Argyle Dam and visited the Durack Homestead Museum. They relocated this stone cottage piece by piece when the dam was built to save it from being flooded. Drove across the dam wall and would have loved a swim I the overflow but this is croc country, thought the fisherman was very game
• returned to town and booked Libby's flight over the Bungle Bungles for 9.30am departing Turkey Creek (Warmun), will need an early get away but that shouldn't be hard with these early sunrises
• drove out to Kelly's Knob Lookout for views over town just on sunset
• cooked by the pool again, this time sharing the bbq with a Dutch couple
• cannot get over the ruggedness of the Kimberley and the red dust, passed 8000kms today

Day 37

The day we:

• were packed early and on the road to Turkey Ck by 6.45am, if we'd left at 7.15am we'd have been on schedule, but to allow for every contingency eg. a flat tyre, Libby has us up and out of here. Isn't she just like Ron!
• arrived at Turkey Ck at 8.50am, Eric not too thrilled at the prospect of hanging around the one shop, but the boys are happy because they've found some game machines. After a coffee (and time to have 3 more) Libby met Pilot Raynor and the Scottish couple who make up the full party - the chopper only has 3 seats so Libby got to sit in the front. After safety checks and being shown how to use the headsets they were off, what a thrill. The flight was excellent, as fascinating as hoped. We flew low and could spin on a sixpence, the view was enthralling: ranges, gorges, domes....worth all the $170 (earnt as a relief teacher) even though the trip back was a bit rough. The wind had picked up and buffeted by this and the rising thermals Libby had to concentrate not to lose her breakfast.
• back on the ground we headed on to Hall's Ck, got petrol and basic supplies but kept going until we made Mary's Pool 107kms further on.
• we're very happy with that decision, don't think we missed much at Hall's Ck and this is a beautiful spot shaded by big River Gums on the edge of Mary R. which you cross first at at a low level ford. The river is not flowing but is a chain of pools at this time of year. Spent the afternoon relaxing, collecting firewood and skimming stones.

Day 38

The day we:

• awoke at sunrise as the flock of Sulphur-Crested Cockatoos took to the wing at 5.45am, got away about 7.30am, only about 180kms to Fitzroy Crossing. Stopped at a lookout along the way to catch a stunning view across the rugged outcrops, mesa and various colour combinations from limestone through ochre red and grey
• set up in Fitzroy Crossing Lodge, a combined hotel/motel/cabin and campground. Very plush with bar, restaurant, pool, tennis courts etc not to mention flushing toilets and showers - just a tad more upmarket than last night
• visited Geikie Gorge, just 18kms out of town, right on time to catch the 11am tour cruise $39 great value for family for 1 and half hrs. Very interesting gorge with limestone reef walls, saw lots of freshwater crocs and birdlife including Brolgas and six new entries for our record
• walked to the sandbank after the cruise where Luke had a swim before returning to camp for a late lunch
• spent some time in the Lodge pool before a trip out to the Old Crossing and original Inn, knew when we wee getting close as the sides of the road were littered with red Emu Export Bitter cans. This is the locals' pub and right now it is all locked up, windows and doors barred. Not an attractive sight for tourists
• spent the evening with the Willey family from Mornington. The Dads first met while washing the cars back at Howard Springs then again in Kununurra. By coincidence the Willey's had also met the Kissicks in Alice Sp.
• (there is a proposal to dam the Fitzroy, hope the politicians visit places like Geikie Gorge before voting)

Day 39

The day we:

• prepared a morning tea and picnic lunch while Eric went for a run then headed for Windjana Gorge, it's early again as the site next to us began packing up at 5.30am
• made the mistake of allowing Eric to drive the 103kms of unsealed road, after 30kms Libby was so stressed she was fighting back tears while her protests at his reckless driving were being answered only with rebukes. The first 'difference of opinion' this trip. It must be conceded that eventually her protests were considered and we travelled a little more sedately which is just as well because one floodway that we soon crossed caused the driver to get out and check for damage
• did manage to get to the gorge without major damage or divorce and enjoyed the walk along its sandy riverbed in the company of 26 crocodiles (those we saw) and birds of all sorts. Identified what we thought was Eagle Rock from Iris's painting. 
• drove back with due care (new driver) to Tunnel Creek, had morning tea in the carpark then entered the cave. Met up with Sue Willey, their family torch had packed it in so Steve and the kids had gone ahead with others better equipped. It's beautifully cool and dark in here
• walked the length of the underground river, halfway point collapse adds to the reality of how special this is (not to mention also light and fresh air). At the far end is a very pretty creek where we met Steve and the 3 kids. Returned together and had lunch in the carpark, then went on to Windjana while we went home (meeting two big Brahman bulls on the way) for a swim and washed the car.

Day 40

The day we:

• left for Derby, only a 2hr drive which saw us through the last of the Kimberley Region to the coast. We've loved it all and heard lots of people raving about the West Region (Mitchell Falls, Cape Leveque, etc trips up the Gibb River Rd, horizontal waterfalls off the coast. Will have to leave all that to another time and another car
• visited the Prison Tree and Australia's longest drinking trough on arrival then settled into the park. Tide was right out so after lunch at the cafe we walked the semi-circular jetty overlooking expansive mudflats. Called into the Botanic Gardens, that just about sums up the points of interest of Derby
• met up with Willeys and all went off to local pool for the afternoon leaving Libby to wash and read
• went fishing off the jetty as the tide came in, it's a 10m tide today, fascinating to watch as it swirls in over the mudflats. Caught nothing but it was interesting and relaxing and the sunset beautiful over mudflats and marsh
• had tea and then the boys watched telly in the Willey van - such a treat -and the adults were left in peace so no complaints from anyone
• hear Broome is fully booked so will aim for an early departure tomorrow
• Stan and Joan Sutherland of Cobram have pulled in beside us here

Day 41

The day we:

• slept in! Well, by current standards. Eric roused us at 6.30am and we were on the road by 7.15. Well done
• arrived in Broome at 9.45am and got the last site available in Vacation C'van Pk, anyone after us to park on the side of the park driveway and run power from the toilet blocks until a site becomes available in the next day or so. Last weekend was the 'Staircase to the Moon' and 'Shinju Matsuri Festival' which pays tribute to the pearling industry's multicultural roots and so Broome is packed
• met the Willey family again, they're in our park but on the roadway for now, kids are happy
• had a swim in the lovely pool then lunch before exploring the jetty where there were heaps of fishermen as it was high tide, then drove the back-beach way to Cable Beach and on to Chinatown to browse and shop for groceries
• returned to Cable Beach for a swim about 3pm, turquoise water rolling in on pristine fine white sand. Absolutely gorgeous. Sat on the beach to see the sunset and it took Luke that long to admit he'd had enough of building dams and weirs on the water's edge. The tide was receding rapidly, these tides are huge
• realised Broome reminds us of the Noosa region years ago as investors wete just beginning to see the potential of the are and began 'cleaning up' the mangrove areas and building major hotels like 'Surfair' at Coolum.

Day 42

The day we:

• enjoyed a long lazy day. Eric ran in the morning while the rest of us stayed in bed. With no driving for a few days we set up the awning, got to meet the neighbours, swam in the pool, read books and magazines etc
• sat back and watched John (teacher from Busselton) and family on the site across from us slowly packed up their outfit, today they head up the Gibb River Rd so will leave the van in Broome and be in tents from now until they return in about 6 weeks
• retained our seats to watch while Steve manoeuvred the Willey van onto John's recently vacated site. The kids enjoyed a trip through the park in the partially collapsed van
• really picked up the pace after lunch, drove into town to take a look at Town Beach and Action Plaza then along Jetty Rdto find Anastasia's Pool, a rockpool crafted by a lighthouse keeper for his disabled wife. Got lost, finally found the track then blew a tyre as we arrived at the carpark. A stone had pierced one of our good tyres (just when we thought this would be a cost effective day). Also here are dinosaur footprints only seen at low tide that date back 130 million yrs, we located the replicas as the originals were stolen
• spent the rest of the day on Cable Beach. Children all enjoyed fish and chips as we watched the sunset then we dashed to town so they could see 'Dr Doolittle'  at the outdoor Sun Picture Theatre and the adults had a beautiful meal at the Roebuck Hotel. This is living.