Eighty Mile Beach

To get to Eighty Mile Beach we had to travel over 9kms of red dirt & as you arrive at the Caravan Park the view you get is amazing..... palm trees and beautiful turquoise sea.

Once you are at your site though you realise  there is not a lot of shade as a Cyclone went through here last year and wiped just about everything out.     The park has done a great job though in getting it up and running in such a short time.      We are still having 30deg + weather but there is no swimming here - there are lots of sharks (not large) swimming close to shore & heard there were sea snakes & other things in the water!  That was enough for us to keep out.

Finally a catch..... there are a lot of sharks at Eighty Mile Beach only about 10 feet from where you fish.    Tony threw his back but we found out later that they were all eating the sharks as well!   We have never seen so many fisher people (men & women) fishing on one beach.    There would have been at least 60 every afternoon or morning depending on the tides.    Some drive along the beach for miles to get there catch.

We decided to drive along with the fishermen to see if the fish were up the other end of the beach, but no.... still no fish.   

As you can see from this photo the tide goes out for miles.  Everyone gets on the beach hunting for beautiful shells.    We spent hours dawdling along the beach looking for shells and managed to come back with quite a few bags full.   They are nothing like you see in Adelaide.

                                               Next camp is Cape Keraudren

Barn Hill Station

Barn Hill Station is a working Cattle Station with a Caravan Park perched ontop of beautiful red cliffs overlooking a surf/fishing beach.    To get to the Caravan Park we drove over 10 kms of red dirt and opened 3 gates to get there.  Our poor van is looking a little tardy.... covered in red dust & looks like it could do with a good wash!   Not worth doing for a few camps yet as we have more red dusty roads to travel on.
  

First things first when we arrived... after setting up camp a load of washing was needed.   I let out a little scream when I took my load of washing out of the machine ... sitting at the bottom of the machine was a green frog.  The poor thing had been washed, rinsed spun for 1/2 hour in the machine.  Fortunately another woman was there as well and she took him out for me.... stilll alive!                                                    Our camp here is shady & in the bush.   We have power & water & phone service (if you stood in the right spot) which was a surprise! 

Tony is happy as he has finally got the kayak wet.... had a beautiful paddle along the coast of Barn Hill Station but hasn't been so lucky with the fish....   I had a nice peaceful read on the beach.

Tony was very hopefull here by the look on his face..... still no fish, but enjoyed the challenge.

This picture shows the red cliffs we were sitting on, but these are the unpowered sites, no shade at all, but had spectacular views of the surf beach

185 people gathered here to enjoy a 3 course meal on the lawns overlooking the beach.  The station owner cooked home made soup, roast & vegies, fruit salad and icecream for all these campers for $15 a head.  We took our own cutlery and crockery, tables & chairs, and of course, the esky!    To top it of we had a live Aboriginal Band playing for 3 hours...... lots of rock & rolling & dancing by everyone on the lawns!  My back & a few other things suffered from all the dancing but was worth it...   has been a year now since my diagnosis but feel I am just about back now!

One of the many beautiful sunsets we have seen -                                                                    Oh and one more thing about Barn Hill... the Station owner also cooked home made bread, rolls & fantastic vanilla slices everyday!   Had to be at the shop early or you would miss out!    Just as well we are doing a lot of walking..... I seem to remember sharing one everyday!





                       Our next camp is Eighty Mile Beach..... not far to drive today!

Cape Le Veque

It is too rough & sandy a road to take caravans to Cape Le Veque so the 4 of us decided to book a Safari Tent on the beach & stay for 2 nights.   There is only 1 bedroom with a Queen size bed and 2 singles, a bathroom & small kitchen.... VERY small kitchen, but thought we could all manage to ignore each others snoring for 2 nights (Maria did buy everyone ear plugs just in case!)    We took enough food for 1 night & as it was Ossie's birthday while we were there booked into the Restaurant the other night.

Our first stop on the way to Cape LeVeque was Begal Bay.    There are mainly indigineous people living here but has the most magnificent white church which as you can see from the photo has been made out of shells.....

This is our home for 2 days.   The decking at the front overlooked the beach......

The deck was in front of our bedroom.   Ossie & Maria won the Queen bed as it was Ossie's birthday!   The tent windows had screens on which we left open all night but definitely had the zip to the bedroom zipped up at all times!   Behind the zip at the back was more decking with the kitchen and bathroom at the back.....

The first night there were a few screams & a little swearing as we had 3 green frogs which frequented the toilet & bathroom area and also hid in the cupboards in the kitchen. As you can see from this picture Maria couldn't use the toilet paper when she went in & had to resort to a tissue!  Once we realised they didn't seem to want to jump on us we were quite relaxed about them the following night - until Maria stepped on one and thought she had broken it's leg!!!

We also had a resident Goanna on the deck that came out of a pipe to scare us every now & then....

If only....... this is wishful thinking....... as we were heading to the beach for a swim in the surf we saw a fishermen who had just caught this fish so Tony & Ossie had their photo taken with it!   Our swim wasn't very successful either.... Maria & I got dumped by the surf and ended up washed up on the beach like beached whales.....   we couldn't stop laughing long enough to try & get out of the surf!

As Tony & Ossie didn't catch any fish we had to resort to cooking some fish Ossie & Maria had been given in the Broome Caravan Park..... nice recipe though.... Maria crumbed it in potato chips!

After a nice meal at the restaurant for Ossie's birthday we headed back to camp for a few night caps on the deck!   Cheers Ossie!!

After a great stay at Cape LeVeque we headed back to Broome.   Here we are stopping out in the bush to enjoy lunch with the flies.....

We had a final dinner with Ossie & Maria, Kathy & Warren at the Diver's Tavern for our last night in Broome.    Ossie & Maria are heading home faster than the Wilkins, so we will be travelling on our own again!    Next stop is Barn Hill Station.....

Broome

Tony & I haven't been to Broome before so we all decided to do the tourist thing & take the Double Decker Bus tour which took us all over Broome (we are still travelling with Ossie & Maria).    It was good a great way to get orientated and learn about Broome.  

There just happened to be a coffee truck when we stopped to see the Japenese Cemetery.    They definitely know how get money out of the tourist!     Maria & I did enjoy the coffee though!

After our 2 hour bus tour around Broome we decided on a leisurely lunch at Matso's Broome Brewery overlooking Roebuck Bay.  The ginger beer here was very good!!!

Kathy & Warren (also from Black Point) holiday up in Broome for 6 weeks this time of the year so were able to give us lots of information on Broome.    After having a Chinese meal, on Warren's recommendation, we went to the open air Cinema.  Quite unique.....    we sat in deck chairs, watched the movie on the big screen with the stars above us & as we watched the movie, planes were taking off over the screen!!    The cinema had everything from  popcorn to icecreams.....from left:   Ossie, Kathy, Warren, Sue & Tony (Maria took the photo).  

We met Warren & Kathy at the Cable Beach Resort for drinks to watch the magnificent sunset & the camels come of the beach in the dark with lights sparkling on them....then on to Zanders Restaurant over looking Cable Beach for dinner.... yummy Barrumundi & chips....

We managed to meet up with Kaye & Graeme in Broome.   We are all here watching the sunset at Entrance Point, Broome.   Looks like it has been raining here, but no, just where the tide has gone out!   From Left:  Maria, Kaye, Sue, Ossie & Graeme

Here we all are at the Broome Markets.   What a surprise to be able to see Mum & Dad in Broome 1/2 way through our trip. Standing at back Kath, Neil, Dad & front Kevin, Betty, Sue & Mum......we also caught up with them later at Johhny Chi's Lane for a Mango smoothie!!!  They were all travelling together.... caught the Ghan to Darwin, cruise from Darwin to Perth and flew home from there....

Maria & I on Cable Beach heading to our Camel Ride.....not sure what to expect!  I am not that keen on camels.... they smell, make strange noises & I believe getting up & down on them is a little scarey.....  but you have to do the tourist thing and have a camel ride at sunset on Cable Beach. 

This is Felix (our camel) he looks good sitting down but quite big & scary when he stands up!  Maria & Ossie were on Oscar who played in the movie "Australia" & he was even bigger than ours!

Here we are finally on our way along the beach to watch the sunset.   There were hundreds of people on the beach (with eskies of course) taking photos and waiting for the sunset.    Ossie & Maria are in front of us.    I think our camel liked Ossie!!!!

The Sunset was pretty special!

Next Cape Le Veque.........

Quondong Beach

We finally have internet & phone service again.     We have been camping in some great areas for the last 2 weeks but have had no service or internet so have a lot of blogging to do.........emails, phone calls etc.
(I am writing this from Point Sampson)

After travelling along the Cape Le Veque Road on a corrugated, red dirt road for about 10 kms, we finally arrived at Quondong Beach.  This is a free camp on top of cliffs overlooking a beautiful surf beach so were self sufficient with water, batteries & luckily toilet & shower in the van.    Unfortunately for me, I didn't see much of this beach but it was a great place to rest.   From the moment I arrived I started feeling very sick (no vomitting or dirrohea) but quite ill and huge headache.   Didn't eat for 2 days but slept the whole time we were there....... lucky Tony had Maria & Ossie for company.....   Judging by the empty bottles when we left I don't think they missed me at all!!!

Tony & I are camped on the left & Maria & Ossie are hidden between the trees.   The surf beach was directly in front of us & I believe Tony & Ossie tried their hand at fishing with no luck!

The beautiful sunset I missed.......

Now on our way to Broome!

Derby - Horizontal Falls

Tony is practicing his Didjeridoo while I am writing this part of the Blog & I have to say he is getting a lot better with practice, even with a few "dingo howls" & animal sounds (at least that's what I think they are!)

Tony & I both agree that Horizontal Falls was one the highlights of our trip so far!  

We were picked up from our accommodation & taken by shuttle bus to the Derby Airport where we were greeted by Ryan, our pilot for our Sea Plane.   We were all a little anxious to start with as he couldn't get us through a locked gate to the tarmac (it had a pin code to get thru which he'd forgotten) & then the refueller was 1/2 hour late, but once we were all on board we felt quite comfortable, although Tony put his hand up to be co-pilot again!!!! 
 

The views were fantastic from the air and we landed very smoothly on the water......

As soon as we stepped off the sea plane we boarded the Jet boat on the left.   It is powered by 2 x 300hp motors.  We stradled our seats, (which were close to the front so we were also in fear of getting quite wet), & hung on for a fast ride & lots of laughs!    It was quite an adrenalin rush to say the least!  

Maria & I enjoying our Jet Boat Road around the Talbot Bay

Tony, Sue, Maria & Ossie having a well deserved beer & wine on the deck of our houseboat after jet boating around Talbot Bay, up & down the Horizontal Falls & finally a swim in a cage with sharks coming up to us.......(no... they weren't in the cage with us)

Hopefully from this picture you can see the water level is significantly higher through the gap.   Our tour guide took us through here & at one stage we were completely stationary on the water.....   the tide was ripping through this gap at 35 kph!!!   

The crew on the Houseboat served us nibbles & drinks while watching the sunset & then cooked a great meal of Barramundi & salads & more drinks on the deck until we retired to our bedrooms on the Houseboat.   Up early to watch the sun rise & breakfast on the top deck... then another ride in the jet boat through the falls before boarding the Sea Plane to take us back to Derby!

View of the Horizontal Falls from the air!

Next Stop.... Quondong Beach

Derby - Windjana Gorge - Tunnel Creek - Mud Crab Races

What a surprise to catch up with Kaye & Graeme in Derby.  As it turned out they were 3 sites up from us.   We decided to meet at the Wharf for Barra & Chips & to watch the magnificent sunset.  The tide here rises to 13 - 14 metres so is quite spectacular to watch the tide rush in & out again & the Barra isn't too bad either!

Maria, Sue & Kaye enjoying a wine and Barra &Chips at the Wharf

Windjana Gorge was an interesting walk along the river bank (thankfully no bolders and rocks this time) but we were told there were at least 70 crocodiles in this area & thankfully most of them were sunning themselves on the other side of the bank.  There were a few crocodiles on our side of the bank so Tony & Ozzie decided they would see how close they could get to a crocodile!  They didn't take their eyes of him though!

I think we are nearly gorged out now.... this was a beautiful walk, but very hot & of course no swimming, so after a picnic lunch set of for Tunnel Creek

After travelling along a rough 4WD road (& the car getting airborn over a dip where the sign had been removed!!) we arrived at Tunnel Creek for a 1 km walk through a dark tunnel of cold water (& as you can see from Tony & Ozzie's wet clothes it was quite deep)  Torches were needed, walking shoes, climbing over rocks in the dark so Maria & I decided to leave this up to the guys.  We were also told there was a crocodile in there but not sure how true this was!  Sorry Karen... I just couldn't do it!!

Ozzie, Tony & Graeme at the Mud Crab Races in Derby






To join in the Mud Crab races you need to purchase a crab for $10 & choose your own crab out of a large container (their claws are tied up so they can't bite!)  then name your crab............which is scrawled on top of his shell!

Maria with her crab "Black Pointer" and Tony with "Stalker".....

We all had a great day at the races but unfortunately Stalker stayed on his back for the whole race.....we heard later he tasted good though!!