Last days in and around Broome

Day five in Broome and after doing the normal ablutions run and laundry duties (sigh) it was time to decide what little activity we might do today. Not too energetic, just some low level activity to while away our time here! We decided to take a trip about 50 Ks out to catch up with a mate of Kevin's who's staying at a station further out from Broome proper.

Temperature around 27 (nothing new there), and a slight breeze (a little un-seasonal). It looks like the biggest decision of the day might be which pair of shorts and what tshirt to wear, and will I need a light jacket by the end of the afternoon- pretty stressful decisions I know!!

Had a great few hours at Barn Hill. The road in was rough, and there were three gates that needed opening (my job apparently) but the beach was beautiful with a rugged red coastline that met the white sand on the beach. The amenities were an experience, lots of corrugated iron, red dust cement, and plenty of fresh air round the ankles - in fact there was quite an 'alfresco' feel to the toilet!!

Back to Broome and it was time to get ready to head out to dinner - feels like we drift from one eating session to the next - and then an early night ready for our big trip to Cape Leveque.

The big trip to Cape Leveque meant an early start and out to the bus by 7.00AM. When the four wheel drive turned up looking less than average, with bits that looked like they might fall off, I thought we were in for a repeat of our 'Barry an Betty' bus trip to Ayers Rock! But it was too late to back out, and we'd paid our money, so it was grin and bear it and get on the bus.

When we headed off down the road at 100Ks an hour and hit the red dirt at exactly the same speed I was sure we were in for a treat! I calculated thatvwe had to survive for the next twelve hours because that was our estimated return time should we survive! Of course survival wasn't guaranteed and when we were asked for contact numbers of our nearest and dearest should an accident befall us, to say i was nervous was a huge understatement. 

So with red dust flying and bottoms bouncing wildly on seats, we carreered off down the road. And in a manic sort of way I was actually starting to enjoy the trip.

Our first stop was a beautiful little church at the aboriginal settlement at Beagle Bay where we had morning tea offered to us, should our stomachs settle enough to eat it. We were all starting to joke amongst ourselves about the ride, one guy insisting that any gold that was found on the bus floor was certainly out of his teeth!! It was either very nervous laughter, or we were all starting to enjoy the ride.

After morning tea it was back in the bus and off to the marine hatchery were we had a tour and had the opportunity to hand feed a Barramundi. We were told the huge fish would just suck the food from our fingers very gently.. We were told wrong. After the first big splash and grab of the food we realized we'd been 'had'! The barramundi jumped out of the water and snatched the fish and generally scared the living daylights out of everyone. And yes Kevin got it all on camera and has refused to allow me to delete the hideous photo of my face in shock after the barramundi assault!! The hatchery tour was a great success, except for the fish scare, then it was back on the bus and off to Cygnet Bay to the pearl farm.

Lunch was waiting for us at the Pearl Farm and we were all pretty hungry by this, so jumped into some pretty nice food laid on at the little cafe onsite. Then it was off to learn all there is to know about pearls. The tour was pretty good and I'm sure Kevin was keen to buy me the $13,000 pearl at the gallery there, but i said I was happy to wait for a diamond from the Argyle Diamond Mine instead!!

After our tour it was back on the bus (which wasn't half as scary now) and off to the beach at Cape Leveque). Our driver deflated the tyres, put it into four wheel drive, suggested we fasten our seatbelts tight (like they weren't already) and we headed off through the soft sand hills to the beach.  We got there safely with a few prayers being said, and them spent the next hour walking the beach and generally soaking it in. Afternoon tea was tea and bickies on the beach. Then it was back on the vehicle and over to the west beach to watch the sun setting on the red rocks of the beach. It was quite spectacular and a great way to end our visit to the Cape. 

So with the tour over it was back on the bus for the bone-shaking three hour journey back to Broome. My back may never be the same again, and I've never been more pleased to have the extra padding on my butt, but all in all it was a great day and we were really pleased we did it! Tomorrow we intend to just draw breath, put our feet up and generally relax before we head off from Broome on Friday.