The navigator blew it again! Fair dinkum, we had around 400k of dirt this week. And what did we get out of it? A play, a creek, and a riverside camp. Not forgetting more little broken things, and our hairiest river crossing to date.
The play “Jandamarra” was the aboriginal perspective of a young aboriginal leader in the late C19th. He killed a white police officer and then led the settlers a merry dance for a few years until his ultimate shooting at Tunnel Creek in 1897. This was an open air production in another magnificent Gorge- Windjana.
Next day we visited Tunnel Creek. Sue actually followed the underground water course for some .5km or so – she reckoned it superb.
About 30k short of the bitumen we came to THE river crossing! Onwards or backtrack 180km of dirt? The driver actually felt the wheels slip for a very long 5 to 10 seconds! Or maybe it was 1-2 seconds,but still – all you can do is nothing except keep calm, keep it straight and maintain constant revs on the engine!
Back to the bitumen and overnight at The Boab rest area. Possibly the biggest we have seen to date. But next day we were in the dirt again to Myroodah Crossing on the Fitzroy River. This was not one we were game to tackle – think we have done our last one, at least until the driver can afford new underwear. Across the river mustering was in full swing on two properties; so we were treated to a stream of 4 wheel drives and road trains tackling the crossing. We just watched whilst Geoff tried his hand at barra fishing (nil result).
Overnight Friday was at Willare Station. Geoff tackled a Kimberley scotch fillet steak. Bloody big and bloody beautiful. Thought of Dale & Ross as he consumed it. Noticed a slashed sidewall on a tyre in the morning. Reckon we must have been within a mm or two of a blow out.
Saturday we hit Broome (population 13200; July average 12-27C]. It is a bit of a reconnoiter as we have to back track to Derby (240k) for the Horizontal Falls adventure on Tuesday. It is race weekend this weekend so many retailers, including tyre dealers, are shut! Already checked out Cable Beach, the dinosaur footprints and the weekend markets. Also trying to arrange some accommodation for later next week – not easy! Today (Sunday) we had a swim at Cable Beach and then watched the famous sunset.
Had thought we might hang around here for a week or so; but Sue is still suffering from the night life – apparently it is midges which cause her rashes – so maybe we will have to head a little more south instead. But hopefully the cooler overnight temps in Broome might do the trick anyway.
Still can not buy casks of wine here, none since Alice Springs (which was in the process of banning them when we were there) and none likely before Geraldton – 1000k or more south.
But at least in Broome there is some wine in bottle shops at bottle shop prices not restaurant prices! All this rubbish about limiting supplies and/or trading hours plus ludicrous service rules is a futile attempt to limit the supply of alcohol to a subsection of the aboriginal population. Thought society had already learnt a number of times over the years that attempting to control this kind of problem by limiting supply does not work. No wonder the locals get a bit stroppy on the subject. (And by all accounts there are a few Al Capones out there making their fortune.)
Still having a fantastic time over here; but August is nearly upon us already! Heard you had a warm one in Hobart today. Hope you enjoyed it.
