Days 137 to 157
River at Fitzroy Crossing
At Fitzroy Crossing we went for a wander around town – it is very small but has one of the best supermarkets we have been in! A complete room holds all the cold storage stuff – freezers, fruit and veges, deli, meats. Good idea in such a warm climate – something we hadn’t seen before.
The rules listed outside the bar at the park we were staying at were interesting!!!! Needless to say they did not apply to Peter or Sheena as we were very well behaved during our visit!
Fitzroy Crossing was a nice place to sit back and relax for a couple of days.
Geike Gorge
We went out to Geike Gorge and did a couple of walks and then returned later to do the ranger guided boat cruise. This trip really showcased the Gorge which was carved by the Fitzroy River through an ancient limestone reef. The flood level can be clearly seen in the rocks. Freshwater crocs abounded -many sunning themselves on the banks.
Boab Prison Tree Derby
We then moved on from Fitzroy Crossing to Derby.
We did the tourist bit around Derby (there is actually not a lot in the vicinity of the township). We visited the Boab Prison Tree (it was pretty awful what happened back in the 1900s+ – people were chained together and walked across country to the west coast where they were forced into work for the pearling companies! Mostly they were young aboriginal men who were effectively kidnapped. The boab tree was used as a staging point for prisoners being walked int Derby – hence the name Prison Tree. This tree is believed to be over 1500 years old.
Cattle Trough Derby
Nearby was a cattle trough that was built to allow over 500 bullocks to water at the same time! It is 120metres long.
Derby Jetty Sunset
Derby Jetty Fishing
Derby Jetty Fishing
And don’t forget the Derby Jetty! It is a great place to fish and watch the sunset. We did both. The tides are Australia’s highest with the water moving quickly both in and out, sometimes with a variation of 11 metres. There is a great cycle/walking trail that goes from the township of Derby, across the mudflats to the jetty area. A pleasant ride!
Cable Beach Broome
Camels at Broome
Dinosaur footprint Broome
After a couple of nights at Derby it was off to Broome. What a great place to be at this time of year! Warm and dry. We are able to stay until July so…… Sheena organised the paperwork for teaching. (a tale in itself!) – and got work the next day! And then 5 days in the next week. Relief teaching has its ups and downs but Sheena is enjoying the experience – Broome High is a great school to work in, lots of support!
Fishing is again on the agenda – great places to go in and around Broome.
Golf also – on our first game we discovered there was no water on course!
Broome Golf Course
We were very dehydrated at the end. We are now taking lots of water with us when we play. We have played 2 games so far with a win each (golf not great though), so matches are now Peter 13 Sheena 11.
Pearling Lugger
Broome is a very multicultural place, the pearling industry brought in many nationalities – the town area is called Chinatown. There are pearl shops adinfinitum – we looked at pearls and pearls and pearls!
Broome has its very own brewery called Matso’s. Very interesting tasting! The Mango Chilli beer was awful! Very very HOT! However Sheena loved the Mango beer and the Ginger beer. Peter was quite partial to the Pale Ale.
Matso’s Brewery Tasting
We are here in Broome for a few more weeks so…… watch this spot!
gunnsaroundaus 