May - To Broome & Derby

11/5

24 days , 3700km

Spear Grass

Left Sandfire about 7.30 – drove to Roebuck Roadhouse (12pm) at cross road on Broome to Derby road so will leave van here and go to Broome tomorrow. Was a bit worried about the ‘great sandy desert’ on the map but just hours of long gentle rises and falls all the way here and heaps of low scubby country with a lot more birds – eagles in particular – until – suddenly there is really tall spear grass then out on to a very large flat greenish plain with thousands of cows and calves grazing. Maybe weaning time. Nowhere to get off the road for a photo either.

Fancy driving in low 4WD – can't remember when I put it in – I suspect De Grey free camp. Did about 50km this morning before I realised also. Nearly 200km! Need a big light – or sign to remind me! Might explain the high mpg! Up to 18 yesterday! Ouch!

Have seen small hopping things shoot across the road – maybe wallabys, but no roos or emus. More cattle behind fences thank goodness. The grey/white Brahmans rather than the red Santa looking ones further south.

The ‘oversize movement ‘signs have gone also.  Good wide roads and all the floodways for the past week have had an extra half lane of seal either side so great for moving over to see what is behind.

Massive works going on at the roadhouse – big new  truck fuel stop and I think way more parking etc. Very tidy camp but mossies in the loo so better get the cream out.

More Termites

Had dinner at the roadhouse – big Barramundi pan fried with chips and salad, and a wine. The dining room is in the bar so the concrete workers all in for a beer and watching TV. They seemed to work late last night – finished a big slab I see. Chatted to the neighbours – big double cab F250?  and triple axled van. Have been travelling since 2003! Didn’t stay long inspite of her home remedy spray – still swishing frantically! Equal parts Metho, baby oil and Dettol!

12/5

Off to Broome this morning. Lots of lovely Frangipanis everywhere and so much healthier looking than Perth ones – deep green. Went to the visitor centre but too early for whale watching. Had to walk over some natives sitting on the footpath outside. Waiting for a bus? Pretty rude anyway!

Found the town beach and some very old graves there. Then through the museum. Hadn’t thought about the Jap pearlers being in town when the Japs started bombing the place. All sent to detention camps even if they had been born here. Got rid of the Jap competition re pearls though but the industry never the same again. Out to the port – looked pretty small, then to Cable beach. Had a pizza at Zandors.

Spent ages in a mall with Telstra getting my phone sorted. Ocean Keys had put the old SIM card in so I could keep the number but it made the new phone work like the old one on 2G! Anyway – they gave me a new card with the old number and after much bother managed to transfer all the contacts over. Now have full coverage here at Roebuck where this morning I had nothing! Bought the book ‘A Youth not Wasted” – Ian Parkes – heard a revue on the radio. Also the first paper I have seen for a couple of weeks so best I start reading. A crossword finally!!!!

13/5

Drove to Derby – thought about the Willare road house but no internet!!!! Lots of Boab trees now and the termite hills are different shapes. Also go from ‘ore red’, brown, and grey to almost white. Some pink pompom wild flowers like the ones around Karijini. A lot of cattle on the roadside – mostly resting under trees. A few dead ones also including larger cattle. There is water in the ‘creeks’ – mostly pea green but couldn’t get off the road to take photos. Much bigger rivers now. Roads improve again now into the Derby Shire – bit rough around Broome! Felt like a long slow climb out or Broome then down to flood plains. The road is built high up around here – I guess it is because there are major rivers to collect the water.

Went out to the Prison Boab tree – huge! Saw the really long cattle troughs also. Chatted to a lovely old couple who have been on the road since March.

Interesting wharf – an old cattle loading place with a covered ramp and a road that you can drive right around the port on. Seriously brown water – all to do with the extreme high/low tides I gather ( see photo board).

Played wiz for a while then sat outside and read for a couple of hours. Delightful evening with Australia electrician and Swiss /German wife from Fremantle. He has a job here for a month then they head back. Seems there are a few at the camp with work for a few months – another couple have a cleaning contract with Woolworths!Cooked a steak, drank half a bottle of wine and chatted. Must do Tunnel creek tomorrow apparently. Have been trying to decide if I want to stay until Friday and do the horizontal waterfall on Thursday ($645 for 6 hour plane and boat trip) – maybe leave that for another time with Uluru etc. and go do this tunnel thing. An easy walk in apparently and only 10 – 15 minutes. Road is good also at the moment ( Gibb Road) but an all day trip. Also Halls Creek and Fitzroy are fine inspite of all the anti abo talk.