Day 13; 19-07-2012

We got an early start at 0545.  Packing up in the dark, we tried to be as quiet as possible so as not to disturb the other residents of the campground.  It was great to get such an early start as there was no traffic to contend with on the Gibb River Road or the Gorge road.
It took us 5 hours to get to Broome where we rocked up at the Broome Caravan Park and fortunately managed to get a couple of spots.  The place is jam packed with vans of all sorts and sizes.  After lunch at a nice little cafe in town,  We took a drive around to Gantheaume Point which has some dramatic shore lines which show signs of millions of years of erosion.  I plan to go back tomorrow and have a bit of a play around with my camera and tripod.
Not much else to speak of today so I'll turn in for the night.  No early starts tomorrow so a sleep in will be in order.

Links:
Google Maps reference is -17 54.80, 122 15.067
See more images at... https://picasaweb.google.com/106361511620108780730/Day1319072012

Day 12; 18-07-2012

After Leaving Derby at around 0730, we stopped off at the Boab Prison Tree which is a grand old tree reputed to have been used in the 19th Century as a prison for aboriginals.  It's a large tree hollowed out by time and estimated to be thousands of years old.
Before leaving there, we agreed to a change of plans (because we can) and instead of going to Broome, we decided to head up the Gibb River Road to Windjana Gorge.  We had already planned to go there after Broome but this way, we save some backtracking.
The road into the Gorge was quite an experience - very rough with lots of large corrugations.  When I say large, the pitch of the corrugations was such that your tyres actually fit in the dips thus resulting in a very rough ride.  One particular patch of road was so rough that our stainless steel aerial snapped off at the base.
The campsite is an area nestled right beside the gorge. 
As we arrived at the registration station, we passed a bloke on a push bike.  I couldn't believe, this poor bugger traveled that road on a bike.  Interesting to note though, that he was standing on the pedals - not sitting on the seat.  After settling in, we took a 3 hour walk through the gorge on the banks of the Lennard River.  In the dry as now, the river is a series of pools inhabited by Barra and freshwater crocs.  I'd estimate we saw about twenty crocs along the way.  The limestone walls of the gorge stand up to 100 metres high.
I have to confess a story about yours truly when it came to bath time.  The facilities at the camping ground were surprising - they had hot/cold showers and flushing toilets and very clean.
I wandered over to the showers.  When I got in there, there was only one cubicle available so I set up camp.  The cubicles were very roomy with a shower curtain across the end.  There was quite a draft blowing through under the walls which kept blowing the curtain up.  I remember making a mental note to myself that lucky we all have the same tackle in here as the curtains may as well not have been there at all.  I was just about to drop the daks when Barb walked in and made comment that there was no cubicles left.  Holy crap!!!  I'm in the women's showers!  I grabbed my stuff and bolted out so fast that I left my soap behind.  Trying to be discrete about it, I whispered to Barb (who took my cubicle) to pass my soap over the wall.  She said "here Robert" in full voice - thanks Barb.  Just lucky that everybody were in their  cubicles when I went in there because I'm not sure who would have got he biggest fright.
Oh well - nobody was injured in the incident.


Links:
Google Maps reference is -17 24.867, 124 56.60
See more images at... https://picasaweb.google.com/106361511620108780730/Day1218072012