New Pastures to Explore - our trip around Australia: Sunday 14th & Monday 15th September – Broome

Middle Lagoon was very cloudy and humid this morning. We did not leave until 9.30am doing a slow pack up. When we visited One Arm Point, we saw on the maps some short cut roads to Beagle Bay community and back on to the Cape Leveque Road, so decided that we would take one of these. The first turn off which was well used seemed to be a few more turns than the second turn off. After our short cut route we really wished that we had taken the first turn. The turn we took was not well used and there were saplings over the track. After we had travelled a couple of kilometres, we noticed a vehicle behind us and pulled over to let them pass. They were doing the same and decided to follow us

We stopped at the point where we had to turn right to get to Beagle Bay and there was a private property sign denying access. We decided to have a cup of tea and Gabriella & Scott and kids pushed on. We finished our cuppa and had just started and found them coming back. Their Hema live track mapping did not have as much info as our Memory Map live tracking, so we became the leader and went back to find the turn they missed. We found the turn off and were tracking very nicely thank you very much for Beagle Bay, when within about less than half a kilometre the track finished into bush with no way round. We were now doing the scenic tour. We back tracked and found another track to the highway. It was interesting that we did far less kms than if we had driven the normal route, because with all of the back tracking we felt we had gone further. It was time that we lost. If we had gone the normal way we would have already been in Broome, but on the other hand we had an adventure and met other travellers. When we reached the main road, we all had a good laugh at our “shortcut” . We got to see some interesting scenery, some brolgas and a donkey. Scott & Gabriella are heading south via 80 mile beach and Karinjini NP, so we might see them on the way again. They are from Albury area.

Several donkeys came out of the scrub when we were back on the bitumen.

This is the angle of the road – felt like we were on the American Indy track. In the wide road sections, everyone is all over the road – you move across to your rightful place when you get near. At one stage our on coming car was on the right and so were we, trying to get the best bit of road, as we approached, we both moved back to where we were supposed to be. There have been no close calls, as everyone knows to get in position well before. It is amazing that we can manage to dodge everyone and don’t need lines or signs to tell us that it will hurt if we get it wrong.

This van was in the middle of the road. It wasn’t there when we drove up. Some unfortunate back-packer has lost everything. Taking his old 2wd on this 4wd road, the van just packed it in and caught fire. All of the burnt out cars on the road are 2wd, so I don’t know if the others were abandoned and burnt in bush fires or caught on fire like this one.

We arrived late into Broome Bird Observatory and claimed back our previous camp site.

These are the resident wallaby, they are Agile Wallabies. They are so nervous that you can’t even get close and they bolt. I did a very slow sneak up on this one. They are a yellow tan colour.

Monday 15th September – Broome – early it was hot and humid without a breeze.

The light house and point.

We left early for Gantheume Point to see the dinosaur prints at low tide. There is no trail down and the rocks are slippery and there is no guide on site to tell you where they are. The map they publish in the tourist booklet gives you an idea, but there is a lot of area to cover to locate them. Most people thought the same thing that it would not hurt to put a permanent marker to make it easier.

A little bit of the tidal pond life.

The prints were on loose rock, a rare stegosaurus print was stolen a number of years ago and I can see how easy that would have been.

You have to climb down from the cliff top amongst the slippery rocks, so this is for the keen and agile.

We called into Roebuck Bay beaches near the Bird Observatory to have a look see. There were a few hermit crabs on the beach. I got this reluctant one to pose for me.

I took this photo of the Agile Wallaby at the “Shade House”, it is the camp kitchen that has water for the birds and animals outside. There is a small camera window to take photos from. This is a female with a Joey and she bypassed the low pond to drink from the bird bath.

The Camp Kitchen, you can see the camera window near the notice boards. No one is allowed to go around the back area except staff so that the wildlife come in freely.

They have a free condiment-herb-spice mixes for everyone to use.