Week Five: Broome Time (Not!).

Easy to see why Cable Beach is the third most beautiful beach in the world. Stunning.

We are glad we had a relaxing two weeks before we arrived in Broome as we have hit the ground running. The last week has been pretty hectic but we have managed to have some time by the pool and a swim at Cable Beach, which we thoroughly enjoyed. The weather continues to be amazing with the temperatures in the low to mid thirties. The evenings are balmy and we have spent a lot of time outside sipping our drinks, swatting the mozzies and swiping the sand flies. I guess paradise has to have some drawbacks. 

Our tropical pool.

Our caravan park isn’t as ‘deluxe’ as the blurb stated as the sites are quite dusty and it is looking a bit run down.  The thirty metre tropical pool makes up for it but there are kids on bikes and in the pool from 7am to 6pm every day. It isn’t even school holidays. They are cramping our style. I guess we have forgotten what it is like to have kids around. Luckily they don’t bother us when we do aqua aerobics on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings at 8am. Gotta keep fit!

It was fantastic to catch up with Kelly and Grace at PCYC (Police and Citizens Youth Club) where they hand over their organic fruit and veggie boxes. They have started their own business supplying organic produce to the Broome locals called Fresh Peddlers. (Check it out at www.freshpeddlers.com.au) It is building very steadily after a baptism of fire in their first week when the first cyclone hit Broome and flooded the only road into town. Their truck was one of the first to get through the floodwaters and the girls managed to get their orders delivered before Coles got their fruit and veg so their new customers were very happy. GK has been roped in to delivering this week’s orders to those who opt for home delivery. Good. Another project to get him out from under my feet. It is fantastic having Bunnings in Broome as he has been there three times this week. He has missed his weekly ‘fix’ and I am sure Bunnings shares would have had dipped over the last four weeks when he hasn’t been able to visit/spend money.

 

Kell in black shorts and Gracie #8. "Carn Beach!"

Picking winners at the Broome races.

On Saturday morning we went to watch Grace play footy for Cable Beach women’s team. They were playing the Derby Tigers. Kelly has the dodgy Kent knees and can’t play but is team manager. They love it and have a lot of fun. We left at half time as we had to go to the Broome Races. It was another great day of people watching. We had mixed results and didn’t come home empty handed. GK had a couple of early wins but I lost my money on Shady Gray and Ballidu Bomber. It was all good fun as we caught the bus there and home again with new friends from the caravan park. No drink driving up here as the police are everywhere. 

I spotted a special on the park notice board for a day trip by catamaran to the Eco Beach Resort. We signed up and once again bussed it to Gantheume Point, where we were tendered onto our fantastic 70 foot catamaran for the two and a half hour sail down to Eco Beach Resort. The ocean was like a millpond and as we sailed along the coast we were served freshly cooked muffins and quiche from the galley. Yum! We enjoyed a lovely lunch after a tour of the resort and an explanation of all the sustainability measures the resort has in place to meet its eco standing. The resort is really struggling at the moment as the record rainfall from the cyclones has left the only access driveway off the main road under 70 centimetres of water four months after the floods. They have to bring guests in by helicopter or boat and their trade has dropped off dramatically. We were pleased to add to their economy in a small way as we know how difficult it is to bounce back after a natural disaster. 

View of Karma IV over the infinity pool at Eco Resort.

The sail home was very relaxing and we enjoyed the most amazing sunset as we approached Broome. As the tide was out we had to walk the last two hundred metres across the beach in the dark. Vehicles on the shore shone their lights to show us the way and we had lots of laughs with the other happy day-trippers as we carried our shoes and bags across the sand onto the bus. Another great day.

Staircase to the Sun! Beautiful sunset at Gantheume Point Broome.

Staircase to the Moon.

Friday night we witnessed the spectacular Staircase to the Moon once again at the Mangrove Hotel. There were hundreds of people there and we managed to get seats quite close to the railing to see this natural phenomenon caused by the rising of a full moon reflecting off the mudflats in Roebuck Bay creating the illusion of a staircase reaching to the moon. It was breathtaking to see the moon peep above the horizon and then climb quickly up into the night sky. The conditions were perfect as the sky was so clear and the stars were dazzling. Dare I say it – another great day.

This week will be quite busy again as Kell had asked us to draw up a plan for organic garden beds at PCYC that resemble dinosaur/emu footprints from above (?!!) The things we do. Another trip to Bunnings is called for to buy some spray paint to mark out the beds and string lines etc. GK was in charge but my anal personality has taken over and I have been busy cutting out dinosaur feet to scale to plot out the ‘trail’. My old mantra of "Let’s work as a team and do it my way” has surfaced much to GK and Kell’s horror. Bad memories from the past. Too bad, too sad – I am on a mission.  Hopefully it will be under way before we leave in two weeks. We will keep you posted on our results.

We have lots more planned for this week including a trip to Cape Leveque at the top of the Dampier Peninsula. So much to do – so little time. It has been lovely chatting with you. We love news from home. Please drop us a line with all your news about the kids, grand kids, travel plans etc. Our gorgeous 94 year old Mum will be a great, great grandmother this month (a little girl, Elizabeth Jane) and my brother Gary will be a great grandfather. My sister Jenny (and brother-in-law Terry!) are expecting a new baby grandson in December. Congrats to Brooke and Richie. Wonderful news for our family. Life is good. Lots of love and keep safe. 

The Krazies xxxx