Cable Beach

After a long week of work for Cathy, we headed to the Broome Market to mingle with the masses. Cathy bought a new pair of bathers, so it was off to Cable Beach to try them out. We had a lovely swim before some rain arrived. We almost had the beach to ourselves.

An unusual stormy outlook for Broome.

Budgie flight to Bidyadanga

Cathy was up with the birds for a walk before catching the little twin engine plane to Bidyadanga. It was another busy day of kids to be seen. The medicine is not that hard but working in environments using different computer systems with staff I don't know always keeps me on my toes. Luckily the clinic nurses and ALOs were helpful. Now I have to catch up on all the dictating!
Flying back to Broome I enjoyed the views of the Bidyadanga community from the air and, further up the coast, remembered good times at Barn Hill in 2006 with Jess and Andy.

Barra watching Staircase to the moon

Last night, David and I went out to dinner at Town Beach Cafe where half of Broome had arrived to watch staircase to the moon. They were equipped with tripods and lenses as long as your arm to capture the phenomenon. My little camera just couldn't compare. My tip - buy a postcard with a great picture and just enjoy the view.



Dinner was delicious - my first barramundi in the Kimberley this trip.

Back to Broome

I arrived back in Broome yesterday and found my spunky husband still adores me and still fits into his Bushman's hat.



We watched the Cable Beach sunset through Kimberley glasses.



Some like star-gazing, others like naval gazing, but I played with my new toy and got to see my own ear drums. I'm hoping this new magnascopic otoscope helps me to teach a few more students and get some good pictures for talks.



When David was studying audiology, everyone would look into his ear and cry "Oh my goodness". Now he can see why!! This is what a life in the surf as a teenager can do to you.

Broome

Today, I got to the most westerly and most important location of my journey - Broome. Cathy was delivered early by Qantas - happy and healthy - Mother doing fairly well. We sat on Town Beach having smoothies and a BLT. It was great to be together again. Even better once we obtained a key to our flat (Things run differently in the Kimberley)

Derby

Almost to Broome!! It was WakeUp, GetUp, PackUp, StartUp. Early morning travel is good (no traffic) but also bad (Oh Uh....that was some pothole!!). Saw a wild donkey, wallabies, cattle grazing and a group of 15 hikers.

I had breakfast overlooking the King Leopold Ranges. Ahhhh..You can feel the serenity.

Following unseasonal rains in May some of the water crossings still had a good covering of water. This one must have made the brakes as I saw steam coming from below (not that I was driving fast). Quite a lot of the last 120km is sealed so it was a easy run into Derby. 1 more day of travel. WOOOHOOO.

Mt Barnett

Slept in and had breakfast before I left Kununurra. But thanks to a 1.5hr time change I left at roughly the same time as every other day. I stopped at the start of the Gibb River Road for a photo and to reduce the pressure in the tyres. This makes for a more comfortable ride.

About an hour into the drive is the Pentecost River. A very stony crossing that's best taken very slowly. An hour further on is Ellenbrae homestead.

Aptly described as "An Oasis". They serve up killer Scones with Jam and Cream. Parked in there driveway - with 4 very sad looking foreign tourists and their bags - was this broken down Gemini.

I had seen it the previous day in Kununurra being pulled over by the Highway Patrol. It looked like it would fall apart then - how they managed to get so far astounds me (I think they must have been towed to the driveway)

At the end of the day was a delightful and chilly swim in Manning Pool.

The Joys of Long Distance Travelling

You are never really by yourself - the road is full of Caravans, Road Trains and Road Kill. Fortunately the Troopy is high enough to clear the road kill without swerving around. So what am I enjoying?

1. The Stereo. I've listening to a lot of stuff. So far Alan Alda reading his book "Things I Overheard While Talking to Myself" has been a highlight. Comedy by Bob and Tom, Billy Connolly, George Carlin and Richard Jeni. Music by Dido, The Pigram Brothers, U2.
   
2. The Cruise Control. It had a couple of hiccups but I wouldn't travel without it.
   
3. The GPS, Laptop and Instamapper. Its great for tracking where you are and what's coming up. John has been following me on Instamapper. I think I'll have to get a webcam and upload a photo every 5 minutes!!
   
4. The Changes in Scenery. OK sometimes it takes a long time to change. Arriving in the North East was wonderful.
   
5. The UHF Radio. For an occasional laugh at the antics of others.
   

The not so enjoyable:

1. RoadHouse Toilets. Like wild animals - approach with caution.
   
2. Diesel. If it spills on your hands, it has a half life of about 4 hours.
   
3. Wind. It's been strong and there's no where to hide.
   

I'll be in Broome/Derby soon. Then someone else can drive....

Kununurra

It worked so well yesterday - I did the same today - got up, got packed, got going. I had the road to myself, a beautiful sunrise behind me and no wind!!! Breakfast stop was at Victoria River.

Yes, this is what I was looking at whilst I had breakfast. Quite spectacular. The next 50-60 km is very similar and includes the Joe Creek walk that Cathy and I enjoyed in 2006. I handed over all my fruit and vegetables (1 Lime) at the Quarantine Stop as I entered WA.

A walk to the shops to buy the essentials for a trip along the Gibb River Road - A 6 pack of VB; and to restock my depleted fruit supply.

Katherine without Catherine :(

I reached the most northerly location on this journey - Katherine. It was a very cold start at Three Ways - I just packed up and left. Breakfast had to wait until I was 150km down the road and a bit warmer. At Renner Springs I started chatting with a man from Perth who's heading home after his wife flew home due to a family death. His going the long way, expecting to be home in October!!!

The Stockman Gallery in Mataranka made me the most amazing Mango smoothie. I might be hungry by dinner time but I doubt it. I am looking forward to my trip into WA tomorrow.

Three Ways

The wind started early - 20-30 km/h gusting to 50 km/h. Because I was heading basically west it had a greater impact today. Saw mainly caravans and road trains until 20km from Three Ways when I past a cyclist struggling in the wind. I made Three Ways, set up camp and had a shower when Jesse (the cyclist) rolled in. He had started at Barkly Homestead at 5am this morning and came 180km today. Jesse is riding around Australia "to raise money and people's awareness of Huntington's Disease". Check out his blog and Make a Donation

I won't complain about the wind again - at least not until Around The Bay!!

Mt Isa

Dad help me hook the trailer back on before I dropped him at the Qantas terminal. It was a fun couple of days in Longreach. The wind picked up as the day went on. Fortunately it was from the back left and wasn't pushing me off the road too much. Had a great burger at McKinlay for lunch, and a sensational coffee at Cloncurry.

The last 120km into Mt Isa are a complete change from the open plains and grasses of recent days. I was too tired to find alternative accomodation when the campsite was full - so I booked into a cabin.

Longreach

We started with the Qantas tours - The 747, The 707 and a Wing Walk. It is still hard to comprehend just how big a 747 really is. The afternoon was spend reading all about the pioneers and stockmen in the Stockman Hall of Fame.

Sunday morning we travelled 50km along the dirt to "Starlight's Lookout". Len Beadall would comment "You can see a lot more of nothing from up there". We returned to the Qantas Museum for lunch and a look around.

It's a long reach to Longreach!!

A very cold start with ice on the windscreen and very thick patches of fog. I timed my run through Sydney to miss the peak hour traffic and arrived late morning to meet John, Suze and Millie. They were just recovering after an exciting time in Alice Springs (Two Weddings and a Birth).

Just a short hop to Port Macquarie the next morning. Dad and Irene were just finishing their cups of tea on the balcony. Dad and I went on a PMQ Tour including some new estates and the new Golf Course. The All You Can Eat Buffet Dinner was too much - I should have stopped after the second lot of ice cream.

On Wednesday morning we headed of early along the Oxley Highway to Tamworth and beyond. The weather was wild across the plateau - very high winds and constant rain. We were very happy to arrive at the Pie Shop in Narrabri for a well earnt lunch.

The Australia Telescope is located just outside Narrabri. A series of 6 small telescopes which, when combined together, are equivalent to a dish 6km in diameter!!! We managed to arrive at our overnight stop - Caloola Farm Stay - just before dark. A long days travel - starting with the twisty climb and ending in the long outback straights.

Richard and Bev were our very friendly hosts. Bev made a "basic meal" of satay beef and vegetables followed by pavolova - thoroughly enjoyed. However, the conversation of meat cuts, abbatoirs, etc didn't help my digestion.

Thursday was a long day of travel via Bourke to Charleville. At least we managed to keep the rubber side down. With approximately 200km between major towns - it was a day typical of the long distances and sparse population of outback travel. A visit to the COSMOS Centre after dark was illuminating!!

I was glad to roll into Longreach - 2800km and 6 days after leaving home.

Docklands for a day

Cathy managed to fit heaps into her day today. A long run was followed by having her hair done at the hairdresser, some quick grocery shopping then lunch with a couple of interns discussing careers, life and endless possibilities.
As it was the last day I could see my brother Phil who is over from Mexico, we headed into the Docklands precinct so Romi could have some fun at the Wonderlands amusement park there. As you can see, Romi had great fun catching fish and collect soft fluffy toys as prizes.



She won so many small ones and charmed the ticket vendor so well that she ended up with Scooby Doo. Scooby then magically turned into a giant Penguin.



Cathy and Sandy discovered there were shops still open and bought "zapatos"- 2 pairs each! We generously suggested Phil buy a pair too as size 13 shoes are hard to find in Mexico. Romi kept bouncing on the bungee trampoline.



The coloured lanterns at Harbourside shone down on us as we had a pub meal before heading home. Now we have to save up holidays and money to go to Mexico again.

The Lost boys return

The Jones boys have scattered interstate and overseas but we welcomed two of them back for a get together at Jenny and Rod's house on Tuesday. Unfortunately, Chris couldn't make it down from Sydney on this occasion.



Phil and Sandy showed us their wedding DVD and it was lovely to share the occasion with them after dinner.



It was Romi's 8th birthday just before she left Mexico but we helped her to celebrate it Aussie style. Brianna and Joel were happy to help her blow out the candles.



Jane and John were in town and joined us for the happy occasion.

Saturday Football - Hawks vs Cats

It was the clash of our footy teams at the MCG - Hawthorn vs Geelong. Phil flew over from Mexico to witness the spectacle. Mitchell and Rod joined us for the occasion too.



Let's just say "Lucky there were plenty of smiles before the game for Cathy" Hawks lost by a couple of points. If only Buddy had kicked that last shot from 60 metres!!

On my way

I managed to get away just before 8am after an early morning visit from Russell to drop off my charger for the GPS. It was overcast for most of the day before breaking up in Mid New South Wales. The roads were wet but I never had to drive through any rain - I was chasing it all day. Just a couple of short stops before stopping for the night at Goulburn.