19th – 21st Aug. - South from Broome.

The Kimberley’s were always our planned destination in this long awaited journey.  Originally we had planned just to come here and then to return home by the same path.  So many plans have changed since then and even now we only look a couple of days ahead now.  Leaving Broome we counted this as the start of our journey home. It may take a couple of months but a start it is.

 The country continually changes as we move around this great nation.  Once we head south the great flat plains continue but for a while the trees disappear to reveal vast grasslands.  Cattle stations make up most of the pastoral and farming activities in this corner of Australia.

Traffic is not heavy and we meet oncoming vehicles about every four to five minutes.  We are surprised s to how few trucks we meet considering that there are no rail lines to the Kimberleys.  When we set out we had not finally decided on our destination .  We arrived at the turnoff for the first option (Barnhill Station) before 9:30am so decided this was far too early to be making a stop.  We travelled on another 200 klms to Sandfire Roadhouse (first fuel stop after Broome) where we stopped for fuel.  There were two distillate bowsers here but one was taken up by a drilling contractor who was filling up a large tank so he could refuel his rigs on site.  The line up of caravans at the other bowser was as long as the fleet of trucks demonstrating on the streets or Canberra this week.  Quite a sight.

 Then we headed off toward the coast and set up camp at Eighty Mile Beach, a beautiful white sand beach in as remote a spot as any in Oz.  Here a Caravan Park had been established on cattle station property and thousands of vans pass through this place every year.  This stop for us (two nights) was a most relaxing time.  A short 40 metre walk and we were on the beach and for Alice this meant collecting hundreds of seashells of all different varieties and sizes.

A different meaning to "drive down to the beach".

Hundreds of klms from town but 260 camp sites full.

 As we have found so often in this journey these remote places often cut us off in communications.  Here the tv and phone only just came into range and only at night.  We had a great rest here and have some pleasant memories.

One of the main activities at this camp.

The outgoing tide forms its own sculpture in the fine sand.

And as always the day ends.

 From Eighty Mile Beach we moved to Cape Keraudren, a shire council reserve about 130 klms further south.  (From Ian)

Alice picks up the story here:-

Every now and then we find ourselves in a breathtakingly beautiful place. Here the winds sing a song to join the choir of seagulls. The turquoise or coral blue water is just stunning as it makes its way into Cape Keraudren to echo full tide.  Tiny birds flutter among the small green shrubs which line the red rugged cliffs. These form a green border along with the white flowers, on the pretty blue bay. This bay is quickly changing as waves are now gently starting to bounce of the red rocks. It is gentle place.

Cape Keraudren - view from our camp site.

A call from nature and off the visit the pit loo was really quite different.   As I approached the little white building a large thick tail was half way out of loo2. It was a mummy roo having a drink from the flush bucket. Returning with my camera she stood up and I caught a peek of a tiny Joey popping his nose out to look at this somewhat surprised visitor to her toilet. My next dilemma was how to get into the toilet…?  Thinking for a moment (urged on by nature) I decided to speak to the roo and told her to come off the ramp  which she did. Good roo. ! Whew.

Now is this the mens or the womens?

Once back to the van I needed a coffee I turned to the sink and discovered Mummy roo was very clever. She followed me into the van. Ian awoke in a sudden start half asleep he was trying to figure out how to assist mummy roo out. Alice however wanted a photo first. After all such bush visitors are on the list of a little unusual. But since she had a baby in her pouch I’m sure our van looked wonderful retreat from the hot sun and maybe she would get a free lunch.

Uninvited visitor.

Feeling totally relaxed I know to get great photos I will need to leave my comfy chair. Neighbors told us whales were frolicking in the bay earlier this morning. I wonder what we will see on our walk.

Packing a small backpack and water, we headed for the beautiful horizon. A beautiful cliff scene lay before us. We suddenly felt the urge to get adventurous. And decided to follow a obvious roo trail towards the cliffs A dead end but lovely photo shot, Mummy roo has a nice view too.

God's garden by the sea!

The perfect fishing spot.  We met couples who have been here for over 3 months.

Backtracking we rejoined the path and once over the hill a majestic blue Indian ocean lay in our sights. This oh course was bordered by God’s garden with light and dark pinks mingled among variances of sage and dark green foliage dotted with pretty yellow pin head flowers all back by red ochre rocks Ian felt they were probably a ancient laver flow , they were very unusual with lots of holes.  Somewhat different a path, but by now we were happy we didn’t take the advice of the ranger to 4wd with our van to find a camp spot. The camp spots were amazing million $ views not bad for 20 bucks.

 We wandered for what seemed a long time stopping to enjoy a blowhole and turtles bouncing on the glistening ocean.  We sat down and ate our snacks watching the distant sand cliffs of 80mile beach and softly bouncing waves roll in and out over the sand. We met a camper packing up. He had been here 3 months. It would be easy to forget there really was a sad world outside the beauty and stillness of this place.

And as always the day ended, and God saw that it was good!

 Once back in camp we rounded our day by another short stroll and then a wonderful crimson red sunset over the ocean and bay. What a lovely day. Tomorrow - where?  Who knows where but it should be south.