'Wherarwee' in Oz: Log 15-07 Broome

Sorry last log was so late, I thought I would include Broome but there is too much to say.

We’ve booked in to Broome caravan park for 1 night (all that was available) to give us time to look around. We were able, by arriving at 7:00 AM, to get a site at ‘The Pistol Club’ for 1 week so we stayed. Thankfully the range wasn’t used much so not too many gunshots. This place was also packed out with people waiting as others moved out. Apparently at this time of the year, Broomes modest 14,000 residents swells to 3 time this amount so it was a bustling little metropolis. There are 2 shopping centers 10 caravan parks (plus overflow parks) 1 post office 100 shops selling pearls & about 500 restaurants.

We have spent our days seeing the town sights, fishing from the long wharf (tide range of 7mts.), riding camels down the beach at sunset, just absorbing the atmosphere of the town. Cable beach, with it’s golden sand, is 22K’s long & divided into 2 sections. The first for swimmers and was well populated every day as the temp is in the low 30’s by day & high teens at night. The rest is for cars, at sunset people bring down dinner, wine, chairs & tables & just enjoying being there. Some nights there must have been 1000 cars on the beach, we even took the scooter down on to the beach. There are little 50cc scooters for hire & these dominate the town, everywhere these little buzzers scoot around the place like flies around at a picnic.

We went fishing Monday & Liz caught a huge eel. I was a bit luckier as I caught a nice (I think it was) golden trevally. I say think it was because when I got it to the surface there was only a head, Shark? Barracuda? Who knows, but the people around had a good laugh. The next one was compete, thank goodness, & about 45cms long, I though it was good until someone else caught one a mt. long! Anyway, we filleted it & had it for dinner. Deeelicious!

We seem to fill every day doing things, it’s great to know that when you get up it’s going to be another great day though we keep reminding ourselves that this is winter. When dinner is over & the cleaning is done we are happy to lay our heads on the pillow for another night. Yes, the red dust is still here. Even redder in this part of the country, but as we’re sitting still it’s easier to cope.

So. Our week is just about up & we’re still enjoying being here so we pleaded to be able to stay another 2 days. We don’t do much but the days just fill themselves, we’ve been fishing twice more but with no luck, we’re going to try to get to Quondong next, just 53K’s North of here, 33K’s dirt. Would you believe it, our last 2 days & David & Sally, Jim & Georgie, 2 couples from our club have turned up. We've had a couple of happy hours with them & it is nice to catch up.