Broome to Derby, WA

Monday 28th May 2018
Well we have finally left Broome area, it feels like we have been hanging around here for a little while. Although we have been away in the Dampier Peninsula for 4 or 5 days. We are now set to move on to the next part of our adventure.

“The Gibb River Road”.

This road is from Derby to Kununurra and is a dirt road all the way. We haven’t quite decided what we will see along the way but anticipate we will be at least 10 days. We are hoping it is going to be a great adventure.

Anyway, after picking up a couple of things at the camping store, we were on our way. First stop Derby. I did some driving today before we get to the dirt track as I don’t like driving on the dirt roads too much. The road to Derby was pretty ordinary as far as highway standard goes. The scenery changed a little with the termite mounds changing colour from red to brown, some water along the roadside and a change in trees. At Derby we went to a couple of tourist things – the Prison Boat Tree, 120m cattle trough, we also had a look at the huge tides at the wharf, it was also mangroves to the shore and brown murky water. We are finally in croc country. Then a trip to the Norval Art Gallery, Indigenous art from throughout the Kimberley as well as works by other prominent artists run by Mark and Mary Norval. Whilst talking to Mark we found he was a friend of one of our friends for the surf club. It is such a small world. The artwork was really interesting and we spent longer than anticipated here, meaning yet again we didn’t make tonights intended destination.

We are at a lovely homestead “Birdwood Downs” only 16km on to the Gibb River Road. We are the only campers here and apart from the mozzies it is fantastic.

Can’t wait for this adventure to unfold. Tomorrow we are off to Windjana Gorge and Tunnel Creek. Yay!!!

: This was the scenery along the way – a lot different to the dry plains of brown spinifex we have seen for the last 500km.

: A little information about the Boab Prison Tree

: It was huge and has been fenced off out of respect for the religious significance for the Aboriginals..

: ..sometimes snakes also hide in here

: A little information about boab trees and termite mounds

: The termite mounds have changed colour from red to brown

: Myall’s Bore: beside the bore stands a 120m long cattle trough reputed to be the longest in the Southern Hemisphere. It can service 500 bullock at a time

: The sleeping boab tree

: View of the murky water and mangroves at the wharf. Time to keep our eyes open.

: The Norval Gallery

: David with Mark Norval – Artist.

: Looking at some of the ABoriginal carvings on the Boab Tree nut

: A varied display of artwork

: I loved this big works.

: Road availability

: We should be ok as long as it doesn’t rain and we haven’t seen a drop of rain for a very long time.

: Sunset as we drive in to Birdwood Downs Station

: I have decided to join the grey nomads and use a little table cloth on the table rather than clean them every time. Mind you I am not eating the usual sausages we see the grey nomads eating quite often.

: Todays travel from Broome to Derby to Birdwood Downs – 243km

: See where we are – top left corner – the blue dot.

: Choices – to Mitchell Plateau or not.

: ..this is how far without any diversions and there are so many. We have enough food for about 10 – 12 days. So only time will tell how many diversions we take. There are some homesteads that have restaurants so we wont starve once we run out of fresh food. We also bought some tinned ham and pasta and rice pouches. And we have our hiking food as well.