Broome

So we jave spent almost 2 weeks here in Broome, apart from our side trip to Cape Leveque. We probably would have spent a little less time here only that the soonest we could get the car in for a service was the 4th of September! Mind you, we rang to book in for the service about 4 weeks ago!!! Busy people.

Anyway, nice place to come & visit. Great for R&R, visits to the beach & there are a number of other fun activities you can do.  Upon arriving & setting up at the Cable Beach Caravan Park we went over to Cable Beach & checked out the view! It was pretty good & we decided to take a walk along the sand & then had a drink & some food while we watched the sun set. We also got to see the camels walking along the beach & it was then that all the kids were keen to take a ride, so a promise was made then if there was good behaviour we would do it!

The next day we took a drive to see if we could find the dinosaur footprints. They can only be found on a very low tide but by the time we got there & found the right spot they were already covered by the water. They do have a couple of impressions up higher which the kids were keen to have their photo with.

We also went to the Broome market that happens on a Saturday & Sunday. Wouldn't rush back to this market but Pheobe did enjoy her massive icypole!

We have also been enjoying our time in the pool at the caravan park. Pretty much if we are not doing something you will find us here.

On Monday last week our acrivity for the day was going Whale Watching. We had such a fantastic experience in QLD on our last trip that we thought it would be fun to do it again. 

 It cost us twice as much as last time & we were disappointed. Not that anyone can help the weather but it was really quite rough out there & the boat that the company we used wasn't really designed for it! We did see a few whales but from quite a distance & Trent even had to hold another child over the edge while she vomited (to save it going all over us) & her family were all too busy drinking at the front of the boat!!! So I think you can now all get why it just wasn't as great as last time. Our kids did enjoy what they saw & Maurice especially enjoyed the sealegs boat ride that we took from the shore out to the big boat for the tour. He is now going to be telling Santa that is the present he wants for christmas!!! Here are the photos we did take.

This is the big boat that we went on.

This is the Sealegs boat that Maurice was super keen on. It took us from on the beach out to the bigger boat.

The kids waiting for their turn on the sealegs boat!

The one & only pic we got of the whales! See if you can spot them!

            Felicity & I on the boat.

Trent, Maurice & Pheobe on the big boat.

On the Tuesday we went for a drive to the Port of Broome. We saw a Navy ship come into the Port, it was pretty cool. We also went for a walk out on the Jetty. We saw lots of people fishing from the jetty. As we got near man who was fishing he showed us & was keen to show the kids all the fish that were out in the water. He said there was a heap of Queen fish out in the water & cast his lewer in & as he was bringing it in they were jumping & going crazy for it! He said he would catch us one & that is exactly what he did! Kids were VERY excited (& so was I to be honest!). He told us we could take it home. He also then showed us the Stingrays that were passing by in the water & we even saw a Shark! It was lots of fun & we had a fun time.

Trent with the Queen Fish that was caught for him! His kind of fishing!

We also went & had a look in 'China Town'. This is the original shopping area & main part of town in Broome. Loads of Pearl shops & I even went into the Cygnet Bay Pearls Farm showroom shop & found this:

I'd really love to have this one made into a necklace! It was beautiful.

Wednesday was spent preparing for our trip to Cape Leveque getting the camping gear ready, packing our boxes into the car & getting our groceries.

It was Father's Day when we arrived back in Broome from being at Cape Leveque. We got back around lunchtime so we took the kids to Macca's for lunch & then it was back to the caravan park to unpack, wash & repack! After cleaning up we went to the pool to cool off! It was also nice to call all the Dad's/ Granddads/Pappa's & Poppy's for Father's Day & say Hello. 

Monday we had to do a few jobs at the post office & we got a few groceries & did some other shopping at the local plaza. The afternoon we spent at the pool just keeping cool. 

Tuesday we spent the morning in the pool after changing all the bed sheets & catching up on some 'house work'. After some lunch we had showers & just rested up. 

 In the late afternoon we headed over to Cable Beach & to Broome Camel Safaris. The kids & I rode on the Camels. We went on the Sunset tour. It was great fun watching the sun go down over the water as we rode along the beach. They even gave us 3 girls pearl earings each! Flick & I rode the camel names Zorhim & Pheobe & Maurice rode Jemma. Jemma is the only female camel in the group & because she is smaller than all of the males, she is usually used for children to ride on. Pheobe was very excited about this because when she saw them that was the camel she was hoping to ride! We ended up getting all our pics on a USB stick so when we get home we can show you all. Here are some of the pics we got from my ph camera.

Wednesday was yesterday & we had the car booked in for its service. Trent got it into Toyota by 7.30am! He was back on legs at the park by around 10am. He had been to get his hair cut on the way back. We spent the rest of the morning at the pool, what else to do when its so warm & we have no car to go anywhere! After some lunch we had some rest time. Pheobe wasn't feeling all that great, so everyone had some rest time.

  We phoned about the car & hoping that it would be finished by the end of the day. It wasn't to be so we had showers & cooked up some dinner & got an early night.

Its now Thursday & hoping to be gone from Broome it isn't the case. Our car is still in at the service dept. We have booked for 1 more night at the caravan park & hope to get the car back by this afternoon. Filling in our time at the pool & when we do have the car back we need to get some groceries. Then it will be back to pack up so we can head south early tomorrow.

Anyway, hope this finds you all well. We believe the weather has been lovely the past few days, hope it stays that way & you all start to warm up. 

Cape Leveque

Hi everyone!

Its been a while since the last blog but instead of writing about our first half of our Broome stay I have decided to keep it until we finish in Broome. 

But, we have just had 3 great nights at Cape Leveque so thought we'd tell you about that. Its a place if you are in Broome that you should make time to go & visit. You can only get there by 4WD. Its about 200kms north of Broome & about 90kms of the road is dirt/sand & corrigated. 

So, on Thursday we headed off with our camping gear in the car & made our way to Cape Leveque. On the way we stopped at Beagle Bay & checked out the famous Sacred Heart Church. This church has an amazing history & it shows all through the building. It is still used today by the local community & school which is right next door.

So after our visit here we made our way to Kooljaman where we set up our camp for the next 3 nights. Trent managed to get a great site before we started setting up, he saw a whale breeching just of the western side beach!

 Once we were set up we made some lunch & then it was time to head to the swimming beach on the eastern side of the cape. We walked over past the light house to get there. It was beautiful! Lovely white sand (after walking past all the red dirt to get there) & the water is a beautiful blue & green colour but very clear once you get to it! We spent about an hour & a half enjoying the water. Back at camp we went back over to the sunset area & we watched more whales playing about in the water. Time for dinner & then it was showers & bed time. 

On Friday we took a drive to One Arm Point. This is another Aboriginal Community at the top of the Dampier Peninsula. We had to pay our $10 per adult to enter the town but it did include a visit to the Hatchery. It was pretty cool to see all the different fish found locally in the area. We had our own personal tour so it was lots of fun.

Once we finished at the Hatchery we took a bit more of a drive around & had a look at the lookout where we could see the start of the 1000 Islands & some more lovely beaches. 

 On our way back to camp we stopped by the Cygnet Bay Pearl farm to book in a tour for the next day. After some lunch we went back to camp & got organised & then got in the car & headed to the beach that you can drive on & swim at. We had a great afternoon swimming & enjoying the sunshine on the lovely white sand. 

Saturday came & we headed back to the Pearl Farm for our tour by 9.30am. First we were taken for a talk & a short DVD to watch on the history of the farm. Then we were shown pictures & had it explained to us how they culture their pearls. Then we did some Pearl appreciation & learn't about the grading & different lusters of the pearls. After that we had a look through the gallery & saw lots of beautiful designs that were displayed. We then went out on the water on the boat & we got to see where they xray, harvest, grow & culture the pearls. Back on land & back in the gallery Trent treated me to my long awaited Pearl - I will now be bringing it home to have it turned into a ring! Can't wait to see the finished product. We also got the girls and Maurie some seedless spec pearls which we are going to have made into earings. Of course Maurice will be able to just put his aside & one day can decide who he might give his too! 

 We had a light lunch before leaving the pearla farm & then headed back to camp. We spent some time at the tent & then went over to the grassed area & the sunset deck where we spent the rest of the afternoon watching whales, playing Uno & simply relaxing. After watching the sun set we ordered Pizza for dinner & ate as the sky went dark!

Today we were up bright & early for the big pack up. After that we had some breaky & then showers & we were on our way! On the way back we did drive into a couple of other Aboriginal communities just to see the difference between them all. 

We got back to Broome just on lunchtime so we had some lunch & then it was time to go back to the van & do the big clean up. We got it done & while I was finishing off the washing Trent & the kids went for a swim in the pool. Then it was time for showers, a few Father's day phone calls & some dinner. 

 Now here I am & listening to all the kids snore while I write this blog. We have a few more days left in Broome & then we will finally be making our way south! 

Hope everyone is well & you have all enjoyed your Father's Day. Take care everyone xo