3 and 4 August 201180 Mile Beach to Broome to almost Kununurra

3 August 2011 80 Mile Beach to Broome

We got an extra early start today, the object being, getting
a powered caravan site in a very busy Broome.

We left 80 Mile Beach right on sunrise, 6:10am, on our way
to Broome. We drove to dirt road out to the highway in semidarkness. By the time we got to the highway it was light and we headed up the road to the Sandfly Roadhouse to get fuel for the journey. They apparently don’t open until 7am!!!

As we drove into the roadhouse we saw a lot of peacocks roaming around in front. There was also a baby Brolga in a pond by the side of the roadhouse. They were a good distraction while we waited for them to open for the day. There were about 6 mining types lined up ready for breakfast at the front door at 6:45, so we had an idea they may open a bit early.

After fueling up we hit the road and eventually got mobile reception about an hour out from Broome and managed to get the last site
available at the Cable Beach Caravan Park.

When we checked in we found out that Red Dog, the movie that
had its worldwide premier in Karratha while we were there, was opening tonight at the open air Sun Theatre.

We set up and headed into town to get our car seen to. We got to the service people and found out that they had sent their Land Rover Computer to Sydney to get fixed and for an update, so they couldn’t help us. We rang Land Rover Assist and they said it was still OK to take it to Darwin to get seen to. So while we were in town, we booked tickets for the film and had a bit of a walk around, Broome doesn’t change too much. Apart from some pretty big subdivisions on the way into town it is all much the same. Maybe some more B&B’s and boutique type hotels, but the same.

The movie was great.  All about a dog, “RED DOG”, who lived in the Pilbara in the 70’s and hitched his way all around the top end. It was very funny and in the end sad. A great movie that we recommend.

During the day I got a call that my uncle was gravely ill. We decided that we would head home. Our plan is to go to Darwin, put the car and van in storage and fly home. We can start back up there later.

4  August 2011 Broome to almost Kununurra  1031km

Happy Happy Birthday Danni, we hope you had a lovely birthday and were spoilt 🙂

We headed for Darwin, leaving at 6.30am, we had fog for the
first hour, so had to drive slowly.

Really enjoyed driving on the Savannah Way, such beautiful
scenery and there were lots of cows grazing on the side of the road and a few lots of horses doing the same, termite mounds and the boab trees, so surreal on the landscape – just magic.

Was a very long day, 1031km, but we did well, pulled into camp for the night just after 6.30pm, cooked tea and tomorrow nights tea –  Greg did an amazing job with all that driving, only broken up with a few bits I did.  Only about 800km to do tomorrow, so wont be so long.

Ben has booked our flights home and found somewhere for us to store the van and car in Darwin, so by 7pm Friday or thereabouts we will be home.

We had a phone call just before 10pm, SA time from the hospice to say that Des had just passed away, we were pleased that he did not
linger.   He has had a life very well lived and will be dearly missed from our lives.

RIP Des, you will always be lovingly remembered.