Trip from Broome to Derby was only a short one, however very hot. It was 35 degrees and felt like 100% humidity.
We wanted to have a look at the Boab Prison Tree on the way into Derby, however took a wrong turn and visited the local gaol instead. Security saw us driving around the car park and came out to see what we were up to. After giving us directions to the old tree we were politely asked to leave!
Boab Prison Tree was used by the early settlers when transferring Aboriginal prisoners (or kidnapee's) to Broome. At night they kept the Aboriginals in the tree so the guards could get a good night sleep.
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| Boab Prison Tree, Derby |
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| Frosty Pool |
After settling into the local caravan park, we went to Derby Jetty to see the high tide and the sunset (another one!).
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| High tide at the jetty (10.09 metres) |
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| Low tide the next morning (approx 6 metre drop) |
We then headed into the local art gallery by Mark Norval. Mark was there when we visited and showed us some of the local shells he had collected, taught us how to play the didgeridoo and drew a caricature of the kids in a book we bought.
After the gallery we had a look at the old Derby gaol which was in operation from 1906 - 1975, and then spent the rest of the morning in the local pool before our drive to Fitzroy Crossing.
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| Old Derby Gaol |
We stayed at Fiztroy Crossing Lodge and had a trip out to
Windjana Gorge and
Tunnel Creek... both were fantastic and well worth the hour drive on another crappy road to get there.
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| Gus spots the first Freshie |
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| See the Freshie in the water behind us! |
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| Lots of crocs at Windjana Gorge |
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| Entrance to Tunnel Creek |
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| The trip back out of Tunnel Creek is not for everyone! |
The following day we were up early for the 8.00am
Geikie Gorge tour. This was a one hour trip up the gorge in an open boat with "Captain Scobes".
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| President Richard Nixon,s nose marks the average water level during the wet season |
Geikie Gorge is soon to be renamed "Darngoo Gorge" - Darn Good without the "d" as Scobes tells us!
Our next stop was on the working cattle station, "Larrawa Station". This is 500,000 acres and they have about 5,000 head of cattle. We swam in "Christmas Creek", collected some rocks from the dry creek bed, and saw another sunset.
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| Saying goodbye to "Morse" |
Larrawa Station was a great spot to rest and recharge.
After a few weeks of teaching the boys how to play Eucha, we taught them how to play 500... look out, they are kitty hogs just like their father!
