Cape Leveque

Our last night at Broome we enjoyed a play and dinner at the beach with our surprise visitors – the Gilbert family. The kids were very excited to catch up and it was great to catch up on some of the news from home with Jo and Graeme.

Headed up to Cape Leveque late Tuesday morning after stocking up on supplies. Cam wanted to call into the Willie Creek Pearl Farm along the way for a bit of a look. Had to follow the tracks marked with red and blue signs (since found out that means ‘wet’ season and ‘dry’ season tracks. Checked out the farm, had an ice cream and then headed back to the main road. A couple of KMs out Cam spotted a wild Brolga and took a side track to get a little closer for a pick. When he saw a big puddle ahead he decided that a U-turn was in order and that’s when the fun began. Although we were only 50m from the main road, we were on the salt flats and they were muddy!!!!!! As we tried to turn around we got bogged (van and all) and as much as we tried, the wheels just kept on spinning. As I went into panic mode, I headed back to the pearl farm (plenty of tourists were heading to the farm for the tours so I grabbed a lift) and rounded up some help. The owner grabbed his 4WD and we headed back down the road (funnily enough we were not the first people to get bogged!!!). By the time we got there another car had stopped to help and between all of us we managed to get out of the mess – only to head out on the “wet” season track (we came in on the “dry” season track) and consequently we turned left instead of right onto the main track. When we spotted water after only 50kms we decided to check the map and realized we were on the wrong road (hey, what’s and extra 120kms at the end of the day!!!). Finally arrived at Cape Leveque at 7pm (in the dark) but the day from hell was worth it when the sun came up the next day and we saw where we were actually camped. Our camp site was a beach hut (on the beach) and we ate bacon and eggs (cooked on the camp fire of course) watching whales play in the sea.

Headed to Lombadina mission to buy their special bread (sold out by the time we got there) and had a chat to the couple who run the general store – an ex Peninsula boy – James Shooter. They have been travelling for four years (the last 12 months at Lombadina) but are finally heading back at the end of the year as their oldest is heading into Grade 6 next year.
Went up to One Arm Point (another indigenous community) and saw the most amazing beaches. Turquoise blue water, white sand and the water was clear as clear. Took the kids to the hatchery to check out some marine life and then back to camp.
Next day we drove up the beach – again just exquisite. As it was low tide there was a lot of shell collecting and then some fishing. All three boys (Cam, Angus and Ben) caught fish – they were very excited. Turned out we couldn’t actually eat them as they were riddled with worms when Cam cleaned them up – but they’d had their fun!

Headed back to Broom on Friday for another catch up with the Gilberts before they headed home and we headed south.

Next stop was 80 Mile Beach (2 nights). More bloody shells collected (can you tell I am a bit over them now!) and they boys went fishing. A good eating haul this time (Ben was a star catching two out of the four Threadfin Salmon). Cam cleaned them up and we feasted on them for dinner.