On the road again...

The parts are installed and we are heading South. We travelled for 8 hours yesterday and made it to Exmouth.
The following photos are from Cape Leveque...

 The road to Cape Leveque; it was more vibrant than the red centre!

 Classic speed hump sign just as we drove in to the camp site! 

The drive down to the camp site before we hit the really soft sand...

Our beach shelter; lots of sand and it was so hot we could hardly walk on it in the middle of the day.  We had our own shower in the corner; forget the shower curtain!!

 Our view from inside the shelter;  BBQ plate on a swivel on top of the campfire

 Afternoon fishing on a practically deserted beach

Our visit to Cygnet Bay, 'Cygnature' Pearl Farm was really interesting.  Mother of pearl shells which are used to culture the pearls; biggest white ones in the world.  The challenge was to see if you could pick up the cage so of course Kai rose to the occasion!

All of the girls being tempted to buy the pearls; the boys suddenly went missing...(with the wallets)

Different types of shapes and colours; we were told its all about 'lustre'

 The $135 000 strand; and of course you are meant to match this with the ear rings and ring!  It was fun to try them on anyway....

 Our visit to the hatchery with barra, turtles and all sorts of marine life

 The touch tank where the kids were able to hold various creatures

 don't get too close to this one!

A sea eagle keeping Andrew company while fishing; hoping to get some of his golden travelley which we enjoyed that night on the bbq

 A storm brewing; fish on the bbq yum; lighting photos to follow

 The working light house just behind us on the cape

 Just on sunset I managed to catch a travelley

 Kids holding it proudly

 The western beach; currents too strong for swimming.  More to follow....

A couple of snaps from Broome...

We are enjoying Cable Beach. Cloe and Kai rode Ollie the 20 year old Camel. They were most pleased because he is a movie star featured in the movie "Australia".

On another matter, the parts for "Lightening"have arrived...with some help from our mechanical friends we should be back on the road as early as tomorrow.

What has been quite amazing are the vivid colours of Broome. Only to be surpassed by the colours of Cape Leveque...our next blog...

A Birthday in Broome...

Thanks to Azman the mechanic in Fitzroy Crossing who towed us to Broome, we were able to celebrate a wonderful 8th Birthday. Thanks Azman. parts still haven't arrived...

Hot, hot....hot

Still at Fiztroy Crossing. Parts didn't arrive today, let's hope tomorrow.

Getting to appreciate what hot is. Yesterday F.C. held the highest temperature in the State at 44. Today I have just been told by the Caravan Park Caretaker that it is 49 and it feels like it...

Fortunately we have aircon in the van and it is able to cool us down to 25.

Going west....swimming at the top of the world and then... the carnage...

We are over the border and enjoying the west. The time difference takes a little adjusting, two and a half hours behind Adelaide. Dark at 6.20pm and first light at 5.15am. The kids are up at 5.30am ....joy!

 The most amazing pool we have been in. It is placed on the cliff face of Lake Argyle. In the morning we fished at the base of the dam. Although we didn't have any luck we were given a couple of Black Brim caught by an Aboriginal lady who felt sorry for us. She told us that we were using the wrong bait.

 The Boab tree has become our favourite. In many cases they grow together as families. More photos to follow.

 The tall trees are the host, the undergrowth protects the runners, the smaller green trees are the parasitic Sandalwood trees. A 15 year investment before they are mature enough to harvest. Kununarra is developing the biggest Sandalwood industry in the world.

 "Russian Jack" is a most inspiring story of mate-ship. His friend became quite ill in the Gold fields of Halls Creek so he carried him in his wheel barrow 300kms through Australian bush to Wyndham to seek a doctors help. Perhaps the most incredible aspect of this story is that "RJ" made the journey purely on a rumour that there was a doctor at Wyndhm. 1835.

 After a two hour four-wheel drive traveling 50kms we made it to the Bungle-Bungles. Just incredible. Up there with the Olgas and Uluru.

 Don't get too close to the cliff edge....or is it?

 The Geikie Gorge. A must for this trip. Our tour guide was married to an Aboriginal and he explained the whole "kin-ship" model of their culture. We also learned a great deal about their bush-food and also how important the limestone in this gorge was to make their hunting implements. The spear head in the movie "Australia" was made from limestone broken off this cliff-face.

 

You may notice something odd in this photo. If you guessed that the caravan should be connected to the car and isn't.... you are correct. The "Reader's Digest" version.... is that the tow hitch from the car came off while travelling! We will hopefully know why tomorrow. Needless to say that this was perhaps the most frightening experience any of us have gone through. At one point we all thought the back end of the car had been ripped off as bitumen was being sprayed over the whole length of the car from the spare wheel cage on the caravan. We are pleased that even though there is substantial damage....it could have been a great deal worse. We are all okay. Shaken, but not too stirred. Lots of phone calls tomorrow to organise spare parts etc.

Barra, snakes, crocs and frogs...

Our first Barra, the second was even larger.  Sonia signing on!!  yes it was really good! One fillet made a meal for us; fantastic. Froze the rest.

 Here is the fondly called 'Hannibal'; estimated 100 yr old 6 metre 'salty' which we have just learned are actually cannibals.  This is the oldest and biggest known croc of this area and we got very up close and personal; perhaps a bit too close!! 

 plenty of flora esp these lilies in Corroboree Billabong

 This 2 1/2 metre olive python kept Andrew and the kids amused! 

All these frogs were in the toilets (a favourite hangout much to Cloes's and Kai's delight)

 Ubirr sunset.  Learnt that during Crocodile Dundee this was where Mick pointed and said 'this is my land".  Andrew here; A guide told us they had to do that take twice because one of the original owners (aboriginal elder) who was standing next to the camera crew, when hearing Mick's statement said....."Bull#$#!"
 .

 This rock-art is over 2000 years old. Note the lumps and bumps which represent tumors. This painting is a warning to aboriginals that some areas in this region are the "sick-land". Interestingly where the warnings are, is where they are mining Uranium.

If you look closely, you can see the various foods of this area.