Broome part 1

 Before I start telling you about Broome, we did have a very usual neighbour whilst staying in Derby and he was very friendly and quite handsome.

Before we left for Broome we all visited Derby's school of the air. This was very interesting as it explained how the teachers taught the kids who live in the Kimberley area. We were also present when the teacher did the daily muster speaking to all the kids involved before they then spoke to their individual teachers. It makes our job of teaching the kids for 6 months look very easy.

We then set off to Broome and set up camp. Sue and the boys later had a swim in the pool that at this stage has been voted by the boys as the best pool ever. It has two lanes which are 25m long which you can do laps and another pool which is connected which is designed in a rock pool design. The boys have swam in it just about every day. That night at about 7 p.m. we drove down to the beach to visit what they call is the stairway to the moon. On three nights a month the tide is at a certain level that when the moon rises over the horizon its moonlight reflects off the tidal mud flats and as the name suggests it looks like stairs leading up to the moon. unfortunately our camera photo's did not work out but we have video recorded it.

The next day I was determind to fix out camp cooker problem. As that morning it played up and took about 30 minutes to cook porridge. I took it the the camping store and the little bastard was working properly. I'm sure the bloke thought I was a half wit but did say that if it plays up again bring it back. Well that day happened two days later and thank god the problem has been fixed. It was the gas hose I spoke to the same bloke and glad he came to the same conclusion. it might sound trivial but when we go to camp sites of the beaten track we need the cooker working or we will have three grumpy crocodiles wanting food, let alone me being hungry.

The next morning we visited dinosaur footprints at about 7 am. Waking up at this time was not a problem as it gets light at about 5.30 am, so the kids and Sue and I are awake at about this time. We took awhile to find the footprints and not really sure if they are genuine or not. The photo is hard to see but they are similar to an emus footprint but a little bigger. Apparently the experts have claimed they are genuine and state that the Broome area is abundent with similar dino prints.

 That arvo we went for a swim at Cable Beach. We were all very tired and all had a snooze huddled under our little beach umbrella to avoid the sun. After waking up we ventured down to visit the famous camels on the beach. Sue and the boys enjoyed patting the smelly, grumpy animals I kept my distance. Sue Liam and Jake latter booked in to ride them on saturday arvo

 After the camels we watched the beautiful sunset whilst eating fish and chips. I love holidays.

 A day of rest was had next for washing, repairing and relaxing in the caravans pool. The next day we went to the Malcolm Douglas Wildlife Centre. As you will soon see by the photo's we had a ball. We must have seen over 100 crocodiles and alligators. In one large lake there were about 70 crocs. It looked like something from an Indiana Jones movie they were everywhere. Feeding time was amazing, it went for over an hour and the boys still wanted more. The boys have just finished writing their journals for this day, both Liam and Jake have written pages for this day and more than any other day. They do love their animals future Steve Irwins or malcolm Douglas's, who knows.

 First tour we got to pat dingos, they weren't able to tell us where jakes back pack was from Kings Canyon.

 One of the many highlights the boys holding a little croc

 Liam and jake look like pros, Benjamins not too shore

 It felt very soft and cold. Liam took this picture.

 Water Lilies always look good and Sue was dying to get a good photo for our return home, maybe this is worthy to be framed and hung up on a wall at home

 Peak hour at the zoo everyone rushing to feeding time. I did witness plenty of road rage and blood was spilt. Much the same as melbourne's west.

The croc's were fed and occassionally had a fight over a piece of meat and injuries were sustained. The crocs were being fed crocs steak which is left over from the latest harvest of croc skinning. The Wildlife park farms crocs and sells parts to make ends meat. I am no convinced that the croc has no weaknesses, they are truely awesome and you have no hope if taken by one in the water. It's a handy reminder to me when the boys and I are looking for that perfect fishing spot.

 The boys were full of adrenaline after the hour long feed and still wanted more. Luckily this was not a real one. We saw a number of huge crocs they biggest ranged from 4.5 to 6 metres long. Bloody huge

 The view as you enter the park. The boys were salavating

Thought I would change the mood. Peaceful Broome.

Sue and I have also booked a day tour to Cape Leveque on monday, we get picked up from &am and return at about 8.30 pm. It will be a long day but apparently a fantastic one by all accounts. After speaking to many campers the road is very rough and sandy even for 4wd's, so we have no hope in our 2wd. We also thought of hiring a 4wd but found out that the hire car companies try to avoid customers driving up there and as a result there are large excesses if damage is sustained. After some thought we agreed to do the one day tour.

Will let you know how it goes. See you soon I have to go as Sue Liam and Jake are going for a camel ride.

Speak to you all later