Broome - the endOct 5, 2009
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Cable Beach's famous camels at Sunset
Camels again
Our illustrious leader
Wednesday 23rd September – Monday 5th October
Lorraine: We’re still in Broome but not for much longer. We’ve been enjoying being stationery and Broome is a lovely place to sit and be still but we’re kind of getting itchy to be moving again. My five week work contract finished today and I must admit it was a really good job – not stressful, easy to do and best of all I worked with a really great bunch of top blokes. One of them went out to the local bakery this morning and brought back some cakes and slices and we all sat around the big training table for a morning tea in my honour which I thought was just lovely of them. I have a new found understanding of volunteers and an even greater respect for the amount of time and effort they put in for no other reward than the satisfaction of helping the community.
Gary found me a replacement bicycle for my one that was stolen. He saw an ad for a 2nd hand ladies mountain bike which we quickly snapped up. As it’s the end of the tourist season here there are a lot of people moving on and as a result selling off stuff they no longer need. It’s not as good as my previous bike which was a comfort hybrid bike, good for cycling on and off road whereas this one is a straight out mountain bike, but it does the job. We’ll be keeping our eyes and ears open for a replacement bike for Gary too.
Last Friday I got wind from the Broomer Mill that the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd was going to be in town, so being the political groupie that I am, I positioned myself at the entrance to the Shire of Broome’s council offices (along with all the local TV station cameramen and local radio journos) and managed to get myself a happy snap of the PM. We were amazed at the lack of security and how close we could get. There was a small protest group concerned about Woodside’s proposed gas pipeline at Price’s Point on the Cape Leveque peninsula and even they were allowed to get close. They were very polite protesters. Even though they were yelling out “no gas” they always referred to Kevin as Mr Rudd or Prime Minister. Very respectful indeed!
On Saturday we went for our final kayak in Broome. We put the kayak in at Cable Beach and were happily paddling about in the calm Indian Ocean when I spotted a dark fin in the water ahead. I stopped paddling and pointed the fin out to Gary by which time there were 3 more black fins in the water. We weren’t game enough to proceed further and check out what type of body was connected to those fins so we turned around and started paddling in the other direction. Then just off our bow but this time much closer another black fin surfaced which put the fear of God into us for about a nano second until we breathed a large sigh of relief and realised that the fins belonged to a pod of curious dolphins who had come to check us out. Phew!
We bid Broome a fond farewell tomorrow morning but before we go, we’re spending our final night at Matso’s brewery with our mate Steve Moore where they serve the most delicious currys. Farewell Broome, you’ve been great.
