Chris n Shirley's 2025 WA Trip: Chapter 13

Day 71 – Thursday 7 August – Broome - Day 1

We awoke to a warm morning and a window that did not want to close. Rude language and threats did not work. Guile did, and we were on our way.

The first 100 km were through varying terrain with many wildflowers on display. The last 50 km crossed the Roebuck flood plain where trees were a rarity.

Above - Part 1 of today's trip
Below - Part 2 of today's trip

We arrived in Broome just after 10 am and stopped at a caravan parts place to pick up a new shelf for the fridge door. We were on our caravan site by 10:40.

Our site at Broome Caravan Park

At 1 pm I was at the Broome Airport to pick up great friends Bev and David. We were all here together in 2019 and made many great memories. There is a great dinosaur sculpture at the airport.

Dinosaur sculpture at the airport

After their caravan park check-in it was a rest period for 90 minutes then we went shopping.

We had a very pleasant happy hour (lots of memory recaps) then an early night.

Day 72 – Friday 8 August – Broome - Day 2

Broome Supreme Pizza

A sleep-in was in order and a slow start. Eventually Shirley and I got going and visited the "I" to get the good information on major Broome events for the next two weeks.

After lunch we had a planning session with Bev and David then went into town - Bev & Shirley visited Chinatown while David & I visited Bunnings. We joined forces at the ice-cream shop.

On our return I rigged up an awning to protect the fridge from the morning Broome sun.

Happy hour was in the main garden area of the park with a musician - Jannes - and a pizza truck. Our pizza dinner was superb. Shirley had a "Porky Pig" pizza and I had a "Broome Supreme". The accompanying music was good.

Three wood-fired pizza ovens on the back of a truck

Day 73 – Saturday 9 August – Broome - Day 3

The day started at the Saturday Broome market. It was a nice walk but not really much to get us excited about. The excitement came when we were seated at a large Cafe/restaurant at Cable Beach, overlooking the famed beach and sea views. Milkshakes and coffees were the preferred drinks.

Bev, Shirley & David paddling at Cable Beach

Cable Beach

Chris, Shirley, David & Bev at Cable Beach

A walk on the beach was in order, and a paddle. [Beach 56, Walks 73]

After that it was time for R & R at the two camp sites.

At 3:30 we headed to the Moontide distillery to sample their Gins. Well the ladies did. It was a lovely establishment and we were briefed by the chief distiller about how they use the nut component of the boab nuts in the production of Vodka - a fascinating story.

The contents of a Boab Nut that is used in the production of Vodka

A Gin tasting platter

We returned to base and helped a NZ couple plan their road trip from Broome to Perth. They were nice people.

That was followed by a BBQ dinner under our awning. It was not a late night.

Day 74 – Sunday 10 August – Broome - Day 4

Mango Beer

Our joint guilts got us into our exercises as the heat rose. While on my back outside I noticed a faulty shackle bolt on the off side spring. Not good. 😕

After exercises I did a couple of jobs around the caravan.

At 2pm we picked up Bev & David and went to Matso's brewery for a drink and some live music. I tried a 'Mango Beer' which was excellent, then a 'Angra Ranga' which is a ginger beer with a 'splash of chilli heat'. It was also good, but one was enough.

The live music did not eventuate so we were home earlier than expected.

The rest of the day was relaxation. The TV was turned on for the first time this trip, then off again after the news.

Day 75 – Monday 11 August – Broome - Day 5

David and I pondered the faulty shackle, discovered yesterday. As smoke and mirrors did not seem to work I contacted a higher authority. Andy is coming on Thursday. David has reserved a front row seat to see how Andy will tackle the shackle.

Mango Smoothie

We celebrated with fruit cake and coffee, then drove into town. We strolled, window shopped, then stopped at an open-air cafe for lunch. Coffee, milkshake and mango smoothies were included in the lunch.

The afternoon was a rest & read affair.

Around 4:20 pm we headed to Town Beach for the famous 'Stairway to the Moon'. There was a craft and food market. We looked at the craft and settled on paella for dinner. It was excellent.

A woman wandered past with a pet 'Pied Lorikeet' on her shoulder.

Pied Lorikeet

At the last moment clouds appeared and reduced the impact of the 'stairway'. We did not see the stairway until the moon rose above the clouds.

We were back home by 8:30 pm.

Day 76 – Tuesday 12 August – Broome - Day 6

Less than 10 hours later I was back in virtually the same spot waiting for the sun to rise over the same stretch of water and mud flats. Last night there was too much cloud. This morning there was insufficient, but it was worth the trip.

Sunrise over Town Beach

I then had maybe my first walk on Town Beach in four visits to Broome. [Beach 57, Walks 74]

Town Beach

Boab tree at Sunrise

A Kelly blog from Boab country would not be complete without a Boab tree. There are plenty of Boab nuts on the tree below.

Breakfast, exercises, then scone preparation.

The scones were not my best but four great friends enjoyed morning tea with plain and date scones.

It was just over 30 degrees as we scoffed the scones, so the pool was put on the agenda for after lunch.

Bev, David & Shirley enjoying good company

After lunch we headed to the pool with towel, chair & book. A refreshing dip was had. Some pages were read, but not many.

Around 5 pm we drove to Cable Beach hoping for a decent sunset photo. You can be the judge.

Four Musketeers Just before Sunset

Cable Beach Sunset

We joined forces for a BBQ dinner.

Day 77 – Wednesday 13 August – Broome - Day 7

We picked up David & Bev around 10 am and headed out to Willy Creek Pearl Farm. The road was just as bad as it was on our first trip many years ago. Willy Creek Pearl Farm produces some of the best pearls in the world.

Some of the art work near and at Willy Creek Pearl Farm

The water from Willy Creek Pearl Farm, showing pearl beds

Friends with milkshakes

The road in and out

We stopped at Woolworths on the way back, then chilled out for the afternoon.

Happy hour was a lengthy happy occasion.

Day 78 – Thursday 14 August – Broome - Day 8

We were both back from the showers by 7:30 am. Bacon & eggs then hit the BBQ.

David & Bev decided on a 'slow' morning. Shirley and I were on Cable Beach before 9am - for a 4 km walk. It was round 25 degrees. [Beach 57, Walks 75]

Above & Below - The Magic of Cable Beach

Shirley, Bev & David headed to the pool while I waited for Andy - the caravan repair man - to fix the faulty shackle bolt. He duly arrived and promptly fixed the problem.

Left - Before, Right - After

I joined the party at the pool and had my second dip in two days. Soon after it was time to head home and prepare the pork for the Weber. It was all soon happening. I asked too much of the Weber and the cracking needed to be finished on the butane BBQ plate - by chef David. Our guests were more than happy with the result.

Roast Port and Spuds - without cracking

Day 79 – Friday 15 August – Broome - Day 9

Another start to the day in Paradise. Breakfast, then exercises. It was 28 degrees at 10am.

Shirley and Bev went shopping while David and I went to check of the golf club. We passed an excellent camel sculpture near Cable Beach.

Camel sculpture near Cable Beach

After lunch I washed the outside of the car and cleaned the inside. It was then pool time - for the third day in a row.

Then book reading, music, relaxing..............

Around 5pm we wandered down to the reception grass area and listened to two entertainers for around 60 minutes.

Two entertainers on the grass

We had a BBQ sausage in a crispy bread roll for dinner.

Day 80 – Saturday 16 August – Broome - Day 10

Again - sun, no cloud, light wind. A big day was planned. At 9:45 am we picked up Bev and David for their last walk on Cable Beach (this trip). It was a pleasant 3 km walk. [Beach 57, Walks 76]

Bev & Shirley on Cable Beach

By 11:45 we had arrived back at camp, freshened up, and we were ready for lunch at the Broome golf club. The view, company and food were excellent.

Dessert was an ice-cream in a cone in central Broome.

It was back to camp and time to relax. Our relaxation was interrupted by an influx of tiny green ants - again. This caused an extensive cupboard check for the minute terriers.

Happy hour was a short and quiet affair, as David & Bev returned to their cabin to start the packing process. Home tomorrow.

Day 81 – Sunday 17 August – Broome - Day 11

Our main job for the day was to get Bev & David to the airport before 11am. That was achieved. Shirley had a quick trip through the Sunday market and I had a quick trip to Bunnings.

It was time to chill out and relax - and a bit too hot to head for the pool.

Around 4pm we headed to Matso's Brewery to get Shirley some Ginger Beer. Mission accomplished.

Some more relaxation and I cooked a couple of pizzas for dinner. They were pretty good.

Home-made Weber-cooked Pizza

Day 82 – Monday 18 August – Broome - Day 12

I was out of the shower by 7am and booking the car in for its 30,000 km service by 7:25 am - after a quick visit to Bunnings. A taxi had me home before Shirley was out of the shower.

Half way through my exercises I got a phone call (9:30) to say that the car was ready. Of course I finished my exercises before picking up the car.

A couple of job were completed around the caravan, but the afternoon was mostly relaxation.

Roast pork was again the theme for dinner.

It was another lovely day in Broome. Two to go.

Day 83 – Tuesday 19 August – Broome - Day 13

Another lovely day in Broome. By 7:45 morning showers and breakfast were behind us and washing was on the line. By 8:30 we were on Cable Beach for a 4 km walk. Yes, Shirley was with me. [Beach 57, Walks 77] The following images tell the story. It was around 25 degrees.

Above - Cable beach looking west
Below - Cable beach looking south

Not much happened for the rest of the day apart from rest, reading, relaxation and ice-cream. A few early packing jobs were slipped in.

Shirley cooked a stir-fry for dinner.

Day 84 – Wednesday 20 August – Broome - Day 14

Our last full day in Broome started abruptly when the boisterous kids in the next caravan turned on the TV - loud - about 5:45 am. It was too late to try for a sunrise photo and too early to get up. We were not that impressed. They are all pre-school age with parents who seem unable to control them (or don't try).

After exercises we hit the beach [Beach 57, Walks 78] for a 4 km walk. The conditions for a walk were superb. I took a photo of a small fish that had been washed ashore. We ended the walk with an iced-coffee and a milkshake overlooking the beach.

It was time to go shopping for our departure tomorrow - food, drinks, diesel.

Lunch & relaxation were interspersed with various pre-departure jobs.

Around 4:30 we decided on one last trip to Cable Beach - for a sunset photo. Although the sunset was average (for Cable Beach) we did spot the two teams of camels doing their iconic tourist sunset walk. It took another stroll on Cable Beach to get the photos below. [Beach 57, Walks 79]