29/8/11 Entrance Point, Broome

At Entrance Point, Broome, around the wharf area and boat ramp are rock piles and water worn cliffs and rock shelfs  with interesting patterns.  How about these "wings" worn into a rocky shelf.

30/8/11 Gantheaume Point, Broome

We did a long walk across the beautiful cliffs, rocks and pebbles of Gantheaume Point, Broome.  The colour of the rocks and sand ranges from chocolate brown, red and orange, ochre yellow, to white and all this is framed by the blue of the sky and the aqua of the tropical ocean.

At the Broome wharf we watched a young sea eagle eating a fish which it had caught being bullied by a seagull who wanted a share of the catch.

28/8/11 To Derby and Broome

As we travelled Gerd kept looking until he found a low boab tree from which he could collect  some nuts.

In Derby we refuelled, then visited the jetty and the huge boab tree that was used as a prison.

We arrived in Broome just in time to go to Cable Beach to see the sunset camel rides.

27/8/11 Windjana Gorge

We walked the length of Windjana Gorge passing about 50 fresh water crocodiles. We carried water, but it was very hot and I was totally exhausted by the time we got back to the camper for a late lunch.

26/8/11 Tunnel Creek and Windjana Gorge

The road between Halls Creek, Tunnel Creek and Windjana Gorge is very rough.  The limestone rocks are very sharp and there are blown out tyres all along the road side.   When we got to Tunnel Ctreek we found out that the big wet had left chest deep pools of water in the tunnel which runs for about a kilometre through the hill from one side to the other.  Since this has to be negotiated by torch light I found it too scary, so Gerd went on his own and I spent the time photographing the beautiful water washed rocks.

We set up camp in Windjana Gorge National Park.

25/8/11 Geike Gorge, Fitzroy Crossing

We travelled from Halls Creek to Fitzroy Crossing.  On the way we passed the an outcrop of interesting round rocks, very similar to the Devil's Marbles on the Stuart Highway.

Further on there were the beautiful Ngumpan Cliffs to photograph.  We passed when the sun was at the right angle for maximum colour.

Finally we got into Fitzroy Crossing in time to take the afternoon boat cruise down Geike Gorge and marvel at the shape and colour of the magnificent limestone cliffs - once part of a great coral reef.

24/8/11 Palm Spring and Sawpit Gorge near Halls Creek

We bumped over rough stones, and corrugations for about 60kms to see Palm Springs and Saw pit Gorge.  Creeks have cut through the wall formed by a  narrow rocky outcrop which stretches many kilometres in length.   In both pictures you can see the rock wall end on.

  

23/8/11 Kununurra to Halls Creek

Travelled through the colourful Kimberly from Kununurra to Halls Creek. Gerd kept looking for Boab nuts but they were all out of reach.

22/8/11 The Ord Dam at Lake Argyle and Kununurra

We drove out to Lake Argyle again to view the Ord Dam and take more beautiful pictures.

We returned to Kurunurra in time to take late afternoon pictures at the town lake and sunset pictures at the lookout.

21/8/11 Ord River Dam/Lake Argyle

I persuaded Gerd to stop every few kilometres to take pictures of the beautiful, rocky, eastern Kimberley countryside as we travelled from Kununurra to see the Ord River Dam and to have a sunset cruise on Lake Argyle.  It is a massive body of water, about nine times the volume of Sydney Harbour.

20/8/11 from Kununurra to Wyndham

From Kununurra we drove to Ivanhoe Crossing on the Ord River. It has been flooded since the big wet season and is closed to all traffic.

  We drove towards Wyndham.  It was very smoky because it is the traditional "burning off"  season.  On the way we went into The Grotto. A creek has washed away all the top layers of earth leaving a small, very colourful, canyon. We walked down the narrow steps built around the canyon wall. There are no safety rails! At the bottom we spent a considerable amount of time photographing a family of water monitors, a family of whistling kites, and red dragon flies.

As we were leaving Wyndam we noticed a lot of smoke coming from the back of some houses. I thought that they were doing the usual burn off but we noticed a policeman scurrying around so we stopped to investigate.  Apparently, after arriving home a lady had parked her car on an area of long dry grass and the hot exhaust had caused it it catch alight. The fire was spreading into the long grass in the neighbour's back yard.  No one was at-home in that house but a car was parked in the long grass in the yard.  Several other motorists stopped. They grabbed buckets out of their camper vans to carry water, but no one could find a tap so they grabbed green branches from trees  to beat out the flames. All the men helped the policeman push the car into a cleared area, and finally someone found a hose and got some water running.  When it was under control we set off back to Kununurra.

  

On the way home we side tracked to view the bird life and the boabs at Parry's lagoon. 

19/8/11 Timber Creek NT to the Western Australia border

The big red escarpments continue beyond Timber Creek.  From a distance they look like an iron ore  train with never ending carriages curling around the top of the mountains.

We have entered boab country. Gerd started to scan every tree for low down seed pods.  The aboriginal people collect these seeds and carve them.

Before crossing into Western Australia we ate salad sandwiches and our last 2 apples because you aren't allowed to take any fruit or vegetables across the border. The border inspector was a slim young lady. She was very thorough. Although the hood was still down she climbed right inside the camper and opened all the cupboard doors and shook the plastic containers to see what was inside. Last time when we crossed into WA the inspector was a big fat man and he found it much more difficult to climb inside the closed down van. We passed the inspection and so we entered the promised land!

Immediately up the road was a very photogenic barren hillside.

18/8/11 Jasper Gorge near Timber Creek

We drove 83km one way to Jasper Gorge.  It is a drive-through gorge with steep cliffs along the escarpment.  The cliffs glow deep red in the sunshine and contrast with the green spinifex grass.  Any approaching or passing traffic engulfs you in a cloud of choking dust.

17/8/11 Timber Creek Road House -Limestone Gorge

The Gregory National Park has beautiful red escarpments.

We set up camp at Timber Creek Roadhouse and then drove into Limestone Gorge. The "white waterfall", a flow of dry calcite down the side of a hill is worth seeing.

Another point of interest are the tufa dams, deposits of mineral and vegetable matter across the creek.

True to its name limestone gorge has great walls of limestone.

  

16/8/11 Mary River Road House to Victoria River Road House

We left Kakadu and travelled towards Pine Creek.  The Northern Territory is still being burnt off. There is a smoke haze all along the horizon.

When we stopped to take these photographs a tiny brown snake and beetles came rushing out of the flames to safety where we stood. 

At Pine Creek I photographed the red lilies in the water garden - sadly it has deteriorated since we were there 2 years ago.  We bought a delicious mango smoothie. 

From Pine Creek we travelled to Katherine and restocked groceries and then we turned west towards the Western Australian border.  We camped at Victoria River Road House.  Read the sign!