After another early start, we left our beautiful resort in Broome at 6.30am
to head off on our adventure. As announced the evening before, our schedule had
to be altered because there was a road closure due to the late finishing Wet. So
we were unable to go to Windjana Gorge and Tunnel Creek. There’s a slim chance
the road will be passable on our return.
Because of the revised itinerary, we were able to go to Gantheaume Point just south of Broome as well as have a tour of what is known as China Town. Then a quick stop at the Japanese cemetery, where more than 700 Japanese are interred, mostly pearl divers.
Broome’s claim to fame came about from the late 1800s when a huge pearl
oyster shell was found in 1861. The mother of pearl was highly prized for
buttons and decorative inlays in furniture. However, when the market for mother
of pearl collapsed, Broome survived by culturing pearls. At the height of the
pearl industry more than 400 luggers operated in the waters off Broome.
On our way to Fitzroy Crossing we stopped at Willare Bridge Roadhouse where our guide collected our lunch for the day. We had already crossed the Fitzroy River near where it exits into King Sound at Derby. We also stopped at a large boab tree which is more than 1000 years old and George, our guide, told us about their habit of growing very upright, but at they age the branches droop and the trunk hollows out. A bit like people really! The seed pods are edible and a good source of vitamin C. The bark can be used for rope making.
After lunch at the picnic area at Geike Gorge, we were met by our local
aboriginal guide to take us on the boat trip up the river. Bill was a really fun
character and a proud member of the Burunda clan. His knowledge and passion
about his culture and his country (he is the current custodian of the land where
Geike Gorge is located) was apparent as he talked about his clan, their language
and the country.
We saw lots of freshwater crocs, the shy smaller cousins of the saltwater crocs.
These crocs are more likely to run from you than attack, unlike the salties.
After our cruise we settled in to our accommodation for the night at Fitzroy
River Lodge. Not a lot of choice in this town, but it is somewhere to lay our
heads for the one night stop required to break the journey.
Because of the revised itinerary, we were able to go to Gantheaume Point just south of Broome as well as have a tour of what is known as China Town. Then a quick stop at the Japanese cemetery, where more than 700 Japanese are interred, mostly pearl divers.
On our way to Fitzroy Crossing we stopped at Willare Bridge Roadhouse where our guide collected our lunch for the day. We had already crossed the Fitzroy River near where it exits into King Sound at Derby. We also stopped at a large boab tree which is more than 1000 years old and George, our guide, told us about their habit of growing very upright, but at they age the branches droop and the trunk hollows out. A bit like people really! The seed pods are edible and a good source of vitamin C. The bark can be used for rope making.
 |
| The cotton wool like substance inside the boab nuts is edible |
No comments:
Post a Comment