Progress 4

I saw my surgeon a few days ago and he signed me off. The following morning was bright and sunny, so I set off on my longest walk yet - as far as Claisebrook Cove and back. The round trip was 9.58 kms. I even surprised myself!  I can start to think about another Camino. I can still feel some stiffness on my left leg, but it is bearable, and my Chinese stick is a big help.

White heron surveying the ponds.

Family of swans at Claisebrook.

Delay

On our last morning in Broome, we fortified ourselves for our journey home.  It was lucky that we did, since the Virgin flight was delayed by more than 7 hours! We spent a long time in Broome Airport, watching Quantas and other Virginia flights taking off to Perth whilst our plane sat on the tarmac. We had to wait whilst an engineer was flown up from Perth to investigate the problem. We were particularly fed up by the lack of announcements and the measly "meal vouchers" of $8 per person which could not be used for alcoholic drinks. We finally took off just after 7.30 pm.

In the morning, before we knew what awaited us, we had breakfast at the Kimberley Sands, just up the road. They have an airy restaurant overlooking the pool. After checking out from Bali Hai, we called in at Matsos and tried a few small samples of their boutique beers.

My favourite was Mango Beer which is now bottled and sold in Perth.

Pearling

In the morning, we visited Pearl Luggers, where a restored boat, the Sam Male, has pride of place. There is a lot of information about the history of the pearling industry. The huge copper helmets and heavy boots weighing 20 kilos each were on display. This diving equipment was standard till the early 1970's.

I also visited the Kailis Pearl Shop, admired everything, and talked to the manager about the Kailis family. It was Dr Patricia Kailis, a scientist, who had married into the family and saved the pearl industry from a disease which threatened the oysters growing in close proximity in the pearl beds.

Camels

Big day for early morning camel rides. The red camels took off at  8.00 am. One camel was having a day off and doing a photo shoot on the sea. His handler gently persuaded him to step into the shallow water, whilst a professional photographer in a wet suit was recording it all.

Gantheaume Point

Another chance to view the sunset last night: amongst the red rocks at Gantheaume. We got there early, so that we could pick our way over the boulders with a gammy knee and gammy hip. We saw the ospreys feeding their young on the lighthouse tower. There was also a young Asian couple with a drone, taking photos from above.

Girl with drone in the sky to her left

Selfie

Sun going down.

Afterwards we returned to the Wharf Restaurant for more seafood. JL had threadfin salmon and I had jumbo prawns.  There was also a huge cruise ship at the end of the jetty, "lit up like a mill", as coach loads of passengers returned from their day out.

Sunset

"That most magical time of day when the sun kisses the horizon, its swirling curtain of light a fiery fusion of crimson, pink, orange and purple"

"... and it is in Broome that you'll experience the most famous Australian sunsets of all. Here the ocean rises to meet the sun's rays as she dips gradually  into the darkening western sky. In a fleeting moment she disappears over the edge of the world."  (Kailis Pearls brochure).

A perfect sunset at Cable Beach last night.

JL having a drink with new friends at Cable Beach Sunset Bar.

Dining In

Last night we cranked up the BBQ and had dinner in our own private courtyard. On the menu: lamb chops, Greek salad and a delicious Oyster Bay Merlot.

Statue guarding the entrance to our courtyard.

This morning, it was time for a bit of retail therapy in town: a new swimsuit, a visit to the Broome Bead Shop, a quick look round Paspaley Pearls and finally a trip out to the handmaiden soap factory.