The Way Home
Reluctantly we left Broome to head south and spent a few nights at Port Smith, just south of Barn Hill. Set on a beautiful lagoon, we camped on grass for the first time in ages, which was a bit of a luxury and made a great change from red dirt. Unfortunately with the grass, lagoon and mangroves came sand flies and I don’t think we’ve ever been so badly bitten. Talk about torture. We were all bitten all over and it was a good 5 days before the itching settled down. We were all looking pretty sad and scabby by the time we left!
From Port Smith Sean and the boys snuck in another fishing day with Kurt and came home with big smiles, Spanish mackerel, coral trout, Chinaman’s, blue line emperor, perch, red emperor and filled the freezer once again. Lucie and I filled the day hanging out at Eco Beach in a hammock. It was tough…
We did find some gorgeous hidden away gems at Port Smith. Aboriginal land again but with the purchase of a permit we were able to head off and explore. We came across Gourdon Bay, which was magical. Again big red cliffs overlooking crystal clear waters. We spent a beautiful afternoon with the Dan, Grace and their kids camped on top of the cliffs (on shark watch) while the kids swam below. Actually they mostly played in the sand. Swimming was shallow quick dips only!
Eighty Mile Beach was fun. The Mahers joined us and the three families spent some beautiful afternoons driving up the beach for lots of sea shell collecting, quick swims, sunsets, beers and shenanigans. We have now filled about two wine boxes (the cases, not chateau cardboard boxes – we haven’t dropped all of our standards), full of shells collected from Broome, Middle Lagoon, Cape Leveque and now Eighty Mile Beach. Given there are millions of these shells washed up on the beaches every day, we feel we’ve left plenty for others to enjoy. Now to come up with some creative ways to use them once we are in our house so they just don’t sit in the boxes for ever more! Particular to Eighty Mile beach are delicate shells with the imprint of a sea urchin. We did collect a few and hopefully they will make it home in one piece.
Before we left Broome, after 7 months of no TV we caved and we bought a TV. We’d used it only a couple of times to put on a movie for the kids, but at 80 Mile we tuned it in for the first time to watch the Bledisloe, which I think we all wish we didn’t do. Lets hope Michael Byrne can work his magic on the Wallabies and quickly! After that effort we put the TV back into the box…
Not much to report on Pardoo Station. Although we did have a funny night by the fire with Dan and Grace after Sean and Dan did a night raid on the station firewood. Desperate times to have a fire!
Port Smith and surrounds
Eighty Mile Beach
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