Day 27
Monday
30 July
Derby
With not much planned for today, we were in no hurry to move out of bed. I was happy to read my book for a while, then eventually we peeled ourselves from the covers and got into breakfast. There was lots of movement around us, with many vans moving on. I surfed the net, added some photos with the last amounts of my data and had messenger chat with Claire.
At 9am, we figured we should get out and see the town, so we grabbed our things and made it to the street. We wandered out to the main road and then on to the tourist info centre to garner info about heading to WIndjana Gorge and Tunnel Creek. We were told it was open to all vehicles but 4wd was recommended. I thought they didn’t know how tough our Getz was and the roads we have already travelled with it. With 20km of dirt from the main road to WIndjana, we figured we would risk it, just not today.
We completed a loop around the small town and back to the park, before getting in the car to head out to the Boab prison tree. We reached right at high tourist time, with 2 bus loads having arrived and dumping visitors. Great. We waited patiently and then did the walk around. Paul was disappointed it was fenced in and we couldn’t go inside the tree, that used to house up to 14 odd prisoners.
We then checked out the Myall’s bore and the 150m cattle trough, used in the early 1900’s when cattle were driven across land to Derby. There was plenty of water being pumped up by the windmill, pretty impressive seeing it is over 300m below the surface.
I watched a lone red tailed cockatoo in the trees, spreading its tail and wings, busily calling out for others to respond, but none did. It wasn’t long before it took to the sky.
We made our way back to the car and decided to head on to Mowanjum Art & Cultural centre, a 4km drive up the Gibb River Road. We pulled in to the complex and entered the centre, being offered the opportunity to watch a 20min video first about the Wandjina and its importance to the people of the West Kimberley.
After the video, we wandered the gallery, admiring the various paintings, there were some truly beautiful pieces on display. I checked out the gift shop and in the end bought a children’s book written in English and the language of the area.
With our touring over, we made our way back to town, driving past the golf course. It looked in really good condition and with grass greens, so Paul was keen to play a round after lunch. Once back at the van, we enjoyed some down time. I set the chairs up outside and promptly plonked into mine, enjoying the cool breeze as I watched new vans arrive.
An hour later, I made lunch and then we made our way out to the Boabs Golf Course. We had the place to ourselves, which meant Paul was able to play two balls. The course is luscious and green, but if you dig too far under the surface it is solid red. The racecourse feeds around and through the various holes and Boabs line the course as well as act as obstacles.
We walked 10 holes, admiring the different boab trees, including the infamous 5 fingered lady, collected boab nuts and even cracked one open to try. It was very dry and like eating Styrofoam. Red tail cockies were inhabiting one of the trees as we went by and I stopped my caddying duty to take photos. There were also many dessert roses at the 19thhole to check out too.
We finished the round and drove on to the BWS for supplies, before making our way back to the van for a well-earned cold drink and a sit down. I enjoyed the cool outdoors, while going through the photos and when Paul eventually joined me, we brought out the nibbles and past time chatting and watching the newbies arrive.
Paul eventually went for a shower and I completed the blog. When he returned, it was my turn to clean up. We weren’t hungry for dinner after scoffing the box of cheezles and were happy to sit around listening to Ronny, our neighbour as he sat busily fixing his trailer connection.
It got dark quick and we decided we better have dinner, neither of us really wanted to eat much, but the steak was out and defrosted. We cooked it up and ate and then figured we should go for a walk to settle the belly. We stood by the old lightning struck boab and admired the stars and Milky Way.
When we returned, we did a quick walk of the park, coming across our Exmouth tour buddies and the random bagpiper who has been serenading the park while we have been here. He insisted on giving Paul the pipes and hat so he could take a photo of him.
We returned to sit out the front of the van, continuing to chat with the neighbours, until I couldn’t stop yawning. Taking it as my cue to leave the conversation and head to bed, which we both did.
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