Today started just like the previous mornings we have spent in Broome. The sun rose over Roebuck Bay inspiring the birds to song. We were up early to get a few things done before we head south into the Pilbara tomorrow.
Before walking into town we completed a load of washing, hung it out to dry and downloaded photos to the laptop. Various devices were plugged in to charge while we have access to mains power. After today we will be relying on solar panels to keep the batteries in the Tvan charged.
We visited the Tourist Information Centre to pick up some souvenirs spotted earlier in our stay. From there, we checked out the fresh fruit and vegies in the supermarket to confirm what was available so that we can start compiling a shopping list that will see us restocked for the next few days. We walked through an arcade that connects the main street of Broome with the pearl selling precinct, where all the top pearl retailers are located. At the end of this strip of pearl shops, a small museum featuring pearl luggers was proving popular with the tourists. These luggers were boats purpose-built to harvest pearl shell from the ocean floor, a task initially performed by free divers before diving suits with brass helmets allowed pearlers to reach even greater depths. The luggers carried the divers out to where the pearl shell was located, then back again to return the “harvest” to the buyers on shore.
As lunchtime approached we decided to return to the Green Mango café for more of their fresh and tasty food. We took the opportunity to download geocaches for the next leg of our trip, as internet connectivity is likely to be intermittent once we leave Broome. After another great lunch we walked back to our hotel to check on how the washing was drying and to pick up the Prado to help cart the shopping back from the supermarket.
After a lap of Coles, we had everything on the shopping list. Whilst queued at the checkout we wondered how kangaroo tails are best prepared and cooked – we were left with this conundrum after finding a section of the frozen foods cabinet well stocked with kangaroo tails at $9 per kilo. We could only assume there was sufficient demand to warrant stocking them.
On returning to our hotel, Wendy set about packing the shopping away while Chris re-tied the kayak down on the car roof-racks and flooded the tow hitch with silicone spray to release the build-up of dust from the trip across the Tanami. A swim was in order to cool off before setting off for our last dinner for this trip in Broome. Another fresh and filling meal was enjoyed at the Land of the Pharaohs middle eastern café, followed by the walk back to our hotel on a still and balmy evening. Patrons were filing in to the Sun Cinema as we walked by. The Sun is the oldest functioning outdoor cinema, with the building facade hiding an open space with deck chairs set up under clear skies facing a projection screen mounted on the perimeter wall.
We will be back on the road tomorrow to visit places we haven’t previously experienced, as our journey into the Pilbara begins.
