Day 31 05/07/2013 Kooljaman at Cape Leveque.
It was light by 6am and wasn't nearly as chilly as it had been in Broome yesterday morning. We made use of the camp kitchen and cooked bacon and eggs for breakfast. We chatted to a family.....mum, dad and two girls aged 9 and 6 who live in Warrimoo in the Blue Mountains......and for those of you reading this who live in the mountains, the mum works at Glenbrook pool!
After breakfast we went for a walk along the western beach, but in the opposite direction from the walk we took yesterday. Very pleasant. Then we came back and packed up. We drove off our site and unhitched the camper and left it in the car park for a couple of hours while we went off to explore. Our first stop was at Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm. This is the oldest pearl farm in Australia, having been established in 1946. They had some beautiful pearls in their gallery.......very, very expensive! There was a lovely little cafe and we had a coffee there. We chatted to a young female pilot who had flown some tourists up from Broome and had to wait a few hours while they were on a boat tour, before flying them back.
After that we travelled a few km further to Ardyaloon or One Arm Point where the Bardi Jaawi people live. We visited the Trochus hatchery and aquaculture centre. Trochus shells are harvested from inter-tidal regions in the area and exported, to be made into mother-of-pearl buttons. Locally the shells are polished and handcrafted into jewellery to provide a source of income to community members.
Once back at Kooljaman I went into the reception area to check into our beach shelter campsite for tonight. I was approached by a young woman saying " Mrs Roberts, it is you, isn't it?" And then I recognised an ex-student from my time when I was teaching in Newcastle. Small world indeed!
The beach shelters at Kooljaman all have views of the Eastern beach and are really designed for tent camping. However we were able to set up the T-van outside the shelter and still enjoy the shade provided, the table, fresh-water shower, and, most importantly, the view! We were also provided with a fireplace and wood, so were able to enjoy barbecued fish for dinner and an evening around the campfire!
Before all that however, we enjoyed a swim and a walk along the beach at low tide. We found an interesting rock pool with lots of sea-slugs and some pretty corals.
We had a relaxing late afternoon and in the evening enjoyed the stars and the sound of the ocean.