7.10.09

Today started early, we had to get back to Roebuck Bay for a negative 0.74m tide, when this happens some plane wrecks are exposed about 1.5km out on the sand flat with ocean/mouth of the bay off to the right, it only happens a few times a year. So we trekked out there as quick as possible because we were running late, we only realised how late when we noticed everyone else leaving the wreck when were still 500m away, we had to wade across 80m of water to make the wreck in the end. Belinda and Zali stayed on the sand while Lach, Darryl, Sarah & I made the wade, there was a few little sand bars by the wreck and as I took photo’s they rapidly disappeared and we only noticed when we were distracted by Belinda frantically calling us back. Leaving the wreck turned into a race against the tide which (unlike the east coast) was coming from our left instead of behind us, I had to carry Lach on my shoulders, while Darryl carried the cameras, it was really quite difficult because the wade across was now 120m instead of 80m and waist deep instead of thigh deep, and I had an overgrown seven year old on my shoulders.

We finally made the sand again and then started one of the most pleasant experiences I’ve had in years. Where everyone else who visited the wreck (the wrecks are flying boats that were bombed by the Japanese in 1942) made a bee line for the shore we dawdled across checking it all out. Roebuck Bay’s sand flats at low tide have lots of little streams and areas that are covered in an inch or two of water and there is so much life in them. Sarah is a keen photographer, as am I and so we spent the time wandering across taking heaps of photos with Lach and Zali scouting out creatures and plants, then standing in the light while we tried to photograph them. Belinda strolled across with an eccentric lady from Geelong named Butterfly who has got to be 65 if she’s a day travelling on her own and living in her car. Now let me tell you the best bit, we had Spam and Eggs on toast for breakfast at the beach. I was laughing my head off, I haven’t eaten Spam since I was in about year three at school, for some reason mum was never big on canned meat, and here we were eating BBQ’d Spam with Eggs on toast at the beach in Broome, life doesn’t get any better than that. I wont be rushing out for a tin of Spam in the near future though. Oh, as an aside that you mind find interesting, Zali loved the Spam, she’s a carnivore through and through.

We just lazed about for the rest of the day, I started the process of getting a new licence, picked up my new credit cards and edited about 100 photo’s. Belinda and the kids did school work and Darryl and Sarah caught up on their Blogs (we seem to have adopted each other as travelling companions for a while) we then had a late Frisbee game on the beach and went to a different place for the Moon show again. This spot was a resort where a guy played the didge to accompany the moon rise, it wasn’t as impressive as the first night but a crazy lady chatted with Belinda and Darryl, standing in her undies and keeping us all entertained.

8.10.09

Lazy day today, got up to date on all my photo’s so I’ll flickr some tonight, got up to date on the Blog, we had an early ride up the beach, a swim and tried to build sandcastles big enough to stop the tide coming in. We were a little surprised when we failed at this, but took in our stride and will try again tomorrow, seriously though tomorrow we are going to check out a dinosaur footprint that can only be seen on very low tide and going to a place called Anastasias Pool which is supposed to be a photographer’s delight. I’m getting some good photos together for a portfolio and have been getting some very favourable comments, so loving that, heading back to the beach soon for our dribble castle and night photography session, update again soon.

9.10.09

A nice day today, we checked out the dinosaur footprints today and I must say I was a little disappointed. Supposedly 120million years old they looked a bit like an overgrown Pelican foot chiselled into the rock, it was especially disappointing after Lachlan and Zali had built us up with stories of the giant footprints they saw in “The Land Before Time.” Stories of giant footprints that the baby dinosaurs fell into, with sides like cliffs, I guess those cartoons aren’t the historical authority I thought they were. Seriously though, they weren’t much, about 30cm long and 15cm wide but the location was very nice with really colourful sandstone cliffs and that typically aqua water over the reefs. There was some storm clouds hanging around with some really nice colours too.

Looking at the footprints took place really early to catch the low tide, when we finished there we headed for Cable Beach to give Lachlan a surf. That was a lot of fun, the tide was pushing in so there was a few little waves and Lach was pretty chuffed to ride a few to the beach. Belinda came out and had a go as well, she struggled a little until I could help her out a little then she had fun, I even got to give some lad from Denmark some tips and get him on a couple.

After a surf the day was spent just hanging about chatting and having a good time, relaxing swimming and sunset photos on the beach, also some planning of how we can make it to Cape Leveque, let you know.