Went to the Marble Bar information centre first up this morning to get our bearings.
Then out to Marble Bar pool and had a good walk around. The colors in the rock are amazing, you throw water on them and the reds and blacks come up so bright amazing how they have been put together. It may not be marble (it's Jasper) but it is pretty good to look at. Lots of little fish in the pool we wondered if they ever grow to big fish.
A little further around is Chinamans Pool, when we drove up there was a pelican and a flock of ducks sitting on the water, they quickly flew off. It was a pretty unexpected sight for way out here. Also the green lawn and reasonably lush surroundings were surprising.
We then went on to the Comet gold mine which is now closed but there is a pretty impressive display of rocks and the old machinery.
I was surprised to learn that about 30kms from Marble Bar at Corunna Downs there was a secret airbase during the 2nd world war. There were something like 200 men and 20 planes kept in an underground hangar and did missions over Indonesia. The Japanese came looking but never found where they were coming from.
Stopped at the flying fox lookout and went for a big walk down the valley and along the water. Rose was quite red in the face and making panting noises by the time we got back up to the van.
Back into town and out to have a look at the solar/diesel electricity plant. Solar energy supplies between 60 and 90% of their electricity during the day. It's pretty impressive, the solar panels track the sun.
Then we decided we would head off towards Broome. About 40kms out of town we turned onto a gravel road to save having to go back the way we had come. Not far out there is quite a long single lane causeway where they ask that you put your radio on channel 14, I put ours on 15, anyway we got across before the road train.
We did our first quite long and wet river crossing on our way this afternoon. It's been a very interesting, picturesque drive, beautiful hills and countryside, plenty of kangaroos and cattle. We have pulled up at a deserted mine called Shay Gap. Very quiet beautiful spot.