This is the time of our departure from the caravan park. It is a combination of smart preparation from the previous night and waking up with the birds.
More ECS (ever changing scenery!!!!)
We are so close to Broome, we are all getting super excited. But first things first. A little further north west we travel to see what Derby, pronouced der-bee not dar-bee, as corrected by the locals, has to offer. We read up about Derby. From here you have great access to the southern end of the famous Gibb River Road, and all it has to offer. Something, that this trip we are not prepared for, but something we will most certainly attempt one day.
We thought we had left the bushfires behind but it seems they are everywhere up here in the dry north.
More ECS!!
If you are wondering how our kids are managing on the long drives, an ENGEL freezer full of icecreams goes along way to keep all happy. For those not familiar, the ENGEL is our portable fridge/freezer that lives in the back of the car.
Second stop after the visitors centre, the Derby Wharfingers House Museum. This building was originally the house of the wharfinger and is filled with memorabilia of the early days in Derby. A wharfinger is a person who owns or has control of the Wharf. It was a very interesting museum and our visit only cut short by someone who shall remain nameless who needed to go to the toilet...BOAZ!!!!!
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| The old wharf contorl system. |
Next stop, another Boab Prison Tree. This tree is thought to be about 1500 years old. Like the Boab Prison Tree in Wyndham, this was used to hold prisoners being walked into Derby. This one is now a registered Aboriginal site. We read that the Boab tree is very sacred, and that should one harm the tree in anyway, then retribution will follow. This leads us to reflect on our car incident in Wyndham. Whilst at that tree, Linda was fascinated by how people had been able to etch their names into the bark, so with a small twig scratched the surface of the trunk. The boys also intrigued with the tree being hollow, banged some Boab seeds up against the tree to see what sounds it would make. Perhaps the spirit of the tree was dissatisfied with our behaviour???????
Luckily for us this time, they fenced this one off. This is as close as we could get!!!! We also drove passed a 120 metre long cattle trough. Built in 1917. In its day it could handle 500 bulls at any one time. Sorry, did not get a good pic of this one.
Next stop Mowanjum Art and Culture Centre. Here we learn about the Wandjina. To the people of the Mowanjum Community, the Wandjina is the supreme spirit being, the creator of the life. The art of this Aboriginal community is very different to any Aboriginal art we have been privileged to see so far. We were very lucky to receive some one on one time with the curator of the gallery, who helped tell the stories of some of the art work.
As this is an Art Gallery, we are asked not to take any pictures. But here is an example of the Wandjina. Can you recognise where this is from??? This was used during the opening ceremony of the Sydney Olympics 2000.
A reminder once more that we are still in crocodile country. This sign is at the begining of the Derby Jetty. This jetty was originally used during the gold rush at Halls Creek in 1885. Miners and prospectors arrived at the port on their way to the goldfields. It was then used for the export of live cattle. Today you can see big tanker ships filling up with seafood and fuel. We come here to enjoy the beautiful coastline and the watch the oceans incredibly huge tidal range. Some of the highest tides in Australia are experienced here, up to 12 metres at the highest.
This was taken at around lunchtime. Whilst standing on the jetty, one of the workers points out a croc swimming in the shallow mud flats.
This one taken around 5pm.
Once again, this picture taken around lunchtime.
This one taken around 5pm.
We try our hand at fishing with handlines. No success in catching fish, but success in feeding them. Hard to miss the beautiful sunsets.
Our compensation for not catching dinner, is buying it at the local cafe on the beach looking over the Jetty.
This is the time of our departure from the caravan park. It is a combination of smart preparation from the previous night and waking up with the birds.
More ECS (ever changing scenery!!!!)
We are so close to Broome, we are all getting super excited. But first things first. A little further north west we travel to see what Derby, pronouced der-bee not dar-bee, as corrected by the locals, has to offer. We read up about Derby. From here you have great access to the southern end of the famous Gibb River Road, and all it has to offer. Something, that this trip we are not prepared for, but something we will most certainly attempt one day.
We thought we had left the bushfires behind but it seems they are everywhere up here in the dry north.
More ECS!!
If you are wondering how our kids are managing on the long drives, an ENGEL freezer full of icecreams goes along way to keep all happy. For those not familiar, the ENGEL is our portable fridge/freezer that lives in the back of the car.
Second stop after the visitors centre, the Derby Wharfingers House Museum. This building was originally the house of the wharfinger and is filled with memorabilia of the early days in Derby. A wharfinger is a person who owns or has control of the Wharf. It was a very interesting museum and our visit only cut short by someone who shall remain nameless who needed to go to the toilet...BOAZ!!!!!
Next stop, another Boab Prison Tree. This tree is thought to be about 1500 years old. Like the Boab Prison Tree in Wyndham, this was used to hold prisoners being walked into Derby. This one is now a registered Aboriginal site. We read that the Boab tree is very sacred, and that should one harm the tree in anyway, then retribution will follow. This leads us to reflect on our car incident in Wyndham. Whilst at that tree, Linda was fascinated by how people had been able to etch their names into the bark, so with a small twig scratched the surface of the trunk. The boys also intrigued with the tree being hollow, banged some Boab seeds up against the tree to see what sounds it would make. Perhaps the spirit of the tree was dissatisfied with our behaviour???????
Luckily for us this time, they fenced this one off. This is as close as we could get!!!! We also drove passed a 120 metre long cattle trough. Built in 1917. In its day it could handle 500 bulls at any one time. Sorry, did not get a good pic of this one.
Next stop Mowanjum Art and Culture Centre. Here we learn about the Wandjina. To the people of the Mowanjum Community, the Wandjina is the supreme spirit being, the creator of the life. The art of this Aboriginal community is very different to any Aboriginal art we have been privileged to see so far. We were very lucky to receive some one on one time with the curator of the gallery, who helped tell the stories of some of the art work. 
As this is an Art Gallery, we are asked not to take any pictures. But here is an example of the Wandjina. Can you recognise where this is from??? This was used during the opening ceremony of the Sydney Olympics 2000.
A reminder once more that we are still in crocodile country. This sign is at the begining of the Derby Jetty. This jetty was originally used during the gold rush at Halls Creek in 1885. Miners and prospectors arrived at the port on their way to the goldfields. It was then used for the export of live cattle. Today you can see big tanker ships filling up with seafood and fuel. We come here to enjoy the beautiful coastline and the watch the oceans incredibly huge tidal range. Some of the highest tides in Australia are experienced here, up to 12 metres at the highest. 
This was taken at around lunchtime. Whilst standing on the jetty, one of the workers points out a croc swimming in the shallow mud flats.
This one taken around 5pm.
Once again, this picture taken around lunchtime.
This one taken around 5pm.
We try our hand at fishing with handlines. No success in catching fish, but success in feeding them. Hard to miss the beautiful sunsets.
Our compensation for not catching dinner, is buying it at the local cafe on the beach looking over the Jetty.
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