Sat 30th August – Day 112: Derby – Broome

Internet connection today means downloading emails and I was dismayed to find colleague Ben Cunneen had died from the Hendra Virus after 5 weeks in intensive care.
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,24229942-3102,00.html
What a tragedy. We just passed a bunch of brumbies with foals in tow so I hope he is reading this post – goodbye and safe travels Ben xx.
Anyway we are back on the bitumen today travelling south towards Broome. Stopped just outside of Derby to have a quick sticky at
1. Myalls Bore and Cattle Trough – the longest stock trough in the Southern hemisphere at 120m long (built in 1917)
2. Boab Prison Tree – believed to be about 1500years old and used as a staging point for prisoners (read aboriginals) being walked (read kidnapped) to Derby in the early days when the white man needed labour for the pearling luggers.
3. Frosty’s Pool – a small-inbuilt concrete pool, built in 1944 as a bathing area for the troops stationed in the area during WWII.
Ok so that’s about it for Derby, a new hospital in Broome will kill the health industry here, the tin mining has ceased (as of 3 weeks ago), the abattoirs closed, the beaches non existent (king tides create muddy water and hence Croc friendly) and so I think this is a dying town. Despite this new buildings are being constructed – maybe they know something we don’t?
220km down the Bitumen today to Broome – nice to be able to have a conversation in the car without the rattle of the corrugations jarring your soul.
First stop the Tourist Info centre (a must for every town we visit). This week is the Annual Pearling Festival so there are all sorts of celebrations going on, however we are more interested in a camping spot without dust, a good pool, washing machines and Woolworths – life is very simple now!
Cable Beach Holiday Park seems to have all we require and we jag a spot right next to the pool – I can see the kids swimming from inside the van – perfect!
By the time we have set up, had a long swim and cooked dinner we have all had it and settle on an early night. The sounds of Soprano voices echoed through the night and we realised it was Opera on beach tonight – just our luck!
Cable Beach Caravan Park (Powered $47)