Sun 31st August – Day 113: Broome

The kids and Pete were up just after dawn (6:30) so he took them both down to Cable beach exploring. I got a wonderful sleep-in till 7, then after the obligatory cup of tea began the vigil at the laundry to grab any spare washing machines. There is a strange kind of laundry etiquette in caravan parks and I still haven’t worked out the full details. The grey nomads don’t seem to recognise family washing and so you are only allowed to use 1 machine at a time, some (mainly older ladies) got completely irate if you tried to explain any of the following:
1. that your 7year old had wet the bed and so sleeping bag, sheets, pajamas & pillow needed washing today! OR
2. Your 9 year old has an affinity for dirt, sand and grease so his entire wardrobe gets washed weekly, or
3. Hubby only brought light coloured T-shirts which start the day lying on the ground hitching up the trailer every morning.
It is also totally bad form to pull someone else’s finished load from the machine (stacking it neatly on top of the machine provokes even the mildest of grey haired nomads into fever pitch).
So 9 loads later (using 2 machines at a time) and standing guard over grumpy old women I managed to wash the Gibb River Road from our attire.
A search through the town revealed very little in the way of clothing shops – still such a country town at heart. Finally I found the perfect boutique place at the back of China town and a beautiful cossie and shirt to keep the retail therapy urge at bay.
A message from Pete’s Mum’s cousin ‘Glenice & David Shephard’ revealed they were staying at Cable Beach resort this week – just across the road from us so it happens. They asked us over during the afternoon, but said they would meet us at reception as the 4 star resort was a gated community. Well we must have looked ok because as we approached the rear gate a kind soul kept it open for us and then on the hunt for the family pool a kind employee complete with golf cart offered to take us there! Then someone else let us in the pool area and we were among the beautiful people. So much for security. Glenice & David come up here almost yearly for a weeks R&R and it was great to catch up – the last time we saw them was in 1995?
A quick dash home to change and grab the car saw us speed downtown to the Sun Cinema’s which has the oldest outdoor picture theatre in the world. ‘Mama Mia’ was the movie and Chloe & I cried, laughed and sang our way through the entire cheesy musical as we sat in the front row eating take-away fish and chips accompanied by cold Corona, even Toby enjoyed it. Wandering back to the car afterwards we were rewarded with a great fireworks display that marked the end of the pearling festival – a great night.
Cable Beach Caravan Park (Powered $47)