Broome, what is all the fuss about!!

We have heard so many good comments about Broome so we were very eager to get there .
After a huge day of riding from Halls Creek where we splashed out on a hotel room to escape the 40 degrees heat, we finally arrived in Broome.
It was one of the toughest days we have ever done with so much wind, so hot already very early in the morning, no services and close to 700 km to cover.
We left at 4.45 AM in broad daylight (this stupid Government needs shooting, its daylight at 4.30 AM and  dark at 6 PM) carrying a spare 5 litres of fuel.


We stopped for our weetbix on the side of the road after 200 km and soon after the fuel light came on. The winds increased but we  made it to Turkey Creek using our jerry can of fuel.


Once again we were shown just how small this world is as 

the Army pulled up and one of the soldiers came up and said; "you guys sure get around, I last saw you in Alice Springs." That was on the 4th of September!! .

It was good to see an Aboriginal  from Arnhem land was included in their ranks.
We have learnt so much about our Indigenous people we see in the towns. The "bad" ones who in the most part have been thrown out of their communities because of the trouble they cause.
A lot of the Aboriginal  communities are "dry" and the towns have tough alcohol laws preventing the sale of takeaway grog till 2 PM, there are no wine casks sold, and there is a limit on the amount of beer that can be purchased. What happens is every morning when the pubs open most go in for a drink and to play the pokies. At 2 PM there is a mass exodus as they buy their takeaway grog and they head to the river banks where you can hear them yelling at each other. They believe the person who makes the most noise is the dominant one.


I was told they were 2 road houses between Halls Creek and Broome so I did not fill our Jerry can, that will be the last time I believe what anyone says about fuel stops. 


What a scary trip!  High winds with the road feeling like we were riding up a steep hill even though we were not, stinking heat and desert everywhere with the fuel disappearing far to fast. We both prayed as it would be very dangerous to be stuck out here for too long. I slowed down to 85 kph and somehow we made  it to the Willare roadhouse where I proceeded to put in 23,3 ltrs of fuel. I checked the Harley web site and all she should take is  (22.7ltr Touring Fuel Tank).

Another 165 km saw us arrive in Broome. I had  booked us into a backpackers Hostel  and we jumped in the pool - boy that felt great . At 4 PM the office opened and we were told no double beds so we were out of there. I did not drive 13,000 km for single beds!!!.
We are now staying at the Rowbuck Caravan park with a water front view and a breeze of some sorts at night but the days are a killer. We do not know what all the fuss is about Broome, sure has a nice beach (Cable Beach)  and the sunsets are magic but you can't swim in it for 6 months of the year and the Town of 6,000 odd is nothing special.

Our caravan park is ok, no pool and there are stingers in the sea but it is a reasonable price of $30. However, the owner must be a former Gestapo General!! I have not had a run in with him yet but would do if I stayed any longer. Check out a few of his signs, these are just from the camp kitchen.

 

Boab tree at the caravan park

A lot of the shops treat you as" tourists " and don't care if you come back or not, not like in Darwin where we were met with kindness wherever we went. Here in Broome, I had a cup of tea in the Jamaican blue coffee shop and asked for a pot of water to add to the tea pot. They did this but then removed the tea from the pot so I said "hold on, hold on" but off they ran. I did go up to the counter, only to be told we are aware that you are trying to get 3 cups out of a pot !!! and no, you can not have your old tea leaves back. Needless to say I told her how miserable she was and business must be tough.
Marie-Louise did manage to buy a nice cream Dress !! but she did loose her Sunglass arm covers, so we are now on the 8th pair or more.
We went to Church this morning at the New Life Christian Church and saw a most energetic service .
In the morning we are off to Port Headland, 613 km away and once again fuel stops are going to be a problem, and the heat and the wind and the water and the food! But we have more Bryce Courtney this time -  'The potato factory'. Marie-Louise is a trooper, it's so hot sitting on the back with no breeze and she never complains and to make it as bearable as possible we plan to be on the road as close to 4 AM as we can.