I have had a lovely flight to Broome soaring above the clouds (check pic). There is an area south of Broome where the dunes in the landscape below look like a milky color sea. The dunes below look like the swells on the sea. I tried to take pictures, but they did not come out at all. After an uneventful flight we landed at Broome. My mate Jacko picked me up at the airport and got me settled in at his house.
It’s good to be visiting the guys again. I said hello to the dogs and the bar fridge, haha!
Once I had unpacked things we went to Cable Beach Club for a sundowner and some pizza. It is a truly spectacular sight to watch the sun set over the ocean. The sun seems to float down to the horizon and then appears to stop, hesitate and then slip below the horizon leaving behind an afterglow that slowly fades through shades of pink until darkness. All of this against a backdrop of Palms and Frangipani trees; Wonderful!
When we got back home again we had a yarn about the old times, caught up with the other roomies and had a good few games of darts (compulsory).
The next morning I walked around Broome town, past the pearl shops and through China Town. Around the back is a jetty that leads into the mangroves and is used by anglers that are feeling lucky. It is known as ‘Streeter’s jetty’ and was used by the pearl luggers of years gone by to unload their pearls and pearl shells before they re-provisioned and headed back out to sea. This part of town is in line with the approach to the runway of Broome airport. So the jets come screaming across the rooftops of China town with bellies nearly scraping the ground. It is quite a sight!
I really liked the efforts by the shire to preserve local history. Statues have been erected honoring founding citizens of the pearl industry. One statue is of a diver in diving gear.
We sat on Broome beach and enjoyed a salad sandwich each and drank some bottle water.
Gantheaume Point
This morning it was low tide at 6:30am. I had wanted to go to Ganth point as it is known for the dinosaur fossil footprints that are visible at the spring low tide. I had never seen them before. The tracks were laid down by dinosaurs more than 130 million years ago when they walked across the mud flats of that time. Whilst I looked at the tracks I got this feeling of vertigo, realizing that I had fallen into a time warp that took me to events of at least 130 million years ago; goosebump stuff. (see link and pics below) Look at the colors.
https://www.google.com.au/?gws_rd=ssl#q=broome+gantheaume+point
A side note is that there are numerous dinosaur prints at James Price Point some 50km up the coast. I have included pics from a previous trip.
Anastasia’s Pool
A special feature at Gantheaume Point is Anastasias Pool.
In Broome, see Anastasia’s Pool, a natural rock pool which is part of the history of the town and tells a touching story.
The pool was modified by a former lighthouse keeper, to make it easy for his wife, Anastasia, to access.
Anastasia suffered badly from arthritis and found relief in the warm water of the Indian Ocean which filled the pool at high tide.
Anastasia’s Pool is on the north side of Gantheaume Point which is well worth a visit for its dinosaur footprints.
Thought to be 130 million years old, the footprints can be seen at very low tides.
You can find out the times of the tides by contacting the Broome Visitor Centre.
For pics see link below.
https://www.google.com.au/search?q=broome+anastasia%27s+pool&biw=1366&bih=639&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0CEAQsARqFQoTCLuT04uo_scCFaNdpgodrHUHSA&dpr=1