2 September Back in Broome

Home at Cape Leveque

Camping on the cliff top of the beach

Whales just off shore at Middle Lagoon

School at Middle Lagoon

Christopher catching his first fish

The Hermit Crab Collection

Back in busy old Broome after a week of hot sunny days and swimming in crystal clear waters with whales floating by . Sorry to rub it in people in Southern Australia. We spent 3 nights at Middle Lagoon camped on the cliff top over looking a spectacular bay with good enough snorkelling and fishing to keep us well occupied. The boys had a great time collecting hermit crabs which were there by the hundreds every night. Dinner was caught a couple of nights {mainly by the Cracknell boys) and cooked on the camp fire. Whales and dolphins passed by on a regular basis, it was fabulously quiet and we were sad to say goodbye. We headed further north to Cape Leveque with more beautiful beaches, sunsets, whales, snorkelling and beautiful water. Met up with the Johnston's from Hawthorn and the Stuart's from Flinders which was great and other travellers we had met enroute. The advantage of Cape Leveque was we were sleeping pretty much right on the beach in beach huts which was lots of fun, Cracknells next door and campfires at night. The boys had a day out spear making with a local aborigine, listening to dreamtime stories and learning about the local culture which they really enjoyed, whilst the Mum's had decent coffee and a peaceful day. Another afternoon we went further north to One Arm Point another aboriginal community where we visited the hatchery for local fish, turtles and barramundi. The boys enjoyed patting the turtles, feeding the fish and learning about the other stuff in the ocean. In the ocean Mandy swam daily with a few sharks, mantarays, stingrays, heaps of different fish and a couple of turtles which was great.

We're all chilled out now and back in Broome. We were sad to say goodbye to the Cracknells who we have been travelling with for some time but probably won't see again this trip. Mandy's trying to get her hair back under some sort of control, Liam's replacing the springs in the trailer as the others looked a bit tired, the boy's are enjoying the swimming pool and riding their bikes. This afternoon we're going for a camel ride on the famous cable beach and topping it off with the speed way (quad bike and car racing) this evening with the Stuart's. Since we are camped next door we may as well be there as the noise is unbelievable :)

Tomorrow we start moving down to Port Hedland where we are meeting up with Dad for a journey into the Pilbara. Boys are still doing their spelling tests on Fridays, which is how we know the day of the week. Everyone is travelling well, but it does feel now like we are on the way home. About 5 1/2 weeks to go.