Part 3 - Pilbara to Broome

: Across the Roebuck Plains

Day 8 South Hedland to Broome

Port Hedland/South Hedland is an industrial town. Somewhere to refuel. The Walkabout Hotel is an icon of the Pilbara iron ore pioneering days.

: Walkabout Hotel, Port Hedland.

: The long road north across the Roebuck Plains.

The Sandfire Roadhouse is about halfway between Hedland and Broome. Legend has it that a fuel tanker broke down here and sold so much fuel to passing motorists that it was considered an ideal location for a roadhouse. Today it well known for its flock of colourful peacocks and equally famous for the shirt sleeves pinned to the roof of the bar. This tradition to raise money for the RFDS was started in the early eighties.

: Peacock at Sandfire Roadhouse.

: Peacocks at Sandfire Roadhouse. The flock numbers about 70.

: Peacock at Sandfire Roadhouse. Peafowl are pheasants. The peacocks and peahens at Sandfire are Indian Peafowl.

: Albino peacock at Sandfire Roadhouse.

: Leaving Sandfire.

Broome was still more than three hours away.

: Standard sign in outback pastoral country.

: Believe the sign

: Blister

: This is the dodder creeper from the Cassytha genus. It is a parasite and can smother the host plant.

: The road between Broome and Derby is known as the Savannah Way.

Broome is a pearling and tourist town, nominally in the Kimberley. Its population of around 15,000 triples during the peak tourist season.

: We did a quick tour of the town

: while there was still light.

: Broome has an outdoor cinema.

: Our camp at Broome. The caravan park was full so we were accommodated at the ‘overflow’ at the Police and Citizens Youth Centre complex.

: End of a big day.

Day 9-10 At Broome

We had breakfast by the ocean at the Town Beach Cafe.

: View from the Town Beach Cafe.

: At breakfast.

: Broome babe.

: Screw palms in fruit.

: View at breakfast.

: Palm tree at town beach.

: Masked Lapwing

We had crammed a lot into the past eight days so it was time to slow down and relax.

: Sand balls created by Soldier Crabs when they dig below the surface of the sand.

: Low tide

The town was full of tourists. There was plenty of activity at Cable Beach – bathers, four wheel drivers, nudists, boaters, tourists going on yacht charters, fishers, walkers, and weirdos in the dunes.