Broome & Beyond: One Arm Point

still Friday 14th, almost 2pm

Deb planned our day. So far, it's worked well. I think I've covered the early morning run... Did I mention the wifi? The camp wifi finally came up -- and wants money. The telstra hotspot finally worked, it's always better in the morning. And I found out how to stop google downloading a static map that I once looked at. So:

Breakfast, we have poached eggs and bacon. On nice bread, bits of whatever you call the bigger version of baguette. Very neat poached eggs... Deb discovered the secret on our last holiday: wrap the egg in gladwrap before poaching.

What are we doing today? asks the waitress. Visiting One Arm Point, we reply. Oh, there's things to do there, she says. You can watch the tide go in... and out... and there's the hatchery. She is struggling to provide any other highlights :-)

We drive to One Arm Point. Not sure what's there -- other than a geocache -- and the mysterious Hatchery. It's just -- as far as we know -- the only other point of interest at this end of Cape Leveque.

It's another neat and tidy community, as far as we can see. A few road signs saying, Stop Community Private Property. It seems that we need a pass to visit. What we will be visiting, we are not sure. We go to the shop, ask about a pass. They could sell it or we could go to The Office.

We go to The Office, it's just across the road. Pay $30 for two day passes. Drive on.

It's a small community and the provided map is clear. Deb guides me to the beaches. Broad white beaches... the tide is out. There are shelters at the first beach.

I really do appreciate a community that builds a shelter for *cars* at the beach! We drive under, park in the shade, wander round. At the first beach (with a name I can't remember). At Middle Beach. At Round Rock, though we can't see any especially round rocks. Just a very nice view over ocean and islands.

We do see signs that we are near Horizontal Falls: the ocean water is rushing one way -- we can see the water flow -- and the wind is trying to blow it back. There's a lot of water flowing by!

The track is rough dirt with plenty of rocks. Not too bad, just needs care while driving. The area is calm. There have been attempts to plant trees -- nothing much has survived. It's coastal-sand desert. Then we reach the Hatchery.

The locals breed fish and shellfish in tanks. Polish the trochus shells, eat some fish, release others into the wild. There are two tour groups already here. We stay clear of the groups and admire the fish -- and one turtle -- in their tanks. All good fun :-)

There's a great heavy somewhat mangy dog lying on his back in the shade. In all the time we are there, I think he may have moved -- slightly -- once. It's a dog's life, indeed.

The Hatchery is interesting, well worth the visit. Especially since we are in the area... And the One Arm geocache is next to the entry gate. Got it !

On the way out of One Arm community we pass the airfield. Two float-planes there, with a busload of tourists getting the pre-flight briefing.

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We drive back via the Cygnet Bay pearl farm and bistro (bistro?!), it's almost noon.

Side note: Deb has absolutely no idea how to just sit. She went for a bit of a rest in the tent but it is stifling. She sat next to me (while I'm blogging), reading and doing a crossword. After 20 minutes -- I asked if she could possibly wait a full hour -- she's off on the next stage of the day's activities. When I'm ready, I'll follow Deb to the beach (and cafe). And now, back to the bistro:

We're walking towards the restaurant -- and a busload of tourists overtakes us. Not to worry, we place an order and expect to wait. But it's not a long wait.

We're sitting & eating at a table on a verandah overlooking the bay. A shed for pearl farm activities off to one side. Beach, water, far side of bay, land further away, bush & garden, all spread out in front of us. Very pleasant indeed :-)

A brief walk, to a lookout then past the pearling shed. We drive home. Get passed by a police car on the way in but it's probably just a social visit. There's a police station near the road, just this side of the unsealed section.

Before we settle down, we find the nearest geocache, about 80m from our tent. We have now cleared the area! Found the two caches... the next nearest is 125km away.

And so we sit, and one of us relaxes. I'll wrap this up and follow Deb to the beach. With money, for the cafe on the way.

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Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper
Agamedes Consulting / Problems? Solved.
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"Fortune, seeing that she could not make fools wise, has made them lucky." - Michel de Montaigne

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