We were sad to leave Broome as we loved it. I had seen the "Staircase to the Moon" so was very happy. I had a look at prices of property in Broome -almost equivalent to Perth. We also decided that the wet season could be pretty uncomfortable so we decided we'd better move on!
We drove onto Derby as I knew a teacher who worked there and wanted to see it for myself. The red rocks of Broome's landscape slowly disappeared and changed to kms and kms of savanna (all lovely and green) and termite mounds that look like mini versions of the Pinnacles.
Derby was a good place to use our bikes - very flat and accessible. Sad to say but alcohol has ruined the lives of many of the Aborigines we saw walking the streets as we rode around. Groups of beautiful children play in the streets and on the perfectly manicured sports field but you can probably guess what they go home to!! Too sad.
Derby has one of the highest tides in Australia - close to 12m! - after a low tide of 2m. Tides come in and out twice a day. It was amazing going down to the jetty to see these tides. We rode around and spoke to various fishermen trying to catch mud-crabs or barramundi. I think that is about all you could do in Derby on a weekend! You could play golf and leave your green fees in the honour box! Looking at the many boabs is also fun.
The caravan park was right on the edge of the mud flats that are luckily dry because of the dry season. We keep saying how lucky we have been travelling at the beginning of the dry season though there has been some unseasonal rain and the 4 Wheel Drives coming off the Gibb River Road are proof! Many of the roads have had to be closed and people are waiting around in campsites until the rains stop.
Because we don't have an off-road caravan rain does not affect us - though I think it would be fun driving along the Gibb River Road. Maybe next time!
