We had planned to stay a couple of nights at Parry’s Creek Lagoon at the conclusion of our Gibb River Road trip. However, having heard mixed reviews from various people, we decided to take a look first. It looks to be a peaceful place, with an abundance of bird life, and is reasonably priced. As appealing as it looked to us though, we decided to by-pass it this time, but have earmarked it for sometime in the future when we’re passing by.

From Parry’s we headed to Marlgu Billabong. Sitting on the edge of the Ord River Flood Plains, the huge billabong attracts thousands of water birds. Over 160 different species frequent the area including migratory birds from the northern hemisphere.

This place is worth a visit – even if you aren’t really into bird watching. It’s very peaceful.

We spent an hour or so there, and were fortunate enough to see a Darter catching it’s dinner. A quick dive underwater and up it came with a fish speared on it’s beak. Although birds swallow fish whole, they need to swallow them head first so as the scales, gils etc don’t cause problems on the way down.

This fish wasn’t the right way round, so the Darter needed to toss the fish up, and catch it again as it spiralled back towards the water. It was only a few short metres from us, so we had a ‘birds eye’ view. Now, with the fish at the correct angle, one quick swallow and down it went. Having such a narrow neck it was incredible to see the fish slithering down inside the bird, a bit like those documentaries one sees of snakes swallowing their dinner whole.

Next stop was Wyndham. A trip to the look out to look down on the point where fives rivers meet to flow out into the ocean. Then a photo of the town crocodile statue of mammoth proportions, and not modelled on anything real.

Back to El Questro for our final night, before returning to Broome the next day via the bitumen, and with a night at Fitzroy Crossing on the way.

Our plan when back in Broome was to use one day to re-stock before heading back to the dust and corrugations, and up to Cape Leveque. However, plans can always be changed. Our first night back in Broome and we were getting a bit over the tent. It was fine for two weeks, but somehow we couldn’t face it for another eight nights. So our plans changed. We cancelled the next leg of our trip and picked up the caravan. We couldn’t bring our booking forward at Cable Beach Caravan Park, but we did manage to get eight nights at a nearby van park.

Our friends and neighbours, Kaye and Brian are currently also up in Broome with their caravan, so we’ve had several catch ups with them.

We’re now settled into Cable Beach Caravan Park, on a lovely big site. Kaye and Brian leave in a little over a week, and shortly after that, another of our friends, Wendy, will fly up and join us. Then Wendy will leave, and a couple of weeks after that Bob and Di will fly up here to also make use of our tent, and share our site. I can see lots of card games, lots of fishing competitions, and lots of fun coming up. Broome, such a pleasure! Broome with friends – what could be better. Life’s good!