Rest and repair. For us and the car...
A couple of relaxing days with a bit of running around as I prep for the solo desert legs of the trip. The first day here (I think it was a Sunday?) saw me get a new soldering iron and successfully repair my tyre sensor. How long it will hold is another matter, but I managed to get a couple of spare sensors here, so I'm prepared! I also got a few bolts, nyloc nuts and washers to add to the repair kit for when other stuff starts hanging off. I know a couple will be used soon to re-attach the plastic inner mudguards. The original bolts are still there, so a couple of large washers will cover the hole where they pulled through.
Around mid afternoon we drove onto Cable Beach to try and snag a good spot for when the Camels wandered past, laden with tourists on their sunset ride along the beach. What we hadn't expected was how many other people were doing the same thing! I don't think I've seen that many 4WDs in one place away from one of the shows! Anyway, the smug satisfaction of sitting in a comfy chair with a cold beer in your hand as the camels came past with their bored, uncomfortable and thirsty riders was worth the effort. I wonder if the tourists on camels realised that they were also part of the show as well as observers of it?
Over dinner in the Malay restaurant at the hotel, we started talking about the hotel. We both thinks it's OK, and in many ways good, but it misses that spark or attention to detail that makes you go "wow!" It's almost like it's found it's place in the market, noticed there's no-one competing in the same area, and has taken it's foot off the gas and is just coasting. Dinner in the Sunset bar had one of the best locations in Australia. The food was below expectations. The Malay restaurant food was better, and my lobster was great, but not exceptional. There are no spirits or dessert wines on any menu I've seen so far. The rooms are fine, but the buildings are starting to look a little...faded. The tables are wiped at breakfast with a clean damp cloth, but not dried so you sit down at a wet, smeared table. There is no 24 hour room service. The verbal English of several staff members extends to the menu, but no further, etc. If it wasn't for the location and reputation of this place, I think it would have been overtaken. Which is a shame as I don't think it would take much to restore it to being the premier spot in town.
The second day was more prep and relaxing. Finding that Kimberley Camping is an Aladdins cave of kit, and that some staff Repco Broome don't know their product lines. Then more coffee in Chinatown, a swim in the pool, and a movie at Sun Pictures. A great day, marred only by the realisation that Broome dining closes before 9pm even more comprehensively than Perth!
It's also a sad day. My last full day with Jen for a while. She flies back to Perth tomorrow morning. The car and deserts are going to be quiet without her travelling with me.
A couple of relaxing days with a bit of running around as I prep for the solo desert legs of the trip. The first day here (I think it was a Sunday?) saw me get a new soldering iron and successfully repair my tyre sensor. How long it will hold is another matter, but I managed to get a couple of spare sensors here, so I'm prepared! I also got a few bolts, nyloc nuts and washers to add to the repair kit for when other stuff starts hanging off. I know a couple will be used soon to re-attach the plastic inner mudguards. The original bolts are still there, so a couple of large washers will cover the hole where they pulled through.
Around mid afternoon we drove onto Cable Beach to try and snag a good spot for when the Camels wandered past, laden with tourists on their sunset ride along the beach. What we hadn't expected was how many other people were doing the same thing! I don't think I've seen that many 4WDs in one place away from one of the shows! Anyway, the smug satisfaction of sitting in a comfy chair with a cold beer in your hand as the camels came past with their bored, uncomfortable and thirsty riders was worth the effort. I wonder if the tourists on camels realised that they were also part of the show as well as observers of it?
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| Sunset on Cable beach |
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| A small portion of the hoardes we shared the beach with |
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| Sunset had fabulous colours |
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| Standard shot of the camels on the beach at sunset. By the time they came back, I'd drunk my beer so was able to take photos... |
Over dinner in the Malay restaurant at the hotel, we started talking about the hotel. We both thinks it's OK, and in many ways good, but it misses that spark or attention to detail that makes you go "wow!" It's almost like it's found it's place in the market, noticed there's no-one competing in the same area, and has taken it's foot off the gas and is just coasting. Dinner in the Sunset bar had one of the best locations in Australia. The food was below expectations. The Malay restaurant food was better, and my lobster was great, but not exceptional. There are no spirits or dessert wines on any menu I've seen so far. The rooms are fine, but the buildings are starting to look a little...faded. The tables are wiped at breakfast with a clean damp cloth, but not dried so you sit down at a wet, smeared table. There is no 24 hour room service. The verbal English of several staff members extends to the menu, but no further, etc. If it wasn't for the location and reputation of this place, I think it would have been overtaken. Which is a shame as I don't think it would take much to restore it to being the premier spot in town.
The second day was more prep and relaxing. Finding that Kimberley Camping is an Aladdins cave of kit, and that some staff Repco Broome don't know their product lines. Then more coffee in Chinatown, a swim in the pool, and a movie at Sun Pictures. A great day, marred only by the realisation that Broome dining closes before 9pm even more comprehensively than Perth!
It's also a sad day. My last full day with Jen for a while. She flies back to Perth tomorrow morning. The car and deserts are going to be quiet without her travelling with me.
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