Outback riders

The day started at Fitzroy Crossing where we had breakfast and a walk to the bridge over the river before our next adventures began. I am not sure if the bridge is actually the “Fitzroy Crossing”but I couldn't resist taking a shot of it!

It was a fairly long drive before our first stop so I was able to make good use of my 7” tablet, feading an ebook and playing games to pass the time. The scenery was pretty much the same for two hours of driving, so looking out of the window would have put me to sleep! When we did pull over it was to see something quite amazing. A tree!

Mind you there is something really special about this tree! It has a very unpleasant history of inhumanity. Fortuately the behaviour that happened is well in the past and certainly belongs there. Aboriginal men and boys were kidnapped and put in chains and walked to the coast where they were forced to be divers in the pearling industry. On their way to the coast the men were stopped at this tree and the chains were attached to it to prevent these helpless black captives from escaping. Aboriginal people were treated like animals in the early days of Australia. Something we are not proud of.

Only a very short distance from the Boab that is known as “The Prison Tree” is the most incredible water trough I have ever seen, It was used in the days of droving when cattle were moved to the sale yards under their own steam (leg power) driven by stockmen on horseback over huge distances. We were told that this was the largest water trough in the world at 120 meters.

Daffy, the little bear who travels for all sick people who are too unwell to leave home, posed prettily on the trough for a photograph. My second picture of the trough shows our intrepid coach driver and guide, Firie, and our super chariot which has taken us from one magic location to another.

I just can't keep this little bear from showing off! He climbed a termite nest to show how large it was!

Lunch as a little different today. We made our way to Derby where we stopped right on the edge of the water and bought fish and chips to eat under a shelter on the sea side! It was fun!

Our final destination for today was Broome. Before we went to our hotel accommodation we were taken to the beach where two thirds of thegroup took a chance with a beast of burden that has become a pest in the outback. We had fun taking a camel ride!

So here we are, happy, fed and sleepy after another fabulous day. We may not be able to stand upright or walk tomorrow but we shall all laugh about our aches!

AJ