Around Oz the First Time - Chapter 52 - Broome Day 4 (the lost day)

Called maintenance day by Silver Leader, there are niggling things that need to be done to the vans. His is having water pump, as is Forbsy’s, but Forbsy’s are more severe. Both are going to look to replace them today.

We think we are having troubles with the solar panels not charging the batteries. If we are this is far more difficult a fix and requires expertise beyond anyone in the group. Over the weekend we had researched and auto electrician who we had made an 8.30am appointment to look over the system and diagnose where the issues might be. Just after we had made the appointment, we saw a solar specialist shop and talked to him as well.

Although the solar power shop staff seemed much more amenable, we had made the appointment, so we honoured it. Sitting outside the workshop, we are engaged in conversation by a truckie who pulls into the yard adjacent. He is considering a new van and likes the look of ours, he tells us the auto electrician we are about to see does not have the best of reputations, and just as he does my phone pings with a message saying he has been called to an emergency and will be at least an hour. No problems I thought, I will go to the solar power shop for an analysis while we wait.

As soon as we got to the solar power shop, we knew we were in the right hands. The engineer was immediately onto an inspection and asked us questions (in words we understood) about our issues. He tested everything thoroughly, and believed everything was OK, except for the Redarc unit which had popped its lodgings. He then went on to explain how to read the monitors and discuss how we use our power. It was most informative, and it showed how naïve we had been to the workings of the units.

So engaging was he that we got him to look at the braking system which after free camping screams at us because it does not recharge – again a rookie mistake and the reserve battery in the Cruiser which only seems to maintain the fridge use for a day or so, evidently that’s exactly what it is supposed to do. If we want more, we should purchase a solar panel or blanket and supplement the charge with that. We only use it as a storage for drinks at this point, so when we are running the fridge is on, and the reserve battery is charging, so we don’t see the need.

The normal charge for a “check-up” is $50 but he only charges us $40, so we leave with great feelings about this business. In the meantime, I have texted the auto electrician, who is still evidently on the emergency call and let him know we are all sorted. He returns my text with a smiley face.

Back at the van park, Silver Leader is up to his arm pits in water pumps, and I assume so is Forbsy. Robyn needs to do some work and we need fuel so I suggest to her I will go and do that now. She pipes up and says she needs wrapping paper and some birthday cards and asks can I add them to my list of things to do while out. I also want to investigate a fishing spot our truckie suggested might be useful, so I surreptitiously pack in the two spinning rods and head off.

Fuel is paramount, the gauge suggests we have less than 50kms of fuel available. I find an independent supplier, they are generally cheaper than the big boys, and this one is no exception, and fill the empty tank. Now starts the dilemma, shop for birthday cards and wrapping paper or throw lures and potentially fight with a piscatorial monster.

Hmm. The fishing won, but I did drive in the general direction of the shopping centre on my way to the designated spot ?.

As I am wandering around the dirt roads of the shoreline, I pass a sign that makes me stop and reverse. The sign warns of unicorns in the area, this one I must show Forbsy, because along with the camel jibes we have added unicorns form time to time as being as equally easy to find in the wild evidently, given the amount we have seen since his ill-fated call at Katherine.

Eventually I find a spot near that which the truckie had suggested. It’s a rugged walk to the rocks below but it does look fishy. Its low tide and I will need to be careful of the rising water. Onto a platform right on the waters edge I unleash the blue and silver lure into the ocean. After many a retrieve I look at the water state. It has come up quite a deal already. I move on.

I see there are many vehicles adjacent to the rocks and there are boats being launched and retrieved. About halfway there I spot another good-looking spot and make a dozen or so throws with no positive result. With the water now covering all the sand/mud of my journey into the rocks, I return to the car, taking pictures of birds as I walk.

Once back at the Cruiser, I pause to take a cold drink from the fridge before succumbing to the need to collect birthday cards and wrapping paper, when I notice a vehicle come from the bush. There is an access point to the beach here, and I give it a whirl and see what I can get myself into. The access here is as good as it was at Cable Beach and there are tourists here, although all are fully clothed, enjoying this end of the beach. I drive around for a moment then head off to fulfil the more domestic of duties before returning, only empty handed in the manner of potential fish catch.

Lunch, a quick nibble of this and that, and as I am feeling a little weary after my fishing antics, I feel like a lay down. Best laid plans of mice and men as Forbsy knocks on the door. He is feeling a little exploratory this afternoon, there is a jetty to investigate, a swim to be had and a local brewery to test some wares. The head immediately rejects the pillow and I join Forbsy in explorer mode.

First stop he wants to post some postcards. I remember the Australia Post shop was at the end of the shops, the day we checked out Tackle World while the girls wandered up and down the main drag. I have seen an internal windscreen cleaner on the TV, sold in Australia Post shops and am keen to get one as my attempts to get the inside clear have been somewhat less than successful. The shop is found but unfortunately sold out of the item I want.

The jetty is a block away and we close in, thinking if this will be as interesting as it sounds, and perhaps a fishing spot for later consideration. We read the information notices at the start and see pictures of three boats roped up to the jetty in earlier times, there is even notes of the jetty going under in the king tides. Not today, we walk only a few metres along the jetty, over the mud of the mangroves and the jetty ends without us, close to high tide, seeing anything that even looks like water.

What we do find is one of those errant shopping trolleys on the mud just at the end of the jetty 3 metres or so below us. It is worthy of a picture, but only one, but on further inspection we see a number of bright red crabs nestled in the mud, moving from hole to hole as they sidle across the mud. We wonder if these are of any good as bait and whether Silver Leader will have us down there capturing them before our next outing.

Enough of that, there is a brewery to investigate. Matso’s is a reasonably well-known local brewery which we find a few blocks further on. Not being a beer drinker at all, I watch as Forbsy orders a selection of five beers in a saddle-pan. I am intrigued by the Hard Lemon drink and order one.

Forbsy goes through the selection with a commentary of the nuances of each, savouring each sip and it after palate, me I drink my lemon drink which I might note is 4.5% alcohol and very refreshing. Forbsy finalises the inspection of the last one which he noted early had a chocolate taste to it, in fact he had wondered at the start whether the barman had put them in a specific order other than as he had selected for any other reason than to taste from softest to hardest or entrée, through main course to desert. The noting of a chocolate one at the end, suggests the latter presumption may have been correct.

One saddle pan is enough for Forbsy although there are probably five more beers to try. Its time for a swim, but first he wants to see if he can get a case of the pale ale from BWS, which might be somewhat cheaper than the cellar door. BWS do not have it, nor do Roey’s Hotel which has a Bottlemart outlet as its drive through section. Roey’s does have however, Hard Lemon, I grab a four pack to share with Robyn later.

A swim means back to the on ramp at Cable Beach and a drive down the beach to pick a suitable spot. There are lots of cars but even more space and a spot with no one for 50 metres is easily picked. The water is fine and the surf a good one foot and suits Forbsy down to the ground. He is walking into the sun as he goes in and I video him using it for effect and sledging him saying “don’t do it Forbsy”, loud enough for the video to pick up but quiet enough that Forbsy cant hear. I get a great slow motion shot of him diving into the waves and think if I can get a shot of him flicking his long hair as he comes pout of the water that will make for a good shot. I cant quite get it right, and dump the lot.

Here again on the beach, clothes appear to be optional, there are bathers and sunbakers alike, enjoying their time here bereft of covering items. A couple frolic in the surf with their dogs not far from us, fancy free. Just back a little a well-formed lady lays face up on her towel.

As we head back, we notice the camel trains getting ready for the afternoon treks. A set of camels adorned in blue saddle cloths are lined up along the beach and the staff are setting up the mounting enclosures. Over the rocks at the on ramp we are stopped by another line of camels. A perfect opportunity to video the desert dwellers walking past, then its back to the van park to see what the others are up to.

Robyn is still thumping away on her computer, Silver Leader and Rosalie have gone (probably for a swim). We are dining in tonight so the beer garden will need to be set up at some stage. If I put my head down to catch a few zeds, I might not wake up again after the Hard Lemon drink. Having said that I do manage to put my head down and the next thing I know Robyn is waking me for happy hour at the Silver Leader Beer Garden.

We are dining “in” tonight where Manuel Silver Leader will again be cooking on the barbeque. It really takes the effort out of dinner and he loves doing it. We have a bit of steak we chop in two, add salad and cut some potatoes for chips on the barby. A meal of champions.

During the repast Silver Leader regales us of a story of their travels this afternoon. Evidently there is a fish cleaning table in the park and one of the residents was there this afternoon cleaning whiting. Evidently this individual spends 8 months of the year here chasing them and Cable Beach, where we were all swimming this afternoon is chock a block full of them.

Guess what we are doing tomorrow.