Here We Go Again - Chapter 83 - Broome Day 5

Its Broome Cup day. For our neighbours, it should have meant packing up and leaving, a most inconvenient thought given they have tickets to the Cup. Thankfully they have been able to secure a couple more days and can head off to the festival of racing without the stress of where they might end up tonight.

There is nothing available in Broome as far as caravan accommodation is concerned. Anything that even looks like a park, an overflow or a free area is full. It will be madness out there and if history is to repeat itself the locals will be ill prepared. Coping with the Covid induced increase in demand is one thing, but add to that a local race day and I suspect there may even be traffic jams.

What Covid has done is shakine up many industries, placing pressure on them to survive. I field a call from a client seeing the end in sight, with a view to closing the doors with the least amount of fuss. Thankfully they work out of their own property which means a long term lease is not involved which could cause all sorts of financial strain. Over the past few months they have been pivoting as best they can, reducing the workforce, divisionalisation, selling off less profitable sections of the business internally in an effort to survive.

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Now faced with suppliers pivoting and making changes designed to suit them and not their customers, the entire business has become unworkable. I applaud their foresight. Too many business owners continue on regardless what is staring in squarely in the eyes.

For these particular clients retirement is a real option. They have amassed a suitable nest egg to keep them in the manner that they wish to continue towards the sun set of their being. If, as too many do, they were to hold on much longer, they risk losing some of the wealth they have accumulated.

This call done, its off to the local markets. We are lucky we catch a person returning from a car spot just as we pull in. We are witness to the art of parking in Broome as another would be market goer,  drives around us into what seems to be a parking area ( although the signs suggest parking is prohibited)  and to  not only park someone else in,  but attempted to cut another vehicle off as it is leaving the area. The rules are apparently simple,  you bully or you lose,  and the footpath is no place for pedestrians. 

The markets are sparsely occupied with stalls. It takes very little time to circumnavigate the entire area. Once we have done this Robyn can then return to those stalls of interest. For me I wanted towards a couple of stores engaged in attempting to entice market goers into fishing expeditions.  

I am somewhat taken aback at the prices suggested by the charter operators. Where is at home in Forster we can get a full day charter 4 albeit, on a bottom bashing boat for around $150 which includes drinks and lunch. Here the cost is $280 for a half day 7.00am to 1.00pm or $330 for a full day to 3.00pm and the suggestion is we have to bring any food we wish to consume. I don’t even take a brochure.

The disappointment of the markets over, we renegotiate leaving the parking spot (another person tries to obtain it even before we leave – this is becoming annoying) and we head back towards the caravan park, but via the beaches. The beaches on the other side of the peninsula from Cable Beach, are as pristine. There are parks and factories here much more family oriented than  the “hipper” area of Cable Beach. We suspect the local families might frequent this area as opposed to the other side of town.

Cutting across the industrial area we find a service station where the fuel price is 10 cents per litre cheaper than anywhere in the tourist areas. Note to self – fill up here when necessary.

For quite some time leading into today my headaches and back issues have been getting worse. We pass two chiropractors businesses and take down their details. We will be on the phone to them on Monday to see about availability.

Back in the park, more time to use the new computer facilities, catching up on emails and the business they bring.

Discussion with Silver Leader around the charter costs suggests we might try our own brand of relaxation for the moment. Having said that, there is plenty to do here in Broome without getting in boat, although I owe this place for my trophy Barramundi on the last trip.

We think abut going out for lunch but Rose and Silver Leader have engaged in market food and are not needing further sustenance just now. The Oyster Barn, a business which we frequently quite regularly on our last trip here, seemed like a good idea. Located at the jetty at the port, it offered a very relaxing interlude then. Now it has relocated to Cable Beach and we passed it last night and an “old time sake” visit is probably on the cards but not today.

Back then to the computer and getting a little more work done. The moving backward across screens is becoming an annoyance. Might have to swap sides of the table with Robyn, but we will see.

We too go the quick and easy dinner option and feel well caught up by the time we hit the sack.