The Dampier Peninsula

After our 2 nights at Eighty Mile Beach....washing, collecting shells and fishing (no swimming after we saw a 2 metre shark swim 5 metres off shore!!)...

Hard day in the office...

Eighty Mile Beach

Sunset - huge tide - hard to tell where the water started - a long way away.

... we made an early start for Broome.  We needed to cover the almost 400 kms before midday – to catch the upholsterer we had contacted to fix the tent cover – the zip with all the dust had stuck in a few places and some teeth were breaking off.  With the Gibb River Rd up next the last thing we needed was the zip to break and allow the dust into the tent while we drove. 

After a couple of hours in Broome to refuel and restock we continued north up the Dampier Peninsula, headed for Middle Lagoon.  The road up the Dampier was unsealed most of the way and was like driving in a sandy riverbed, with high sides and a curved bottom.  Nothing much to see and yet again a long stretch of empty bushland.

We'd booked (on a recommendation) a campsite on ‘the ridge’.  I think they could’ve called it a campsite on the edge of paradise.  We were campsite 2 of about 10 along the top of a ridge that was a short drop down to one of the nicest beaches we're ever likely to find anywhere. 

A couple of the sites were occupied by retired couples, who were there for 3 to 4 months.  What a life.  From our bed (we kept our window open all night) we listened to the sound of the waves by night and then woke to look straight down to the water – what a way to relax.  While we had our morning coffee the girls walked along the beach or swam, as we looked on.  It hit 30c at about 8 am so swimming was on the menu straight after breakfast!!! 

The fishing was great and Andrew put a line in 3 or 4 times each day.  Having great fun catching Long Toms – it was fun to watch from the tent too!!!

At night an army of hermit crabs made their way up the sand dune - the girls had hours of fun catching them, naming them and even racing them.  Hermit crabs are now on the pet list when we get home!!

We spent a day exploring further up the peninsula towards Cape Leveque and One Arm Point.  Beautiful coastal scenery all the way.  The girls enjoyed the tour of the hatchery in One Arm Point too.

Beagle Bay

The Hatchery at One Arm Point

Cape Leveque

Cape Leveque

After 3 nights at Middle Lagoon it was time to leave.  We packed up in the morning and spent a couple of hours enjoying our last swim in the calm, warm waters.  Isla cried and cried when we said we had to go.  Middle Lagoon will be hard to beat and is definitely a top spot of the trip so far.

Nothing like a beachside fire.

Late afternoon swim and playing 'shops' with a view!!

Yet another stunning sunset - viewed from the tent!

But to Broome we had to go – Mum and Dad were due to fly in early the next day and we wanted to be there to meet them.

A.