Broome - Day 36

 Fletcher : Today we went to the market without breaky so we had food there.  I had a tropical ice cup and a steamed dim sim.  Then we went for a drive.  Mackenzie and mum went into Target while dad and I played a game on his I phone.  Then we went to a port.  Then we finally went to another market to watch the staircase to the moon.  The staircase to the moon is when the light reflects on the sea floor to make a staircase.

                                                               the staircase just starting

                                                                   me patting a frog

Mackenzie : Today we got up and had a look around town and we went to the market and had ice cream for breakfast, it was yum.  We went to target after that.  We drove the car down on the beach and mum took photos of me, Fletcher and dad in this cave, then we went to another market and for dinner I had a dim sim and a roll with roast meat and cheese, then we went down to the beach and went to see staircase to the moon.  It is where the moon reflects onto the water.  It was the best thing I have ever seen, I loved it so much.

                                                              the staircase to the moon

                  Dad driving the car on the beach- he didn't do the wheels spins but it looks like it

                    us in a rock that has been worn away like a window by the sea and sand

                                    more stairs on the sand from the reflection off the moon

Today is take 2 for staircase to the moon.  It also is my best possible day ever with 2 markets to go to!!  This morning we headed to the courthouse area where there was a great market setup.  There were a lot of handmade jewellery and clothes, and of course food stalls.  Our fruit cup lady was there so the kids and I got 1 each, they were so excited to be having an icy pole for breakfast, no one call child services we did eat food too.  I had the yummiest pancake with salmon, avocado, feta and egg, Daniel had one with egg and bacon.  The food is so affordable at these markets and most stall holders were the same as last nights market, it really was cheaper to eat tea there last night than buy and make something ourselves.  We spent a good part of the morning at the market and the park adjoining it, the kids went across the road and had there photo taken at the police station and jail, yep there is a jail in the middle of town, a full on jail with razor wire and high walls.  We went to the shops to try find some shorts for Daniels dad and found ourselves in the middle of a huge Target sale, I got Mack a rash vest for $2.83, shorts, thirts for $4.83 and pantene shampoo for .83 cents - crazy.  What a shame we only have an 18foot van as I could have stocked up.  Don't ask me what the .83 was all about but I was happy with a few bargains.  Mack also got herself a onesie, it's too hot to wear it but that wasn't going to stop her.  We headed down to the port to have a look and to see the beach.  I've been nagging Dan to have a drive on a beach and I wasn't letting him out of it today, he was not impressed that I had waited till the day he finally found a car wash and cleaned the car from top to bottom to then get it covered in sand - his enemy and salt water.  Grumpy yes but it was amazing and I think he would admit it too.  We had a drive and took some photos in a cave, there were a lot of people with bbqs setup and tressel tables with dinners and drinks, some just with deck chairs and a beer.  Lots of dogs running around and chasing the fish in the rock pools.  We headed back to the van for a quick shower before our next market.  We decided to have tea there again, yes I do know how to cook and although the kids seem to only write about the take away food we get, we do eat most times in the van!  We could fill our whole blog about the food we eat! Oh maybe we are!  We again got bits and pieces and shared our dinners so we got to try a bit of everything, another ice cup to take to wait for staircase to the moon.  We sat down on the grassed area with another few hundred people.  The most bizarre thing, the time for the moon was to be 7.54 tonight and I kid you not at 7.54 out of no where the most beautiful moon appeared.  I don't know if I can put into words how magical this experience was.  The moon came up bit by bit, it was obvious already why it was called staircase to the moon because the steps had already started to appear, I truly had goose bumps and although the kids were ooohhing and aaarrring louder than I would have liked, I was thrilled that they were loving it to.  It was an overwhelming experience and I was so pleased to be sharing it with Dan and the kids.  Dan was just as excited and the people next to us said, oh it gets better.  Well it did, as the moon was clearly in the sky and off the horizon, the staircase was brilliant, the moon was glowing a red yellow color, I have never seen anything like it and probably won't again.  My camera wasn't doing me any favours on night setting and the iphone took some ok shots.  The guy next to me said "is that the best camera you have", I said sadly that my phone was doing a better job than my good camera, he whipped out his phone and opened up his notes and said give me your email address we will send you our photos.  He and his girlfriend had brought the camera only a few days earlier on a whim and had the most amazing shots, so I am hoping that I gave them our correct details as Dan & I were both overwhelmed by his kindness at the time.  Forget coming all this way to eat great chips and gravy this is what you should come over for, if you ever get the chance to come to Broome, do your best to be here the days that this occurs, it really is amazing.  Funny that the moment that the moon appeared hundreds of people rushed onto the beach to get there photo opportunity, we stayed where we were and did just as well.  I will put a photo or 2 on off my phone but if we get the good ones emailed I will add them on to whatever day they come through.  We were all on such a high after this we really didn't want to go back to the van, a pub would have been great or a carnival but no such luck.  We all got ready for bed and Fletcher needed the loo which proved to be more excitement for us as he & Dan went on a toilet safari, as Fletcher put it, they found green tree frogs all around the outside of the toilet block, on walls, drain pipes etc.  They were so friendly that you could pat them, well Dan and Fletcher did, miss adventurous me left that for the boys ! Anyway it was a great way to cap off an amazing day.

                                              the steps top the moon- nature is awesome

                               the reflection on the mud flats make it look like a stair case

 the kids outside the jail- didn't even get to joke about locking them in there-very well behaved lately

                          Dan with the car on the beach - gotta love the things he does for me xx

                     this is my idea of what a road train looks like- rustic- this type is called 7 decks

                  the sun starting to set at cable beach - the same night as the staircase- blessed we were

                      Cable Beach - beautiful and busy spot, so many 4wds on the beach a bit further up

                    the kids loved the rocks and rock pools, just not the crabs that were everywhere