An easy day. Blasted 38km to the Derby turnoff with a minor easterly to help. More of a drag uphill and crosswind for the next 9km before rolling down to the Willare Roadhouse on the bank of the Fitzroy River. Nicely appointed large roadhouse and campground/caravan park. Internet available only from in front of the roadhouse by the pumps (Telstra free wifi) but Don’s phone could get it in the Cafe as well. Odd as my phone usually picks up better than the older cheaper Samsung’s (found out i had turned off data over sim in favour of data over wifi, changed back all good).

Don booked his dinosaur tracks tour in Broome for Thursday morning 6am and also got us into the Bagot Road YHA on Wednesday night. All set for a long day tomorrow (Tuesday) followed by a short Wednesday into Broome. 165km to go.

I was talking to a couple of young women outside the roadhouse while waiting for Don. Both are ‘on the gear’ (drugs) but harmless at the time with the one doing most of the talking rambling all over the verbal space. She was proud that although a user she had never robbed anyone to pay for it. They had been kicked out of the car carrying them from Broome for some behaviours unspecified. Eventually the quieter one called someone they knew travelling to Derby who gave them a lift.

Walked to the river but didn’t see any crocodiles but did see archer fish.

Big t-bone steaks for both of us for dinner. First t-bone for me in years.

My friend in Derby who drove me to Broome after the Gibb River Road blocked artery catastrophe couldn’t meet us for dinner as both she and her partner had multiple medical appointments and illnesses today.