Derby was always going to be a quick stop-over to prepare for our much anticipated journey across the Gibb River Road. (or, as it’s become known on our trip, the Gibble Ribble Road…thanks Jesse!) We’d planned to be on the Gibb for about 2 weeks and with no shops except a couple of roadhouses with basic, overpriced and unreliable stock, we needed plenty of supplies before leaving.
On our first night in Derby, we moseyed down to the local fishing club’s crab racing fundraiser event. The professional caller, adorned with what Michael felt was a rather masterful stubby holder necklace arrangement, made for a somewhat exciting hour or so of entertainment. I was tempted by the $10 dinner on offer – fresh crabs with salad (yes, they did cook the racers, winners & losers!!) – but the kids aren’t fans of crab meat so we opted to move on and ordered fresh snapper and chips at the Derby jetty. We watched a flawless WA sunset and marvelled at the silent speed of one of Australia’s largest king tides. The night we were there it peaked at around 10 metres!
The following day, the girls and I filled 2 trolleys with supplies at Woolies, desperately trying to find a balance between fresh food to last the distance coupled with non-perishable boring staples like tinned fruit, 2 minute noodles and pasta! Michael and I managed to find space for everything in the camper but the fridges, cupboards and food boxes were certainly bursting. I knew we wouldn't starve but there would certainly be slim pickings by the end of our two weeks off-grid! We'd all be desperate for some fresh fruit and veggies when supplies were plentiful again!
At the caravan park, we were fortunate to meet a great family from Mt Isa who were travelling in the opposite direction to us. They had just completed the Gibb so we picked their brains for two days and equally offered our recommendations for their journey anti-clockwise around Oz.
Before leaving Derby we made a lightening stop at a couple of obligatory tourist attractions, the Boab Prison Tree and the longest cattle trough in Australia. The Boab Prison Tree was reputedly a staging point for kidnapped Aborigines (used in the pearling industry) and Aboriginal prisoners (mostly accused of killing and eating cattle). They were walked up to 48km per day in chains to the Derby goal from all across the Kimberley. The Boab tree is thought to be over 1500 years old. The cattle trough is 150 metres long and was constructed in 1917. It can quench the thirst of 500 cattle at one time!
Photos from left to right
The sign for the mud crab races
The crab racing spectacle - note the beer lanyard on the caller!
Watching the 10m king tide come in under the Derby jetty
Tashi on the jetty at sunset
The Derby jetty at sunset - note: the jetty is actually circular! Haven't seen that before!
More sunset shots
Australia's longest cattle trough
the Prison Boab tree