HORIZONTAL FALLS --WHOOPEE

We had stayed in Broome, and needed to go to Derby to catch the plane at 2.15pm. It took about 2 hours to get there. We had a look around the town. Les brought a pair of sandals and we had some lunch. The wharf was very interesting. The tides here reach 12 metres, the highest tide in the southern hemisphere. Therefore on low tide you almost need a boat to get to the waters edge and at high tide it is right up on the shoreline. So is the crocodiles!!!!!! so we didn't swim. It's 35c, but the local swimming pool is closed over winter. ---OOOPS
Had arranged to leave the car at Derby Resort. The bus picked us up there at 2.30 and we drove to the airport. The Seaplane that we went took about 35 minutes. We saw the remoteness of the Kimberley's. As we approached Talbot Bay we could see the Horizontal Falls. The pilot banked 180 degrees and landed the Seaplane on the water. It was the most exhilarating feeling. We then left the Seaplane and got into a rubber hulled craft with a solid floor. Les called it the speed machine. The speed machine raced the pilot down the river. The pilot won, but we had the better ride on the water at around 40km per hour. GOODNESS THAT WAS FUN. We then went to the Horizontal Falls. We went through the narrow fall and then the narrower fall. We did this about half a dozen times or until we got soaking wet. It was the best experience. We absolutely loved it, better than any theme park ride we have been on. We spent the rest of the afternoon cruising along the river, some went fishing and even managed to catch a large fish, others sat on a large boat and had drinks and nibbles. Around 5.30 we were taken to the 12 million boat. I have never been on a 12 million dollar anything!!!! so I can't really compare this, other than to say,
it was absolutely beautiful. The owner is an ex fisherman. He was also our cook, tour guide down to the engine room and up to the bridge, where I sat in the captains chair. His wife Marie and his mother were our hostesses. We had beautiful Baramundi for tea and home made cheese cake. We then went to the stern of the boat and hand fed sharks. WHAT MORE COULD YOU ASK FOR. The owners were so friendly and hospitable and made you feel so welcome. ABSOLUTELY THE BEST TIME OF OUR HOLIDAYS SO FAR. Went to bed and slept like a log. Got up and had brekky and fare welled the owners. We then went for another ride through the Horizontal Falls. The driver of the boat was absolutely brilliant. He left school at 14yrs and went to live with his dad, who is separated from his Mum. He put his age up and got a job. Eventually he trained as a boat boat driver, and at 22yrs he is driving this boat through the Horizontal Falls. We asked him "what he does for fun?" He said this is fun!!!1!! Unfortunately this was nearly the end of the best trip ever. ALL I CAN SAY IS IF YOUR FEELING A LITTLE DOWN, COME AND DO THIS, YOU WONT REGRET IT. Our Seaplane went home a different way. We went over an Archipelago of hundreds of islands dotted over the sea floor. Arriving in Derby around 8.30am. We drove back to Broome and packed up toleave for Barn Hill tomorrow........